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Post by pete1951 on Mar 6, 2021 8:29:51 GMT
As someone with an interest in resonators and guitar repair I watched this video with anticipation. I have worked on a couple of Fender resonators ( though just the 6strings) and have found them good looking but badly made (especially internally). Reso basses are also something I have come across and have been underwhelmed by the acoustic tone. Would Dave have similar findings?
If you have never seen Dave I hope you may enjoy his style.
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If you don’t want to see the video, it’s more or less as I thought, the bass has no real ‘cone tone’ and is badly put together .
Pete
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 6, 2021 9:10:50 GMT
Many years ago I reviewed a Fender FR50 resonator guitar and nearly caused Guitarist Magazine to lose its biggest advertiser.
Resonator bass instruments just don't work. They can't because the frequencies are too low to make the resonator actually do anything. They're fine plugged in, but then they just become not very good sounding bass guitars. I had one for a week or so back in the early noughties. I gave it to a bass player friend who gave it to a bass player friend, who, you've guessed it....
There is a reason why the Dopyeras made guitars, mandolins and ukuleles. There were a couple of wild looking upright basses made by Dobro in the 30s, but they obviously suffered from similar problems.
Shine On
Michael
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Post by Pickers Ditch on Mar 6, 2021 9:41:17 GMT
If you want to play bass you either buy an upright doghouse and/or a Precision, NOT a resonator - they do not work!!
To electrify 'em you put them through a Sansamp Bass DI with a signal to the board and tell the sound "engineer" to set all the board bass channel eq flat, under threat of death if he/she/it messes about with said eq.
They must adjust the volume only!
If the bass is too quiet when giving feedback free sound the "engineer" brings the rest of the band's volume down to get the correct mix.
You are also allowed to use an Ampeg valve amp and cab also miked up with an SM57 to the board and the "engineer" obeys the same rules as the DI route.
The doghouse bass is miked up with a SM75 into the Sansamp.
Note: you can also take the second output from the DI into the amp where it is used like a pre-amp. - my preferred way of doing it.
You are then in control of your own sound, tone or whatever you want to call it.
Signed,
PD 06.03.2021.
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Post by pete1951 on Mar 6, 2021 9:58:08 GMT
I have been looking for a Reso-bass for some time, but it has to be very cheap, I think it would make a great baritone 6string if the neck is wide enough. But as a bass, see above for details.
Pete
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 6, 2021 10:22:37 GMT
Pete, I don't think the neck would be wide enough to accommodate a baritone guitar. They too, IMHO, are only any good when plugged in. Low frequencies and resonators don't work.
Shine On
Michael
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 6, 2021 10:23:55 GMT
If you want to play bass you either buy an upright doghouse and/or a Precision, NOT a resonator - they do not work!! To electrify 'em you put them through a Sansamp Bass DI with a signal to the board and tell the sound "engineer" to set all the board bass channel eq flat, under threat of death if he/she/it messes about with said eq. They must adjust the volume only! If the bass is too quiet when giving feedback free sound the "engineer" brings the rest of the band's volume down to get the correct mix. You are also allowed to use an Ampeg valve amp and cab also miked up with an SM57 to the board and the "engineer" obeys the same rules as the DI route. The doghose bass is miked up with a SM75 into the Sansamp. Note: you can also take the second output from the DI into the amp where it is used like a pre-amp. - my preferred way of doing it. You are then in control of your own sound, tone or whatever you want to call it. Signed, PD 06.03.2021. !!!! I couldn't have put it better :-) Shine On Michael |
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Post by Pickers Ditch on Mar 6, 2021 11:02:00 GMT
Thank you, Michael.
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Post by pete1951 on Mar 6, 2021 11:44:24 GMT
Pete, I don't think the neck would be wide enough to accommodate a baritone guitar. They too, IMHO, are only any good when plugged in. Low frequencies and resonators don't work. Shine On Michael My guitar would be tuned in Spanish down to E , so only 3 frets lower. So Lots of space , capo n the 3rd fret and it would be in G with an almost standard scale length. So it wouldn’t have to cope with very low notes Pete Most of these basses seem to have a 30” scale, and I could probably use a standard set of guitar strings. My lowest note would be the B below a standard E, the next 5 strings would all be in the normal range of standard guitar tuning , so very little extra low frequencies for the cone to cope with. Neck width would be the thing that might spoil the project. |
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Post by pete1951 on Mar 6, 2021 13:18:27 GMT
Just done a quick search to find the nut width on a Reso-bass, apart from finding out that they all give ‘ that original resonator tone’ are great instruments and sound fantastic, have yet to discover the size of the neck. I am quite used to a standard electric so even as small as 45mm would be ok. Maybe they do a 5 string?
Pete
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 6, 2021 13:38:15 GMT
Pete, I forget what the nut width was on the one I had, but it was quite narrow. I am sure that with an old cricket bat you could add a bit onto the sides.
Shine On
Michael
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Post by pete1951 on Mar 6, 2021 17:09:02 GMT
Pete, I forget what the nut width was on the one I had, but it was quite narrow. I am sure that with an old cricket bat you could add a bit onto the sides. Shine On Michael  Bat already in use Pete |
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Post by obrienp on Mar 7, 2021 18:35:23 GMT
If you want to play bass you either buy an upright doghouse and/or a Precision, NOT a resonator - they do not work!! To electrify 'em you put them through a Sansamp Bass DI with a signal to the board and tell the sound "engineer" to set all the board bass channel eq flat, under threat of death if he/she/it messes about with said eq. They must adjust the volume only! If the bass is too quiet when giving feedback free sound the "engineer" brings the rest of the band's volume down to get the correct mix. You are also allowed to use an Ampeg valve amp and cab also miked up with an SM57 to the board and the "engineer" obeys the same rules as the DI route. The doghose bass is miked up with a SM75 into the Sansamp. Note: you can also take the second output from the DI into the amp where it is used like a pre-amp. - my preferred way of doing it. You are then in control of your own sound, tone or whatever you want to call it. Signed, PD 06.03.2021. I totally agree about resonator bass and the sound of an upright or Precision. Unfortunately both those good options require largish hands, or at least long fingers (yep, I know Suzy Quattro). A combination of Trump like hands and mild arthritis mean that I can now play my (partcaster) 51 P bass for about 45 minutes before the discomfort becomes too great. For acoustic work I have found the Ibanez SRH 500 through a Zoom AC 3 on the Upright setting to be a great option. Probably sacrilege to most but its J bass style neck is a dream to play for stunted fingers and the piezo system is really good. It’s light too. Sansamp and Ampeg in my dreams! Stay safe folks! Pat |
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Post by Pickers Ditch on Mar 7, 2021 18:39:57 GMT
Pat, have you tried one of them reissue Mustang basses?
They can make a pretty good fist of a Precision type noise.
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Post by obrienp on Mar 7, 2021 19:03:18 GMT
Pat, have you tried one of them reissue Mustang basses? They can make a pretty good fist of a Precision type noise. Yeah, good suggestion. I recently bought a Gretsch Junior Jet to dip my toes into the short-scale waters without too much of an outlay. Depending how I get on, the Mustang is definitely on my list of options but it would mean selling my Aerodyne Jazz, which is a P/J, to fund it. That would be a wrench but the arthritis might make it a necessity. It’s great getting old but the alternative isn’t that good either! Cheers, Pat |
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Post by thebluesbear( al) on Mar 8, 2021 9:03:03 GMT
Hi everyone
i watch daves videos from time to time. always good for a laugh , he calls yamaha instruments yamhahaha . always worth watching also his laconic look at life in general
al
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