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Double Bass Baby Bass megathread
- Thread starter nil
- Start date
Hopefully before too long I can get my turntable somehow connected to my computer. Or maybe I know someone with a USB turntable; I'll have to ask around.
So, are these strings out yet?They are now making white and black nylon specific baby bass strings and are working on some flat wound steels for Ampeg style baby basses... stay tuned for more info
The last new upright Labella string I know is the white nylon.
Heads up Ampeg fans. My Baby is posted in the classifieds, if you know anyone looking for a Baby Bass.
For Sale - Ampeg Baby Bass
Thanks
DD
For Sale - Ampeg Baby Bass
Thanks
DD
I've been checking out this thread again now that I've been playing my Ampeg again after not touching it for years.
Does anyone have a standard formula for how far to unscrew the pickup adjustment screws after they are tight enough to completely choke the pickup?
Here is some info in return!
Pulled from a latin jazz email list ages ago....
Jon Fausty engineered the majority of the major New York latin music recordings of the the 70's and 80's. Here is his secret sauce for baby bass eq.
"Not all baby basses sound fat to begin with. Make sure the bridge is adjusted
evenly to give an even volume [amplitude] from the four strings. Apply a
shelf EQ of +3db @ 80Hz. Attenuate -4db @ 1.3Khz with a Q of1.0. Compress
mildly no more than 1.5 to 2.0db at a ratio of 2 to 1 with an attack time
50ms and a release time of 100ms. This rudimentary formula should get you in
the ball park."
Does anyone have a standard formula for how far to unscrew the pickup adjustment screws after they are tight enough to completely choke the pickup?
Here is some info in return!
Pulled from a latin jazz email list ages ago....
Jon Fausty engineered the majority of the major New York latin music recordings of the the 70's and 80's. Here is his secret sauce for baby bass eq.
"Not all baby basses sound fat to begin with. Make sure the bridge is adjusted
evenly to give an even volume [amplitude] from the four strings. Apply a
shelf EQ of +3db @ 80Hz. Attenuate -4db @ 1.3Khz with a Q of1.0. Compress
mildly no more than 1.5 to 2.0db at a ratio of 2 to 1 with an attack time
50ms and a release time of 100ms. This rudimentary formula should get you in
the ball park."
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If you have a Facebook
/messenger adress, I can send you a video the "Sendel" have made
Hi all,
I have a KK baby bass and was wondering if anyone has experimented with gut / synthetic strings. I'm sure some have...if so, would love to hear opinions.
I have a KK baby bass and was wondering if anyone has experimented with gut / synthetic strings. I'm sure some have...if so, would love to hear opinions.
New to the club! I bought an Azola Ampeg Baby Bass reissue and have used it on every Mavericks gig since October 2! We do play a fair amount of Latin-influenced music, but I find the tone is also perfect for everything we do. My Chadwick has been doing a great job, but nothing out punches the G string on that Baby! I'm still learning how to "dance" with it, I had a pretty good physical connection with the upright... the Ampeg feels a little squirrelly sometimes, but the tone, and ease of use at high volume is addictive!
It has the original strings on it, and I'd leave them except they are slightly damaged from a fall (previous owner) and they have some nicks in them. They're probably LaBella steels... I have a set of the solo gauge LaBella Black Nylons... but I'm a little nervous about them... they seem too thin for me. I have a long gig, but I also have strong hands. I'm waiting on an E (the solos are a bumped high-C set) before I put them on. I thought about a synthetic gut, like Rotos or Innovations for the D&G... Maybe the whole set... Well...time to obsess about strings for a whole new instrument I guess!
It has the original strings on it, and I'd leave them except they are slightly damaged from a fall (previous owner) and they have some nicks in them. They're probably LaBella steels... I have a set of the solo gauge LaBella Black Nylons... but I'm a little nervous about them... they seem too thin for me. I have a long gig, but I also have strong hands. I'm waiting on an E (the solos are a bumped high-C set) before I put them on. I thought about a synthetic gut, like Rotos or Innovations for the D&G... Maybe the whole set... Well...time to obsess about strings for a whole new instrument I guess!
Hey Ed...looking forward to hear about your string adventures. I haven't strayed off of the Spirocores yet on the KK baby bass..but did try a different experiment. I had a K&K bass max pickup lying around in a drawer, so I decided to try it on the Baby Bass. It had some nice qualities to it..but not enough to use by itself. So I picked up a Radial Tonebone 2 channel preamp and mixed the stock pickup with the K&K Bass max. It's been fun so far. More highs, more output...it takes some fiddling - but it's been working out well.
You mentioned the "dance" with the baby bass, so I should mention this. Not having a full size DB body against me felt weird. I got used to it, but one thing I really disliked was how the bass "spins" ...It's probably my bad technique, but if I am plucking and NOT using a "baseball bat grip" on my left hand - the bass sorta spins. Anyway - I fashioned a sort of "T" for the base of the endpin, with rubber grips on the ends. It's not an elegant design, but it stops the spin. I'll post a picture if anyone needs to see it.
You mentioned the "dance" with the baby bass, so I should mention this. Not having a full size DB body against me felt weird. I got used to it, but one thing I really disliked was how the bass "spins" ...It's probably my bad technique, but if I am plucking and NOT using a "baseball bat grip" on my left hand - the bass sorta spins. Anyway - I fashioned a sort of "T" for the base of the endpin, with rubber grips on the ends. It's not an elegant design, but it stops the spin. I'll post a picture if anyone needs to see it.
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That's a great idea, the "T".
Taking it one step further in my mind... a socket (to receive the end-pin's tip) mounted on something like a camera tripod gimble that's in turn fixed to an I-frame on the floor (I've got a portable bike repair stand with an I-frame base that the bike-stand itself pops into).
The gimble slows down the rotation in all directions yet still allows for the "dance" so you can move with the music and lean the bass in any direction, and of course you can adjust the gimble to how much resistance you want/need. You'd still need a stand for the bass though, what I'm picturing won't support the bass hands-free.
Congrats on the new bass Ed, also looking forward to hearing of your string explorations.
PS: Pics or the Azola didn't happen.
Taking it one step further in my mind... a socket (to receive the end-pin's tip) mounted on something like a camera tripod gimble that's in turn fixed to an I-frame on the floor (I've got a portable bike repair stand with an I-frame base that the bike-stand itself pops into).
The gimble slows down the rotation in all directions yet still allows for the "dance" so you can move with the music and lean the bass in any direction, and of course you can adjust the gimble to how much resistance you want/need. You'd still need a stand for the bass though, what I'm picturing won't support the bass hands-free.
Congrats on the new bass Ed, also looking forward to hearing of your string explorations.
PS: Pics or the Azola didn't happen.
Regarding the "dance".... At first I thought about mounting the bass on a tripod, but I think the Azola is a little too heavy for that. I bought a HK stand from Gollihur that fits the bass very well, but I found I didn't like playing it in a static position. My gig is long, and I need to move around or I get sore. The spinning isn't really a problem for me most of the time, I'm getting used to the feel of the bass.
Regarding strings... has anyone tried the LaBella Tapes in a bumped/solo gauge set? I used the regular set on my upright years ago, loved the tone... but they did get tiring in the left hand because they were thick and tight. The solos make me nervous though.... cheese cutters! Any first hand experiences?
Oh... here's a pic!
Regarding strings... has anyone tried the LaBella Tapes in a bumped/solo gauge set? I used the regular set on my upright years ago, loved the tone... but they did get tiring in the left hand because they were thick and tight. The solos make me nervous though.... cheese cutters! Any first hand experiences?
Oh... here's a pic!
I tried the LaBella tapewound bumped set, and found the high C tuned down to G was a little plinky, and the regular G was too stiff. So... for now I slapped on some Innovation Golden Slaps on the D&G (that’s all I have at the moment). I like them! I dig the thicker string with low tension feel, they decay a little more like gut.... I think I’ve got an E&A string at home, so maybe I’ll do the whole set at some point.
