Author Topic: Series bass question (Read 681 times)

tylere · « **Reply #15 on:** August 29, 2003, 08:49:07 AM »

I don't really know, I've only used the flats on a fretless, which isn't really something you slap on... Wouldn't say it's out of the question, but they're probably NOT ideal for slapping.

Manfred · « **Reply #16 on:** August 31, 2003, 02:44:54 PM »

I've talked a lot this weekend with my guitarist about woods, neck woods and neck thickness. About tone, about taking your bass out of it's case so it can pick up all vibrations in the room, etc etc. But, there is also one major difference between the old and new basses. The pickup selector switch. In the '70s it was placed on the lower horn of the bass, and the space between the neck pickup and the neck itself was a lot smaller these days. So, you were forced to thump and pluck between the neck and bridge pickup. Well, I did the same on my '98 series I/II and voila, there it was, the good old buttery sound. Try it.
For me it works perfect, it's pretty hard to do but just like the old basses, you have to get used to it to make it work.

Manfred

hifibassman · « **Reply #17 on:** September 02, 2003, 10:34:43 AM »

Manfred,

i had noticed this also, if you play the strings between the two pickups directly above the dummy humcanceller you will get a very rounded out balanced sound. If you slap and snap there, you'll get most of that '70 and '80 ish series bass signature sound. This is where you will get the most buttery sound from- like stanley's slap sound. But if you listen to Mark King, his series bass sound a bit more edgy and clanky, but still super clean. he does slap very close to the fretboard past the neck pickup. Mark's sound to me has very little buttery sound in it, but it is way more punchy and a bit sterile because of his extreme slap technique.

(Message edited by hifibassman on September 02, 2003)

joweejojo · « **Reply #18 on:** September 02, 2003, 03:18:01 PM »

Hi, long time reader, first time writer. Buttery sound? That's a good way to describe it. I have a '81 Series II with walnut top and back, mahogany center, and is very buttery. But, my '00 Mark King standard with quilted maple top and mahogany core isn't so buttery. It must only be the Series that sound this way. Slave? I didn't think anyone knew that group. By the way, Mark Adams is the bass player's name.

hifibassman · « **Reply #19 on:** September 03, 2003, 03:52:42 AM »

joweejojo,

I was describing Mark King of level 42's bass sound. But you're right, Mark Adams is from the group slave, and he did play a series bass also. His sound was raw and powerful, but super clean like Mark King. I think Adam's sound was a little different from the other ones- i can't figure out what he did to make that series bass sound so raw. Lots of power and edge to it- no butter, but extremely bright and clear. in your case with that '00 Mark King standard, i think you need that middle hum canceller pickup to get that series bass sound- it does contribute certain harmonics to the sound.

palembic · « **Reply #20 on:** September 03, 2003, 05:51:13 AM »

Ha-ha!
I spotted a newcomer!
Joweejojo...welcome to the club!
A bunch of incredible sweet AND weird people who love to change the world with low frequency attacks! Well ...that is to say ...in the most peaceful meaning of that word.
The whole PAUL departement is now yelling pictures-pictures-pictures so please climb in to your old Pencaclickon camera, ask to put the pictures on a CD and load them into the appropriate department in this club. So we all can enjoy your baby!
Anyway, welcome again, the other Pauls will be here now any minute so ...got to run!

Paul the bad one

PS: the humcanceller is a kind of noise gate. I think it pick-ups certain hisses and filters them out. I'm not a technician (the more thechnical Pauls can explain however). I think we must remenber that the Series PU are huge singe coils. If you have a Fender Strat hanging around somewhere that are also single coils and SMALL ones. Those guitars have a hissing attitude already. Can you imagine why there is that humcanceller with those BIG single coils on a series. The other PU of Alembic are from the Humbucking type but you have to check that in the club. If I remember well Mica explained somewhere the principle of making those PU what is COMPLETELY different from other PU-brands ...of course ...otherwise it wouldn't be Alembic

kayo · « **Reply #21 on:** September 03, 2003, 07:05:48 AM »

Yo Fellas -

Slave was huge in the late 70's early 80's in the R&B/Soul/Funk genres..... everyone I knew - knew of them.... indeed Mark Adams used to tear it up like that layin' down the slap back then - when not too many outside of Clark and Graham were hip on it.