Does anyone here know how to date/decipher the serial # on a Baby Bass? A friend of mine has one that was given to him by a relative, so I'm trying to help him learn more about it. It has the Ampeg logo on both the headstock and the tailpiece, and is the mahogany grain finish.
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Double Bass Baby Bass megathread
- Thread starter nil
- Start date
So I bought a MOG Baby Bass. Somewhere between here and Colombia it was torn apart by 'officials'. When I got it the thing was torn apart and it's taken me a week to get it back together. MOG has been very helpful in telling me what parts I need to fix the instrument.
But my question is about the tone of this thing. When I plug straight in to an amp the tone is VERY thin. I had to replace the tonepot and even when I roll it back I still have to crank the bass on my amp and zero the highs and mids. And the output is very low. I'm going to try a preamp this week to see if that helps. So is this a characteristic of a baby bass or do I have a damaged pickup? Thoughts?
BTW, when I finally got the bass together the build is beautiful.
But my question is about the tone of this thing. When I plug straight in to an amp the tone is VERY thin. I had to replace the tonepot and even when I roll it back I still have to crank the bass on my amp and zero the highs and mids. And the output is very low. I'm going to try a preamp this week to see if that helps. So is this a characteristic of a baby bass or do I have a damaged pickup? Thoughts?
BTW, when I finally got the bass together the build is beautiful.
What kind of amp is it?
Typically, BG amps have a very low input impedance, which will load a piezo pickup and have it sound like you described.
A preamp with at least 1 megaohms input impedance is recommended.
(assuming your MOG has a typical piezo pickup)
Typically, BG amps have a very low input impedance, which will load a piezo pickup and have it sound like you described.
A preamp with at least 1 megaohms input impedance is recommended.
(assuming your MOG has a typical piezo pickup)
Did they just dismantle it, or did they tear up the fiberglass body and damage it?
When I got to the post office the box was smashed and one side missing. I pulled out the body then the neck and screws and loose broken plastic pieces were falling all over the floor. I picked 'em all up and took it home. The tone pot was sheered off and needed replacing and there is one plastic piece missing that holds the bass up so it's been on the ground since I got it home. One of the tuning pegs is bend and vibrates everytime I play a note. There was brown packing tape holding a bunch of bubble wrap and the bridge pieces all over the fingerboard. It took me a week to get the glue off! And a small hole drilled into the body at the bottom about the size of a pencil.
So now I've got it all put together and it's workin pretty good. Just the tone is a bit curious so I'm going to try a preamp.
And I have to say, Mauricio at MOG has been extremely helpful with helping me put this thing back into shape. He has promptly answered all my questions which are sometimes ignorant because I've never owned a Baby Bass before. I think he felt worse than I did. If I had to do it all over again, I'd still buy from MOG.
So now I've got it all put together and it's workin pretty good. Just the tone is a bit curious so I'm going to try a preamp.
And I have to say, Mauricio at MOG has been extremely helpful with helping me put this thing back into shape. He has promptly answered all my questions which are sometimes ignorant because I've never owned a Baby Bass before. I think he felt worse than I did. If I had to do it all over again, I'd still buy from MOG.
They typically have a 500 kiloohms input impedance, which shouldn't be a real issue.
So I suspect the pickup or wiring is damaged.
Considering what you described, it'd not be surprising.
- Mar 22, 2000
- 1,972
- 73
- Disclosures
- Big Cheese Emeritus: Gollihur Music (retired)
While there are options, it looks like it may have a magnetic pickup like the original Ampeg. See Link Removed - the metal bridge
Through the years, many Baby Basses of various kinds have come through our shop, so we wanted to add information to this discussion which might help in resolving some of the problems "icebox" is having.
Sometimes people may think there is a problem with their original Ampeg Baby Bass magnetic diaphragm pickup because the old 1960s systems, as well as some of the modern copies, can sound very weak and thin. With proper pickup adjustment and the right amplifier settings, the expected sound is that signature percussive, punchy, thumpy Ampeg Baby Bass thud.
It's sort of a primitive yet complicated little system based on technology available when Jess Oliver devised it. He used parts and materials that were readily available at that time, which included discs and coils used in telephones of that era. The original Ampeg Baby Bass pickup concept was that the flexible diaphragm discs beneath the bridge feet are meant to mimic the vibrating top of an acoustic bass. There are magnetic coils beneath the discs which capture the vibratory action of the strings/bridge/diaphragms. Not what you would normally expect at all from anything called a "magnetic pickup" (like a P bass or Jazz bass type).
Most Ampeg-lovers know just what to do to compensate for the deficiencies of the original Ampeg pickup system. Most use a Gallien-Kruger 400RB or 800RB amplifier. They turn the bass control on the G-K all the way up, and the treble all the way down, with the volume control on the Baby Bass itself maximized. The tone control on the bass can be used to add brightness or "woofy-ness" as desired.
It is also important to ensure that the pickup system itself is at its most optimal setting.
Here are basic instructions for the original Ampeg Baby Bass pickup -
There is an adjustment screw on each side of the bridge. While plucking the G string, turn the adjustment screw (on that side of the bass) to the right (clockwise) until the magnet touches the diaphragm. You can tell when the magnet touches the diaphragm, because the sound seems to diminish or stop entirely. While still plucking the string, give the adjustment screw a 1/4" turn to the left (counterclockwise) just until the sound returns. Repeat the same process on the E string side, and you will obtain optimum efficiency from the pickup adjustment.
Once the pickup is properly set, the tone and volume of the Ampeg Baby Bass should be about the best and most powerful that it can be. But Ampegs are notoriously inconsistent, with some just being more powerful than others, even when optimally adjusted.
We found that augmenting coil strength and incorporating the right preamp into our own Vintage-Style Baby Bass alleviated these issues. We don't want to speculate too much about the MOG, but it sounds like it may need to be adjusted properly, and used with the right preamp and appropriate amplifier settings.
- Jill & Steve Azola
Link Removed
Sometimes people may think there is a problem with their original Ampeg Baby Bass magnetic diaphragm pickup because the old 1960s systems, as well as some of the modern copies, can sound very weak and thin. With proper pickup adjustment and the right amplifier settings, the expected sound is that signature percussive, punchy, thumpy Ampeg Baby Bass thud.
It's sort of a primitive yet complicated little system based on technology available when Jess Oliver devised it. He used parts and materials that were readily available at that time, which included discs and coils used in telephones of that era. The original Ampeg Baby Bass pickup concept was that the flexible diaphragm discs beneath the bridge feet are meant to mimic the vibrating top of an acoustic bass. There are magnetic coils beneath the discs which capture the vibratory action of the strings/bridge/diaphragms. Not what you would normally expect at all from anything called a "magnetic pickup" (like a P bass or Jazz bass type).
Most Ampeg-lovers know just what to do to compensate for the deficiencies of the original Ampeg pickup system. Most use a Gallien-Kruger 400RB or 800RB amplifier. They turn the bass control on the G-K all the way up, and the treble all the way down, with the volume control on the Baby Bass itself maximized. The tone control on the bass can be used to add brightness or "woofy-ness" as desired.
It is also important to ensure that the pickup system itself is at its most optimal setting.
Here are basic instructions for the original Ampeg Baby Bass pickup -
There is an adjustment screw on each side of the bridge. While plucking the G string, turn the adjustment screw (on that side of the bass) to the right (clockwise) until the magnet touches the diaphragm. You can tell when the magnet touches the diaphragm, because the sound seems to diminish or stop entirely. While still plucking the string, give the adjustment screw a 1/4" turn to the left (counterclockwise) just until the sound returns. Repeat the same process on the E string side, and you will obtain optimum efficiency from the pickup adjustment.
Once the pickup is properly set, the tone and volume of the Ampeg Baby Bass should be about the best and most powerful that it can be. But Ampegs are notoriously inconsistent, with some just being more powerful than others, even when optimally adjusted.
We found that augmenting coil strength and incorporating the right preamp into our own Vintage-Style Baby Bass alleviated these issues. We don't want to speculate too much about the MOG, but it sounds like it may need to be adjusted properly, and used with the right preamp and appropriate amplifier settings.
- Jill & Steve Azola
Link Removed
thanks for the information.sure clears a whole lot of questions concerning the pick-ups.quick question,what is the wait time and cost for the new little bass with baby bass pick-ups?they look fantastic!would love to get one with black ebony fingerboard with a vintage burst color!
My name is Rolando I have a few questions concerning the baby bass, maybe someone can lead me in the right direction if you don't know the answer.
My baby bass body is beginning to come apart at the neck nothing major around a 1/2 - 3/4" but I want to know if there is a known repair that would eliminate the spread.
Also the fingerboard extension curls up a little on the bottom end over the body. It has a trussrod adjustment but can't seem to make it work. Looks like a specific tool was used to adjust it.
Any suggestions
rp
My baby bass body is beginning to come apart at the neck nothing major around a 1/2 - 3/4" but I want to know if there is a known repair that would eliminate the spread.
Also the fingerboard extension curls up a little on the bottom end over the body. It has a trussrod adjustment but can't seem to make it work. Looks like a specific tool was used to adjust it.
Any suggestions
rp
The Ampeg Baby Bass had a figerglass body. Ampeg licensed Steve Azola of Azola Basses to re-issure them. Steve also took the concept and developed the Laminated Baby Bass
(one is for sale on ebay now) and the carved Baby Bass which in not laminated but all all wood. Three different durabilities and three different sounds.
(one is for sale on ebay now) and the carved Baby Bass which in not laminated but all all wood. Three different durabilities and three different sounds.
Hi All
I just acquired a 1968 Ampeg Baby Bass in excellent condition but the action is too low and needs adjusting. All the links to the manual are broken. Can anyone email a copy to me?
It has the original Gig bag also but I'll need to replace the zippers.
Thanks
Phil
I just acquired a 1968 Ampeg Baby Bass in excellent condition but the action is too low and needs adjusting. All the links to the manual are broken. Can anyone email a copy to me?
It has the original Gig bag also but I'll need to replace the zippers.
Thanks
Phil
Original aluminum bridge?
No.
As Aleph5 told you, there's a mechanism inside for that purpose.
You slack the strings, turn the bolt clock-wise, and the neck will be pushed from the bottom.
No.
As Aleph5 told you, there's a mechanism inside for that purpose.
You slack the strings, turn the bolt clock-wise, and the neck will be pushed from the bottom.
