Man my TC4 has got to be one of the best playing basses I have ever owned. It is insane how effortlessly I can play that bass. All of the ideas that I have in my head just pop out and I am inspired by the instrument. I feel the same way about my Roscoes. The thing about the Lull though is that it is so light and the neck is so comfy that I really do not even feel like I have the bass on.
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Hi Tony
I used to prefer bartolini tbt preamps back in the day, but started using the Audere stuff around 2007, I think. My first lull had such a killer vintage tone with the passive electronics, and I wanted to keep that sound while still having on board eq. The Audere preamps are super transparent. I find that they don't alter the tone whatsoever. On my alder v4 I bump the bass up just a tiny bit, and the treble a hair more than the bass. When I slap, I'll give the bass a small boost from there. On the newer ash body v4, I do pretty much the same, except I don't boost the treble much. The bass has a hellacious zing to the top end anyway, so there's no need for that. Very Marcus like tone. It's all 2 band preamps. I'm not a huge fan of midrange controlls, at least not on a 4, and the trebble on the audere is so smooth and musical that I haven't really needed it. I've found with the Audere stuff, a small adjustment does plenty, in a good way.
I used to prefer bartolini tbt preamps back in the day, but started using the Audere stuff around 2007, I think. My first lull had such a killer vintage tone with the passive electronics, and I wanted to keep that sound while still having on board eq. The Audere preamps are super transparent. I find that they don't alter the tone whatsoever. On my alder v4 I bump the bass up just a tiny bit, and the treble a hair more than the bass. When I slap, I'll give the bass a small boost from there. On the newer ash body v4, I do pretty much the same, except I don't boost the treble much. The bass has a hellacious zing to the top end anyway, so there's no need for that. Very Marcus like tone. It's all 2 band preamps. I'm not a huge fan of midrange controlls, at least not on a 4, and the trebble on the audere is so smooth and musical that I haven't really needed it. I've found with the Audere stuff, a small adjustment does plenty, in a good way.
Armybass, I totally agree on the playability. For a while, I was burned out on flatter radius fretboards, and I was all about a nice 7 1/4 board. I was hesitant about getting a Lull because of the 12" radius, but when I got it, I didn't even notice, it just felt amazing. I don't know what Mike's secret is, but everyone that's played my Lulls freaks out about the playability, no matter what their preferences are.
- Aug 21, 2003
- 11,619
- 18,701
- Disclosures
- A-Designs Mike Lull GK Tsunami Cables GHS Strings RMI Basswitch Nordstrand Pickups Darkglass
Very cool...
I'm with you....I have several 4 strings (non Lulls) that have them...
I tend to prefer the 70's wind with the Audere but use the Low Z mode and everything set flat (most of the time).
I think the Audere with Low Z mode engaged and like it with slightly brighter pickups.
I've never really used the z mode feature. I always keep it in the center, at the normal impedance setting. I did play half of a gig with it in the low mode without realizing it. I couldnt figure out why my low end was booming, until I remembered to check the switch. It defiantly is cool, though. My inca silver v4 has his newer noise canceling preamp, which lacks the z mode, but otherwise sounds the same. I see that your an endorser. How many Lulls do you currently have?
- Aug 21, 2003
- 11,619
- 18,701
- Disclosures
- A-Designs Mike Lull GK Tsunami Cables GHS Strings RMI Basswitch Nordstrand Pickups Darkglass
- Aug 21, 2003
- 11,619
- 18,701
- Disclosures
- A-Designs Mike Lull GK Tsunami Cables GHS Strings RMI Basswitch Nordstrand Pickups Darkglass
I'm pretty sure my next one will be JT5-24 format and have a Nordstrand BIG 'something' format there are couple of ideas thrown around and possibly something completely different.
Everything else is up in the air...Wenge and Puduck neck wood is not out of the question.
Everything else is up in the air...Wenge and Puduck neck wood is not out of the question.
Holdsg, if your referring to the pile of dead energizers in that picture, then I guess that's spent ammo from my wii and Xbox controllers 
I've played on basses with the vintage inspired nordys, but not the "fat" or "big" stuff. I've been curious about it for a while. How would you describe it?
Also, has anyone gotten their hands on one of the t-birds? I could never pull it off, as I wear my bass a bit higher, and rocking a t-bird up high is none too cool. I'd love to check one out, though. They look amazing.
I've played on basses with the vintage inspired nordys, but not the "fat" or "big" stuff. I've been curious about it for a while. How would you describe it?
Also, has anyone gotten their hands on one of the t-birds? I could never pull it off, as I wear my bass a bit higher, and rocking a t-bird up high is none too cool. I'd love to check one out, though. They look amazing.
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Holdsg, if your referring to the pile of dead energizers in that picture, then I guess that's spent ammo from my wii and Xbox controllers
I've played on basses with the vintage inspired nordys, but not the "fat" or "big" stuff. I've been curious about it for a while. How would you describe it?
Also, has anyone gotten their hands on one of the t-birds? I could never pull it off, as I wear my bass a bit higher, and rocking a t-bird up high is none too cool. I'd love to check one out, though. They look amazing.
Haaa, I was looking on a small screen, looked like bullets.
I had a PT4 at one time, with Mike's gnarly T-pups, but in the end, it didn't suit my style of play.
I highly recommend having an M5V in your stable of basses. That's the "baseline/core/foundation" bass for me. All the others are "supplemental"...albeit, incredibly awesome additions...but still supplemental!
- Aug 21, 2003
- 11,619
- 18,701
- Disclosures
- A-Designs Mike Lull GK Tsunami Cables GHS Strings RMI Basswitch Nordstrand Pickups Darkglass
+1 to thisI highly recommend having an M5V in your stable of basses.
The best 70's style spanky J I have owned ironically has not been a real 7os J. But my Maple/Ash M5V incorporates that core tone with stronger bottom, better playability, lighter in weight then most (9lbs) and .....
Here it comes....
Dont Look now...
A B string ... BOOM
mark beem
Wait, how does this song start again??
I highly recommend having an M5V in your stable of basses. That's the "baseline/core/foundation" bass for me. All the others are "supplemental"...albeit, incredibly awesome additions...but still supplemental!
Another +1! Tony nailed!
i stopped in the shop yesterday to get an update on a bass of mine that's getting a repaint/new p-ups, and i got a chance to play that M4 in the top right. it floored me. while i wasn't too hip on the preamp (aggie obp-1), playing in passive was just about the ideal jazz bass tone for me. very full, open and had an acoustic like quality to it. never been a J guy, but that bass has me wanting one.
*edit*
it had the lindy fralin humcancelling pickups in it.
