Bought a new bass

[bassist_25]

I still haven't gotten this bass down to Terry's yet. I've made the decision that I'm going back to Dean Markley, but I haven't decided if I want to go with med-lights of meds. The meds have the same guage of B string as the med-lights, but they are thicker on the G. String brand is such a committment. LOL

I did play it a little bit at the Barnsboro Legion on Saturday. It's a very live room, but I really dug the sound I was getting. Very hifi and crisp. Again, it's very Spectorish to my ears.

We're at Pelly's this week, so I think that I may give it the "Greg Stager Bassarific Test" during soundcheck, which is when Greg says, "Give me a little bass, Paul." If he cuts me off after three notes with a big smile on his face, it means that he's digging my bass sound for the night. If the Jazz can pass that test, I think we have a winner.

[Ron]

So Paul, you're thinking about going off of the meds?

[BassFinger]

So Paul, how did the bass sound at Pelly's? I gotta get out and hear you guys! I played that bass at the emporium and thought it had potential. I didn't plug it in but thought it played well and needed only minor adjustments. I have this 'thing' with budget basses and showing that, with a good setup, they can really sound great. My impression of that bass, when played unplugged, is that the ebanol fingerboard had a brighter sound like a maple board.

For years, I played a DIY PJ bass that many bassists would ask me what it was. They seemed displeased when I informed them that I built it. Goes to prove that you don't need top of the line gear. It seems only to impress other musicians at times. Problem is, once you've owned quality gear, you don't want to fool around with the budget stuff.

[bassist_25]

Bill,

I played it a while at Pelly's when I was setting up, though not during sound check. I really dig the sound I got. I definitely do think that it could use a pickup upgrade. Don't get me wrong - the stock pickups are fine and IMO, rival the stock pickups in many basses in the $500 - $750 range. I just think that a set of Barts or EMGs would really make this instrument sing. I like the preamp, and I really don't think that it needs changed. It's not as powerful as other preamps in instruments, but it's very transparent, and it has enough boost for me. The construction is quite impressive for an import, so that's what makes me think that it's really worth the pickup upgrade. I have a Squier Precision Special that I bought when I was 17, and it's a hokey piece of crap. The neck would never stay straight on it. So that's why I'm really surprised with the quality of this instrument. I finally stopped by the music store and picked up a set of Markleys today. It's going down to Terry's tomorrow.

You're right; the ebonal fretboard is brighter. I'd say that the bass has a pianoesque timbre to it. As I said before, it's kinda Spectorish, if you want a point of reference. It's definitely not traditional J Bass. It's an all-around clean sounding bass. If you dig that Mike Porcaro sound, this bass is defintitely made for it. It really doesn't do the old school thing though.

I've noticed that there seems to be a big increase in quality in budget instruments. It use to be that a $300 instrument was a $300 instrument. Now, you can spend $300 and get something gig-worthy. There still is a difference in the high-end stuff though. Higher-end stuff usually has a better feel. Then again, one has to ask themselves if that difference in feel is worth the extra coin.

[bassist_25]

Alright, you all are probably sick of me rambling on about this bass by now. But I finally gigged it on Wednesday and I'll be playing it tonight and tomorrow night in some difficult rooms, so we'll see how it handles them.

First, let me say that Terry is a fucking genuis. If you want your guitar or bass set up PROFESSIONALLY, then leave it with Terry at Guitars 'n Stuff. I've taken guitars and basses to get setups at other places, and I've never been completely satisfied with the work. There were times I got my instrument back in worse shape than before the setup. Terry setup the neck perfect; the action is very playable (more on that later); and every single note on every single string lit up 440 on my rack tuner. I don't think I've ever had an instrument intonated so perfectly.

This bass played smoothly through the entire night. The wider neck does take some getting use to, but it's still very playable. I think that this is due to the flatter neck radius underneath. The pickups and preamp are squeaky clean and all notes projected evenly and fully. This bass doesn't have the distinct highs that some higher-end instruments have. The construction's definitely there, so I think a pickup upgrade would take care of that. This bass has a lot of low and low-mid grunt. It is pure Jazz Bass in that respect. This is a very "polite" sounding instrument. If you're looking for aggressive Warwick sound, then I don't think this is the bass for you. If you're looking for clean pianoesque sound, then this might be up your alley. I liked the pick sound of this on Wednesday more than the first time I used it witha pick. I think that a set of quality strings, as opposed to the cheesy stock strings, really helped out in that respect. One of the things that really impressed me the other night was how well it stayed in tune. Fenders have always had a good reputation for staying in tune, moreso than many of the Gibsons' stock tuners I've seen.

[metalchurch]

So are you putting Bart's in this later on?
I'm guessing that this is a keeper, so I figure that you will be upgrading it in the future. Glad that it worked out for you, hope to hear it soon.

[metalchurch]

One more thing I forgot to ask you, does that ebanol fret board require any kind of special care or cleaning? I don't know much about them.

[bassist_25]

Yeah Joe, I'll definitely be putting a set of Barts in it eventually. The stock pickups aren't the greatest in the world, but again, they are impressive for a $300 bass. I really see no reason to switch out the stock preamp. It's quiet and transparent. Again, not as much gain or boost as other preamps, but I don't really need a big sweep in the onboard EQ.

As far as I know, the ebanol doesn't require any special care. From what I've read, it's a damn near indestructible material, and it won't show the wear of roundwound strings that wood fingerboards do. It'd probably be an excellent choice of fingerboard material for a fretless bass. My soundguy tonight really dug it. I have become spoiled by using a neck-through bass for the past two years. The Jazz definitely doesn't have the sustain of my Carvin.

BTW, check your PM inbox!

[metalchurch]

I wan't sure if the ebanol was like rosewood and ebony? It seemed to me that it didn't need oiled or anything. It probably is a better choice for a fretless board.
Mitch and I were talking about that last week. I was thinking about building a fretless guitar. He found a company that built one and in place of the frets, they put an inlay in. It looked really neat.

I'm wondering if ebanol would hold up ok, and how easy it is to work with? I'll have to check to see if I can find a slab of that for sale online anywhere.

Mitch has me thinking about Fender's now, as much as I dislike them he has me looking at them. I am thinking about doing a Tele next.
Only w/ a flatmount non-trem Kahler and a locking nut.

Ever see the HM (heavy metal) Strats? Well this is gonna be an HM Tele.
I've been drawing it out to see what it would look like, and I'm diggin' the idea alot. So, sometime this winter, I'm gonna build it.