First impressions of Big Al 4 SSS

[Holdsg]

Acquired used white Big Al 4 SSS thru TB, and I could not be happier.
Great range of tones on her. I have already found a few favorite combinations of the buttons, after only playing for an hour or two. This ones going to be well used in my bass rotation. Love the sparkly white finish, and when combined with the tort guard, it is just so classic. Finish will never photograph well, unless I had a much better camera and knew how to use it.

Here's some pics:

understated but pretty grain on the neck, very comfy, could only imagine if this were roasted!

 

[Grand Wazoo]

Very niiiiiiice and welcome to the club proper!

 

[bovinehost]

White and tort on a Big Al is a winner.

 

[danny-79]

White and tort on a Big Al is a winner.

+1
Love that colour combo on a Big AL, Good score

 

[projectapollo]

A beauty! All three buttons up, active, smokes.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

My personal favourite settings so far are the rear and middle in series (all buttons up) in active and the middle pickup alone (a la P) in either passive or active.

Congrats on a really nice bass!

 

[OldManMusic]

That's a beauty. I'm partial to the thumpy sounds of the neck and middle pickup in active mode, but all up rocks too...

 

[Grand Wazoo]

That's a beauty. I'm partial to the thumpy sounds of the neck and middle pickup in active mode, but all up rocks too...

Yes middle and neck together it's a wonderful combination on this bass.

 

[syciprider]

Nice bass. I like bridge soloed or middle plus bridge.

 

[Holdsg]

Yep, that bridge soloed is becoming a fave for the few jazz tunes we do. So many tones in this bass that are useable in different situations/tunes.

 

[T Alan]

Sweet.

 

[Holdsg]

A beauty! All three buttons up, active, smokes.

Tried that last night, and you are 100% correct.
And all but the middle up (bridge plus neck, minus the middle), is the one that gets closest to that stingray edge, at least to my ear.

 

[lefenton]

And all but the middle up (bridge plus neck, minus the middle), is the one that gets closest to that stingray edge, at least to my ear.

Do you mean the middle button down? I find that sound to be very close to a P Bass in passive. Active mode gives it the nice growl and bite of a Stingray though for sure.

I still find myself toying around with the different tones, but by far the series mode on the middle and bridge (all 3 buttons up) is my fave too. It's just so punchy and full!!!

 

[Aussie Mark]

I just spent 3 days in the studio and used my Big Al on 4 of the 10 songs. I'm still really digging the neck + middle + active setting, which I ended up using for 3 tunes.

 

[Movielife]

All this sounds great! Definitely leaning towards a Big Al...and that white...woah....is swaying me.

 

[Chuck B]

Very nice looking Al. Love the white/tort combo

 

[Holdsg]

thanks Chuck. after a prof. setup, this one's playing so well. its a definite keeper.

 

[Movielife]

Well, I just got offered my dream job in a law firm. Literally just happened.

You know what this means?

I get Big Al for my 30th.

Ordering in the next week or so once Ive decided on colour.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

thanks Chuck. after a prof. setup, this one's playing so well. its a definite keeper.

I'd like to ask why did your new bass require a professional setup? Mine was perfect out of the box, as per factory settings, so was the Bongo 5 and the 25th, or is it because you use different setups i.e. extra low or high action?

Thanks

 

[Holdsg]

I bought the bass used, and I wanted to have my luthier look it over, check intonation, all the good stuff. Turns out truss wheel was very loose and action not as low as it could have been. Also, previous owner had monkeyed around with pickup heights, and I know my guy will get it to sound just right.