Hey Rex... it's your Big AL!

[Big Poppa]

Never say Never but the bongo is what a bongo is and thats a lot.....

 

[darkblack]

Just like you won't see Bongo guts in a Ray and a pickup selector switch on a Bongo.

Both probably true from a factory perspective, but the latter is more a question of visual aesthetics...A switch altering the sleek visage, sounding a retro note within a modern design. What I am referencing is solely in terms of function.

Indeed, the Bongo is 'quite a lot'. Having a 4-band active EQ at your fingertips is a matchless feature but being able to call upon the passive tones of such a well-crafted instrument extends the possibilities further, as it no doubt does in the Big Al's case also.

 

[Big Poppa]

YOu have a good point but if we put exactly the same features in every bass the only difference would be neck and body shapes...also the player may not want what you may llike so we make multiple models and try to address the market

 

[Czar]

Can you report how this hangs on a strap?

 

[smallequestrian]

Pretty much like a Sterling. The strap connects in basically the same places and the neck is identical. The Big Al body is slightly thicker, than the Sterling, so the body might tend to be a bit heavier, but as always, wood varies.

I wouldn't anticipate any balance issue with the Big Al. It lays well on the leg too while sitting as well.

 

[darkblack]

YOu have a good point but if we put exactly the same features in every bass the only difference would be neck and body shapes...also the player may not want what you may llike so we make multiple models and try to address the market

A sound strategy sir, and I would certainly concede your point. There will always be a subjective limit to how many features are desirable in an instrument.
A manufacturer could quite handily build a virtual 'Swiss Army knife' of a guitar but would a potential customer use it all, or even want to?
One of the 70's custom models in my possession has knobs and switches galore, every tonal variation possible given the tech of the times (and in stereo)...yet during live performance, I was overly adventurous if I was using but three of them.

I daresay the capacities of the Bongo (and possibly the Big Al although I must in fairness reserve judgment until actually having played one) are already far beyond basic, in any event. Thank you for entertaining my thoughts.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

Very nice and eloquently put, Mr. darkblack, I like your style and while all ideas are good in the originator's mind, not often as you've put it, these are met by the mass in the same way.

My only wish for a future EBMM production would be to have an humbucker with a coil split so that you can get both the humbucker sound and the single coil one. That alone to me, and for my peruse, would be more useful than a passive / active switch, because I tell you in full honesty I own two other basses (which shall go nameless) with the active / passive switch, so far in 22 years I have never used that feature in a live situation, and I am not a recording artist, which is probably where that feature might come handy... but the manufacturer of those basses said it was useful if you run out of battery while on stage and... what are the chances of that happening? Slim to none, I should say.

 

[darkblack]

Thank you for your kind words, GW. Indeed, a coil split could be most useful in an HS or H array, perhaps with a variable circuit for even further possibilities.

I would concur with your experience regarding active/passive switches...They really only have 2 uses, in recording studios to bypass the contouring of onboard preamps pre-strip EQ and as a quick method of reactivating a 'dead' bass onstage.
My interest is in the studio application, but I also like to minimize onstage risks...It's doubtful that sudden battery failure is a critical issue with my Bongo 6, however.

One of my other instruments with two passive single coils features a series/parallel push-pull which has expanded the classic tone palette it offers considerably, especially with 'scooped' funk styles. It never ends, does it?

 

[oddjob]

Never say Never but the bongo is what a bongo is and thats a lot.....

Yes, it does. I never fail to get complements on my tone... regardless of the room or the rig. The Bongo was a stroke of brilliance... and I am afraid to play the Al until I have cash on hand (the wife has already threatened me) because if it is half as good as the Bongos I am in serious trouble.

 

[Randracula]

That is awesome, Pete! It looks exactly like I pictured it.

Thanks Pete, BP and the whole gang at EBMM!

Man that is a beautiful bass Rex. I'll have to stop by sometime and check it out, bet it will sound great through the Genz Benz......

 

[Big Poppa]

Dark Black and qazoo will you feel foolish if our active passive switch works better than your pre concieved opinions? It also may not...but please pontificate after playing one and then it will be more than words....

 

[Grand Wazoo]

Dark Black and qazoo will you feel foolish if our active passive switch works better than your pre concieved opinions? It also may not...but please pontificate after playing one and then it will be more than words....

Dear BP I am extrelmely sorry but please don't read my comment as negative, I rate your products very highly and I wasn't at all criticising the passive / active switch. I am aware of the great sound possibilty a passive pickup offer, as I do remember very vividly Jazz & P basses nuances, and I for one am in great expectation to try your 25th Ann. bass at the UK bass show and as pre-announced I will be subsequently placing an order for one of these for sure. So I am happy about your new instruments and very thankful of the time you take to make these and to feed us with your valid info on this forum.

Peace

 

[Big Poppa]

relax I was making a point that the arrival of the bass is days away and we can make informed comments then.

 

[Smakbass]

I liked the passive sound of the Big Al alot..and normally im an active guy....

 

[strummer]

I learn english in this thread, you guys really put the whole niternetz menatality to shame

That Big Al is a seriously wild bass, and I for one don't give a hoot about the knobs and switches, I just want it with one more string! Then again, maybe it's just as well that it's only available in a four string, as my bass funds are a tad stretched haha

 

[Spudmurphy]

I'm late to this one and I just gotta say that the Big AL pictured in this thread looks absolutely stunning - the tort pickguard works so well on this guitar.
Man I love the p'shopped lefty version too!!

Anybody who buys one of these is more than welcome to become a fully fledged member of the ALOC

Awesome awesome awesome

I can't wait to try one at the knucklehead bash !!!