If someone interested - site of “Alembic Club“

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While browsing harmony-central news I took a look to the article about Aguilar DB112 cabinet. Then I checked the frequencies chart and figure out that you cannot have low-B with this cab… Then I checked specs of my Fender Rumble 100. Didn’t find frequency there at all… But because I can have low-B on it - looks like its low end response is at least 30Hz. Or this doesn’t mean anything?…

Popularity: 9% [?]

Just found frequencies chart. Very useful to understand which notes will be affected the most by equalizer.

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Another cool flash app from studybass.com - Online Metronome. Sound is nice, but I didn’t check it in mix. BPM - 40-208.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Just found site of Rick Peckham with nice set of lessons. He is not a bass man, but jazz chord summary, uses of Harmonic Major, rhythmic patterns to practice and others will be useful for every musician.

Popularity: 7% [?]

This and much more videos (including Bx3) are available on BassPlayer.TV

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First part

This Thursday I received small package from Chicago, IL. There was inside 4 knobs, 4 pots (preamp is on one of them), wiring diagram and battery clip (cheap one).

Well. First of all. Brice HXB-406 has AllParts knobs. Because of this I have 4 spare push-on black metallic knobs right now. If you plan to put SE3P-A in your Brice, just get 2 stacked knobs (mine was MK-3320-003) at left your stock ones.

Stock electronics was packed neat, but everything points to cheap bass (soldering was done not-so-professional and neat) After short understanding what goes where and drawing some diagrams (just in case) I remove pots from bass, unsolder necessary wires and put old electronics away. After that I made some quick fitting check of new pots. Stacked was a little bit wider that holes. This easily was fixed by dremel on small speed.

SE3P-A is true joy to assemble. All pots are prewired and has connectors. All what you need it just solder pickups to balance pots, solder battery, jack and ground to preamp (with mid pots) and connect (no soldering!) all three pots to preamp. Make quick check that everything is working, check my soldering. Everything looks and sounds great. Put piece of electric tape on the wall of bass’ cavity near preamp to prevent shorts. Strap on all loose wires together. Then I put everything in, adjust pots, check that everything ok one more time. Put knobs on, one more check. Close the lid. One more check. Some shake сheck. Passed again. Done.

I spent 3 hours on this including brakes to soothe and feed and soothe again my baby girl while her mom did some shopping

The sound… it is clean, variety of sounds is wide. It is even more wider with Hartke Bass Attack pedal. I’m happy, but…

High-freq noise didn’t go away completely, I think pickups are the reason. Vol and Bal pots are ok, but stacked EQ knobs are a little scratchy. But I can handle this.

And again, do not buy Artec preamps on ebay for 70 bucks or so, contact mcracer. He has guitar shop in Chicago, IL and can give you very decent price and great advice. Next time I need some parts, I’ll ask him first.

Here is some photos of progress…
Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 6% [?]

In this thread, tplyons recommends Duracell Procell as long-lasting reliable source of 9V for active basses (I think pedals will accept them too ). Never saw them in stores, but I’ll give them a try next time (recently I got 4pk of Energizers). You can got them, for example, on eBay.

Popularity: 7% [?]