Double Bass BSX Allegro Users?

[Suntower]

I've had no issues with the end pin. We may have different 'versions'.

On further reflection, I think a big part of the sound issues I've had are the piezo transducers. I have toyed with the idea of trying miniature mics... like those used in super-hi quality acoustic guitar pups. They sound dramatically better than piezos. (at least on guitar) Probably cost a fortune, though.

I've decided I'm not gonna spend another 2p on this. It is what it is.

What I've settled into using the thing for a lot is sort of a 'Baby Bass' sound... Sort of like a scooped 'Music Man'... sharp attack and bottom but no middle. Which is fine.

But at some point, I'll look at a 'real' upright. I'm just missing 'the air' too much I think.

 

[cuatro_cuerdas]

Some updates.

2. I did a couple of things to tackle the rattles.
a) I simply took off and put back on the neck a couple of times. It turns out that how one does that makes a BIG difference in the -tone- which I never noticed before.

b) I stuck some foam in the battery compartment and it not only made a buzz on two notes go away, but that too made the tone -noticeably- better. Hurray! OTOH, it also made another note -start- to buzz. Argggh!

I wish I could make -all- the buzzes go away.
---JC

Hi suntower, I change my helicore strings to velvet anima on my BSX allegro and the tone is fantastic, but after I changed the strings I got buzzes on my A string and it is really annoying, you said you put some foam in the battery compartment and that fixed the problem, I wonder if you could post some pictures about that process ? , I want badly to get rid of that noise in the A string..

 

[Suntower]

As soon as I find a spare $304 I'll give 'em a try. Oy.

Is the 'buzz' coming from inside? Usually when people say 'buzz' there's something on the bridge or nut.

All I did was open the back 2nd plate --- where the circuit board is --- and put a piece of packing foam where one of the wires is... I think it was probably a bit loose.

---JC

Hi suntower, I change my helicore strings to velvet anima on my BSX allegro and the tone is fantastic, but after I changed the strings I got buzzes on my A string and it is really annoying, you said you put some foam in the battery compartment and that fixed the problem, I wonder if you could post some pictures about that process ? , I want badly to get rid of that noise in the A string..

 

[cuatro_cuerdas]

As soon as I find a spare $304 I'll give 'em a try. Oy.

Is the 'buzz' coming from inside? Usually when people say 'buzz' there's something on the bridge or nut.

All I did was open the back 2nd plate --- where the circuit board is --- and put a piece of packing foam where one of the wires is... I think it was probably a bit loose.

---JC

Yes you have to give it a try,the animas are so nice to play!

I did the same by the way, I took the circuit board out and put some foam inside, but the buzzing was still present, I did the same with the battery comparment, and the buzz was still present, so I suspect that it is comming from the nut or bridge, I think I will delivered to a luthier to investigate this problem, I don't want to mess around with the nut or the bridge..

 

[gvb1]

I drilled small indentations at diffrent lengths in my endpin so that the screw locks into them.

I've had no issues with the end pin. We may have different 'versions'.

On further reflection, I think a big part of the sound issues I've had are the piezo transducers. I have toyed with the idea of trying miniature mics... like those used in super-hi quality acoustic guitar pups. They sound dramatically better than piezos. (at least on guitar) Probably cost a fortune, though.

I've decided I'm not gonna spend another 2p on this. It is what it is.

What I've settled into using the thing for a lot is sort of a 'Baby Bass' sound... Sort of like a scooped 'Music Man'... sharp attack and bottom but no middle. Which is fine.

But at some point, I'll look at a 'real' upright. I'm just missing 'the air' too much I think.

 

[gvb1]

I have used La Bella Deep Talkin strings and they sound great pizz but don't bow worth diddly.

Hi suntower, I change my helicore strings to velvet anima on my BSX allegro and the tone is fantastic, but after I changed the strings I got buzzes on my A string and it is really annoying, you said you put some foam in the battery compartment and that fixed the problem, I wonder if you could post some pictures about that process ? , I want badly to get rid of that noise in the A string..

 

[bobsax]

I drilled small indentations at diffrent lengths in my endpin so that the screw locks into them.

If you can show us a pic ,I'd love to see how it looks.

One of the cool things about EUB's is you can play and sit in a normal chair.
I made a short pin for sitting with a 13" threaded steel pipe, a nut , a garden hose washer and a rubber end plug. This way I don't need the tightening screw with the huge handle that always gets stuck in the case.
Down side is it will fall out when you lift the bass.
I may try a velcro strap to keep it from falling out but usually I just reach down and hold the instrument with one hand on the pin.

 

[BigWookie]

Hi,

First post here. Be gentle.

I've had a BSX Allegro 4-5 years now. Like it a lot, but I don't see anyone these days using them where I live (Seattle) so I have some questions.

1. Anyone recommend a -stand- for these things? I'm constantly worried about the thing falling over. Dino sells a 'display stand' but it's kinda expensive and doesn't really look all that practical for use on a gig. I just need something to lean it against that's stable. Suggestions?

2. Anyone use a different 'belly rest'? The one mine came with isn't adjustable. I wish the -length- was adjustable. Suggestions?

3. Mine suffers from fairly chronic 'rattles'... sometimes it's the battery cage; other times, the wires inside move around and vibrate with certain notes. Suggestions?

4. I've been using helicores. To me they sound a bit better than the spirocores it came with... I mean it has so much sustain, the helicores kinda toned it down. But I wonder if there are other suggestions that would work even better. This is more about -me- than the audience. To the audience it sounds -great-. But from my POV, it often sounds kinda dead. Obviously it will never have the 'big' sound of a real upright, but any help would be good.

I'm just wondering if these are common issues with common solutions. Again, it's not like a Fender Jazz where everyone has 'em and you can see what others do.

TIA,

---JC

Response to Sunflower's first post. As for the belly rest. I picked up a 6" pre-threaded extension metal rod and a threaded coupler (female both ends) at the local Service Star hardware store. It works for me.

 

[Glenn Harris]

Ultimately, all unfretted basses (EUB's, DB's, BG's, etc.) are unforgiving when it comes to intonation. We have to constantly work at it to get the intonation right, and the BSX Allegro (the hollow-body, in my case) isn't any different, in this context. It may be that, if the BSX projects well, it's because it puts out more mid- and upper-range overtones, which makes it easier to hear when notes are in tune. . . and out of tune. And, of course, intonation is more of a challenge for arco playing than for pizz.

I got my Allegro with the optional dots, and they are a huge help in getting the intonation right.

 

[stefaniw80401]

The BSX gig bag for the allegro does not fit the instrument very well (way too loose), the handles are in the wrong places, and the balance, when using the shoulder strap, is clumsy. Has anyone had a custom bag/case made for their Allegro, or found an existing commercial bag/case that works better?

 

[bobsax]

Ultimately, all unfretted basses (EUB's, DB's, BG's, etc.) are unforgiving when it comes to intonation. We have to constantly work at it to get the intonation right, and the BSX Allegro (the hollow-body, in my case) isn't any different, in this context. It may be that, if the BSX projects well, it's because it puts out more mid- and upper-range overtones, which makes it easier to hear when notes are in tune. . . and out of tune. And, of course, intonation is more of a challenge for arco playing than for pizz.

I got my Allegro with the optional dots, and they are a huge help in getting the intonation right.

Yes I agree. Lately I just keep my allegro out for practice. It's so much easier to sit in a regular chair at my desk. The double bass stays in his bag but gets plenty of use on gigs. I feel the practicing with the BSX helps my pitch with the upright.

The BSX gig bag for the allegro does not fit the instrument very well (way too loose), the handles are in the wrong places, and the balance, when using the shoulder strap, is clumsy. Has anyone had a custom bag/case made for their Allegro, or found an existing commercial bag/case that works better?

Note
(I wrote this thinking that this was part of the BSX mega thread. My thoughts below are regarding the mega thread.)
It sure would be great if there was a better case. I think somebody mentions in this thread that there is somebody who will custom make you one. I'm not sure I need one badly enough to spend big dollars .
Please let us know if you find one though?
BTW I have posted that I think this thread is too long and it should be broken up into subcategories but most folks are fine with this long thread as it is.
You have my condolences if you try to go through all the pages to find out about the cases. IMO It would be nice if there was a separate thread for BSX cases. But the folks here at TB are happy with the way the threads are organized as they are .

 

[freshbass]

hey thanks.

When I googled that hamilton, I stumbled on the Ingles SA22 stand---which looks even better. Hadn't considered -either- so THANKS!

I didn't want to get Dino's stand, not just because of the cost, but mainly because it looked kinda inconvenient. I'll try the Ingles and report back.

I've also started realising another thing that grinds me about the Allegro... ieven though it sounds great from the audience POV... t's not just that it doesn't have the deeep low end air of a 'real' bass... it's that it is TOTALLY unforgiving in terms of intonation---in a way that's hard to describe.

There's something about it where... if you don't hit EVERY note just right, it sounds really sour. I have pretty good intonation at this point BUT whenever I play an upright I'm immediately struck by how much more forgiving each note is---there's sort of a -width- between notes where they sound acceptable. On the allegro, if you don't hit -every- note bang on, it's just no good. And frankly? Sometimes I don't want to work that hard---I mean, I find myself not being as 'adventurous' as I might otherwise be because I'm always on my guard with it. Sorry for rambling... it's a great instrument; just sort of a love/hate thing.

CHEERS!

---JC

The air/tone/forgiveness you describe is because a real upright's body is a 40" speaker so the note is "moving" and responding to notes very slowly and has natural reverb/delay. As for electric fretless one of the secret ingredients to Jaco's live sound and forgiving intonation is the 18" folded horn cabs and digital delay he played through...once again very slow moving note w/ added delay.

 

[bobsax]

I thought I was the only one that noticed how bad the intonation was…… I'm sure lots of us just think that we are worse than we actually are…… I guess I'll just have to put some dots on there…… And regarding the case, it would be nice if there was some thing a little snugger out there please report back if you find some thing.

 

[John Chambliss]

For the case, Messina already has the pattern for it and makes a very nice case including a pocket for the belly rest. I have Perpetual Solos on mine which work okay. I only perform with it when outside on a tiny stage, or when I have to fly to perform.

 

[stefaniw80401]

I've not had any better or worse intonation issues playing my BSX versus my acoustic double bass. The amplified notes obviously last longer on the BSX. That's probably why you are more sensitive to your intonation on this instrument.

I remember when I was in music school one of my studio mates was primarily a jazz player. He made a comment in performance class one day where he said his intonation is fine with pizzicato, but then with the bow it's all over the place. To which our bass teacher replied: no, your intonation is just as bad pizzicato as it is with the bow, but the bow practice exposes it because the notes last longer.

I play my BSX one night a week in a house band for a jazz jam. The rest of the week I am doing my classical practice on my DB. So here's a thought: if we practiced our BSX basses at home, then our pizz intonation might actually improve faster than if we only take our BSX out on gigs where our DB ought not be going?

 

[Doublebasstim]

For the case, Messina already has the pattern for it and makes a very nice case including a pocket for the belly rest. I have Perpetual Solos on mine which work okay. I only perform with it when outside on a tiny stage, or when I have to fly to perform.

Do you by chance own a Messina bag and if you do could you share a picture?

 

[John Chambliss]

Yes I do have a Messina bag for it. I’ll post a pic of it soon.

 

[John Chambliss]

Yes I do have a Messina bag for it. I’ll post a pic of it soon.