Author Topic: MK vs. Series construction (Read 239 times)

jlpicard · « **on:** November 26, 2003, 12:28:25 PM »

Has anyone had the opportunity to compare a MK deluxe w/series I/II electronics, to a Standard SeriesI/II? I'm curious about the influence of the hollow vs. solid core construction.( all else being equal,ie. woods, scale length etc.) Also has anyone had experience with a vermilion core vs. mahogany? I'm reading stuff lately about Vermillion giving a little more warmth to the low end? thanks, Mike

malthumb · « **Reply #1 on:** November 26, 2003, 01:08:01 PM »

Bass balanced on my foot: Series I semi-hollow, walnut top and back, mahogany core.

Bass strapped up: Mark King Deluxe solid body w/ Series II electronics, cocobolo top / back, maple accent laminates, mahogany core.

The Series I has a very piano like tone. That's the unsolicited comment I get from almost everyone who's laid a hand on it. The Mark King / Series II is a tone monster. Very low and smooth lows, tight crisp highs. Sounds like you're playing through a chorus effect all the time. Personally I think this is more a function of the cocobolo than the solid body construction.

The Series I always has a fairly crisp tone to it, no matter how I set the controls. There is just this underlying precision to the tone. The MK/SII can be as aggressive or as mellow as I want it to be.

Don't know if I've helped.

jlpicard · « **Reply #2 on:** November 27, 2003, 08:53:03 PM »

Thanks for the insight.Is the Mark King a 32 scale?the reason ffor asking is that I happen to own a walnut Europa and a cocobolo Distillate.Same basic electronics package.They are very different tone wise.The Europa has a very tight, clear and distinct low end with an easily attainable slap tone,While the Distillate has a warm round bottom but is harder to dial in a good slap tone.Mica tells me it is a function of the scale length but Mark King has no problems with a medium scale(series electonics aside),I wonder if the cocobolo has something to do with it(or just my idea of a good slap tone)?!

malthumb · « **Reply #3 on:** November 28, 2003, 07:15:25 AM »

Capt. P.,

Both basses are 34 scale. It is easier to dial in a slap tone on the 4 string walnut Series I, but I can certainly get a really nice slap tone on the 5 string cocobolo Series II. If I want it to sound close to Marcus Miller (as if!!) then I use the 4 string. The slap tone on the 5 string is excellent, but remember what I refer to as the chorus effect. I think Mica has described cocobolo as having a complex sound. IME, it sorta sounds like you're hearing 2 or more fundamentals. It's tough to get the tight, clear... sound on the high end string snaps when I'm thumpin' on it. Again, not impossible, just tougher than on the Series I because I have to suppress some of the chorusing to get glass shattering highs without some lows mixing in.

Peace,

James

dfung60 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 30, 2003, 10:53:36 PM »

Can't beat malthumb's answer since he owns exactly the kind of basses you're asking about, but it is a kind of funny question.

A regular MK Deluxe will sound quite different than a Series bass because the signature basses don't have Series electronics. That means humbuckers instead of the two single coil Series pickups with canceller. Mark King was playing a Series bass, not a MK.

The Series semi-hollow construction makes the basses sound really different when not plugged in but I don't know that they would be that different amplified. The sound is dominated by the thru-body neck structure anyway. I seem to remember Alembic saying that pretty explicitly when I had my first Series built and went to the factory to pick woods - the neck woods matter a lot (not in my case, as this was a graphite neck bass), but the body woods were sort of paint. I don't think that was meant to say there was no effect, but that it was subtle compared to the neck structure.

The Series body still has a very thick top and back plate (must be 3/8), so the acoustic effect is pretty minimal. Both the cut out areas are pretty filled with electronics as well. I don't know about malthumb's custom, but by the time you route for the second circuit board, even a solid body instrument is getting pretty hollow. Of course, that wouldn't be the case with the humbuckers.