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Thanks! Like most things in life, I need to overcorrect on my own in order to find the middle ground....
I did some math on hardware from my non-export Aero AJB-65 Black… for those looking to shave a few seconds off their quarter mile:
stock tuner: 0.21lb, 97g
Hipshot Ultralite USA shiny nickel HB6C 3/8”: 0.11lb, 51g
Replace all 4, total net reduction = 0.4lb, 184g
So, less than 1/2lb net redux. Worth it? Totally!
And, bonus… the chunky stock control knobs (total 3) weigh in at 0.16lb, or 74g. So there’s that. Take ‘em off and Sharpie the pot shafts black for the win.
stock tuner: 0.21lb, 97g
Hipshot Ultralite USA shiny nickel HB6C 3/8”: 0.11lb, 51g
Replace all 4, total net reduction = 0.4lb, 184g
So, less than 1/2lb net redux. Worth it? Totally!
And, bonus… the chunky stock control knobs (total 3) weigh in at 0.16lb, or 74g. So there’s that. Take ‘em off and Sharpie the pot shafts black for the win.
Liking the Slinky 45-100 so far.
Adjusted pickup height too, so not exactly a scientific comparison.
Surprised me how much the treble/bass tilt and height of the J pickup effects the P pickup tone, even when the J is dialed out.
There's another solution that could take your idea even further. Gotoh GB350's weigh a feathery 40 grams apiece. (160g or .352lb) Plus, one could get them in Cosmo Black, aka smoked chrome, which will better match the existing bridge and string-tree hardware.
The only issue, and it's pretty minor, is the shaft is .93mm slimmer than the stock tuners. However, I've dealt with that issue before on other Hipshot Ultralite installations. I take a strip of low-adhesive artist's tape and do several wraps around the ferrule that goes through the headstock and screws into the main body of the tuner. Once I get enough wraps to ensure a snug fit, then I tighten the ferrule, adjust the tuner's angle, then install the screw into the back of the headstock.
Speaking of "tape", rather than applying a coating of Sharpie dye that could rub off onto sweaty fingers, how about a wrap or two of black gaffer's tape? It should hold on fairly well, give one's fingers a decent grip, but still be removable in the future.
(This has been a public service announcement from Malak the Mad's DIY Workshop™. All rights reserved©. No purchase necessary. All sales are final. Consult your physician before taking advice. Some side effects may occur. Pregnant or nursing women should not take a madman's advice...ever!
)
I took the plunge and converted my Aerodyne to active. It’s truly a monster now!
My other basses are active, but I’m a bit nervous about taking the Fodera to bar gigs. I’m finally getting out again and needed a second bass for backup, and also wanted those P tones. My main working bass is (?was) a Fender Player Plus J and it works great for me, but I do prefer the Aerodyne ergonomics. Unfortunately, I really couldn’t hot-swap the two, because the J was so much hotter. I saw on this thread that the Audere 2-band preamp fit without modification but I do like a 4-band preamp, so I ordered one up from Audere. Due to the size of the pots, it wouldn’t fit without a little surgery, so I Dremel’d out the control cavity and got it installed. I left the EMG Geezer Butler pickups in it. There were a couple of minor issues with installation having to do with the internal shielding of the Geezers, but the support at Audere was excellent and we got everything sorted out.
The final product is outstanding! The 2 things I hoped to accomplish were to increase the signal level closer to the J, and to open up the upper mids. It’s not quite as hot as the J, but I can account for that easily enough. And it REALLY opened up the top end! I’ve got the treble all the way down, bass at detent, slight boost to the low mids (~250) and moderate boost to the high mids (~750). Still has great old school P bass thump but it’s got an upper end I just couldn’t get out of it without adjusting my amp, now on board.
I had one rehearsal with it and it sits so well in the mix now, without having to mess with the amp. I think it’s going to be the new top dog for gigging! I’ll know after tonight. I’ve always enjoyed playing my Dyne, but now it’s sounding as awesome as it plays!
My other basses are active, but I’m a bit nervous about taking the Fodera to bar gigs. I’m finally getting out again and needed a second bass for backup, and also wanted those P tones. My main working bass is (?was) a Fender Player Plus J and it works great for me, but I do prefer the Aerodyne ergonomics. Unfortunately, I really couldn’t hot-swap the two, because the J was so much hotter. I saw on this thread that the Audere 2-band preamp fit without modification but I do like a 4-band preamp, so I ordered one up from Audere. Due to the size of the pots, it wouldn’t fit without a little surgery, so I Dremel’d out the control cavity and got it installed. I left the EMG Geezer Butler pickups in it. There were a couple of minor issues with installation having to do with the internal shielding of the Geezers, but the support at Audere was excellent and we got everything sorted out.
The final product is outstanding! The 2 things I hoped to accomplish were to increase the signal level closer to the J, and to open up the upper mids. It’s not quite as hot as the J, but I can account for that easily enough. And it REALLY opened up the top end! I’ve got the treble all the way down, bass at detent, slight boost to the low mids (~250) and moderate boost to the high mids (~750). Still has great old school P bass thump but it’s got an upper end I just couldn’t get out of it without adjusting my amp, now on board.
I had one rehearsal with it and it sits so well in the mix now, without having to mess with the amp. I think it’s going to be the new top dog for gigging! I’ll know after tonight. I’ve always enjoyed playing my Dyne, but now it’s sounding as awesome as it plays!
Help, y’all—this noob needs help! The new non-export white Aerodyne (“Verdine”) has a much twangier sound than my first black export model. The black one has a much fuller and rounder sound. No adjustments seems to make the difference I want—even put some flat wounds on it—which helped—but not enough.
Anybody out there in Aerodynia have any thoughts? At this point, I’m thinking of selling Verdine just because I can’t that the sound out of him that I want. Help! Heeeeeellllppp!!
What kind of flats have you tried? For example, in my experience, D'Addario Chromes still retain some brightness, but one time I tried a set of DR Legends flats and almost immediately took them off. They were all "thump" with almost no brightness, which would've been great if I were all about that '60s Motown sound, but wasn't what I wanted.
I'm no electronics engineer, but it may come down to the pickups. Something about how they're made or voiced might produce a certain sound, no matter what strings you have hovering over them.
Ultimately, the most important question I can ask in response is, "Does the feel and playability work for you?" If so, then keep the bass at all costs, even if you need to research other pickups 'til your keyboard cracks and your mouse crumbles in your hand. If nothing else, while finding pickups that float yer boat can be a bit of a quest, it's probably easier than finding a Japanese-made instrument that looks and feels good to you that shouldn't even be found outside The Land of the Rising Humidity.
Back on strings: My research found people said that Chromes were some of the brightest sounding flats, and GHS Precision Flats were some of the darker, "thumpier" sounding. Both are higher tension strings (my preference.)
But maybe I missed it: Do both basses sound different while wearing the same strings? (If nothing else, swap strings and see if the difference follows the strings.)
Good luck.
...and Ernie Ball Cobalt flats are some of the strangest sounding flats!
It's been quite a while since I've been able to A-B them against Chromes, but I'd say the Cobalts are even brighter, or at the very least, more "aggressive". (Strange strings, but I still kinda dig 'em. I just haven't yet found the bass that they work best with.)
I got to gig the Aerodyne with the new guts Friday night. So far, I am really pleased with the upgrade!
I was standing near a couple of the neon signs and I noticed after the gig that there was a little hum depending on my position. Never noticed it during the gig so I am not going to consider it an issue, but I am going to compare going forward. I did not notice it with the J with the Fender noiseless pickups, but I can’t say I carefully A/B’d them either.
The Dyne is darker sounding in general, although it’s significantly brighter than before the new preamp. I’ll probably be swapping out the strings from the current well broken in Labella LTF’s that it currently wears to brighten it up a little. It’s had Chromes before, which work great, and I am really digging the TI Jazz Flats on the J and Fodera. They stay fairly bright for flats even after being broken in for a while. But I think I have a set of Chromes laying around that I might put on to see where that gets me.
Here’s a pic of the Aerodyne in action. I played it for two of the three sets. I had a lot of compliments on the bass tone.
I’m also posting a link to the full gig report. It was for me personally the first gig in 36 years(!) and it was quite a blast!
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/gi...-cup-and-grill-7-22-22.1570968/#post-26649020
Congrats, brother! I put down the bass around the same time as you, it sounds like, but haven't (yet) got a gigging situation going. But hopefully, it's coming.
So, how's your hands? Got your gig chops back in one night? I just finished a jam session at home and started getting cramps after the first hour -- hoping you didn't run into any of that!
Again, congrats on gigging again! Enjoy!
Thanks Lucky Chuck!
I’d say that a 4-hour gig is about my limit! We played 7-11 with two 20-minute breaks. Our practices usually go 3 hours, but we take a few breaks to work things out, so we’re not playing the whole time. I did make sure to get in several 2-3 hour sessions on my own to build up my endurance (and calluses and chops) with minimal breaks to prepare for the night. My fretting hand fingertips were a little sensitive on Saturday but that’s about it. I’m guessing you’ll get your endurance back with time.
Glad you’re back at it again too! Rock on brother!
I just got one. Wow what a bass! Light as a feather and plays like a dream. I wish I had found this bass sooner.
Yeah I’m playing mine to the grave! Seriously, I’m neglecting my Fodera and that’s never happened!
Which model, the classic Export Edition or something more exotique?
Which model, the classic Export Edition or something more exotique?
Its the classic PJ. I've been reading through this thread. There are some really killer versions!
Just played two 4 hour gigs back to back with my Aerodyne boy am I spent but the light weight really helped.
Just put the DR sunbeams (recommended by the nice people at Talkbass) on the Jazz Aerodyne and sure enough - killer!
For anyone interested, I just posted a detailed review of the Audere 4-band preamp and installation into my Aerodyne with Geezer Butler pickups.
Audere 4-band preamp into Aerodyne PJ
Audere 4-band preamp into Aerodyne PJ
