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Double Bass Palatino Megathread part II
- Thread starter bassbob
- Start date
So Just recently purchased my palatino from musicians friend, Ive been reading over this forum with a sense of excitement and cant wait to start tinkering with my bass! First off I ordered a set of D'Addario HP610 Helicore Pizzicato, Cant wait to get those strung up! Right now I am messing around with the thing stock and I am pleasantly surprised by its sound! I do however have it running through a Tech 21 Sans amp bass driver deluxe, then into a Peavey TKO. That Tech 21 is a blessing for any bassist! Soon as the new strings come in I will do the Inner tube mod and see what she become! Any other recommendations would be great. Not really willing to drill into the body just yet but the mods Lundbom has done to his bass with that super sweet ebony tailpiece block and carbon fiber endpin looks very tempting!
I finally broke the code!
I've been trying to get replacement tuners for my VE-550 since November. I wrote to the e-mail address on the Palatino website ([email protected]) at least a dozen times over the course of five (5) months with no response whatsoever. I contacted 'Music123' and 'GuitarCenter', both of whom are nationwide Palatino dealers and even they couldn't get a response from Palatino.
Finally, since these basses are made in China, I decided to use a web-based translator to send my e-mail in Chinese! ("最后，我用了一个基于Web的翻译送我的电子邮箱中的中国!")..... I got a response from a wholesaler in less than 24 hours!
It took us a couple e-mails (again answered within 24 hours) to determine that I was located in the U.S. (and not in China). She forwarded my e-mail to the U.S. rep. and I finally got a response!
I had to buy the set of tuners custom order (pre-paid) through a dealer (Starving Musician), only $38.00.
So, if you're not getting any response from Palatino U.S.A. for parts or other issues, just translate your letter into Chinese and get some help....maybe Palatino U.S.A. will finally get the message they need to improve their "customer service" and response time for their web-site contact info.!
I've been trying to get replacement tuners for my VE-550 since November. I wrote to the e-mail address on the Palatino website ([email protected]) at least a dozen times over the course of five (5) months with no response whatsoever. I contacted 'Music123' and 'GuitarCenter', both of whom are nationwide Palatino dealers and even they couldn't get a response from Palatino.
Finally, since these basses are made in China, I decided to use a web-based translator to send my e-mail in Chinese! ("最后，我用了一个基于Web的翻译送我的电子邮箱中的中国!")..... I got a response from a wholesaler in less than 24 hours!
It took us a couple e-mails (again answered within 24 hours) to determine that I was located in the U.S. (and not in China). She forwarded my e-mail to the U.S. rep. and I finally got a response!
I had to buy the set of tuners custom order (pre-paid) through a dealer (Starving Musician), only $38.00.
So, if you're not getting any response from Palatino U.S.A. for parts or other issues, just translate your letter into Chinese and get some help....maybe Palatino U.S.A. will finally get the message they need to improve their "customer service" and response time for their web-site contact info.!
I have the stock bridge on mine set all the way down, foam under and over the pickup, and that's it, the neck was shaped well from the factory and have never had an issue with the tailpeice rattling/buzzing. As some have said the tone control is usually all the way down or just a bit higher. Very happy with the instrument. Had it since they first came out and no problems at all.
A cymbal stand screws right it after you remove the bottom mount for the sidebar. Can't remember the exact size but a normal cymbal stand size
I suppose the quality control isn't real consistant on the Palatino EUBs, I've read of some getting thiers and the fingerboard wasn't attached, the fingerboard needed planed, the tailpiece rattles etc. I had none of those problems at all. Foam from walmart crafts section over and under the pickup, the bridge set all the way down and mine was good to go. Had it since right after they came out and no problems at all, and just now need to replace the strings. Haven't played it alot since I got my DB but still a great instrument.
I'm curious as to wthat the favorite preamps arre for the VE500? I've been running mine straight bthrough the amp for a year (a Fender Bassman 250 (2x10) but need to better the tone. I'm looking at the Fishman Pro-EQ Platinum, L ZR Baggs, Tech 21, etc. I'd appreciate comments from experience with different preamps on this bass.
Thanks!
Thanks!
So scanning the forums, it looks like the options people have mentioned include:
Colorado Case Company ($265 shipped)
Frontier Bag in Nebraska ($135 shipped)
Dragon Case (unknown price)
Eminence EUB bag ($209 from Gollihur)
Anyone have any relative experience with these bags? Is one better than another? Any other good options not mentioned here? Anyone had success with a hard case or other type of non-specifically bass case?
Colorado Case Company ($265 shipped)
Frontier Bag in Nebraska ($135 shipped)
Dragon Case (unknown price)
Eminence EUB bag ($209 from Gollihur)
Anyone have any relative experience with these bags? Is one better than another? Any other good options not mentioned here? Anyone had success with a hard case or other type of non-specifically bass case?
I just got my Palatino yesterday in an attempt to make the transition from electric. I have one question about the endpin though. It has an end which is topped with a plastic cone and the other which is black rubber like the bottom of a cane or a folding chair. The plastic cone side is the one pointing out and it seems that it would be logical for it to be the other way around. Is this the case? Because the endpin won't slide out all the way to flip around. I'm guessing this is just the sides of the plastic cone sticking out a little to far to fit through the hole.
I just wanted to check before I trimmed off the extra plastic and forced it out.
I just wanted to check before I trimmed off the extra plastic and forced it out.
- Sep 19, 2007
- 161
- 12
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Hagstrom, Mahalo
I seem to remember something like that on mine when it arrived. I think I reversed it. There's a rubber foot on the floor end of business now. Maybe someone actually remembers this. I've owned my Palatino for 6 years now!
That's what I thought. But I don't always know my own strength and wasn't sure if it was resisting because of the plastic or because it really shouldn't be removed. I'll futz with it a little more.
Fellow Palatinians!
I found my Palatino to be quite noisy; can't figure out - what gives?
E.g., when I play 16ths, or even 8ths at 70-80 bpm - notes resonate (after-sound), and there is lots of extra noise from strings that I don't pluck.
Is it my technique?
When playing BG - my muting technique is pretty effective, with very little extra noise from non-played strings (combination of both, left and right-hand muting). But on upright I can't seem to do this effectively.
When I play real acoustic uprights - the problem doesn't seem to be there: very little noise.
Any thoughts?
I found my Palatino to be quite noisy; can't figure out - what gives?
E.g., when I play 16ths, or even 8ths at 70-80 bpm - notes resonate (after-sound), and there is lots of extra noise from strings that I don't pluck.
Is it my technique?
When playing BG - my muting technique is pretty effective, with very little extra noise from non-played strings (combination of both, left and right-hand muting). But on upright I can't seem to do this effectively.
When I play real acoustic uprights - the problem doesn't seem to be there: very little noise.
Any thoughts?
Maybe just the nature of piezo PUP's? I have this same problem after installing bridge wing PUP's.... the whole bass becomes active, even tapping the body produces noise.
I'm going to try isolate the bridge with more rubbing padding under the feet (per the 'innertube' or 'shelf padding' mod that is mentioned so often).
I'm going to try isolate the bridge with more rubbing padding under the feet (per the 'innertube' or 'shelf padding' mod that is mentioned so often).
Could be. But acoustic uprights are also often equipped with piezo's, and as I said - I didn't hear the problem to be as acute.
In my Palatino piezo's are original still - under the bridge; so isolating them more with more rubber padding: isn't it going to render PUP's less effective?
In my Palatino piezo's are original still - under the bridge; so isolating them more with more rubber padding: isn't it going to render PUP's less effective?
I'm using Eminence bag. No complaints so far. Palatino fits very tightly, but it fits.
The "rubber pad under bridge" fix that many have done here - worked for me too. Before - G, D indeed sounded weaker; after - it evened out substantially.
Body support tube question.
I find this topic, or rather, lack of any discussion of it, somewhat strange, and here's why:
My understanding (from reading instruction books, and watching upright bassists perform): balancing the upright is an extremely important part of playing technique. You have to balance it by leaning it against your body, so you can literally take your hands off the instrument - and it should stay in place, because it is leaning against your belly. This way your left hand is free to play, and not loaded also with the task of holding the instrument.
Now, with Palatino balancing it against your body is close to impossible. If you don't use the support tube that comes with it (and it seems that majority of Palatino players don't use it!) - the neck will be too close to you. If you do use the support tube - the only way to balance Palatino is at straight angle to your body, which places the instrument into rather wrong playing position.
What worked for me was this: I bent the tube in such a way, that it angles back about 45 degrees. This way I can support Palatino with my belly, and keep it far enough from me so that playing is comfortable. The only thing: because the tube is, well, a tube - point of contact with my body is not stable, so balancing the bass is a bit like balancing an apple on your head: you move - and the balance is lost.
What works for you?
P.S. I know about putting EUB on some sort of a stand. This solution is not for me - I treat EUB as a training step towards acoustic DB, and want to incorporate instrument balancing into my playing technique. From aesthetics perspective... I must be honest
The look of an "instrument-on-a-stick" doesn't appeal to me at all.
I find this topic, or rather, lack of any discussion of it, somewhat strange, and here's why:
My understanding (from reading instruction books, and watching upright bassists perform): balancing the upright is an extremely important part of playing technique. You have to balance it by leaning it against your body, so you can literally take your hands off the instrument - and it should stay in place, because it is leaning against your belly. This way your left hand is free to play, and not loaded also with the task of holding the instrument.
Now, with Palatino balancing it against your body is close to impossible. If you don't use the support tube that comes with it (and it seems that majority of Palatino players don't use it!) - the neck will be too close to you. If you do use the support tube - the only way to balance Palatino is at straight angle to your body, which places the instrument into rather wrong playing position.
What worked for me was this: I bent the tube in such a way, that it angles back about 45 degrees. This way I can support Palatino with my belly, and keep it far enough from me so that playing is comfortable. The only thing: because the tube is, well, a tube - point of contact with my body is not stable, so balancing the bass is a bit like balancing an apple on your head: you move - and the balance is lost.
What works for you?
P.S. I know about putting EUB on some sort of a stand. This solution is not for me - I treat EUB as a training step towards acoustic DB, and want to incorporate instrument balancing into my playing technique. From aesthetics perspective... I must be honest
The look of an "instrument-on-a-stick" doesn't appeal to me at all.
