The TPB spread is finally in!

[boombox]

Goodness. Boy, am I glad you didn't get these up before I sold the Dargie. I might not have been as responsible.

Now I'm kicking myself in the butt for not posting these sooner!!

[laneline]

Brandt, when I saw your guards lined up in wait for the bass and you mentioned it having a Tort guard, I have to admit I cringed, but whoa it looks great !
Love to hear how your maiden BA gig went. Rick

[midopa]

sweeeeeeet

[MrMusashi]

nice!
VERY nice!!!!!

do give us some feedback on the sound after the gig, ok brandt?

MrM

[boombox]

Review of the BIG AL!

I would like to first point out the things that I love about this bass vs. the Bongo that I have been playing for the past 6+ months. The slim neck and wax neck finish are in my opinion a combination that makes this the best playing neck in the business. (I know those are big words but in my opinion and in my hands I believe it to be true and I’m not bias. I own a lot of stuff with a lot of different neck profiles.) Second the body shape is killer for a bass! It hangs perfect! Balance is great and the top cut is extremely comfortable. My bass has a little beef to it but I could still play it for 4 hours without issues.

The sounds that I found to be the best while sitting in front of my amp at home or work totally did not work with the band. (Out of all people I should have known better.) I love the passive, middle and bridge in series tone the best while playing the bass by myself. If I recorded a record I know I could make this combo work but in the trenches of battle against two guitars and a left handed keyboard player it just didn’t work. I played most of the gig with the N&B/series setting but in active mode. There I was able to dial up a little more mid and cut though better in order to hear myself the way I need to. (I like to keep track of all my mistakes so I’ve got to hear myself.) The bottom end on the BIG AL is great. We played a few songs with the E dropped to a D and it was huge! Filled up the bottom end but was still crystal clear.

However, I wasn’t getting the mid response that I was use to from the big Neo Buckers in the Bongo so I switched mid gig and confirmed that the bongo (or Music Man humbucker in general) is where the tone in my head comes from. The midrange on the Big AL sounded soft and polished to my ears. I can say that the BIG AL has tons of tonal goodness to dish out and most guys that are not “set it and forget it” bass players like me will love its versatility. There is no doubt that he bass sounds and plays great and bleeds Music Man through and through. While I do not regret the purchase of the BIG AL and can say that for now my heart lies with the humbucker. I will keep trying to find a place for the BIG AL since its feel and shape are the best out of any bass that I own. I do have a new band coming up that is playing a wider variety of Music, may be the wider pallet on the BIG AL will work for me there.


BB

[MingusBASS]

Thanks for the review, Brandt. I can't wait to try out a Big Al.

[five7]

Great review. thanks!

[Busterkilrain]

Hey Brandt,
You guys at the TPB take such great pictures! I'm sure you've heard that before. Nice review as well.
Brent

[RocketRalf]

No video review?

[boombox]

soon, I promise

[MusicMan4Life38]

Beautiful bass but I have a question. I have heard two different things and I figured you would be the one to ask. Is the neck on the Big Al a Sterling or Bongo neck?

[boombox]

97.8% sure it is identical to a Sterling neck.

[smallequestrian]

Sterling neck for sure.