The Big Al SSS

[Grand Wazoo]

I am finding this bass completely amazing, I wonder if BP & Dudley's brainchild was intended to be the way the bass actually came out on large scale production, if it was, then I am convinced these guys have seriously got big balls and an eye for a succesfull instrument.

I cannot describe in words, I really love the fact that it can go from smooth gentle tones to badass rock "take no prisoner" machine.

It really surprises me every day. WOW.

 

[MadMatt]

Thanks GW.. Just make the wait worse

 

[Duarte]

Damn I want one.

 

[drTStingray]

I cannot describe in words, I really love the fact that it can go from smooth gentle tones to badass rock "take no prisoner" machine.

It really surprises me every day. WOW.

This sounds v interesting - I'm thinking that this type of bass in one of the S modes could be good for smooth jazz such as Miles Davis - I use my SR4HH in outer coil mode for occassional forays into this territory - I guess the BA5SSS could nail this better?

 

[Grand Wazoo]

This sounds v interesting - I'm thinking that this type of bass in one of the S modes could be good for smooth jazz such as Miles Davis - I use my SR4HH in outer coil mode for occassional forays into this territory - I guess the BA5SSS could nail this better?

That is very true, I have been a long time fan of single coil pickups. My experience with it so far suggest that what this Big Al can do, no other single coil bass can.

I'll explain: imagine you set your bass to play smoothly on the neck single in passive mode with your tone control on 2 max, while all the time you have a secret ace in your sleeve by means of the active button which you had previously set with low & high mids slightly boosted, the treble flat and the bass boosted to 4/5 at the flick of a button (the active one) you can go from a mellow driving bass line that sits behind the bass drum almost behind the scenes, but still present and well heard, to a full octane frequency enhanced muscle car of a bass.

I tell you there is a difference between doing that and simply turning the volume up on a normal bass, with this, you are able to completely take centre stage "soundwise" going from one sound to another in such a remarkable way. It's a blast!

 

[five7]

That is very true, I have been a long time fan of single coil pickups. My experience with it so far suggest that what this Big Al can do, no other single coil bass can.

I'll explain: imagine you set your bass to play smoothly on the neck single in passive mode with your tone control on 2 max, while all the time you have a secret ace in your sleeve by means of the active button which you had previously set with low & high mids slightly boosted, the treble flat and the bass boosted to 4/5 at the flick of a button (the active one) you can go from a mellow driving bass line that sits behind the bass drum almost behind the scenes, but still present and well heard, to a full octane frequency enhanced muscle car of a bass.

I tell you there is a difference between doing that and simply turning the volume up on a normal bass, with this, you are able to completely take centre stage "soundwise" going from one sound to another in such a remarkable way. It's a blast!

So, it's like having two channels on your bass?

 

[cellkirk74]

So, it's like having two channels on your bass?

Yep!
If not even more.

If you do like GW suggested, you still can change the whole thing again by hitting the knob for the middle pickup and go from a deep, rich and smooth sound to a very present, precision like tone.

You can also go to full blast by simply pushing the neck button again and you'll have the series setting in active mode. By far the most aggressive sound of the BA SSS.

As I wrote several times, this bass is going to be a classic on it's own, like the Bongo.

 

[OldSchool Noob]

... As I wrote several times, this bass is going to be a classic on it's own, like the Bongo.

I agree with this.

 

[Kamakiriad]

Damn. I also want one.

 

[bassmonkeee]

So, it's like having two channels on your bass?

While I only have a single H Big Al, I'm amazed at the number of different tones I can get just by utilizing the series/parallel and active/passive buttons.

The beauty of the Big Al preamp is that the passive with the tone knob at 100% is extremely close to the active flat tone in output (at least with the single H). So, it's a great bass line (pun intended) to start tweaking from. The key is remembering that the EQ has both boost AND cut. By utilizing the cut as much as, if not more than, the boost, you can get radically different tones at a very close match in volume and account for the inherent volume difference between parallel and series.

There are very few places in our songs that require going from a feather to a sledge hammer, but I have quite a few opportunities to change things up tonally for impact without putting the attention on the bass. I pay close attention to the passive tone and output when changing the EQ on the 4 band. For example, if my current favorite passive tone is series with a slight tone knob rolloff, I know that I can use more boosting if I'm setting up a parallel active tone and I want the output to be similar.

The passive tone is so good that it is definitely "point and click" simple to good tone. If the Big Al ONLY had that tone, I would still probably want one. But, the active EQ is a tweaker's paradise. Using them together is a joyous experience.

 

[adouglas]

Damn. I also want one.

I agree with this.

 

[five7]

While I only have a single H Big Al, I'm amazed at the number of different tones I can get just by utilizing the series/parallel and active/passive buttons.

The beauty of the Big Al preamp is that the passive with the tone knob at 100% is extremely close to the active flat tone in output (at least with the single H). So, it's a great bass line (pun intended) to start tweaking from. The key is remembering that the EQ has both boost AND cut. By utilizing the cut as much as, if not more than, the boost, you can get radically different tones at a very close match in volume and account for the inherent volume difference between parallel and series.

There are very few places in our songs that require going from a feather to a sledge hammer, but I have quite a few opportunities to change things up tonally for impact without putting the attention on the bass. I pay close attention to the passive tone and output when changing the EQ on the 4 band. For example, if my current favorite passive tone is series with a slight tone knob rolloff, I know that I can use more boosting if I'm setting up a parallel active tone and I want the output to be similar.

The passive tone is so good that it is definitely "point and click" simple to good tone. If the Big Al ONLY had that tone, I would still probably want one. But, the active EQ is a tweaker's paradise. Using them together is a joyous experience.

Man, now you really got me going!