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The Krappy Bassists Klub
- Thread starter The Owl
- Start date
Here's a video from a wedding showcase this past Sunday, running through a homemade fdeck designed buffer and a behringer adi21 (til I afford a better preamp), just the stage sound recorded by zoom q2hd.
Slowly working on regaining the ability to play upright...
Slowly working on regaining the ability to play upright...
Thanks! I was using in ears and that's VERY revealing for intonation issues... It does show up a little less through the amp.
I replaced the ghs Flatwounds on my krappy eub with d'addario upright strings last night, major difference. I had to cut them to scale and in the process messed up the e string, so ordered a replacement, but now I know how to do it correctly... Solder a spot below (towards ball end) where you're going to cut so the windings stay tight. I soldered after cutting the e and the windings are loose, so the string rattles.
I also found out that all tuning machines are not created equal, the cheap tuners couldn't handle the tension needed fit the low e. I pulled the hipshot tuner that was the oddball on my homemade uke bass and used that, and it's perfect. So I'll be investing in those soon enough.
I also am experimenting with a cable piezo running under the bridge feet, I'll see how that's working with more time. However, this bass continues to astound me, and the reaction from my bandmates has been really positive.
Oh, yeah, in fooling with the e string I broke the bridge saddle. I found a bone acoustic guitar saddle I had laying around and shaped it to roughly the radius of the fingerboard. It worked really well, but I had already shaved it down lower when I had it in a guitar, so it could be a little higher. I just ordered some blanks and will work with it.
None of this is a reflection on the quality of the bass, it's fantastic and I'm probably using it a little differently than its intended purpose because I didn't know I'd want to bring it to every gig, it was just intended for getting back into upright a little bit at home for practicing. but since it's so comfortable and sounds so good, it's now a fixture on gigs!
I also found out that all tuning machines are not created equal, the cheap tuners couldn't handle the tension needed fit the low e. I pulled the hipshot tuner that was the oddball on my homemade uke bass and used that, and it's perfect. So I'll be investing in those soon enough.
I also am experimenting with a cable piezo running under the bridge feet, I'll see how that's working with more time. However, this bass continues to astound me, and the reaction from my bandmates has been really positive.
Oh, yeah, in fooling with the e string I broke the bridge saddle. I found a bone acoustic guitar saddle I had laying around and shaped it to roughly the radius of the fingerboard. It worked really well, but I had already shaved it down lower when I had it in a guitar, so it could be a little higher. I just ordered some blanks and will work with it.
None of this is a reflection on the quality of the bass, it's fantastic and I'm probably using it a little differently than its intended purpose because I didn't know I'd want to bring it to every gig, it was just intended for getting back into upright a little bit at home for practicing. but since it's so comfortable and sounds so good, it's now a fixture on gigs!
My Strap On EUB is still "in the process"....will take your experience as a starting point and see what she needs...if anything....
Why and what are you wearing on your ears, and the pack behind your back? Do you need to have the electric on you while you play the Krappy? Can you please explain to me your setup and what is going on here?
The "rat tail" as you describe it is attached to his his in-ear-monitors. You're looking at the cord that goes to his body pack from his ear buds.
When you watch the video closely between the first song and the second, he switches back and forth between upright and electric bass. Faster transitions that way, keeps people on the floor dancing...
When you watch the video closely between the first song and the second, he switches back and forth between upright and electric bass. Faster transitions that way, keeps people on the floor dancing...
Yes, they answered correctly. This was at a wedding showcase though, there was no dancing, I can assure you of that!
In this band I use my in ears when we are doing our own sound so that the guys are quiet, that band can get pretty loud onstage. When I'm not using in ears my molded ear plugs are in. I do sound for another part of my living and need my hearing intact!
To answer your other question, we generally go pretty quickly from song to song, usually with no stopping at all, so I have to switch quickly. However, I'm now using a 5 string ubass, so it weighs less than 5 lbs. I wouldn't be able to do that for very long with a bigger bass.
Thanks for watching it, I'm happy to answer any other questions.
I just reread the question, the pack on the bass strap is the wireless for my u-bass (line 6 g30), my in ear transmitter is on the other side clipped to my pants pocket. I use my wireless all the time now because I trip on cables while I'm playing electric. With the upright it's not an issue.
thoughts on my newly arrived Krappy "strap on EUB":
"...this union
is not carnal
less than lustful
i simply use you
supplant my tendencies
by caress
of your exoskeleton
push air through
tendons and sinew
yearning for
vibration
sublime frequency
ah...yes...that's it
ain't it love in the primitive
dependencies
independent
i form you
like a canvas stretched
paint of sound
color
to
monochrome
you extend me
this expression
i purge from dark places
shout to endless
loose blankets of stars
in dawn's ceiling of sky
we are on fire
drowning
consorts
ours is sacred tribal rhythm
and soft coaxing of sighs..."
"...this union
is not carnal
less than lustful
i simply use you
supplant my tendencies
by caress
of your exoskeleton
push air through
tendons and sinew
yearning for
vibration
sublime frequency
ah...yes...that's it
ain't it love in the primitive
dependencies
independent
i form you
like a canvas stretched
paint of sound
color
to
monochrome
you extend me
this expression
i purge from dark places
shout to endless
loose blankets of stars
in dawn's ceiling of sky
we are on fire
drowning
consorts
ours is sacred tribal rhythm
and soft coaxing of sighs..."
Here are some photos of the Krappy that Kevin built for me last month. I asked for something kinda like a Rob Allen mouse, but only gave him about half the specs. He improvised.
It ended up very unique. Its a 30" scale, with a katalox body, paduk/cherry stringers. The fake f-hole is a great touch. The neck is flat and substantial. It's almost 2" wide. I normally play thin jazz necks, so its taken some time for me to get used to, but now I really like it.
The really dense body seems to balance out the mudbucker and tape wounds very nicely. You'd expect it to be really muddy, but its not. its a very even tone. I bet it would sing with bright rounds on there.
All in all, a pretty cool weird little bass. Its become the one I leave out of the case to mess around with. Really incredible work for the price, especially when you consider the nice woods, set neck, custom hardware and electronics. Its a krappy!
It ended up very unique. Its a 30" scale, with a katalox body, paduk/cherry stringers. The fake f-hole is a great touch. The neck is flat and substantial. It's almost 2" wide. I normally play thin jazz necks, so its taken some time for me to get used to, but now I really like it.
The really dense body seems to balance out the mudbucker and tape wounds very nicely. You'd expect it to be really muddy, but its not. its a very even tone. I bet it would sing with bright rounds on there.
All in all, a pretty cool weird little bass. Its become the one I leave out of the case to mess around with. Really incredible work for the price, especially when you consider the nice woods, set neck, custom hardware and electronics. Its a krappy!
Oh m
Oh man, that's great! I want a 25" scale version just like that. Just waiting to sell something.
Oh man, that's great! I want a 25" scale version just like that. Just waiting to sell something.
The main thing I would change is to have the neck join the body at a lower fret so the reach is a little less.
Also it's pretty solid. If weight is an issue a lighter wood would be helpful
Krappy, Krappy, Krappy!
You can hear it on the song "Czerwony pas" (krappy kover of a Polish folk song) at Link Removed - it's the distorted track. I think I used the three-string neck.
And some guy who isn't me playing it:
If his band ever gets famous I'm gonna use that photo to blackmail him.
I really like this. Thinking out if the box, or out of the box and into a crappier one, but I do covet this bass.
Krappy gig report:
Previously I've used my 2 string frozen waterperson at a couple of well lit coffee house gigs but this weekend was the first time I tried to use it in a bar with my other band.
I had rearranged the set list so I could do the first three songs on it, sound checked just fine with all the lights on, time to start playing, sound guy drops the lights to just a few blue and red cans....and then I realized the side dot markers are literally black holes and I couldn't see them at all. At all.
Made it through the first song, then put it away.
I've now filled in the marker holes with white crayon wax.
The end.
Previously I've used my 2 string frozen waterperson at a couple of well lit coffee house gigs but this weekend was the first time I tried to use it in a bar with my other band.
I had rearranged the set list so I could do the first three songs on it, sound checked just fine with all the lights on, time to start playing, sound guy drops the lights to just a few blue and red cans....and then I realized the side dot markers are literally black holes and I couldn't see them at all. At all.
Made it through the first song, then put it away.
I've now filled in the marker holes with white crayon wax.
The end.
I added fret inlay stickers to mine. They are fake abalone and reflect ambient light well. I don't have pictures of the side bots but the front looks like this:
new build
How-Low Kitty 2-string
Leopard Wood body
Maple/Mahogany stringers
Natural-Stained Oak fretboard
Will be supplying a P-Blade pickup from Reverend Guitars
How-Low Kitty 2-string
Leopard Wood body
Maple/Mahogany stringers
Natural-Stained Oak fretboard
Will be supplying a P-Blade pickup from Reverend Guitars
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