I'm not sure you're following the discussion. I'm talking about the bass. There is no gain and master. Otherwise, yeah, I'm hip to the way to set gain stages on an amp.
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Chef
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I think he's talking about the relationship b/t neck and bridge volume, with neither full on; not necessarily amp volume...other than to push it up a little bit to make up for the decrease in gain at the bass.
ex: bridge at 90, neck at 60. very much different than bridge full on, neck at 90...
With v/v/t Jazz basses in particular, this is a Big Deal in colouring the sound.
ex: bridge at 90, neck at 60. very much different than bridge full on, neck at 90...
With v/v/t Jazz basses in particular, this is a Big Deal in colouring the sound.
Odd... his post really reads like he's talking about the amp, but yeah, what you're saying is what I'm saying. I was just bringing the amp in to deal with compensating for a lower overall output level from the bass, if you wanna' cop the tone you get by not diming the bass vol controls.
Ooh I had no idea it made a difference. Like the example you gave of "bridge 90, neck 60" vs. "bridge 100, neck 90." I'll def. play around with this more once I'm off my break from the praise team next month to see how it is in the band setting. This is my first time with a V/V setup so I still have much to learn.
And PocketGroove was probably talking about AMP settings not bass control settings like we were talking about.
Vic, when you guys say "back off" on the VTC or PTC, which ever one it is, does this mean going counter clockwise?
And PocketGroove was probably talking about AMP settings not bass control settings like we were talking about.
Vic, when you guys say "back off" on the VTC or PTC, which ever one it is, does this mean going counter clockwise?
Sure. Here's that last pic and then the new one after. No doubt, looks great, and I'm sure this will be a very polarized topic with folks, but I still think I'm gonna' leave it off for a while.
do you still have the vf5? if so, how do the two compare tonally?
Paul's LG-5 sits pretty well if you ask me
I actually wish we could hear what Stu could do with an AC in his hands.
It's hard to know the absolute levels of the volumes visually. My two Alleva's had the lines on the knobs in a bit different position (i.e., visually, full on looks different on both basses).
When you turn the volume controls down on a passive bass (i.e., the 90/60 versus 100/70) you will lose a little top end (which to me is not a particularly good thing). It's usually a better idea to dime both volume controls in passive mode, and then slightly reduce the volume of the pickup you want to reduce. It's a lot easier to really know where you are at with that also, since the pickup full on is 'constant', and also will not show that capacitance treble drop-off that happens when reducing the volume pot in passive mode.
IMO and IME.
The good news is, the active and passive tone of the Alleva's is so close that even though the passive mode sounds great, it's virtually identical to the active mode with the tone controls set flat
The VF compares quite favorably, I must say, and the added midrange control is also a nice feature, giving the VF a slight edge in tonal flexibility, whereas the LG has the edge in 60's J tone faithfulness. The VF is a bit more aggressive, almost adding a touch of 70's tone to it.
The VF is also really a different animal physically. The neck profile is totally different. it's a bit deeper of a C and has a much larger fretboard radius. It also has an even less traditional look to it of course between the body and the headstock designs. George's body design grants much easier access to the upper frets though, if that's important to you.
They both are pretty comparable in price, so that's a wash.
George's construction is superb, as are the quality of his woods and finish, so in fit/finish/materials/quality, I also consider them both to be a wash. The Madagascar rosewood on the VF is some of the best looking rosewood I've seen, but I do prefer the darker look of that super old and dark Indian rosewood Jimmy picked. I don't know if most Indian rosewood is like that, but this piece is just unreal. I really love that darker, almost like ebony from afar, look.
In overall feel, however, I have to give the LG the edge. The VF is an absolutely great bass... no doubt... I personally like them even better than the BN's, but Jimmy's got this "alive" thing going on with his basses that I don't feel quite as much of with the VF. I don't know if it's the bigger body, the particularly old woods he's a stickler about, or what, but it's there. I also find I prefer the smaller radius and shallower C neck profile. Just feels better to me personally.
I love the VF and don't have plans to sell it any time soon, but the bottom line is, if you want "the perfect execution of the classic sound and feel", IMHO, the AC is the only way to go.
I hear what you're saying about trying to judge based on lines in a video. It is possible one is dimed... especially if they moved the pots around when they swapped the preamp... totally plausible. However, I did find, FWIW, I could get a bit closer to what I was hearing if I didn't dime the bridge. Yeah, you lose high end when you add that resistor, BUT, it's not the same animal as diming it and dropping the PTC, and at least IMHO, it was kind of a cool sound. That was what I learned. Like you, as a matter of practice, I always dime at least one of the vols, so this is why it was interesting to me.
- Apr 3, 2003
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Sure. Here's that last pic and then the new one after. No doubt, looks great, and I'm sure this will be a very polarized topic with folks, but I still think I'm gonna' leave it off for a while.
Great looking bass, Vic! I definitely prefer it with the pickguard off, but then I am probably more sensitive than most to that "pickguard, but no control plate cover" thing.
Tom.
Great looking bass Vic! I love it either way with the guard or without! I am glad to know that you feel the "alive" thing I was trying to get across. I have played 6 Allevas now and they all have that alive feeling. The Dalbergia LG5 I have now is amazing in that regard. I also have my Booker King and I am REALLY having a hard time deciding which to play all the time. I am out for a week now on the road and I only took out my 2 Allevas and it is really tough to decide which one to pick up when we start a set! Bottom line is Jimmy is making great basses and no matter what kind of Alleva you have it is going to be pretty special!!! Congrats and play her in good health!
Peace,
T
Peace,
T
Tom7
I'm so bright, my mom called me son! ;-)
Count me as a vote for the pick guard on. It completes the vintage look and vibe.
I can appreciate a sensitivity to the lack of a control plate cover, but I am even more sensitive to scratched up finishes under the strings over time from slapping without a pick guard.
For looks and function, I vote pick guard.
Thanks! Oh yeah, the alive thing is huge to me in a high end instrument. I can give up all the uber-exotic rare and beautiful woods if it's not particularly musical for that kinda' money... and I HAVE played instruments that were breathtaking to look at, but just "laid there" musically. Done. Forget it. I'll Pass.
Thanks! Oh yeah, the alive thing is huge to me in a high end instrument. I can give up all the uber-exotic rare and beautiful woods if it's not particularly musical for that kinda' money... and I HAVE played instruments that were breathtaking to look at, but just "laid there" musically. Done. Forget it. I'll Pass.
+1 I learned the hard way over the years that glue and laminates have very little to do with resonance and tone.
Well, once you put the pickguard on, that part of the finish is covered up, and with the screw holes, you'll probably never have it off again, and a pickguard shows scratches too. I figure either way, it's all about the look... not really protection... at least in my case. If I was a heavy handed picker or slapper, I might be concerned more about that area below the 1st string getting torn up, but I'm not, so that's not an issue for me.
I think I feel a poll coming on... yep, I do... here's the link...
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=537451
FWIW, I like guardless... IMO, Jimmy's already kinda turned away from the vintage look with the foregoing of the control plate, and I was never too keen on the sharp cutout in the pickguard where the control plate would have contacted the pickguard. Plus... I just love seeing as much grain as possible!
Tom7
I'm so bright, my mom called me son! ;-)
I cannot make up my mind which of the two I prefer overall. The playability of the VF is definitely better, but that is because George departed on purpose from vintage specs where it appears he could make improvements without a detrimental affect on tone.
But as for FEEL, which I think of as different to playability, I couldn't pick a favorite between these two basses.
I don't know if this makes any sense, but often the feel of a bass affects my choices as a player. With some basses in my hands, I just feel like playing a bit differently.
When I'm holding my Coppolo, I find myself playing bass in a more traditional supporting role. When I hold my VF, I'm more tempted to use different right hand techniques and make different choices in notes as well.
I don't know if that made any sense at all, I just hope that souring economics never put me in a position to have to sell one or the other, because I don't know how I could make that decision.
I THINK it did... you seem to be saying your playing style is affected by the design of the instrument. I could see that happening.
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