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Willcox Bass Club (Lightwave)

#44
NO problem Kirk. Jack Wilson -- The Bass Company or TBC -- was the luthier for the very FIRST run of Lightwave basses. Tim Landers (who is on the Lightwave Artists page) has one of these early Lightwave basses. There is a club here dedicated to TBC basses. As to why I have the last one he made..... I was looking for a unique sound for an electric bass that would come very close to an upright, and I found that tone when I heard a sample of Tim Landers. Long story short, I contacted Jack to see if he could still make me a bass with Lightwave. He still had some parts from his previous run and said he would make one for me. But he said that this is the last one he was going to make. He was still making his conventional line at the time, but as far as I know he isn't making any more basses at all. He was semi retired at that time anyhow...

So look up TBC here on talkbass. You will find a very dedicated group of users.

Here is the group. http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/tbc-club-254548/
 
#45
Here are a couple of pics...

Top wood is zircote, chambered body is butternut and back is swamp ash, neck is 3 piece maple with cocobolo fingerboard.
 

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#46
Speaking of sharing and LightWave basses, I've heard there's a daughterboard for the internal circuitry that allows for connection of the bass to MIDI systems - has anyone run into this? I asked around when I bought the bass but at the time I was told they used to but didn't have any at present.

Also, I was asked by someone and it got me thinking - has anyone tried copper/bronze acoustic bass guitar strings on a LightWave, and if so how did it sound?
 
#48
hehehehe. Yeah since I am going for an upright sound I needed something to dampen the string a bit.... What you see is pieces of rubber band stuck in the saddles. Still not quite enough but haven't gotten around to trying anything else at this point. I think felt would be next... The strings are Thomastik Jazz Flats

BTW.... I just got off the phone with Chris Wilcox for some issues I am having, and man what a guy.... very approachable and helpful. I wish him all the success he deserves.
 
#49
Hello Club LightWave, great to see your posts. I can answer a few questions, and elaborate on a couple of topics I have seen here, in no particular order.

First, yes it is true, there is a version of the Saber SL 4 and 5-string bass with the HexFX option. This is factory installed - we did experiment with providing it as an add on, but the install requires woodworking and mods to the electronics. The HexFX option features a 13-pin output in addition to the 1/4" output, and both can be used together. There are additional controls for the 13-pin: volume; wet/dry/both switch; and scroll up/down for presets. The 13-pin follows GK protocol, and is compatible with all of the Roland modelers and synths, as well as most MIDI based synths and converters. It can also be used with a simple fanout box. It is also available on the Atlantis Guitars.

Ray Reindeau did play one of the early prototypes of the HexFX option, installed on a ZON LightWave Sonus. He used it with a fanout box, routing his strings through different processors and to different amps. I have a Ray Reindeau CD which is all LightWave, if anyone interested in a copy let me know by PM.

I have tried several different Bronze and Phosphor Bronze strings on LightWave basses, and they do give you a nice acoustic response. I am looking for some copper strings to try out if there are any suggestions - it should deliver a nice piano tone I think. I have also converted a Taylor Klein acoustic bass to LightWave as an experiment, and am experimenting with various string types on that. It is a 4-string fretted. I will post some pics and some sound files, it sounds great, and I am inspired to do some further product development on acoustic basses and guitars with LightWave pickups.
 
#50
Chris, great talking with you! For strings, I would love to see about pure unwrapped gut... I am sure it would be $$$$$$ but if it gets the tone......

And how about a 21st century Hofner type????? With a tail piece you wouldn't need a solid block to anchor the monoliths. Man I wish I lived near you..... I really have a lot of design ideas to really take the pickup in different directions.... I still contend that your system is the most versatile and colorless or colorful pickup out there. Thanks again.
 
#51
TimWinter said:
Chris, great talking with you! For strings, I would love to see about pure unwrapped gut... I am sure it would be $$$$$$ but if it gets the tone......
Click to expand...

Have you tried "weedwacker" strings? I've seen this place has a wide variety of them and perhaps they could come up with a set the right gauge for an electric bass. If you do get a set let us know because I'd be interested to know how it worked out for you as well.

Or, if you want that sit-down upright-bass sound there's always the Ashbory Bass.... :D

(EDIT) sorry, they DO have 4, 5, and 6 string sets also - see here....
 
#52
Joe... I had an Ashbory, and I will say without a doubt the Lightwave with the TI Jazz Flats is more authentic upright sound. But there is alway room to grow and experiment.... And NO two uprights sound the same either... for example, Eddie Gomez has a LOT of mid range growl that is downright honky, whereas Ron Carter or Ray Brown will be much darker.... Really it comes down to a quicker decay and I just haven't fooled around enough with that aspect yet. As we all know, the Lightwave sustains by just looking at it..... hehehehe
 
#53
Our local music store has a used Lightwave bass. I have no idea what generation, or whatever, it is. I know an employee said it needs a power adapter plugged into it and he didn't like the idea of being tethered like that on stage, BUT ...

It played like a DREAM ! I was so amazed at the effortless feel it has. I am truly intrigued. I know Mark Garza now does their custom shop stuff.
 
#54
mb94952 said:
Our local music store has a used Lightwave bass. I have no idea what generation, or whatever, it is. I know an employee said it needs a power adapter plugged into it and he didn't like the idea of being tethered like that on stage, BUT ...
Click to expand...

The adapter is only needed to charge the battery. The battery should last an entire long gig unless it is in need of replacement. I have gotten to a gig and forget to charge the bass. You can also play it with it plugged in.

What does the bass look like and how much do they have it priced at?
 
#55
Ditto on the adapter.... Several possibilites. First, the employee didn't know anything about the Lightwave and assumed that it needed to be plugged in to work and had no knowledge of the internal battery. Easy way to tell.... since it has been plugged in to play it might have enough charge. Just get a chord to plug the bass into an amp and see if the little red light on the lowest string is lit WITHOUT THE ADAPTER CHORD PLUGGED IN. If it lights, you got power. If it doesn't, leave the adapter plugged in for about 15 minutes and there should be enough charge to get the light glow when the adapter is unplugged. If it still isn't lit, the battery needs replacing and is readily available, or it might not be plugged in the internal board, or it might not even be in the cavity!?!?! Have them take the back plate off and check to see if it is even back there..... So the short answer is it that you don't have to be tethered on stage! Really check the instrument out.... You have a golden opportunity here.

BTW I saw Jimmy Johnson in the late 70's at a jazz club in North Hollywood called Dante's. He played with an AMAZING piano player named John Serry. Serry put out two albums with Jimmy and occasionally there were 2 bass parts on a given song. His brother played the second part. AND you are probably familiar with Flim and the BB's...... Bill Berg, the drummer, lives out here in western NC and I get the absolute honor to play with him from time to time.
 
#57
kirkdickinson said:
The adapter is only needed to charge the battery. The battery should last an entire long gig unless it is in need of replacement. I have gotten to a gig and forget to charge the bass. You can also play it with it plugged in.

What does the bass look like and how much do they have it priced at?
Click to expand...

Good to know ! It was a fret less 4 banger, all natural. Priced at $1,000 I think.

I kind of like employees that know less than I do when it comes to being the buyer ;) It's a good negotiating tool.

Again, there were basses there I've always wanted to try like a Lakland and a Warrior. I was unimpressed with both. The Lakland was klunky like a Fender and the Warrior has the width of a 5'er but it was a 4, but the Lightwave was a real surprise. A pleasant one.
 

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