SR4 Buttercream Fretless/Piezo Praise

[Moondog]

I finally braved playing fretless in a live, hard rock band situation for the first time last night – all night. I was blown away, literally – my ’05 SR4LE w/piezo through WT800 & (2) GoliathIII 4x10’s was blowing my shirt from 4-5 feet away (waay to loud). This bass is a different animal than my other SR4’s, the piezo? it promotes such a nice, unique sound . . and it’s much “hotter” than the std SR4. I kept everything kinda flat (very little bass + mid boost) and pup/piezo 50/50 and played heavy handed with a pick . . a bit unconventional but what a great tone . . . band loved it. I’m new to FL and pleased w/the results – I kept an eye on my tuner a lot and kept decent intonation, very few sharp/flat notes. I’ve been considering a SR5HH but I don’t know . . . maybe a SR5 piezo, maybe even another fretless. Anywayz, I’m pumped over this experience and I’m goo goo over this fretless/piezo combination. I was never really wow’ed at home rehearsing at low volumes but this bass came alive last night.

 

[Moondog]

 

[Butterbass]

OH MY!!!!!!!!!!! VERY NICE!!!!!

Champagne Wishes & Buttercream dreams!!!

 

[Freddy-G.]

I so love the look of the unlined fretboard. My FL Sterling's (w/piezo) output is really hot too. Is it the piezo?

So, you're new to fretless and you played the entire gig with it? Man, you are good. Keeping good intonation on a FL has got to be THE hardest task for a bass player. With a rig like that, you should be able to hear yourself just fine.

Beautiful bass, moondog.

 

[Figjam]

damn, nice bass

 

[Dr Stankface]

Whoa.....

If you ever want to sell her, you just let me know.

You wouldn't be a very wise man to sell it though.

Andrew

 

[AnthonyD]

Fretless Rocks!

Great to hear the fretless gets some work!

Shortly after getting my Bongo FL I showed up for rehearsal with it and never put it down. The intent was to play a few "fretless" tunes with it, but it stayed out the whole night.

The band loved the tone and I found as long as I kept an eye on the side markers I was in good shape. I hope to become comfortable enough to go to the fretless for anything and everything, including an entire set as you've done.

I also LOVE the piezo and will likely have one on my next fretted EBMM. I usually play 50/50/50 and love the subtle "edge" the piezo brings to the table.

 

[Father Gino]

Frets are for pussies.

 

[Bill]

Cool, Ken! Beautiful bass!

 

[TSanders]

Ken, that fretless looks great. I love the way the piezo Rays control plate looks with 5 knobs. Weird, perhaps. Still doesnt change how much I dig it.

 

[Moondog]

It's a great bass, thanks guys.
FWIW - I'm no superstar . . just a
good, not great, bassist at best.
I have a decent ear from a few
years of violin but I still need more
time w/the beast. I posted cuz I
really think more of you should give
FL a shot - and also give piezo shot!
Killer! just ask Anthony

 

[maddog]

I'm starting to consider fretless.

No worries, Jack, I'm not changing my order














(yet)

 

[AnthonyD]

It's a great bass, thanks guys.
FWIW - I'm no superstar . . just a
good, not great, bassist at best.
I have a decent ear from a few
years of violin but I still need more
time w/the beast. I posted cuz I
really think more of you should give
FL a shot - and also give piezo shot!
Killer! just ask Anthony

Abso-tively!

I completely agree... Don't fear the fretless!

 

[radiotrib]

Sorry to hijack ther thread a bit, but for aomeone out of the old skool ... can somebody please explain the what is it what does it do, how does it work ... about piezo .. and ... i don't see anything different in the picure above so it must be something internal ... if so might it be posssible to retrofit one to a 1980 fretless if felt adventurous ??? (apart from working out how to manage the positioning of additional controls that is) or mebbe I should just keep it original ...

 

[Psycho Ward]

Well, you and I have to look at other brands to play a bass with piezo's... being lefty and all.

The only one I've played is a Rob Allen Mouse 30 lefty with only a piezo pickup under the bridge, it sounds great, if it weren't for the frets, it would sound like an upright. It's a semi-hollow body with tapewound strings and the notes blossom and it's a fat, but it's a one trick pony. I can only imagine what it would sound like on a Bongo... or a Sterling, SR4...

I would buy a SR4 or a Sterling lefty H/S/P fretless right this minute... (Jack, you wanna take a crack at it? I bet BP could make a sailor blush! )











*pssst, Jack, would you send me a PM with the highlights of BP's hmmmm, response. Then tell him I was only joking.... oh yeah, send me the highlights from that too hehehehehehehehe *

 

[Golem]

I finally braved playing fretless in a live, hard rock band situation for the first time last night – all night. I was blown away, literally – my ’05 SR4LE w/piezo through WT800 & (2) GoliathIII 4x10’s was blowing my shirt from 4-5 feet away.........

Very truly glad you had big fun. Now, about being brave. You call that brave? Go play FL in a nondeafening trio and I'll be the first to heap up your props. Double that if there's a piano. You played violin. You can do it.

 

[radiotrib]

Well, you and I have to look at other brands to play a bass with piezo's... being lefty and all.

So EBMM don't do leftie piezo units then ... on the other hand ...

I have read a bit about them, and it seems they have the piezo unit in the bridge saddles, so one would guess (probably erroneously) that with some extremely cautious de/re soldering, the saddles could be swappped around so they would work leftie fashion .. n'est ce pas ?

 

[adouglas]

Sorry to hijack ther thread a bit, but for aomeone out of the old skool ... can somebody please explain the what is it what does it do, how does it work ... about piezo .. and ... i don't see anything different in the picure above so it must be something internal ... if so might it be posssible to retrofit one to a 1980 fretless if felt adventurous ??? (apart from working out how to manage the positioning of additional controls that is) or mebbe I should just keep it original ...

M'kay....

The piezo is another pickup that is built into the bridge (you can tell a piezo bridge because the saddles look different...they're square blocks instead of little cylinders; you can also tell a piezo-equipped bass because there's another access plate on the back, behind the bridge).

It works differently from an ordinary magnetic pickup. A piezo pickup senses the physical vibration of the string (direct contact). A magnetic pickup senses the string vibrating inside a magnetic field.

Piezos sound different. Most say they sound more "woody" or "acoustic." Past piezos I've used do indeed sound this way. The one on my Bongo does not IMHO...it adds edge and bite. Piezos also typically sound thin on their own.

There's always a blend control so you can mix the piezo with the magnetic pickup(s).

No, you can't retrofit your bass.

It's pronounced "pee-AY-zoe."