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Maybe it's me but can you really tell how a bass sound on a computer or are most of you guys running it thur a good sound system?
Like Dan K, I have an old MVP5 which I had neutered and schlacked in the 80's. I recently acquired a Pentabuzz that is mint. I have to do some taste tests to figure which one I will keep as they do roughly the same job, although the guts are a bit different. I'll try and get a clip up of the MVP if I can get an OK from the artist but in the meantime if you look for Mark Egan you should find some nice stuff on these. For my ear the Pedulla and the Stingray cover my fretless needs.
For those with the older Pedullas...are you still running the stock electronics, or have you upgraded? Mine has the Volume/Volume/Tone + Pickup Selector setup with is, frankly, a pain, and also doesn't really give that much control for an active instrument. Really tempted to ship it in and have it upgraded to the current 5 knob setup. (NTMB)
Hey guys need some help. I fell in love with the MVP's in the 90's and didn't have the cash to purchase. Well one became available(used) a few months ago and I bought. It's a beautiful mvp5 blue/green burst. Great neck and action but the tone I am getting does not thrill me. I figured when I took it home and played it on my rig I could find the tone I like. Right now I am running a 400rb through 2 swr working man cabs--1 2x10 and 1 15.
I have it strung with ghs boomers 40-100. It's sounds a little too dark for me and does not cut through the mix like I was hoping it would. Any suggestions? I have heard that the Pedulla strings may help can anyone verify that?
I have it strung with ghs boomers 40-100. It's sounds a little too dark for me and does not cut through the mix like I was hoping it would. Any suggestions? I have heard that the Pedulla strings may help can anyone verify that?
I use headphones. It's always better than not hearing anything at all. There's no Pedulla dealer here in Argentina so there's no way I can try one out anywhere. (not that i'd need to to know they'll sound great).
Just want to hear clips for the hell of it.
I strung mine with flats cause I wanted a darker sound, so I wouldn't be able to help you!
I'll agree that what I most love about my mvp is it's playability. Mine has 4 knobs, mix, vol, tone, tone. I generally don't fiddle much with the bass' controls though, I tend to make changes with the pedals I use to get the exact tone I want.
I had a ThunderBolt 6 with the vol/blend/passive tone + ThunderGuts switch. My two Raptures (single-HB 4 and JJ 5) with active bass + treble controls are more versatile. A friend has a recent P-J MVP5 with the NTMB setup, which covers a lot of ground. I find the bass control essential for beefing up a J bridge pickup.
That said, if I was redoing the electronics on my Raptures, I'd probably go for a 3 band EQ + passive tone + preamp bypass for the best of all possible worlds! I respect Mike P's vision but I wish he'd include a passive mode.
Hey, my MVP is early/mid 80's I guess, and it has V/V/B/Tr, a p/u switch and an active/psv switch and light. It's stock as far as that goes. The buzz has a bit more sizzle I think but it could be just the newer strings, not sure.
As for the tone ?'s:
For starters I don't play the Ped's as an everyday bass. I use them very specifically. So I usually know why I'm going to it and what I'll get. IMO they're not very versatile as an everyday bass. It has different versions of the same sound, a bit thicker or thinner etc., but a distinct sound. I do have a fretted Thunderbass as well and it hit's me the same way, different versions of the same sound. I believe both the buzz and tb have the newer guts. If it were me, I wouldn't mess with changing the guts. My guess is it would still sound like the same tool. I'll try and do a quick rec of both the mvp and pent to see if they sound all that different.
The things I like about them, beautiful lyrical melodic tone, and they can grunt pretty well down low.
Earlier I stated that I preferred the Pedulla (and R.Coca) strings on my MVP. What I neglected to say is that mine is the older style as it is from the 80's and it cuts through the mix pretty well - actually better than my new pentabuzz, but that is due to the lack of frets on the pentabuzz combined with the use of tapewounds.
Here are a few quick clips. MVP5 and 5Buzz:
both are appx 10% less front p/u and through a REDDI. Both are full treble and appx 85% bass. I must say I didn't think they would sound as different as they do. But I still hear Pedulla in both. I resisted the urge to put FX on for laboratory purposes.
Short clips of all 3 next...
both are appx 10% less front p/u and through a REDDI. Both are full treble and appx 85% bass. I must say I didn't think they would sound as different as they do. But I still hear Pedulla in both. I resisted the urge to put FX on for laboratory purposes.
Short clips of all 3 next...
Here are both flessi playing more of a bass role, even p/u blend, full treb and appx 85% bass.
Thunderbass5 next...
Thunderbass5 next...
Finally I got a chance to take a few more pictures. I had also asked that Mike ship my bass with nickel strings rather than stainless steel. I had not totally been happy with the tone. So, today I put on some Pedulla stainless steel strings. Man, on this bass...the stainless steel strings just work! I prefer the nickels on my Thunderbolt but on the Nuance..stainless is the way to go! Now..on to the pics!
