- Jan 1, 2014
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- Decendant from the Clovis culture. "Emitting that wonderful bass effect since 1970".
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Double Czech - Jolana DiscoBass & Kolorbass -
- Thread starter JIO
- Start date
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,602
- 222,056
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Well, all dogs are descendants of wolves so you're partially correct!
It's alive!Taking a brief break from playing the DiscoBass to writing about it! (it's hard!) Had some hiccups getting the electronics sorted but fixed-it-to-day! The problem was a resistor that looked original but was another DIY "fix"~
This is the way it is now EXCEPT the incorrect skinny orange resistor is out and a correct 10k resistor is in.
View attachment 4410167
So after buttoning up that - I installed new strings (D'Addario EXLBT's) and instead of hearing through my small (but real good sounding) Acoustic B20, I'm going though my '76 Ampeg B-15N with a late '60s JBL driver. (can you say, bass nirvana?) The Discobass lives here. Massive bottom with a bit of dialed in grit... I mean, it sounds good up the neck.., but it has big booty!
Can't wait to hear it at next rehearsal! (I play through an 18" Carvin cab there!)
New strings...new strings are so great! So much dynamics! Yah,I know, worn in strings etc, etc - for sure, each individual player shapes their sound by how they play the strings... and how they break them in. Like a drummers' cymbals - how and where they are hit (a million + times!) will "shape" those cymbals' sound/tone specifically to the drummer's ears. So new strings on this revamped vamp of a Disco-diva bass... it's deep - it's bass... it's glam! (back when bass was felt!)
Here's what transpired since Aug 22nd -
* crappy DIY finish removed from body, and factory gloss on the neck/hs removed
* hs "Discbass/Jolana" graphic hand-applied to hs face
* body (repaired) and neck (nut/string guide repaired) refinished
* (non-original) bridge and tuners replaced
* wiring harness re-wired to original specs
* specific 6-point star white vinyl strap secured
* new strings
* proper set-up and intonation
The Art Kolorbas should be here soon - (next week) and I'll goose it from there. I had a dream the other night about it showing up - very Tim Burton*.
-pics of the DB tomorrow... w/strap!(now back to playing it!)
*It was propped on my entry stairway (where UPS/FedEx leaves things) looking like a brown-paper corn husk ... very odd.
View attachment 4410252
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,602
- 222,056
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Vintage pointer knobs - will use one to replace the non-original knob on the art-bass heading this way that sits in the center position on all Jolana Kolorbas's.
...like this - not exact but better than a standard knob.
...like this - not exact but better than a standard knob.
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Those are KOOL! I may try to find something similar at some point. I'm tiring of the traditional no-indication knobs, that I have to give a turn just to find out in what position I left them.
That is precisely why all my personal players have chicken heads.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,602
- 222,056
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Pointer knobs^ That's such a cluttering of digits, it'd look a bit too much like work for my taste.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,602
- 222,056
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Pointer knobs
You mean the screw ports? Yah - a fish is as good as an eel to a blind man...
^ That's such a cluttering of digits, it'd look a bit too much like work for my taste.
But you see.., it's really important to know the exact number each of the knobs are set at (8.25/3.5/10/2.5) when you get that perfect awesome tone under a full moon on the second Tuesday in a month that rhymes with artichoke. Once it's gone - the lock won't open man -
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,602
- 222,056
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Took the DiscoBass to my bands rehearsal tonight. This was its first 'outing' since renovations it. This thing is a beast! Not in weight, or looks especially - but massively so in sound! My rehearsal studio rig is a Carvin 18" cab and a Mesa Boogie M2000 650w tube/Fet bi-amp head. It took a while to find where it sat in the mix - it was very loud and present at my usual settings. But it had an awesome character - smooth/low bottom like my '66 P-bass, but cut-thru treble-control articulation. (simultaneously!) Blending between the two knobs was everything - way more demanding than most other basses I own/play. Funny as it has only two knobs! I don't think (for me) it's an every day bass - it has too much character to be a "one size fits all" bass. But I definitely hear it recorded for specific songs. We rehearsed "Hey Bulldog" (Beatles) and it sounded "fab" - perfect for that song. I'd have to bring it again sometime to hear it more in other contexts - in general it is a great sounding bass that has a big phat bottom. Only thing I bumped-up against (literally) was the N knob. My right hand is at the bridge 98% of the time, palm muting and favoring articulated (plunky) notes. I kept hitting or avoiding hitting that knob in the course of a song. I dig the trans-violet knobs and I'm not changing them - so it's just something to be aware of. On my workhorse basses - I get the knobs as far from the bridge as I can. (just a personal idiocentric technique thing...) And, it's light and balances well - "...staying' alive, staying' alive - woo, hoo hoo"
Only thing I bumped-up against (literally) was the N knob. My right hand is at the bridge 98% of the time, palm muting and favoring articulated (plunky) notes. I kept hitting or avoiding hitting that knob in the course of a song. I dig the trans-violet knobs and I'm not changing them - so it's just something to be aware of. On my workhorse basses - I get the knobs as far from the bridge as I can. (just a personal idiocentric technique thing...) And, it's light and balances well - "...staying' alive, staying' alive - woo, hoo hoo"
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- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,602
- 222,056
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Where my pinky rests acting as a stilt ... the art Kolorbas may show up tomorrow. Got word from the sender on Friday that it's in the US. Bought it on August 15th. The long wait is coming to an end!
ALL-IN-ONE PACKAGE TRACKING | 17TRACK is often useful for tracking international package shipments - and has worked for Russian shipments for me in the past. It will track the Russian, US and other systems simultaneously.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,602
- 222,056
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Thanks - he has never sent a tracking # so I can't access that site w/o it. It sounds like he may be using it.., I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that it will in fact arrive and in good shape.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,602
- 222,056
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
There was nothing listed on eBay about the shipper, just where it is being sent from. Being it is his first time use/sale on eBay, the guy's probably older and not tech savvy so he isn't aware of such needed details. He's been good about sending me updated info so I trust him so far. (what choice do I have?
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