Got the new wiring for the inputs done, still have to do the outputs.
Comparison of correct and incorrect wiring
One of 3 done...
Comparison of correct and incorrect wiring
One of 3 done...
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Double Bass Homebuilt EUB build thread
- Thread starter Videojunkie
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- build a bass diy bass eub
Had a few minutes this evening to finish up the knobs. I think I like the results. 2 big knobs for blend and volume, 3 smaller ones for the 3 band EQ.
@bassically_eli I was talking about the knobs with my buddy with the spray booth, and he suggested tucking them in the curve.
Thinking about this, I'd place the 3 tone controls in the top of the curve (towards the neck) and the VB controls towards the bottom of the curve. That way they are relatively out of the way, but also accessible.
I'll mock it up with sticky tack to see how I like it later.
Thinking about this, I'd place the 3 tone controls in the top of the curve (towards the neck) and the VB controls towards the bottom of the curve. That way they are relatively out of the way, but also accessible.
I'll mock it up with sticky tack to see how I like it later.
Here's kind of what I have in mind.
My wife isn't really a fan, as the curved bit is her favorite... I might be able to put it on the top edge...
My wife isn't really a fan, as the curved bit is her favorite... I might be able to put it on the top edge...
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I would delay the decision until you can hold your bass in position, so at least until your endpin is mounted.
The bout is not a bad place, but keep a bit more away from the top, so the knobs cannot interfere with bowing and also keep them away from the middle and take them more to the edges.
I don’t know how you can access them inside for mounting and wiring. You might want a magnet closed access door in the middle of the bout to be able to service the electronics later.
The bout is not a bad place, but keep a bit more away from the top, so the knobs cannot interfere with bowing and also keep them away from the middle and take them more to the edges.
I don’t know how you can access them inside for mounting and wiring. You might want a magnet closed access door in the middle of the bout to be able to service the electronics later.
+1 that also seems like good advice to me. Given the narrow body, I think you'll have enough room for the bow, but it'd be better to wait and hold the bass. The only other thing I notice is that you won't really be able to see the tone knobs. Hopefully that's not an issue.
Between the angl of the top, and the curve, there's a lot of space for bowing.
On my EB, tone is controlled by feel (none of the knobs are marked) I find the center detent and rotate from there until it sounds right.
I think I am heading back to seeing it all 5 knobs will fit on the top end of the bass, next to the neck joint on the right side. Then, they are easily visible, and reached, but out of the way.
Better keep them off the back and close to the top. The edge of the back is the part your body makes contact with.
And wait until you can hold it. Then you can try where to put them in reach and away from any body contact points.
And wait until you can hold it. Then you can try where to put them in reach and away from any body contact points.
Now that's really a good thought, given that this is a unique instrument and you may hold it differently than you would hold anything else.
No recording, but I've been playing around with Arco a bit to see how it feels. Based on what I've felt so far, I think I will be acquiring a German bass bow in relatively short order. The cello bow works ok, but my short sausage fingers and ham fists are not a great fit - at least with the cello size bow.
Once I got the bow rosined up properly I was able to make noise, and I have adjusted the saddles so that I can play each string individually with the bow. I will probably have to fine tune this as I work on playing anything more than an open string.
Working on bow speed and accuracy, but I am really excited to hear this mic'd up! It has a nice resonant voice that I expect will be fantastic through both the piezos and the mic.
Once I got the bow rosined up properly I was able to make noise, and I have adjusted the saddles so that I can play each string individually with the bow. I will probably have to fine tune this as I work on playing anything more than an open string.
Working on bow speed and accuracy, but I am really excited to hear this mic'd up! It has a nice resonant voice that I expect will be fantastic through both the piezos and the mic.
I expect it to be vaguely like a Chapman stick as I will mostly be playing it off body. But I am not 100% sure. I need to get the post figured out....
And that boys and girls is a working preamp stage for the pizeos!
I tested it briefly, and all the strings ring through cleanly! The string noise, while present, isn't as bad as I was concerned it might be, but I am attributing that mostly to the flatwounds. The radio noise that plagued me earlier is completely gone!
I need to build a small plate for the 2.5mm connectors to attach to, and a more permanent mounting for each preamp.
Next up, tie this together with the 3 band eq and the mic, and see if this all plays nicely together.
I tested it briefly, and all the strings ring through cleanly! The string noise, while present, isn't as bad as I was concerned it might be, but I am attributing that mostly to the flatwounds. The radio noise that plagued me earlier is completely gone!
I need to build a small plate for the 2.5mm connectors to attach to, and a more permanent mounting for each preamp.
Next up, tie this together with the 3 band eq and the mic, and see if this all plays nicely together.
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Excellent news! Got the entire signal chain connected, and working. I still need to balance the mic volume vs the piezos a bit, but it's pretty close. Playing through my guitar amp (my bass rig is at church) it sounds pretty good!
Yes it looks like I eviscerated the bass, but I will work on the packaging for the various systems next.
Initial impressions, the piezos are a much 'colder' sound but they are relatively immune to feedback. The mic is much 'warmer' but I have to be careful about it. Blending the two sounds pretty good.
Yes it looks like I eviscerated the bass, but I will work on the packaging for the various systems next.
Initial impressions, the piezos are a much 'colder' sound but they are relatively immune to feedback. The mic is much 'warmer' but I have to be careful about it. Blending the two sounds pretty good.
I'm curious how you will find the sound of the piezos through the bass amp. I recently played with a piezo for the first time (well, you followed that thread) and I reported "strong, happy, deep bass sounds" so I'm a bit surprised that you use the word "cold".
But then these things are subjective, aren't they?
But then these things are subjective, aren't they?
@instrumentalist I think I am comparing it to the mic which is much warmer in tone (since it's picking up the resonance in the box of the bass).
Mind you that I am quite happy with both pickups.
Mind you that I am quite happy with both pickups.
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Had to make a slight adjustment on the piezo preamp. Routed the output of the mixed pickups through the unused 6th channel, and now the piezo volume much more closely matches the volume of the mic preamp.
Next up, build a permanent mounting solution for all the preamps, and dress all the cables into the bass. Which may or may not involve more modifications to the existing wiring. At the very least, the jack on the bass will be replaced with something more decent.
Next up, build a permanent mounting solution for all the preamps, and dress all the cables into the bass. Which may or may not involve more modifications to the existing wiring. At the very least, the jack on the bass will be replaced with something more decent.
Got the stand attached to the bass. It seems to work beautifully. The slight angle puts the balance point right about the 5th fret.
I'm looking at where I had planned on putting the knobs, and as @DoubleMIDI suggested, my body does ride on that corner of the bass. I'll see how much of an issue it is before I drill holes, but I think it may be just fine.
I'm looking at where I had planned on putting the knobs, and as @DoubleMIDI suggested, my body does ride on that corner of the bass. I'll see how much of an issue it is before I drill holes, but I think it may be just fine.
This will be a test of my origami skills. In metal.
The plan is to put both preamps in the same box, and mount the tone controls separately inside the bass with velcro. The metal is some .020 copper clad aluminum.
The plan is to put both preamps in the same box, and mount the tone controls separately inside the bass with velcro. The metal is some .020 copper clad aluminum.
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