Hi Folks and Pal...Buddies,
The last time I logged on to "talkbass" was Feb20-2006, as I've been overseas and only got back this week. I even forgot my password so I had to reset things to get it up and running.
After reading all the posts since my initial suggestion in January, about placing some rubber matting under the bridge feet, and as to how many people took my advice and how well it worked for most of you was very pleasing for me!!!
Another post I sent, but seems to have been lost in the wash for some reason, related to the moving of the bridge once you have re-tuned the Bass after the rubber mat is in place.
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS....WITH THE AMP ON, STRIKE THE "A" STRING AND WHILE IT IS RESONATING... PUSH/TILT
THE TOP OF THE BRIDGE TOWARDS THE TAIL PIECE ABOUT A 1/4" ,RETURN THE BRIDGE TO WHERE YOU HAD IT BEFORE...STRIKE THE STRING AGAIN AND THIS TIME
PULL/TILT
THE BRIDGE TOWARDS THE FINGERBOARD THE SAME DISTANCE. YOU WILL HAVE NOTICED THAT SOMEWHERE ALONG ONE OF THE DISTANCES THE SOUND WILL HAVE GOT LOUDER AND THAT IS THE 'SWEET SPOT' THAT THE BRIDGE SHOULD BE SET AT.
Note: ALSO MAKE SURE THE FEET OF THE BRIDGE IS NOT IN CONTACT WITH THE EDGES OF THE BLOCK OF WOOD THAT IT SITS IN
I also note that some of you have purchased various ADDONS, e.g. Behringer Amp Modeller BDI-21
.. Looovvvve
. Behringer Gear!!!!!!
My Amp Rig is Behringer and it ran an 8 Hour concert non-stop between 3 Bands one night earlier this year and hasn't missed a beat ever.. It also left the other Bass players extremely impressed and now have a different mindset as to the ability of these Amps and Cabs and the BEHRINGER BRAND.
Re the Modeller BDI-21 It only gives you a variation of Amp rigs and some tone control.
I purchased the MIC-200 and have been very pleased with it as it also has a real valve tube in it (12AX7), RRP about $65US, but what I liked is the quick dial in sound variation
I was origionally after the MiniMic-MIC800 which has a virtual tube circuitry and also cheaper but couldn't find any dealer with one in stock at the time. Here some info: just click on the picture for a larger view.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Much warmer sound with the real valve tube!!!!!
Also: this is the one I wanted origionally. But the Mic200 has a Much warmer sound with the real valve tube!!!!!, (AGAIN it is totally dependent on what MATCHES your AMP RIG!!!!!), that will determine your final decision as to the sound you are after.
NOTE: MY AMP HEAD HAS A SPECIAL CONTROL CALLED SHAPE which sets the sound apart from other AMPS, and boy do I miss it if I forget to switch it on with the foot pedal, the sound just fills out sooo much it rattles the rafters.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
I HAVE ONE MORE SUGGESTION IF YOU ARE STILL NOT SATISFIED WITH YOUR SOUND OF THE VE500. (it will take a little explaining and history, instead of just TRY THIS!), but you may just think of me in five years time when you are not one of the owners taking your beloved BASS to the repaires to fix your FINGERBOARD.
This will also MELLOW OUT YOUR SOUND:
I have been playing FRETLESS BASS since the early seventies, and I noticed that my first such bass, a HAGSTROM, after about 12 months was starting to show WEAR MARKS on the EBONY BOARD under the steel strings! ( furrows, channels, hollows, what ever you want to call them), but It hadnt got too bad as yet but I had to stop any further wear ASAP.
SO I changed to Nylon Tape wounds or as Ernie Ball called his Black Tubes Strings and found that over five years those furrows got no worse.
Logic tells me that if you rub a hard object against a soft object the softer one is going to wear out quicker!! : Steel is harder than the Ebony Board but the nylon wound material is softer than the board so it will wearout first.
I also noticed with the tape wound strings the overall sound was more MELLOW no more harshness but very jazzy which I assume most of us are looking for in our sound with the VE500, RIGHT?
Now you are saying to yourself, Whats this going to cost for a set of Nylon Wound EUB Strings, $500- $600 Maybe
..No. No No!!!!!! and do they even make them?....Cost, In fact very little.
If you read my early posts in January 2006 page1, I think, I said I was not prepared to spend any more large amount of $s as I may as well have bought an EUB for $2000 or more. In fact I still use the Original Strings that came with the Palatino.
The ALTERNATIVE: BLACK VINYL ADHESIVE PAPER attached to the fingerboard.
BUT PLEASE, PLEASE,PLEASE
Spend a little extra , DONT buy the cheap stuff from the supermarket your wife/mother uses to line the cupboard draws, this is your beloved PALATINO we are talking about after all. Instead go and visit your local Electronic SIGN WRITER and get the stuff they use its much thicker and longer lasting and use better adhesive. Example: the sign writing used on company Vans advertising the pruducts and Name.
It most likely comes at about 20 wide, so a piece of just over the length of the fingerboard would do you many years of replacement.
AND ID BE SURPRISED IF IT WILL COST ANY MORE THAN $15, for a piece.
TAKE YOUR TIME: DONT RUSH, WORK YOUR WAY DOWN THE NECK RUBBING WITH A SOFT CLOTH AS YOU GO ALONG TO REMOVE ANY AIR BUBBLES. IF YOU END UP WITH ANY SMALL AIR BUBBLES AT THE END OF THE JOB, JUST PRICK THEM WITH A FINE PIN AND RUB THE AIR OUT.
Make sure you start with a clean dry neck!!! Cut the vinyl larger than the neck and trim back to the sides with a retractable knife at the end of the sticking down.
IMPORTANT: DO NOT PEEL ALL THE BACKING PAPER OFF AT ONCE BUT WORK BY PEELING BACK ABOUT 9 inches AT A TIME. OK ! Thats it from me.
Hope some of these suggestion will help you to that ultimate sound you are after!!!
Just remember even accoustic basses don't always sound as good as we like, depends on heaps of factors.
GREAT TO SEE THIS PALATINO FAMILY HAS GROWN SO LARGE AND THE IDEAS STILL KEEP COMING. FABULOUS JOB DONE BY YOU ALL!!!
I THINK A SPECIAL THANK YOU GOES OUT TO NOHANDLES FOR ORIGINATING THIS THREAD WAY BACK WHEN
..????? WHO WOULDVE THOUGHT IT WOULD STILL BE HERE TODAY. ALSO TO
.Talkbass
.for this site and their staff. TOP SHELF STUFF FELLOWS!!!!!
THIS BASS (THE PALATINO) COULD HAVE BEEN A NON-EVENT IF IT WASNT FOR THIS FORUM. MORE IS THE PITY THAT THE MANUFACTURERS AND DEALERS HAVE NOT BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED WITH CONTRIBUTING ANYTHING HERE, AFTERALL WE HAVE HAD A BIT TO DO WITH THE PROMOTION OF THIS BASS AND THE DOLLARS IN THEIR POCKETS
..BUT HEY, THATS LIFE!!!
GOOD LUCK and HAPPY TIMES
LUKE
Thats right U'd be amazed at how much better it sounds with some decent strings on- I recently got a set of D'addario hybrid lites-wanted different ones but got a good deal on these & they're pretty good- Makes the bass sound 95% better IMHO
Anyone Know what they are like-they come in various colors & are only less than $30 US.... If anyone has any info on 'em plese chime in here. Thanx ROD.:scowl:
