First of all, let me say that I returned to playing db a couple of years ago after about 7 years of only playing electric bass. I got my master's in jazz performance, but in the late 90s/early 2000s, I spent much of my focus on babies, my business, etc, so db took a back seat. In the meantime, I played a ton of slab, and sold my flatback jazz bass, which I LOVED, but had a friend who wanted it, and was willing to pay good coin for it. It was fitted with an Underwood that I had done hundreds of gigs with. Ole' faithful. I even sold my Polytone Mini-Brute with the bass.
A couple years ago, I realized it was time to start playing db again, so the search for an inexpensive gig bass was on. I picked up a Shen Willow bass, which sounded really good. I always loved the response of my old flatback, and the Willow was a good fit. I had the bass fit for a Revolution Solo pickup, which worked, but I was never happy with my tone in a band setting. The bass with and without the pickup sounded absolutely great by themselves, but I could never be satisfied with my sound with a group, even after endless amp/eq tweaking/changes. It was really clean and clear, with lots of full low end. In the mix, however, that sound was getting lost a bit. Not enough grit to cut through. The bass was going into an AI Contra.
Fast forward a year. I heard the hybrid flatback Shen came out with (the 190) and LOVED the sound. I sold my willow, got the hybrid, and have been (and still am) enthralled with the sound without the pickup. But, with the Rev Solo pickup, same problem, but even less happy with the live sound amped. The hybrid is a big bass with gobs of low end, and that booty was hard to dial down, even after many months of eq tweaking/soundpost adjustments/tailpiece changes, etc. Still going into said Contra. Still spending money. Still chasing "that" sound.
Enter my good friend Will Crichton (Wilbyman)...he's rolling with a Willow, and has been using an Underwood. After a conversation and several palms to the forehead, I picked up a used Underwood, and BOOM!!! There it was. Not as pretty by itself as the Rev Solo, but in a gig situation? Sounds GREAT! I had a gig this weekend where I was all smiles the first set. A bass playing buddy showed up at the break, and I asked him to sit in. It sounded fantastic out front!
What did I learn? Well, even after playing bass for 30+ years and a Master's degree under my belt on the instrument, I really am QUITE stupid!
(My wife could have told me THAT!) Just when you think you have a handle on something, a little smack-ola across the head catches you off guard! A simple pickup change has got me back to where I started. I still love the flatback sound, and I still love the Underwood. It's a little gritty by itself, but to me, that grittiness is what helps get the sound to cut through the way I like it. I really feel like I ran into an old girlfriend after a long drawn out relationship that didn't work. It's all fresh again!
This is NOT a bash on the Rev Solo at all. It is a fine, well made pickup. But it didn't work for me and my ears the way I wished it would. I know there are a lot of guys that are happy with them, and that's great! However, I came "full circle"..back to a maple flatback and an Underwood, and it has made me a happy camper!
YMMV and all that. I just wanted to share my goofy story about my "sonic homecoming!" Hope I didn't irritate anyone!
Anyone else here have a similar situation happen to them?
A couple years ago, I realized it was time to start playing db again, so the search for an inexpensive gig bass was on. I picked up a Shen Willow bass, which sounded really good. I always loved the response of my old flatback, and the Willow was a good fit. I had the bass fit for a Revolution Solo pickup, which worked, but I was never happy with my tone in a band setting. The bass with and without the pickup sounded absolutely great by themselves, but I could never be satisfied with my sound with a group, even after endless amp/eq tweaking/changes. It was really clean and clear, with lots of full low end. In the mix, however, that sound was getting lost a bit. Not enough grit to cut through. The bass was going into an AI Contra.
Fast forward a year. I heard the hybrid flatback Shen came out with (the 190) and LOVED the sound. I sold my willow, got the hybrid, and have been (and still am) enthralled with the sound without the pickup. But, with the Rev Solo pickup, same problem, but even less happy with the live sound amped. The hybrid is a big bass with gobs of low end, and that booty was hard to dial down, even after many months of eq tweaking/soundpost adjustments/tailpiece changes, etc. Still going into said Contra. Still spending money. Still chasing "that" sound.
Enter my good friend Will Crichton (Wilbyman)...he's rolling with a Willow, and has been using an Underwood. After a conversation and several palms to the forehead, I picked up a used Underwood, and BOOM!!! There it was. Not as pretty by itself as the Rev Solo, but in a gig situation? Sounds GREAT! I had a gig this weekend where I was all smiles the first set. A bass playing buddy showed up at the break, and I asked him to sit in. It sounded fantastic out front!
What did I learn? Well, even after playing bass for 30+ years and a Master's degree under my belt on the instrument, I really am QUITE stupid!
(My wife could have told me THAT!) Just when you think you have a handle on something, a little smack-ola across the head catches you off guard! A simple pickup change has got me back to where I started. I still love the flatback sound, and I still love the Underwood. It's a little gritty by itself, but to me, that grittiness is what helps get the sound to cut through the way I like it. I really feel like I ran into an old girlfriend after a long drawn out relationship that didn't work. It's all fresh again!This is NOT a bash on the Rev Solo at all. It is a fine, well made pickup. But it didn't work for me and my ears the way I wished it would. I know there are a lot of guys that are happy with them, and that's great! However, I came "full circle"..back to a maple flatback and an Underwood, and it has made me a happy camper!
YMMV and all that. I just wanted to share my goofy story about my "sonic homecoming!" Hope I didn't irritate anyone!
Anyone else here have a similar situation happen to them?
