Roscoe Club

[steelin4u]

adding the mid control on the preamp is going to be $$$$.

I couldn't agree more. I'm always riding the mid knob on my fretless to bring out that voice, especially when I pan to the bridge pickup. I LOVE the bart 3-band with the mids knob in the 'up' position and a little boosted. I'm sure you will love having the mids option.

 

[Skip Chucker]

I'm always riding the mid knob on my fretless to bring out that voice, especially when I pan to the bridge pickup. I

That's what I'm thinking- I love the way this bass sounds when I half-pan to the bridge pickup. But I really wish I could boost the mids a bit more. I really feel like there is a spot in there where both mawh and growl make sweet, sweet love, but I can't get to it with the two band.

 

[Bass Viking]

I really feel like there is a spot in there where both mawh and growl make sweet, sweet love, but I can't get to it with the two band.

 

[staccatogrowl]

. . I love the way this bass sounds when I half-pan to the bridge pickup. But I really wish I could boost the mids a bit more. . I can't get to it with the two band.

The apparent solution is boosting the mid frequency. However, another way to boost mids is to decrease bass and treble, while adding more volume. This latter mid-boost method is known as subtractive EQ, and is a proven method. For example, a well-known endorser of this method, in theory and use, is Gary Willis whose signature Ibanez basses have always sported 2-band Barts.

Maybe give it a try if you haven't already. It's worked like a champ for me on several Bart two-band preamps on different basses. Just a smidge off the bass and treble should do it. Oh, and the best part is it costs nothing to try.

 

[SteveC]

Yep, sometimes better to reduce than increase.

 

[steelin4u]

Bah. If less is more, then just imagine how much more more will be!

 

[mikezimmerman]

The one problem with that approach is that the "hole" between the bass and treble frequencies that your are subtracting may not be the same as the midrange frequency that you'd like to boost. For fretless in particular, I really favor a bit of a bump in the low mids around 250 Hz...

The apparent solution is boosting the mid frequency. However, another way to boost mids is to decrease bass and treble, while adding more volume. This latter mid-boost method is known as subtractive EQ, and is a well-known, proven method. For example, a well-known endorser of this method, in theory and use, is Gary Willis.

Maybe give it a try if you haven't already. It's worked like a champ for me on Bart two-band preamps. Just a smidge off the bass and treble should do it. Cheers

 

[mikezimmerman]

By “hole”, I mean the space between the bass frequencies that are boosted or cut and the treble frequencies that are boosted or cut.

Sorry, that came off much more argumentative than I intended. It’s just that, looking at the frequency graphs, it’s pretty clear that what’s “left over” when you cut the bass and treble is not the same range of frequencies as are affected by an active mid boost.

How is trying something different, that costs nothing, a problem? There is no "hole" created by slightly decreasing bass and treble. Any decrease in overall volume is overcome with a slight volume boost. The midrange is definitely boosted. Whether or not it's the right mid bump is up to the user.

Otherwise, the subtractive EQ idea was shared as something simple to try. It is not a denouncement of a three-band preamps. It's just a clever way to EQ, and plenty of savvy folks know and use it. Otherwise, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

 

[Matt Morgan]

Some juicy "in progress" pics on Roscoe's Instagram page. My fretted is bottom right.

 

[MattLplaysBass]

By “hole”, I mean the space between the bass frequencies that are boosted or cut and the treble frequencies that are boosted or cut.

Sorry, that came off much more argumentative than I intended. It’s just that, looking at the frequency graphs, it’s pretty clear that what’s “left over” when you cut the bass and treble is not the same range of frequencies as are affected by an active mid boost.

Eq is a funny thing, and lots of people go about it in different ways. I am with you, and prefer 3 band active with boost and cut, selectable/sweepable mids are always nice. I’ve boosted the 800hz on the bart ntmb when I couldn’t find the volume knob on an amp (not mine) and it was an instant fix. But boost the wrong mids and it’s honk city.

One of my basses is a Status with their 302 circuit, has bass and treble boost and cut, and then a mid freq knob with a boost/cut switch, which is an effective but a little more complicated way of doing things.

I don’t have experience with them, so I can’t judge, but I’m intrigued by Sadowsky’s boost only 2 band pre. People swear by it, and I’ve read/heard interviews with Roger where he doesn’t feel the need for mid knobs (supposedly he did the Will Lee mid boost as a favor to Will Lee and doesn’t care for it himself).

 

[armybass]

Took these two to my recording session yesterday. I agree on having the 3 band with a mid control is key on a fretless. I liked having the Bart’s on the Fretless and the Aguilar J pups were a nice contrast on the SKB Standard. This bass just has has a great presence and wonderful modern tone with a beastly B string!

 

[fretno]

Im just the opposite. I’m happy with only a V control onboard I won’t say no to 2x V’s though

 

[Dave Siff]

I'm going to have him plek my fretless and change out the 2 band for the 3 band bart preamp. From what I tell, I will be more than happy with both of those mods. I'm not especially convinced on the plek as it plays really well now, but adding the mid control on the preamp is going to be $$$$.

Don't hesitate on the Plek. Keith Plek'd my fretless and it made a significant difference. Just know that you may lose a little figuring in the wood (or diamondwood) depending on how much the Plek shaves off. Mine has a diamondwood board and the Plek took away some pretty cool "cloud" figuring on the highest fret positions, but ultimately it was worth it.

 

[SteveC]

So I played one of those limited Fender Lightweight jazz basses at the local shop yesterday. It was as light as my Roscoe. Lightest jazz I've played. Played great and sounded really good. Looks nice, too. But...$1,850...for a limited yet production bass. US made but still, I have a hard time paying that for a Fender. Especially when Greg still has that first of the classic line "Roscoe Pino" for almost the same price.

I wonder why that bass hasn't sold. It's the first classic series P bass so a little nostalgic/special I would think. Hipshot tuners, Honey Badger pickup, side mount input jack. Seems like it would be a killer P bass.

 

[fretno]

Killer P is waiting for a home . It's also the right color .

 

[bassWR]

I wonder why that bass hasn't sold

Because you won’t pull the trigger!

 

[JOME77]

He said mine was next in the hopper to be completed! So that means there are 2-3 in front of me?

But that's cool, I can't take off work this week and then it's a mother's day weekend. "Hey Sweetie, for Mother's Day let's take a day trip to Greensboro to pick up my new bass!" is definitely NOT going to go over well- and may be grounds for divorce. Soooo....

LOL
I think I might have tried that one once! Not a good idea!

.... It doesn't work on her birthday either!

 

[JOME77]

I couldn't agree more. I'm always riding the mid knob on my fretless to bring out that voice, especially when I pan to the bridge pickup. I LOVE the bart 3-band with the mids knob in the 'up' position and a little boosted. I'm sure you will love having the mids option.

Barney said that a fretless without the mid knob is like a star without it's glimmer! Or like a choir without a tenor!

 

[JOME77]

What did Jaco say?

Jaco said that Barney Fife was the best tenor he ever heard!

 

[Skip Chucker]

Don't hesitate on the Plek. Keith Plek'd my fretless and it made a significant difference. Just know that you may lose a little figuring in the wood (or diamondwood) depending on how much the Plek shaves off. Mine has a diamondwood board and the Plek took away some pretty cool "cloud" figuring on the highest fret positions, but ultimately it was worth it.

The fingerboard is so dark that you really can't see any of the figuring (it's really really subtle) unless you're shining a bright light directly on it. So I'm not worried about that part.

How much of the fingerboard did the Plek process take off?!