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New ramp, new camera...

Brad Johnson

Brad Johnson

Inactive
Mar 8, 2000
45,700
10,257
Gaithersburg, Md
Disclosures
DR Strings
#1
Maybe my pics will suck less;). Just got a ramp installed on a recent acquisition, a Brubaker KXB 5 Custom. Silver Maple body and top, Walnut veneer, Maple neck with Zircote board. Bartolini quadcoils with an Aguilar OBP-3 preamp. Hipshot hardware. The ramp is painted scrap wood.

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Some other basses I haven't had decent pics of yet...

F Bass Studio 5
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Fodera Anthony Jackson Contrabass
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Brubaker NBS-1
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#6
VERY cool ramp, it looks nice and clean, what kind of paint did you use? I'd love to build one for my 7 string but I'd be worried about the paint wearing off from sting friction, What did you use to attach it? Love the Fodera. Is the back of the neck of that that first Brubaker painted, that looks cool too.
 
#11
Lo end PUNCH said:
VERY cool ramp, it looks nice and clean, what kind of paint did you use? I'd love to build one for my 7 string but I'd be worried about the paint wearing off from sting friction, What did you use to attach it? Love the Fodera. Is the back of the neck of that that first Brubaker painted, that looks cool too.
Click to expand...

When using a ramp, the strings never contact it...

As for the person who said they don't understand the concept, get one made and try it out. If you're into economy of motion, free stroke, or 4 finger technique, you'll dig it. Probably one the biggest turning points/best things i've ever done.

I made mine from scrap wood also, painted it black, and sealed it.
 
#14
Lo end PUNCH said:
VERY cool ramp, it looks nice and clean, what kind of paint did you use? I'd love to build one for my 7 string but I'd be worried about the paint wearing off from sting friction, What did you use to attach it? Love the Fodera. Is the back of the neck of that that first Brubaker painted, that looks cool too.
Click to expand...

Kevin sprayed it with a matte black to match the Bartolini's finish. Most people look at it and thinks a big pickup. It's attached with 3M double-sided tape, holds well but comes off easily enough if need be. It wears extremely well... shines up a little with use but can be easily re-dulled (I know that's not a word:)).

The back of the neck is finished in black. I like the look and it feels great. A friend just had Kevin do his Ken Smith 6 in the same finish...

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#15
Mark Wilson said:
Ohh so YOU have the exact bass collection I want.
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These are just the basses I brought down to mess around the camera;).

The pics are nowhere near the quality I've seen elsewhere but they're better than my previous pics with the 2mp camera. One of these days I may actually spend some time learning how to take pics. When I have some time.
 
#16
MODNY said:
i love the basses. brubakers are great.

i dont get the whole idea behind ramps though
Click to expand...

The ramp basically stops your fingers from going too far past the string when you pluck. People think it makes you pluck softer but that's not necessarily the case at all IME. I can still pluck hard, with the ramp my finger is back in position to pluck faster. It's like playing over the pickup except with a ramp that matches the radius of the fretboard, the strings can be closer overall.

In my case I also play more parallel to the body than most and this makes that even easier once you get the hang of it. If you pluck "down" towards the body you'll run into problems. With maybe 2-3mm of clearance on my high C, the string never hits the ramp... because it's vibrating more sideway (hopeful that won't start another elliptical motion debate;)).
 

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