Gold Tone MicroBass Talk

[SisterMoon]

On my 23" MicroBass, I use the 20-21" not the 22-24" because of how much Pahoehoes stretch. I carefully stretch them to the point where they're close to tune and wrap them, check the tuning and adjust. I've done it so many times now, I'm getting a good eye on how much to stretch them the first time around. I find they will settle in about a month or so and stay in tune through most of the hour rehearsal and the half to an hour gigs we do.

Could you please send me a link to the Pahoehoes that you use? The Thundergutz, at least in my experience, are a bit too temperamental.

 

[KohanMike]

Road Toad Pahoehoe: string_store

 

[SisterMoon]

Thanks for the link, Mike! So, to recall, you used the 22 1/2" and stretched them or the 24" and trimmed them? With the Thundergutz, they had to be "cured" for a week (no playing), taken off every day and trimmed. I found even with doing that, they developed small tears. What was your process with the Reds please? Also, do you find the Reds thin out and "bubble" where they pass over the bridge and the nut?

 

[banditcosmo]

I bought the 22" to 24" standard tension Pahoehoe's and I'm able to fit the on my GT 25". I'm actually putting them on right now. You really have to stretch them to fit but they do stretch enough, both my E and A strings have close to 3 wraps on the tuner.

I do have a problem though, the D string seems to be too big for the hole to go through in the bridge. How can I make the bridge D hole bigger ?

 

[SisterMoon]

I bought the 22" to 24" standard tension Pahoehoe's and I'm able to fit the on my GT 25". I'm actually putting them on right now. You really have to stretch them to fit but they do stretch enough, both my E and A strings have close to 3 wraps on the tuner.

I do have a problem though, the D string seems to be to big for the hole to go through in the bridge. How can I make the bridge D hole bigger ?

Let us know how you like the sound/feel of the strings and how you made out with the D string.

 

[macmanlou]

I do have a problem though, the D string seems to be to big for the hole to go through in the bridge. How can I make the bridge D hole bigger ?

I'd use a 3 degree bridge pin reamer.

 

[cultrvultr]

I do have a problem though, the D string seems to be too big for the hole to go through in the bridge. How can I make the bridge D hole bigger ?

I had the same issue. You can use a dremel or sandpaper wrapped around a stick

 

[KohanMike]

I use an electric drill with an appropriate size bit on my Rondo Hadean bridges for the E and A strings.

 

[banditcosmo]

I had the same issue. You can use a dremel or sandpaper wrapped around a stick

Thanks, sandpaper worked

Now I can't fit the string in the tuner hole as it's too big so I'm trying to use a razor to take a little off the end of the string to fit it in. Being rubber not very easy. Damn what a pain to just change strings !

 

[SisterMoon]

Thanks, sandpaper worked

Now I can't fit the string in the tuner hole as it's too big so I'm trying to use a razor to take a little off the end of the string to fit it in. Being rubber not very easy. Damn what a pain to just change strings !

Drag. I just ordered these strings, too. Keep us posted.

 

[SisterMoon]

Has anyone had trouble with string to string volume balance on the GT Microbass?

Yes.

 

[SisterMoon]

Is it just me, or does the spacing of the A and D tuners look super close together? It seems like when changing strings it'd be troublesome getting the number of windings right (or using zip ties) without having them bind up on eachother. Then again, under tension, Pahoehoes get a lot thinner...
View attachment 2347361

My A and D tuners are spaced closer together than the E an G, but not as close as yours. Did you look into it?

 

[SisterMoon]

Thanks everybody, do the Pahoehoes get beat up from the GT frets?
The stock strings are trashed from just a few months of light playing, with deep indents and scratches from the frets.

My experience, too.

 

[SisterMoon]

My Pahoehoe have not worn out at all compared to the Thunderguts that came with it, which dented very quickly.

Same. Dented quickly.

 

[TomB]

Mine dented too, and they appear worn, but they have stabilized and achieved both tuning stability and a very even tone over time. I feel no urge to change them unless they start to sound bad. So far they just sound better and better with use. I realize that's not everybody's experience, but I applaud those who developed these strings. My suggestion - don't throw the old ones away .

 

[SisterMoon]

Anyone have clips or videos of someone playing jazz on the microbass? I can only find recordings of rock players

I'm playing a jazz standard here but not walking.

 

[SisterMoon]

I installed this preamp I bought direct from China via AliExpress a few weeks after I got my 23" MicroBass about three years ago, 9v battery, I think it sounds great.

View attachment 2756367

Mike, why did you get the JE-53 and not the 35?

 

[KohanMike]

Mike, why did you get the JE-53 and not the 35?

The 35 does not have a built in tuner.

 

[Guyfi]

A couple questions/observations...two weeks ago I bought a new 25" FL Mbass. I've played a Kala Ubass (with Pahoehoes) for several years , loved the sound but not the tiny scale (I'm 6'3"). I loved the feel of the Mbass but not the sound or feel of the Thunderguts (did 3 gigs on them). I bought a pack of Pahoehoes (22-24") and was happy to get "my tone" back, but the A string was super quiet, some pickup problem. I undid the strings from the tuners (PITA!!) and took a look at the bridge, noticed that with the two shims that are in there the string tension causes the bridge to lean toward the neck a bit (minor intonation issue) so I put a paper shim along the side of the bridge to try to keep it more upright in the bridge slot. I didn't remove the shims under the bridge because I didn't want the string action any lower. I strung it back up and the A string is coming through again, but the D and G are a little louder than the E and A. It's not to the point of being unplayable and if I play hard it kind of evens out the volumes but it's not optimal. Any thoughts?

 

[SisterMoon]

My experience is the same: uneven resonance across the strings. The E string is the most problematic. The D and G strings sound great. So maybe it's a string thickness thing? I used a compressor pedal. T
that helped liven up the tone on the E string. A few days ago I had the shims pulled out and the intonation is improved, but still messes up my ear. Maybe the answer is a fretless.