| Author | Message | ||
| rustyg61
Senior Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 1437 Registered: 2-2011 |
I just picked up my brand new Series II Europa & this being my first Series II bass, I can use some advice on getting great tone. I have signature electronics on my SCSD, so I understand about the filters & CVQ controls, I was just wondering what settings everyone is using to get the sound you like. Please post a picture of your settings if possible so I can try them on mine & see what they sound like. Thanks! Rusty | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 4354 Registered: 6-2002 |
Here are the settings still on my bass from my last gig almost 2 weeks back. These are the settings for the encore track, the Marcus Miller version of "What Is Hip?" So it's double thumbing virtually all the way through the track. Bass settings (just a smidgeon of Q on each pickup) Bass rig settings remained the same throughout the gig. Neck pickup on the upper F1-x and bridge on the other. the bass is full on both and marginal difference between the two for middle and treble pots. I don't tend to use the SF-2 for the series bass so I'm not sure why there is a tiny bit on the right channel of the SF-2 which is on the neck pickup. But anyway there it is. I've started the ball rolling. | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 4356 Registered: 6-2002 |
As with my signature bass in the beginning, i found it a challenge to find a particular sound I was looking for with any degree of consistency. With a series II bass and single coils everything seems more sensitive and with so many variables to choose from, it can be extremely frustrating when you can't find a sound you loved yesterday. I actually took photo's of the position of the controls when I found I loved and could use on a song. It will take a while to hear a sound you want in your head and know instinctively which control(s) you need to move to get to sound B from your current sound and back. For me that has been an uphill battle and although the hill is not that steep anymore, I'm certainly not there yet. Since I've had alembics Stanley has always been a good tonal reference for me. Not that I need his sound on many of my gigs but he is probably the only bass player I know of who uses such a wide range of bass tones on any particular track. So for me, being able to get good approximations of the many tones he uses on his records did help me understand what the filters are capable of and which way to turn the knobs to get a particular type of tone. Getting used to two volumes knobs is still not instinctive to me as it will be for you as many times i've been tweaking the neck volume and both filters and Q's but not getting the sound I'm expecting, then I realise I have a bridge volume control that needs to be used as well. As Charles Holmes, Victor Little and others have expressed to me here and in private emails, you really need to get out and gig with the bass to get what they are all about. Have fun. (Message edited by jazzyvee on December 22, 2014) | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 11601 Registered: 5-2002 |
Mine change throughout each practice session, so a picture wouldn't mean much. But I'll try to describe what I do. (Clock values are facing the bass, not looking down.) Pickup selector: I always have both pickups on. Master volume: I have this a little rolled back from max so I have room to overdrive my signal if I want. Neck and bridge volumes: both around 12:00; from here I may adjust one or the other a bit in combination with changes to filters or CVQs. Bridge filter: this moves between 12:00 and 1:00. Bridge CVQ: this moves between 12:00 and 2:00. Neck filter: this can move anywhere from fully closed to fully open. Neck CVQ: this can move anywhere from fully closed to fully open. The neck filter and CVQ are the primary tone changers for me. Closing these down gives me a clean bottom. Bringing both of these up gives me a lot of dirtied mid. I frequently move the filter to various positions between closed and open depending on where I want the lower range of my tone to be centered; and correspondingly, I'll adjust the CVQ depending on how clean, or not, I want the lower center to be. The neck filter and CVQ define the high end of my tone. The adjustments there are much smaller, but a little bit can have a big effect. With the filter I'm adjusting for where the center of the high end tone is; and with the CVQ I determine how sparkly it is. Each pickup runs into its own channel of the F-2B, so they are further EQ'd there; but those settings don't change. Changes between songs, or just how I want things to sound at the moment, are made on the bass. | ||
| dlbydgtl
Intermediate Member Username: dlbydgtl Post Number: 164 Registered: 7-2008 |
A Great Rock Sound. Took awhile to dial sound in. But, finally got it for most applications. | ||
| dlbydgtl
Intermediate Member Username: dlbydgtl Post Number: 165 Registered: 7-2008 |
A Great Rock Sound. Took awhile to dial sound in. But, finally got it for most applications.  Tried many options, stopped here and took this bass out to it's first show just last week. Sounded amazing. However, I know I will be tweaking this bass probably forever because there are so many possibilities. | ||
| briant
Senior Member Username: briant Post Number: 690 Registered: 12-2004 |
I can't imagine what the learning curve must be like for a SII bass. When I got my first Alembic it had Signature electronics. Thankfully everything turned up full and the pickups balanced evenly sounded fantabulous so I had a good baseline/starting point. It took me a good two/three months to get really comfortable with the electronics and how changing <whatever> could shape the tone how I wanted. It should be noted that during that time I was playing a lot - like rehearsal three times a week with different bands and I was practicing daily plus playing at least one or two gigs a week. Something that really helped me was to zero my amp and start over with everything. Start playing with the bass controls and get something close to what you want and then make minor adjustments to the amp. After I had one tone really dialed in I was able to leave the amp alone and just play with the bass controls. Now my primary bass has Essence electronics (+master bass control). When I swap to my Signature electronics bass I need to adjust the amp settings some. There's no getting around it. They're just two different beasts. I'd love a loaner SII for a week or two to just play around with it. It might be the push I need to start saving the pennies and order another custom. Alembic needs to start a loaner program.  | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 11603 Registered: 5-2002 |
I agree with Brian's observation that how the controls on the instrument respond depends significantly on how your rig is setup. So initially, it is an interactive process of adjusting the controls on both the instrument and the rig until you get the rig set to where it will give you the base upon which the controls on the instrument will respond in the way that best suits you. | ||
| rustyg61
Senior Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 1442 Registered: 2-2011 |
Thanks so much for the advice, keep 'Em coming! I haven't had a chance to try any of these settings yet, too busy Christmas shopping! So the top of my list to Santa is I want more free time to play my new bass! | ||
| jzstephan
Advanced Member Username: jzstephan Post Number: 285 Registered: 1-2012 |
I think that's a little like asking a Hammond B3 player "where do you set the draw bars?" A good b3 player is constantly varying the tone; now of course a bassist constantly changing tones might be weird, but a subtle nudge would be cool. Watch Jeff Beck change pickups and tone controls: that's what I love about my series guitar, never a dull moment!  And Merry Christmas! | ||
| edwardofhuncote
Intermediate Member Username: edwardofhuncote Post Number: 142 Registered: 6-2014 |
^^^ That's just about the coolest audio humor I've ever seen. =) I'm going to share that with a couple tracking engineers who think I don't know what they're looking at behind the glass. Cool thread Rusty... but I think you've arrived at the fun part - actually *playing* the Blue Orca. | ||
| rustyg61
Senior Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 1446 Registered: 2-2011 |
I know my settings won't be exactly the same as anyone else's, I just wanted a starting point to start tweaking from. I did a similar thread when I got my SF-2 & it helped immensely giving me some setting to play with until I mastered the controls. So far the method to my madness has been to start with the neck pup filter all the way down & CVQ all the way up, then raising the filter setting until I get a ballpark tone I want for the bottom end, then doing the same with the bridge pup & then adjusting the CVQ's to fine tune the edges. I have gotten some really great sounds, but I am still experimenting. I know all this will be moot once I get to the venue. I will have to re-tweak for the room, but at least I will have a starting point. Every time I play this bass (which hasn't been nearly enough!) I love it even more! | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 3836 Registered: 5-2009 |
Rusty , Congratulations on the Bass . Merry Christmas to you and your family as well . There is a very technical way that I could do this and also a way to just use my ears and " fly without the gages" way . I will tell you how I just use my ears and intuition here. I think that this process of acclimation to Series II Alembic electronics is just doing it as I am reading that YOU are doing . Just jump in and swim! I like to start as such : Set your amplification processing flat to start with the volume just loud enough to feel a visceral connection to the instrument. All your pots(including all 3 volumes) are now fully opened clockwise. Next I turn down the next pickup volume about 1/3rd back until I can hear the cut through punch of the bridge pickup. Next I turn back the master volume a bit to fit in tastefully with the rest of the folks playing. From this point I make adjustments " on the fly" as I am playing to fit in and leave sonic real estate and room for the rest of the mix (very important ). I Like to use more lower midrange growl from the bridge pick up to build MY tone and in many cases in my playing that aspect can be well dialed in with the SF-2 as the acclimation process in the " BIG PICTURE " of your personal Alembic Sound continues to evolve and go through those many delightful experiments and discoveries of sounds that you are about to venture to search for and discover . You will have many joyous hours doing this . All the best to you in the coming year my friend . Wolf . | ||
| rustyg61
Senior Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 1463 Registered: 2-2011 |
Sorry for the late reply Wolf, I hope you had a Merry Christmas as well! Thanks so much for the advice! I followed your instructions & played with my filters & CVQ's as well as my SF-2 while playing along with some of the songs my band plays. I'm starting to get a better handle on which knobs to turn to get a nice fat punchy sound that cuts through the mix. Like you, I like a midrange growl, & I have so much more flexibility now with the Series II controls. I'm finding that the CVQ's are great for getting that extra edge on my tone to make it sparkle or cut through the mix better. I play my first gig with the bass on Saturday, so I can't wait to try it with my band! I have the neck adjustments done & it plays incredibly, so now I just need to spend more time playing it & getting used to the 5th string on every song, not just the 6 that I played my Schecter 5 string on. Thanks again for your advice & I wish you all the best as well for 2015 & beyond! Rusty | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 3842 Registered: 5-2009 |
Rusty , I am glad that it is all falling into place for you . I think that your intuition will just lead you to that sound that you want at this point . I think you have got it . Wolf | ||
| serialnumber12
Senior Member Username: serialnumber12 Post Number: 1096 Registered: 12-2004 |
 | ||
| pauldo
Senior Member Username: pauldo Post Number: 1377 Registered: 6-2006 |
Keavin, Wasn't #12 just at the mothership for a refurb? How does she drive now? | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 2298 Registered: 9-2002 |
Rusty, when I began playing fives, I'd take the four with me to the gig, and after a half hour of OOOPS and SCUSE ME and #&%&$^@*~!!!, I'd chicken out and finish the gig back home on the four-string. So I explained to my fellows on the bandstand that it was just going to take a little while and I left the four at home. You may want to go back and forth (I'm not that smart or facile), but if you're going to play five from now on, I'd suggest leaving the four-string as a fond memory. I also wouldn't let the S2 see the Schecter. Leave them alone in the same room, and you may come back and find the blue one alone with a 'who, me?' look and a pile of sawdust around the other stand . . . . Joey | ||
| serialnumber12
Senior Member Username: serialnumber12 Post Number: 1097 Registered: 12-2004 |
she drives like new Coochie!.....Tight as hell! | ||
| rustyg61
Senior Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 1482 Registered: 2-2011 |
Good advice J o e y! I played my first gig with the Europa Saturday night & left my SCSD in the stand the whole night. I had a few flubs from getting on the wrong string but nothing major. I just did some runs to make it sound like I meant to start on that note! LOL! I will keep the Schecter as a backup bass to play on outdoor gigs with less than desirable conditions where I don't want to risk my Europa. Luckily it has active bass, mid,& treble boost & cut so I can dial in a decent sound without having to change my amp or SF-2 settings. I was playing with my settings at home last night & have come to realize that the Series II is much more sensitive to minute changes in the EQ settings. I can move the low end frequency on the SF-2 less than 1/16" on the knob & make a huge difference in the sound. I got a great sound from my amp now so I don't want to change the settings for a different bass. I may even leave the SCSD home & bring the Schecter to all the gigs for a backup. I would hate to get in a wreck with both Alembics & damage or destroy them both! Plus, my worst fears have been realized, the Europa sounds so much better than the SCSD, I want to play it on every song! I still love my SCSD, but it is a totally different animal than the Europa. I may eventually find a place for it in our sets, but for now I want to concentrate on mastering the 5. | ||
| stout71
Advanced Member Username: stout71 Post Number: 239 Registered: 7-2011 |
I too had problems getting used to the 5. I've owned them in the past, but sold them about as quickly as I bought them. I wanted the neck wide enough so the string spacing would be close to what I was used to on my Warwick 4. The downside is that it's a real stretch from the low-B to the G. I was so used to anchoring my right thumb on the E and playing all the other strings in that same position. Now I have to continuously move my whole hand up and down between the strings to keep from flubbing notes. It's hard to get used to a "middle" (A) string as well. The new technique is actually helping though. It's making me faster on the 4 as well (although I still can't play YYZ up to speed.) | ||
| rustyg61
Senior Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 1483 Registered: 2-2011 |
Jerry, I was the opposite on my neck, I wanted a narrow, thin neck similar to what I was used to on my SCSD, so my string spacing is a little closer on the 5 than what I'm used to, but I am adapting to it pretty quick. I can actually play faster on the 5, I'm just not always on the right string! YYZ is one of my favorite warm ups too! | ||
| smokin_dave
Advanced Member Username: smokin_dave Post Number: 399 Registered: 10-2002 |
When I first knew that I wanted to start playing a five was when I was invited to sit in on a bands set but the bass player only played five stringers.At first I thought I would be lousy but just as soon as I started playing I took to it like a duck to water and my quest for a five string Alembic began in earnest. Especially after I picked up a Rogue 5 for a test run at a local store and it was then I knew exactly what I wanted and had to have. | ||
| gregduboc
Senior Member Username: gregduboc Post Number: 553 Registered: 11-2008 |
From the video Mica posted, you can see how Phil Lesh sets his: | ||
| rustyg61
Senior Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 1496 Registered: 2-2011 |
Dave, the first 5 I played was also sitting in with a band & I was totally lost! We played Sweet Home Alabama & I was on the wrong string the first minute of the song! I finally got a feel for it, but after that night I had no desire for a 5 for about 4 years. Then my guitar player sent me an ad for an Epic in a pawn shop close to my house so I had to go investigate. They wanted too much for it, but I thought if I could get a good deal I would buy it & could always resell it if I didn't want it. I went back 3 times checking it out & the more I played it the more I decided that I needed a 5. I was using an octave pedal on some songs to get low notes. I couldn't get him to come down on the price so I wound up buying a Schecter for half the price. It was a good learner bass but felt like a toy compared to my Alembic, so now I have a real 5! | ||
| rustyg61
Senior Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 1497 Registered: 2-2011 |
Thanks for the picture Greg! It looks like Phil runs his filters pretty close to the way I had mine for my first gig. I had more CVQ, but I play with my fingers & he was picking so still probably a similar sound. | ||
| byoung
Senior Member Username: byoung Post Number: 1471 Registered: 12-2004 |
Rusty: Best recommendation I can make is to play the pickups separately, and really, to think of them as separate. I tend to run the bridge pickup hotter, and mix in the neck pickup to "fatten up". A lot of times, I run the neck pickup with the filter all the way down, and the Q off. It takes a good long while to really "get" what's going on, in my experience (and I've heard it mirrored, not least of which, from the Alembic folks). |
