using my Triumph a lot in my new band

hieronymous · May 09, 2013, 04:17:15 PM

I finally have a steady band after getting back into playing 11 years ago! Of course I've had the hieronymous project since 2002, but that was always long distance - drummer in Massachusetts, me in California or Japan. But now I'm playing with a couple of local guys and feel really lucky. The guitarist is amazing - there's nothing I like better than backing up a great guitarist - and the drummer is very flexible and knows how to listen and improvise.

I'm also finally getting to put some of my basses through their paces for the first time other than in the studio or at home. The Triumph has been getting a lot of use, so I thought I would post some stuff here. I'm thinking I want to put roundwounds back on it, but for now it has LaBella flats and I think it sounds pretty good. For a while we were playing pretty loud - originally we were much quieter - so I'm playing pretty hard and pushing my CAJ tube compressor:

https://soundcloud.com/hieronymous-seven/noel-and-billy (I've posted this one before elsewhere)

Here's a different version of the same tune - we've gone back to playing quieter, so it's more the sound of the bass with less fur:

https://soundcloud.com/stanleylighthead/noel-and-billy

And here's a video:

I don't see myself ever getting rid of this bass. The sound is really even across the entire neck, and the pickups get a wide range of sounds. And I've said it before and I'll say it again, as heavy as it is, on the strap it really balances well and is actually very comfortable.

drbassman · May 09, 2013, 04:47:13 PM

I have to agree, it's a great sounding and playing bass. Your tracks are really nice! I like your style! Well done.

Denis · May 09, 2013, 06:20:26 PM

That's a great sounding bass, Harry!

Pilgrim · May 09, 2013, 08:43:15 PM

I'm impressed by the sound AND the player. Fast fingers and a nice feel for the music.

Highlander · May 09, 2013, 11:56:08 PM

Up to your usual standard...

hieronymous · May 10, 2013, 12:39:17 AM

Thanks everyone! It's been a lot of fun working on this project. I may be the most "social-media-savvy" one in the band, so I've got a facebook page and a twitter account going in addition to the soundcloud page. We are going to try and book our first "real" gig soon, possibly in San Francisco. I'm going to have to get a pedalboard together so I can set up quick. Here's what I've basically been using:

I remembered - on the loud version of "Billy & Noel" I'm playing really hard with a really thick graphite pick, pushing the compressor a little too much, then through my Alembic F-2B preamp after the fact. Sounds really different at the very end when I went exclusively to the direct bass signal but played much more sedately, maybe even palm-muting. The mellow version of "Billy & Noel" is all fingers, and partly because I'm playing lighter and partly because I backed off on the compression, I think you get a more "accurate" sound of the bass, plus I didn't process the signal after the fact, this is the direct sound with no EQ.

I'm also amazed at how much like a P-Bass the Triumph can sound like, but not only like that - there's other stuff going on too. I'm planning on using my Alembic Stanley Clarke 5-string with high C string as my main bass, but could easily see the Triumph doing it too, especially if I put rounds on it. But if I use Triumph I would also want to use my Alembic SF-2 Superfilter to be able to go between a deep flatwound kind of sound and others with more high-end content, while the Alembic just has it built in. Decisions, decisions...

Nocturnal · May 10, 2013, 10:11:21 AM

I've debated picking up one of those H.B.E. Hematoma pedals. How do you like it overall?

hieronymous · May 10, 2013, 10:43:10 AM

Quote from: Nokturnal on May 10, 2013, 10:11:21 AM
I've debated picking up one of those H.B.E. Hematoma pedals. How do you like it overall?

Still working with it. I like the clean boost. The distortion is good, though I want to play with the EQ switch more. One thing I noticed though is that the clean boost seems to be before the distortion, so if you have both on it appears that it just puts more volume into the distortion, you don't get your distortion sound boosted, if that makes sense.

I was using a Fulltone Bass Drive for a long time before, which I like but wanted a volume boost for solos - the Fulltone boost only works with distortion on and I found that also to be more of a gain boost than a volume boost.

Barklessdog · May 10, 2013, 12:42:13 PM

Excellent as always Harry. Nice sounding bass.

Nocturnal · May 10, 2013, 03:42:36 PM

Quote from: hieronymous on May 10, 2013, 10:43:10 AM
Still working with it. I like the clean boost. The distortion is good, though I want to play with the EQ switch more. One thing I noticed though is that the clean boost seems to be before the distortion, so if you have both on it appears that it just puts more volume into the distortion, you don't get your distortion sound boosted, if that makes sense.

I was using a Fulltone Bass Drive for a long time before, which I like but wanted a volume boost for solos - the Fulltone boost only works with distortion on and I found that also to be more of a gain boost than a volume boost.

Thanks for the info!!

hieronymous · May 10, 2013, 03:48:14 PM

Quote from: Nokturnal on May 10, 2013, 03:42:36 PM
Thanks for the info!!

Take with a grain of salt - I haven't doublechecked, but that's how it seemed one rehearsal. If I have time I'll doublecheck.

I am using it here (just the distortion) at about 3:15 so you can get a taste:

(my Alembicized P-Bass, gain set fairly low on the OD)

jumbodbassman · May 10, 2013, 04:09:33 PM

very tastey tune and playing. bass sounds great. i agree on the pbass feel.

Basvarken · May 11, 2013, 05:36:07 AM

Excellent!
Nice to see you on Facebook too

Nocturnal · May 11, 2013, 10:29:29 AM

Quote from: hieronymous on May 10, 2013, 03:48:14 PM
Take with a grain of salt - I haven't doublechecked, but that's how it seemed one rehearsal. If I have time I'll doublecheck.

I am using it here (just the distortion) at about 3:15 so you can get a taste: (my Alembicized P-Bass, gain set fairly low on the OD)

Sounds good on that track! Great playing BTW. I enjoyed listening to your music.

hieronymous · May 11, 2013, 12:59:41 PM

Thanks again for listening everyone - I really appreciate it.

I have a new track up, this one also has the Triumph, played with fingers, no processing after the fact, just direct through the pedalboard pictured above.

https://soundcloud.com/stanleylighthead/gettin-together

I love the growl in the midrange - I think that's what sounds "P-Bass" to me - but it also has a nice fat bottom end.