I'd be interested in playing one of those setup with a low B. Having 6 strings does nice things to the stiffness of the neck, and there are companies out there (Alembic, for instance) that get the low B to work really well at that scale length.
John
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I'd be interested in playing one of those setup with a low B. Having 6 strings does nice things to the stiffness of the neck, and there are companies out there (Alembic, for instance) that get the low B to work really well at that scale length.
John
I'd be interested in your opinion of the half rounds. I am considering them for another bass.
Also, in regards to the short scale bass question, and while it's not a BTB, has anyone played the 5 String Artcore AGB205 Hollowbody bass? I'm mixed on the look, but I played a short scale 4 the other night and really liked the feel and tone.
My bad. I had it confused with the BTB33. I can't find anything on an 846V on their site.
John
edit: Ah, I see it now. Very nice!
ahh... the AGB205... a bass that I regret not ordering one when it was still being offered in my region. Obviously I suggest you to get it if you still can.
The 845V is the new BTB33, and the 846V is the same thing, but with a low B in addition to the high C.
Nice. I have a BTB33 Volo, the progenitor of your BTB845V. It's definitely the most comfortable and ergonomic of my 5-string basses. I'd like to have the zero fret and spacing-adjustable bridges of your bass, but I don't think I can justify a new bass just for those features.
The BTB846V, the 6-string version of this bass, has me seriously considering my first 6-string, though.
The BTB846V, the 6-string version of this bass, has me seriously considering my first 6-string, though.
I like D'addario half rounds for fretless basses. They still still have a bit of bite and are not as dark as flat wounds or coated strings. But they are much easier on the fingerboard. I have them on my fretless 6 String BTB1406E bass.
As it happens, I didn't have a chance to install the half rounds. What I'm looking to get from them is a little bit more meat on the C string, tonally. I've got a jazz jam thing that I administer on Monday evenings, so maybe I'll just get it done after I get my rig setup for that.
John
I've owned alot of the higher end BTB basses, but I believe that is the prettiest finish they've done on any BTB.
I installed the D'addario half-rounds last night. I didn't have a chance to play it through my rig, but first thoughts are that everything is good and pretty much as I was expecting except for the B string, which now produces not much more than a dull thud. I do not like it, but I'll wait and see how it is in context with other instruments, through my amp, before I put the NYXL set back on. Usually I buy strings in sets of two, just because, and I think I'm glad I didn't do that this time.
Wouldn't it be nice if someone made a set that gently transitioned from half-round on the treble side to round-wound on the bass side?
John
Wouldn't it be nice if someone made a set that gently transitioned from half-round on the treble side to round-wound on the bass side?
John
Guess I’ll skip those. I think I like things about the NYXL’s but all the things I disliked about them in the past are present as well. So, that is to say, I’m undecided. I also have another 6 with rounds so they have similar tones. In the land of “I want things to present different tones” I feel I need to change. Maybe I’ll try some flats.
I've got flats on a couple of basses now (Alembic Series and a Fender Precision) and they're just about perfect. That low B though is a tough one to get right.
John
John
So here's a clip of a tune from Sunday morning brunch gig. BTB646SC with the stock D'addario NYXL strings through my Trickfish rig. Forgive the lack of direction in the bass chair. I'm not much of a jazz player, but I'm working on it. This is our first gig with these tunes, just winging it without any rehearsal. I'll try to remember to record again this weekend with the D'addario half-rounds for a comparison.
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Here's another with some different bass tonal variation in the solo. All this is with tone controls flat.
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And another.
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John
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Here's another with some different bass tonal variation in the solo. All this is with tone controls flat.
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And another.
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John
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I have pre ordered one these from Zzounds. No word yet but I am just hoping that they make more than one of these things!
The Ibanez endorsed artist received the NAMM bass, which is also the one in all the photos. I'm torn between wanting them to hurry, and wanting them to take their sweet time.
I have a BTB845SC that I will post pictures of later on tonight when I get home from work. Just looking at it , It looks like it would be much heavier than a normal Double cut like a fender or that type. From experience it is really not much heavier. And it balances great. It feels a bit odd at first but is very easy to play and the sound is great, very flexible, I had a BTB405QM about a year ago but just could not get used to the width of the neck. This one feels very different. Thin front to back and not as wide as the 405QM. The sound can be changed by changing strings. I put on a set of GHS Balanced Nickels and it sounds so smooth and the sound string to string is very even. I Have never been happy with a 34" scale B string I could never get it to sound like I wanted it to. Even when I had a Roscoe Beck V the B was thuddy but this is a 35" scale and the B rings out loud and clean. I am not saying no one can get a good 34" B sound Just that I have not been able to. Just IMHO.
Re: D'Addario Half Round strings on the BTB846SC: Wow! The B sounds completely awful unplugged, but articulate through the Trickfish setup on the gig. The skinny C string isn't as guitarish. I recorded the gig but haven't had a chance to "check the tapes" as it were. I'll upload something later as time allows.
John
John
