Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Gibson Midtown Club.
- Thread starter loendmaestro
- Start date
-
- Tags
- club
Get mine this week.After getting some advice from Calexia13 about pickups I got a Curtis Novak Fatbucker (Invalid Link Removed) to replace the neck pickup (never liked the "woofy" sound of it) and man what a difference! Clear full range tone low to high without taking anything away from the personality of the bass. How hard would it have been for Gibson to put decent pickups in this bass? Would have sold a ton of them out of the box if they all sounded like this.
Jbednarski,
I am glad you got rid of that wolf tone, I couldn't stand it either, it would be cool if you could post a demo,....wish I could post a demo also of the SGD neck pickup so we could compare them. By the way, did you have to send Novak any dimensions, or did you have to route the cavity at all to fit the pickup in it?
Regards
Ed
I am glad you got rid of that wolf tone, I couldn't stand it either, it would be cool if you could post a demo,....wish I could post a demo also of the SGD neck pickup so we could compare them. By the way, did you have to send Novak any dimensions, or did you have to route the cavity at all to fit the pickup in it?
Regards
Ed
I sent Curtis the dimensions and he made the pickup with slightly shorter poles pieces. My tech still had to route a bit because the bottom plate of his pickup had sharp corners instead of rounded edges. Sounds a million times better, maybe I'll replace the bridge pu in time but for now that's all my budget can afford. I'll try to make a demo and would love to hear what yours sounds like. Thanks for the advice!
Count me in, I have just received this stunning beast a couple of days ago !!
The finish was perfect, the neck feels awesome and the burst is dropdead gorgeous.
I have just lowered the action a bit, and I need as well to fix a tiny rattling issue on the neck pickup.
The finish was perfect, the neck feels awesome and the burst is dropdead gorgeous.
I have just lowered the action a bit, and I need as well to fix a tiny rattling issue on the neck pickup.
- Nov 28, 2008
- 866
- 43
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Curt Mangan Strings, Luther Lee Pickups
Hi guys,
I finally had the chance to put this baby into work with my band... but what a total disappointment.
The bridge pickup was producing so much feedback, it was a nightmare. I play through a VTbass-DI that goes into an Ashdown 400w.
The only position not producing feedback was the neck pickup on its own, but this one is way too muddy/bassy to be audible with 2 guitars using distortion.
My P-bass has tons of punch and really cut through the mix, this midtown bass sounds dull and feedbacks like crazy... I could maybe change the pickups, but I think I just gonna send it back to the store
Bummer, cause the look and playability are awesome!
I finally had the chance to put this baby into work with my band... but what a total disappointment.
The bridge pickup was producing so much feedback, it was a nightmare. I play through a VTbass-DI that goes into an Ashdown 400w.
The only position not producing feedback was the neck pickup on its own, but this one is way too muddy/bassy to be audible with 2 guitars using distortion.
My P-bass has tons of punch and really cut through the mix, this midtown bass sounds dull and feedbacks like crazy... I could maybe change the pickups, but I think I just gonna send it back to the store
Bummer, cause the look and playability are awesome!
Hi guys,
I finally had the chance to put this baby into work with my band... but what a total disappointment.
The bridge pickup was producing so much feedback, it was a nightmare. I play through a VTbass-DI that goes into an Ashdown 400w.
The only position not producing feedback was the neck pickup on its own, but this one is way too muddy/bassy to be audible with 2 guitars using distortion.
My P-bass has tons of punch and really cut through the mix, this midtown bass sounds dull and feedbacks like crazy... I could maybe change the pickups, but I think I just gonna send it back to the store
Bummer, cause the look and playability are awesome!
Sorry to hear. I gig mine all the time and never had that problem.
Yeah, that's odd. Mine cuts thru like a MF, and I have had no feedback issues. I use it mostly with both pickups, occasionally with the neck solo'd (which in my experience sounds great). The bridge p/u by itself sounds pretty anemic though.
Man, I'm really sorry to hear that. I've used this bass with several different bands, and of the 10 basses I own it's always their favorite.
I'm as technically challenged as they come, but is there a possibility that it may be a wiring issue, or maybe a bad pickup? I do own three Gibson basses, and as much as I love 'em, quality control is indeed a problem from time to time.
Really sorry to hear that you're having problems with it and I hope you reach a satisfactory solution soon.
Good luck sir.
Man, I'm really sorry to hear that. I've used this bass with several different bands, and of the 10 basses I own it's always their favorite.
I'm as technically challenged as they come, but is there a possibility that it may be a wiring issue, or maybe a bad pickup? I do own three Gibson basses, and as much as I love 'em, quality control is indeed a problem from time to time.
Really sorry to hear that you're having problems with it and I hope you reach a satisfactory solution soon.
Good luck sir.
Mine arrived yesterday. Here is a pic:
Invalid Link Removed
As far as i can say witrh just one late night earphone check it sounds great and i can not complain about the neck pickup at all.
Has someone tried to mod this babe with a blend knob instead of the selector switch?
Invalid Link Removed
As far as i can say witrh just one late night earphone check it sounds great and i can not complain about the neck pickup at all.
Has someone tried to mod this babe with a blend knob instead of the selector switch?
Thanks!
I too think the burst is nicely done. Someone earlier statetd that the bass would sound similar or close to an Epi Jack Casady. At least mine doesn't. I think they have very different characteristics and rather complement each other very well.
What strings do you guys favour for this? Since I have the flatwound section all covered I think I will go with some nickels that bring out the wood, maybe Sunbeams or EXL 165. Any suggestions?
I too think the burst is nicely done. Someone earlier statetd that the bass would sound similar or close to an Epi Jack Casady. At least mine doesn't. I think they have very different characteristics and rather complement each other very well.
What strings do you guys favour for this? Since I have the flatwound section all covered I think I will go with some nickels that bring out the wood, maybe Sunbeams or EXL 165. Any suggestions?
Sunbeams are good since you don't want flats but I really like flats on this bass. Mine has TI flats and a friend has La Bellas on his. Both sound really good.
I've some random Dean Markley rounds on there and it sounds great. If I ever do try flats again it'll probably be on this bass.
I had mine with me at the band rehearsal yesterday. I still had the stock strings on and it sounded pretty nice, but with too little midrange to my taste.
I thin this may be because of the strings and might be a reason why some of you like the Midtown with TI flats. Since I have a set of those on an Epi Jack Casady, where they sound perfect too, I think I want to habve a more midpronounced roundwound for the midtown.
Are there any experirnces with the following strings and Midtowns here:
1. D'Addario EXL
2. Fender pure nickel
3. Galli Rockstar nickel
..or any other recommendations?
I thin this may be because of the strings and might be a reason why some of you like the Midtown with TI flats. Since I have a set of those on an Epi Jack Casady, where they sound perfect too, I think I want to habve a more midpronounced roundwound for the midtown.
Are there any experirnces with the following strings and Midtowns here:
1. D'Addario EXL
2. Fender pure nickel
3. Galli Rockstar nickel
..or any other recommendations?
Took delivery of an original body style midtown in Pelham blue yesterday. Waited a while for a blue one to make it to the used market. Worth the wait, it's a great color. Beautiful instrument! Played at rehearsal last night and the other guys in the band like it at least as much as I do. They all were impressed by how it cut through the mix, and loved the bottom end. I am used to a much more high definition tonal pallete (Modulus Quantum is my #1 bass), but this Gibby is significantly more refined and defined than my EB2. So add me to the club.
