Brubaker Brute Club

[a2zbassman]

hey all you brute fans . I need a little help here! i have tried to give the neck a little relief and after backing off about 3/4 turn I have not really noticed any change, i have never in the past had to give a bass relief (there is usually to much) but the truss rod feels loose at this point , so should I keep turning it to back it off ? I know it is a duel action truss rod but I have not had much experience trying to give relief , the way it is now is really flat (like no relief ) i can barley fit a playing card at the 7th fret.

Should be no problem. Just keep going counter-clockwise til you feel resistance. I wouldn't go more then a quarter to half turn without letting it settle for a bit. But you should have no problems. Mine was similar when trying to get it set up the first time.

 

[mmbongo]

My Brute (with Barts) made it's first appearance at band practice last night. My God it killed. I knew it was good, but holy crap it was GOOOOD.

Brute + Barts + Black Beauties = Bliss.

You can quote that

 

[johnnybass01]

well I ordered a set of Dr black beauties to throw on the brute. but I think I will have to take it in to have the nut changed , I have good relief on the neck but am getting a fret buzz on the D & G strings from the first fret through the sixth . and the action isn't quite where I want it . My tech always say i am way to picky about my bass setups and usually cuts the nut a little shallower than usual for me . I am pretty sure this is a non issue for most people , but I just like my bass's to play like butter..! I was actually thinking about just pulling the nut loose and maybe some extra glue would bring it up all I need , but when I do the playing card thing at the first fret , the B E & A are perfect it is just the D & G that are cut to low. I have to force the playing card under , and I do get buzz when I hit the string hard in open position , Bummer, Overall great bass though.

 

[johnnybass01]

What does anyone on this thread think of having the option for a single cut Brute model?

 

[DougD]

Soon I will join Hopefully

 

[drpepper]

What does anyone on this thread think of having the option for a single cut Brute model?

Doesn't do anything for me...but that's just because I personally prefer the aesthetics of double cut. My step-up would be an JXB or NBS

...not that I'd kick a KXB out of bed for eating crackers

 

[Jahjah]

I didn't know this club existed. I have had my Brute since the summer and have upgraded it with Bart classic pickups and an Aguilar OBP-3. Did the install myself. I also have a switch for the mids and parallel/singlecoil/series for the MM pickup. This bass stock had a very aggressive tone with a lot of mids. Adding the Barts and Aguilar added a lot of warmth and mid control that I did not have at first. Now this bass kills and has become one of my more consistent players in the bass rotation.

Hey I have a brute for about a month now. I love it. Its by far the best neck i've ever played on and I didn't sacrifice and pay thousands of dollars for it. Now to the point. I want to upgrage my electronics and Pickups to bartolini's. The reason i'm upgrading is because feel there is a lack warmth and mid control(to some extent). The shop that i purchased it from, the guy told me to order it and they will install it because I can probly get it quicker as in his shop has a lot going on. With that said can you point me in the right direction probly some links. I figured the MM pick up is one size fits all but the j pick up for the neck has a few different sizes or types atleast thats what i was getting from this one website that I was on. So i figured why not ask somebody who's done it before. Thanks in advance for your help. I'd hate to order the wrong thing and have to prolong the process. Anybody with some no-how feel free to respond or have a better suggestions. I was thinking for the pre-amp:

http://www.bestbassgear.com/bartolini-preamps-ntmb.htm#

4.7 A/P
2 Pickup - 4 knob, 1 Switch configuration
Controls:
- Volume (with Active/Passive push-pull)
- Blend
- Mid
- Treble/Bass Stack.
- Mid Frequency Selector Switch

Only because its very similar to what i have on my BTB prestige... I'll have to get the guy to make a hole for the mid switch on the Brute though.

 

[mmbongo]

The MM pickup is not one size fits all, I think the Brute uses the longer 'Lakland' sized MM humbucker (we're talking 5 string right?). Bartolini makes a replacement.

I have the JJ model, and I put Barts in mine. Love it. I went with an EMG preamp becasue they were much cheaper mainly. But the addition of a mid sweep instead of just a switch with limited selection, and shelving EQ instead of just a boost also made the EMG a good choice. I gave up active/passive to get those two features, and I'm glad I did

 

[Jahjah]

Yes its the MJX-5... I'm not sure what a mid sweep is really is but its something for me to google. I'm an amature when it comes to the stuff. I just know what sound i'm looking for and play with the knob until i get the desired sound I like for a particular song or the sound the bassist had on the track that I'm playing.

I will look into EMG pre-amp Hey help me narrow it down click the link and replay if you can suggesting what would be best.
http://www.bestbassgear.com/bartolini-pickups-2.htm

Tonight when I get home i shall dig through my stuff to find a ruller or tape measure and measure these pickups... Not quite sure type of J pick up to get for the neck pick-up. It seems to have alot of options... Seems like i have alot more researching to do with this pick-up stuff.

 

[johnnybass01]

I have the JJ model 5 string and although I have decided on pickups bartolini , I still can't decide on preamp.

 

[mmbongo]

Yes its the MJX-5... I'm not sure what a mid sweep is really is but its something for me to google.

Mid sweep is basically like the selectable mid frequency on the Bartolini preamps, except that instead of having 1 or 2 options to choose from a mid sweep control has a pot that 'sweeps' the entire frequency range so you can chose ANY frequency that's in between the range of the control.

For instance, a switchable mid frequency preamp might let you choose either 300hz or 800hz for the mid control. A sweepable control will let you select anything in between 300hz and 2000hz with just a turn of the knob. That's just an example.

This is the preamp I used:
Invalid Link Removed

This looks to be the MM pickup for the 5 string:
http://www.bestbassgear.com/bartolini-dl5cbc-pickups.htm

The 59CBJS (neck) is the neck pickup I used:
Invalid Link Removed

 

[DaveTomasi]

Welcome to skyj. You are now our newest member.

J. Crawford - 1 (On Hiatus)
Supertanker - 2 (Retired)
a2zbassman - 3
orlando123 - 4
DaveTomasi - 5
JayCY - 6
coop - 7
vision - 8 (Retired)
stoneboy26 - 9
drpepper - 10
liquidsunshine -11
Billy Low - 12
Robear22 - 13
jjbb123 - 14
madsci918 - 15
zulujack - 16
johnnybass01 - 17
mmbongo - 18
skyj - 19

 

[skyj]

sweet! glad to be part of "the Brute Squad" (care of mmbongo).

now with a couple of questions:
what exactly is the black allen screw in the center of each bridge saddle for? when i pulled the bass out of the box the ones for the E and B string popped out.

I saw mention in earlier threads about the "pan" knob and how it doesn't really pan.
it seems to just switch from front to back pickups and you can he the skip.
is there a fix? it doesn't really bother me right now and i'm leaning toward replacing the pups with barts soon anyway. just curious.

Thanks again

 

[skyj]

well I ordered a set of Dr black beauties to throw on the brute. but I think I will have to take it in to have the nut changed , I have good relief on the neck but am getting a fret buzz on the D & G strings from the first fret through the sixth . and the action isn't quite where I want it . My tech always say i am way to picky about my bass setups and usually cuts the nut a little shallower than usual for me . I am pretty sure this is a non issue for most people , but I just like my bass's to play like butter..! I was actually thinking about just pulling the nut loose and maybe some extra glue would bring it up all I need , but when I do the playing card thing at the first fret , the B E & A are perfect it is just the D & G that are cut to low. I have to force the playing card under , and I do get buzz when I hit the string hard in open position , Bummer, Overall great bass though.

hey johnny, i'm finding the same issue with the fret buzz on open G and D. thanks for the nut suggestion, gonna work on it more tonight.

 

[mmbongo]

sweet! glad to be part of "the Brute Squad" (care of mmbongo).

now with a couple of questions:
what exactly is the black allen screw in the center of each bridge saddle for? when i pulled the bass out of the box the ones for the E and B string popped out.

I saw mention in earlier threads about the "pan" knob and how it doesn't really pan.
it seems to just switch from front to back pickups and you can he the skip.
is there a fix? it doesn't really bother me right now and i'm leaning toward replacing the pups with barts soon anyway. just curious.

Thanks again

Oddly, mine does not have the screws in the center of the saddles. As far as I can tell they are just there to lock the saddle in place. Every other bass I've seen that uses this bridge has the screws there, but not mine!

Also oddly enough, the pan knob on mine did actually pan between the pickups. Maybe it was fixed in the later basses, as mine is #84. However, installing Barts and a new preamp in mine made a HUGE difference. I didn't hesitate to go all out on the pickup swap since I only paid $300 for my Brute, but I think even regular passive pickups would be quite an upgrade if you can't justify adding a preamp just yet.

 

[drpepper]

Oddly, mine does not have the screws in the center of the saddles. As far as I can tell they are just there to lock the saddle in place. Every other bass I've seen that uses this bridge has the screws there, but not mine!

Also oddly enough, the pan knob on mine did actually pan between the pickups. Maybe it was fixed in the later basses, as mine is #84. However, installing Barts and a new preamp in mine made a HUGE difference. I didn't hesitate to go all out on the pickup swap since I only paid $300 for my Brute, but I think even regular passive pickups would be quite an upgrade if you can't justify adding a preamp just yet.

Mine doesn't have the black screws either. I'm curious now. I'll have to check for holes when I get home.

IIRC, the pan issue was only with the MJX.

 

[johnnybass01]

Mine is number oo12 , and the blend is actually a blend , and I did get my set up right the nut was cut to low on the g&d so I removed it , took a pc of aluminum from a coke can shaped to the back of the nut then glued it in , i had to refile the b,,e,a but now it is perfect, i have the relief set at about a credit card gap at the 7th fret and the action is unreal. also put on the DR black beauties, very good match for this bass, they are also the newer ones that have a better coating and after playing for three weeks I cant see anywhere that the coating is coming off.And those set screws at the bridge I removed, they are kind of a pain in the butt..and not really needed, my TBC has the same bridge without the set screws and no problem..

 

[Jahjah]

You are correct sir in the proper pickups, I confirmed with "bestbassgear" I have them in my cart... I'm trying to get the Aguilar 3band pre-amp stack with mid switch(don't remember the item number at the moment) but there is no place where i can add it to the cart on their website. I guess i'll e-mail them on monday. I'll post some pics when its done. I'm trying to get a white pickguard but I can't seem to get a hold of Brubaker... Oh well black it is for now. Who knows i may loose it one day and just spray paint it white!!! For now whats there is doing the trick and the church folk and myself are lovin it... it got that burpy tone!!!(thats what the Malcom, dude who has all those brubaker youtube videos, refers to it as)

Mid sweep is basically like the selectable mid frequency on the Bartolini preamps, except that instead of having 1 or 2 options to choose from a mid sweep control has a pot that 'sweeps' the entire frequency range so you can chose ANY frequency that's in between the range of the control.

For instance, a switchable mid frequency preamp might let you choose either 300hz or 800hz for the mid control. A sweepable control will let you select anything in between 300hz and 2000hz with just a turn of the knob. That's just an example.

This is the preamp I used:
Invalid Link Removed

This looks to be the MM pickup for the 5 string:
http://www.bestbassgear.com/bartolini-dl5cbc-pickups.htm

The 59CBJS (neck) is the neck pickup I used:
Invalid Link Removed

 

[mmbongo]

I'm trying to get a white pickguard but I can't seem to get a hold of Brubaker... Oh well black it is for now.

I bought a black guard from him for mine, I think it was around $40 after shipping. I just emailed him and he always got back to me within a day, he might be busy right now.

And let me just say I've always hated basses with pickguards because they warp, don't sit flat, and overall just feel and look cheap. But NOT these pickguards! They are about the thickness of THREE F*nder pickguards and are as solid as the wood underneath. I even use mine as a thumb anchor. They're that thick!

 

[Jahjah]

I bought a black guard from him for mine, I think it was around $40 after shipping.

Is your original pickguard White for the MJX-5? You wouldn't happen to have switched out a white MJX-5 pickguard for that black one you bought? Let me know!

Just got in contact with Brubaker and he wont have any white pickguards for the MJX-5 until April, but the way the e-mail is worded seems as if he has for the JJX-5.