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Double Bass BSX Megathread

#41
Hey, saw this thread pop up...

I sold it about 6 months ago.

Yes, those models do have individual string volume adjusters, plus an overall internal volume gain. It was easy to get a seriously loud response from the instrument. It was beautiful in many ways...I just couldn't ever connect with it for some reason -- even after much practice and many gigs.

Good luck in your search!
 
#42
i gotta start a new thread on this thang. i just got mine last week, arrived at 2 p.m. thursday and i flew out with it at 7 a.m. friday.

many threads on this site say how great the bass is and what a great guy dino is -- and these threads helped me make my decision to go with bsx. i just really feel the need to add another blurb of props for dino and the bsx allegro 4.

i was looking merely for something better than an acoustic bass guitar or a questionable rental upright when traveling and i got way more than that. this bass really kills, in an amp, direct into a pa, the thing sounds, amplified, more like an ub than when i amplify my ub! or at least like a better one than my kay! i have a feeling i'll be reaching for it for a lot of gigs, even when i can take the kay. no it doesn't replace a real ub, but when you gotta be frikkin loud or fit it in a car with 4 people, well...

i never liked eubs because they look kinda silly, imo, and i can't play a stick on a tripod, which is what alot of them feel like to me. this bass actually responds a little more like an upright as you play it (not completely, but not bad!) and on an endpin with the belly rest attached, it didn't take long to get used to. i still feel like i'm playing with at least a very similar stance and technique as when i play the real deal.

i can set the action anywhere i want in seconds with an allen wrench and by turning the knob that you unscrew to detach the neck; dissasembling it takes like 10 minutes. i fit the whole thing, in it's gigbag, into the skb freedom golf case snug and secure and it survived 4 plane rides in baggage in a long weekend.

i've barely gotten to even know the thing yet and i'm just so impressed with it i had to rant like a teenage girl/groupie.

and dino has been spectacular to work with; i begged him to get it to me in time for this trip and he did, despite a heavy post-namm workload -- then he called me when i got back to make sure all was ok! great company, great product.
 
#43
Hey,
Thanks for the thread. I have a couple questions for ya tho.
1) When you say you "flew out" with it, I'm assuming you meant flying on an airplane. If this is so, did you take it on board as a carry on? If not, does it have a hard shell case availible. And How much extra did it cost to transport it on the airline, and finally, which airline did you fly?
2) Also, who did you buy it from, and how much did you pay it?
3) Finally, what amp do you play it through?

Sorry for being a pain, I've just been trying to do my homework on Travel basses for sometime. I'm looking for the best way to get me and a bass back and fourth accross the country.

Thanks!
 
#44
hey farin.
i flew delta, yes an aeroplane ;-)
i checked the bass in baggage packed away in the skb freedom golf bag case that i bought myself. dino does have a hardshell case avail but it is heavy and cumbersome. this was ample protection, light and easy and NO OVERAGE CHARGES!!! HURRAY!! anyone can fly with golf clubs, so anything that fits in that case works. i had the neck wrapped up in a towel next to the body, which had the bridge bubblewrapped and shrinkwraped down flat. they were next to each other in a very specific way in the gig bag with a piece of foam and it just, i mean JUST fits in this golf clb case, which is about 6 inches too tall.
another tb-er uses a slighty larger golf case and has a whole neat system for flying, too. i'm just a beginner with it.

i bought it direct from dino, www.bsxbass.com. i got it for right around the $2,000 mark.

so far i played it at home just through an ampeg ba112 combo amp, no processing, on an outdoor stage direct through a large outdoor pa (it rocked) and direct through a little, crappy yamaha 6-channel bar pa system with evs for mains. i was breaking up the speakers a little when i got agressive but i turned down a little and it was fine. i had the mid up kinda high, the treble flatlined and the bass at a litle past flat on the bass's onboard eq.

can't wait to try more.

hope that helps, i don't mind it at all. i had all the same questions and read, read and bugged other people too!
tim
 
#45
Congrats Tims on your new Allegro !:bassist:

I have the older "T" style, one of Dino's first ! Serial #4 . .
IMHO it's the Bartolini electronics that make these basses rock . .
The combination of Piezo and magnetic pups with the pre-amp on board lets you dial-in anything from a thin "stringy" piezo sound to a super fat pedal bass and everything in between.
Perfect for any loud amplified venue. ;)
 
#46
nice! i agree, it's the whole bridge/bartolini thing that kills. roll up the bass and fill up the low end like fretless bass guitar, roll up the mids to sound like a rich upright, roll up the treble to sound the way most are used to hearing heavily amplified ubs.

very versitile, indeed and the allegro ALMOST looks like a real bass ;-)
 
#47
timsway said:
another tb-er uses a slighty larger golf case and has a whole neat system for flying, too. i'm just a beginner with it.
Click to expand...
I think Tim is talking about me. The only special things I did were to have a bag made for the neck, and another bag made for the bridge so I can pack it up faster. Glad to share how I did that.

I also really like my BSX. Plays great, both arco & pizz.

-Bruce Morris
 
#48
Well in an effort to make my life easier I ordered an EUB. BSX was the only one I felt comfortable with and had one made to match or come close to the dimensions of my bass neck. The bass came, wrong color, most of the things I asked for were not respected and I was told if I was not happy I could return the instrument.
So Im not happy and now I just got told there will be a 10% restocking fee. Good times!
 
#49
Since it is "NOT AS ORDERED," I would call and talk to someone in management. You fulfilled your part of the transaction they did not.

This happened to me once with an electric bass, they sent the lower priced version and charged me for the deluxe. The dealer never saw it my way. I called the overseas manufacturer who was so mad about it that they sent me what I wanted direct and billed the store.
GOOD LUCK!
 
#52
(b) thank you bongomania!

I find an used allegro but I don't have the possibility of playing it becouse its far!!!
I play son, rumba y descargas with a new Cuban - Italy ensamble "son natural" :-)

A tres player barrowed me a Cuban semi hollowed baby bass that belonged to a bassist of Los joven clasicos del son,
it' s very warm.

Excuse me my english please!!!!!
 
#53
I searched and found a little bit of good tempting info.
But I'd like to know more before placing an order. I don't have the opportunity to try one before buying. Both MikeBass and Dino at BSX mentioned the Halfnote being less "fat" or "open" sounding than the Allegro, but by how much? Heck, my P-bass is super fat sounding, and it has less body and string length than the Halfnote (although the structure is clearly different). I'm more interested in the smaller size (to fit in a taxi) than the lower price, compared to the Allegro, but not if the tone isn't pleasingly full.

Thanks for any opinions you may have!
 
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#54
Bump! I am within a week or so of placing an order for a Halfnote, as I really like the looks of them compared to the other slim EUB's on the market, but I would really like to get some input from anyone who has used one. Positive, negative, whatever. Cheers!
 
#55
I've recently ordered an Allegro A4, it won't be in for months, but was wondering what strings current Allegro users have had success with, particularly with arco. I currently use Corelli 370's or Pirastraso Obligato's, and am considering trying Thomastik Belcanto's with my Juzek. Has anyone tried these strings with the Allegro?
 
#56
I have owned a half note acoustic electric upright for close to 2 years now. I believe I got one of the first ones. First of all, Dino at BSX is a great guy and second to none as far as customer service goes, you can usually get him on the phone and really goes the extra mile to make you happy.
This is my first EUB but I love it, sounds great, sets up easily and plays great. I wasn't completely impressed with some of the fit and finish (there are a couple drips of paint in spots) but overall it looks great. The pickup/preamp system could be a little hotter but actual acoustic volume is pretty generous for a slim body style.
I would highly reccomend a half note, I'm not sure what they cost present day but I feel the bang for the buck ratio is very high in the world of EUBs.
Keir
 
#59
Marcus, I certainly get asked that a lot but no he wasn't immediately related to me. Zemaitis is apparently a fairly common Lithuanian name. However, I feel a responsibilty to try my hand at building an instrument someday, hahaha.

Bongomania, I'm sure that the Allegro will really impress you. I've never played one but have total faith in Dinos work. The action on the halfnote was kind of high but I didnt adjust it for some time just so I could work on my ummm...upright muscles. When I did adjust it=butter!
Enjoy!
 
#60
Is there anyone here from the UK who
  • owns,
  • knows where I can HEAR in the UK,
  • knows where I can BUY in the UK,
a BSX allegro ?

From what I can see, and the reviews I've read it looks like this is the EUB for me. I'm considering ordering one (from the US) but since I haven't actually heard the thing yet that seems a bit rash.

So if you can suggest a way I might get to either hear one or play one, that would be much appreciated. Even if it's just that you know of a gigging band that uses one, I'd go to the gigs.

Pic below as memory jogger.

Invalid Link Removed

Cheers, Andy
 

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