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Double Bass Palatino Megathread part I
- Thread starter Nohandles
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I will follow up with another better lighted video soon. Until then, make do with this music after dark. 
I have got the Rubber Practice Mute for 3/4 Bass few days ago and i can really recommend it for all of you Palatino EUB players.
its gives a nice muted deep sound for the EUB. like the rubber pad on musicmans and Rickenbacker's or like a gentle palm muting. its give nice round tone with short sustain that resembles and come closer to the sound of an acoustic upright. and its cheap and no need for any installation..
i like it. give it a try. very easy and cheap mod - and fully reversible.
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its gives a nice muted deep sound for the EUB. like the rubber pad on musicmans and Rickenbacker's or like a gentle palm muting. its give nice round tone with short sustain that resembles and come closer to the sound of an acoustic upright. and its cheap and no need for any installation..
i like it. give it a try. very easy and cheap mod - and fully reversible.
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Great work on the videos Bob!! Thanks for taking the time to show them! Now I just gotta get back into my Palatino!!
-robert
Update on my Palatino- did the inner tube under/on top of the piezo and witnessed a very nice improvement in the tone. More balance across the strings, IMHO. Also took the tailpiece apart and put heatshrink tubing around all the places where metal-to-metal contact was found. BIG improvement here, as the pickup was way less susceptible to the noises produced by knocking on the body/neck/tailpiece/endpin and no more ringing in the tone. Made for a much useable signal out of the stock electronics. Thinking I'll get one of the Fdeck preamps installed and see if I can just stay with the stock piezo and then go to work finding a set of strings I like- I anticipate much improvement when these things are done. Also, I cut the plastic pieces off the straps and threaded in 1.5" key rings- can't remove the straps anymore but I have absolutely no concerns about the plastic bits giving out and dropping the bag to the floor. Pic is attached below- anybody have any other thoughts on things I might want to do? I'm loving it now, but hey, better is better.
I may have found my sound on the Palatino!
I put the inner tube under the bridge, added the rubber bass mute and now run it thru a Boss GEB7 EQ pedal into my Ampeg BA112! It sounds really nice, best tone I have gotten so far. No more "thin" tones, very even all away across.
Of course, I may chnage my mind tomorrow!!
I put the inner tube under the bridge, added the rubber bass mute and now run it thru a Boss GEB7 EQ pedal into my Ampeg BA112! It sounds really nice, best tone I have gotten so far. No more "thin" tones, very even all away across.
Of course, I may chnage my mind tomorrow!!
I was wondering if you guys had seen the black version, badged as Easton and Franklin.
Sorry about the picture quality and the mess.
David
Sorry about the picture quality and the mess.
David
Well, the B-stock Palatinos are gone from the 'bay, replaced by what I assume to be perfect condition basses selling for between $660 and $680 USD. Any ideas about whether the $330 B-stockers are coming back? Otherwise, is > $600 too much for this instrument?
As far as how much the VE500's are worth is a question we all consider at one time or another.
I bet there will be more B stock basses comnig out at some point. They will cost more than $400 but that's not that bad of a deal if you compare it to other basses under 1K.
My bass must have been a "C" stock due to the damage it incurred in shipping before I got it. It really comes down to a cost/benefit ratio in the end. Replacement strings, pickups and preamps all cost money and the quality of sound is up to you. The VE500 so far is the one bass that lends itself to modification compared to other EUB's I;ve seen.
Happy T -day.
I bet there will be more B stock basses comnig out at some point. They will cost more than $400 but that's not that bad of a deal if you compare it to other basses under 1K.
My bass must have been a "C" stock due to the damage it incurred in shipping before I got it. It really comes down to a cost/benefit ratio in the end. Replacement strings, pickups and preamps all cost money and the quality of sound is up to you. The VE500 so far is the one bass that lends itself to modification compared to other EUB's I;ve seen.
Happy T -day.
That's kind of my upper limit for an EUB. I'm torn between this and the Santini, which would cost me right around US$980 new, with bag & bow. That bass also has a separate piece that imitates the feel of an acoustic DB's shoulders- a big plus for me, as I'd like to play seated without a stand. And it looks better, IMO.
If (IF) I can be assured of a solid instrument (won't snap at the neck joint with heavier strings) that can be set up to play smoothly, the Palatino might work for me. I'll upgrade the electronics as necessary and allow my fingers to do the rest. But anything over $1K would fall into the "diminishing returns" category.
Thanks, and same to you. What happened to your bass in transit?
I already have Helicore Orchestral mediums and an Underwood pickup from my ailing double bass (neck joint crack- if anyone ever offers you a double bass for $800, pass on it). I also have a Fishman outboard pre, so almost any work I'd be doing would involve only the purchase of a new bridge. The rest is my own labor.
I see the Santini and the electronics look a lot like the stock stuff on a Palatino. My guess is one factory turns out most of the electronic stuff i.e. the pickups, preamps, volume and tone controls for most of the Asian basses. The figuring of the wood on the bridge doesn't look that good either.
I almost like the look of the Santini better but I don't know what the workmanship is like enough to risk money on one at this point. The guy at tropical moon music is selling them on Ebay for about $500 to $800 depending on the bidding and shipping etc. I heard the finish chips up fast. I have no idea how well the fingerboard is set up or anything at all. The Palatino FB is not Ebonized and they claim it is an Asian brand of Ebony. So far so good for me.
The neck joints on the Palatino can have problems at times but the one I got was a simple fix. The neck popped out of the cavity and just involved glue and clamps.
The problem is knowing enough to do the work by yourself or finding a luthier who will work on Asian basses. ( Good Luck on that. )
I almost like the look of the Santini better but I don't know what the workmanship is like enough to risk money on one at this point. The guy at tropical moon music is selling them on Ebay for about $500 to $800 depending on the bidding and shipping etc. I heard the finish chips up fast. I have no idea how well the fingerboard is set up or anything at all. The Palatino FB is not Ebonized and they claim it is an Asian brand of Ebony. So far so good for me.
The neck joints on the Palatino can have problems at times but the one I got was a simple fix. The neck popped out of the cavity and just involved glue and clamps.
The problem is knowing enough to do the work by yourself or finding a luthier who will work on Asian basses. ( Good Luck on that. )
No, that figuring doesn't look good at all. You're probably right about the e-tronics as well. If I can get it for roughly the same price (within, say, $100) as a Palatino, I'll bite for the shoulders alone and take my chances with trying to shape a new bridge using the old one as a guide. Not so sure about the $800 + offered by another seller.
I jst looked at the "Santini" at tropicalmoonmusic- thanks. It'll sell for less than the price of the other one I saw recently (that went for $799 with only one bid). I'm almost certain that's where I saw some a few months earlier. IIRC, he had a brown almost-trans (I won't call that finish "transparent") on auction and one for BIN. The auctioned one sold for around $500- a lot less than the BIN on the other.
Aiiieeeee... thanks for the heads-up. I'll make sure to get a new one rather than a B-stock. I have access to both clamps and a luthier who will work on whatever bass you've spent your hard-earned money to own (that's how it should be everywhere, but I know it isn't), but I'd rather not have to deal with that.
- Sep 19, 2007
- 161
- 12
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Hagstrom, Mahalo
Here's a 2 cent comment to throw in. I've had my Pally for about 7 weeks. Since the purchase, I've gone from coast to coast playing all sorts of acoustic basses, new and used. Acoustic qualities aside, the playability on the nicest basses did not feel so far off from my Palatino.
Frankly, the "blem" Palatino I got looks and plays really good exactly as it came. I've played a few gigs with it, made some recordings, and simply have "grown into it" as time goes on. There's a few things I'd eventually like to change or try, but nothing requires an immediate solution.
There's many good things to learn here on the Forum to make your Palatino "Your Palatino," but if you're thinking of buying one and feel overwhelmed reading about all the modifications and fixes, remember that there are likely lots of us who are using them right out of the box.
It's like having a Harley-Davidson. There aren't many owners who leave them as stock, even though the factory motorcycle is quite nice. (Yes, my Harley is 100% stock!)
Frankly, the "blem" Palatino I got looks and plays really good exactly as it came. I've played a few gigs with it, made some recordings, and simply have "grown into it" as time goes on. There's a few things I'd eventually like to change or try, but nothing requires an immediate solution.
There's many good things to learn here on the Forum to make your Palatino "Your Palatino," but if you're thinking of buying one and feel overwhelmed reading about all the modifications and fixes, remember that there are likely lots of us who are using them right out of the box.
It's like having a Harley-Davidson. There aren't many owners who leave them as stock, even though the factory motorcycle is quite nice. (Yes, my Harley is 100% stock!)
Ok, so i've done some mods. The first one: I tooka peice of rubber from an actual innertube and used a wee bit of crazy glue and gled the whole strip to the bottom of the bridge. I then took some small white sticky fuzzy things that you put on decorations to not scratch tables, and put 2 of those on each side of the bridge. It gives it a really nice small echo like a real upright has due to the space in between the pickup and bridge it makes.
I also did the pully mod and used an actual upright bass tailpeice gut to hold it, but didnt like it much. So i took wire and experimented with it. The wire im using is wire from heavy power chords. I used a little more so the tension on the strings wouldnt be as heavy so i could slap easier.
Also, I glued the whole bridge together using rhino glue because it would fall apart everytime i took it off, and it never worked any way. Its not very pretty, but it actually insulated the small creases between the peices, and it sounds pretty warm and nice. I've uploaded some pics.
I also did the pully mod and used an actual upright bass tailpeice gut to hold it, but didnt like it much. So i took wire and experimented with it. The wire im using is wire from heavy power chords. I used a little more so the tension on the strings wouldnt be as heavy so i could slap easier.
Also, I glued the whole bridge together using rhino glue because it would fall apart everytime i took it off, and it never worked any way. Its not very pretty, but it actually insulated the small creases between the peices, and it sounds pretty warm and nice. I've uploaded some pics.
I've been looking for an EUB for my nephew so he won't steal my Azola (I've seen him eying it) and you've all encouraged me enough that I bought a Palatino from one of our fellow TB-ers. It's due to arrive this coming Tuesday, and I've already got the materials for the mods (and several used sets of strings) lined up and ready.
My Azola has an fdeck preamp in it (it was originally passive) which works very well and if the Palatino preamp is indeed noisy, I'll install one in it as well. I also have several piezo transducers or various sorts I've fabricated. As for tailpieces, I'm thinking maybe I could shorten an old UB tailpiece sitting in my parts bin. More after it arrives.
My Azola has an fdeck preamp in it (it was originally passive) which works very well and if the Palatino preamp is indeed noisy, I'll install one in it as well. I also have several piezo transducers or various sorts I've fabricated. As for tailpieces, I'm thinking maybe I could shorten an old UB tailpiece sitting in my parts bin. More after it arrives.
Has anyone tried Thomastik Spirocores on their palatino? I'm not entirely happy with my sound, and I'm considering asking for a set for christmas, but that's a lot of money for something I'm not sure about yet. I also may start messing with the electronics because that hiss is ridiculous; any suggestions of wiring configurations? Magnetic pickups blended with the piezo via a knob have been on my mind recently . . .
my strings are the Thomastik Spirocores weich.
i put them right after i purchased my Palatino after my teacher suggestion.
they are great strings with nice feel and sound and finish even though i do not have experience with ant other upright strings.
i put them right after i purchased my Palatino after my teacher suggestion.
they are great strings with nice feel and sound and finish even though i do not have experience with ant other upright strings.
Do they sound very jazzy to you? I am going for a sound similar to 40's and 50's jazz stuff, and I know that it's not possible to fully replicate an acoustic double bass, but my orchestral helicores aren't even getting close. I get more of a thump than an actual tone on some of my lower notes. Thanks.
I've had a hell of a time with buzzing on my strings lately and I tried a bunch of different things and decided it wasn't the fingerboard.
I had a set of Euro Ultralignts on the bass and I think I finally wore them out. So I restrung it with a set of Euro Lights I had laying around and Presto........ the buzz is gone and the string noise is reduced significantly.
This must mean a set of strings will last me 6-9 months. Maybe I'm harder on strings than I thought I was or maybe Euro's only last about that long?
I had a set of Euro Ultralignts on the bass and I think I finally wore them out. So I restrung it with a set of Euro Lights I had laying around and Presto........ the buzz is gone and the string noise is reduced significantly.
This must mean a set of strings will last me 6-9 months. Maybe I'm harder on strings than I thought I was or maybe Euro's only last about that long?
I just put a set of Heritage strings on my palatino to replace the stock ones it came with. I had a lot of string buzz before but the new strings cleared it up. I hope these strings last considerably longer then 9 or 10 months because at $135 I will have to reinstall the old steel strings.
DRoot
DRoot
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