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Gold Tone MicroBass Talk

#1,163
Hello fellow GT Microbass users! Question for you: Has anyone tried both the 23" and 25" scale models?...and if so, do you have a preference? (and why?)

I've owned a 23" fretless MB for about 2 years now and love it, but sometimes I wish the fretboard was just a tad longer and wish I'd gone with the 25" instead. I've considered going ahead and purchasing the 25", but I go back and forth on it. Just wondering if it's worth it and if there are really any notable differences between the two as far as sound and overall feel go.
 
#1,165
EBThree said:
Hello fellow GT Microbass users! Question for you: Has anyone tried both the 23" and 25" scale models?...and if so, do you have a preference? (and why?)

I've owned a 23" fretless MB for about 2 years now and love it, but sometimes I wish the fretboard was just a tad longer and wish I'd gone with the 25" instead. I've considered going ahead and purchasing the 25", but I go back and forth on it. Just wondering if it's worth it and if there are really any notable differences between the two as far as sound and overall feel go.
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Interested, as I considered this choice as well and ended up with a 23" for a variety of logistical reasons. I never got to try the 25". Gotta say I'm very happy with my 23, but I still wonder...
 
#1,167
I, also, was able to test the 23 and 25 back to back. I think the 23 would work for me, but I also liked the 25. They only had the the poly strings on them...I'd really like to test with the Silverbacks before I end up buying one. Playability seemed equal, for me, between the two. If I traveled a lot, I'd go the 23 route as it is significantly smaller than the 25. I have read that the 25 has pretty decent acoustic volume with the Silverbacks. I may also go fretless on the 25 and get it spec'd with the flatwounds. I've wanting to do fretless again and this seems like a reasonable way to do it.
 
#1,168
vHarmonic said:
I had the reds on my microbass for at-least a year before I sold it. I never a had any problems using them and no problems with them rattling around in the nut slots or anything. From what I remember there was a good about of space around the string in the nut slot, but again no problems. If you are gigging with it you might want to replace the nut just to be safe. Personally I think the reds are by far the best strings available for this instrument, but there still definitely not perfect. Also I think it is a total joke how weird they are about what strings you use on it. But I have always experimented with my instruments done my own setups, pickups and de-fret jobs. So I am very comfortable with that sort of thing and the manufacturer saying no no no, is not going to stop me.
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I'm using the Pahoehoe blacks, but I'm curious now about the reds. Do you have a 23" and could you send a link to the reds you bought? Ty.
 
#1,169
CanaDave said:
Got a story and a question:

Couldn't help myself... in January a 5 string fretless acoustic Washburn was stolen from my house and there's a big gear hole in my heart. That Washburn can't really be replaced.

So I started with a cheapo Amazon ("UKDream") fretted uke bass for fun which has great tone but not great intonation so it's going back up for sale. (The fretless GAS is being satisfied with an Ibanez Parlor bass, the upmodel one, really enjoying it. My Ashbory hasn't been played for years, too short a scale to intonate even with good ears.)

Yesterday I bought a used acoustic Microbass. Intonation is better than the cheapo but NOT perfect, octaves played together sound like poo (if poo had a sound), and the 12th fret is slightly off. The difference is not the same on each string it seems.

There is a bit of a concave bow in the neck from top to bottom. So what's going on here? Any suggestions? I'll start with the truss rod. Maybe I should send it to Gold Tone. Seems like intonation is not a strong point on these. I played a Kala not long ago that had the saddle placed maybe 1/2" off and the intonation was even worse than my $130 bass, so maybe it's endemic among these instruments. If I'm going to sound like poo, I want it to be my fault, not the instrument's!
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I've had a lot of work and several technicians work on my GT fretted 23", but the intonation is still bad.
 
#1,170
SisterMoon said:
I'm using the Pahoehoe blacks, but I'm curious now about the reds. Do you have a 23" and could you send a link to the reds you bought? Ty.
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Yeah I had a 23" microbass. I bought 21" reds off of ebay because that was all I could find at the time. These are the strings I bought and they worked fine but it looks like the 23" reds are available now. The reds I got are 91U and the 23" ones are 92U.
 
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#1,172
I'm curious about Superior Bassworks "synthetic gut" bass strings (see link below). Would anyone happen to know if these strings would work well on a Gold Tone 23" fretless MicroBass?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...42e-e8f213ef368b&pf_rd_r=AVN2DJFE75C44TBJ4VXX
81BH9KVYi4L._SL1500_.jpg

81Zp%2BDhrGoL._SL1500_.jpg
 
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#1,174
TomB said:
They say they are cut for 1/2 to 4/4 upright basses. Are you asking about cutting them to length for the 23" scale?
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Yes, they'd have to be cut to length. I'm really just grasping for a different string option for my MB. After trying almost everything (Thunderguts, Pahoehoes, Silverbacks, LaBella flats) I find I'm partial to the polymer-type stings, but still haven't found a string that - for me - feels jusssst right. I prefer the sound of the Thunderguts, but the feel of the Pahoehoes...so I guess I'm hoping to find a string that brings those two worlds together. Also tired of wasting money on strings that I wind up not liking.
 
#1,175
EBThree said:
Yes, they'd have to be cut to length. I'm really just grasping for a different string option for my MB. After trying almost everything (Thunderguts, Pahoehoes, Silverbacks, LaBella flats) I find I'm partial to the polymer-type stings, but still haven't found a string that - for me - feels jusssst right. I prefer the sound of the Thunderguts, but the feel of the Pahoehoes...so I guess I'm hoping to find a string that brings those two worlds together. Also tired of wasting money on strings that I wind up not liking.
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Then I'm no help :). I loved the Thunderguts and have stayed with them. I think they're probably better suited to fretless than fretted ukes.
 
#1,176
EBThree said:
I'm curious about Superior Bassworks "synthetic gut" bass strings (see link below). Would anyone happen to know if these strings would work well on a Gold Tone 23" fretless MicroBass?
Click to expand...

When I first got my 23" MB, I cut down a set of WeedWacker (made of the same material), turned out to be way too stiff, couldn't even get them strung up.
 
#1,178
gleneg61 said:
Hi, anyone had to replace the piezo pup? My ME micro pup cuts in and out so it’s unusable, I emailed gold tone about a replacement or generic piezo but no reply. Cheers
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Keep trying, they've always been responsive to me, and sent me a replacement piezo saddle assembly. I suggest you call them, 1-800-826-5482. I've received replies from Brenda, [email protected]. I've also seen those kind of piezo saddle assemblies on eBay from China for about $10, but could take a few weeks to arrive, especially with the Chinese New Year coming up.
 

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