Holly and Ebony Rick

[I-Am-The-Slime]

Man, Scoops! That is just amazing!

 

[scuzzy]

Top shelf....top shelf.

 

[Flying B]

Wow! Just, wow.

 

[Rôckhewer]

Damn... that's fantastic. Gorgeous!

 

[D-Smith]

Beautiful!

 

[Scoops]

Update:

Tooke her out for the maiden voyage a bit ago. Was really displeased with the Lace Pups
So, I ditched the Lace Alumitones in favor of Nordstrand Zen Blades.
Hugh Improvement! More tone, more dynamics, more growl, more muwah, more touch sensitivity

Doesn't sound anything like a Ric, but she's sure got her own thing going now

 

[Slidlow]

Update:

Tooke her out for the maiden voyage a bit ago. Was really displeased with the Lace Pups
So, I ditched the Lace Alumitones in favor of Nordstrand Zen Blades.
Hugh Improvement! More tone, more dynamics, more growl, more muwah, more touch sensitivity

Doesn't sound anything like a Ric, but she's sure got her own thing going now

View attachment 3309648

I am curious regarding the lacking with the Lace Alumitones. It seemed they were supposed to be the next greatest thing. I have a build in the wings where the light weight would definitely be an advantage but if they do not perform then they would not be an option. A case where function comes ahead of form. Can you give a little more detail as to what they didn't do in this bass?
Thanks.

 

[Fat Freddy]

Update:

Tooke her out for the maiden voyage a bit ago. Was really displeased with the Lace Pups
So, I ditched the Lace Alumitones in favor of Nordstrand Zen Blades.
Hugh Improvement! More tone, more dynamics, more growl, more muwah, more touch sensitivity

Doesn't sound anything like a Ric, but she's sure got her own thing going now

View attachment 3309648

Please, I beg you, stop posting pics of that bass....
I'm running out of drooldrooldrool....

 

[ctmullins]

Update:

Tooke her out for the maiden voyage a bit ago. Was really displeased with the Lace Pups
So, I ditched the Lace Alumitones in favor of Nordstrand Zen Blades.
Hugh Improvement! More tone, more dynamics, more growl, more muwah, more touch sensitivity

Doesn't sound anything like a Ric, but she's sure got her own thing going now

View attachment 3309648

I love Alumitones, but that looks awesome too!

Nordstrand makes a quality product, there’s no doubt. But (as we all know) every bass is a unique combination of elements, with each adding a certain flavor to the overall result. And the only way to know what works is to try it.

My Pentabird originally had a pair of Big Splits. I was excited about hearing them, given all the buzz that surrounded them. When I finally got the bass finished and plugged her in for the first time - meh. I tried to like them, but nope, that just wasn’t the right combination. I traded them straight up for a pair of Alumitones, and found the tone I was looking for.

Those Zen Blades sure are intriguing though!

 

[Scoops]

I am curious regarding the lacking with the Lace Alumitones. It seemed they were supposed to be the next greatest thing. I have a build in the wings where the light weight would definitely be an advantage but if they do not perform then they would not be an option. A case where function comes ahead of form. Can you give a little more detail as to what they didn't do in this bass?
Thanks.

Sure,
I should preface my statements with a brief synopsis of my playing style.

I am in the tone is in your fingers camp.

I play fretless exclusively

I get my tones from my right hand in a number of ways. Where I position my hand, and the attack I use, are two large components.

I get my tones in my left hand through sliding, and using vibrato.

So here's where Alumitones lack for me.

1) They arent as touch sensitive as opposed to other pups. Just a little difference in output when I picked soft and hard. This is important for me for being able to adjust my volume without adjusting my volume knob

2) They didnt seem to change tone much with respect to where I positioned my right hand. There was change, but not as much as other pups

3) With an epoxied finger board, I was expecting a lot of growl and muwah. with the alumitones, growl and muwah was nearly nonexsistant.

4) With the Alumitones, there were a couple of notes on the neck that made me think I had some dead spots. Once I swapped pups, I no longer have dead spots

5) There wasn't real good balance between strings with the alumitones. With the Zens, I have better balance, and over all better tone.

So this is my take.

Hope this helps

 

[Scoops]

6) The interactions of the V/V/T circuit that I like to use was minimal. whichever pup was turned up the loudest was the sound I got. Not at all like a jazz bass where the two interact to get some unique tones

 

[Slidlow]

Sure,
I should preface my statements with a brief synopsis of my playing style.

I am in the tone is in your fingers camp.

I play fretless exclusively

I get my tones from my right hand in a number of ways. Where I position my hand, and the attack I use, are two large components.

I get my tones in my left hand through sliding, and using vibrato.

So here's where Alumitones lack for me.

1) They arent as touch sensitive as opposed to other pups. Just a little difference in output when I picked soft and hard. This is important for me for being able to adjust my volume without adjusting my volume knob

2) They didnt seem to change tone much with respect to where I positioned my right hand. There was change, but not as much as other pups

3) With an epoxied finger board, I was expecting a lot of growl and muwah. with the alumitones, growl and muwah was nearly nonexsistant.

4) With the Alumitones, there were a couple of notes on the neck that made me think I had some dead spots. Once I swapped pups, I no longer have dead spots

5) There wasn't real good balance between strings with the alumitones. With the Zens, I have better balance, and over all better tone.

So this is my take.

Hope this helps

Thank you! As a fretless player for over 35 years I appreciate where you are coming from. I would probably shy away from them for a fretless. The project in mind would be fretted and very wide ranging (4 octaves across the open strings) so there is still a possibility these may be appropriate. They need to be responsive over a very wide spectrum.