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Tom7
I'm so bright, my mom called me son! ;-)
- Oct 17, 2006
- 731
- 21
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Aguilar Amplification, Dunlop/MXR
I hear you and I feel the same way about my LM5.
I've been using nothing but my LM5 since I got it in May and I've received loads of compliments from different soundmen on the clarity of it's tone in the house. I played at a jazz festival in Huntington Beach this weekend and the current bassist for the R&B group LTD complimented me on my playing and the tone of the bass. Everyone always ask "what kind of bass is that?"
I've NEVER gotten compliments like that with my Musicman. With that it was mostly "can you take some of the bass out because it's getting muddy out here." Also with the MM5 I had to really crank the volume and use the bridge pickup only to make it cut through the band and it still didn't kick hard in the mix like the LM5. Don't get me wrong, the MM5 is still a good bass but the LM5 is a GREAT bass.
- Oct 17, 2006
- 731
- 21
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Aguilar Amplification, Dunlop/MXR
I have the hipshot bridge and have absolutely no string alignment or saddle height issues whatsoever, and it's really easy and quick to change strings without scratching the body, too.
THAT'S why I opted for the hipshot. Amy Winehouse remix: They tried to make me get a Badass and I said No, No, No!
Seriously, I thought about the Badass but decided against it because although I like them I think it looks ******** on the 5-strings. It looks so much better with the Hipshot, IMHO!. The vintage bent plate or "classic" bridges weren't even in the running with me.
Ken,
I like your description of 'bouncing off the strings' with high end sizzle. I know exactly what you mean.
What strings do you find work best for this? I typically tune EADGC, for what it's worth. Right now I'm using DR Fatbeams on my STR 5er, which are decent, but I'm usually not a fan of stainless steel in terms of feel.
Thanks for your thoughts.
I like your description of 'bouncing off the strings' with high end sizzle. I know exactly what you mean.
What strings do you find work best for this? I typically tune EADGC, for what it's worth. Right now I'm using DR Fatbeams on my STR 5er, which are decent, but I'm usually not a fan of stainless steel in terms of feel.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Thanks Ken. Any other opinions on best strings for that bounce off the neck feel? Bass is ash/maple with an OBP3 preamp.
I took my RA4 out last weekend to my " higher volume than most" wedding band and got nothing but complements from the soundman and guitarist.
- Oct 17, 2006
- 731
- 21
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Aguilar Amplification, Dunlop/MXR
I played Tony's (when he had it) during a soundcheck and honestly, the sound, though good, didn't speak to me like the LM5 does. Like Ken, I'm a fan of that 70's ash/maple tone. I didn't care for the extra mid punchiness and the decrease in the sizzle on the LG5. Jimmy hit the nail on the head on both basses, though. The LG5 definitely sounds older than me whereas the LM5 sounds like it grew up with me and it's been a part of my family for years.
I guess I gave away my birth year, huh? I played Tony's (when he had it) during a soundcheck and honestly, the sound, though good, didn't speak to me like the LM5 does. Like Ken, I'm a fan of that 70's ash/maple tone. I didn't care for the extra mid punchiness and the decrease in the sizzle on the LG5. Jimmy hit the nail on the head on both basses, though. The LG5 definitely sounds older than me whereas the LM5 sounds like it grew up with me and it's been a part of my family for years.
+1 Both are just great. Also, at the start, I was trying to make my LG something that it wasn't by using bright stainless steel roundwound strings (DR Hi Beams). That, IMO, was not a good thing. Once I got those nice warm nickel roundwounds on the LG, that bass really came alive... plenty 'bright', but in that more 60's 'soft grind' way versus the sort of 'not quite as good as the LM' sort of top end and bit of 'scoop' that resulted from using steels on the LG. Also, the stainless steels kind of took away some of that beautiful low mid punch of the LG that is key to that sort of bass voicing and wood combination.
These basses are true enough to their origins that I find it best to 'let them speak' in their natural voice. Stainless steel rounds on the LM is just a thing of beauty... bright, GRINDY, aggressive, big low end. The nickel rounds (DR Lo Riders in my case), or flats if you really want to go old school, similarly mesh with the LG to provide that beautifull, warm, organic combination of a low mid push and a very 'woody' sort of growl.
Both are just great for what they are IMO! I can't quite figure out the RA though. That combination of alder and 70's pickup spacing and the gloss maple board is a strange one to my ear. The Hi Beams are definitely not the thing with that bass (as you can hear from my clips).... too sizzly, and too much of a hole in the upper mids. I'm thinking the Sadowsky Blue Label steels might do the trick, so will eventually try those.
At the risk of repeating myself, try the Fodera Victor Wooten Nickels, .040 - .120. If you don't like them Ken, I promise I'll buy them from you. Seriously!
Basseroni, KJung, I hear ya. One thing that's different between Ken and I tho, is at least I'm really diggin' SS strings on my LG. Basseroni, do you remember what strings were on that LG when you tried it? Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to convince you to be an LG fan-boy, I'm just curious about those who prefer the LM who have also had at least one gig experience with an LG. I know there's not a lot of us out there, since the AC's still aren't out in great numbers.
I know I've posted on this a bunch, but it just continues to surprise me how much I dig the LG, noting I DO generally gravitate towards the LM formula. I really need to revisit that bass, but to be honest, the LG just sounds so damn good it's hard to imagine liking one more, and of course my own previous experiences with an LM, while great, didn't speak to me as much as the LG (again, much to my own surprise!).
Interesting stuff anyway.
I know I've posted on this a bunch, but it just continues to surprise me how much I dig the LG, noting I DO generally gravitate towards the LM formula. I really need to revisit that bass, but to be honest, the LG just sounds so damn good it's hard to imagine liking one more, and of course my own previous experiences with an LM, while great, didn't speak to me as much as the LG (again, much to my own surprise!).
Interesting stuff anyway.
Basseroni, KJung, I hear ya. One thing that's different between Ken and I tho, is at least I'm really diggin' SS strings on my LG. Basseroni, do you remember what strings were on that LG when you tried it? Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to convince you to be an LG fan-boy, I'm just curious about those who prefer the LM who have also had at least one gig experience with an LG. I know there's not a lot of us out there, since the AC's still aren't out in great numbers.
I know I've posted on this a bunch, but it just continues to surprise me how much I dig the LG, noting I DO generally gravitate towards the LM formula. I really need to revisit that bass, but to be honest, the LG just sounds so damn good it's hard to imagine liking one more, and of course my own previous experiences with an LM, while great, didn't speak to me as much as the LG (again, much to my own surprise!).
Interesting stuff anyway.
Hey, relax Vic
If you dig it, you dig it!
Don't worry, I'm not stressed at all, I'm perfectly happy and content with my choices, just "noodling it" as you say.Hey, relax Vic
At the risk of repeating myself, try the Fodera Victor Wooten Nickels, .040 - .120. If you don't like them Ken, I promise I'll buy them from you. Seriously!
I am not a fan of any Fodera string I've ever played, and am not a fan of the company either, nor the price of those strings! I definitely want steel strings on the RA... if I can't get it in LM territory with the Blue Label Sadowsky steels, out it will go eventually. Again, wonderful bass, but it doesn't bring to mind any of the J tones that I really dig (whether that is the classic RW/alder 60's thing, or the classic ash/maple 70's thing).
The Stainless Low Riders are quite strong in the mids for a SS string...not as scooped as many SS strings can be.
Might want to consider them as well for a touch more zing/cut...(assuming you haven't already)
Yeah, actually the Sadowsky stainless are even moreso, which is why I think they might work very nicely on this particular bass. They have a big upper mid bump which is nice for 'roughing up' the top end of a bass that is a bit 'pure and hi fi' up there.
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