Big Fat Albert Sound Sample:

[RocketRalf]

Thanks, for the hollythreadresurectionbatman, I can't believe I missed it the first time! CY rocks!

 

[nurnay]

for this song i am in active mode, using the middle pick-up. some have said "thats the pbass setting", its not. a friend nailed it on the head other day when he said.."ah, the middle pickup is the pbass KILLER!!". that it is.

Since I got my Big Al, in live settings I've mostly used all 3 PU's in the up position and alternated between active and passive, depending on the song. I've recently tried to start delving into other PU configurations, and the middle PU in active is a favorite of mine. It sounds awesome!

 

[cyoungnashville]

thanks for bumping this up cats... nice stroll down memory ln. , especially since i retired from doing demos right around the time i posted this. i wanted to focus on the making of my own record (which I'm still working on and think its going to kill me), i also wanted to spend more time with my 4!!! kids, and just basically slow the whole thing down a few notches for health and happiness reasons, cause after all... I'm 40 now, and starting to feel "it". i am much happier, but also broke as shiit hahahah. oh well, ya can't always get whatcha wannt. but if you try sometimes, you get a new updated game changer. yes please.. i will be calling you today derek. lermme guess... black right? and do i HAVE to give back the proto-Type?!?!? tell em to let me keep the prototype bp!!! i mean common.. it is your b-day. four.

 

[J Romano]

Craig, love the way you take us into a journey thru the music recording world. Awesome post, and most insightful (as usual) to help up develop our own tone!

 

[cellkirk74]

big al into markbass tube compressor. this is a MAJOR part of my sound. i have heard people rag on using compression as lazy, or a way to cover up bad technique, on and on and on. dont listen to those people, cause they dont know what the heII theyre talking about. i would plug into a thighmaster if i thought it sounded cool, and inspired me.

i am constantly tweaking the mb comp. sometimes im just slamming it to death, and sometimes its barely kicking in, but its always on.

Hi Craig, I am resurrecting this because I got me a Compressore recently and was wondering if you could share some settings you are using for the Big Al. I found it kinda hard to get it kickin in just a little, especially with the BA in active mode.

I suspect it is all about the gain and threshold, but maybe you can clear that up a bit? What are your favorite settings for a subtile and a fat compression and for a more oldschool, vintage tone?

 

[lefenton]

Cellkirk, the compressore and the Big Al are amazing together! I use mine all the time in the hardcore band. My only pedal.

I can send you some of my settings if you're interested, but I too have been dying to know what knobs Mr. Young has been tweaking in his sonic experiments. Eitherway, you are right, it is all about finding the right balance between gain and threshold but also release.

 

[cellkirk74]

lefenton, I'd really like that. Thank you!

 

[jlepre]

The link doesn't work on my iPad, oh well..

 

[lefenton]

Knuckleheads,
If you can, get some Cobalts on your Big Als...soon.

I just threw a set of regular slinkies on mine and it has transformed it into an even more dominant tone monster!!! Honestly worth every cent, and I can't even explain verbally how much better it sounds as it was awesome to begin with. To put it plainly, you have to hear this for yourselves.

For anyone with a roasted BFR, this brings the ebony to life as well. The drummer and keyboardist in my one band have asked "what did you change", and smile endlessly at me during gigs about the growl these things produce. I am really over the moon with how much better these strings have made already great sounding basses become.

Maybe it's time for a Cobalt mind control ray?

 

[cellkirk74]

It sems like Craig isn't around here that often anymore. I am still hoping to get some more input on your Compressore settings.

I also got Cobalts on my Big Al 4 and they do make a difference. I am just waiting for the 5-string sets to come around to get some onto the BFR...