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Double Bass Dean Pace EUB megathread

#261
Finally got the Graph Tech Ghost system installed on my Pace bass, and OMG WHAT an improvement. Got the mid boost volume pot as well. It sounds much more like a double bass, and even with the EQ set flat on my SWR Baby Blue it now has what I was looking for (previously I had to run it through a Sans Amp para DI and cut all treble and boost the bass) and it still sounded "piezo clacky". My particular bass had a problem in that the A string piezo had a serious grounding problem, and the neck was back bowed on the G-string side.

I had the work done by a local luthier (Reed Munns, Tucson Rainbow Guitars), so the intonation is now perfect with no buzz, and all the mwah is still there

Yes, it is pricey, but you can skip the mid boost if you need (although a great solo slap tool), and your luthier will get 10% off if he installs it and buys it from the factory

Mick Donner is the man, gave us electric types a chance to be on stage with an passable upright sound, which for me on the folk/bluegrass circuit and Latin Jazz is a big plus. See if you can find a used Pace bass and make the upgrade, yes it will be more expensive than a brand new one, but you will not have the "is this going to work tonight" problem so many have stated and the preamp is great and very musical

Phil
 
#262
#264
andertone said:
I had the work done by a local luthier (Reed Munns, Tucson Rainbow Guitars), so the intonation is now perfect with no buzz, and all the mwah is still there.
Click to expand...

Phil, I don't think I got that from your original PM to me. You didn't get any of the work done by Mick, then? The electronics work and the setup work were both done by Reed Munns?
 
#265
Yes, Reed Munns in Tucson did the work, and a rather fine job at that.

Main issue is that the holes in the Hipshot A bridge with the new piezo saddles don't line up with the existing bridge holes. So they need to be epoxied, and re-drilled. Additionally, a small hole has to be drilled into the control cavity to accept the ghost bridge wires. The preamp is tiny so no problem there, and a 9V battery clip needs to be screwed in. Put some acoustic foam in there to insure components don't rattle around, and you are done. Nothing magic about the install.

I love the new preamp and mid boost volume pot, it is very musical and good EQ points were chosen and very little amp knob twirling is necessary. What a change from the "passive" system they are now shipping. One of my friends has the original Pace version with the preamp (two 9V batteries), and it sounds decent, but as we all know the cheap piezos and bridge issue is still there, and that particular preamp was known for dubious reliability. The Ghost system appears to be bullet-proof, time will tell.

Phil
 
#267
Hi Michael:

Yup, the Pace is now an integral part of my Western band,
on traditional tunes like Sioux city Sue, Whiskey for Breakfast, Tears on My Pillow etc it is a great visual as well as audio complement to the band. I use D'Addario Chromes on it and plenty of low end. When you pull out the midrange boost it
really cuts through, but at the expense of some bottom. No biggie, I then hit my SansAmp Para DI and it is a thing to behold
 
#268
Sorry to resurrect a dead thread, but I just picked up a passive Dean Pace. It does sound like a fretless electric. I'm thinking about putting in the Graphtech Ghost Hipshot Bridge with the passive volume kit (without the Acousti-Phonic preamp). Phil it looks like you put in the preamp. Have you had any issues / problems with it? Any others have experiences with the Pace and the Ghost Hipshot, especially in a passive configuration? Do you lose anything by going passive, or do you get a full DB like sound? I would run it through an outboard preamp of some sort (currently Fishman ProEQ Platinum). I do prefer to keep everything passive if possible, as long as it will sound more like a DB. I do have an old Kay 3/4 available, but it's always nice to have something more portable.
 
#269
A passive volume is not a good idea, since the typical load of the volume pot makes the signal bad sounding. First the impedance buffer/preamp, then the volume pot. So better live without the volume pot or any other kind of passive electronics on the instrument or put a simple impedance buffer (needs a battery) into the instrument too.
 
#270
I love my Ghost hipshot bridge, a huge improvement on the pig steel Chinese bridge that comes stock. To me, much
of the magic of the Graphtec is the preamp. You can skip the mid boost switch and circuit, nice but not necessary. It is
a pricey upgrade in any case, but it changes the instrument much for the better
 
#271
Thanks Phil, that's what I was looking for. I think I'll do the Ghost Bridge with the Acousti-sonic preamp. When you said mid-boost switch, did you mean mid/dark switch? Does the switch enable you to get a fretless electric tone (which pretty much everyone gets with these) and something closer to an upright tone?

Thanks,
Ed
 
#272
Hi Ed: No, the mid boost switch does exactly that, boosts mids. If you have a preamp with a footswitch, a better
solution IMHO for soloing considering the high cost of the circuit (really, are pots that expensive?)
It does not allow for more of an upright tone, just more in your face mids. Strings and right hand technique will
get you the upright tone, and the Dean actually is more like a fretless 35" electric, the acoustic sonic preamp
goes a long way but not like the expensive solutions
 
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#273
I've got the bridge and just ordered a passive volume kit, and will try this plugged into my old Fishman Pro-EQ Platinum Preamp/EQ/DI. I may try wiring a 250k pot as a tone control connected by a cap to the volume control and see if that works. All my other gear is passive, so I'd like to keep everything that way. If not I'll go ahead and get the acoustisonic preamp. I'm pretty comfortable doing my own work, so we'll see what happens ...
 
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#276
Buskman said:
If anybody else here who owns a Dean Pace could help me it would be greatly appreciated.

I recently picked up a Dean Pace 4, and (like the general opinions that I've read) the stock flats on there were pretty horrible. I bought a set of D'Addario Chromes, and set off on replacing them.

Here's where I ran into problems...

As you may know, the way the tuning pegs are situated (facing in to the center of the headstock) I'm finding it nearly impossible to get the end of the string in the hole in the middle of the peg. I tried bending the string at a 90 degree angle & poking it in, as well as using the 'classical guitar' method (looping the string), but the string kept slipping of both the peg AND the bridge saddles (too much slack, I'm guessing).

Now the bass came with the strings nicely wound (as you'd find on a bass guitar), so there has to be a way to get this right, correct?

BTW - I e-mailed Dean a few weeks ago & have yet to hear back from them...

Please - somebody :help: !!!

Thanks in advance,
Chris
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for what it is worth...

dean had issues with the first release of the pace bass. it was in the active pickups. Here's the rub. those active pickups have the tone. sure, i had issues with the pickups. i had to do some soldering. also they can eat the batteries. remember to unplug. but i won't use the pace unless it has those wonderful 18 volts pickups. my original pace was stolen... so i shopped until i found a first edition pace bass and bought it. it is worth getting the original 18 volt pickups because those pickups have the juicy tone. in fact i am on this site right now looking to find out how the pickups are wired because i have one string out on my new used 5 string model 1.0 pace bass. the passive pickups in the later models, in my opinion, have no tone and do little to inspire. i have found people in the company that know this to be true. so there is my two cents on the topic. yep... the original pickups do some pre-amp shaping that give it a nice acoustic double bass sound. good luck in finding the tone. since this is not common knowledge it was difficult to nail down if the used pace bass i was looking at had the original pickups. if the instrument needs two 9 volts then you know you have the right one. aloha
 
#277
One string is silent on my Dean Pace Bass 5 string.

i have one string not being picked up on an 18 volt dean pace bass. can anyone instruct me on what to look for and where to look for it. i figure i have a loose wire or short. yes, a wiring diagram would be nice so as to define/understand a little bit of what i am looking at... i assume each string has an independent pickup. any help/direction would be greatly appreciated
 
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#280
I have a set of Rotosound Tru Bass RS88L on mine. Work great for me.
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