The Mike Lull Club Part 2

[VroomVroom]

Too funny, Chris!

Here's the thing with my alder bass (red one). Soloed, it sounds really good. But in the mix...it just sounds INCREDIBLE. Those upper mids and bit-too-sizzly highs you hear in the youtube vid aren't pronounced in a mix...live or recorded. So, FWIW...I wouldn't change a thing. IME/IMO, what you describe is the exact difference between the NTMB and the OBP-3. If you do feel the need to swap, I think I'd start with the pre-amp.

 

[Ian Perge]

Too funny, Chris!

Here's the thing with my alder bass (red one). Soloed, it sounds really good. But in the mix...it just sounds INCREDIBLE. Those upper mids and bit-too-sizzly highs you hear in the youtube vid aren't pronounced in a mix...live or recorded. So, FWIW...I wouldn't change a thing. IME/IMO, what you describe is the exact difference between the NTMB and the OBP-3. If you do feel the need to swap, I think I'd start with the pre-amp.

Chris, I'd absolutely agree with trying out an NTMB first as opposed to swapping pickups. My Swamp Ash & Flame Maple/BEM fretboard M5 has an NTMB (and interestingly enough, what I believe is the Invalid Link Removed version with 3-way mini-toggle midrange control that boosts @ 250Hz, 500Hz, or 800Hz that I'm not sure if Mike uses anymore... but I love) along with a set of Aero 5-string Type-1 pickups (1 bass out of "4 or 5 that we tried as an experiment" with Aeros - Mike's words as well, and again a combo along with the NTMB I'm hooked on) and yet my tone is pretty darn close to Jerry's, both in his posted live recordings as well as his YouTube videos. I truly think the NTMB is the causal link in this chain.

 

[CElton]

Chris, I think it's my favorite too! It's just a ridiculous instrument. It came in right around the same time I placed my order for the orange bass. I'm not much on the 3TB finish, but it sure has grown on me. Sonically, it had me at hello. I just needed to justify buying it before someone else realized just what a treasure it is.

Ash body, maple neck & board. Cosmetically, the ash is gorgeous. Too much birdseye in the board for my tastes, but hey...did I mention how good this thing sounds? Electronics: magic. Seymour Duncan linear humbuckers. These things are ridiculous. They're in the 60's positions (Mike believes...and he's certainly convinced me...that 70's placement + 35" scale = honk. He'll build you a bass with that placement, but he'll try to talk you out of it first.) They run through my old standby - a Bartolini NTMB.

Dialed in? Just like the others, believe it or not. Everything flat & centered, except for the low EQ, which sits around 6/10. (And I've learned the hard way...when using both Berg cabs, I need to bring that back to 'flat' as well.) It totally has it's own voice that, to my ears, is a wonderful blend of vintage plus a little extra oomph. The real kicker with this one? It sounds amazing passive. This is just one of those magical instruments and I feel really lucky to own it.

Here are a few clips from Saturday's gig. It was a large band setting, and we covered a lot of ground...tunes from 1910 - 2000-ish. I ran through the GB Shuttle 9.0 and both Bergantino HT112ER's. As you'll hear in the clips, there was just too much low end. It was an enormous room, and right in front of the cabs everything sounded great. The recorder, however, was a few feet further out and it tells the real tale. Nonetheless, the bass really sounded incredible, and my band mates (especially the guitarist, who was stationed in front of me) were knocked out. Anyway...

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I feel kind of crazy (even by my standards) owning three M5V's, but I have to tell you...no remorse. Each one does something very special. These things are absolute keepers.

FWIW, something I forgot to mention earlier. The alder/rosewood CAR bass is wearing DR Sun Beams. Both ash basses are wearing Fatbeams.

Wow, smokin' clip on " I Wish"! The low B on that thing is killin'! Ok, I think I just found the J bass I was looking for. I know I already dig the ergonomics. I'm starting a spare change jar...

Topic swerve, but Jerry, have you paired one of your Epi 310's with the Shuttle 9? I bet the Shuttle would really open it up.

 

[VroomVroom]

Topic swerve, but Jerry, have you paired one of your Epi 310's with the Shuttle 9? I bet the Shuttle would really open it up.

You're a mind reader, Chris...what, did you sell me a 310 or something? I've tried that combo, but only in the living room, and not with one of the new Lulls. Soon, though, for sure...

So, I was at my local shop tonight. Guess what Ed @ Gelb just ordered to replace the 3TB monster I just bought? One just like it, but in burnt orange with a pearloid guard. He's an evil, evil man.

 

[craigb43]

I was just up in Seattle and got to spend a very nice hour in Mike's shop , it was a great experience , such nice guys , got to try some different combos , , definitely am going with my original plan , ash maple mv4 , 59 burst , but while I was there I also played Mike's P bass , now im wanting one of those too , man they build some great basses , and are some real nice folks , should be able to place my order within 2 weeks , cant wait !

 

[Addison]

Ok, what the heck... I'll post this, just because.

Here's a YouTube vid I made this past weekend of me playing Rio by Duran Duran using my Lull M5V.



In addition to a couple of regularly gigging original projects, I also play in a pop/rock cover band (there's good money to be made doing this if you're a good entertainer).

Most of the time, I have to learn typical crappy stinky bar jukebox songs to feed the drunk masses, but every once in a while I get the opportunity to sit down and learn a song where I'm challenged by an exciting and complex bassline... such is the case with Rio.

The bassline for this song is fantastic and was a lot of fun to learn... and sometimes when I'm really inspired by something, I'll make a little video and share it with whoever might be interested. If it can feed my narcissism while simultaneously inspiring or helping another bass player on the way, then mission accomplished.

So... pardon the cheese... but, it's pretty fun to do.



Enjoy!

Techy notes:

The Lull is set 100% flat and both pickups are blended evenly. I'm running it into an M-Audio Fast Track Ultra (fancy external sound card/analog digital converter), and that's running directly into my computer. Recording software is Reaper.

There is a tish of compression added to the bass track to help mellow the slap/pop part, but other than that... it's really all the Lull.

Preamp is Aggie OBP-3, p'ups are "custom" Duncan SC's, and strings are quite dead super-long-scale D'Addario XL's. Need some DR's, stat!

 

[craigb43]

Ok, what the heck... I'll post this, just because.

Here's a YouTube vid I made this past weekend of me playing Rio by Duran Duran using my Lull M5V.



In addition to a couple of regularly gigging original projects, I also play in a pop/rock cover band (there's good money to be made doing this if you're a good entertainer).

Most of the time, I have to learn typical crappy stinky bar jukebox songs to feed the drunk masses, but every once in a while I get the opportunity to sit down and learn a song where I'm challenged by an exciting and complex bassline... such is the case with Rio.

The bassline for this song is fantastic and was a lot of fun to learn... and sometimes when I'm really inspired by something, I'll make a little video and share it with whoever might be interested. If it can feed my narcissism while simultaneously inspiring or helping another bass player on the way, then mission accomplished.

So... pardon the cheese... but, it's pretty fun to do.



Enjoy!

Techy notes:

The Lull is set 100% flat and both pickups are blended evenly. I'm running it into an M-Audio Fast Track Ultra (fancy external sound card/analog digital converter), and that's running directly into my computer. Recording software is Reaper.

There is a tish of compression added to the bass track to help mellow the slap/pop part, but other than that... it's really all the Lull.

Preamp is Aggie OBP-3, p'ups are "custom" Duncan SC's, and strings are quite dead super-long-scale D'Addario XL's. Need some DR's, stat!

nice job , that is such a great tune , and bass part , great playing , the bass sounds amazing , cant wait to get mine , keep posting those , very inspiring , now im going to have to go and learn that tune , thanks

 

[VroomVroom]

The bassline for this song is fantastic and was a lot of fun to learn...

...Preamp is Aggie OBP-3, p'ups are "custom" Duncan SC's, and strings are quite dead super-long-scale D'Addario XL's. Need some DR's, stat!

Just YES! Memories...man, I loved that entire album back in the day. Great job on the line - terrific playing. That bass absolutely sounds FANTASTIC. Be careful...a set of Fatbeams on there (or Sunbeams...just a different flavor of delicious) and you won't be able to remove the smile from your face.

 

[Supertanker]

Ok, what the heck... I'll post this, just because.

Here's a YouTube vid I made this past weekend of me playing Rio by Duran Duran using my Lull M5V.

You killed it! Great tone, great playing.

The number one bass I regret selling was my Lull.
I should have neva sold that one.

I'll get another one after my build comes in...

 

[Addison]

Hey, thanks guys!

Yeah, I'm literally loving this bass more and more every day... I've recently had a serious case of Alleva Coppolo GAS, but I can honestly blame it on the Lull. Which makes me wonder... why bother with anything else when you love something this much?

Be careful...a set of Fatbeams on there (or Sunbeams...just a different flavor of delicious) and you won't be able to remove the smile from your face.

I don't mean to derail the thread or anything, but Jerry... I am a huge nickel coated Lowrider fan, but have recently considered trying Sunbeams.

Can you comment on the differences in feel and tone between the two?

If you want to PM it to me, that's fine too... I was getting ready to place a string order recently, and I stalled when I read more about the Sunbeams... I like the idea of a little less tension, and I also heard that, because of the round core, they tend to last longer... not sure if that's true or not.

Thanks!

 

[VroomVroom]

Chris, I've never played Lowriders, so I'm probably not of much value to you. Honestly, up until a few years ago, I never liked nickels, period. Sunbeams rock, though. To my ears, they just have a lower midpoint than Fatbeams, and I otherwise use them interchangeably. Good durability, smokin' sound, and a nice, smooth feel. I do prefer the .130 'B' option for a little extra oomph down low, but even the .125 sounds and feels great.

 

[Addison]

Right on... thanks for your input.

Honestly, I've pretty much always been a steel guy too until a couple of years ago (the odd similarities between us continue! ) and the reason why I switched was...

1.) Nickel seems to grab a lower mid set of freqs that are less prominent in steels... that tone has become more appealing to me as I've matured, and...

2.) They're way more friendly on the frets.

I dunno if I play too hard or what... but, I've had a couple of basses through the years that have had far too short of a fret life compared to the age of the instrument...

I'm going to order a set of the Sunbeams and go for it. I'm also tempted to try the DR coated strings as well, since I've heard so many positive reviews...

Anyway... thread hijack over!

MORE MIKE LULL AWESOMENESS!!!

 

[VroomVroom]

Alright...one more string hijack. Cleartone. If you're up for trying the coated thing, I can't recommend these highly enough. Midpoint closer to SS, but they have nice nickel characteristics too. Very smooth feel, similar tension to the DR's. I think of them as SS for the guy who loves nickel, and nickel for the guy who loves SS....a perfect 'hybrid' in terms of sound. The real kicker is the durability. These things just last forever. They're more expensive, but if you become an addict, you'll save in the long run. However, I think we're on the same page with the midpoint. If you've got a bass that already has the upper-mid thing going on, these might be too much of a good thing.

Back on-topic, I'll be trying the Cleartones next on my ash/maple/Bart SC Lull. That bass, as you'd imagine, has a little mid-scoop thing going on that is pretty awesome on it's own, but it might benefit from a little bump.

 

[vates]

Great job, Addison! Very nice playing and LOVELY bass tone.

 

[VroomVroom]

Had a little fun with the screwdriver and camera last night. Extra pickguards + three M5V's = self entertainment.

Didn't bother swapping on my alder/rosewood bass. I just love the pearl too much against CAR.

The 3TB. Black, or white. That is the question.

I can tell you that Winston the Cat seems to prefer white:

The orange beast. Is it a Giants bass (as my wife prefers to call it...I'm a Cubbie fan), or is it the dreamsicle?

And with all three in the room together, there had to be a coupla' group shots.

 

[CaptainWally]

Love it. Might need a tort for that burst though

My vote for the orange is the white pearloid. Red too actually.

 

[Ian Perge]

I still like the CAO & B/W/B pickguard combo it originally sported. If you wanted to zazz it up a touch perhaps Black or Silver Pearloid might be a good call, but IMO with the black hardware the White Pearloid "sticks out", and not in the best of ways.

...however, the White Pearloid 'guard goes with the Candy Apple Red M5V like white on rice. That is a perfect combo.

 

[Ron Plichta]

This is embarrassing. I'm the guy who started this whole mess and I even missed the part 2 of this thread. I've been spending too much time with the motorcycles.

I received an e-mail from a bassist on another forum about my PJ5. He must have liked what he heard since he put in an order for one in Lake Placid Blue. One more Mike Lull convert added to the fold.

 

[Basso Gruvitas]

Jerry, those shots look awesome!

My only sad moment was seeing that you installed Barts in the NAMM bass. Personal preference I know, but I would've stuck with the Basslines.

 

[VroomVroom]

Not sure about the NAMM reference, but the orange one is my take on a 'modern' sounding Jazz bass. IMO, it delivers, and it gives me another voicing option. You're certainly not alone - Mike himself isn't a big fan of the Barts - but this bass definitely has some serious mojo.