No kidding!
I have Dunlops on mine, and it sings. Not sure why the Big Al would be any different than any other Ernie Ball bass. Stings can be dead from day one if they are defective.
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Musicman Big Al Club
- Thread starter Melvin7822
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No kidding!
I have Dunlops on mine, and it sings. Not sure why the Big Al would be any different than any other Ernie Ball bass. Stings can be dead from day one if they are defective.
Eureka! Good call on the pickups. I love my BA but it seems like it came with every screw loose... Including all of the pickup height screws. I am now lowering the bridge pickup to see if that helps.
Oh, and which Dunlops?
Don't go too crazy with the pickup height. Make sure you follow the guidelines [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]. Use that as a starting point and then adjust to taste.
I think the Big Al sounds best with nickel strings, so I use the Dunlop nickels. As far as setup goes, less tension on the string equals more sustain.
Before adjusting the bridge, I would try tightening the truss rod a little first (but be careful). Tightening the truss rod, lowering the action at the bridge, and changing to lighter string gauges will all decrease tension and allow the string to vibrate more freely.
I've had both nickels and steels on mine with great results. Currently have steels and love 'em!
Aussie Mark
I come from a land down under
- Oct 26, 2002
- 1,161
- 206
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- Endorsing Artist: Fender; O'Neill Amps; Cave Passive Pedals
I like rounds -- nickel and steel both sound great. I have found the Big Al does not sound very good with "played in" strings. Put a fresh set of strings on the bass and report back.
Passive mode, middle pickup
+1, this has been my go-to mode on this bass, except when I need to go nuts, and then all I have to do is press that middle button and it goes into "secret sauce" mode.
Passive mode, middle pickup
I've got a Big Al, and it doesn't really sound like a P bass -- not nearly as fat and warm.
Well I have five P basses at the moment, and have had plenty more, and I play and gig my Big Al all the time (SSS, rounds, steel and nickel), and the Big Al really doesn't have the low mid grunt, or the roundness of a real P bass -- still sounds great, though!
Neodymium pickups just seem to have a high mid "aftertaste" that I could live without. As far as EBMM basses go, I think the older SR5 with the ceramic pickup is the best sounding bass they have ever made. I assume the new sterling 5 sounds the same, but I haven't played one yet.
Interesting Biscuit. Wonder if the amp/cab combo would have anything to do with it.
I have a couple of P-Basses ('68 and a 60th anniversary) and they sound different but very similar (unmistakeable PB sound) and running them through my PUMA 900 and Lil'G cab the BigAl with Circle K's and the mid pup only in passive mode it is almost indistinguishable to my ears.
Oh well....both PBass and BigAls are essential to my arsenal (along with my Fodera YYS and EBMM Bongo) and with that group I rarely find anything that I can't slide the right sound in.
I have a couple of P-Basses ('68 and a 60th anniversary) and they sound different but very similar (unmistakeable PB sound) and running them through my PUMA 900 and Lil'G cab the BigAl with Circle K's and the mid pup only in passive mode it is almost indistinguishable to my ears.
Oh well....both PBass and BigAls are essential to my arsenal (along with my Fodera YYS and EBMM Bongo) and with that group I rarely find anything that I can't slide the right sound in.
Sign me up and give me a number. I've wanted a Big Al since I first played one in GC a couple years ago. They gave me a decent trade in for a Peavey and discounted a display item.
I've played it for a couple of weeks now and had it at one rehearsal so far. I love the variety of tones. It goes from smooth to barky to a nice growl (not SR growl but nice).
Here is a little recording I threw together last night. The BA has the middle pickup solo'd in passive mode. No effects were applied to the bass. Pure warm loveliness.
https://soundcloud.com/thingsabove/weaving
I've played it for a couple of weeks now and had it at one rehearsal so far. I love the variety of tones. It goes from smooth to barky to a nice growl (not SR growl but nice).
Here is a little recording I threw together last night. The BA has the middle pickup solo'd in passive mode. No effects were applied to the bass. Pure warm loveliness.
https://soundcloud.com/thingsabove/weaving
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Sounds nice ThingsAbove
That bass really is warm and sweet sounding and I have always loved the sound of an Adamas guitar.
That bass really is warm and sweet sounding and I have always loved the sound of an Adamas guitar.
Thanks. The Big Al sounds better plugged straight into the board than anything else I've owned.
And yes the Adamas guitars certainly have a sound and look of their own.
Updated my sig. Thank you. Wow #26... and this club has been going for a while...
Big Al Club...
The few, the proud, the ones with a bass named after a guitar player
