Lace Helix Bass.......Once Again

[mulchor]

I find them intriguing. I do not actually see them in real life.

The Alumitone pups also intrigue me, but were hard to find in stock when I was seeking them.

What I like is that Lace, instead of making a same-old same-old bass, or rather inintelligently exploiting exotic woods, put some design chops into thinking of the task of a player. That sets them apart from most of the designers/luthiers/producers in the field. Whether it's great or not, I dunno. But I like the approach.

My hunch is they didn't figure out how to manage production/supply (given the difficulty I had when earnestly trying to buy the stuff).

 

[BurningSkies]

I've played a 4 and a 5, neither of which impressed me much in tone or in feel.

 

[DaneB]

Hey guys, I was just in a music shop, and saw some of these basses. I'd seen pics of them in magazines a couple of years back, didn't really like the look, but thought they'd feel good to play as I usually dislike the large bodies of Fenders and stuff. I was in this music shop, which generally only stocks cheap Fender copies, and BAM, half a dozen Lace Helixes jumped out at me. They look amazing in person, especially the neck-throughs. They had a few 4 and 5-strings, but I only gave the fours a proper go because I usually hate 5s. I think the only 5 I'd really like would be a Dingwall.

Anyway, they play great. The bolt-on was nice, but the neck-through just felt so much tighter and more focused, and had a lot more sustain. Also looked way sexier, for not too much more monies.

Played them through a top-dollar Ampeg 810 setup, and they sounded amazing. The neck-through was very deep and full, and the build quality is high. There were no balance issues sitting down, and doing the standard music shop 'standing up whilst kinda crooking it on your leg' felt fine too. I almost never play standing up, so any balance issues there would be negligible.

The one thing I didn't like was they're not 24 fret. I like the symmetry of the two octaves, it makes everything so much easier, and more versatile. It's not a huge deal to me though, it's just something I'm used to on my other bass.

Seeing as this is Australia, and most shops only carry very boring and overpriced instruments, these are a breath of fresh air. The 4-string neck-through had a $1500 sticker on it, but he said he could knock it down to $1200. Being that instrument prices in this country are at LEAST double US pricing and often up to TRIPLE (for instance Rickenbacker...) $1200 is a great price for something that's on Musician's Friend for $750.

I'm going to be in town all day. I may have to go back and lay buy this. I don't have the money at the moment, but I'll happily pay it off.

 

[Bass Man Stan]

So its been a decade, anyone still playing a helix neck through? I have one on the way and was wondering what to expect.

 

[airfrank]

So its been a decade, anyone still playing a helix neck through? I have one on the way and was wondering what to expect.View attachment 3651729 View attachment 3651730

Hi
How do/did you like yours? I have one eyeing me for 600 euros here in France but am still on the fence.
Can't find many demos and worried the neck might be too large or thick. I'm a guitarist but have been getting into bass. My main basses at the moment are an epiphone thunderbird classic IV. Also wondering if the bass itself is up to par with the pups.
Cheers

 

[Bass Man Stan]

I sent mine back after 2 days. Baseball bat neck. Weak electronics. Neck was set wrong and bridge was maxed out to compensate. Lace pickups are not that great, I had them on a fender USA jazz too.

 

[Bass V]

I sent mine back after 2 days. Baseball bat neck. Weak electronics. Neck was set wrong and bridge was maxed out to compensate. Lace pickups are not that great, I had them on a fender USA jazz too.

thx for the frank appraisal, kinda takes it off my GAS list, my bolt-on Epi T-Bird IV covers it all

 

[airfrank]

thx for the frank appraisal, kinda takes it off my GAS list, my bolt-on Epi T-Bird IV covers it all

Thanks fr the feedback, I'm slowly getting over my gas as well.
Regarding the Epi T-Bird doesn't the helix have more clangerous tones?

 

[Bass V]

Thanks fr the feedback, I'm slowly getting over my gas as well.
Regarding the Epi T-Bird doesn't the helix have more clangerous tones?

it would have to cos the last thing this 'Bird is is clangerous, it's all big beefy lows

 

[airfrank]

yeah for sure the bird is big and beefy. So the helix could be complementary - or maybe there are better options in that price range (400-600 euros). I can't send the helix back if I buy it and can't really afford to take the chance for 600 euros.

 

[airfrank]

Well I decided to take a chance. This is the neck through version, dark blue, two pots (volume and tone) and 3-way switch. The neck is not beefy at all: I believe it's a u profile and the fretboard width at the nut corresponds to that of my Thunderbird, Westone Thunder II and EB-3. Where the neck meets the body the fretboard is 2mm wider. I have average hands with average fingers for a small man who stands about 5'6" (165 cm).
Finish is pristine, set-up is perfect. Tuners are comfortable and precise. Intonation is spot-on. The only disappointment comes from the pickups, not because of their dynamic range but rather their comparatively low output.Output equals that of the Westone, which comes after the Thunderbird. The EB-3, while the loudest, is the least interesting of the four soundwise so output isn't the only criterion. I guess I'll have to use the Helix with a clean boost or an outboard preamp. Any suggestions for a moderately priced solution ?

 

[two fingers]

Well I decided to take a chance. This is the neck through version, dark blue, two pots (volume and tone) and 3-way switch. The neck is not beefy at all: I believe it's a u profile and the fretboard width at the nut corresponds to that of my Thunderbird, Westone Thunder II and EB-3. Where the neck meets the body the fretboard is 2mm wider. I have average hands with average fingers for a small man who stands about 5'6" (165 cm).
Finish is pristine, set-up is perfect. Tuners are comfortable and precise. Intonation is spot-on. The only disappointment comes from the pickups, not because of their dynamic range but rather their comparatively low output.Output equals that of the Westone, which comes after the Thunderbird. The EB-3, while the loudest, is the least interesting of the four soundwise so output isn't the only criterion. I guess I'll have to use the Helix with a clean boost or an outboard preamp. Any suggestions for a moderately priced solution ?

I hate to be overly simplistic, but....

Can you not just turn up the gain on your amp?

 

[airfrank]

I hate to be overly simplistic, but....

Can you not just turn up the gain on your amp?

That's a perfectly reasonable question. I have an ampeg BA115 Master volume and volume are all the way up.
Tone set flat. Maybe I need a bigger amp

 

[two fingers]

That's a perfectly reasonable question. I have an amp BA115 Master volume and volume are all the way up.
Tone set flat. Maybe I need a bigger amp

@JimmyM he's saying the output of his pickups are so low that his gain and master are all the way up on a BA115. My gut says something else is going on here. But you're more familiar with those BA amps than I am. Whataya think?

 

[JimmyM]

@JimmyM he's saying the output of his pickups are so low that his gain and master are all the way up on a BA115. My gut says something else is going on here. But you're more familiar with those BA amps than I am. Whataya think?

If I was familiar with the bass, maybe I could have an opinion worth a crap Plugging into the active input maybe?

 

[airfrank]

If I was familiar with the bass, maybe I could have an opinion worth a crap Plugging into the active input maybe?

If you mean the 0db input that's the one I'm using.

 

[JimmyM]

If you mean the 0db input that's the one I'm using.

Nope, I was thinking of the -15db. So I got nothing...sorry.

 

[airfrank]

Nope, I was thinking of the -15db. So I got nothing...sorry.

No problem. I dig this amp btw...you're the ampeg amp man convinced me to give it a go! Thanks

 

[BaltoNealio]

Reply to Bass Man Stan:

I traded gear I wasn’t using (much or at all) plus $50 cash and now own that exact bass.

Currently, my jury is still in deliberation...but I’m beginning to understand that it’s a matter of my learning curve. For example: at the most recent rehearsal I introduced my Helix to the dudes and couldn’t find “my tone.” We do lots of punk—Green Day, The Clash, Rancid, etc—and I was baffled. I’m using a Trickfish Bullhead 1K, which is imminently tweakable.

Meanwhile...I plugged the Helix into a Hartke KB12 that I mostly use for practice/warmup. It sounds incredible . I’m just going to have to mediate a sonic settlement between the Helix and Trickfish. I’m sure I can achieve bass Valhalla again.

Pros: Offset design; thru-neck; non-wimpy-thin neck; dark walnut with offsetting maple-walnut(?) neck; cool tone dials; P bass on steroids and a uniquely voiced J bass (not as “nasally”); a great location for the input jack!

Cons: I like very low action and can’t quite adjust the bridge saddles (and odd dimensioned) truss rod nut to accommodate it.

Owning it for less than a month I’m inclined to keep it, if only for its unique design and deep, dark sounding character. But I suspect that after a couple of months I’ll have solved tonal adjustments. (fwiw, since pickup output is so (surprisingly) huge, I spent more time tweaking master vol and gain settings than I anticipated as to avoid nuking my twin 2x10 cabs to total meltdown!)