Gold Tone MicroBass Talk

[dougness]

The G string seems to be stiffer and less lively than the other three. Is this possibly because it winds around its tuner post three-and-half-times (whereas the D is only two-and-a-half)? Should I think about cutting the length a bit?

I talked to Mimmo at NAMM this year. He said that for the Thunderguts and Thunder Reds, "the compound is different for each string." I asked if that's why the Thundergut E and A strings are stickier, and he said yes. Apparently, there's a different combination of ingredients to get the tone consistent between strings.

In response to your question, I'm thinking that the G string may be stiffer because that's just the way it's made. I don't believe the number of winds on the tuner post makes any difference.

As an aside, Mimmo also told me that, for the same reason, it's not advisable to use Thunder Reds that are made for a U-Bass on a longer scale Micro Bass, even though they fit, because the strings will stretch out and not perform well. Again, each string seems to be made for a specific use (scale length).

 

[bluebird28]

Has anyone tried using pencil lead / graphite on the nut slots to lubricate the strings so they will slide better across the nut?

 

[macmanlou]

Has anyone tried using pencil lead / graphite on the nut slots to lubricate the strings so they will slide better across the nut?

I've used pencil lead. It helps, but I still need to "unload" the strings at the nut - especially the E and A.

 

[SBassman]

Acoustic micro scale lovers might also be interested
in my solid body bass. New video just posted:

Picco Stealth Micro Scale Solid Body Bass

 

[selowitch]

Acoustic micro scale lovers might also be interested
in my solid body bass. New video just posted:

Picco Stealth Micro Scale Solid Body Bass

Cool, looks awesome. Does the video mention the price? I only skimmed it.

 

[selowitch]

You know what? I'm not liking the feel/tone/intonation of the G string on my GoldTone MicroBass fretless and I may end up sending it back. Has anyone else run into this problem?

 

[Temcat]

Acoustic micro scale lovers might also be interested
in my solid body bass. New video just posted:

Picco Stealth Micro Scale Solid Body Bass

Did I just watch a 1.5min video with sound, but not a single note from the actual bass?

 

[SBassman]

Did I just watch a 1.5min video with sound, but not a single note from the actual bass?

Well, I could have published it today so that I could get some good images out there, or I could have waited until I also recorded audio. I chose to go for it today. Those on my newsletter mail list know that audio is coming in the next pass.

 

[robassable]

"I'm not liking the feel/tone/intonation of the G string on my GoldTone MicroBass fretless and I may end up sending it back. Has anyone else run into this problem"
__________________

Mine is a fretted model, and I checked it with the tuner and it is intonated pretty darn close at the 12th fret. Since yours is fretless, unless the neck is way out of whack I would think you should be able to intonate closely according to where you press the strings down.

My G string sounds fine and well balanced with the other strings. What is starting to drive me a bit nuts is that it doesn't hold a tune for very long and keeps slipping. The others strings hold their tune pretty well. I am still wondering if this is unique to my bass or are there others with this issue with the G string??

 

[mongo2]

"I'm not liking the feel/tone/intonation of the G string on my GoldTone MicroBass fretless and I may end up sending it back. Has anyone else run into this problem"
__________________

Mine is a fretted model, and I checked it with the tuner and it is intonated pretty darn close at the 12th fret. Since yours is fretless, unless the neck is way out of whack I would think you should be able to intonate closely according to where you press the strings down.

Exactly, on fretless the player is solely responsible for their intonation. Any markers or lines are just guides, it's up to the player to make the final adjustments while playing. With such a short scale a small adjustment can have a large effect on the intonation.

 

[vHarmonic]

You know what? I'm not liking the feel/tone/intonation of the G string on my GoldTone MicroBass fretless and I may end up sending it back. Has anyone else run into this problem?

I don't have any problem with the g on my fretless Micro bass. In all honesty when I first got it the fact that the g sting was a little stiffer than the others freaked me out a bit. But I think I was being fussy and fixating, and now I have no problems with it. Many bass strings sets have a string or two that are a good 6lbs heavier than the others. And the intonation on mine seems spot on. I will say also that learning to intonate on the MB took me some time and practice. Now it feels very natural but I defiantly had some challenges at first, but for me it was intonating the E string that I had a the hardest time with.

I also don't have any issues with the g string slipping out of tune. Mine stays in tune very well. But I did tighten the screws at the end of the tuning key, I do that with all my basses.

 

[robassable]

Good to hear your G is not slipping. It should have occured to me to tighen the tuning key screws so thanks for mentioning that. Matter of fact, ALL of them were too loose including the small ones that screw the pegs to the headstock! Hopefully this will help my G hold its tune better.

There are great things about these little basses and I reccomend them, but based on my experience the new owner should check theirs over real good. Besides the screws being loose, I mentioned before my first one had a bad neck and was returned, so there may be some QC issues with Goldtone.

 

[JdoubleH]

I'm not sure if some of these questions are jokes or not.

1. As far as the pulling from the nut - I think you are free to come up with any technique you choose - as long as you don't let the Thundergut sit in the slot while tuning. This is not a Gold Tone thing. This is a Thundergut thing - on any instrument. You don't want those strings sticking in the nut slot - leading to - possible untimely death. Having said that, Thunderguts and Reds are absolutely, positively the best synthetic strings to use for micro basses, IMHO. A slam dunk over the Pahohohohoes, IMHO.

2. Gold Tone is very happy there are metal string alternatives on the way.

Just curious, has the concept of a locking roller nut with fine tuners at the bridge been considered for instruments using this type of strings? It seems like it would be a good solution to this problem and would make precise tuning much easier.

 

[mongo2]

Just curious, has the concept of a locking roller nut with fine tuners at the bridge been considered for instruments using this type of strings? It seems like it would be a good solution to this problem and would make precise tuning much easier.

A roller nut sounds like a good idea. I don't know how effective fine tuners at the bridge would be though. The roller nut may alleviate the need for them.

 

[SBassman]

Just curious, has the concept of a locking roller nut with fine tuners at the bridge been considered for instruments using this type of strings? It seems like it would be a good solution to this problem and would make precise tuning much easier.

I think those are very interesting ideas.
For the fine tuners, do you mean like what exists on a violin?

 

[robassable]

Ok just did a short gig today using my microbass. Problem solved with G string slippage issue thanks to vHarmonic suggesting to tighten tuning keys. I feel like a bit of a dunce for not thinking of that, but have never had an issue with tuning keys being so darn loose on any of the many basses I have owned over the years.

Re: fretless. I am considering getting one but am hoping for some input from owners of the fretless Goldtone microbass. Is it capable of getting that blossoming mwah vibrato sound similar to a standard size electric fretless bass? I would think with the more floppy thunderguts it may not be able to do that as well?

 

[vHarmonic]

Your not a dunce, I just learned about that recently, for some reason it never occurred to me before, even with basses that had tuning problems.

The fretless micro with thunderguts can mwah a bit but nothing like a 34" scale fretless, more like an upright bass. It has a really beautiful sweet fretless tone but again nothing like a 34" scale fretless. I imagine that the Labella tapes would get you much closer to a 34" scale fretless mwah sound.

 

[macmanlou]

The fretless micro with thunderguts can mwah a bit but nothing like a 34" scale fretless, more like an upright bass.

+1

This is why I like it more than a 34" fretless.

 

[robassable]

RE: Fretless "Mwah"

Yes, but aren't the Labella tapes metal core? And if so, I wonder if then the microbass will lose some of that nice unique fat tone characteristic of the thunderguts and sound more like a 34" scale electric.

 

[HaphAsSard]

So it seems:

Here's the Gold Tone solid body Micro bass with La Bella white tapewounds. (...) It played great and sounded really good, but definitely more like a bass guitar than a bass with Pahoehoe or Aquila strings. The tighter strings allow for lower action, smooth slides, etc., so there's some give and take. If you want more thump, you may need foam under the bridge.

Kate/Edith situation?