Playing the Big Al 5 today

[bovinehost]

"The torture never stops." - F Zappa

From an interview in April 1977:

FZ: ... then it goes into a song called "The Torture Never Stops".
Q: Which is about what?
FZ: Er, it's about torture not stopping.

[Big Poppa]

Its not torture if its true

[Thornton Davis]

not to take anything away from the 3s...but BUT BUT BUT The single H is the best one we make and that comes from the Big Poppa Bongo guy....

I was going to ask you to comment about this BP, so i'm glad that you mentioned it.

I've gigged with a Big Al 4 SSS and loved it but I found it not to have as hot of output as either of my SR5-H's have. From what i've been told through the grapevine, I understand that the Big Al 5-H with the 25th Anny pickup is hotter than the SSS version, while also adding increased warmth (fatter) tone to the output. Is this accurate in you opinion?

I'm definately ordering one, but right now i'm wrestling with which colour combination of BA5-H to order.

Looking forward to Ed's review of this new critter.

TD

[Big Poppa]

thats it thornton!

[Thornton Davis]

thats it thornton!

Thank you for confirming that sir!

My GHO (gotta have one) level just jumped off the scale.

I'm definately in.

TD

[EdFriedland]

not to take anything away from the 3s...but BUT BUT BUT The sngle H is the best one we make and that comes from the Big Poppa BOngo guy....The serie and parrallel and active and passive and the four band pre...Ed you better test one of these..... Better yet dont...you'll want one

I'll admit it is intriguing... though I've really grown to like the SSS. I don't notice it being lower output than any of my other MM basses, or the other two (Classics) that I have waiting to go under the lens. Of course, with the 900 watt Shuttle head into a 1000 watt 4x10, I haz enough gain 4 passive mode!

[Big Poppa]

Ed its just different...I really love the sss one too. It really does take it in a different direction...very vintage but crazy progressive if it makes sense You can get some cool vintage tones and then there are some new classics in there

[Sting]

Ed its just different...I really love the sss one too. It really does take it in a different direction...very vintage but crazy progressive if it makes sense You can get some cool vintage tones and then there are some new classics in there

Maybe a Big-Al HSS is needed to get the best of both worlds.

Just sayin'.

[guenter]

Or "pickups-on-rails", where you can move the pickups between neck and bridge to whatever position you want. For a nearly unlimited number of different sounds...

But how could one describe the characteristics of such a bass?

[jlepre]

Maybe a Big-Al HSS is needed to get the best of both worlds.

Just sayin'.

Hmmmmm...I was just thinking the SAME thing.

Is it a possibilty BP, or not feasible?

[davidjbass]

not to take anything away from the 3s...but BUT BUT BUT The sngle H is the best one we make and that comes from the Big Poppa BOngo guy....The serie and parrallel and active and passive and the four band pre...Ed you better test one of these..... Better yet dont...you'll want one

Oh man that makes me happy to hear that. I have one of those babies on order and due any day now.

[sitonmybass]

not to take anything away from the 3s...but BUT BUT BUT The sngle H is the best one we make and that comes from the Big Poppa BOngo guy....The serie and parrallel and active and passive and the four band pre...Ed you better test one of these..... Better yet dont...you'll want one

Just like davidjbass, I am quite excited to hear this, since I also have one on the way. Something told me that was the configuration to go for!

[Big Poppa]

hss is probably a no go as I like the humbucking where it is and it would get kind of crowded and then people would complain

[Grand Wazoo]

hss is probably a no go as I like the humbucking where it is and it would get kind of crowded and then people would complain

Just so you know BP, I have been on the phone today with a certain Blind Lemon discussing the terms for my getting a BA5SSS (Big Al 5 SSS). However, I hereby embarass myself by begging you one question, would it be possible to get it in a classic colour, I was thinking Mint Green / Maple board.

If not, I'll understand and go for a different colour out of the options available, but as many people say... if you don't ask you don't get.

[Sting]

hss is probably a no go as I like the humbucking where it is and it would get kind of crowded and then people would complain

I see your point, glad your pursuing making good well thought out instruments. Keep up the good work!

If I had the money, I would buy me a BA5 SSS and a BA4 H. Then I think a Bongo 6 HSp, and a fretless Sterling 4 Hp, and a....