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Low End Jazz Megathread, post pics and soundbites!!

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#144
gruuv said:
Cheese, that's saying A LOT considering you've played Ken's Magical Mystery Celinder (you have, haven't you?). . . many here consider that to be the cat's pajamas of J's.

SMASH, thanks man. Mainly I was curious about the LMII as that's what I'm gigging with currently. I love the amp, and I loved your clips. I was just wondering if that's what I was hearing the bass(es) through.

I think I need to check out some LEJ action!
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OK, these vids are LMII DI'd through the PA. LMII set pretty flat, so too the bass with perhaps passive tone rolloff and maybe a bit of bass post where suitable. For whatever you can deduce from these, here you go. Yeah, trying one for yourself is the best way to go as with any instrument.

(better sound and performance, more diverse material ... Killer Queen is passive).


LutherHeggs00 said:
I know I could email and bother Brian to ask, but I'm more curious than thinking about purchasing (I'm already GAS-free with my current Benavente)

My Benny has Benny pickups. All the LEJ's I see have LEJ pickups. Is Brian or Chris opposed to having different pre-amps or pickups (like Nordstrand's) installed if you want?

Just wondering...
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That you'll have to ask Brian. Depends whether they'll even fit, or if the cost of a different routing is prohibitive. You could always swap yourself after buying I suppose. Try 'em first though?

I think they're standard Benavente "slimbucker" pickups in the LEJ. At least they have the "B" on them ... maybe the B's stand for Brian Barrett and they're a custom wind. Heh. Wound by Kent Armstrong if I'm not mistaken. Check the LEJ site to be sure.

Really great passive tone in those pickups, IMO, and the preamp when set flat sounds identical to passive just with a bit of volume boost. I thought the preamp was too strong at first, and certainly a little goes a long way, but I've learned to make it work for me even at what I originally felt were extreme settings ...mostly when jamming though - live I try not to screw around. I feel it ain't necessary and it ain't fair to the sound guys.
 
#145
jonno1707 said:
Hey Smash,

When I reffered to the Sizzle I wasn't reffering to an EMG or other synthetic non organic high end sort of tone but something unique to LEJ basses and incredibly sweet sounding and YES with a few turn of the knobs she can be pulled back and sound completely vintage and warm..
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I better understand you now. Yeah, I agree.

Thanks for the Atelier info. earlier too. I don't think I've seen a 6'er under 12 lbs, but it's good to know they got the weight down at some point.
 
#146
LutherHeggs00 said:
I know I could email and bother Brian to ask, but I'm more curious than thinking about purchasing (I'm already GAS-free with my current Benavente)

My Benny has Benny pickups. All the LEJ's I see have LEJ pickups. Is Brian or Chris opposed to having different pre-amps or pickups (like Nordstrand's) installed if you want?

Just wondering...
Click to expand...

They won't install anything from the factory other than the Benavente pickups and preamps.
 
#147
Beav said:
I'll try and clarify a bit. The LEJ Preamp was inspired by the old Tobias'. The preamp was designed that when maxed out, it would have a Pre-Gibsion Tobias-esque tone (sizzling highs and hefty lows). It's like as soon as you boost the preamp all the way it totally changes animals.
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Ok, thanks Cheese and Beav. . . that makes total sense! I remember thinking when I heard one of the clips, that it reminded me of the old Tobias tone - I wondered if that's what Dan meant in his LEJ promo video when he said "pre-CBS Gibson thing." Cool!

And SMASH, thanks for the clips. Very not sizzly, but rather a very good "old school" tone. Jump from that to the phatband's version of "Brickhouse" and these seem like very versatile basses. Great playing, sounds like a fun gig - "Killer Queen" is such a great tune.
 
#149
Beav said:
Gruuv, I don't know where you are in TN, but it would be a worthwhile trip to Murfreesboro to check out all the stuff Brian has.
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No doubt. . . I've been talking to him this past week about doing just that. When I head that way I'll drop you a PM, maybe we can hang at the shop! :bassist: Knoxville, by the way.
 
#151
Beav said:
Where are you in TN?
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I think I was editing while you posted, Knoxville.
bannana_guitar.gif
 
#156
Smash

Hey man, I have no problem finishing Rosewood but generally Rosewood, ebony, etc. need to be oiled. That being said Rickenbacker is the only one that I know of that has finished Rosewood and there never seems to be a problem and it does look great. I'll be happy to finish Rosewood if you would like.


Heres a couple of cool Video's that have been recorded lately.
(have to get pass the talking, but good clip)
 
#157
gruuv said:
And SMASH, thanks for the clips. Very not sizzly, but rather a very good "old school" tone. Jump from that to the phatband's version of "Brickhouse" and these seem like very versatile basses. Great playing, sounds like a fun gig - "Killer Queen" is such a great tune.
Click to expand...

Glad you think so. Thanks very much !

Here's a compilation clip of a recent gig, with some reggae vibes on the LEJ. The bass is flat, old nickel strings, through a Boogie Scout 12" combo set flat, except some low bass rolloff. First tune is fingerstyle near the bridge, and you can hear the Jazz-bass influence in the sound. 2nd, 3rd, & 4th tune it edits into is palm-muting with a bit of passive tone rolloff otherwise also set flat on the bass, then some fingerstyle funk and a bit of slapping at the end which overall further emphasizes both what can be done with the hands tonally, or with these basses.

I mean, I think almost any bass even an Alembic can cop these tones if the player wants to (I believe, though I haven't played an Alembic I've heard many live and their tone doesn't make me think old-school or reggae for example), I'm just saying the LEJ's can too despite what some may think.

[/QUOTE]


Great clips. Congrats ! Great examples of LEJ as non-zingy too. Especially the 2nd clip.

In the first clip, is that the orange sparkle bass that you had as a demo around NAMM time, then sold to a TB'er? I very nearly bought that one instead of my spalt burst.

The 2nd clip, that bass is a very new sale, correct? Impressive tha he's already using it on a tv broadcast with a Grammy-nominated artist. Shows confidence in the instrument.

IMO, and based on what friends that have run music stores tell me, the vast majority of "boutique" instruments are bought by guys who don't gig or just weekend warriors with great-paying day jobs. No slag on those people at all, just saying it's cool that the majority of yours seem to be getting used in relatively high-profile gigs. Congrats!

Finished rosewood would look great. Can that be done to a fretted neck or do the frets have to be removed? Might be good for a fretless too. I'd consider converting one of mine to fretless, but I need two fretted at this point which is why a fretless neck would be ideal if I decide I "need" one. Maybe I'll try making one some day. Haha. Until then I have a very nice fretless 4 anyway ... it's not an LEJ though, so I'll stop there.
 
#159
Brian, or anyone, got sound clips of an LEJ with piezos? I've never played a bass with piezos, but I gather they generally approximate a more acoustic/upright type tone? Is that the idea?

Also wondering if they can be easily retrofitted into a stock magnetic LEJ, or if doing so would raise the price beyond the $25/string quoted on the LEJ site for new orders.

Thanks.
 
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