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Ristola Club

#141
emjazz said:
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We made some decisions as to pickup placement, knob placement and output placement today. I also found out that I got a different preamp configuration than we expected so that needs to be ironed out....otherwise, it looks like it'll be ready to send to the finisher in 2 weeks...then the 6-8 week wait for it to come back, assembly, and it's done.....looks like July. This is really going to be an amazing instrument. I can't wait.

Nicky, PM on the way. :D
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That is fantastic!!! Congrats on that bass.
 
#142
NickyBass said:
Many thanks to you, Andy for taking a pic of my bass!! I'm getting really excited about this one.

Hey, Andy, did you happen to see my board? Tracking down the wood for this bass was hectic.
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You're very welcome...I knew you'd appreciate a pic.

I did not see your fingerboard or your neck. I just didn't think to ask honestly.

I've decided to have Brian move the bridge pickup slightly toward the neck. The pickups were moved back because of the extra two frets, but I'm trying not to get too close to the bridge and also not get the pickups too close together....

I'm also hoping I can get the preamp thing figured out. The preamp was sent with a stacked volume/balance, which I can't stand. I'm really, really hoping I can get them separately....I dislike a stacked volume/balance so much I'd even consider a different preamp....when I want to make a quick change with the balance control I don't want to have to get around the volume knob or worry about changing the volume with my fingers by accident....that stacking configuration just doesn't make sense.
 
#144
NickyBass said:
That's too bad about the pre. Can you send it back for a new one? What about having David make much larger knobs for the bottom. That way, you won't grab the volume by mistake.
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Can't send it back, but I'm really just venting as I haven't heard one way or the other honestly....noone did anything wrong, I just misunderstood what the setup was. We'll figure it out for sure.

Great idea about bottom knob!

Truthfully, I really do keep thinking about going passive or just having a buffer and a volume/balance/tone setup. Every bass that I play that's passive just works for me.....I just don't like to fiddle with knobs. The ACG can achieve so many sounds, and I know that I'll get some really cool things out of it...but I kind of almost don't want to bother....funny huh?
 
#145
Andy, I was all passive for years...then I found TB and tried a ton of other gear. What I noticed was that if I didn't like the bass in passive mode (or flat), the preamp did nothing to help. There are some great preamps available, but to me, it's overkill sometimes. My Skjold absolutely doesn't need a preamp. I doesn't hurt, but the bass was built with tone being the ultimate goal, and the preamp isn't really 100% needed.

I do understand why some guys like them, but for me, I'd rather the bass sound good flat first....which all the Ristola that I've owned have.
 
#146
NickyBass said:
Andy, I was all passive for years...then I found TB and tried a ton of other gear. What I noticed was that if I didn't like the bass in passive mode (or flat), the preamp did nothing to help. There are some great preamps available, but to me, it's overkill sometimes. My Skjold absolutely doesn't need a preamp. I doesn't hurt, but the bass was built with tone being the ultimate goal, and the preamp isn't really 100% needed.

I do understand why some guys like them, but for me, I'd rather the bass sound good flat first....which all the Ristola that I've owned have.
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I hear you on that....the last three basses that knocked me out and sounded perfect flat were the myrtle topped Ristola 5 string at LAG, a cherry body 6 string M Bass and a Citron 5 string AE5....all amazing instruments with the eq flat......also, the 34" 5 string Skjold that someone owns here in town when in passive mode is right up there. All I use is the pickup pan and my hands to change the tone.....I think if you have a decent preamp on your amplifier to tune to the room then you're all set.
 
#147
Hey All, my name is Chen-Feng from Taiwan. Here is my upcoming new one.

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#149
NickyBass said:
That's too bad about the pre. Can you send it back for a new one? What about having David make much larger knobs for the bottom. That way, you won't grab the volume by mistake.
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The preamp is all situated.....J. East is going to custom wire the preamp for me for a separate volume and blend. Sounds like Brian's hard at work on getting this one all situated....very exciting!
 
#151
NickyBass said:
...What I noticed was that if I didn't like the bass in passive mode (or flat), the preamp did nothing to help...
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Nicky, I've found this to be very true. Also, I find if I like the instrument's acoustic sound, I'll like it's amplified sound.

Oddly I find that my basses that have a "prettier" sound get buried in a live setting. I had Brian aim for a P-Bass type of sound with the bass he built for me. For the styles of music I play live, the P-Bass sound always works.

YMMV, Derwin
 
#155
Bsaaman1226 said:
Thanks Andy~:)

In fact this is my first time to order the custom instrument and hope every thing being perfect, but I trust Brian even thought I've never talk with him personally.
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You're in very good hands Chen-Feng. Brian really knows what he's doing and how to get the best instrument for each and every customer. Let us know how you like it when it makes it's way to you.
 
#156
Arthur U. Poon said:
Nicky, I've found this to be very true. Also, I find if I like the instrument's acoustic sound, I'll like it's amplified sound.

Oddly I find that my basses that have a "prettier" sound get buried in a live setting. I had Brian aim for a P-Bass type of sound with the bass he built for me. For the styles of music I play live, the P-Bass sound always works.

YMMV, Derwin
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I had Kent Armstrong build 'modern-vintage-updated-classic' pickups for me. The neck is a split coil 'P' style pickup with AlNiCo bar magnets. And the the bridge is a dual coil AlNiCo bar pickup.

So, the idea is to get the best of both worlds. It's essentially a suped up P/J arrangement. The pickups are Bartolini shaped, so I can swap out the Kent Armstrongs for Nordstrands if I need to.
 
#158
Bottoms_Up! said:
Greetings from a genuine Noob here on TB!

Just wanted to convey my appreciation for Ristola basses as well. I just picked up Brian's "Myrtle 5 ( http://www.ristolainstruments.com/myrtle_5.htm ) VERY lightly used from a gentleman in NH and I must say, "WOWEEEE!"

My hat's off to Mr. Ristola and his endeavors. I'd love to chat, but she's calling my name...again... :D
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Wow, that's one of the best basses Brian has built to date. That bass sounds incredible flat/un eq'ed. The combination of the mahogany, myrtle and ebony fingerboard is a real knockout. Amazing bass. Enjoy! If you're ever playing around let me know....I'm in Medford.

Best.
Andy.
 
#159
Hey Andy, yeah, I'm really floored by this thing! Amazing sounding and a real player! I got it for a song too, so that didn't hurt either. LOL. I've always wanted a high-end instrument but could never afford one, especially now with this economy, so I was absolutely floored when I saw this baby just sitting there on NH craigslist. The ad was 4 days old too!

The neck is unbelievable, but I notice the purple heart sections to be a little more "friction-y," for lack of a better description, compared to the maple sections. Any recommendations on a good conditioner/oil for this?

Not currently gigging, but looking for a good opportunity. By the way, I checked out your myspace. You're quite the busy mucisian! I'm going to try and make it out to your June 5th gig @ Doyle's.

Regards,

Paul
 
#160
Bottoms_Up! said:
Hey Andy, yeah, I'm really floored by this thing! Amazing sounding and a real player! I got it for a song too, so that didn't hurt either. LOL. I've always wanted a high-end instrument but could never afford one, especially now with this economy, so I was absolutely floored when I saw this baby just sitting there on NH craigslist. The ad was 4 days old too!

The neck is unbelievable, but I notice the purple heart sections to be a little more "friction-y," for lack of a better description, compared to the maple sections. Any recommendations on a good conditioner/oil for this?

Not currently gigging, but looking for a good opportunity. By the way, I checked out your myspace. You're quite the busy mucisian! I'm going to try and make it out to your June 5th gig @ Doyle's.

Regards,

Paul
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Paul, definitely come out if you can. It would be great to meet you for sure. I won't have a Ristola that night as my new one won't be done until July or so, but it'll be a really good gig.

...did you say that you got that bass for $1000???? Did I understand that right?

I'd contact Brian about the back of the neck.....but I'd start by getting some steel wool and sanding it down a bit. That always helps. Ask Brian about what kind of oil to use after that.
 

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