Author Topic: Not getting it? (Read 349 times)

pinchdawg · « **on:** February 24, 2006, 07:12:59 PM »

I just purchased my first series I. I thought that it would blow me away but I cant get that stanley clark/mark king sound. What am doing wrong? I have been playing for around 20 yrs. so it is not my ability. It is a 1980 series I four string. I have the action set low for slapabilty with dr high beams. My rig consists of 2 bag end 15s and an ashdown 300 watt evo head. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Jim

keavin · « **Reply #1 on:** February 24, 2006, 07:31:39 PM »

Dude, play with those Knobs, treat them like Titties ,,,,,Each twist is A turn on........be patient.

(Message edited by keavin on February 24, 2006)

keavin · « **Reply #2 on:** February 24, 2006, 07:35:08 PM »

play wit em ,,,,

lidon2001 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 24, 2006, 07:52:56 PM »

Hi Jim,

I wanted to get the sound of Stanley as well with my Signature Deluxe. To that end I went with similar woods, coco - maple accent - vermilion, short scale, Stanley's neck dimensions, 70's pickup spacing, Rotosound FunkMaster strings. I think I can get as close to the sound I imagined, though the Series electronics would take me closer I'm sure. I imagine wood choices, strings, pickup spacing and scale all add to the tone.

I have been experimenting with the use of the Q swtiches and found some absolutley amazing tones. Right now, I have this crazy fretless type tone mixing with the frets that I'm just nuts about. Building one's own tone with the Alembic electronics is a very interesting and fulfilling experience for me.

Tom

keavin · « **Reply #4 on:** February 24, 2006, 07:59:34 PM »

Remember this, that stanley sound is the series sound & you are only gonna get it from a seriesI/II alembic Bass.

(Message edited by keavin on February 24, 2006)

lidon2001 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 24, 2006, 10:40:46 PM »

If you go to www.stanleyclarke.com, and Enter the site, there's a very good picture of Stanley where you can see the positions of his controls. Don't forget to check out his gear, and see his effects. And enjoy the music.

Mardi Gras on the mind Kevin?

Tom

(Message edited by lidon2001 on February 24, 2006)

palembic · « **Reply #6 on:** February 25, 2006, 12:41:42 AM »

Jim, to talk about Mark. As far as I know somthing of his gear: his speakers where never 15 's ...or not as main. The slapping thing comes out with more small speakers like a 4x10 combination and the tweeter.
I think for his amp he boosted the lows and the highs. I suspect him to favoour the Bridge PU a bit.
As far as I know: for STanley is it a combination of the two. I don't know the mic between NPU and BPU but I know that he worked with Q-swtich and filter to have a quacking sound. I DO know that SC plays with a lot of meat while plucking the bass. He plays close to the beginning of the fingerboard and uses the meaty side of the finger iff I remeber well.
JUst my 2cts

Paul TBO

keavin · « **Reply #7 on:** February 25, 2006, 03:51:40 AM »

http://www.stanleyclarke.com/gear_pg.htm

keith_h · « **Reply #8 on:** February 25, 2006, 07:04:59 AM »

Stanley has historically run the pickups through two different rigs. As I recall in his earlier years he ran the neck pickup through 15 speakers and the bridge pickup through 10 speakers. I believe he uses EV 18's for the neck pickup these days and 10's for the bridge. I recall reading somewhere that he has a Marshall that he also drives off the bridge pickup. In addition he uses two F-1X preamps. I think all of this contributes to his sound.

While I don't have Series electronics I have noticed a big difference is the sound when I run my bass in stereo through two rigs. I get a much fuller sound since each rig can be optimized for its pickup. When I do this I use 10 for the bridge pickup and either 15 or 18 for the neck pickup. I have also noticed that the volume increase when both pickups are selected in mono mode disappears.

When I run mono I use either 10 and 15 or 10 and 18 bi-amped. The 10 have a horn. I personally prefer the 10 and 15 best. The 10 are important for getting the high end bite. I also boost the lows and highs on the preamp.

Keith

David Houck · « **Reply #9 on:** February 25, 2006, 07:16:19 AM »

I don't know how to get someone else's sound; it's not something I've ever wanted to do. But try this procedure and see if it gets you going in the right direction. Set your amp controls flat. Cut the neck volume all the way down and open the bridge filter all the way up (fully clockwise). Flip the bridge Q to high (down). Play some notes on the G string in the middle of the neck. You should be getting a lot of high end attack. At this point you may want to adjust this high end attack a little with the amp controls. Now roll the neck filter all the way down (fully counter-clockwise) and flip the neck Q to high (down). Leaving the bridge controls where they are, start bringing the neck volume up a little at a time. As you play some notes you should notice some low end support to all that high end attack. Once you have a nice balance between the neck and bridge volumes, flip the neck Q off (up); this will clean up the low end leaving the attack on the high end. Now cut the neck Q back on again and roll the neck filter up a little; this will start bringing in some low-mid growl. Etc., etc.

I don't know if this will get you where you want to go. My guess is that the attack Mark King has in his sound is coming from the bridge pickup with filter open and Q on. I know there are some folks here in the forum that know how to get Clarke's and King's sounds and if they notice this thread perhaps they can give you a better idea. I don't sound like Clarke or King; but the above procedure might get you started in the right direction. Or not. I could be completely off base here.

pinchdawg · « **Reply #10 on:** February 25, 2006, 07:54:47 AM »

Thanks All, The advice I get in this forum is allways the best. I will be trying all these methods to find that series sound I,m looking for.Today I will go to Bass Northwest and pickup my power supply then I will go talk to mike lull at his shop and have my bass gone through electronically/setup. The trim pot thing is a little confusing so maybe he can adjust and explain it to me. I am also gonig to have him move the selector switch, it's in the worst place for a slapper like me. Thanks again, Jim

David Houck · « **Reply #11 on:** February 25, 2006, 08:15:39 AM »

Jim; get an Allen wrench (hex head wrench) and loosen the knob on the pickup selector switch. Don't take the little screws completely out; they are tiny and get lost easily. Just a little turn on both screws is sufficient. Point the switch in a different direction so that it doesn't stab you when you are playing; then retighten the screws.

If that doesn't help, rather than move the switch you might want to consider selling the bass and buying a newer model. Just a thought. The switch starts showing up in the newer location in the mid '80s; so the difference in price is probably not significant. Once you've drilled a hole in the top of your Series I, you can't undrill it.

j_gary · « **Reply #12 on:** February 25, 2006, 09:56:53 AM »

Good idea Dave. I would think long and hard prior to cutting up the old girl.

keavin, may I say you have a wonderful bass instrucion method. I think your informative style shall help me with my bass playing and the ladies. Please advise upon lesson #2. I hope I've stopped laughing by then. BRILLIANT!!!

pinchdawg · « **Reply #13 on:** February 25, 2006, 10:18:24 AM »

Thanks Dave, I have a Q. about why I would not want to mod. this bass. Is it a reduction in value that you are eluding to? I am a player not a collector but I would like to keep the value of this instrument. In it's current set up it does not fit my style. I have about 3200.00 in to this bass with the new power supply/cord should I sell and find one more to my style. Modifying this bass will probably cost more $. Thanks, Jim

bsee · « **Reply #14 on:** February 25, 2006, 10:53:02 AM »

Do you ever use the pickup selector? If you're one of the people that always leaves both pickups on and uses the volumes to balance, then you can probably replace the switch with a blank plate while just hardwiring the bass to have both pickups on. This would probably be an inexpensive and reversible mod.

If, on the other hand, you want the switch moved, then you have a few things to consider. First, there has to be space in the control cavity to locate the switch. If you drill a new hole, you will probably want the new style switch - not sure if it's physically any different, but there is no circular plate so it will be less of a hole. If you went to sell the bass down the road, you could leave it as modded, I doubt it would be much of a value hit. Alternately, you could put the original switch back and find something else to put in the new hole. A master volume control would be great if that's an option they would sell you. If not, then some kind of EQ switch or knob might work. Maybe a stereo/mono switch for the output jack depending on where the new hole goes?

Just thinking out loud here...