awesome band practice tonight

[shakinbacon]

Think I found the sound I'd been searching for in the mix tonight!!!!

All I can say is:
Thank God for the Bongo HHp
Thank God for the Bongo preamp
Thank God for the Shuttle's tube DI
and
Thank God for Musicman

(oh and my 84-day old coated Slinky strings sounded phantabulous!)

 

[Bassmedic14]

It's nice when you get the tone your searching for........now the trick is to remember how you got it...lol!

 

[shakinbacon]

It's nice when you get the tone your searching for........now the trick is to remember how you got it...lol!

believe me, I took extensive notes including a recording!
The mixing board is digital so the settings were saved too

 

[Chuck B]

I had taken my Tokai Jazz Sound to band practice yesterday. The next time will be a Ray again!

 

[ivbenaplayin]

If you don't mind me asking, what is the biggest benefit of the piezo bridge pickup? I've never owned or used and instrument that has this, so I decided to get it on my new bongo 5 (to be delivered next monday morning...). I have a general understanding of how it functions, and can't wait to get my hands on this critter to see how it actually affects the sound... maybe some of you can give me some ideas on what to expect... drool, drool, drool...

 

[danny-79]

Yeah its nice when everything just fits together an sounds great! fair play

 

[shakinbacon]

If you don't mind me asking, what is the biggest benefit of the piezo bridge pickup? I've never owned or used and instrument that has this, so I decided to get it on my new bongo 5 (to be delivered next monday morning...). I have a general understanding of how it functions, and can't wait to get my hands on this critter to see how it actually affects the sound... maybe some of you can give me some ideas on what to expect... drool, drool, drool...

Congrats on the upcoming new bass.

Describing the piezo is pretty tough, but here goes.

The Bongo doesn't need the piezo with all of its tone shaping options, but I find now I cannot play without it. It adds a "sheen" or 3D character to the tone and playability that I cannot get without it. It is kind of like cranking the treble but without the noise or the brittleness. The sensitivity to touch is very different. It adds a punch to the note when digging in, the low end is very thick when you pluck "into" the pickguard. But if you're not careful, it can add a lot of "clank" if you eq too much.

So the biggest benefit the piezo adds to me is that extra 10% of magic to get clarity, punch, touch sensitivity and tone.

You could only use the piezo with some eq and the bass would sound very nice, but I prefer to use 50% piezo and 50% neck/bridge pickups.

Oh hell, you're just gonna have to try it yourself.

Let us know how you like it... and give it time as there are a LOT of tones to be had (personally I just want one, so it is nice to have so much control to nail what I'm going after). I suggest you start with just the magnetic pickups for a few days, then the piezo for a few days getting to know how they respond to playability and the potent eq control. Then try integrating the two. PM me with any questions you have and I'd be happy to help when you get it.

 

[ivbenaplayin]

Thanks for the input... I'm sure I'll get the hang of it eventually, & if the piezo bridge adds more clarity & punch, look out - there's gonna' be trouble!

Pics and comments to come early next week! Thanks again! (I'm so pumped...)