'79 Series I : sounds like its on chorus ??

[tkotmk42]

Hello fellow Alembicans!   


Long time since I last owned one, but now, I'm back in Japan, and I have my first 4str Series I MSB!!!!   But I have some things I would like to clarify/get help from the experts on this board.


My bass, especially the E string, sounds like it is on chorus pedal.  I am not sure if I'm making any sense, but it is on all strings, but very pronounced on the E string.
I checked for any loose things on the bass.  The center hum canceller is loose, but the sound doesn’t change even if I hold it in its place firmly.
This is my first 'real' series instrument, my first old-body thickness, hollow body Alembic.  Back in '02, I had MK Deluxe made with all the woodwork done as Series bass, just without the electronics, and I don’t remember it having this sound effect.


Any clue?  or is this how series basses with real series electronics sounds?    Your help/comments/suggestions/opinions are all welcomed.


Thanks!!!!


Takeo Sonoi

[jazzyvee]

Have a read of this thread. I was hearing a chorusy type of sound from my series I short scale bass and there is some discussion here that may help you understand what is going on.
https://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=26295.msg266745#msg266745

[tkotmk42]

Thank you jazzyvee !!    I read the entire thread... latter part was bit much for 1am reading.
I will try to adjust the pickup height first, and see what happens (I did raise the hight after I got it, so that may be it).

Again, thanks for the pointer! 

Takeo

[JimmyJ]

Takeo,

Congrats on the new bass and welcome back to the club! 

As Jazzyvee and that long (sorry) thread suggest, I think your first move should be to lower the pickups.  Doing so may lower the output level of the bass but you can use the trimpots to raise it, if you need to.  Remember that the overall tone of these instruments does not change with the output volume.

If that doesn't stop the chorusing, I'd suggest trying a new set - or a different brand of strings.

Let us know what you discover.

Jimmy J

[xlrogue6]

+1 on Jimmy's new/different string recommendation.

[rv_bass]

Just curious, what would cause a specific type of string to make a chorus sound?

[tkotmk42]

Hi guys.

First of all, thank you very much for everyone who chimed in, much appreciated!!!!

Just finished lowering the pickup height.  Yup, that took care of most of the chorusing effect, thank you very much!
Although much much less, I can still hear it.  I will try the new strings, but finding a set of 35-55-75-95 from manufacturers other than D'Addario is very tough (I have yet to see one physically), I will see once I procure something else.  BTW, currently using D'Addario Nickel Wond.

Also, is this "Jimmy J", the one and only Mr. Jimmy Johnson ?    If so, I am in such awestruck and super honored to receive a word from one of my bass hero.
Your work on Dave Grusin's song "History Lesson" on the Happy Anniversary Charlie Brown album from GRP back in 1989, is still THE SONG for me. 
It's probably one of many songs you played, but somehow, I just loved the song and the bass playing, that was one of the first time that I started to recognize and explore about this 'bass' guitar.   
Just wanted to thank you for giving me such inspiration!  (just listening to it now, your bass noodling after around 2:50 just gets me... i donno why, I just love it)
Oh, since I love the song so much, I threw enough superchat to convince one of the Japanese bass-youtuber to cover this song for me.
He was also playing the 5 string Alembic, I figure it was a destiny calling! 

And your work on Kilimanjaro album on Rippingtons......Oceanson was the first song I realized there's such thing as 'fretless bass guitar'....
Sorry, just got carried away. 


Anyways, thank you very much!!!

Takeo Sonoi

[JimmyJ]

Takao,

Glad lowering the pickups helped.  Can they go any lower?  The reason for that is that the pickup's magnets can sometimes "drag" on the vibrating string too much and dampen it while it rotates...  Doesn't always work that way though.  How old are your strings?  Sometimes when they wear out they can act weird too.  And I see you prefer light gauges.  Do you know if the bass was set up originally for a heavier gauge set?  In other words, is there a chance the nut and bridge slots are too large and your strings are not being held securely?  Does the chorusing effect happen when you play a low-F or G or only the open strings?

So many questions!  Ha!

Not to derail your thread but yeah, that's me... well, a 32 years younger me.    Who else would you expect to run into in the Alembic forum?  Glad to hear some of my bass playing caught your ear back then.  It once again proves the power and reach of music.  You never know who in the world might hear and enjoy some music you've played on.  Thanks for the story.  And that "Takeo bass" in the video is not you, correct?  Hard to tell with his interesting choice of headwear.  The Grusin brothers, Ritenour and that whole GRP group were real nice folks and a big part of that early smooth jazz sound.  And funny but that Rippington's track you mention credits both me and Bill Lamphier on bass so I'm not sure how much is actually me.  The bass tone sounds a little odd in parts, although they may have processed it somehow.  Sorry I can't remember better.

Jimmy J

[tkotmk42]

Hello Jimmy-san,

I lowered them as low as it can go.   Strings are pretty much new, and I'm sure this bass was originally strung using 'normal' gauge strings.
But when I wiggle the strings at both nut and bridge saddles, strings are NOT moving within the slot.
Chorusing effect is there on both open and pressed notes, and i hear them throughout the fretboard.  But it is much reduced and it may be 'normal' on these early hollow body basses.
I will go talk with one of the shop in Tokyo who had many of these basses come thru, they may have some idea (but I didn't purchase from them, so I must ask them nicely ).

I must thank Mica for creating this forum, I was one of the first to have a thread on my build when I ordered my last Alembic back in 2002.  Such an awesome community!

No, that is NOT me playing.  His name is TakAo, and I'm TakEo...  confusing, yes. :p

If/when you are touring to Japan, please let us know! 

Again, thank you very much for your insight!   


Takeo Sonoi

[KR]

I didn't read the whole thread, but make sure every nut and screw is tightened on every part of the bass --including the tuners. If you're using strap locks..take the strap off of the bass and listen if that helps. My strap locks can rattle when I'm sitting and playing with the strap on my bass.