The Mike Lull Club Part 2

[markob]

Thanks guys. Played it for the first time tonight at worship team rehearsal Wow! exceptional tone and feel. I've been playing P-Basses w/ flats for quite awhile and I figured I'd make a quick change to flats on the the M4V as soon as I took delivery but the stock rounds sounded great. Just enough sizzle but not too much for my tastes. I'm giddy

 

[markob]

Oh yea. What's a guy gotta do to get a number around here?

 

[Holdsg]

Ron Plichta is our major domo handing out the numbers. He will get around to it, or you may wish to expedite matters by PM'ing him.

 

[Ron Plichta]

Oh yea. What's a guy gotta do to get a number around here?

I have the member list on my office computer and so I'll update it when I get back to work Tuesday. Sound good?

 

[markob]

At your leisure Ron. Thanks.

m

 

[bassjam]

The color I'm "saving" for my Fretless M5, for lack of a better description, is a "Denim Blue" that truly does look like a pair of jeans. I saw it on a bass years ago for sale on Adrian Garcia's website (at a price that sold so low it still sickens me to this day ), fell for it immediately, saved it and have kept it "tucked away" ever since. I have somewhat of a tradition of my fretless basses: my first "starter fretless" was a 1992 Ibanez SR-800 in "Pearl Blue", my upgrade/"got schooled on" & DIY defretted it myself and installed matching blue fretlines using Blue Purfling for an Acoustic Guitar... which came out killer, and currently my Spector Euro Bolt-On with custom Nordstrand Big Singles, Aguilar OBP-3 & HG Thor Epoxy Fingerboard Coating beauty of a fretless bass being "Blueburst", so this would continue that while bringing "a new blue" to the table - "Denim Blue" with an Ebony 'board and matching headstock (not sure about Chrome or Black hardware, however. Chrome looks great in the picture, but Black, besides being "me" would match up nicely with an Ebony fingerboard) )...

I was browsing through this thread-I think this is my old bass that I sold to Adrian.If it is-it was an awesome bass that I wish is was able to hang onto.Life gets in the way sometimes.Adrian told me it sold so quick,he wished he had 10 of them!Lol. Cool seeing it again-Miss you A!

 

[bassjam]

When in doubt, I say go for a P/J. Why not have the J back there for versatility.... ESPECIALLY if you're a jazz guy. On the other hand, you may already have that covered. Like I said earlier, Mike's P/J set is wonderfully balanced. I love my Alder/maple fender jazz (which Mike PLEK'd), but I have to say the P pup with ash body grrrowls on my lull. It's a hard choice because at first I wanted an alder body, but Mike and I settled on ash.

Ive dug deeper into this-I keep coming back to look at your P/J5.Beautiful bass! I too lean toward Alder-what was the reason you went with ash??Just wondering.

 

[pauliebass]

Ive dug deeper into this-I keep coming back to look at your P/J5.Beautiful bass! I too lean toward Alder-what was the reason you went with ash??Just wondering.

Man, It's so hard to answer this question!!!! I told mike I wanted the "loudest" choice for acoustic tone, and I like to feel a body vibrate. He leaned toward ash for this. He also thought ash would be a great fit with the P pup for the most even tone. The low mids of a P pup and The low mids that alder can have can add up. I take all of this with a grain of salt, though. I take wood on a piece by piece basis. After our conversation, Ash just seemed like the best fit for me. I tend to want to take away "brightness" and "aggressiveness" with my hands than try to add it to a bass that doesn't have it... if that makes sense. Such a hard choice to make as I love my Alder/maple Jazz. This will remain an age old bass question. In the end, if the wood rings... it rings.

 

[bassjam]

Man, It's so hard to answer this question!!!! I told mike I wanted the "loudest" choice for acoustic tone, and I like to feel a body vibrate. He leaned toward ash for this. He also thought ash would be a great fit with the P pup for the most even tone. The low mids of a P pup and The low mids that alder can have can add up. I take all of this with a grain of salt, though. I take wood on a piece by piece basis. After our conversation, Ash just seemed like the best fit for me. I tend to want to take away "brightness" and "aggressiveness" with my hands than try to add it to a bass that doesn't have it... if that makes sense. Such a hard choice to make as I love my Alder/maple Jazz. This will remain an age old bass question. In the end, if the wood rings... it rings.

I totally agree,just wondered.I really prefer a slight low mid bump-It just sounds musical to me.At the same time I usually trim back a bit of upper mids-Im not really attracted to that freq range.Not drastic on either,just to taste.You are so right-so tough to choose without trying each,which is pretty tough in this case.Im sure its not terrible either way!!

 

[Ron Plichta]

Here's the latest and greatest member list. Hope I didn't leave anyone off.

1 Ron Plichta
2 Timothy
3 B.C.
4 tycobb73
5 Zooberwerx
6 Arthur U. Poon
7 mark beem
8 GhettoBrassGuy
9 Ian Perge
10 ogyen
11 vep63
12 JRB
13 maggbass
14 jazzenfunk
15 pfschim
16 gregbackstrom
17 Mr. Matt
18 scottyg11
19 laneline
20 YCBass
21 rodneyat
22 scarekrow
23 lullbass
24 krebbs1956
25 sneha1965
26 TBird1958
27 J Hud
28 vates
29 craigb43
30 Funskter
31 Holdsg
32 jacoby75
33 Jam119
34 Saluki
35 SCT1422
36 MarTONEbass
37 dbnet03
38 bassconbeatz
39 PWV
40 Gormsgade
41 pilmat
42 deedub72
43 feelthethunder
44 Killens84
45 Ale
46 mraappana
47 markob

 

[VroomVroom]

I totally agree,just wondered.I really prefer a slight low mid bump-It just sounds musical to me.At the same time I usually trim back a bit of upper mids-Im not really attracted to that freq range.Not drastic on either,just to taste.You are so right-so tough to choose without trying each,which is pretty tough in this case.Im sure its not terrible either way!!

FWIW, I'd definitely recommend alder. I've got one of each...the ash/maple M5V absolutely BARKS in the upper mids. And while the alder/rosewood one leaves nothing to be desired there, it certainly emphasizes the lower mids. I know this is a generalization that doesn't fully apply, but I think of the alder one as my 60's J, and the ash one as my 70's version.

 

[bassjam]

FWIW, I'd definitely recommend alder. I've got one of each...the ash/maple M5V absolutely BARKS in the upper mids. And while the alder/rosewood one leaves nothing to be desired there, it certainly emphasizes the lower mids. I know this is a generalization that doesn't fully apply, but I think of the alder one as my 60's J, and the ash one as my 70's version.

Hey thanks-yeah its a tough one and Im looking into a P-Bass on this one.Sure would be nice to play both flavors,but that might make it ever tougher!

Ive enjoyed your clips BTW-nice job showing what these basses can do!

 

[Ron Plichta]

Here's a recent pic of my T5 in action:

 

[pauliebass]

FWIW, I'd definitely recommend alder. I've got one of each...the ash/maple M5V absolutely BARKS in the upper mids. And while the alder/rosewood one leaves nothing to be desired there, it certainly emphasizes the lower mids. I know this is a generalization that doesn't fully apply, but I think of the alder one as my 60's J, and the ash one as my 70's version.

Jerry has the right idea having both! Bassjam, I think alder would be the best bet for you as well if you know you already like that combo. Mike's personal Aztec gold alder/rw P is nothing short of amazing. I didn't want to hand it back to him.

I'm so in love with this PJ5-24V that I know I'm going to order an alder/rw version at some point. One for flats, one for rounds. I'm pretty sure flats are going on my current one soon. Oh yeah... She'll be a slip n' slide!

 

[bassjam]

Jerry has the right idea having both! Bassjam, I think alder would be the best bet for you as well if you know you already like that combo. Mike's personal Aztec gold alder/rw P is nothing short of amazing. I didn't want to hand it back to him.

I'm so in love with this PJ5-24V that I know I'm going to order an alder/rw version at some point. One for flats, one for rounds. I'm pretty sure flats are going on my current one soon. Oh yeah... She'll be a slip n' slide!

Maybe one of each is in fact is best-but at this point not possible! Yeah Im feeling alder would be a great direction,I just wondered if the low mid voice of the alder with a PJ was too much of a good thing.Definitely a maple board-Im a sucker for em.

I may actually have a chance to play one soon-its an ash/rosewood which is not my preference,but a starting point.

 

[VroomVroom]

So many variables! While I've not often cared for the combo of ash body & rosewood board, I'm a huge sucker for the sound of an alder body & maple board. Sort of a best-of-both-worlds solution, if that makes any sense. I can totally see that combination working well.

My current fantasy involves an alder/rosewood P/J, but with the J in the 70's position for a little extra snark. Lake Placid Blue, anyone? Perhaps even springing for pearl blocks? Argh....it never ends.

 

[bassjam]

So many variables! While I've not often cared for the combo of ash body & rosewood board, I'm a huge sucker for the sound of an alder body & maple board. Sort of a best-of-both-worlds solution, if that makes any sense. I can totally see that combination working well.

My current fantasy involves an alder/rosewood P/J, but with the J in the 70's position for a little extra snark. Lake Placid Blue, anyone? Perhaps even springing for pearl blocks? Argh....it never ends.

Interesting-Ive read many folks prefer the J in 60's position because it can sound a bit honky in the 70's placement.Ive never owned a PJ-always a P or a J-which is why I keep second guessing this.Mike's P's look great,but my guess is a PJ add so much,you can always turn the J off.I ran across some clips of a PJ and just loved the snarl.

 

[VroomVroom]

If it has any value, here's my ash/maple P/J...

Laptop recording, using Presonus software, via GrooveTubes DITTO DI. Bass line is P, melody is J, chords have the blend knob centered:

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Live nonsense, running into a Genz Benz Shuttle 9.0 & Bergantino HT112ER. Shuttle is all centered except for pre-gain @ 7/10. Cab has tweeter @ 11 o'clock. Bass has EQ flat, with the blend knob slightly favoring the J.

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Just as with fingerboard blocks, Mike will build you a J with the bridge pickup in the 70's position....he'll just try to talk you out of it first.

 

[bassjam]

If it has any value, here's my ash/maple P/J...

Laptop recording, using Presonus software, via GrooveTubes DITTO DI. Bass line is P, melody is J, chords have the blend knob centered:

Invalid Link Removed

Live nonsense, running into a Genz Benz Shuttle 9.0 & Bergantino HT112ER. Shuttle is all centered except for pre-gain @ 7/10. Cab has tweeter @ 11 o'clock. Bass has EQ flat, with the blend knob slightly favoring the J.

Invalid Link Removed

Invalid Link Removed (bass solo warning...listener beware! )


Just as with fingerboard blocks, Mike will build you a J with the bridge pickup in the 70's position....he'll just try to talk you out of it first.

Very nice-great tone and great playing!Thats the snarl Im talking about.On the first clip,thats ash as I hear it for sure.So does your PJ have an preamp or is it passive?Just wondering.

So really this is easier than I thought- P or PJ,ash or alder,J in 60' or 70's position,maple or rosewood,34 or 35 in,pre or no pre-heck I havent even thought about colors yet!!

Naw just kiddin-Im pretty sure what Id do,just double checking.Thanks a million for taking time to post the clips!!

 

[VroomVroom]

...does your PJ have an preamp or is it passive?Just wondering...

Thanks! The bass has the Duncan's to Mike's specs...the J is the linear humbucker, and it has the Bartolini NTMB preamp. I generally keep the EQ flat...the bass just sounds so good, why mess with it? However, heavily bias the J, and then boost the lower mids a bit? Oh. My.