Willcox Bass Club (Lightwave)

[kirkdickinson]

Nobody has posted here in a while.

I played my Saber VL 5 Fretless last sunday. Bass --> JDI --> Soundboard. No effects at all.

I am running D'Addario Bronze Phosphor strings.

Sound guy didn't do a very good mix for the stream. Oh well it is what it is. I have bad cold, may not have been the best time to play fretless. There are some pitch issues and just a couple of ugly mistakes.

 

[disciplejc]

Here is my Wilcox HEXFX 5 string bass. Had it just over a year. I used it with a Roland GR-55 and a Markbass CMD121 amp with 800 watt head. Not a great picture I will try to get a better one soon... I use the COSM modeling on the GR-55 most of the time. I do use the cello pacth sometimes and a synth bass once and awhile.

NIce bass. Plays realy nice.

 

[kirkdickinson]

Here is my Wilcox HEXFX 5 string bass. Had it just over a year. I used it with a Roland GR-55 and a Markbass CMD121 amp with 800 watt head. Not a great picture I will try to get a better one soon... I use the COSM modeling on the GR-55 most of the time. I do use the cello pacth sometimes and a synth bass once and awhile.

NIce bass. Plays realy nice.View attachment 1049408

Nice! Haven't ever seen one of those in person.

 

[thumbslapper]

Here is my Wilcox HEXFX 5 string bass. Had it just over a year. I used it with a Roland GR-55 and a Markbass CMD121 amp with 800 watt head. Not a great picture I will try to get a better one soon... I use the COSM modeling on the GR-55 most of the time. I do use the cello pacth sometimes and a synth bass once and awhile.

NIce bass. Plays realy nice.View attachment 1049408

Disciplejc - how does the MIDI part track? any noticeable latency? you ever have any issues with it?

I have a 25 year old (!) Peavey Cyberbass that has some issues that I can't fix, and I've just started to check out the Wilcox HEFX basses - they seem to get really good reviews as basses but haven't seen much about the MIDI part of it..

thx for any insight

-ts

 

[TheIndieKid]

Hello guys

I'm not an owner of a Lightwave instrument, but I'm looking at investing in one. I had a buzz for short scale basses, but I saw the reviews for the Saber VL and it had me at that. I noticed some people (and in the Bass Player '07 review) said that there was high end fizz and a sort of uncontrollable treble presence with the bass. I was wondering if any if you experience this, and if it could be mitigated with duller strings? What do you string your Lightwave instruments with? I'm considering TI Jazz Flats or Labella Tapewounds when I get my instrument

 

[kirkdickinson]

Hello guys

I'm not an owner of a Lightwave instrument, but I'm looking at investing in one. I had a buzz for short scale basses, but I saw the reviews for the Saber VL and it had me at that. I noticed some people (and in the Bass Player '07 review) said that there was high end fizz and a sort of uncontrollable treble presence with the bass. I was wondering if any if you experience this, and if it could be mitigated with duller strings? What do you string your Lightwave instruments with? I'm considering TI Jazz Flats or Labella Tapewounds when I get my instrument

I have two Lightwaves, a Saber SL and a Saber VL fretless. I don't know what the "High End Fizz" is about? I haven't experienced anything like that. Can you link me to the article you were referring to?

The Lightwaves in my experience sound better and better with brighter strings. The Dean Markleys that they ship with seem to be a very good fit. I went through about 4 different brands with my SL and settled on Dean Markley SR2000's and they sound great. With my fretless, i had Labella Deep talking Whites on there for a while, but they wern't doing it for me. The guy before played Jazz and he liked them. I didn't. I tried D'Addario SS strings for a while and liked them ok, and was going to put the same DM strings as my SL, but came across a set of D'Addario Bronze Phosphor that I had ordered for my ABG and decided to try them. Trust me, there is no brighter string. They sound awesome on there. I guess with the Bronze strings on any regular magnetic pickup bass, you loose significant volume because of less iron in the strings, but not with the Lightwave.

Here is my current herd of basses.

 

[kirkdickinson]

Hello guys

I'm not an owner of a Lightwave instrument, but I'm looking at investing in one. I had a buzz for short scale basses, but I saw the reviews for the Saber VL and it had me at that. I noticed some people (and in the Bass Player '07 review) said that there was high end fizz and a sort of uncontrollable treble presence with the bass. I was wondering if any if you experience this, and if it could be mitigated with duller strings? What do you string your Lightwave instruments with? I'm considering TI Jazz Flats or Labella Tapewounds when I get my instrument

Here is one for a really good price at a Guitar Center. They won't negotiate on price, but will ship to your closest store. I think they have a return policy even on used gear. This one is the hybrid so it has the lightwave system and a magnetic pickup.

Wilcox Lightwave Saber 4-string bass Natural -w/gig bag, extra batt, charger -Free Shipping-

And if you are looking for a 4, here is a VL-4 on Reverb.
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[TheIndieKid]

Here is one for a really good price at a Guitar Center. They won't negotiate on price, but will ship to your closest store. I think they have a return policy even on used gear. This one is the hybrid so it has the lightwave system and a magnetic pickup.

Wilcox Lightwave Saber 4-string bass Natural -w/gig bag, extra batt, charger -Free Shipping-

And if you are looking for a 4, here is a VL-4 on Reverb.
Invalid Link Removed

I have two Lightwaves, a Saber SL and a Saber VL fretless. I don't know what the "High End Fizz" is about? I haven't experienced anything like that. Can you link me to the article you were referring to?

The Lightwaves in my experience sound better and better with brighter strings. The Dean Markleys that they ship with seem to be a very good fit. I went through about 4 different brands with my SL and settled on Dean Markley SR2000's and they sound great. With my fretless, i had Labella Deep talking Whites on there for a while, but they wern't doing it for me. The guy before played Jazz and he liked them. I didn't. I tried D'Addario SS strings for a while and liked them ok, and was going to put the same DM strings as my SL, but came across a set of D'Addario Bronze Phosphor that I had ordered for my ABG and decided to try them. Trust me, there is no brighter string. They sound awesome on there. I guess with the Bronze strings on any regular magnetic pickup bass, you loose significant volume because of less iron in the strings, but not with the Lightwave.

Here is my current herd of basses.View attachment 1123743

Loving the selection you've got! Some might quality basses there. The Dingwall and the Lightwave are some high tech gear. I can't like the article, as it's merely what someone quoted on another thread, who was experiencing the "high end fizz". They could be faking it, but I can't seem to find the article online.

And you put Dean Markley strings on a fretless?

 

[kirkdickinson]

Loving the selection you've got! Some might quality basses there. The Dingwall and the Lightwave are some high tech gear. I can't like the article, as it's merely what someone quoted on another thread, who was experiencing the "high end fizz". They could be faking it, but I can't seem to find the article online.

And you put Dean Markley strings on a fretless?

I ran Dean Markley SR2000 on my Gary Willis fretless for a while, but that bass sounded better with D'Addario SS strings. The Lightwave Fretless from the factory came with those same strings, but I didn't get it new, I am the 3rd owner. The guy I got it from had the La'Bella Deep talkin whites on it. I currently have the Bronze Phosphor strings on the fretless Lightwave and they are roundwound and feel like SS strings to my fingers. I pretty much like rounds on fretless. The Michael Kelly Dragonfly has tapewounds because I wanted a darker warmer sound and those strings work well on it. I have a 6 String Ibanez SRF706 Portamento on order and I think it will come with tapes or flats. I will leave them for a while, but will probably try rounds on it too.

The Lightwave system is the quietest bass there is when you aren't playing. I have had the soundguy ask me to plug in. I tell him that I am plugged in and then play a note. Silent, no noise from lights or 60 cycle hum ever.

 

[farshore]

I ran Dean Markley SR2000 on my Gary Willis fretless for a while, but that bass sounded better with D'Addario SS strings. The Lightwave Fretless from the factory came with those same strings, but I didn't get it new, I am the 3rd owner. The guy I got it from had the La'Bella Deep talkin whites on it. I currently have the Bronze Phosphor strings on the fretless Lightwave and they are roundwound and feel like SS strings to my fingers. I pretty much like rounds on fretless. The Michael Kelly Dragonfly has tapewounds because I wanted a darker warmer sound and those strings work well on it. I have a 6 String Ibanez SRF706 Portamento on order and I think it will come with tapes or flats. I will leave them for a while, but will probably try rounds on it too.

The Lightwave system is the quietest bass there is when you aren't playing. I have had the soundguy ask me to plug in. I tell him that I am plugged in and then play a note. Silent, no noise from lights or 60 cycle hum ever.

I owned Kirk's fretless before him, and I agree; it is by far the quietest bass I have ever heard or seen. I miss it every time I come to this thread ;(
I don't know what the "high end fizz" refers to since I never noticed anything like that in the years I had it. In my opinion the Lightwave is the cleanest sounding bass on the market. I think their motto is "The Sound of the String," so choose your strings accordingly. It may take a few different sets to what suits the music you play.

 

[lotusland9663]

Hello Willcox Bass Club,
I have a 5 string fretless Sabre. I recently changed strings and put a set of TI flats on this bass. the E-A-D and G strings sound perfect but the B strings volume drops to about 20% of the rest. Any thoughts as to why?
I was wondering if the B is too thick and doesn't allow the string to vibrate in the pickup saddle so no volume?
Thanks in advance for your input. I've emailed customer service at Willcox but have had no response.
Mick

 

[kirkdickinson]

Hello Willcox Bass Club,
I have a 5 string fretless Sabre. I recently changed strings and put a set of TI flats on this bass. the E-A-D and G strings sound perfect but the B strings volume drops to about 20% of the rest. Any thoughts as to why?
I was wondering if the B is too thick and doesn't allow the string to vibrate in the pickup saddle so no volume?
Thanks in advance for your input. I've emailed customer service at Willcox but have had no response.
Mick

Have you adjusted the optical sensors after changing the strings?

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[lotusland9663]

No I haven't. Guess I'll pull out the manual and check it out - thanks for the tip

 

[kirkdickinson]

No I haven't. Guess I'll pull out the manual and check it out - thanks for the tip

There is also individual volume adjustment pots for each string. Please set the optical alignment first before you start playing with the volume settings. Also, be sure your setup is where you want it before doing the optical alignment.

 

[lotusland9663]

Thanks guys. Customer service from Willcox sent me some information and a link to the video that shows how to adjust the optics and the string volume. I did that and it's much better - the B string is now usable - still a little quieter but OK.

 

[kirkdickinson]

Thanks guys. Customer service from Willcox sent me some information and a link to the video that shows how to adjust the optics and the string volume. I did that and it's much better - the B string is now usable - still a little quieter but OK.

I thought I linked you to their instructional information? Glad it is working better. I have found in the past that after a optics adjustment, I sometimes need to tweak the string volume a little. With the flats that I used to have, the heavier strings were all quieter, so the B was at 100% and each smaller string was progressively set quieter. When I went to the Bronze phosphur, they are more even, and I think they are all set at about 90% with D string turned back a little and the B at 100%.

Once you get it set up and keep using the same strings, you don't have to futz with it.

 

[lotusland9663]

Sorry I missed that in your reply. Thanks again for your help.

 

[Kirk Bryant]

Well hey @kirkdickinson Funny I've been looking at these literally for years. I had been watching a few basses on EB. I was watching another bass, an Elrick NJS that had gone down in price but couldn't bring myself to spend over a grand. Then a week ago Sunday I decided to pull the trigger and it was gone, poof! I was pissed! I kicked myself for not popping on it as it was underpriced. I thought what about that GC Sabre Hybred I'd seen and checked, it was still there so, bang, I hit it. Half the price of the Elrick. Then I come here and see you already saw it. Hahaha what are you doing looking at more of these. It was sort of a reflex, get even with the bass gods buy.
I was leaving when the woops guy showed up. So I threw it in the truck cause I was on my way to my techs to check on an old tweed Pro. We opened it up and amazingly even with just a box and paper packing materials it appeared none the worse for the trip. Action was real high but neck seems straight. Pretty clean front with the usual buckle rash on back but nothing through the finish.
Then the oh crap moment, NO power supply charger and cable. I was bummed but figure at this price I'll spring for it. Then my tech says no worries I'll make one. And he makes me a cable and PS. No charge! Awesome.
Now to play it, oh yea the action. Ok figure out how to dial down was straightforward if different than normal. Played it for a half hour before I ran off to a rehearsal. I left it at his house to charge and will get it in the morning. So yea I know no pics is lame, haha I'll be back with some soon.

PS I called them and they want $50 for a rep. Battery and $50 for a new power supply.

 

[Kirk Bryant]

Hey, @kirkdickinson. Perhaps you can give me some insight to what is going on with my bass. After charging the battery part way and playing it sounded good BUT the action was high in spite of very little relief in the neck. We then lowered the action one or two turns on the brass hight adjusters.
Then finished charging the battery. Upon plugging it in the volume barely worked until dimed. Then there was terrible sub harmonic feedback. ?....???? Rolling off the tone controls reduced it but did not eliminate the feedback. I'm hoping this is not unusual after lowering the action.

Edit: I just watched the Wilcox vid on adjustments tonight and it looks straightforward enough. So I'll give that a try before I freak out. It's just that the sub harmonics it was making was something I've never heard come out of a bass. I mean I love low end and all but this was ridiculous. Haha

 

[kirkdickinson]

Hey, @kirkdickinson. Perhaps you can give me some insight to what is going on with my bass. After charging the battery part way and playing it sounded good BUT the action was high in spite of very little relief in the neck. We then lowered the action one or two turns on the brass hight adjusters.
Then finished charging the battery. Upon plugging it in the volume barely worked until dimed. Then there was terrible sub harmonic feedback. ?....???? Rolling off the tone controls reduced it but did not eliminate the feedback. I'm hoping this is not unusual after lowering the action.

Edit: I just watched the Wilcox vid on adjustments tonight and it looks straightforward enough. So I'll give that a try before I freak out. It's just that the sub harmonics it was making was something I've never heard come out of a bass. I mean I love low end and all but this was ridiculous. Haha

Yeah, when you set the action, you have to calibrate the sensors also.