Gold Tone MicroBass Talk

[bluebird28]

Have any of you that are interested in using steel strings on the MicroBass actually looked inside the sound hole with a mirror? There is an X brace near the sound hole but back by the bridge area there is nothing but the sound board. The Pahoehoe strings only produce 40 lbs of pressure total of all strings. What will the pressure or tension of the steel strings be? I doubt that the instrument will hold up to the steel strings. But I am willing to be proved incorrect. I highly suggest you look inside the MicroBass and see how it is made.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I am a fan, and I plan on getting one in 2014. I am leaning towards a fretless, but I may get a fretted. It is the first little bass that felt comfortable to me plus I love the tone.

 

[bluebird28]

I am nearing 70yo and time has taken its toll on my hands. My right hand was bitten by a psyco neighborhood cat on the thumb and the forearm had 20 punctures. I spent 4 days in the hospital. While political campaigning I was bitten by a german shepard/rotwhiler? mix on the pinkie side right down to the tendons, 3 exposed 1 shredded. I had surgery on my left hand middle finger to replace the middle joint because of an injury in 1974, because of a 2 point landing, middle finger and nose. Bent the finger all the way back to the wrist and black eyes.

Trying to play my EUB I can last maybe 10 minutes before the strength in my left hand disappears. But with the MicroBass I can play for at least an hour.

I need to do more strengthening excercises.

I just love the MicroBass, the strings are so easy to pluck, the size is perfect, the weight is light and I do not smack the head on anything like I do with a 34" scale bass. No I have not owned a short scale by any other mfger.

I love my MicroBass!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I am nearing 70yo and time has taken its toll on my hands. My right hand was bitten by a psyco neighborhood cat on the thumb and the forearm had 20 punctures. I spent 4 days in the hospital. While political campaigning I was bitten by a german shepard/rotwhiler? mix on the pinkie side right down to the tendons, 3 exposed 1 shredded. I had surgery on my left hand middle finger to replace the middle joint because of an injury in 1974, because of a 2 point landing, middle finger and nose. Bent the finger all the way back to the wrist and black eyes.

Trying to play my EUB I can last maybe 10 minutes before the strength in my left hand disappears. But with the MicroBass I can play for at least an hour.

I need to do more strengthening excercises.

I just love the MicroBass, the strings are so easy to pluck, the size is perfect, the weight is light and I do not smack the head on anything like I do with a 34" scale bass. No I have not owned a short scale by any other mfger.

I love my MicroBass!

Man, stay away from animals! I'm glad the Gold Tone is working out for you.

 

[bluebird28]

In 69 years, up until I got bitten, I have never had a problem with animals. Never been stepped on by a horse, cow, sheep, pig, or any other animal. I had a large paper route in Jr. and Senior HS 250 customers.... lots of dogs. There was one I would never turn my back on but never had a problem. **** happens! I still love animals, and I do not blame the dog, I blame the owner who was standing right there and she did not take charge of her dog until it was too late, and then she lied to the Para Medics about what happened. It was the 2nd time her dog had bitten someone.

Dr. Cheese do you play a Micro Bass?

 

[Dr. Cheese]

In 69 years, up until I got bitten, I have never had a problem with animals. Never been stepped on by a horse, cow, sheep, pig, or any other animal. I had a large paper route in Jr. and Senior HS 250 customers.... lots of dogs. There was one I would never turn my back on but never had a problem. **** happens! I still love animals, and I do not blame the dog, I blame the owner who was standing right there and she did not take charge of her dog until it was too late, and then she lied to the Para Medics about what happened. It was the 2nd time her dog had bitten someone.

Dr. Cheese do you play a Micro Bass?

I've only played them in the store. I plan on buying one in the new year.

 

[Gorn]

I finally got a chance to see how my hybrid set sounded in the rehearsal studio with real amps and proper eq. The conclusion: fantastic. Not uneven at all. If you find thunderguts to be sticky and squeaky, I highly recommend getting a 24" scale pahoehoe set from road toad and using the e and a. The squeak is only a problem on the fat thunderguts anyway. The e and a pahoehoe reach stability quick and the d and g thundergut are stable and smooth.

 

[bluebird28]

Its a Zebra Bass.

 

[mongo2]

I will get an official response from Gold Tone, but that will be not this coming week but next.

I believe the answer is going to be - it's fine. There are 3 different parties that have participated in the metal string work on a Gold Tone MicroBass: Gold Tone, LaBella, and me. There is likely to be a 4th party at some point.

Thanks for checking that out.

 

[Justice4trance]

Hmm... Updating my plans for bass purchases in 2014. This gt mirobass will be amongst one of the acquisitions

 

[SBassman]

Thanks for checking that out.

Now that Christmas is past, I submitted the question to Gold Tone. I will publish here as soon as I get a response.

 

[SBassman]

Have any of you that are interested in using steel strings on the MicroBass actually looked inside the sound hole with a mirror? There is an X brace near the sound hole but back by the bridge area there is nothing but the sound board. The Pahoehoe strings only produce 40 lbs of pressure total of all strings. What will the pressure or tension of the steel strings be? I doubt that the instrument will hold up to the steel strings. But I am willing to be proved incorrect. I highly suggest you look inside the MicroBass and see how it is made.

Who wants to volunteer to take some of these pictures?

1. Inside a Gold Tone MicroBass
2. Inside a UBass - which already has the much higher tension Pyramid string option
3. Inside a production Acoustic Bass.

I actually came close to buying a camera Scope for my business. They are not that expensive. But I have not taken the plunge yet.

 

[Zoomie]

Well, after all my reading, I couldnt find a rock solid objective comparison between this and the Kala. So I bought one of each.

I'll do my own test.

 

[Gorn]

It really boils down to preference in scale length. Ubasses sell quick in the classifieds if you don't like it, and it seems these do too. One sold recently after only a few days.

Which ubass model did you get?

Did you go fretted or fretless?

 

[Zoomie]

It really boils down to preference in scale length. Ubasses sell quick in the classifieds if you don't like it, and it seems these do too. One sold recently after only a few days.

Which ubass model did you get?

Did you go fretted or fretless?

Ubass (potentially evil) Rumbler

Both are fretted.

My early guess may be that I'd prefer the GT for it's slightly longer scale due to my hand size. But I didn't want to jump to conclusions.

I'll settle on one and let the other go..........unless I like both but for different reasons.

I got a great price on both so I was able to do this without taking a horrific beating.

 

[macmanlou]

I finally got a chance to see how my hybrid set sounded in the rehearsal studio with real amps and proper eq. The conclusion: fantastic. Not uneven at all. If you find thunderguts to be sticky and squeaky, I highly recommend getting a 24" scale pahoehoe set from road toad and using the e and a. The squeak is only a problem on the fat thunderguts anyway. The e and a pahoehoe reach stability quick and the d and g thundergut are stable and smooth.

Did you install the e and a with the same sort of knot as the original strings, or did you also use washers or spacers?

I like the looks of the combination. Kind of reminds me of some upright bluegrass basses I've seen.

 

[bluebird28]

Check this out from StewMac on what bracing on a guitar near the bridge looks like, this is on a guitar not a bass.
Invalid Link Removed

 

[Gorn]

Did you install the e and a with the same sort of knot as the original strings, or did you also use washers or spacers?

I like the looks of the combination. Kind of reminds me of some upright bluegrass basses I've seen.

Just one plain knot for each. Holds fine. I'm content with leaving these on for good till I hear positive feedback about thunder reds.

I'm still skeptical. From the installation video I've seen for the shortbass, it looks like the thunder reds need to be stretched on just as much as pahoehoe's.

That, and mimmo posted some pictures in the ubass megathread and the a string tuner is completely wrapped in thunder red. My guess is at best, they're ever so slightly more stable than pahoehoe's with essentially the same break in period and low tension. If that's the case then I'll stick with pahoehoe's.

 

[SBassman]

I'm still skeptical. From the installation video I've seen for the shortbass, it looks like the thunder reds need to be stretched on just as much as pahoehoe's.

That, and mimmo posted some pictures in the ubass megathread and the a string tuner is completely wrapped in thunder red. My guess is at best, they're ever so slightly more stable than pahoehoe's with essentially the same break in period and low tension.

I don't have it in hand right now, but I did have a Shortbass One and Reds in hand several months ago. This was not my experience. They reached stability in time similar to Thunderguts - meaning days instead of weeks.

 

[Gorn]

I don't have it in hand right now, but I did have a Shortbass One and Reds in hand several months ago. This was not my experience. They reached stability in time similar to Thunderguts - meaning days instead of weeks.

What did they feel like? You don't mind thunderguts, right?

Did they feel closer to thunderguts or pahoehoes?