80' Graphite Series II Lefty!

[jlpicard]

Interesting that you mention this. I have noticed a difference in response with the graphite neck especially on a gig but it has not really crystalized in my mind as to the cause untill reading your post. I was thinking the extra low action was creating this effect but know I believe you may be right about the graphite. I have noticed that diggin in doesn't seem to produce anymore response from the instrument, especially on the higher strings. I originally thought it was because of the fairly closed filter settings I was using. To compensate for this peceived effect I've raise the treble side of the pickups a bit which seems to help but you're right; It almost seems like  hitting a brick wall, limiting kind of thing! In a way, I've used this to my advantage; the bass sounds best to me with moderate to light technique which I normaly play with but there are nights when competing with my drummers (Roland V-Drum)monitor volume and my guitarists volume, who by the way also runs the board from stage ( what were we thinking letting the guitarist run sound?!) that I tend to dig in too much for my chops own good. In order to keep from hitting that ceiling I've trained myself to stay relaxed the whole night in the face of the natural tendency of the others to turn up.

[88persuader]

Personally I find if i DIG in too much I get that painful clicking from the string slapping the neck or fret. When i run through the front end (3 way) it can clip the tweaters and cause PAIN to the crowd. So I've trained myself to always play short of this click point and probably because of this haven't really experienced the different dymanics you're talking about. Also I own many different brands including of course Alembic and my only graphite neck is on my Modulus 5 string fretless. So regardless if it were a wood or graphite neck the bass is a total different animal than my other basses so I really can't compair apples to apples here. For all i know the difference could be the neck length, pick-ups, preamp, manufacturer, strings, the fact it's fretless, you name it! I'd LOVE ... LOVE to be able to put a wood neck and graphite neck bass of the same type side by side to see the difference apples to apples. If anyone has had this chance please chime in with your opinion. Regardless i have to admit, even though I consider myself an Alembic man I love my Modulus.

[kungfusheriff]

Aha!
I never warmed to Mods but used to have a fretless Steinberger strung with flats that had the same dynamic quirk...thanks for the confirmation!
I've found my Alembic gets the best response with a relatively low action, and outside of this range the signal is weak and the tone poor. Within the target range, though, I can control a pretty wide dynamic range with relatively small changes in attack...I don't have to lay into the bass noticably harder, but the dynamics are there so long as I stay below that 'ceiling.'
This is so frustrating to vocalize and so easy to demonstrate...busy this weekend? LOL

[crazykiwi]

I've found that the symptoms described have arisen from a mis match between the colouring of the amp and the tonal characterstics of the bass.
 
My Modulus Q5SS lacked projection and especially low mids when I played it though my Eden WT800 and 2x10 cabs.  
 
However, I tried it through an SWR SM400+ Goliath at the Bass Centre once and it sounded very full and projected well.  Same for when I tried it through a GK RB400 combo.  
 
I've had similar issues between other basses (graphite and wooden necked) and amps too.  Fender pbass+ampeg+810, MM Stingray+Boogie+4x12, Smith+Eden+410, Status+Trace+410, Fender Jazz/Modulus+SWR+goliath etc.  
 
My Alembic sounds good through anything however!