scojack Posted March 30, 2016 Share Posted March 30, 2016 (edited) Working on a piezo bass 5s at the moment. Anybody got any thoughts / experience with this you'd care to share? Looking at using a piezo cable ..... any recommendations, electrics too ......buffer & EQ ? Ian Edited June 19, 2017 by scojack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumple Posted March 30, 2016 Share Posted March 30, 2016 Dave (Nugget) made a very nice fretless 5 string with only a Piezo for a pickup, I had a go on it through some sort of external pre amp, it sounded lush, unfortunately I can't remember the name of the pre amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted March 30, 2016 Share Posted March 30, 2016 This might be the link to it http://basschat.co.uk/topic/240391-sold-firecreek-hollow-body-5-string-fretless-bass-sold/page__fromsearch__1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scojack Posted March 30, 2016 Author Share Posted March 30, 2016 (edited) Cor thats a stunner innit ! Mines might be a tad humbler in comparison . Doing a similar thing but I want the chambering to have a major affect on the tone. It's a balancing act, how much material to remove without having a negative impact on the stability of the instrument. I think i have it just right... we shall see when it's built. Edited March 31, 2016 by scojack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scojack Posted April 3, 2016 Author Share Posted April 3, 2016 So far... Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted April 3, 2016 Share Posted April 3, 2016 I'm liking that! Out of interest, how much did you hollow out? Did you cut pockets or one big space and brace the top? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scojack Posted April 3, 2016 Author Share Posted April 3, 2016 (edited) It's pockets Jab ,,,,,,big uns! Main aim was to have the area under the bridge 'live' and stable. Seems good so far, Edited April 3, 2016 by scojack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 I have two basses with Mag/piezo options and am using East piezo things. They buffer nicely and offer a passive HF roll off which is all I have found I need on the EQ front. I have some mind bendinlgly expensive Ghost saddles in one bass and a cheap and cheerful Ebay special piezo bridge - there is no discernable difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazed Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 Thanks Owen, I've been looking into piezos so reading there is little difference may have just saved me a good few quid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 That's interesting. I have a few of elements to try on one of my builds; bog standard a Artec element, flexible wire type and then a Shadow SH064. The Artec and the flexible elements were about £5 each, whereas the Shadow is around £65. Be interesting to see what the difference is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPJ Posted April 5, 2016 Share Posted April 5, 2016 if its any help, I replaced the elements in my Stagg EUB with the Artec one's and it was much brighter sounding and louder after the change, but that could have been due to a mismatch with the stock preamp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted April 6, 2016 Share Posted April 6, 2016 I'm a bit late coming into this, Ian, but I do like the body shape very much. It's going to look nice. I'm also following with interest the discussion about the piezo elements... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bastav Posted April 6, 2016 Share Posted April 6, 2016 I used the schertler bluestick in my first build and im happy with the sound, warm and acousticy. I should mention that i have no experience with other under saddle piezo solutions... Its not really a piezo though, but a very small microphone in the disguise of a piezo element. They dont make them anymore so you would have to try your luck on ebay or some such and it'll probably still set you back a fair bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scojack Posted April 7, 2016 Author Share Posted April 7, 2016 (edited) Thanks chaps, probably take a wee punt on the Artec first (thanks Owen,JPJ )and take it from there. Jabba's nearly there so looking forward to his comparisons. Cheers Andy it's pretty much my usual shape with a rounder bottom. African Walnut on the top(s), it's nowhere near as nice as our own pucker Walnut but it's not unpleasant once it has a finish on it, African Cherry (Makore) in the middle, Makore is becoming my fav mahogany substitute the bit i used here is a lovely quarter sawn piece. Ian Edited April 7, 2016 by scojack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazed Posted April 7, 2016 Share Posted April 7, 2016 These artec piezos are the single strip type ? Anyone used the individual element per string type of the more expensive brands like ABM or ETS? Any difference ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scojack Posted April 8, 2016 Author Share Posted April 8, 2016 Strip type Dazed, that said i [i]think[/i] the Artec does have a piezo element for each string under the bonnet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scojack Posted April 10, 2016 Author Share Posted April 10, 2016 (edited) Cracking on .. Bound the soundhole.. was looking a bit bare .. There will be a brass plate going here to sit the strings which i will also ground, Ian M Edited April 10, 2016 by scojack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba_the_gut Posted April 10, 2016 Share Posted April 10, 2016 Very nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlungerModerno Posted April 11, 2016 Share Posted April 11, 2016 Oh my! That's coming along exquisitly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blablas Posted April 11, 2016 Share Posted April 11, 2016 The soundhole binding is a brilliant finishing touch, classy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted April 12, 2016 Share Posted April 12, 2016 That looks really, really classy. Superb clean carving and machining. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scojack Posted April 20, 2016 Author Share Posted April 20, 2016 (edited) Thanks guys Neck started now,,,,, headstock jointed and the head plate on.. The joint is rounded out and veneer(s) glued on ,, Managed to resist the urge for a blingy headstock and just matched the body,,,(front) Erm however, couldn't resist matching the satinwood in the neck with a bit of figuring on the back .. Ovankol, satinwood stringers and figured makore in the middle (neck) Fingerboard Pau Ferro Edited April 20, 2016 by scojack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scojack Posted April 26, 2016 Author Share Posted April 26, 2016 (edited) Wee update... We now have a neck. squinty Ian Edited April 26, 2016 by scojack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarethFlatlands Posted April 30, 2016 Share Posted April 30, 2016 I always love seeing your builds come together. That sycamore EUB you did still makes me drool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bastav Posted April 30, 2016 Share Posted April 30, 2016 Looks great! Love the string anchoring Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.