UPDATE Jan 7 Anniversary Bass preview

[RobertB]

So.....the chambered body....

The concept here was a Waveguide (nicely done, adouglas). The maze you see, in theory, is to focus the vibrations of the body (mainly at the bridge), and amplify them through the folded pathway to where a sound hold could be. This controls the resonant frequencies of the body. On top of all of this, we are also trying to control the weight and balance of the instrument.

We are working on versions 2 and 3 of this concept, as well as other styles of chambers to compare and contrast the sonic benefits.

There are many variables when prototyping such materials and geometry, but with every proto, we come closer to what gives the instrument the highest highs, the lowest lows, and the "middliest" mids!

Something I just noticed while looking at the photo again, after reading Drew's post. If it's right to assume that the sound hole would likely be placed over the portion of the channel/waveguide that's on the lower left of the photo, then there are several discontinuous portions of the channel in that area, so you can potentially "tap" the channel at all those points that are below the sound hole - not just at the end of it. Maybe that's not the case/intent - just a thought.

If so, though, that's an interesting difference between sound waveguides and electromagnetic waveguides, which I've worked with in satellite transmission/antenna systems. Another difference is that in those applications, the waveguide doesn't amplify the signal - it just channels/guides the signal between stages of the chain in hollow metal "tubes". They do sometimes act as high pass filters, though.

Hope this isn't running the topic into the ground. It's just interesting stuff.

 

[bassmonkeee]

I have a serious question for Mr. Sterling Ball, and the question is, what is the deadline you gave yourself to produce this new marvellous product? Meaning when are we likely to see them / try them / buy them in the shops?

Many thanks in advance for your reply.

While I am not related to a Ball (okay, technically my aunt married a Ball--no relation), I think it's safe to say that the target date of the 25th Anniversary instruments is either Winter or Summer NAMM of 2009. Probably Winter NAMM. But, certainly "when it's ready."


And, my condolences on your loss.

 

[Big Poppa]

THe all important deadline is the same every year.....Anaheim namm at the end of Jan...NOt much sleep for the next 6 or 7 weeks for the cats in engineering....

 

[Grand Wazoo]

THe all important deadline is the same every year.....Anaheim namm at the end of Jan...NOt much sleep for the next 6 or 7 weeks for the cats in engineering....

Wow Thanks, so.... that really is imminent then... Can't wait!! I am sure it will be worth the wait.

 

[dkassenbrock]

THe all important deadline is the same every year.....Anaheim namm at the end of Jan...

Great..attending NAMM '09 just became WAY more expensive -Capt. Don

 

[drTStingray]

Having just come in at post # 646, this bass looks like it will be superb - esp like the electronics ideas.

What is the plan for the neck (sorry if I missed this in the thread if it's already been discussed) - I think I picked up 22 frets, 34 inch scale, smaller/lighter tuners somewhere along the way?

 

[Smakbass]

Can't wait to see it at Namm.

 

[fly]

funny how this pic keeps popping up.........

 

[drewbixcubed]

Update: December 11

Here are some updates for your viewing pleasure! My fav is the BP pile'o'protos....

[

 

[Aussie Mark]

The HSS sure is a hot looking bass, despite not having a sliding pickup, interchangeable neck, sparkle finish, or graphite neck

And, if EBMM sold those shoes I'd buy some.

 

[RobertB]

Looks tough as hell as a dual H.

 

[bovinehost]

Drew, tell Dudley that this is the one I want if he can just get the switches to poke out the front, please.

 

[Big Poppa]

OK What a day. I flew to SLO and my head was stuffed and I couldnt hear for the first hour. This is bad because I have some severe hearling loss going on from my earlier years of playing and testing so loudly.....

The first pic is the 2 H. In the past R and D sessions I kept buging Dudley to revoice the preamp a little. He said he had a trick up his sleeve....Boy did he knock it out of the park. He would new pickups. These are just amazing coupled with the four band Bongo preamp. Here is the secret.....He would the pickups with the sting ray spec on sterling bobbins. So you have a ceramic pickup from the Sterling with the windings of the stingray and pairing it up with the Bongo preamp....this bass sounds so good both passive and active. It is a true example of combining the best of the last 25 years. The single coils are still stacked neodynium. Trust me you alnico/neodynium nuts this is the real deal.

The second is the hss....the four band preamp.....the first little button selects active or passive and the others turn the pick up on or off. It is reall easy to get what you want with this. Seems confusing but is really user friendly

The third one is a new idea for the chambering. I really loved the guitar with the wave chamber routing but we are going deeper with some other chamber concepts...this one is a fan style

THe thrid one with the big danger switch on the back has ten different combinations.....total of 20 when you consider the active passive switch. We did this to select the best 15...because we are going to have a three way toggle and a 5 way lever switch....for each position of the toggle the 5 was will offer 5 different sounds (duh) but this is how we can get 15 combinations...this is groundbreaking as it is logic driven code to achieve this. WE were able to all agree on which the winners were.

THe top contour was not enough so we are making bodies with a little greater contour.

What Im mostly impressed with is how good this sounds in both active and passive...Hats off to Dudley for really working his genius.....Drew has really spearheaded a lot of this and the whole engineering team is on fire. Makes my job really fun......even picking uo the tab for the Thai lunch where we couldnt stop talking about possibilities......

 

[Smakbass]

Great pics.....So are any of those proto's chambered? Oop Big Poppa answered just as I was typing..

 

[Smakbass]

Thats cool about the pick ups seems to be really what you said you wanted from the start was some of the best aspects of all your instruments combined.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

If I remember rightly in one of the earliest posts of this thread there was a mention with a hint about this new bass not being even 9volts, and someone suggested the possibilty of it being powered by 4.5 volts batteries but on this pic I see 2 battery cavity which suggest back to 18volts, is that so?

Cheers

 

[Big Poppa]

never 4.5 always 18 just like the bongo!

 

[silverburst]

Your calves are looking awesome BP! Stairmaster?

 

[oddjob]

Wow... that is all that can be said! This so sooooo cool, getting to see all of this. Thank you!

 

[gafman]

These basses look so awesome as is (unfinished). I turn 40 in a little over 12 months. I am about to start dropping the hints like crazy. Perhaps random pictures of BP with those beauties strategically placed around the house will help the campaign.