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Double Bass Palatino Megathread part I

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Heh . . . I went back last night and took a flashlight to the inside to have another look at everything. I was mistaken and it is NOT particleboard, it just has a very rough look to it. I also realized how stupid a mistake I made when I said the "solders" were hot glue; as they are indeed soldered like any other bass, but hot glue was used to hold the wires next to electronic components to stop them from tearing when the different covers were opened. Sorry about for any trouble . . .

Don't worry it was not trouble. I was only concerned that Palatino had made a good priced bass into junk.
 
I just picked up a Palatino V500 from Ebay and I thought the price was okay etc until I read some of these posts. I've seen some of the regular Palatino URB's and those definitely can be buyer beware.

I checked out the bass and I can see that some mods are in order and I will have to glue the neck back on. ( that's why I got a break on the price. ) The fingerboard looks like a decent hardwood maybe it is Chinese Ebony. It'll do for now. I like the idea of the truss rod in the neck also.

I plan to work on the bridge and pick up system and tweak what I can. The bass didn't come with the "U" shaped thing but I can live with that for now. I can see where the inside wood may look rough but I doubt any particle board made it into the actual construction.
 
He is speaking of a regular Palatino full size double bass. Ive heard you can take the top off and make a great dog boat! My experience with this bass was that the neck block was in the wrong place, making it very awkward to play for an experienced double bassist. Also be wary of warping, and neck block casualties.
 
My last post should have said something like this: The regular Palatino uprights can put you in the buyer beware zone due to the, how you say, " craftsmanship" or lack thereof.

I did pick up a damaged VE500 where the neck popped out of the joint cavity. I have it glued amd clamped as I am writing this. A little sanding and some cosmetic touch up and then I'll be on to the pickup and bridge issues.

Anybody try a Rev solo pickup with the VE500 yet? I ws also thinking of losing the bridge " holder" and placing a diferent bridge directly on the body.
 
My last post should have said something like this: The regular Palatino uprights can put you in the buyer beware zone due to the, how you say, " craftsmanship" or lack thereof.

I did pick up a damaged VE500 where the neck popped out of the joint cavity. I have it glued amd clamped as I am writing this. A little sanding and some cosmetic touch up and then I'll be on to the pickup and bridge issues.

Anybody try a Rev solo pickup with the VE500 yet? I ws also thinking of losing the bridge " holder" and placing a diferent bridge directly on the body.

Before you change everything out try it first. I'm still running my stock pickup and electronincs. I do run a preamp. I have honed a very fine sound out of this bass without taking any of the stock items off accept the bridge.
 
So far......

I got the bass put back together. I reglued the neck to the body and glued the fingerboard back on. I strung it up with Eiro UL's and plugged it in to my amp and got nothing. I unscrewed the plates and checked the wiring with no luck yet. Any pointers or anything I might have missed? I tried the plug with and without the headphone jack connected.

Thanks in advance for any help.
 
While I'm waiting to see what to about the pickup etc I put my spare Rev Solo pickup in the bridge and it doesn't sound bad at all. ( the stock bridge is an accident waiting to happen from what I can see. ) The fingerboard is very close to the dimensions of a Kay or Englehardt but deeper which adds some strength to the neck. The truss rod is a nice touch also.
 
I just encountered a palatino for the first time today (it's one I might buy) and was surprised to find that it looks and sounds completely solid. The weight tends to suggest its solid too. This was a bass that was allegedly just 1 year old (no reason to doubt the seller). I didn't look closely at the wood ... but I guess it was not dissimilar to alder. The seller had always assumed it was solid too.

Now I'm confused because the current website says "... has a chambered body ..." and someone else in this thread (Yvarg) recently mentioned something about opening it up to look inside.

Are palatinos hollow, but just not very hollow .... or have they changed contruction methods ... or what ?
 
I just encountered a palatino for the first time today (it's one I might buy) and was surprised to find that it looks and sounds completely solid. The weight tends to suggest its solid too. This was a bass that was allegedly just 1 year old (no reason to doubt the seller). I didn't look closely at the wood ... but I guess it was not dissimilar to alder. The seller had always assumed it was solid too.

Now I'm confused because the current website says "... has a chambered body ..." and someone else in this thread (Yvarg) recently mentioned something about opening it up to look inside.

Are palatinos hollow, but just not very hollow .... or have they changed contruction methods ... or what ?

Yes they are hollow the wood looks to be about 3/8 to a 1/2 thick with the sides being thicker than the top and bottom. It weighs 16 or 18 pounds can't remember which.
 
Yes they are hollow the wood looks to be about 3/8 to a 1/2 thick with the sides being thicker than the top and bottom. It weighs 16 or 18 pounds can't remember which.
Ahh okay ... that ties in with what I found last night. I couldn't find a resonant chamber by knocking, and I guessed the weight to be in the 15-20 pound region.

So I'd guess the chambers are for a bit of weight saving, not for resonance.
 
Actually, the way I found out mine was hollow (didn't remember the description online XP) was by accidentally hitting the body near the bridge place and hearing how it sounded vaguely hollow in some spots. Also, my bass weighs 15 pounds (with the endpin, which I have removed at the moment for easier playing while sitting down).
 
Can someone do a quick measurement of the pickup rubber length? I don't have my Palatino with me and I need to know if I can order a double-bass bridge from here...

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I'm thinking that the 3/4 would work with my Palatino, but I wanted to make sure that the pickup-rubber-length was 4-5 inches long.

Thanks!
 
Can someone do a quick measurement of the pickup rubber length? I don't have my Palatino with me and I need to know if I can order a double-bass bridge from here...

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I'm thinking that the 3/4 would work with my Palatino, but I wanted to make sure that the pickup-rubber-length was 4-5 inches long.

Thanks!

I'm sure it doesn't fit because I've been down that road before - you can see my footprints if you look closely.

A standard bridge is way too big - I think someone mentioned a 1/8 bridge will fit.
 
I'm sure it doesn't fit because I've been down that road before - you can see my footprints if you look closely.

A standard bridge is way too big - I think someone mentioned a 1/8 bridge will fit.

The NS design bridge will fit. It is the same bridge that is on my Eminence. I just got a new one to replace the old Eminence bridge. I held it up the Palatino and it will work fine.
You can get one from G Edwards Luthiers for 60 plus shipping. NS probable can help you to.
 
I've been working on the preamp and pickup to see if I could get it to do anything and it seems like the pickup is toast based on the way the wiring looks. I changed from the tiny micro jack and put in a 1/4 inch jack and plugged in my back up Rev Solo

DSC01725.jpg


I did a tap test with the Rev Solo and I got a clear signal when I turned on the battery for the VE 500 preamp. If I can get the bass back together and get the bridge issue fixed I might road test this at tomorrow night's gig.

My investigation into the inner " sound chamber " came up with this pic. I'd say some pine, spruce and maybe some maple along with some chunks of glue or something that tends to rattle on the low notes. I did not see any particle board.

DSC01726.jpg
 
The NS design bridge will fit. It is the same bridge that is on my Eminence. I just got a new one to replace the old Eminence bridge. I held it up the Palatino and it will work fine.
You can get one from G Edwards Luthiers for 60 plus shipping. NS probable can help you to.
High palatino family

Can you give me the website-address of G Edwards Luthiers?

Thank you very much
 
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