mudbuckers & distortion

hieronymous · February 17, 2012, 01:21:59 PM

Hey guys, I recently received a picture of my '68 EB-2, taken during a recording session back in 2003:

I prefer the look of it without the pickguard so I took it off. Back then I used it a lot with distortion - in this case a Budda Phat Bass pedal. I also recently posted a track from the same session:

http://soundcloud.com/hieronymous-seven/yes-frost

Long live the Mighty Mudbucker!!!

godofthunder · February 17, 2012, 01:37:29 PM

That is a very cool track, sounds like it could have been recorded in '68

hieronymous · February 18, 2012, 11:18:45 AM

Thanks got!!!

Anyone have any thoughts on the finish? I always assumed it was original, but I remember the guitar player at the session saying he thought it was a refin. Looking at these pictures now, I can see that it does look kind of splotchy. Here's another shot:

dadagoboi · February 18, 2012, 12:35:59 PM

Quote from: hieronymous on February 18, 2012, 11:18:45 AM
Thanks got!!!

Anyone have any thoughts on the finish? I always assumed it was original, but I remember the guitar player at the session saying he thought it was a refin. Looking at these pictures now, I can see that it does look kind of splotchy. Here's another shot:

That's typical of lower quality maple which Norlin wasn't above using in '68. IMO that's why they did some walnut ones, maple can have have brown areas which aren't as noticeable when stained that dark.

godofthunder · February 18, 2012, 01:30:17 PM

The finish looks original to me as well. Purtty bass.

Wilbur88 · February 18, 2012, 06:07:20 PM

Very cool track indeed. I'm chasing that sort of sound with my Epi Rivoli. Flats I presume?

chromium · February 19, 2012, 10:34:22 AM

Enjoyed the track! The Budda+mud combo sounds great. I don't know if its just me, or does the EB-2/Rivoli produce lows beyond all lows? Mine seems to have a much deeper voice than the other EBs, but it has the earlier pickup- maybe that has something to do with it.

Did you sell this bass, or is it with friends now? I like the sort of mottled look in the wood grain. That's a good theory re: why they started offering the dark walnut finish. Sparkling Burgundy was another means cover-up, and I always liked that finish too... even when it turns bronze. Thought I remember someone at the old place referring to the bronzed SB finish as "Sparkling Fritter"

Hey is that bass cabinet from the same "Ace Tone" company whose founder started Roland? Don't recall seeing another cab like that before...

hieronymous · February 19, 2012, 01:04:36 PM

Quote from: Wilbur88 on February 18, 2012, 06:07:20 PM
Very cool track indeed. I'm chasing that sort of sound with my Epi Rivoli. Flats I presume?

Thank you - yes it is flats, probably Rotosound Monels? I like the way flats sound with distortion & fuzz - different than rounds, though that can be a cool sound too (think 4001...)

Quote from: chromium on February 19, 2012, 10:34:22 AM
Enjoyed the track! The Budda+mud combo sounds great. I don't know if its just me, or does the EB-2/Rivoli produce lows beyond all lows? Mine seems to have a much deeper voice than the other EBs, but it has the earlier pickup- maybe that has something to do with it.

Agreed on the massive sub-lows, not sure if it's just the EB-2, I feel like my Melody Maker also has them, but it is also from 1968. Does yours have the same pickup as mine? I never figured out the different mudbucker variations.

Quote from: chromium on February 19, 2012, 10:34:22 AM
Did you sell this bass, or is it with friends now? I like the sort of mottled look in the wood grain. That's a good theory re: why they started offering the dark walnut finish. Sparkling Burgundy was another means cover-up, and I always liked that finish too... even when it turns bronze. Thought I remember someone at the old place referring to the bronzed SB finish as "Sparkling Fritter"

It's still at the same studio in Boston. I think of selling it since I don't use it much anymore, but never get around to it so it just sits there... The mottled maple theory makes sense to me!

Quote from: chromium on February 19, 2012, 10:34:22 AM
Hey is that bass cabinet from the same "Ace Tone" company whose founder started Roland? Don't recall seeing another cab like that before...

Yup, same Ace Tone, but it's just the logo from an old Ace Tone cab I inherited - I stuck it on a Carvin cab! Here's the head:

This head stayed with me for a long time, but I finally gave it away...

chromium · February 20, 2012, 12:49:36 PM

Quote from: hieronymous on February 19, 2012, 01:04:36 PMYup, same Ace Tone

Thought that name looked familiar

Didn't realize they had made bass amps.

leftybass · February 20, 2012, 02:57:36 PM

Looks like mine.

hieronymous · February 20, 2012, 03:42:00 PM

Quote from: leftybass on February 20, 2012, 02:57:36 PM
Looks like mine.

I wish! An extra mudbucker would be so cool - then I could pretend to be Steve Swallow. Speaking of fuzzy Gibsons:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNo1VqARE7Y&list=FLJPTKHxB_XKoP1BDy5-yXwQ&index=36&feature=plpp_video

Also, yours doesn't look as splotchy as mine, I wonder if it's the use of flash in my pictures?

nofi · February 22, 2012, 12:43:27 PM

this is what swallow plays now with a steel pick. its the first one in the slide show. the AE5 swallow 5 string.

http://www.citron-guitars.com/?p=press&id=1

only 6100.00.

uwe · February 22, 2012, 05:35:26 PM

Interesting concept.

hieronymous · February 23, 2012, 04:20:42 PM

Quote from: nofi on February 22, 2012, 12:43:27 PM
this is what swallow plays now with a steel pick. its the first one in the slide show. the AE5 swallow 5 string.

http://www.citron-guitars.com/?p=press&id=1

only 6100.00.

I love those! The look anyway.

Dave W · February 23, 2012, 10:38:02 PM

I like the idea of those adjustable bone saddles.