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Worth the wait, it WAS! BIG AL 5 SSS pics!!!

Beautiful Bass GW!!!

I agree with everything you have said on the versatility of the tone and the BA being worth every penny. This thing has blown my mind since I first touched it!!! SSS all the way!!! Also, the maple FB feels really nice and the neck finish is beautiful to play...

One question that I have had since removing my manufacturer's stickers was about the "Always use with a high impedence input" bit.

With my amp (MESA M-PULSE 600) there's a passive/active switch. I put this on active when using the active mode on the bass and switch the amp to passive when using the passive mode on the bass. I found that leaving the decible cut on for the passive mode cuts the output of the bass too much and my volume levels aren't the same, as is the intended effect of this switch.

My question is, is this sticker just there to let people know who aren't aware of the pure, unharnessed power of this bass in active mode to plug it in to an amp channel with padding?

Or am I missing something? I haven't had any problems to date, but I found it interesting that this disclaimer was on the bass.
 
lefenton said:
Beautiful Bass GW!!!

I agree with everything you have said on the versatility of the tone and the BA being worth every penny. This thing has blown my mind since I first touched it!!! SSS all the way!!! Also, the maple FB feels really nice and the neck finish is beautiful to play...

One question that I have had since removing my manufacturer's stickers was about the "Always use with a high impedence input" bit.

With my amp (MESA M-PULSE 600) there's a passive/active switch. I put this on active when using the active mode on the bass and switch the amp to passive when using the passive mode on the bass. I found that leaving the decible cut on for the passive mode cuts the output of the bass too much and my volume levels aren't the same, as is the intended effect of this switch.

My question is, is this sticker just there to let people know who aren't aware of the pure, unharnessed power of this bass in active mode to plug it in to an amp channel with padding?

Or am I missing something? I haven't had any problems to date, but I found it interesting that this disclaimer was on the bass.
Click to expand...

Well that sticker, (I've noticed) it's appearing on all the new EBMM basses featuring the 18 volts preamp, i.e Bongo, Big Al, 25th Anniversary and it's succesor: the Reflex.

It is not really something you want to let your dinner get cold over the discussion of it. Even if your amp only has one input then what you must do is calibrate your input level so that the power of the preamp doesn't clip into "unwanted" distortion, then adjust your master volume accordingly. That's all. If your amp has this passive / active switch then use it as you see fit. There is this thing I've noticed with my Big Al and the 25th as both basses have that active / passive switch and that is that unless you pump the bass well above the middle detent mark, and you go from passive to active the jump in power is not that unfriendly or let's say overly high in volume. However if you are playing passive and you are just using your passive tone control while your preamp is set to mega numbers when you switch to active be careful as it'll knock out the fillings out your teeth. So before you do... adjust the volume by turning it down a couple of notches ;)
 
Grand Wazoo said:
Well that sticker, (I've noticed) it's appearing on all the new EBMM basses featuring the 18 volts preamp, i.e Bongo, Big Al, 25th Anniversary and it's succesor: the Reflex.

It is not really something you want to let your dinner get cold over the discussion of it. Even if your amp only has one input then what you must do is calibrate your input level so that the power of the preamp doesn't clip into "unwanted" distortion, then adjust your master volume accordingly. That's all. If your amp has this passive / active switch then use it as you see fit. There is this thing I've noticed with my Big Al and the 25th as both basses have that active / passive switch and that is that unless you pump the bass well above the middle detent mark, and you go from passive to active the jump in power is not that unfriendly or let's say overly high in volume. However if you are playing passive and you are just using your passive tone control while your preamp is set to mega numbers when you switch to active be careful as it'll knock out the fillings out your teeth. So before you do... adjust the volume by turning it down a couple of notches ;)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the insight...it was helpful to know. I guess the sticker is just as I thought, more of a disclaimer to waive any liability for the unknowing misuse of the 18v preamp.

I actually noticed what you are saying about the preamp controls when I first was experimenting. I usually keep the preamp bass and mid bass usually just slightly above the detent mark. I try to keep it so the tone controlled from my amp generates the meat and potatoes of my sound and then use the onboard stuff on the bass to fine tune anything that I find missing at that time or for a specific song. That's the beauty of the Big Al though is that there's so much fine tuning that one can do and you can pretty well dial in any kind of sound you want.

For the most part, I'm really digging the series mode. The M alone is quite nice, same for N and M...any way you slice it, it sounds good really.
 
A praise for EBMM QC

Just in case anyone had doubts about the level of quality control that EBMM instruments go through, let me tell you this bass was sent by UPS from SLO to Strings & Things UK in some plane's cargo hold, where the temps normally drop very low, then another courier took it to the shop, where I collected it.

The salesman in the store asked me if I wanted the bass to be given a p.d.c. (pre delivery check / setup) I politely said no thanks as I didn't want anyone's paws on it. I was so confident about it being fine that eventually the following day when I was allowed to actually open the box and try it out, it was no surprise that the bass was set to perfection, no trussrod issues at all, its still set in the way it left the factory, we are going through a heatwave at the moment here in UK (unusual for us) and 2 days later the set up hasn't shifted one bit, the intonation is spot on and the action is also perfect.

Big up the SLO crew!
 
i am gutted, i just read the post about you selling your SR5,i would have bought it in a heart beat,never mind prob just as well;)

congrats again on the big AL,i have to find a weekend free so i can go play with your toys !
 
DTG said:
i am gutted, i just read the post about you selling your SR5,i would have bought it in a heart beat,never mind prob just as well;)

congrats again on the big AL,i have to find a weekend free so i can go play with your toys !
Click to expand...

I didn't know you was in the market for one, otherwise I'd have sent you a note
 
its cool Fran,your not a mind reader !!

and i'm not in the market for another bass (have to get a new car for the missus !) i just loved your SR5.....i think i might bring my one to the gig tonight !
 
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