So... this is way the fuss is all about. :-)

[jazzyvee]

I'm already hearing the difference between my series II and my other basses. I've started to play my non series basses first during my practice sessions then series bass at the end. That way they all sound great but If I do it the other way the others sound like they are lacking which in reality they are not.  Ironically though if I play my Elan 4 string bass with the filter wide open in sounds closer in sound to my series bass than any of the others and that is all maple. However once the filter starts to be closed down the difference shows itself greatly.  
 
Hopefully over time I will be able to distinguish what is giving me the sounds I'm hearing.  
 
Thanks for the input guys.  
 
Jazzyvee

[a_martin]

Hey Jazzy,  
I was just wondering how your opinion about the tones has developed since since your last post.

[jazzyvee]

Hey a_martin, I'm still discovering the dramatic and subtleties of the sounds available on this bass. When the amp volume is low at home many of the finer settings of the CVQ do not show up as dramatically as they do when the volume is up at a higher setting when the sound is absolutely incredible. Probably more to do with the way ears work than the bass.  
 
Victor Little mentioned that to me also in a conversation on Facebook that I won't hear the bass properly at home need to gig with it all the time to get used to the controls.
 
So as much as it sounds magnificent at home I'm still aware that it has much more to offer when played at a gig or recorded. But that  said, I'm so pleased that I have eventually got to the top of the current alembic models with this bass. I really think it was the right move to make and the timing was perfect with Poor Nigel offering me the bass.  
 
One thing I do notice on all of my basses, except one which again is probably my personal tone preference, is that the only sound I don't like on them is with the filter closed on any pickup and turning on the Q-switch or turning up the CVQ. That sound is not something I could use.  With the Q/CVQ off at that point the sound is great.
 
Last night I was doing some playing on this bass and also my SC Deluxe and I still think that playing an open E on that short scale bass produces the warmest, fullest, roundest and most authoritative tone of all of my basses.  
 
I do have an upcoming gig at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham next month so I think that may be it's first public outing.  
 
Jazzyvee

[jazzyvee]

A year or so on and I'm even more impressed. That sound with the q on and filter closed is still not useable for me yet but with the filter moved slightly of closed and the Q setting up at the higher end is where all those lovely hollow nasally tones that stanley uses for soloing on tracks such as Larry has travelled 11 miles and wiated a lifetime for the return of vishnu's report, hang out. It's a beautiful tone. I wish I could solo well enough to use it as effectively.
 
Untimately long term users like the Stanley's JJ's etc of this world are gonna hear the sound they want in their heads and turn the knobs to get that sound instinctively and quickly.  
 
I, by contrast, and i'm not sure if this is frustration or joy, find that everytime I pick the bass up to play I'm finding a seemingly new and amazing sound and wondering if I will ever get it again once I move the controls elswhere.  
 
Fortunately ears have great short term memory and I get useable sounds. :-)
I'm getting better at it but it is still a long process.
 
 
Jazzyvee