Preemptive NBD: Fame M-03 Mini Bass

[Volker Kirstein]

I pulled the trigger on a Fame M-03 Mini Bass. This will be #13. It should arrive by Wednesday, in time for the jam session. Pics of actual bass and review upon arrival.

 

[HaphAsSard]

Didn't know about these! Looking forward to your hands-on impressions.
Also, check in at the sub-short scale thread,
Sub-Short Scale Talk
so that other TB members are made aware of this one.

 

[jd56hawk]

Regular flatwounds?

 

[B-Mac]

I pulled the trigger on a Fame M-03 Mini Bass. This will be #13. It should arrive by Wednesday, in time for the jam session. Pics of actual bass and review upon arrival.

View attachment 3497083
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Just can’t wait can’t ya?
Anticipation is killing ya isn’t it?
Enjoy your new bass!

And check into

Bass Hoarding Personality Disorder (BHPD) - You are not alone.

 

[HaphAsSard]

Fame M-03 Mini Bass.

Hm. A reviewer says it comes tuned to ADGC. If true, do you plan to keep it that way, change it into piccolo EADG, or figure out a way to make it standard EADG?

 

[Volker Kirstein]

Hm. A reviewer says it comes tuned to ADGC. If true, do you plan to keep it that way, change it into piccolo EADG, or figure out a way to make it standard EADG?

I'm prepared to keep it ADGC, but I may experiment with "Std G" (GCFBb). I seriously doubt it'll take EADG.

EDIT for tuning nomenclature

 

[HaphAsSard]

I'm prepared to keep it ADGC, but I may experiment with "drop G" (GCFBb). I seriously doubt it'll take EADG.

Agreed. 20.5" scale with steel strings (which the magnetic pickup requires) would be seriously pushing it.
[In order to get the bare minimum tension for steel-core strings, so that they don't have an impossibly sproingy pitch envelope at even the lightest attack (and erratic pitch at different fretting strengths), let's say >18 pounds/each, it would require at least a .125" low E, of the appropriate length so that it tapers before the tuning post (read: it would have to be custom-ordered from Pyramid, Newtone, La Bella or Kalium), and a .09-.095" A string (which may be long-scale and wound onto the post at full gauge, hoping it doesn't break; long-scale D and G strings - say .065" and .05" - would be fine in this respect, they'd be flexible enough). Even so, the E might still sproing out too much, or already be too stiff at that scale and sound chorusy, or (worst case) both.]
EDIT - The obvious alternative would be to get a piezo bridge and use ukulele-bass strings. (Nylon-core rounds may fit the original tuners.)

"Drop G" is generally intended as GDGC; all-fourths tuning starting with G tends to be called "G standard"; not to nitpick (I tune standard and don't have an opinion in this regard), only to help you interpret forum mentions of these tunings, which usually follow this pattern.

 

[Volker Kirstein]

The bass hath arriven.

It actually came on Friday. DHL gave it to my neighbour, from whom I picked it up from today. He had opened it thinking it was for him. Grrr! I came close to violence.

Anyway, it appears to be all there, and still in pristine shape. Quick pinking indicates that it's easy and comfortable to play, finger wise. I haven't put it on a strap yet. I also plan to bring it to the jam on Wednesday.

A further report will follow once I've had a chance to play with it a bit.

 

[Volker Kirstein]

I had a chance to plink with it for a bit. It feels like a toy when I hold and play it, but it certainly sounds like a bass! Again, this is all sitting, I still have not strapped it on.

The strings are roundwound, and sound half decent. My thumb gravitated to the pickup as a thumb rest. In open A tuning, the strings are OK, minimal flop. When I tried open G, the strings were much too loose, and I bent almost every note sharp.

The tuners feel a bit loose, and are persnickety in finding the right spot. But they seem to hold when I'm reefing on the strings. We'll see how it holds up at the jam.

The neck is 38mm at the nut, with 19mm string spacing at the bridge. It feels like a compressed jazz neck. The dots appear to be natural, and show extreme variance in coloration.

The frets could use a proper dressing, but are certainly playable without buzz on each and every one across the board right out of the box. Nor could I detect a dead spot.

 

[Volker Kirstein]

I was thinking of bringing the new mini to the jams tonight, so I set it in the rack to see if it even fit. It barely makes it. It's shorter than a full scale neck!

 

[RodRy]

The tuners feel a bit loose, and are persnickety in finding the right spot. But they seem to hold when I'm reefing on the strings. We'll see how it holds up at the jam.

That's a nice-looking mini bass, and finally a picture of the man, the myth, the legend! Did you take it to any jam sessions? Have you played it out? How are you tuning it now? Did you put new tuners on it?
I know, I ask too many questions.

 

[Volker Kirstein]

That's a nice-looking mini bass, and finally a picture of the man, the myth, the legend! Did you take it to any jam sessions? Have you played it out? How are you tuning it now? Did you put new tuners on it?
I know, I ask too many questions.

Yes. ADGC. No.

 

[Volker Kirstein]

Gig bag hath arriven. It's for a baritone ukulele, but it's a perfect fit for the mini-bass, too. Now I don't have to lug it around in its shipping box. I'll probably take it to the jam again tomorrow.