Double Bass Palatino Megathread part II

[TrendSpotter]

Hi,

I am new to upright and new to Palatino. The only thing I've done w/the bass up til tonight now was take it from the bag tune and tune it up. I was terrified of taking down the bridge and making the "bicycle tube" modification. After reading all your posts, I took the plunge. I just completed it and am happy to report -- yes, the tone, sustain and volume are all noticeably better. Action now needs a bit of work but that's a project for a new day. I've posted pictures of the steps so other noobs and novices could see what's involved. NOTE: In addition to laying the tube along the entire pick up "box", I put an additional piece under the E and A foot of the bridge per one of the posters. Thanks again Palatino community -- present and future.

Tools needed: Bike tube (this was used from a local bikes shop; very supple and thin); scissors, ruler; flashlight to see the pickup wire once the pickup (which is a thickish black bar) had been lifted up w/the tip of the pencil).

Lifting the pickup was the most concerning part of the project because I didn't know what to expect. All that's there is a wire that attaches to the thickis black bar. I cut a slot in my bike tune to fit around the wire. By stretching the tube, it easily surrounded the wire.

 

[TrendSpotter]

Hi,

I am new to upright and new to Palatino. The only thing I've done w/the bass up til tonight now was take it from the bag tune and tune it up. I was terrified of taking down the bridge and making the "bicycle tube" modification. After reading all your posts, I took the plunge. I just completed it and am happy to report -- yes, the tone, sustain and volume are all noticeably better. Action now needs a bit of work but that's a project for a new day. I've posted pictures of the steps so other noobs and novices could see what's involved. NOTE: In addition to laying the tube along the entire pick up "box", I put an additional piece under the E and A foot of the bridge per one of the posters. Thanks again Palatino community -- present and future.

Tools needed: Bike tube (this was used from a local bikes shop; very supple and thin); scissors, ruler; flashlight to see the pickup wire once the pickup (which is a thickish black bar) had been lifted up w/the tip of the pencil).

Lifting the pickup was the most concerning part of the project because I didn't know what to expect. All that's there is a wire that attaches to the thickis black bar. I cut a slot in my bike tune to fit around the wire. By stretching the tube, it easily surrounded the wire.

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[Greg Potts]

Looks good. One even simpler mod I would recommend is to take a dremel tool or a pair of pliers and tear the loop of wire off the middle of the tailpiece. Pluck a few open notes with your finger on the loop to see why. It’s 100% a decorative addition; but when it soaks up the vibration of the strings that’s energy that isn’t going into the pickup. And then it puts the energy back into the bridge *after* you’ve stopped playing, which is also unwelcome.

Hi,

I am new to upright and new to Palatino. The only thing I've done w/the bass up til tonight now was take it from the bag tune and tune it up. I was terrified of taking down the bridge and making the "bicycle tube" modification. After reading all your posts, I took the plunge. I just completed it and am happy to report -- yes, the tone, sustain and volume are all noticeably better. snip

 

[TrendSpotter]

For folks who have posted about looking for a stand to store the Palatino, I found this inexpensive stand at Guitar Center - https://www.guitarcenter.com/Hamilton/KB550-Double-Bass-Stand.gc It's the Hamilton KB550 double bass stand. It arrives in a few days.

 

[Marcus Willett]

Quasi-necro posting....


I recently re-acquired my Palatino from about 10 years back, and since it was missing a part I contacted them and was told (Sam at TheMusicLink, I’m assuming the vendor)

“...the factory that made those Basses unexpectedly closed down earlier this year and we are in the process of trying to get all their remaining parts but it's proving difficult. It's possible we will get more spare parts in the future, or we might not, I just don't know for sure...”

I followed up asking if I should take that to mean the model is discontinued and was told “probably” at least until further notice.

 

[GKon]

Quasi-necro posting....


I recently re-acquired my Palatino from about 10 years back, and since it was missing a part I contacted them and was told (Sam at TheMusicLink, I’m assuming the vendor)

“...the factory that made those Basses unexpectedly closed down earlier this year and we are in the process of trying to get all their remaining parts but it's proving difficult. It's possible we will get more spare parts in the future, or we might not, I just don't know for sure...”

I followed up asking if I should take that to mean the model is discontinued and was told “probably” at least until further notice.

Wow. That's good to know. I'm glad I bought one when I did.

 

[GKon]

I'm excited, so thought I'd share. I've had Slap Happy Weedwackers on mine for a couple of years now. I had to open up the nut and bridge slots since they are bigger than the stock, steel strings. I also reshaped the top of the bridge to give it a closer profile to the fingerboard.

Well, as much as I love the Weedwackers, they E and A string are a bit floppy. I just now ordered a set of Hybrid Weedwackers. The difference is that the E and A have a steel core, rather than the standard, Kevlar core. This will make them a bit stiffer. I can't wait to try them out.

 

[GKon]

I have some questions, if anyone is still following this thread.

I've had my Harley Benton (Palatino) for several years now. The mods I have done are:

Rubber inner tube under the pickup, and under each foot of the bridge.

Reshaped the top of the bridge a bit to follow the contour of the fingerboard better, and so I could get the string heights I wanted on the bass and treble sides.

Replaced the stock strings with Slap Happy Weedwacker synthetic gut strings.

Enlarged the bridge and the nut slots to accept the new strings.

Foam under the tail piece to keep it from ringing.


The bass generally sounds good, as in no dead spots, no buzzing, necknis straight,e I have, however, had a hard time getting a good tone out of it. I mainly play pizza style.

As recommended on these Megathreads, I've dialed the tone knob all the way up to the highest treble setting. That does make the notes sound less muddy.

Also, as suggested, I dial down the volume knob on the bass, and then up the master volume on the amp. I've gotten mixed results with that, so sometimes do the opposite.

All in all, I feel I do not get such a "good" tone. I know this is relative, but wondering what others are feeling/experiencing. I'm shooting for as close to an acoustic sound as possible, with some depth and warmth.

When I play through my cheap 40w practice amp with 10" speaker I seem to get a better sound than out of my Hartke LH1000 through a 15" cabinet. So, wondering what settings, effects, and amps people are using to get a nice tone.

Also, I get a lot of finger noise through the bridge when I pluck the strings. My bridge is VERY sensitive. If I tap on it with my finger I get a very loud output through the amp. It's a much louder output than what I getting from just plucking the strings. Is this normal?

I'm looking for genuine suggestions, not Paltino bashing/buy a different instrument replies.

Thanks.

 

[Marcus Willett]

I have some questions, if anyone is still following this thread.

I've had my Harley Benton (Palatino) for several years now. The mods I have done are:

Rubber inner tube under the pickup, and under each foot of the bridge.

Reshaped the top of the bridge a bit to follow the contour of the fingerboard better, and so I could get the string heights I wanted on the bass and treble sides.

Replaced the stock strings with Slap Happy Weedwacker synthetic gut strings.

Enlarged the bridge and the nut slots to accept the new strings.

Foam under the tail piece to keep it from ringing.


The bass generally sounds good, as in no dead spots, no buzzing, necknis straight,e I have, however, had a hard time getting a good tone out of it. I mainly play pizza style.

As recommended on these Megathreads, I've dialed the tone knob all the way up to the highest treble setting. That does make the notes sound less muddy.

Also, as suggested, I dial down the volume knob on the bass, and then up the master volume on the amp. I've gotten mixed results with that, so sometimes do the opposite.

All in all, I feel I do not get such a "good" tone. I know this is relative, but wondering what others are feeling/experiencing. I'm shooting for as close to an acoustic sound as possible, with some depth and warmth.

When I play through my cheap 40w practice amp with 10" speaker I seem to get a better sound than out of my Hartke LH1000 through a 15" cabinet. So, wondering what settings, effects, and amps people are using to get a nice tone.

Also, I get a lot of finger noise through the bridge when I pluck the strings. My bridge is VERY sensitive. If I tap on it with my finger I get a very loud output through the amp. It's a much louder output than what I getting from just plucking the strings. Is this normal?

I'm looking for genuine suggestions, not Paltino bashing/buy a different instrument replies.

Thanks.

I’ve done basically all of the mods you mentioned albeit with different strings.

All of them helped but the biggest improvement in tone I got was eliminating the POS preamp and running the piezo directly to the output jack.

This of course means you need to use an external pre but there are many options out there far better than the stock pre.

 

[carl h.]

Yeah, ditch the stock pre. It's noisy and just not good for much. My 3 way with sweep mid really makes the stock pickup sound like it should. I can kill all mud and get a clean tone, or dial up a seismic tone. It was very affordable and easily installed in stock positions.

 

[GKon]

I’ve done basically all of the mods you mentioned albeit with different strings.

All of them helped but the biggest improvement in tone I got was eliminating the POS preamp and running the piezo directly to the output jack.

This of course means you need to use an external pre but there are many options out there far better than the stock pre.

I forgot to mention that when I flip the switch to turn on the preamp, I get 5 or more seconds of crackling and what I call electrical back loop or back feed.

What pre amp are you using? I'd like to see what you're referring to.

 

[GKon]

Yeah, ditch the stock pre. It's noisy and just not good for much. My 3 way with sweep mid really makes the stock pickup sound like it should. I can kill all mud and get a clean tone, or dial up a seismic tone. It was very affordable and easily installed in stock positions.

I'm sure you've posted it elsewhere, but would you mind telling me which preamp you're using? I like the first hand knowledge about it.

 

[carl h.]

The DEFINITIVE Palatino EUB Modification Thread

 

[GKon]

The DEFINITIVE Palatino EUB Modification Thread

Thank you!!!

 

[Marcus Willett]

What pre amp are you using? I'd like to see what you're referring to.

I’ve got something a little unusual...I had the FDeck HPF pre installed into a Yamaha NE-1 EQ pedal. I’ve got 2 actually and use them for the Pally and my ABG, really warms and defines the tone in both.

 

[GKon]

I’ve got something a little unusual...I had the FDeck HPF pre installed into a Yamaha NE-1 EQ pedal. I’ve got 2 actually and use them for the Pally and my ABG, really warms and defines the tone in both.

Thanks!

 

[GlenParks]

I have some questions, if anyone is still following this thread.

I've had my Harley Benton (Palatino) for several years now. The mods I have done are:

Rubber inner tube under the pickup, and under each foot of the bridge.

Reshaped the top of the bridge a bit to follow the contour of the fingerboard better, and so I could get the string heights I wanted on the bass and treble sides.

Replaced the stock strings with Slap Happy Weedwacker synthetic gut strings.

Enlarged the bridge and the nut slots to accept the new strings.

Foam under the tail piece to keep it from ringing.


The bass generally sounds good, as in no dead spots, no buzzing, necknis straight,e I have, however, had a hard time getting a good tone out of it. I mainly play pizza style.

As recommended on these Megathreads, I've dialed the tone knob all the way up to the highest treble setting. That does make the notes sound less muddy.

Also, as suggested, I dial down the volume knob on the bass, and then up the master volume on the amp. I've gotten mixed results with that, so sometimes do the opposite.

All in all, I feel I do not get such a "good" tone. I know this is relative, but wondering what others are feeling/experiencing. I'm shooting for as close to an acoustic sound as possible, with some depth and warmth.

When I play through my cheap 40w practice amp with 10" speaker I seem to get a better sound than out of my Hartke LH1000 through a 15" cabinet. So, wondering what settings, effects, and amps people are using to get a nice tone.

Also, I get a lot of finger noise through the bridge when I pluck the strings. My bridge is VERY sensitive. If I tap on it with my finger I get a very loud output through the amp. It's a much louder output than what I getting from just plucking the strings. Is this normal?

I'm looking for genuine suggestions, not Paltino bashing/buy a different instrument replies.

Thanks.

Shout out to all my pizza style players. We out here.

that made my day. Thanks for that!

 

[GKon]

Shout out to all my pizza style players. We out here.

that made my day. Thanks for that!

Ha! I didn't catch that. One reason I hate posting with my phone.

 

[GKon]

The DEFINITIVE Palatino EUB Modification Thread

@carl h. after looking at your modifications postings, I have a few questions. I hope you don't mind.

I found the same preamp on ebay for $50. Great price!

So, I see how you removed the balance potentiometer and replaced it with the stock 1/8" headphone jack.
Where did you mount the headphone jack? I can't see it in the pics. Was it to the same mounting plate that you
mounted the volume pot to?

Since you removed the on/off switch for the old preamp, how do you turn off the new one? Does it turn on and off
when you insert your cable into the output jack? I would assume so.

That's it, for now

 

[carl h.]

@carl h. after looking at your modifications postings, I have a few questions. I hope you don't mind.

I found the same preamp on ebay for $50. Great price!

So, I see how you removed the balance potentiometer and replaced it with the stock 1/8" headphone jack.
Where did you mount the headphone jack? I can't see it in the pics. Was it to the same mounting plate that you
mounted the volume pot to?

Since you removed the on/off switch for the old preamp, how do you turn off the new one? Does it turn on and off
when you insert your cable into the output jack? I would assume so.

That's it, for now

The "headphone jack" is for the stock pickup. The piezo is connected into the original harness via the jack and this is re-used with the new pre. The piezo lead terminates with a male 1/8 plug and using the old jack keeps it clean. You will lose the actual headphone jack with the replacement pre, but a headphone amp is easy enough to plug into and pretty cheap to get separately.

The power is now activated by plugging into the 1/4 output jack, removing one point of potential failure in the switch on the stock setup.

I've got no complaints with the pre and it has been flawless through years of gigs. The cheap knobs I picked up have been fine too. One of these days when I am feeling ambitious I'll replace the jack plates so they match. I've been using it exactly is it is in the photos I posted when I installed it and the 3 ply volume plate doesn't bother me at all when playing as nobody can see it.