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The Reverend Club (Part 2)

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#522
How is it that the Reverend thread can fall off of page 1 ?

I played the Creamsickle bass at rehersal tonight. New chick backup singer is like wow - you guy's dig Orange - (Brian the lead singer plays a Setzer Gretsch) - I'm like 'men, can play Orange ... the boy's need macho...'

Yo Bart - that Houser is killin' me ... next week it goes to Craig - I promise...
 
#523
Bart; 4Mal;
Compare and contrast that particular Houser with a 5L in terms of "overall bright and crisp" please?
My particular Houser is pretty dark compared to either of my 5L's, no matter where the mini switches are, and Barts mod is something that's been bouncing around in my head for quite a while. I wish I was close enough to spin it around the block myself...
 
#524
Chef said:
Bart; 4Mal;
Compare and contrast that particular Houser with a 5L in terms of "overall bright and crisp" please?
My particular Houser is pretty dark compared to either of my 5L's, no matter where the mini switches are, and Barts mod is something that's been bouncing around in my head for quite a while. I wish I was close enough to spin it around the block myself...
Click to expand...

Barts Houser is modded? I must have missed this...Can someone please enlighten me?
 
#525
dumbdrum said:
Barts Houser is modded? I must have missed this...Can someone please enlighten me?
Click to expand...

It's somewhat modded. The wiring harness was rebuilt by a local tech who is a real pro with wiring, etc. Basically, he replaced all the wiring with really low impedance wire, shortest lengths possible, then replaced the tone pot with a no-load pot (can't recall the value). The gist of it was to make the whole circuit as clean and low impedance as possible, in order to maximize what little brightness the Brad Houser naturally has. I didn't want to do anything too radical, but like Chef, I wanted it to be a little brighter. The mods that were done did increase the brightness some, though the Houser will never be a bright bass due to the pickup location, which is quite a ways from the bridge.

It's tough to compare the two since 4mal is borrowing it and it was strung E-C when it left, but it seemed like the 5L had a little more growl and bite than the Houser. The BH5 has more low end and is very complex and full in the low mids. The 5L has a little more in the highs, but isn't exactly a bright bass either -- obviously, you can't get a bridge Jazz burp out of the pickup because it's further toward the neck than on a regular Jazz.

Ahhhhh, I have such a terrible time describing tone. It's like trying to catch a fish with your bare hands. The BH5 isn't as bright as the 5L. Then again, the 5L doesn't have as dynamic, full and flexible lows and mids as the BH5. Two very different tones, actually.
 
#526
well - less bright and less crisp. Bart was feeling that the BH too dark with flat's IIRC. I think it's just right, full bodied with the round wounds he has on it now. I'm an old school like my tone round and full, my hi-end preseent but aid back a bit kinda guy. (I think Bart put DR Hi beams on it but he can chime in there.) The 5L like many J setups, has enough presence to give flat wounds a little edge. I believe Bart has rounds on his 5L at the momnet as well ... think I saw an Iron Maiden, or was it Twisted Sister ? album cover peeking out from behind his IP on my last visit ... (only kiddin ...)

I just think the E through C thing is way cool... It will be a while before I use it live no doubt. No sense tempting fate ... new possibilities though ...
 
#527
FWIW, Here is the original post from the previous Reverend thread in which I copied down what was done to my BH5 by my local tech.

Right now, the BH5 is sporting Ken Smith Rock Strings, which I'm not a huge fan of, but they came in a six string set that fit the 35" scale BH5.

The 5L has rounds on it right now -- they were the rounds on my old BH5, and I think they are SIT but I'm not sure (white windings?). I like it with the rounds, but I'm going to switch back to flats in a few weeks -- love the 5L tone with flats.
 
#529
BartmanPDX said:
It's somewhat modded.
Ahhhhh, I have such a terrible time describing tone. It's like trying to catch a fish with your bare hands. The BH5 isn't as bright as the 5L. Then again, the 5L doesn't have as dynamic, full and flexible lows and mids as the BH5. Two very different tones, actually.
Click to expand...

That last statement is descriptive enough to get an idea of a the differences. It reaffirms that I want one :help:

Now when you and chef say it sounded dark pre-mod how dark? Is it possible to compare it with another bass?
 
#530
It does not have the shiny sparkly highs of the 5L when in "non-series mode."
(or any typical J, really)
Even with stainless rounds on it, the Houser doesn't do that. Least not mine.


Come by and play it sometime ferchristsakes;)
 
#531
dumbdrum said:
That last statement is descriptive enough to get an idea of a the differences. It reaffirms that I want one :help:

Now when you and chef say it sounded dark pre-mod how dark? Is it possible to compare it with another bass?
Click to expand...

The mod didn't change it all that much. Most of the difference is to be found with the pickup volume almost all the way up.

The BH5 is a dark bass by its nature. It is less so when using the bridge pickup soloed, particularly in single coil mode. Running only the bridge pickup in single coil mode makes it sound more like a 5L than anything else, but it's great having that neck pickup to fatten up the tone, so I rarely run it bridge pickup only.

However, the pickup location means it will never have high end sizzle or a lot of treble:

IMG_0050.jpg


As far as comparing it with a stock BH5, I have no idea where to find another one locally. It's hard to compare how it sounded before and after, since the mod was done many months ago, and it was in the shop for a week, so I wasn't able to give it a better A/B comparison. However, my recollection was that it improved the high end clarity and presence some, and mostly when the volume of the pickup was turned all the way up.

But it's still not nearly as bright as a Jazz bass, and never will be. Pickup location is one of the two or three most critical factors in determining the tone of a bass. Can't get around it.
 
#532
You know Chef, if Mal weren't borrowing it right now and I wasn't worried about it getting lost or destroyed in shipping, I'd be willing to ship it out to you to play around with for a while. I think we'd all gain from having a comparison done between yours and mine. :)
 
#533
That'd be awesome!
It is a long way, and stuff does happens sometimes.
I've heard of Lava Swirl finishes turning mahogany in transit...............................

Your call.
 
#535
I still can't find a case for my fish. I contacted reverend and asked what might fit, but only got a response that they don't carry them anymore. I also contacted TKL who made the cases, and they do not have any left, but could make me one for a touch under 400... which isn't really reasonable for me. Anyone know a good fitting case, or even a gig bag for it? I'm not playing it anymore as it just doesn't fit what I am doing, but I want something to store it in before I toss it in the closet.
 
#536
I *think* the G&L gig bags should work. I'll try to check for you, but if I forget, pm me.
They're great bags.
Otherwsie, Levy's make a great one.
 
#537
lowrez said:
I still can't find a case for my fish. I contacted reverend and asked what might fit, but only got a response that they don't carry them anymore. I also contacted TKL who made the cases, and they do not have any left, but could make me one for a touch under 400... which isn't really reasonable for me. Anyone know a good fitting case, or even a gig bag for it? I'm not playing it anymore as it just doesn't fit what I am doing, but I want something to store it in before I toss it in the closet.
Click to expand...

I've used the Hard Plastic Fender cases...And a Peavey. There is some "Wiggle Room", but should do fine until you're ready to Come out of The Closet...:smug:
 
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