Roland V-Bass

[Wally Malone (wally_malone)]

Mica, I'm interested in the Roland V-Bass for my Orion-six. I took my bass over to Guitar Showcase to try it and found out that there is not enough room for the pickup between my bridge and pickup. Any ideas?
 
Wally

[Keith Wilson (darkbassist)]

the only thing that i could imagine that you could do is either use the v-pickup in a different spot (if it will work in a different spot) or you are going to have to get your bass altered.  

[Valentino Villevieille (valvil)]

Unfortunately the pick-up on a V-bass system has to be positioned quite precisely, or it won't track properly; the string height has to be dead on as well.  Having demoed the unit a few times for customers I've come to the conclusion that on many custom basses, the V-bass pick-up just won't fit, unless you butcher your bass by moving the bridge pick-up closer to the middle. My 2 cents on V-bass unit: if you love synth bass and also enjoy a good upright simulator & don't mind spending about 1000$ for  the V-bass & pick-up ( outside of any installation charges you may  or may not incur into), go for it.  Otherwise you can get all the same  fx  (except the simulation features) out of  the Gt-6B for about 400$ .  Besides, remember, the V-bass will NOT allow you to use your bass as MIDI controller ( as many of my customers thought).
My verdict: interesting tech, but still needs work and needs to be cheaper. For Alembic owners: best bet is to have it installed as your bass is being built. For existing basses, I can see easy install on the single pick-up  Excel basses, more complicated installs on other  2 pick-up models
 
Valentino

[mica]

Keith and Valentino are right, the bass will have to be modified by enlarging the route for the bridge pickup to allow for the Roland V-Bass pickup.
 
It isn't too complicated to move the pickup - just take off the hardware and pickups, then route away. Then you've got a bigger hole than you need. We can either fill it with wood and refinish or make a brass mounting plate for the Roland pickup.
 
I can't give you a price quote without seeing the system (I'm not familiar with the particular pickup you're referring to).
 
Of course as Valentino noted, it's best to have the bass built around the electronics. We even do that for custom electronics we make in house-we don't even make the neck until the guts are made.

[Wally Malone (wally_malone)]

Thanks to all for your responses.
 
Wally

[mica]

Hey Wally ? I was just looking something up in our guest book and saw when you were last here ? August 9, 1979 with Lady Bo. I think you're overdue for a visit!

[Wally Malone (wally_malone)]

Mica, you're right, long overdue.
 
Wally

[Michael DeVincenzo (jlpicard)]

Mica,In regards to the problem of fitting a V-Bass pickup on an Alembic;instead of moving the rear pickup,why not just retrofit a hidden hardware bridge? If the locking nut side of the bridge were recessed,( I'm not sure if it is, based on the available photos) I'm almost certain the V-Bass pickup would fit neatly in between. What do you think? Michael

[mica]

That's a good point, Michael. We do that for fitting the GK2 pickups on guitars. Silly me!
 
A new concealed hardware bridge for your 6-string bass is $240, Wally. We should coordinate a time to visit and confirm if the new bridge will give you enough space.

[Wally Malone (wally_malone)]

It might take me a while now since I started going another way and purchasing EBS pedals. I've gotten the Octabass and am looking at getting the Unichorus and IQ pedals as well. Also, I just had the opportunity to meet Mark Wright from Accugroove and have been trying out his cabinets and I'm beginning to have this serious attack of GAS.