Club Clement: Part 2 (post your basses here)

[TapyTap]

TapyTap was asking about the difference between the tones. Assuming he meant the difference between Neck and Bridge p-up, despite their proximity to eachother, I find a huge difference between them.

That is my train of thought.

 

[manjushri]

Thanks manjushri.

I am assuming that your Thumb has the "wider" pickup spacing with the "neck" pickup closer to the P-bass position. I have seen some Thumbs with the two pickups very close to each other at the bridge...wavey davey's new Clement comes to mind in this regard.

It sounds like your Thumb has a simple grounding problem. I have heard that the Q-Tuners are extremely quiet. It will probably be a simple fix.

I am still curious as to your chosen pickup locations on the Clement. However you choose to center them, those three rows of pole pieces on each BL should be interesting to tweak (Although it seems that all pole pieces up could be just perfect).

My Thumb does have the wider pups set up, not like wd's Clement. I spoke to my luthier and he suggested that they would always hum due to them being single coils, and I'll be honest, it's been almost two years since I ordered them, so I didn't realize at the time that they were dual humbucking like the BL's. I emailed Erno (not Arno). His reply:

"Like all neodymium Q-tuner models, the BS J-type is a double coiled humbucker-
100% noiseless. The buzz is most likely caused by a faulty wiring/connection
somewhere. First, look for the obvious i.e. has the bridge (!) been connected to
earth properly and did your luthier install 500 K pots. Try to connect your bass
to a different amp in another location to exclude the possibility of an earth
issue in your place. Also, check your cables. Deduction does it.

Rgds, Erno."

As far as the pup placement in the TC bass. I haven't really thought that much about it and have done little research on the affect of placement thus far. Any input would be appreciated as this is my first total custom job and I would like to be as informed as possible about different placements. The poles do offer an interesting variability - I'm sure tweakage is imminent.

 

[tjclem]

I didn't know they were supposed to have 500K pots. Please remind me when the time comes...t

 

[Lincoln]

Thanks for the comments - much appreciated!

Here is the finished bass... Perfect!!!

Hope you like it...

WOW! Seven strings! Tom, you're getting more and more adventurous and with great results!

 

[neobassman]

#181 arrived today in fine shape. I'm in love. First impressions: it's visually beautiful. the redwood top just glows, and the black hardware sets it off nicely. The build quality is really high - it was clearly made by a thoughtful craftsman. The neck is incredibly comfortable, even for a 5. It has almost no taper from 12th to 1st fret which took me a couple minutes to get used to - not a problem just different. It's comfortable around the neck and sitting (better than a J body), not heavy at all (will weigh it and report back).

Tom, the action is unbelievably low. It really threw me at first; I'm used to digging in. This bass as set up requires a light touch. However, now that I'm getting used to it, it just may spoil me for my other basses! It is almost a revelation how fast and easy this thing is to play, and the action is flawless from fret 1 to fret 24.

For tone, it has mwaaaaah that just won't quit. With the bridge (J) pickup, it just crys and develops a note for a few seconds, like wmaaaaooouuww, like Jaco was playing a fretted P-Bass by comparison. I have a PJ setup; the split P pickup at the neck is not really very P-like. It also has a growly mwah that I'm really going to have to figure out how to use to good effect. I can't see this bass standing in for a P-bass at all - it's got too distinct and unique a tone of its own. The sustain is incredible, especially for a fretless - I actually had to check to make sure I didn't have my compressor pedal on. I think the mahogany body has something to do with this? Absolutely Sick. The output was a bit low for my tastes but I tweaked the pickup heights and preamp trimmer which brought it more in line with my own preferences.

Thanks, Tom, it is a great sounding and looking instrument. Pictures and maybe even some sound clips in the future.

 

[arcangel6]

She is a beauty, redwood makes an incredible top!

Congrats,

Joe

#181 arrived today in fine shape. I'm in love. First impressions: it's visually beautiful. the redwood top just glows, and the black hardware sets it off nicely. The build quality is really high - it was clearly made by a thoughtful craftsman. The neck is incredibly comfortable, even for a 5. It has almost no taper from 12th to 1st fret which took me a couple minutes to get used to - not a problem just different. It's comfortable around the neck and sitting (better than a J body), not heavy at all (will weigh it and report back).

 

[jonmusician]

#181 arrived today in fine shape. I'm in love. First impressions: it's visually beautiful. the redwood top just glows, and the black hardware sets it off nicely. The build quality is really high - it was clearly made by a thoughtful craftsman. The neck is incredibly comfortable, even for a 5. It has almost no taper from 12th to 1st fret which took me a couple minutes to get used to - not a problem just different. It's comfortable around the neck and sitting (better than a J body), not heavy at all (will weigh it and report back).

Tom, the action is unbelievably low. It really threw me at first; I'm used to digging in. This bass as set up requires a light touch. However, now that I'm getting used to it, it just may spoil me for my other basses! It is almost a revelation how fast and easy this thing is to play, and the action is flawless from fret 1 to fret 24.

For tone, it has mwaaaaah that just won't quit. With the bridge (J) pickup, it just crys and develops a note for a few seconds, like wmaaaaooouuww, like Jaco was playing a fretted P-Bass by comparison. I have a PJ setup; the split P pickup at the neck is not really very P-like. It also has a growly mwah that I'm really going to have to figure out how to use to good effect. I can't see this bass standing in for a P-bass at all - it's got too distinct and unique a tone of its own. The sustain is incredible, especially for a fretless - I actually had to check to make sure I didn't have my compressor pedal on. I think the mahogany body has something to do with this? Absolutely Sick. The output was a bit low for my tastes but I tweaked the pickup heights and preamp trimmer which brought it more in line with my own preferences.

Thanks, Tom, it is a great sounding and looking instrument. Pictures and maybe even some sound clips in the future.

Congratulations on your new bass - looks stunning!!!

 

[wavey davey]

That is a beauty neoB. Tom's necks are superb, don'T ya think?

 

[tjclem]

Very happy you like 181 sorry I didn't get her weight when first assembled that is unusual. Would love to hear some clips.

To all my @#$@ mail server is messed up so I may be a little slow in answering e-mails.

 

[MrWalker]

Tom's instruments are incredibly low action, all of the ones I've had are the same, fretted and fretless alike. If you want them higher, you can... it's just to raise it. it's worse if you get a bass with a high action... and it can't be lowered!

ok, here are some soundclips for you guys. You have heard some of them before, but for new arrivers... *lol*

http://mrwalker.org/mp3/Chicken.mp3
My personal renedition of Chicken, based on a cheesy drum pattern I found. All tracks are my Anne bass, chambered 6-string with Bart magnetic and a piezo bridge. The bass line is Bart magnetic, the melody line is piezo, and there's one piezo and one magnetic solo in there.

http://mrwalker.org/mp3/Fantasi-Anne.mp3
My Clement Anne chambered in piezo-only mode. My own composition.

http://mrwalker.org/mp3/Feliz2.mp3
This is the music from Tom's Christmas greeting. The bass line is my Clement/Status Jazz bass, the intro line is the Anne in piezo mode. The melody line is my Tundra 4-string fretless. The counter-melody is my Tundra 6-string fretless. There are two solos, the Anne on the left channel and the Phoenix on the right channel. The first Anne solo is piezo only, the second is magnetic. The Phoenix is all piezo throughout. OK, it's a Xmas song, but... it does highlight some Clement soundscapes.

Link Removed
Finally, the promised Phoenix sound sample. This bass has flatwound Thomastik-Infeld strings tuned E-C. The first part is Q-tuner magnetic soloed, the second is Q-tuner/piezo mix 50/50, the third part is piezo soloed, before finally going back to solo Q-tuner again. It's a first take and nothing other than playing around, so please forgive any non-musicality.

 

[tjclem]

e-mail back up.

Jon, your playing kills me thanks!

 

[MrWalker]

oh Is it that bad???? sorry, mate!!!! I hope I don't throw too much shame on your wonderful instruments!

 

[tjclem]

 

[MrWalker]

thanks mate

 

[TapyTap]

Link Removed
Finally, the promised Phoenix sound sample.

Excellent! Thank you for taking the time to record and share this with us. What a fantastic sound you have there!

OK, now I am compelled to ask you some questions:

First off, how long is the scale length on your Phoenix bass? (Please forgive me if you have already answered any of my questions elsewhere, and I missed it somehow.)

Did you have Tom wire the Q-Tuner in series or parallel? (I am assuming it is wired in series.)

How did you determine the current location of your Q-Tuner. In fact, do you know what the exact measurement (mm or inches) is from the center/middle row of pole pieces to the nut? (Erno Zwaan, the man behind the Q-Tuners, says that changing the pickup placement by just a few millimeters makes quite a difference in the balance between lows and mid/high frequencies.)

One more question: are three rows of pole pieces all up in this recording?

Thanks, thanks, and more thanks!

Bryan

 

[wavey davey]

Mr Walker, beautiful work! I think I Heard some from the TCB website.

Your fantsi is just so beautifully played, the mood, the touch. Superb.

 

[MrWalker]

Yes, I believe a couple are up on Tom's site, too... I just found them in an mp3-folder on my web space, and I remember several asking about various sound options, so I thought I'd just link them in here. Somewhat easier for people to check it out.

Thanks for your nice words. I wrote that little piece for my niece on her confirmation day. It's a first take there are a couple rough spots I'd like to redo, but never found the time. well, I guess I should just *do* it, huh? *lol*

 

[MrWalker]

Excellent! Thank you for taking the time to record and share this with us. What a fantastic sound you have there!

Thanks, mate. Yes, Tom's fretless basses are all awesome sounding. I should record them all, they are truly amazing basses. It's why I have 3 of his fretlesses (4, 5, 6 strings, chambered, piezo, plain... hehe)

OK, now I am compelled to ask you some questions:

First off, how long is the scale length on your Phoenix bass? (Please forgive me if you have already answered any of my questions elsewhere, and I missed it somehow.)

*hehe* that's ok, ask away, I'll try to answer as best as I can, and I'm sure Tom can chip in on the rest!!

Scale length is 34". I just can't deal with anything else. I've tried at least 3 or 4 times, just can't get used to it. So all my basses are now 34".

Did you have Tom wire the Q-Tuner in series or parallel? (I am assuming it is wired in series.)

Good question!
The Q-tuner is somewhat old, I've had it for a couple years in a Cort Curbow bass (it really made that instrument stand out from the crowd!!). It had only one wire come out from it, and it's wired in as any other magnetic. So I'm assuming it's wired in parallell internally, since it's noice cancelling. If it was wired in series it wouldn't cancel the noise, or am I wrong now???? *lol* All I can say is that it's two leads are wired "normally" to the balance control as you would wire any magnetic pickup.

Isn't that so, Tom?

How did you determine the current location of your Q-Tuner. In fact, do you know what the exact measurement (mm or inches) is from the center/middle row of pole pieces to the nut? (Erno Zwaan, the man behind the Q-Tuners, says that changing the pickup placement by just a few millimeters makes quite a difference in the balance between lows and mid/high frequencies.)

I'm sure Tom has this, or I could make a measurement. It's pretty close to the bridge. We've been experimenting with pickup positions, based on our Tundra basses (I've had three similar swamp ash fretless basses). I think we chose the pickup position close to the bridge as on my Tundra IV (#69) because that bass has a real singy fretless sound.
Also, my experience with piezo pickups has taught me that the roundness of the neck position is closer to the piezo sound than the bridge magnetic. I have learned this lesson from my Tundra VI, which has two magnetic pickups in addition to the piezo. The bridge pickup is in the MusicMan sweet spot position, and the neck pickup close to the neck. Compared to the piezo, the neck pickup is somewhat superfluous. So when we designed the Phoenix, we figured that we'd add the bridge magnetic sound possibilities and leave the rest of the beautiful top untouched.

I'm sure the guys at Q-tuner has done a lot more scientific research on pickup positions and how to really get the sound you want from your bass. I'd discuss it with them and Tom if you're looking for something in particular. For me, this is the magnetic fretless sound I'm looking for. Somewhere between the "extreme" bridge position and the MM sweet spot would probably be good positions for me, although my experience tells me I'm a "bridge position fretless dude".

One more question: are three rows of pole pieces all up in this recording?

Thanks, thanks, and more thanks!

Bryan

Yes, I think the pole pieces are all up here, at least they are in the factory default position. I haven't played around with it, but i might. It's a fascinating pickup design and it probably deserves getting played with. *lol* I'm just worried about screwing up the good sound I have currently!

No worries, it was fun to play again *lol* My Clements (and a couple other instruments I have lined up) do get way too little cuddle time, so it was good for all of us!

If there are anything else you'd like to know about any of my Clements, please don't hesitate to ask!

 

[TapyTap]

The Q-tuner is somewhat old, I've had it for a couple years in a Cort Curbow bass (it really made that instrument stand out from the crowd!!). It had only one wire come out from it, and it's wired in as any other magnetic. So I'm assuming it's wired in parallell internally, since it's noice cancelling. If it was wired in series it wouldn't cancel the noise, or am I wrong now???? *lol* All I can say is that it's two leads are wired "normally" to the balance control as you would wire any magnetic pickup.

Your observations tell me that this pickup is wired in series. Parallel would be an option if the pickup had four lead wires. The Q-Tuners are actually noise canceling in either parallel or series mode. The Q-Tuner would only induce noise if one of the two coils was isolated.

This pickup sounds clearer to me in series mode than most humbuckers sound in parallel. Amazing! It really makes the acoustic nature of the Clement stand out.

Great playing and that bass is a keeper!

 

[tjclem]

I have never seen a q-tuner with more than 2 wires coming out of it interesting......t

Happy Sunday everybody! Go Saints