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Double Bass Baby Bass megathread
- Thread starter nil
- Start date
bajocallao
Supporting Member
- Jul 13, 2006
- 1,104
- 200
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: D'addario Strings, Aguilar Amplifiers
bajocallao
Supporting Member
- Jul 13, 2006
- 1,104
- 200
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: D'addario Strings, Aguilar Amplifiers
Hi! everyone.
I am a bassist located in colombia and use several baby basses made in this lovely country. First i decided to order a Blady baby bass because the coments and reviews of colombian bassist cant be better in a simple explanation about this baby. I tried the bass in the factory located in Cali-valle and I liked the bass and the bass liked me jejeje... The action and sound are very good. The manufacturer of this bass is called Blady and his name is Bladimir Torres. This guy is crazy really (with all the respect) jjjeje, because he is a compulsive LIER! The guy tried to convince me of that bass has a ebony fingerboard, and that its very fallllllllseeeeeeeeeeeeee, that fingerboard is make of two pieces of a granadillo wood and sometimes of morado or nazareno, that woods are a inexpensive and very hard and heavy but really good for fingerboard applications. The guy (Blady) painted the granadillo fingerboard with black paint and sell that as if have a really "ebony" fingerboard (LOL) its funny, but its a really a bad guy. The guy in sometimes in the past also sell a ampeg replicas as if a REALLY AMPEG BABY BASS for only 2500 us. jajaja that is illegal but the man is nice... For the other side, the Blady baby bass I ordered its very smooth a have a nice sound. The only concern is about the neck. That neck not have a pipe or truss rod for contrarest the tension of the strings. The answer is a warp neck in a few months
. I decided to carry the bass with blady for a reparation, but he told me the bass had suffered a stroke and he tell me that guarranty not cover that mistakes!! very nice man... I not hate Blady, only tell my problems with the instrument and the bunisses.
But, with that problems I liked the sound of this bass, its really close for the original ampeg too.
In other side, I tried the Sendel basses and not be very excited with the sound. That baby bass its very well made, and have a injected plastic body. (tha Blady and MOG basses have a fiberglass body). That injected plastic body is a advantage when you try to transport the baby in a bad delivery companies. That body are very consistent a very hard. Its too a very light weigth instrument.
Lately I tried the MOG bass and be really happy for firts time. I ordered the mini bass and finally buy the right bass just for my tastes: Light, full like-ampeg sound, hard neck wood and good hand job. I talk with Mauricio Ortega directly (MOG baby basses luthier) and he explained me the true history in the baby bass bunisses. jejeje
INSIST. I dont hate blady instruments, just, I trie to tell the minor problems that you will have with that guy! That instruments sound very good too! with all the respect for blady.
enjoy tha baby basses!
I am a bassist located in colombia and use several baby basses made in this lovely country. First i decided to order a Blady baby bass because the coments and reviews of colombian bassist cant be better in a simple explanation about this baby. I tried the bass in the factory located in Cali-valle and I liked the bass and the bass liked me jejeje... The action and sound are very good. The manufacturer of this bass is called Blady and his name is Bladimir Torres. This guy is crazy really (with all the respect) jjjeje, because he is a compulsive LIER! The guy tried to convince me of that bass has a ebony fingerboard, and that its very fallllllllseeeeeeeeeeeeee, that fingerboard is make of two pieces of a granadillo wood and sometimes of morado or nazareno, that woods are a inexpensive and very hard and heavy but really good for fingerboard applications. The guy (Blady) painted the granadillo fingerboard with black paint and sell that as if have a really "ebony" fingerboard (LOL) its funny, but its a really a bad guy. The guy in sometimes in the past also sell a ampeg replicas as if a REALLY AMPEG BABY BASS for only 2500 us. jajaja that is illegal but the man is nice... For the other side, the Blady baby bass I ordered its very smooth a have a nice sound. The only concern is about the neck. That neck not have a pipe or truss rod for contrarest the tension of the strings. The answer is a warp neck in a few months
. I decided to carry the bass with blady for a reparation, but he told me the bass had suffered a stroke and he tell me that guarranty not cover that mistakes!! very nice man... I not hate Blady, only tell my problems with the instrument and the bunisses. But, with that problems I liked the sound of this bass, its really close for the original ampeg too.
In other side, I tried the Sendel basses and not be very excited with the sound. That baby bass its very well made, and have a injected plastic body. (tha Blady and MOG basses have a fiberglass body). That injected plastic body is a advantage when you try to transport the baby in a bad delivery companies. That body are very consistent a very hard. Its too a very light weigth instrument.
Lately I tried the MOG bass and be really happy for firts time. I ordered the mini bass and finally buy the right bass just for my tastes: Light, full like-ampeg sound, hard neck wood and good hand job. I talk with Mauricio Ortega directly (MOG baby basses luthier) and he explained me the true history in the baby bass bunisses. jejeje
INSIST. I dont hate blady instruments, just, I trie to tell the minor problems that you will have with that guy! That instruments sound very good too! with all the respect for blady.
enjoy tha baby basses!
I would like to know the differences between these three Baby Basses versions: the original, the reissue from Ampeg (by Steve Azola) and the Azola brand. Where any of these basses had the ability to sound like a DB and Electric bass guitar? What kind of music best fits these basses?
thanks
thanks
hard neck wood and good hand job.
So they have exceptional customer service?
So they have exceptional customer service?
GHS makes a custom set for the Ampeg Baby Bass. Elderly Music has them. They are pretty reasonable ($20-30) for a set. They appear to be of good quality.
Found them....but has anyone out there ever tried these on the ABB? Do they sound as good or better than Dr Thomastik? *Is it the thumpy sound I look for on the ABB....(classic Latin swing)?
hi ...
the Ampeg BB (or similars ...) sound is the most popular for accompained any folkloric tunes in L. america.
A good example is the typical venezuelan music (llanero ),or any mexican rythms like the norteña bands ,or the bands with wood vibes...
In Colombia we are lived a good experience with this exelent invention.(in the begining early the sixties the First BB was introduced for the Fuentes record company
and they, along with the recordings that came from the USA (polka includes ... hehehe
), were the factors that popularized the instrument in my country ...the electric bass for a Cumbia rythm ,or Salsa ... no good ...
About the strings , i suggest for the experience ,the Thomastik Spirocore (solo )
...the sustain is amazing ...hard neck wood and good hand job.
So they have exceptional customer service?
Sure ...!!
the warranty expires in the year 2200 ...
i suggest the Bobby rodriguez (R.I.P.) solution :
change the old pickup, and monunt a new , like the ampeg BB system .
for a best sound the Zorko body need a sound damped (is optional ...)
for this :
-buy the 2 polyurethan compounds (A & B) , i supose ,this compound are selled in a easy way for the aplication ...for this body needs 1 lb. for each compound ..
- mix the compounds and pour inside .Cover the hole with a plastic and press...
PD : before this ,protect the body with plastic or paper ,and use a good Tape ...
i don`t know the zorko body ,but ..the only hole available must be the pickup section ...other holes must be sealed ,for prevent a polyurethan escape (this chemical produce a high pression and increase rapidly...!! )
change the old pickup, and monunt a new , like the ampeg BB system .
for a best sound the Zorko body need a sound damped (is optional ...)
for this :
-buy the 2 polyurethan compounds (A & B) , i supose ,this compound are selled in a easy way for the aplication ...for this body needs 1 lb. for each compound ..
- mix the compounds and pour inside .Cover the hole with a plastic and press...
PD : before this ,protect the body with plastic or paper ,and use a good Tape ...
i don`t know the zorko body ,but ..the only hole available must be the pickup section ...other holes must be sealed ,for prevent a polyurethan escape (this chemical produce a high pression and increase rapidly...!! )
Hello,
I can give you a bit of info as I have played all of them.
ampeg baby bass= not a lot of sustain great for salsa,very punchy bass
ampeg reissue(azola)=great for everything. it has two pick ups. one original as the ampeg and also a piezo pick up that can be blended or use by itself, and it will sound very close to a DB or a true ampeg baby bass!
(I currently own one!)
Azola (without diaphragm pick up or ampeg pick up)= great basses for Jazz,Blues, and anything in between. If you are looking for a DB sound, I would suggest the Hollow body line.
Good luck with the search
RB
I can give you a bit of info as I have played all of them.
ampeg baby bass= not a lot of sustain great for salsa,very punchy bass
ampeg reissue(azola)=great for everything. it has two pick ups. one original as the ampeg and also a piezo pick up that can be blended or use by itself, and it will sound very close to a DB or a true ampeg baby bass!
(I currently own one!)
Azola (without diaphragm pick up or ampeg pick up)= great basses for Jazz,Blues, and anything in between. If you are looking for a DB sound, I would suggest the Hollow body line.
Good luck with the search
RB
RB
Just read your response. Helpful! Just to make sure I communicated clearly, how does the Azola Baby Bass version compare to the other two Baby basses?
Just read your response. Helpful! Just to make sure I communicated clearly, how does the Azola Baby Bass version compare to the other two Baby basses?
no probs,
The Azola resissue baby bass is much more versatile than the original ampeg baby bass (60's) due to the two pick up system instead of one as the ampeg BB.
The original 60's pick up (Diaphragm-pickup) its what produces that thumpy and percussive sound we usually recognize it with.
The newer models Azola now makes, eventhough they are also called 'Baby Bass' don't produce the thumpy percussive sound. They are aiming to produce a more real DB sound. unless they install a Diaphragm-pickup, which they used to a while back.
In general though, from past experiences, you cannot find a better instrument (Azola)EUB out there for quality and sound. It seems you are looking for a DB sound, go for the new Azolas,call Jill Azola! she is second to none in customer service and she will give you all the advice you need.
good luck
cheers
The Azola resissue baby bass is much more versatile than the original ampeg baby bass (60's) due to the two pick up system instead of one as the ampeg BB.
The original 60's pick up (Diaphragm-pickup) its what produces that thumpy and percussive sound we usually recognize it with.
The newer models Azola now makes, eventhough they are also called 'Baby Bass' don't produce the thumpy percussive sound. They are aiming to produce a more real DB sound. unless they install a Diaphragm-pickup, which they used to a while back.
In general though, from past experiences, you cannot find a better instrument (Azola)EUB out there for quality and sound. It seems you are looking for a DB sound, go for the new Azolas,call Jill Azola! she is second to none in customer service and she will give you all the advice you need.
good luck
cheers
Had to respond to this, having already wrestled with my BB4 for years. Do not alter your instrument.
I thought that since it was an electric with a pickup that all I needed was to adjust the pickup and all would be fine. I found a set of instructions (glad to share if you want, just PM) for doing a setup on the Baby Bass, did it verbatim, and had a slightly better result, but still the thump/dull sound most people describe.
Think of your BB4 as an acoustic with a built in pickup. It needs a preamp. I used a pre-amp specifically for upright basses (lots out there, or consult the feedback at Gollihur music online) and it changed everything. Got my levels up, sustain up, right there with all of my other basses. Byebye dull thump. Treat it like an acoustic upright.
To really fine tune your sound, and sustain, look into a compressor. I am enjoying some really nice sound from my BBE MaxCom dual compressor. It sends one treatment of my bass signal to 1x15 cab, and another treatment to my 4x10 cab, and I can balance them out to get everything I could ask for out of the BB4.
Prior to thinking of the BB4 as an acoustic, I got that thump, and encountered several studios that refused to let me record with the BB4. I mean REFUSED. Now, no refusals, just props. It is made with Uvex, which is an old Kodak product that is a kind of fiberglas. You can knock on it, and it almost sounds like wood, and you will encounter its greatest weakness by trying to get it to vibrate or sustain a vibration like wood. It won't. It will be up to you to grab the original vibration from this instrument and let the compressor generate a release rate that feels right to you and YOUR ears.
Best of luck with yours, and whatever you do, don't alter it. It's one of those rare creatures that just needs to be what it is. As lots of others on this site will attest, if you don't want to deal with that bass, there are LOTS of us out here who would gladly deal with it. You are lucky.
I thought that since it was an electric with a pickup that all I needed was to adjust the pickup and all would be fine. I found a set of instructions (glad to share if you want, just PM) for doing a setup on the Baby Bass, did it verbatim, and had a slightly better result, but still the thump/dull sound most people describe.
Think of your BB4 as an acoustic with a built in pickup. It needs a preamp. I used a pre-amp specifically for upright basses (lots out there, or consult the feedback at Gollihur music online) and it changed everything. Got my levels up, sustain up, right there with all of my other basses. Byebye dull thump. Treat it like an acoustic upright.
To really fine tune your sound, and sustain, look into a compressor. I am enjoying some really nice sound from my BBE MaxCom dual compressor. It sends one treatment of my bass signal to 1x15 cab, and another treatment to my 4x10 cab, and I can balance them out to get everything I could ask for out of the BB4.
Prior to thinking of the BB4 as an acoustic, I got that thump, and encountered several studios that refused to let me record with the BB4. I mean REFUSED. Now, no refusals, just props. It is made with Uvex, which is an old Kodak product that is a kind of fiberglas. You can knock on it, and it almost sounds like wood, and you will encounter its greatest weakness by trying to get it to vibrate or sustain a vibration like wood. It won't. It will be up to you to grab the original vibration from this instrument and let the compressor generate a release rate that feels right to you and YOUR ears.
Best of luck with yours, and whatever you do, don't alter it. It's one of those rare creatures that just needs to be what it is. As lots of others on this site will attest, if you don't want to deal with that bass, there are LOTS of us out here who would gladly deal with it. You are lucky.
I'd agree. Leave that instument alone. It serves a unique purpose and has a narrow band of fans. Any pro would tell you that that's a classic instument. There's also a segment of haters, (can't deal with the sound and are critical of all the componants that went into it). Lol... IMO That makes the ABB even more desirable.
Steve Azola rewired my OEM pick-ups and he is one of the very few that knows what they're doing. No harm in asking him if he can do something for you as far as that sound. The man's a genius. (And an ABB enthusiast).
My P/U's sound so clean now. No buzzes, no noise just fat bass....and the classic thud, (he made sure that when I bring down the tone the classic skin slap of a well tuned conga pops right at you)!
I always say to those who do not like that thud, buy something else or stay away from the original ABB. There are so many well made EUB's today with a variety of unique fat bass sounds. EUB's are made so well now-a-days that the only reason why one would want a rare classic ABB would be for it's value or a collectability. Or, as in my case, a loyal fan and musician.
IMO That makes the ABB even more desirable.Steve Azola rewired my OEM pick-ups and he is one of the very few that knows what they're doing. No harm in asking him if he can do something for you as far as that sound. The man's a genius. (And an ABB enthusiast).
My P/U's sound so clean now. No buzzes, no noise just fat bass....and the classic thud, (he made sure that when I bring down the tone the classic skin slap of a well tuned conga pops right at you)!
I always say to those who do not like that thud, buy something else or stay away from the original ABB. There are so many well made EUB's today with a variety of unique fat bass sounds. EUB's are made so well now-a-days that the only reason why one would want a rare classic ABB would be for it's value or a collectability. Or, as in my case, a loyal fan and musician.
Hi Everyone,
I have recently picked up an Azola Ampeg baby bass and I used it for the first time at a live gig along with my regular bass guitar, but the problem I had was switching between the two there was no easy way to put the thing down! I am used to a traditional upright that simply lies down nicely. What do people think is the best stand for one of these things? I would hate to see it get damaged because I can't get my act together and get a stand.
Thanks,
Nick
I have recently picked up an Azola Ampeg baby bass and I used it for the first time at a live gig along with my regular bass guitar, but the problem I had was switching between the two there was no easy way to put the thing down! I am used to a traditional upright that simply lies down nicely. What do people think is the best stand for one of these things? I would hate to see it get damaged because I can't get my act together and get a stand.
Thanks,
Nick
I have the same issue. I know some babybass players actually play with the instrument on the stand, which would work great for you switching back and forth. But I like to move around too much for that. On breaks I usually put it back in its case or put the endpin in and lean it against my amp on the back of the body just below the nameplate. This seems pretty stable but I feel more comfortable with it back in its case standing in a corner if possible, especially when surrounded by a bunch of drunk Salseros! But I'm looking for a stand, too.
These two look promising:
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I think you can get one through Ray Ramirez, too.
These two look promising:
Invalid Link Removed
Link Removed
I think you can get one through Ray Ramirez, too.
