ikay

Fretless Epiphone Zenith on ebay right now - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/260984396214?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2648

[quote name='Sean' timestamp='1332691328' post='1591678'] Interesting stuff, however it doesn't really explain the physics of it. The engineer in me wants to know [/quote] Here's a bit of the supposed science relating to resonant frequency (not my words, result of googling but sounds reasonable): "A neck through will have a longer continuous fiber length throughout the piece and will have a lower natural resonating frequency (RF) due to this longer length. The fundamental will dominate. [tone will be more round and less bright due to less complex harmonics - see below] A set neck [or bolt-on] will have 2 shorter pieces (body and neck) each with their own RF along with their combined signature. The impedance mismatch at the neck joint will reflect some of that back into the body and neck but will also allow specific frequencies to pass and blend. It all makes it to the strings eventually and you have a more complex sonic signature with a larger range than with a single piece body/neck core. The fundamental is still there but the midrange will dominate." Another link here although this study focused on sustain rather than tone - [url="http://liutaiomottola.com/myth/neckJointSustain.htm"]http://liutaiomottol...ointSustain.htm[/url]

This video gives a direct tonal comparison of similar bolt-on and neck-through basses and may be of interest: http://www.theguitarcolumn.com/2010/03/bolt-on-vs-neck-thru-tone-difference.html

How about a Status Streamline? [url="http://www.status-graphite.com/status/frames/index_home.html"]http://www.status-gr...index_home.html[/url] [attachment=102953:Status Streamline 5.jpg]

LukeFRC, I have a passive jazz and a jazz with an Audere JZ3 pre with buffered blend. To my ears the active blend just gives a much smoother and more progressive transition from one pickup to the other. There's a wider range of blended sounds to be had over a wider area of control movement. The sound at the mid point is still slightly scooped. The passive blend on the other hand only has a very small zone either side of centre where you can actually 'mix' the pickups. For example, if you slowly move the blend from centre towards the bridge pup there's a particular point where you can hear the bridge pup starting to 'bite'. Very small movements around this point are where you can find some 'blended' tones but it's quite delcate compared with an active blend. II wouldn't say that passive blend is inferior - it has it's own unique character and in some ways is more characterful than the finer grained control offered by active. As with most things it depends on what you're after and what works for you. I'll do a quick back to back recording to compare in the next day or two. Not sure how effective that will be in showing the difference but will give it a go. If it works I'll post it here (if not I wont!).

The headstock looks the same as my 72 P and also has a laminated board so is probably kosher. If not it's a pretty good copy. Tuners look too shiny and are probably replacements

I've posted some audio clips of my ACG (EQ01 pre, mag + piezo) here: http://basschat.co.uk/topic/168978-got-an-acg-got-a-webcam-ive-got-a-favour-to-ask/page__st__20

Some clips of mine - Recurve frretless 5 (0067) - EQ01 with RFB mag pickup (switched humbucker/single coil) and piezo. Just to offer another configuration for comparison. Usual disclaimer re quality of playing and recording. Bass is strung with TI flats. Recorded direct into Zoom H4. Clips are as follows: 1.Mag pickup (switched to single coil) with filter boost up full - starting with filter sweep and followed by repeated pattern while slowly sweeping filter from high to low [attachment=102023:ACG-Mag-Filter+Boost.mp3] 2. Piezo pickup with filter boost up full - starting with filter sweep and followed by repeated pattern while slowly sweeping filter from high to low. [attachment=102024:ACG-Piezo-Filter+Boost.mp3] 3. General purpose setting - mag and piezo filters both about 2/3 open and boost about half up. Clip starts with mag/single coil, followed by mag/humbucker, then piezo, finally some idle doodling while sweeping the blend from full piezo slowly back to full humbucker. [attachment=102025:ACG-Mag+Piezo-GeneralSetting.mp3] The piezo has a wider and more open sound than the mag which is tight and focused. I use the blend as my main control when playing live to select the sound I want for each song. Occasionally I'll also tweak the boost if I want to add a bit of edge or soften the sound. The frequency cutoff is generally just set at my personal sweet spot and left alone. This bass is played in a jazzy/bluesy covers band and the mag/piezo mix is an ideal combination for this.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1331160264' post='1568837'] IMO an onboard pre-amp should do at least one of the following: 1. Something that can't be replicated by the controls on your amp. 2. Individual tonal changes to each pick up. 3. Smooth blend between pick ups without any volume drop in the centre position. [/quote] You don't happen to be on commission for selling the ACG EQ01 do you

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1331146208' post='1568518'] The perfect circuit would offer a sweepable selection over all frequencies. [/quote] +1 the Noll TCM-3P offers sweepable bass, mid and treble (http://www.noll-electronic.de/sites_d/tcm_3p_spezifik.html). Haven't got one myself but I keep thinking about it.

This doesn't sound right at all. If you can post some pics it will be easier for people to see what's going on and offer help

If it's the one on the left you're after run a search on ebay for 'chicken head knob'. There are lots of them on ebay. The one on the right looks like a Fender jazz control knob, replacements also available on ebay.

One option would be to use a [color=#ff0000]miniature [/color]250k preset potentiometer for the neck pickup. This would be wired exactly the same as a volume control but would sit inside the control cavity. You then just preset it to whatever level you want.

[quote name='tbonepete' timestamp='1330451599' post='1557768'] Can you recommend any pots in particular? [/quote] There are a few threads on Talkbass about blend/centre volume issues: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f38/jazz-blend-pot-center-detent-volume-drop-525115/ http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f38/old-story-volume-drop-middle-position-when-using-blend-pot-598672/ Both of these recommend the 'MN' blend pot from Allparts: http://www.allparts.uk.com/online-shop/guitar-bass-parts/electronics/250k-pots/dual-250kmn-blendbalance-audio-taper-pot-w-centre-detent-p-1560.html

If the truss rod is fully clockwise (not good if it's at the end of its travel!) then are you seeing a back-bow in the neck or an up-bow? Max tension in the rod would generally result in a slight back-bow and the strings would be 'grounding out' on the frets. If you're still getting an up-bow (ie. the neck has some relief) and you want less relief (ie. a flatter neck that will lower the action) then putting on higher tension strings will have the opposite effect to what you want Some pics might help.

[quote name='V4lve' timestamp='1330949010' post='1565074'] Beginning to wonder if I am obsessing, [/quote] I think probably yes It's only detectable when using headphones and even then not really that noticeable unless you're listening for it. No one will hear it when you play live. Having been through all the various checks it doesn't sound as though there's anything on your bass that needs fixing. It's just one of those slightly curious artefacts to do with the natural vibration of the strings you have on it. Possibly more noticeable with new strings than dull ones as you mention. It probably happens to the rest of us as well but we just haven't noticed it!

Thanks for the very useful feedback. I really need to try a few EUBs to get an idea of what they feel and sound like but they're few and far between in the regular music shops around here. I had a very brief go on a real DB a few months ago and could hardly produce a sound due to high action and the sheer physical effort of fretting a note. Which doesn't bode well for my potential abilities! The trick I think is going to be finding something that I can get to grips with in terms of physical playability but also has the potential to produce really good sounds when it's played well. I'd rather spend a bit more and get a quality instrument that will inspire me to learn and practice rather than something that struggles to sound good even when played well.

I'm a novice to the world of EUBs but keen to have a go. I'm looking at either an Aria SWB Lite or NS Design NXT4. Can anyone offer any comments on either of these in terms of playability and sound quality? Do they come anywhere close to emulating an acoustic upright? Be grateful for any input Thanks

Have you tried a different set of headphones? Fret buzz? Do you have a very low action and/or very light strings? Does it happen with both open and fretted strings? Is it more noticeable low down or high up the fretboard? Could it be some sort of vibration happening around the nut/tuners or bridge area rather than the playable part of the strings? Try damping the strings between the nut and tuners (stiff a bit of foam or something in there to stop the strings ringing) and see if that makes any difference. Do the same for the bridge to make sure there's nothing going on down there.

Very interesting video. A lot of hand crafting going on there, particularly with the neck. Probably the vintage range I guess rather than the regular CT production line?

Grub screw sizes are anything but universal unfortunately. If you can put up a picture of the bass and a close-up of the bridge along with details of model/year etc that would help.

[quote name='Gunsfreddy2003' timestamp='1330378673' post='1556602'] Can you fit these into a 2 band Stingray? [/quote] I think the East MMSR 2-band is a straight drop in [attachment=101217:East MMSR 2-band.jpg]

[quote name='Johnston' timestamp='1330355006' post='1556061'] Same Vain [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Paddle-Guitar-homemade-ecoguitar-/190646050715?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item2c6363df9b"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item2c6363df9b[/url] [/quote] At least it doesn't pretend to be anything other than an unwanted chopping board (rather than a pre-CBS cigar box ) and the starting price is slightly less ludicrous

[quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1330364564' post='1556285'] I don't necessarily agree on the point above suggesting that a limited pre-amp can be compensated for at the amp. In theory yes, in practice, I haven't found it to be that simple. If you're ring to do it all at the amp, you have to ask why have EQ on the bass anyway? If playing an active bass I always preferred to run the amp flat and EQU precisely - and the East mid-sweep really allows you to do so - on the bass. [/quote] That's a fair point Beedster. I also generally run my amp flat. I just don't find the SR pre to be so bad - probably my lousy ears!