Ambient/Post-Rock/Textural bass playing thread

[ugly_bassplayer]

Actually, I have a few instruments where I am 100% satisfied. The G&L MFD split coil in my custom 4-string is the perfect sound for that instrument. It sounds like "me" and it feels like the sound leaps off the fretboard. There are some others (all in that tonal neighbourhood though sometimes with alnico pickups rather than ceramic). The touch guitar is just a whole other world, though. The current pickup is the clearest I've ever heard, and sounds totally sweet solo, but I'm not sure that's what I'm going for.

Awesome.
I was just speaking of the J type configuration.
Hope G&L will release the J MFD someday.

 

[monsterthompson]

do i recall that you said the action was pretty tight? i ask cause you also tuned down a full step. further on this line of thought, i recall that i thought that the strings would be pretty heavy for the pitches involved.

(long preamble there, sorry)

do you think you’ll stay with these gauges or go to something lighter?

(hope this doesn’t sound dickish)

you can hear the potential in there.

Maurizio said he intended for the standard 105 E set of strings to be used and be a bit higher tension to enhance the Miezo as a chord/arp tool. Dropping down a whole step gets closer to a “normal” feeling tension for the scale. I have to agree. 18” is not where the 12th fret of a 34” scale would be so using a 105 set tuned to that 12th fret E is going to feel stiffer.

I could see going to a lighter gauge for this tuning, particularly with my hand strength issues. I’m also thinking of trying a 125 BEADG set and experimenting.

I get your “potential” comment. I wasn’t trying to dazzle anyone with my playing, or make a super polished sounding demo. This is what it sounds like when a guy with a paralyzed arm tries to figure out a new instrument. I’m definitely not playing it as best it can be. When my buddy popped by to see it, he was able to produce some good sounds noodling around the board, with cleaner technique than I’ve got.

 

[monsterthompson]

THANKS SO MUCH FOR DOING THIS! It's exactly what I needed.

Fantastic!

 

[monsterthompson]

Thanks for that. I love how my ear goes "It's a guitar! Wait...no it isn't."
Was that plucked fingerstyle, or played with a pick? If the former, you can really hear the string tension!

Exactly! It’s a guitar tuning with bass strings, and you can tell. I tried finger style but it wasn’t working for me. The tone and the 17mm spacing was messing with me. Flat picked.

Having listened to someone else play it finger-style, it can sound lovely. I’ll get there.

 

[monsterthompson]

Okay, this may motivate me to get my own test recording out, as my Miezo sounds VERY different. Got a jam with the synth duo tonight, but hopefully, I'll find some time Sat night.

I’m very curious about the differences.

 

[steubig]

Maurizio said he intended for the standard 105 E set of strings to be used and be a bit higher tension to enhance the Miezo as a chord/arp tool. Dropping down a whole step gets closer to a “normal” feeling tension for the scale. I have to agree. 18” is not where the 12th fret of a 34” scale would be so using a 105 set tuned to that 12th fret E is going to feel stiffer.

I could see going to a lighter gauge for this tuning, particularly with my hand strength issues. I’m also thinking of trying a 125 BEADG set and experimenting.

I get your “potential” comment. I wasn’t trying to dazzle anyone with my playing, or make a super polished sounding demo. This is what it sounds like when a guy with a paralyzed arm tries to figure out a new instrument. I’m definitely not playing it as best it can be. When my buddy popped by to see it, he was able to produce some good sounds noodling around the board, with cleaner technique than I’ve got.

i use “potential” when i talk about my new instruments. more like “you can hear there’s a lot in there that you can uncover as you get in dialed in”… sorry if it seemed otherwise.

105 is a heavy e string for me on a 34-inch scale, both in terms of hands and sound.

if it were me (and i know it’s not), i’d be thinking more along the lines of whatever you use for your standard d string.

 

[monsterthompson]

i use “potential” when i talk about my new instruments. more like “you can hear there’s a lot in there that you can uncover as you get in dialed in”… sorry if it seemed otherwise.

No need for a “sorry.” I think I took the comment in the spirit it was intended and understand your use of the word. People have asked me if I love the new bass, and I've said I'm still figuring it out, but I think I'm going to. I see/hear the potential, but I haven't unlocked it yet.

 

[steubig]

No need for a “sorry.” I think I took the comment in the spirit it was intended and understand your use of the word. People have asked me if I love the new bass, and I've said I'm still figuring it out, but I think I'm going to. I see/hear the potential, but I haven't unlocked it yet.

cool

 

[monsterthompson]

…and that’s when @ugly_bassplayer went modular.

.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

…and that’s when @ugly_bassplayer went modular.
View attachment 4376355 .

Uh oh.....that soooo cool and not at the same time.

 

[steubig]

<buy, buy, buy>

 

[Funky40]

The Big Blade is the single coil/more aggressive version.

Agreed, +1,
but its also dependend on the pre/EQ behind it.
And the Big Blades are sensible to pickup distance vs. strings.
( which i found to be a good thing)

to note, since you folks seem to do modular too:
my Big Blades suck up interferences from my modular like stupid !
it starts slowly in something like 1.3 meter distance to my modular.
....and also lights in the studio. ......respectivly is it also my body who´s picking up and which would transfer it to the bass/pups.
in case thats unwanted in such a (studio/modular) scenario, might the Zen Blades be the better option. I had an eye on such while checking these pups out !
( my bass is aditionally shielded with copper foil, jfyi )

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

<buy, buy, buy>

Euh, I like slipped fell ….and ah……hmmmmm, bought a fretless jazz bass.
(I deal I couldnt refuse, )
So, modular will have to wait a few more years,.

 

[Bob_Ross]

bought a fretless jazz bass.

You know the drill: No pics, no bass!

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

You know the drill: No pics, no bass!

Me and my luthier buddy spent a few hours with. A real gem, very resonant and well balanced volume between strings. We where both VERY impressed. The entire body vibrates when playing.
I got it for a steal.

 

[dukeorock]

View attachment 4376644 View attachment 4376646 View attachment 4376647
Me and my luthier buddy spent a few hours with. A real gem, very resonant and well balanced volume between strings. We where both VERY impressed. The entire body vibrates when playing.
I got it for a steal.

Congrats!

 

[steubig]

View attachment 4376644 View attachment 4376646 View attachment 4376647
Me and my luthier buddy spent a few hours with. A real gem, very resonant and well balanced volume between strings. We where both VERY impressed. The entire body vibrates when playing.
I got it for a steal.

excellent. imo, leave it with no pickguard, as it makes it more resonant.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

25583301[/URL], member: 188059"]Congrats!

Thanks my friend.

Good thing I never stopped playing my hybrid Simandl technic.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

25583321[/URL], member: 17475"]excellent. imo, leave it with no pickguard, as it makes it more resonant.

Always do remove it on a jazz, with a pick guard the space left on the neck pick up to rest my thumb is too small.
my first jazz was an 2001 G&L and it never had a pick guard

 

[emjazz]

Agreed, +1,
but its also dependend on the pre/EQ behind it.
And the Big Blades are sensible to pickup distance vs. strings.
( which i found to be a good thing)

to note, since you folks seem to do modular too:
my Big Blades suck up interferences from my modular like stupid !
it starts slowly in something like 1.3 meter distance to my modular.
....and also lights in the studio. ......respectivly is it also my body who´s picking up and which would transfer it to the bass/pups.
in case thats unwanted in such a (studio/modular) scenario, might the Zen Blades be the better option. I had an eye on such while checking these pups out !
( my bass is aditionally shielded with copper foil, jfyi )

The Zen Blades will be much quieter, if not completely quiet. Sounds like a typical 60 cycle hum issue that you're dealing with.