Paddy Morris

I'm a bit late to this one. I got a gnome to use with 2 Barefaced cabs. Super Mini T and Big Baby 3. It's very good, very clean, plenty loud enough. But the EQ frequencies don't really suit the cabs, and at low a volume practice the fan is a bit noisy. I also ordered an Elf on that basis that I would keep the amp I preferred and sell the other. But when, after 4 months it was still on back order with BAX, I cancelled. I just took delivery today, of a Genzler Magellan 350, and it's absolutely awesome. Just immediately clean and musical. The tone shaping is incredibly flexible, and I now think my entire pedalboard is going to be redundant.

That's interesting. I plain plain gut on D, G and I had expected those to go before the wrapped synthetics. But seemingly not. They're still actually improving after 4 years.

Well, in the meantime I put an Oliv A on, that I bought cheap and haven't managed to sell on. I'm liking it. I'll bet I don't get 4 years out of that!!

I know a few people on here are fans of Evah Pirazzi Slaps, as am I. I was wondering how often people change them? My E and A strings have started to sound a bit lifeless. Well, to be honest, the E string always did, but the A has really dropped off recently. Mine have been on since about 2019. They get a fair bit of hammer under normal circumstances, but due to the pandemic, they had a pretty substantial holiday on 2020. I was hoping to get a bit longer out of them to be fair, as they don't come cheap. Was wondering how long other users would expect them to last?

Another vote for the Stanley Clarke preamp. It sounds exactly like what you need.

Nice. What a great thread.

Unfortunately, yours sounds exactly like the one I had that was broken. Sorry to say it. After a lot of disappointing and expensive experimentation I settled on a yamahiko (Japanese Fishman-type) and an Ischell C3 contact mic. Between the 2 of them you get the character of the instrument. If I were going for just one then I'd recommend the Ischell for you, because one of the mounting options gives you a 'realist' sort of less bright sound. Or just get another Realist, with a view to renewing it every so often.

These sound like we electro-mechanical noises to me. If they were to do with clipping at the front end of a preamp, they would have more pronounced HF component. The piezo sensors on Realists don't last forever, because over time the massive pressure of the bridge foot down onto the pickup crushes them. Someone gave me one to fix a few months ago and, after trying all the things you are trying now, I gave up and he had a fishman fitted. I hope I'm wrong and you get it working. By the way, that's a lovely arco tone on your Røde recording. I think you deserve a better pickup.

You won't regret it. And actually used is slightly better because they seem to like a bit of 'running-in' Don't be afraid to show it some bass EQ either. Unfortunately the accuracy of my Super Mini showed up a whole load of other flaws with my bass / pickup / preamp, which I had previously been able to ignore. Hopefully with your Clarus you won't have that issue.

Consensus elsewhere seems to be Innovation Orchestral.

Can anyone identify these strings? I had a look on the Golihur chart and nothing obviously sprang out.

Excellent review marred only slightly by no picture of the slumbering pooch.

Theres a Barefaced used BB2 on reverb right now. Get it to try, and if it's not for you then you'll most likely be able to sell it again for what you paid.

Report back. Spread the knowledge. String matrix is a great resource.

That's exactly what the BF cabs give you. Light, compact, hifi, loud. But VERY expensive. You do see them come up second hand though. I think your idea with the TC208 is probably a good option too.

I would hold out for a used Barefaced Super Mini. Particularly if you can't hear your own notes when playing, which has been a problem for me too. Very light, loud enough, pairs nicely with your BAM. But most of all, you hear the note cleanly.

Do you think maybe it's a knock-off, and not a genuine Shadow?

This is exactly what I did @NickA thanks for suggesting. A gnome with a BF Super Mini. Perfect.

Yes agreed. Too much choice.

Definitely do it yourself. It's easy, and you'll most likely do s better job than whoever made the harness.

BTW I just googled the Safran Iris. What an amazing looking instrument. Post some sound files once you've got your pickup sorted.

I tried one for a bit. It was very like an Underwood. Had the same sort of muffled quality the Underwood and DG Copperhead have. Some very respectable players go for that, but it wasn't for me. I have a big mariachi guitarrón, and eventually I put an Ischell C3 on it. Sounds mint. Don't know if that would work for you?

Hi Pete Yes, when they turned up they were normal weichs in weich packaging. Maybe just an acknowledgement by Thomann that Brits speak no language but their own? They took a couple of weeks to arrive. Patrick

That's interesting Joe, thanks. I might see if he'll have a look at it then. Also I don't think the nut has ever been set-up for the thicker, low tension strings I tend to use, so I wonder if maybe the A is it bit tight in the slot. It arrived with thin Chinese steels on it. Part of it is, the guy builds £10,000 basses and I'm slightly embarrassed by my plywood and car body filler box!