My evening with Al....

[Eggman]

So I got my DDII Big Al a few days ago - a beautiful bass. Played it a bit through my practice amp while waiting for this week's rehearsal.

Yesterday a small package from Brandt arrived - I took it home to Al. Installed EBMM Straplocks and the new coated strings. Put Al in the car and off to rehearsal.

Bandmates were impressed with Al - drummer even saying it was one of the best sounding basses he had heard.

For me, the Al was not as powerful as my HH Bongo - but it was very articulate and had a ton of tonal options. Neck felt good - though a touch small after playing only Bongos for so long. Upper register was very clear - doubled some melodies which I had not done before and it fit in wonderfully. The Al is very comfortable both on a strap and seated.

The straplocks of course are a great addition. The coated strings felt slightly different and had a very even sound - no harshness - a bit mellower to my ears than nickel wrapped.

I'd give the Big Al a big thumbs up. I was apprehensive about stepping out of the Bongo nest - but I am glad I did. This bass is a terrific alternative/addition to my sound and bass arsenal.

 

[five7]

Does it hinder you in that it is not a 5 or 6 string like your bongos?

 

[Eggman]

I have a Bongo 4HH - which is my main bass. I rarely play the 5 or 6 - only on a couple songs that require the low B string. So, no - no problem with a Big Al 4.

 

[GWDavis28]

Eggman, it doesn't exist without pictures man!!!

Nice review, can't wait to see it man.

Glenn |B)

 

[Eggman]

as requested - photos from my iPhone:

 

[Big Poppa]

Eggie

I agree with all of your review.... At the Clb last year I played the big al for awhile and you really sort of initially miss the sheer power of the bongo but you hang in there and realize that there is so much going on with this bass....

 

[Eggman]

Eggie

I agree with all of your review.... At the Clb last year I played the big al for awhile and you really sort of initially miss the sheer power of the bongo but you hang in there and realize that there is so much going on with this bass....

Yes sir. I was able to find some very funky tones I had not heard from any of my EBMM basses before. A great addition to the line up. Thanks for making it!

 

[smallequestrian]

I've sold almost everything since I got mine and I am in the process right now of selling something extremely nice and dear to me but I have no desire to play it anymore.

This bass is great, at some point I'd like to have another one to put flats on.

 

[lowliferumble]

I've sold almost everything since I got mine and I am in the process right now of selling something extremely nice and dear to me but I have no desire to play it anymore.

This bass is great, at some point I'd like to have another one to put flats on.

Now that my friends, is a glowing,unsolicited, endorsement of the highest order!!! In all of my time here on this forum, I have not ever thought of Smallequestrian as anything but a man who always thinks before he speaks(or types,as the case maybe), and never once heard or read mention of selling gear come from him!!! That definitely says a huge amount about The Big Al being an amazing instrument. I am going to have to get one......NOW!!!!!

 

[Eggman]

Now that my friends, is a glowing,unsolicited, endorsement of the highest order!!! In all of my time here on this forum, I have not ever thought of Smallequestrian as anything but a man who always thinks before he speaks(or types,as the case maybe), and never once heard or read mention of selling gear come from him!!! That definitely says a huge amount about The Big Al being an amazing instrument. I am going to have to get one......NOW!!!!!

Just Pm'd him something along the same lines as your post!

 

[smallequestrian]

I'm certainly sold more gear than I care to admit. The Big Al isn't the only reason I am selling my other bass (which is an incredible combination of art, playability and sound) but it is a big part of what allows me to do so. I do love most Musicman Instruments (and have owned most of them at one point), but none of them have spoke to me as much as the Big Al. It combines a myriad of different things from the best basses I have owned over the last 5 years (Musicmans and Non Musicmans) and puts them in a tidy, funky package.

 

[liverbird]

This bass is great, at some point I'd like to have another one to put flats on.

I love that - rather than putting them on the existing bass it's the perfect
excuse to buy another one!

 

[Big Poppa]

making Small Horsey happy makes Poppa Happy

 

[smallequestrian]

making Small Horsey happy makes Poppa Happy

I'm a rockstar at least in pics...

 

[cellkirk74]

Eggie

I agree with all of your review.... At the Clb last year I played the big al for awhile and you really sort of initially miss the sheer power of the bongo but you hang in there and realize that there is so much going on with this bass....

I did never have a bongo so i have no experience with ist, but i do own and play variety of active and passive basses and also had my first rehearsal with the Big Al yesterday.

To me the Big Al has a lot of power, but never tends to sound muddy. It sat perfectly in the mix in a way i only knew from a traditional, old fashioned instrument with a "P" before.

With my other basses i used to run them through a sansamp bddi to get them a big sound. The Big Al is big only by himself and sounded perfectly big and punchy with my peavey pro 500 set all flat.

The Big Al has a personality of its own, which i can just describe as very musically and never harsh. If it was an amplifier i would say it is sounded beautifully.

It also has the nice growl only alder gives to a bass in passive mode with the middle and bridge in series, while it can sound a bit like an alembic f1 within secondes with the neck and bridge parallel in active mode.

Being used to my stingray and those p-things for years, the neck is a little tiny but perfectly fast to play.

I am owning about 12 basses at the moment, of which some may do a certain sound better or different than the Big Al, but none of them has these possibilities with the option of adding the serious power of the bongo preamp. Some of the others will have to go now.

This is to me the biggest shot of the year. The Big Al will be a new classic.

 

[silverburst]

Great pics, Paul!

 

[Stereo_Monkey]

I've sold almost everything since I got mine and I am in the process right now of selling something extremely nice and dear to me but I have no desire to play it anymore.

This bass is great, at some point I'd like to have another one to put flats on.

+1

I have my Big Al for about 9 weeks now and after it arrived I began to sell most of my other basses. Today I have just the bassics (J and P), a 25th HSS and an extreme good sounding RB IV. But to be honest: they are not more than dust catcher...

I am even thinking about selling the 25th. The 25th looks much better than Al but playing with the band (3-Piece with shouter) I would always prefer Big Al. Actually I just ordered a second one in Olive Gold...