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Kala UBass Megathread, Part 3

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#821
Okay, with the U-Bass, I am still going to need some EQing control, if it is just slight. I had though I could get by with just one FX board, but the needs of the my U-Bass and Gretsch are just too different.

It looks like I need at least the following: HPF-Pre -> EQ

For some situations, I may still need my own DI, but I want to keep what I pack to a gig to a minimum, so I am now curious how the HPF-Pre will sound through the Behringer ADI21. It has a 3-band EQ, but the mids frequency is adjustable, which might be helpful to reduce feedback issues if the problem is within its range. The 10-band MXR offers more EQing control, but would then require a DI box for those times when I need it.

The box count won't seem to matter. The PT-Nano will have to be used, as I just don't like my pedal to be freely sitting on the floor.
 
#822
Caeman,

I have a bag with all my outboard gear in it. I am basically everyone's sub and play a variety of music in a variety of places on a variety of instruments on a variety of rigs.

I like free sitting pedals because I will only have one. Or maybe two. And in the 2x2 place I have to stand there is not enough practical room for a pedalboard.

The MXR has been the best all around EQ I have tried. For tone and for room issues.

The fdeck has almost eliminated my need for other clean tone shaping units so far. But for me it will be fdeck>MXR>amp. Passive DI or VT deluxe if I am using PA or need more tones.

Sunday I ran the upright flat (bypassed EQ pedal) and it was the sound I hear in my head. I switched to ubass late in the gig, adjusted the fdeck a little, and still had a great bypassed tone. I made a couple adjustments to the EQ to further emulate upright and got 90% there.

A bump at 63 for that upright thump.
2 other targeted mid cuts to reduce that small sounding plunkiness. The highs sounded acoustic, not piezo contrived so no adjustment was needed there.

The MXR is a winner because you can deal with many bands at a time and they all seem appropriate for bass.
 

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#825
SBassman said:
I think we have morphed into the

Tone Tweak Freak Mega Thread.

:)
Click to expand...

Tone Tweak Freak. I like it. True, for good reason. Have you seen the U-bass demos on YouTube? You obviously can't walk up to a bass amp with a U-bass and plug in and get tone heaven. You can't do that with an upright. That Is pretty much reserved for a P-bass IMO. We need to work to get the best tone. I love this community because we all try different things and report findings. I hope the U-bass world benefits from things I have discovered. I surely have benefitted from y'all's experiences. Full circle. I have bought and tried a ton of stuff, found what I'm looking for and I predict a mini-sell-off soon.
 
#826
It would be nice, if the MXR and the F-Deck were in one box, less cables, less boxes etc. in an already cramped space... I've been loaned a Bose equalizer foot pedal, which works of a 9 volt battery. The "explosives - sound" of string noises that come to the fore are a nuisance, and require fiddling,tweaking and more cables on the floor, which is time consuming and frustrating. The only thing that I have managed to improve on is to run all the cables from the ceiling (exposed trusses), with a suspended shelf in the garage on which we've placed 3 amps. If I buy a box of tricks, I would want that on a pedestal, with the cables running upwards as well.
 
#827
BassBron said:
It would be nice, if the MXR and the F-Deck were in one box, less cables, less boxes etc.
Click to expand...

I think you're looking for the Fishman Plat Pro. It's an EQ, an HPF, and a few more features, all in one box. It's not as precise and detailed as the MXR/F-Deck combo, but it's simpler - if that's what you're looking for.

I've been fine with it, mainly because I'm very happy with the tone I'm getting. And the built-in phase switch, ground lift, DI, and compressor really make it a Swiss army knife of a pedal.

I'm usually a tone tweak freak too (my pedalboard that I use with my Warwick bass and Eden stack is a bit crazy), but the simplicity that the UBass offers me (much easier to deal with than my other upright-like basses) has me focusing on a simple setup overall. And one bass with one pedal thru one combo amp, is just about as simple as it gets. I'm loving it.
 
#828
Equipment-itis. I have seen it before. The search for the holy grail. There will always be something better. It will never stop.
Keep your eye on the music guys.

BTW, has anyone tried my simple feedback
solution? Or does it not satisfy the equipment shopping lust?
 
#829
@bryanspkr:
I agree with you to a certain extent, but if this sort of "comparing notes or exchanging of ideas " does not take place, the mistakes will be expensive, and the gathering of information slow and costly. The bottomline for me, is that unfortunately it is a compromise, in that I'd rather play the instrument than tinker with it, provided the sound is decent. As the Kala accoustic U-Bass does not have controls built in, I am researching wot my best options could be in terms of an external "box of tricks". It is definitely not shopping lust, but the need to control the output of the HOG from where I am playing the instrument, preferably as simple and compact as possible.Running up and down to the desk, or interacting with the sounddesk operator is a pain. No offense intended.
 
#830
I just find it interesting that many out there never seem to be satisfied.
Sorry if it sounded like a blanket statement.

I also see it in the speaker building field. I once asked an audio building freak what kind of music he listens to and he said he didn't listen to music. I guess he was too obsessed with sound. Also a never ending quest.

For some, the next best thing or the greatest improvement might be in their hands and minds and heart. Its easy to lose oneself in the better equipment quest. I do see at least a bit of that here.
Maybe when we have the first international U-Bass star, then....?
Perception is everything. Isn't it?

Just consumerism I guess.
 
#831
So....why have more than one company build amps? Or PA systems? Everyone has a different idea of what sounds good. SVT, MarkBass, GK, Fender, Gibson. All are distinctly different.

Unlike Mr. Watson, I rarely play through an amp. The majority of my playing is at churches is straight to the house. One needs a good preamp and some modicum of control over your tone. Not all preamps produce the same sound. So, like with amps, one needs to the find the preamp that gives you the result you like.

Bryan, your suggestion for reducing feedback is a good one. Back when I owned a Gretsch hollowbody, folks suggested I do that to lessen feedback.
 
#832
caeman said:
So....why have more than one company build amps? Or PA systems? Everyone has a different idea of what sounds good. SVT, MarkBass, GK, Fender, Gibson. All are distinctly different.

Unlike Mr. Watson, I rarely play through an amp. The majority of my playing is at churches is straight to the house. One needs a good preamp and some modicum of control over your tone. Not all preamps produce the same sound. So, like with amps, one needs to the find the preamp that gives you the result you like.

Bryan, your suggestion for reducing feedback is a good one. Back when I owned a Gretsch hollowbody, folks suggested I do that to lessen feedback.
Click to expand...

I would agree with you on every point. For myself I just try to keep it as simple as possible. At least the beginning of the chain. From the right pickup for each instrument to the right input. On the other end I guess I'm a bit lucky. Since I build my own speakers I can always take the right cab for every instrument and room for the closest sound before tweaking. Deaf soundmen?, well thats another battle...

As far as the U-bass goes, all I ever need to do is use my older AI head that has a choice of high or low impedance inputs (Fart and power drain control on the input choice) and a high pass filter. This covers pretty much every instrument for me too. Its also my DI without a speaker, and sometimes I'll stick its preamp in the effects loop of a house amp.

Sometimes if the house has some really high end monitors lying around, I'll grab one or two as a rig. I just make sure I have every kind of speaker connector I might need.

One last thing though. Some my best customers are the ones who are doing the never ending search. Sometimes I am not the best salesman though and I will teach them how to get better results in different environments with the stuff they already have. If they can't produce the sound on their instrument though, there is not much you can do. Actually I will often tell them then to go buy something from somewhere else. In the end you can't fix bad habits with equipment. I have seen some great players play on mediocre instruments and coax a great sound (Maybe with more effort than should be necessary though). I've been taught that lesson on upright very early on.
 
#837
But I don't recycle instruments. Once I buy it, I've kept them. I traded my Gretsch 5122 in for a Hound Dog reso guitar, and I sold my Fernandes fretless. But, I still have all of my other instruments (countless tinwhistles and harmonicas, lap steel, mando, fiddle, etc)
 
#839
Happily married for 14 years. And two kids. She approves of my music habit as it keeps me away from unsavory people. :hiding:

She loves to listen to me practice. She says I sing with a lot of emotion, it comes across very genuine to her. She is my biggest fan. Right along with my two little guys (ages 6 and 4). I keep the U-Bass up out of reach. The U-Bass may become the perfect bass to teach my boys with later if they take an interest.
 
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