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Double Bass The DEFINITIVE Palatino EUB Modification Thread
- Thread starter jamiefoxer
- Start date
I don't know why it posted the pix twice... my apologies . The black tape on the fingerboard is temporarily holding a piezo pickup under it. I'm removing it tomorrow .
Again, my apologies for the double photos...I couldn't get the doubles off my post. Thank you !
Again, my apologies for the double photos...I couldn't get the doubles off my post. Thank you !
My Pallatino’s pickup and/or electronics are doesn’t works....I currently use with a Fishman BP-100 pickup with outboard Headway pre...But would be more contorted to use an onboard electronic....
What pickup and onboard electronic do you recommend? A good electric bass onboard electronic could works? I don’t like to drilling the instrument if not needed...
What pickup and onboard electronic do you recommend? A good electric bass onboard electronic could works? I don’t like to drilling the instrument if not needed...
You need a high impedance (1-10 MegOhms) input preamp. Basically this is just a JFET a few resistors and a capacitor. If you can make them yourself. There are a lot of schematics in the net. If you cannot make them yourself you need a piezo preamp. They should exist for bass guitars with piezos like an acoustic bass guitar.
There are some electric bass onboard preamp, like Aguilar OBPs with 1Mohms or greater input impedance, they different from a preamp build for piezzo pickup?
If there is an EQ included, that part might color the sound. But not necessarily.
You might want to ask the manufacturer for a frequency response diagram if it is not published on their website.
I use Aguilar TH350 amp, it sound very good with is my Wilson K1 pickup what on my real upright...As far I know Aguilars OBP series onboard preamps based on a same circuit as TH amps....But there a guy in my town, who build very good onboard electronics for bass guitars, many pros use their products, maybe I can ask him to build custom one for my pallatino....I don’t want to buy another K1 pickup to pallatino, I looking for a cheaper option, you have idea for pickup?
The schematics you or your builder needs are for a piezo buffer (which could be placed in front of any preamp as long as it doesn’t color the sound).
There‘s the BBBB from FDeck (very good), the mint box and a lot of others.
For a cheaper pickup than the K1, I don’t habe a Palatino myself (only Stagg and Clevinger). It depends a bit if you need a punchy pizz attack, bow compatibility or nice bow sound.
For the first an Underwood or the cheaper Shadow SH-950/951. for the second something in your bridge leg like the K1, Full Circle. For the last a bridge foot pickup like the Shadow SH-965NFX (I don‘t like the sound of the copper Realist, maybe the wooden one is better). Some of them might even be more expensive than the K1, but the Shadow pickups are probably cheaper. The output level of the Shadow NFX is a bit low, but not too much if you have a gain control.
For the Clevinger I made two DIY piezo disk pickups for the bridge feet sandwiched in wood together with a double piezo buffer (mixed after the buffer!). Also a bit quiet but a very good sound quality.
The wood is a bit thick to hide the solder points and cable end inside. I also use very large piezo disks and cut the to size (warning: one side of the cut is unusable, so test first which side it is).
The output is low because piezo disks are more sensible to bending than to pressure.
Connecting two piezos in parallel degrades sound quality.
You might get away with a single one, didn’t represent all strings well on my solid body Clevinger.
There‘s the BBBB from FDeck (very good), the mint box and a lot of others.
For a cheaper pickup than the K1, I don’t habe a Palatino myself (only Stagg and Clevinger). It depends a bit if you need a punchy pizz attack, bow compatibility or nice bow sound.
For the first an Underwood or the cheaper Shadow SH-950/951. for the second something in your bridge leg like the K1, Full Circle. For the last a bridge foot pickup like the Shadow SH-965NFX (I don‘t like the sound of the copper Realist, maybe the wooden one is better). Some of them might even be more expensive than the K1, but the Shadow pickups are probably cheaper. The output level of the Shadow NFX is a bit low, but not too much if you have a gain control.
For the Clevinger I made two DIY piezo disk pickups for the bridge feet sandwiched in wood together with a double piezo buffer (mixed after the buffer!). Also a bit quiet but a very good sound quality.
The wood is a bit thick to hide the solder points and cable end inside. I also use very large piezo disks and cut the to size (warning: one side of the cut is unusable, so test first which side it is).
The output is low because piezo disks are more sensible to bending than to pressure.
Connecting two piezos in parallel degrades sound quality.
You might get away with a single one, didn’t represent all strings well on my solid body Clevinger.
The pickup on the Pal is pretty respectable, the rest of the wiring is pretty useless. I changed the wiring on mine and am still gigging it regularly. I posted all the details around here somewhere including pics and links.
It amazes me that this thread still has anybody even look at it! Haha
But well, I agree with what you said, I'm only glad I figured out the right way to go with a portable upright bass is the Eminence or whatever that small travel bass is that Esperanza used in her live concerts.
That one is usable and works a million times better over the palatino..
I had a palatino for 1 year and was just shocked at the horror it was.. then I bought a 5-string portable removable neck Eminence bass and never have looked back..
I even called up Gary who makes them and bought a second 5-string portable Eminence bass!
So if you or others have figured out how to completely remake the instrument by modding it, well good for you all, but I found its better to start with an instrument that already sounds good and then build on that etc.
In any case my next try out phase will be with the Yamaha silent upright bass, I hear they have a new version out so....
If my post seems harsh or anything, know that I'm just a tired older bass player that has had enough of the garbage material and bad designs and sub-par craftsmanship and this quote should say it all:
"You shouldn't be fighting with the instrument to make music, the instrument should helping you make the music.."
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I would be happy to went for Eminence or Yamaha if I could AFFORD it right now!!!!!!
After 2 years of pandemic, I like to play music and earn some money to my family, instead of investing to a way overpriced fake acoustic bass like Eminence….For that price, you can buy a real bass, what much more difficult to build….
I bought my Palatino with $600 tax refund money almost 20 years ago, right before a mini tour with my band. I figured I could leave both my Warwick and my carved DB at home, and try doing everything with the EUB. I might have lucked out, but I just never had much trouble with the Palatino. I don't have either of my "pro" basses anymore, but I still have the Palatino, stock. Put new Spiros on it a couple years ago, and I play it through an amp with some acoustic sim digital modeling effects, and it sounds very convincing, even with a bow.
Yeah, I bought it few months ago, to solve small jazz cafeteria gigs and rehearsals in Town, and carry It with electric roller on my shoulder…. I can’t drive car unfortunately….For bigger gigs I can organize my transportation with my Acoustic Upright….
I think Pallatino’s design and conception are very good, just the build quality is not so good, but with smart Upgrade can fix that…. There are no competitors of this price range….I don’t like “stick design” URBs like Stagg and Current Harley Benton (the previous was a same as Palatino..) Steinberger not feel as a real upright for me…The new Ibanez and Dean are very short scale (like an uprighted bass guitar), Eminence, BSX, and Yamaha are way too overpriced (I bought luckily my 80+ years old German Carved back Upright approx $4k 4 years ago….), So, the rest is Pallatino….
Well I'm glad you all seem happy with the $600 palarino which by the way, comes with a bridge that is so unbelievable i don't know it even got past the company testers before it went out of the factory.. have you seen the bridge on the palatinos??
In any case I'm glad yall enjoy the palatino..
As far as price i mean, I think I paid $3200 or less for my Eminence but yes I have a steady gig that kinda pays for that so.. (and remember guys, I'm getting a 5 string portable removable neck upright, not just a 4 string.. mine collapses and came with a golf travel case to fly with it.. )
So there is a reason the price is up there..
Also the point is to replace the annoyance of hauling around a heavy and big bass but still getting somewhat of the feel and sound of a real upright.. the Eminence bass uses a real up to size fingerboard from a regular 3/4 upright bass and I can take the neck on and off very easily and its lighter than the palatino, has a real thick bridge and uses even the real pickups you would use on a standard upright bass..
So there are those factors..
I am not here to argue about this or anything, if it seems I sound irritated and what not, well that's just the way I sound from the text here..
My experience with the palatino was not worth it being these reasons:
-Sound is definitely electric due to the pickup..
- flimsy tiny pointless bridge that moves even pulling the string too hard while playing
- heavy construction its actually not a light instrument..
- the ring overtone from the bad design of the tailpiece..
- the fingerboard needed planning..
- and more to list but its not worth it as you all apparently "modded it" haha.
so anyway the final interesting todbit is this :
here is the sound of the Eminence if yall don't believe me.. and yes that's me at a much younger time haha.
The 5 string removable neck!
I guess you have to click the links but one video showed up.. but I posted 3 here
Video 1:
https://youtube.com/shorts/EJE2MhiyRyU?feature=share
Video 2:
Yeah listen to that sound.. hehe
video 3:
https://youtube.com/shorts/oONzDx7U6fg?feature=share
In any case I'm glad yall enjoy the palatino..
As far as price i mean, I think I paid $3200 or less for my Eminence but yes I have a steady gig that kinda pays for that so.. (and remember guys, I'm getting a 5 string portable removable neck upright, not just a 4 string.. mine collapses and came with a golf travel case to fly with it.. )
So there is a reason the price is up there..
Also the point is to replace the annoyance of hauling around a heavy and big bass but still getting somewhat of the feel and sound of a real upright.. the Eminence bass uses a real up to size fingerboard from a regular 3/4 upright bass and I can take the neck on and off very easily and its lighter than the palatino, has a real thick bridge and uses even the real pickups you would use on a standard upright bass..
So there are those factors..
I am not here to argue about this or anything, if it seems I sound irritated and what not, well that's just the way I sound from the text here..
My experience with the palatino was not worth it being these reasons:
-Sound is definitely electric due to the pickup..
- flimsy tiny pointless bridge that moves even pulling the string too hard while playing
- heavy construction its actually not a light instrument..
- the ring overtone from the bad design of the tailpiece..
- the fingerboard needed planning..
- and more to list but its not worth it as you all apparently "modded it" haha.
so anyway the final interesting todbit is this :
here is the sound of the Eminence if yall don't believe me.. and yes that's me at a much younger time haha.
The 5 string removable neck!
I guess you have to click the links but one video showed up.. but I posted 3 here
Video 1:
https://youtube.com/shorts/EJE2MhiyRyU?feature=share
Video 2:
Yeah listen to that sound.. hehe
video 3:
https://youtube.com/shorts/oONzDx7U6fg?feature=share
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I didn’t say, Eminence are not good, or not better than Pallatino…Just say not worth $3.5k in my opinion….
When I touring I not bring any bass, I play on rented gear, I can make may sound on any decent bass….
I use the Pallatino just on rehearsals and in town small gigs, the fingerboard changed by the previous owner to a nice Ebony one, I changed the pickup to a BP-100, but plan to change to another, and I will change the endpin soon, there are superior endpins on the Market for $100…I bought the bass for $500, and the fingerboard was already Ebony…
I have never heard an eminence I cared for. Could have been the player. They were decent bassists, but I thought the sound sucked rather badly. That is my personal opinion fwiw.
I don't choose my instruments based on how much I spent for them but on what they do for me. If a $50 axe will do the gig why take out a better one? It's just a tool to be used in most cases until you get to museum and historically significant instruments, of which I have several, but I don't need that level equipment for what I am doing these days. I am quite content with my palatino eub. Most of their other offerings are a waste of space, but these basses are useful.
BF22 I hope some day you get over your hangups and can be content to just play. I don't understand why you insist on harping on and on about a bad instrument you purchased and were unsatisfied with.
I don't choose my instruments based on how much I spent for them but on what they do for me. If a $50 axe will do the gig why take out a better one? It's just a tool to be used in most cases until you get to museum and historically significant instruments, of which I have several, but I don't need that level equipment for what I am doing these days. I am quite content with my palatino eub. Most of their other offerings are a waste of space, but these basses are useful.
BF22 I hope some day you get over your hangups and can be content to just play. I don't understand why you insist on harping on and on about a bad instrument you purchased and were unsatisfied with.
Again, I don’t know why, but Pallatino still has no competitors under $1.5k!
There are construction problems with it, like the endpin, fingerboards are really sucks, I had to changed the bridge and pickups too, (still under $700) but I like, that the Pallatino’s body shape reminds me to a real bass, not to a broomstick like, Stagg…The scale is not as long as my DB’s but still like a little shorter 3/4 bass (103mm)….Not like Ibanez UB804’s (84mm)….
There are construction problems with it, like the endpin, fingerboards are really sucks, I had to changed the bridge and pickups too, (still under $700) but I like, that the Pallatino’s body shape reminds me to a real bass, not to a broomstick like, Stagg…The scale is not as long as my DB’s but still like a little shorter 3/4 bass (103mm)….Not like Ibanez UB804’s (84mm)….
