fretmeister

I think I've solved my Ibby Mezzo 5 string low B problem. As I've posted about before it comes with D'Addarios but D'Addario don't make a medium scale string for public sale, they only supply them to Ibby for this bass. I've tried a load of different strings. When using flats I use Dunlop medium scale flats. They have recently had price increases of nearly 100% so I started to look for something else and I thought about going back to rounds. My current roundwould string of choice are DR Hi Beams but they don't do a medium scale, and for the B string tuner post placement a long scale B won't work / fit on the mini tuners. So I've now got a hybrid set. E-G are DR Hi Beams 45-105, and the B string is a custom length Newtone 0.136 I tried the Roundcore Platinum option to get as close to the Hi-Beams as possible. The Platinums are advertised as having a smaller wrap wire for lower finger noise and that they have a more broken in feel. I also went with a tapered option. Tonally they are very close - in fact closer than some other single make sets where the B string seems to be just a random addition. The 0.136 also is quite balanced in tension to the E and A of the Hi Beam set too and I didn't have to widen the nut slot at all. I expect they'll sound even more like a single set once they've all been played in and dulled down a bit. I'm very happy with it, and the cost is very reasonable too.

If it’s tort then you’ve ruined the bass anyway. It will infect the bass with its awfulness. It’s the only ‘plate type to do that. Nothing can undo that level of perversity. Except fire. Might as well hot glue and bolt it on.

No strap can really beat the lever / fulcrum effect. If your tuners are old large plate design then swapping to a set of Hipshot Ultralights will make a massive difference. Get the USA ones, not the licensed ones though as the USA version are lighter and reversible.

It happens to me too. I’m beginning to think it’s an aging thing. I don’t have the self confidence of youth anymore, I worry more about making mistakes so perversely I now make more of them.

Have you tried it without the DI box?

The Ashdown is interesting to me too. I doubt I’ll ever get one as I have a Helix, but I’m still very interested.

Used Sandberg TT5

I’ve never had trouble with AliExpress

Another vote for Feline https://felineguitars.com/ Jonathan is a stone cold genius.

like the EZBass plug in!

No lessons for guitar or bass, but several years of piano and sax lessons and exams. I didn't really use it for playing rock covers pre internet as it was just about impossible to buy the parts anyway, but since I've been playing big band jazz and it's all proper manuscript it's been rather useful.

You're welcome.

I think this is the right one. https://sandbergshop.gambiocloud.com/Sandberg-EL00035-2-Band-EQ-Preamp--without-Balance.html

That preamp has a balance control. a VS4 is a single pickup bass. so does not need a balance. What configuration is your Electra?

Go up a gauge then. They do a 50-110 set. I use the 45-105 on a short scale and really like them, and 40-100 on my 34 scale instruments.

Yes - DR Hi Beams for me. Love the sound of them. They are round core so are a little more flexible than hex cores, and the wrap wires seem smaller than others so I get less finger noise. I've never really liked nickel rounds but recently I developed a nickel allergy so I can't use them anyway - I miss TI flats a great deal. The Hi Beams just sound ace. Nice and clanky with the tone up full, and nice and dull with it down, but still with a tiny edge to it.

I remember that too. The 4 part frets were used as buttons underneath to help lower latency. It was quite an interesting idea but I'm not surprised it didn't work very well. I think these days more people play multiple instruments, so a bassist probably won't buy a digital bass, they'll get a hardware synth or a keyboard midi controller and some plugins for any sound that isn't like a bass guitar. The home recording revolution had definitely led to more multi-instrumentalists, helped by even modest instruments being so damn good now. I still remember my first set up. A Yamaha MT50 4 track tape machine, a Zoom 234 drum machine, my guitar and the Korg Pandora Mk1.

Lightwave basses are probably the closest as they don't need magnetic strings, they use a light pickup system. But then again decades ago there was the Synth Axe so it's not a new idea.

Always driving. I don't like to be limited to public transport times with my gear, or waiting for / being a burden on others.

Joe Dart used them on his MIM Fender Jazz for years too. I find them a bit rough, but they sound nice. I'll stick to my Hi Beams for rounds though.

If you don't fancy soldering - then I suggest asking @KiOgon to make you up a solderless loom with the controls you want (Don't forget the barrel output jack). You'll also need to measure the spaces between the body control holes to make sure the component connecting wires are long enough. All the connections will have a little screw block. You might have to strip a few of the existing cables once you've disconnected them from the existing system, but that should be about it. Dead easy job.

The Ibanez Mezzo sounds bang on if the J pickup isn't used. The stock pickup is fine - just rip out the preamp and go passive. 32 scale, 2+2 headstock, easy to play.

Interesting!