I just ordered the GOC Ilumina B37.5 - Jager bass. I haven't seen much talk of them in the forums, so I figured it would be good to start this "club" thread.
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.
GOC Bass Club
- Thread starter Sonny Savage
- Start date
-
- Tags
- club headless multiscale
I will be tuning this bass to A Standard (A0 - D1 - G1 - C2 - F2). I was worried about where to get the strings. I've been using D'Addario's nickel singles, but their wind length is just a hair too short for the 37" scale low string. While searching for string makers who offer strings this long, I discovered Payson bass strings. They have a packaged set for my exact needs! I've also ordered their 35" multiscale set for B Standard tuning to go on my Ibanez EHB 1505 MS.
Has anyone else had good luck with their strings?
Has anyone else had good luck with their strings?
How did you place your order? I've been wanting to do so but I can't figure out how through their website or online somewhere else
Nevermind I just clicked on your link and I saw the store page! For some reason when I go directly to their site it won't let me navigate to that page
I placed order for mine on 24th December, 4th Jan it came to my house (in Czechia)
Had ultra long scale elixirs on another bass and for whomever it may concern, they fit!
My illumina came with out of phase pickups but i talked to GOC and they will send me new set of pickups, afterwards I'll put on fresh set of elixirs and could take photos of nut/0 fret if anybody is interested in where winding ends
overall I am happy with bass, love the pickups (by themselves, cannot have both on at the same time), originally wanted to put in either Dingstrand Nordwalls (but they are from what i can find standard P and so that would mean that they will not be catching strings properly) or FD3n, but am scared to route for proprietary FD3n route and then find out that they won't fit
Had ultra long scale elixirs on another bass and for whomever it may concern, they fit!
My illumina came with out of phase pickups but i talked to GOC and they will send me new set of pickups, afterwards I'll put on fresh set of elixirs and could take photos of nut/0 fret if anybody is interested in where winding ends
overall I am happy with bass, love the pickups (by themselves, cannot have both on at the same time), originally wanted to put in either Dingstrand Nordwalls (but they are from what i can find standard P and so that would mean that they will not be catching strings properly) or FD3n, but am scared to route for proprietary FD3n route and then find out that they won't fit
When i found out about the bass first thing that came to my mind to make dingwall like bass nr2 (i already have redsub colliseum 5) with dingwall pickups
After playing it a bit on neck only or bridge only pickup i found the pickup sound to be really nice so i decided to not pursue the pickup change for now (but am still thinking about getting some split style pickups in future).
Overall the bass is really good for the price, if any other major brand would make this they'd ask at least 2x the money
Mine arrived today! I ordered on January 2nd. That's all the way from China to northern Michigan in twelve days!
First Impressions:
The strings have a rough feel that I'm not crazy about. Reminds me of a set of SIT strings I bought once. I hope I like the Payson strings. I already love the neck. I haven't done any bridge adjustments, but the rails are definitely premium.
Now I'm going to install a battery, plug it in, and tune it.
First Impressions:
The strings have a rough feel that I'm not crazy about. Reminds me of a set of SIT strings I bought once. I hope I like the Payson strings. I already love the neck. I haven't done any bridge adjustments, but the rails are definitely premium.
Now I'm going to install a battery, plug it in, and tune it.
By chance did you order after the 2026 version announcement was made? I got my 2026 bass a few weeks ago and just now plugged it in, I'm having the exact same issue with the pickups. Can't have the blend knob in the middle position otherwise it's out of phase. I guess I'll have to hit up GOC for this too. I already had to hit them up about my 2025 version with major clipping issues with the preamp. Made it unrecordable. They sent me the new 2026 electronics to have installed in my 2025 bass, and now I'm worried that those are out of phase too. :/
Last edited:
It might be, but i was advised to just switch white/black wire going from the pickups - the pickups are passive so it works.
I just thought that pickups were active because in electronics cavity there were red wires also coming from the route from pickups.
Most pickups are passive, as far as I know. These basses have an active preamp.
This Reddit thread is about finding basses that have active pickups:
This Reddit thread is about finding basses that have active pickups:
I got the same advice last night after I sent them my demo video. Seems an easy enough fix.
I mean i suspected them of being passive, just that having red wire which is usually battery lead coming from pickup cavity to electronics cavity made me think like it was active, which noone disputed at first when i wrote to GOC. Having active pickups is not so crazy in this day and age, I personally have 2 basses with active pickups so when i saw red wire i assumed they are active (because i didn't want to go through hassle of getting the strings off, unscrewing pickup and manually checking if that red wire goes for sure from pickups), hence why i even messaged them (since you cant reverse polarity in same way on active pickups).
A little oopsie on their part but overall i am happy with the bass
I didn't mean to be condescending. I just recently learned the difference between active preamps and active pickups.
The strings it comes with are excellent. D'addario has multi scale sets. Dingwall too
They are, actually. I asked what they were, and they said they were "Pitchlab strings, but are not available to buy yet".
D'Addario NYXL45130MS is what I've restrung my 2025 with so far, and apparently, now they have an XSB45130MS set if that's more your thing.
GOC does sell Pitchlab strings for their 6, 7, and 8-string guitars, so hopefully those bass strings will be available at some point too.
I have them both strung with the Payson strings, and I love them so far. I'll be playing them at rehearsal tonight.
