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Wood & Tronics Club

#322
thanks Eude, I am very excited to receive it!

regarding scale length: I was thinking about this recently because my two main basses are my WT chronos (34" 18mm) and my F bass AC6 (34.5" 19mm). Those two basses feel like night and day to me, and this is something I've been struggling with when switching multiple times during a gig. The W&T feels super comfy and compact, and fast. The AC6 by contrast feels enourmous, the neck feels huge (spacing-wise, not in terms of neck shape) compared to the Chronos. The .5" difference doesnt seem to really throw me off at all, but the spacing makes a massive difference in feel (especially with a 6), and requires alot more recalibration than the spacing seems to.


I really love that AC6, it sounds completely out of this world, but it is ginormous, and weighs a ton. Its hard to find another bass that would offer what it does, but every now and again, I get a hankering for a much smaller fretless 6. Depending on how this hollowbody turns out, there may be a fretless is my future :)
 
#323
J.Wolf said:
thanks Eude, I am very excited to receive it!

regarding scale length: I was thinking about this recently because my two main basses are my WT chronos (34" 18mm) and my F bass AC6 (34.5" 19mm). Those two basses feel like night and day to me, and this is something I've been struggling with when switching multiple times during a gig. The W&T feels super comfy and compact, and fast. The AC6 by contrast feels enourmous, the neck feels huge (spacing-wise, not in terms of neck shape) compared to the Chronos. The .5" difference doesnt seem to really throw me off at all, but the spacing makes a massive difference in feel (especially with a 6), and requires alot more recalibration than the spacing seems to.


I really love that AC6, it sounds completely out of this world, but it is ginormous, and weighs a ton. Its hard to find another bass that would offer what it does, but every now and again, I get a hankering for a much smaller fretless 6. Depending on how this hollowbody turns out, there may be a fretless is my future :)
Click to expand...

I see a 33" WT Fretless in your future mate ;)
I'm having a 33" 6er built at the moment (by another builder) and when funds will allow I'll be getting a 33" fretless 6er to match, shouldn't need much else, at least that's what I'm telling my wife :)

Eude
 
#327
That looks like a killer bass coming up for you. 16.5 mm spacing, wow that's skinny! Not going with the ac filter pre? I like the flexibility of the u retro, but the east sp2 circuit is pretty fabulous for me. 3 bands of user adjustable eq points, and no built in eq curve/voicing!
 
#328
Switching between drastic scale lengths has got to be disruptive to the established muscle memory that you have set, especially intonation-wise when you flip over to fretless... At least that happens for me, I try to keep nearly everything at 34", except the Nordy is a slight deviation (34.5).
 
#329
J.Wolf said:
That looks like a killer bass coming up for you. 16.5 mm spacing, wow that's skinny! Not going with the ac filter pre? I like the flexibility of the u retro, but the east sp2 circuit is pretty fabulous for me. 3 bands of user adjustable eq points, and no built in eq curve/voicing!
Click to expand...

Thanks man :)

Yeah I know it's, what some folks consider slim, but my current 5er has 17mm spacing, my last 6er was 17mm and I used to have and love a Thumb Bass BO 5er that had 16.5mm.
I'm not the biggest of guys, so anything to make the bass more comfortable without compromising too much.
I never had any problem with the spacing on my ol' Thumb, slapping was just fine too, so I thought, "why not".
I think anyone can get used to any spacing given a bit of time, your technique always adapts.
When I order the fretless, it'll have similar spec, so there'll be no issues hopping between basses :)

Did you notice the 52mm nut width too? I can blame emjazz for that ;) It's based on a classical guitar nut width.

I have the ACG Pre on my 5er, it's an amazing bit of kit, but I wanted to be a little more traditional on this bass, and have the option of running totally passive, which isn't an option (yet) with the ACG Pre.
The filter preamp really comes into it's own with a fretless instrument however, especially with a piezo, as you can dial in that mwah... perfectly.
The fretless will definitely have that pre, and I wouldn't hesitate recommending it to anyone :)

Eude
 
#330
j-raj said:
Switching between drastic scale lengths has got to be disruptive to the established muscle memory that you have set, especially intonation-wise when you flip over to fretless... At least that happens for me, I try to keep nearly everything at 34", except the Nordy is a slight deviation (34.5).
Click to expand...

Way back when I was still in a band, I was routinely switching between a 17mm 35" scale fretless Conklin6 and a 30" scale Rob Allen Mouse 30 without issue.

I recently picked up a 32" scale fretless 7 and the only thing that was challenging was the new tuning I'm using.
 
#331
eude said:
Thanks man :)

Did you notice the 52mm nut width too? I can blame emjazz for that ;) It's based on a classical guitar nut width.

Eude
Click to expand...

Yup....mine is 16.5mm at the bridge and 2" at the nut, slightly more narrow than yours....50.8mm nut. It's perfect for me. I got the bridge measurement from an old Ibanez SDGR 6 that I had for a bit, and I got the nut measurement from what Modulus does on their 6's.
 
#332
Wow that's super skinny. My older chronos has a 51mm nut, the newer one has a 53mm nut for some reason, not sure why. They're both 18mm which I have come to love. And that 33"....... I'm ruined. Sounds killer, easy to play, never again 34!

Loving the new hollowbody, Andy I think you'd flip over this one, its really special
 
#333
J.Wolf said:
Wow that's super skinny. My older chronos has a 51mm nut, the newer one has a 53mm nut for some reason, not sure why. They're both 18mm which I have come to love. And that 33"....... I'm ruined. Sounds killer, easy to play, never again 34!

Loving the new hollowbody, Andy I think you'd flip over this one, its really special
Click to expand...

I agree with the 33" scale. I understand why people still like a longer scale, but for me I actually prefer the sound I get with the shorter scale. I hear what's not there but I like what is there more.

Jake, when you get a recording of the new bass let me know so you can send it to me. I really want to hear it. I'll be getting a part time job on top of my music work in the new year so I can start saving for a new bass and a couple of recordings I want to get done. I need the new bass for the recordings though....it'll be similar to what you just got, very similar. Really happy you're digging it.
 
#334
I will surely pass a recording on when I get one done. It sounds flippin fabulous, and apart from some minor niggles, it would go toe to toe with any boutique out there IMO. As we all know, at this level it's just different flavored as opposed to better ones.

The 33 worked out very well. I agree that I hear what's not there, but I much prefer what it offers over what it lacks tonally and feel wise.
 
#335
J.Wolf said:
The 33 worked out very well. I agree that I hear what's not there, but I much prefer what it offers over what it lacks tonally and feel wise.
Click to expand...

Btw-Love your new WT bass
Do you notice any difference's with string tautness with the 33'' vs. the 34'' scale length? this is the one consideration I'm struggling with--I currently have a Zon TJ6 with a composite neck that just sings with a small 16.5mm bridge with small fret wire (I love this stuff) which i find just perfect for a 6-string, I'd love to get this model in 33'' scale but Joe won't make it (not tooled up for it for composite material), thats why I'm looking at WT basses. Joe was making a shorter scale neck for Todd Johnson that may be a 32'' scale, but still nothing out of the shop yet (its been a few years--I think it may be a string tension related issue holding up the project). Love the look of your new bass and I love how WT is so accommodating to its clients, the other builder I would consider would be Skjold basses--another awesome builder.
 
#338
ppal said:
Btw-Love your new WT bass
Do you notice any difference's with string tautness with the 33'' vs. the 34'' scale length? this is the one consideration I'm struggling with--I currently have a Zon TJ6 with a composite neck that just sings with a small 16.5mm bridge with small fret wire (I love this stuff) which i find just perfect for a 6-string, I'd love to get this model in 33'' scale but Joe won't make it (not tooled up for it for composite material), thats why I'm looking at WT basses. Joe was making a shorter scale neck for Todd Johnson that may be a 32'' scale, but still nothing out of the shop yet (its been a few years--I think it may be a string tension related issue holding up the project). Love the look of your new bass and I love how WT is so accommodating to its clients, the other builder I would consider would be Skjold basses--another awesome builder.
Click to expand...

I know Joe isnt set up for it, but I bet his sixes would kill in a 33". Sooner or later I hope he is able to tool up to make that happen.

So I had the new bass out for a gig tonight, and it took me a minute to acclimate to the different scale and tension, but it really felt great. (getting used to the nut width is proving a little more tricky). This bass came with Fodera SS 28-120 light set, as did my other W&T. With that bass I went back and forth experimenting with sets, and ended up with various medium gauge SS strings on it, and I'm curious what this new bass will end up with string wise. I do notice the tension is a little less stiff than what I'm used to, but perhaps going to standard gauge strings would make it feel a little more like home. The light strings do sound and feel great, real quick and zingy which sounds glorious from this bass, but I think i dig in a little too hard for light strings.

Pete and Enrico are both cream of the crop in my book. Cant go wrong either way.
 
#339
J.Wolf said:
I know Joe isnt set up for it, but I bet his sixes would kill in a 33". Sooner or later I hope he is able to tool up to make that happen.

So I had the new bass out for a gig tonight, and it took me a minute to acclimate to the different scale and tension, but it really felt great. (getting used to the nut width is proving a little more tricky). This bass came with Fodera SS 28-120 light set, as did my other W&T. With that bass I went back and forth experimenting with sets, and ended up with various medium gauge SS strings on it, and I'm curious what this new bass will end up with string wise. I do notice the tension is a little less stiff than what I'm used to, but perhaps going to standard gauge strings would make it feel a little more like home. The light strings do sound and feel great, real quick and zingy which sounds glorious from this bass, but I think i dig in a little too hard for light strings.

Pete and Enrico are both cream of the crop in my book. Cant go wrong either way.
Click to expand...

I personally love the Fodera Nickel 28-125 set. It's all I've used for years.
 
#340
J.Wolf said:
I know Joe isnt set up for it, but I bet his sixes would kill in a 33". Sooner or later I hope he is able to tool up to make that happen.

So I had the new bass out for a gig tonight, and it took me a minute to acclimate to the different scale and tension, but it really felt great. (getting used to the nut width is proving a little more tricky). This bass came with Fodera SS 28-120 light set, as did my other W&T. With that bass I went back and forth experimenting with sets, and ended up with various medium gauge SS strings on it, and I'm curious what this new bass will end up with string wise. I do notice the tension is a little less stiff than what I'm used to, but perhaps going to standard gauge strings would make it feel a little more like home. The light strings do sound and feel great, real quick and zingy which sounds glorious from this bass, but I think i dig in a little too hard for light strings.

Pete and Enrico are both cream of the crop in my book. Cant go wrong either way.
Click to expand...

Thanks J.Wolf,

I've tried the Fodera strings too...in the lighter gauges and found them very guitar like in sound, great for that MG sound. I recently went to a standard gauge and wow what a difference, I thought that the lighter set was what I really liked but I have to say the standard thicker strings did three fundamental things for my playing. 1. Richer Fundamental, much larger and balanced tone, better harmonics. 2. Better string tension, which also for me means lower string playability 3. Believe it or not the heavier strings actually made the bass easier and faster to play than the lighter set. When I would play fast runs on the lighter set they had to be set much higher to get the sweet spot for feel w/o compromising tone. with the Heavier strings the sweet spot is more balanced and smoother in executing a line (right hand just kind of glides over the strings better i've noticed-just more mass i guess). It actually surprised me, I thought it would be just the reverse. Chords sound better/richer to my ears and i've found that by tweaking the tone controls its easier to get a standard gauge to sound like a lighter set, than a lighter gauge to sound like a heavier set (you really notice this effect at higher volumes). Its the long quest of putting all these elements together in one instrument that really works for you and your style of play.
 

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