the Mid's are very important for me on this Spoiler! That's what make's the sound of this bass sound so beautifull! I've heard a lot of high end's but never heard such a nice low clear 'grummy' sound as this one! In all registers, from top to bottom!
My settings in general for fingerwork on my OBP-3 customized Spoiler:
- Only bridge-pickup (no neck-PU)
- Full bass in
- Full or 'Half' mid boost at 800hz(switch)
- Treble flat or sometimes 'full turn down'
That's all! Result from this setting is a very deep low 'grummy' punchy sound but with a beautifull precence in the higher regions! Even with those Aguilar electronics I still can hear a lot of detail exact as where we are used to with Alembic! Great for both groovin' and solo-ing with one setting! For solo-ing I use a subtil extra boost from my amp! I can tell you; You don't know what you hear ... even Jako should be jalous! This is different then the mid's Mica's tryed to explane in her topic about '
mids' wich will 'mudd-up' or 'mess-up'(?) all the frequencies in total! Because I was a producer for 14 years and I did a lot of 'mix-downs', I know exactly where she's talking about and she's absolute right about that. I also know where I'm talking about and my 800hz is not 'muddy' or messing-up! If placed in a right balance (depending on your amp) you can make your lows more detailed and more defined wich wil make your low's more 'understandable' but not disturbing the frequency's from your fellow-musician's! Playing or recording a bass, for me is much more then only fill-up your band with undefined low notes!(cause that's what I hear on most bands!) For me It's just like the others an very important autonomic instrument, with his own clear place in the frequency-spectrum! The trick is to find that place!
But Okay ....
For slapping I use my also beloved '89 Stingray!
If necesary I also can make a very nice slapping sound on my Spoiler but to be honest; the neck construction from a (my) spoiler is not mine for slapping! For me it's to 'thick' and not tight enough, but for heavy duty fingerstyle the Spoiler is very nice to play with and much better than a Stingray! My experience; nothing can beat a (real true old) Stingray in general just/only for slapping! Tight as a rock! That's because they're made for it! (not the crap from Ernie-OLP and other MM-clones)
If the sound of original Alembics-elecs doesn't work for me in this Spoiler, I think I leave the situation for what it is now. I'm very happy with this sound and give me a lot of inspiration and pleasure to play. Again; My Alembic in this state is absolute my sound and the best I've ever heard! For both of live- and recording situations!
For slapping; Maybe I have to try another Alembic models first (more expirimental, more detail. I only did some short tryout's)!
Any suggestions, comments or questions? Let me hear ...
