The Last Bass Outpost
Gear Discussion Forums => Bill's Shop: Projects, Mods & Repairs => Topic started by: Basvarken on December 31, 2008, 05:29:55 AM
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The Pearl Export Bass (=Epi Genesis) that I had bought a while ago didn't get enough attention. The competion of my other bass guitars was too strong.
I had initially bought it to use the three point bridge and humbuckers (a la TB+) for the BaCHbird. But along the way of that project it became clear that the bridge and Artec pickup on the BaCHbird were going to excellent. No need to replace them.
So I tried to sell the Pearl. I got a few silly bids. But none of them was tempting enough to sell this brave little bass.
Then I decided to use it for some experimenting. I took out the toolbox and started hobbying...
When I finally had figured out how the wiring works I hooked it up to my amp.
It sounds amazing!
The bass features
A Gibson LO-Z bass pickup at the neck
A Gibson LO-Z guitar pickup at the bridge
A three position dial for the neck pickup to chose the coiltap.
Two stacked pots. The top ones are volume, the bottom ones are tone.
So you can dial in as much of the individual pickups as you wish. This gives you even more sound possibilities/colours than the Les Paul Basses already have!
The combination of the maple and the bass and guitar pickup is awesome.
There's one hole left that I should fill with a switch. I think I am going to place a pickup selector so that I can switch fast during a song.
I'll post sound samples later.
(http://www.superfloor.net/moddedpearl.jpg)
(http://www.superfloor.net/bodymoddedpearl.jpg)
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Nice job, Rob! Those pick ups look huge on this little bass!
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Very cool and original! That duel cutaway is starting to grow on me.
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Nice job, Rob. Another hobbit.
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Really nice, an Alembic Hobbit
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Way Cool!
I always look around for one of these ( or the Epi ) but they don't turn up very often. I really like the way you've done this one up, I would guess it would sound pretty huge!
I think my and Marks' ( TBird1958 ) strong aversion to black plastic pickup covers is mollified by those sexy chrome rings! :mrgreen:
Cheers!
Scott ( BassVI )
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Sweet! I like that
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Really nice, an Alembic Hobbit
An Alembbit maybe? Cool and original!
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thanx gentlemen.
here's a few samples.
I started with the bridge pickup full open (10) and the neck pickup closed (0).
Then, in small steps I dialed in the neck pickupand after that - in small steps- closing down the bridge pickup.
It gives you an impression of the possibilities
The neck pickup is so powerfull in the low frequencies that it distorts a little bit with my low budget recording equipment. That shouldn't be an issue with professional stuff of course
http://www.superfloor.net/bridge10-neck0.mp3 (http://www.superfloor.net/bridge10-neck0.mp3)
http://www.superfloor.net/bridge10-neck3.mp3 (http://www.superfloor.net/bridge10-neck3.mp3)
http://www.superfloor.net/bridge10-neck6.mp3 (http://www.superfloor.net/bridge10-neck6.mp3)
http://www.superfloor.net/bridge10-neck10.mp3 (http://www.superfloor.net/bridge10-neck10.mp3)
http://www.superfloor.net/bridge6-neck10.mp3 (http://www.superfloor.net/bridge6-neck10.mp3)
http://www.superfloor.net/bridge3-neck10.mp3 (http://www.superfloor.net/bridge3-neck10.mp3)
http://www.superfloor.net/bridge1-neck10.mp3 (http://www.superfloor.net/bridge1-neck10.mp3)
http://www.superfloor.net/bridge0-neck10.mp3 (http://www.superfloor.net/bridge0-neck10.mp3)
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That sounds very good, seems to have plenty of depth even with the bridge pickup alone.
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pickup toggle added:
(http://www.superfloor.net/pearlwithswitch.jpg)
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Rob, I like the bass, but the stacked controls look like they're wheels of a toy truck of one of your kids. Can't you find any smaller, chrome ones?
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Haha, yeah they're a bit awkward. I think they are from an old radio or something. They came with the pickups and stacked pots.
I've been looking for some stacked knobs, but it kinda hard to find any that will match the shaft of the pots. See, they're not very common pots. Because of the low impedance pickups you need 2.5 K pots (not 250 K!!) I've not yet found stacked pots with those values and regular shaft size...
But I think I'm just going to order a pair of these and see if I can make 'm fit:
(http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/images/large/MK-3338-000.jpg)
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That sounds very good, seems to have plenty of depth even with the bridge pickup alone.
I agree with Dave, sounds good either pickup soloed or the combination. Fat!
Scott ( BassVI )
But the knobs have to go!
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Damn, i've been searching for that bass for years...
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Is Tonka your controlknob manufacturer, Rob?
(http://www.betterrentals.net/images/DumpTruck.jpg)
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hey that looks like plastic? i remember Tonka trucks being metal.
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Never bought from these guys, but they have an ok-looking aluminum concentric knob set for 1/4" shaft w/set screws, if it helps:
http://www.hosfelt.com/index.html?target=dept_623.html&lang=en-us
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hey that looks like plastic? i remember Tonka trucks being metal.
These days plastic is stronger than metal isn't it?
My son has a truck exactly like that and the back is all metal. (not heavy though ;))
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I believe Rob want's to order other controls for the Tonka Hobbit. Like the ones on early Fender Jazz basses.
I used to have an all metal truck!
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I ordered a pair of these:
(http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/images/large/MK-3338-000.jpg)
Now I have to make a trussrod cover with Tonka Hobbit...
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;D
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like this
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update:
new knobs (exit Tonka wheels)
(http://www.superfloor.net/newknobs2.jpg)
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Those look right at home.
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Really the finishing touch!
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Tonka Hobbit is brilliant and totally apt!!! :rimshot: :rimshot: :rimshot: Not just for the knobs (I preferred the Tonka ones), but for the indestructability of the bass. That said, this Hobbit is long scale and sounds like it too. While the Triumph pups have no doubt added clarity, I still hear the Genesis characteristic of that bass, phat, phatter, phattest.
Uwe
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Like Uwe said: very FAT,
And it's road tested too now:
(http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/35/l_f0f28dbd4500428ea22da64476908e34.jpg)
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great action shot Rob (http://www.guitargear.net.au/discussion/Smileys/default/thumbzup.gif)
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I must have missed this one while at work ,out of town . Being the owner of a black gensis Im am impressed with the new look and sound of the pearl. Im out of work and may have to cull the herd ...again.m :-[
Tonka!!!! yeah baby!
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I'm late to the party, but I'm shaken and stirred. It doth sound excellent.
And I didn't even know you were able to play long scales, Roberta! :P
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No worries Uwe, better late than never. And by the way you already posted two years ago in thi thread. You just forgot ;)
And yes, half of my herd are long scale basses :-*