Double Bass Palatino Megathread part I

[bobaloo]

Rod,

My earlier recommendation for helicore/spirocore was based on pizzicato playing only, as I don't play arco (well, tried a couple of times...does Jack Benny mean anything to you?).

Bob

 

[rodl2005]

Jack Benny- I LOVED watching him when I was a Kid- just don't see enough of him any more- tho- as I'm a bass player I'm sorry I didn't get the connection duh!!! Re strings:- I got a good deal on a set of Hellicore Hybrids- I'll mainly(98%) be using 'em pizzicato- so I ordered 'em. Tho I reckon my next set 'll be the Obligatos- like Mr. Gollihur's description of them! BUT guys & gals, please keep sending in your views on strings for the Palatino-what they sound like, feel, pizz & arco... as I say B4- the more info the better, especially as I'm new to this. I played/play elec.bass since I was 7 y.o. & I'm 42 now!!! As far as I can remember when I started playin, I could only buy 'flatwounds' in the 2 shops in town=- now there are still only 2 shops in town. Thanx again guys ROD.

 

[bobaloo]

Rod,

I meant my arco playing sounded like Jack Benny's violin playing!

Bob

 

[Nohandles]

I have been using the Hybrid Heavy strings since I like heavy strings on my 2 acoustics. "Labella Rope Cores"
They are still lighter than the rope cores but are very close.
What I find with the Heavy's is the E & A strings are extremely Boomie compaires to the D & G string. I have been trying some different bridge designs to compensate for the difference. For now I have learned to balance it with my hand and the bow. I am sure I can get a bridge design that will compensate and I am very close.
Do any of you who use the medium and light strings find the same thing with them?
Since I intend to sell bridges ( way behind ) I would like to know if you experence the same problem. If so I will buy light and medium to help out the sound with all the guages strings. I think the Palatino it a great bass and for the price I don't think you could get any better.
I do wish they had some other finish options though. I am particulary fond of blond bassed and my 2 acoustic are both blond. Maybe refinishing would work but I suspect I could not get out all the stain in the wood.
Another thing I would like to try is to add sound holes to it and see what it would do.
At any rate its a great bass!

 

[rodl2005]

AAAHHH !!! I see the Jack Benny relationship now-Duh again Thanx Bobaloo. Also re strings, my damn Daddario's still haven't arrived yet, so no info can come from me re. I did use the Palatino(with the factory strings-yuk!) at 2 gigs over the weekend. Fri I used it with a EV 1x15" bin & sounded good. Tho last nite(sun) I used it with my fender 2x10" cab & I really got a nice thump out of her! Liked it better than the ol' 15"-thought it'd be the other way round!!! U live & learn eh? Cant wait to get some decent strings tho!
NOHANDLES- may be interested in getting one of your bridges sent all the way to Tasmania when U get up & ready?????????????????????????????? How 'bout it??????
Anyway thanx again for the resposes re strings etc.... keep 'em comin, they are ALL helpful 2 me! Thanx, ROD.

 

[Nohandles]

AAAHHH !!! I see the Jack Benny relationship now-Duh again Thanx Bobaloo. Also re strings, my damn Daddario's still haven't arrived yet, so no info can come from me re. I did use the Palatino(with the factory strings-yuk!) at 2 gigs over the weekend. Fri I used it with a EV 1x15" bin & sounded good. Tho last nite(sun) I used it with my fender 2x10" cab & I really got a nice thump out of her! Liked it better than the ol' 15"-thought it'd be the other way round!!! U live & learn eh? Cant wait to get some decent strings tho!
NOHANDLES- may be interested in getting one of your bridges sent all the way to Tasmania when U get up & ready?????????????????????????????? How 'bout it??????
Anyway thanx again for the resposes re strings etc.... keep 'em comin, they are ALL helpful 2 me! Thanx, ROD.

Rod be patient and I will deliever you a new bridge. I thought the summer would be quiet and all I would have to do was jam! BUT I have 20 gigs "4 groups" and no time to jam, AND THAT SUCKS! Although as long as the (high kicks in) I'll have all night to jam.bluegrass,jazz,classical and rock/pop!.
I still need to know if you who use medium and light exparence same think I do? PLEASE LET ME KNOW! I want to make the bridges fit your strings. I'm ready to buy a small CNC roughter to cut the bridges.

 

[rodl2005]

Thats great news NoHands... I'd really appreciate a bridge to fit & replace the crappy one on my new Palatino . Just let me know when ever.
Still waiting for my new strings.......... !!!!!!!!!!
Rod.

 

[pharaohamps]

While we're on the subject of bridges, is everybody still using the onboard pickup and preamp? I have a K&K BassMaster Pro setup installed but really dislike plugging in all that stuff when there's a jack and knobs on the bass itself. I tried using the onboard preamp / pickup but it's REALLY noisy and sounds like crap.

Last night I experimented with some different preamp designs (I also build FX pedals BTW) and I came up with something that I think could be a drop-in replacement for the stock setup. The stock preamp plugs in with a 3/32" jack (for the pickup) and a 2-pin mini-molex connector (for the battery.) To replace the preamp you'd need a screwdriver, a small adjustable wrench, and about half an hour. No soldering. The headphone amp will be disabled, but the volume and tone controls will still work.

The tone of the new preamp is neutral, and surprisingly good. Will it replace a good K&K (or similar) setup? No. But I'd use it on a gig now, whereas I wouldn't have done so before.

If there is interest, I'll make up a few boards and draw up a wiring diagram. PM me here.

Matt Farrow

 

[JazzDude]

...
What I find with the Heavy's is the E & A strings are extremely Boomie compaires to the D & G string. I have been trying some different bridge designs to compensate for the difference. For now I have learned to balance it with my hand and the bow. I am sure I can get a bridge design that will compensate and I am very close.
Do any of you who use the medium and light strings find the same thing with them?

I haven't noticed any real difference with Helicore lights, nor Obligatos. I did find that shifting the bridge around on the pickup makes a difference in sound balance.

Since I intend to sell bridges ( way behind ) I would like to know if you experence the same problem. If so I will buy light and medium to help out the sound with all the guages strings.
...

I have a slightly used set of Helicore Hybrid lights that I'm not using. PM me if you're interested.

 

[gfred]

Hey Pharoh- I'm interested

 

[pharaohamps]

OK, I've done some more extensive testing using an A/B setup with my onboard pickup / preamp and my K&K BassMax setup.

* The bass is strung with Piastro Flat ChromeSteels (not my favorite strings,) and set up with a medium-low action, suitable for pizz playing. I haven't tried these comparisons with arco playing yet.

* The K&K is set up with both channel EQ's at their midpoints (flat settings,) and with their gain at the factory-recommended levels. While testing, I experimented with blending the wing and string/quad signals to get the most balanced tone.

* The stock pickup was in the wooden "box" holding the bridge, with no additional padding or insulating material installed. The stock preamp was replaced with my new preamp board.

I found the onboard setup to have less noise / hiss, and a fuller low end. The onboard pickup is actually quite decent, if a little thumpy. String balance is good, with a slightly lower output on the A and D strings. This setup sounds more like an "old school" upright tone, round with lots of thump.

The K&K setup is very clear-sounding, brighter and more defined. The noise level was higher (since the preamp has more gain plus the EQ,) but the treble was very nice-sounding. I much prefer the quad pickup to the wing pickup, but the blend is pretty good.

I'd like to hear the onboard under-bridge pickup blended with the quad pickup - I bet that would be cool. The under-bridge pickup seems to be the best at reproducing that great low end that these basses can deliver.

The verdict? I'd really like to have both setups available. For solo playing, or recording, the K&K setup would give a more accurate picture of the "whole" bass tone. But for playing with a band, I'd use the onboard pickup for sure. Even for some types of recording, I'd still choose the Palatino pickup since its nice "thump" would sit in a mix better.

I'm going to be selling these preamps if anyone is interested. gfred already has a PM about it. $49.99 plus $4 shipping in the US, $11 shipped anywhere else. All you need to install them is a Philips screwdriver and a decent pair of pliers (or an adjustable wrench.) The pickup just plugs in, you bolt in the new output jack and pots, install the knobs, and pull the battery snap into the existing compartment. It takes longer to pull the old preamp than it does to install the new one.

Matt Farrow

 

[rodl2005]

Will keep that p/up u are selling in mind Pharoah?? is that right? Am STILL waiting on a set of strings thru ebay......... . Will let U guys know. & WILL keep that p/up in mind too. Cheers, Rod

 

[mercbass]

so... seein' as how i dont feel like wading through 10 pages - what's the verdict?



are they decent entry level EUBs? i'm an electric player that wants an upright..

 

[pharaohamps]

so... seein' as how i dont feel like wading through 10 pages - what's the verdict?



are they decent entry level EUBs? i'm an electric player that wants an upright..

Entry-level, yes. If you can work on them yourself or find someone to do adjustments inexpensively, they can be pretty good. The woodwork is generally adequate, some are better than others. The onboard electronics are awful, though. I kept the original pickup and replaced my preamp. I also re-shaped and re-slotted the original bridge because I couldn't find a ready-made replacement. My tailpiece doesn't rattle like some of them do, and I threw away the upper bout extension - using it was like being poked in the ribs with a broom handle.

They're not bad, really. I like mine.

Matt Farrow

 

[pharaohamps]

Will keep that p/up u are selling in mind Pharoah?? is that right? Am STILL waiting on a set of strings thru ebay......... . Will let U guys know. & WILL keep that p/up in mind too. Cheers, Rod

Not quite sure I understand you. I'm using the original pickup with a new preamp. I have a K&K BassMaster setup, with a Double Big Twin and a BassMax, that I removed from the bass.

Matt Farrow

 

[mercbass]

Entry-level, yes. If you can work on them yourself or find someone to do adjustments inexpensively, they can be pretty good. The woodwork is generally adequate, some are better than others. The onboard electronics are awful, though. I kept the original pickup and replaced my preamp. I also re-shaped and re-slotted the original bridge because I couldn't find a ready-made replacement. My tailpiece doesn't rattle like some of them do, and I threw away the upper bout extension - using it was like being poked in the ribs with a broom handle.

They're not bad, really. I like mine.

Matt Farrow

Cool... thanks! I do all of the work to my electrics myself, and I dont imagine the principles on an EUB are too far removed from that. I was probably going to run the Palatino through an external preamp anyway, too.. what preamp did you put in yours?

 

[Nohandles]

I have not found the electroncs to be all that bad but I turn down the volume on the bass and use the pre amp and the amp to control the bass. It works great for me this way.
My tail stock does't rattle either. All in all for the price I'm quiet impressed with this bass.

 

[rodl2005]

Sorry Pharoah, I'm only the bass player!!! I was rushing thru things B4. I WAS waiting on some strings thru ebay, but thanx to some DOPE at OZ post they were sitting down at local P.O. since the 4th. Thats about 5 gigs I could've had 'em on for!!!!!!!! They just forgot to let me know they'd arrived-didn'tleave a notification card-nuffink!!
Re- pre-amp, sounds good, will get back 2 U when I can afford! I have to remember your $50 = our ( about ) $75!!!
I S'pose it's about the same as our 2 country's leaders- ours is probly 3/4 as tall as yrs. Has 3/4 as much brain as yrs (which means he has less than 1/4, as Bush CAN't have more than 1/2 a brain??? ???) BUT he's just as big a Di*#head Tho!!!
Sorry-the pre--- will get back 2 U. & Thanx ROD.

 

[pharaohamps]

Rod, that's a bummer about the strings. I know that when I get something insured through the post (not UPS or FedEx,) I have to go to this "satellite" post office, where they sort the mail, and they don't have a counter or anything, just a window. You give them your little card, and then they poke around for 20 minutes going "I don't think it's here," and "what was it, a package?" Stuff like that. Idiots.

No comment on Bush's brain. I'm probably being watched by the CIA.

Matt Farrow

 

[rodl2005]

No comment on Bush's brain. I'm probably being watched by the CIA.

Yeah, They're good at watching & bombing &..........

re the P.O. & deliveries- yep know exactly wot U mean! When I finally got the registered post No. off the seller, & called the local P.O. the lady said-after a 5 min wait- yes it's here, so I say "I'llbe right down to grab it" Now this post office is only 5 min walk from where I work, so I drove there-fast! So, aboy 3 mins after putting down the phone to her, the P.O. lady sees me run in & ask -politely- for the parcel. She wasn't too friendly from then on- I think( especially in this particular neighborhood) she may've thought I had a package of drugs or something, coz I was so keen on getting the strings . Anyway I tried to assure her there was nothing going on 'below board' & raced back 2 work B4 anyone knew I was gone. Now the strings are on the Palatino- they've made a WORLD of difference & all's well ROD.