Series I Spotted in Korea

[shao]

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=UH808F5O
 
If ya want to check it out, it will cost ya a 750MB download, but it is a beauty of a five-string omega-heart Balanced K Series I in a dark wood (Cocobolo probably).  You might even find the music show entertaining, especially if you speak Korean.  This band does a couple of numbers, so the bass is shown quite a bit.  I downloaded the show as I heard IU was on it, plus some others did a spoof on 2NE1.  I was very surprised to see such a major Alembic on the show.  I have seen an Essence or two, and maybe an Epic in Korean music shows, but not a series bass, and a great one at that.
 
Here is a question, I have seen lots of players putting clamp devices on their headstocks, and I thought it was to add mass to the head stock for dead spots on the neck.  This guy has one on this $15K bass, and he is playing through the stereo output, not the 18-volt five-pin.  Does a major bass like that have dead spots, or is the clamp device used for another purpose?  Inferior minds want to know.

[dadabass2001]

It might be an onboard after-market tuner, or possibly a mini camera giving a view down the neck when switched on.
Or maybe the player enjoys neck-diving...
 
Mike
 
ps, Welcome to the club!
 
(Message edited by dadabass2001 on July 04, 2009)

[tbrannon]

I never got a clear enough shot to tell what it was... perhaps a capo clamped up on the headstock?  Plenty of guitarists I know keep 'em up there for when they need them.

[shao]

I thought about it being a capo, but a capo on a five-string bass?  I have a mid 80's Series II and I personally would not clamp anything on the headstock - nothing!  The idea of a tuner Mike mentions is interesting and maybe what it is.  Maybe this band will appear on one of the studio music shows and they will show the bass sitting in a stand while they interview the band members.

[terryc]

I think it will be a tuner, a local band's guitarist had one, I didn't know what it was until he told me, personally I think it makes the visual untidy if you get my drift. I prefer input direct to a tuner/pedal.
How accurate are they, does the wood densities affect the frequencies as they do with our ears??
Example is using ebony on the neck laminates..they pull the fundemental out and sustain forever.

[gyonnii]

Possible a Groove tube fat finger for more sustain as pictured here they come in Gold, chrome or black