14. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

For classical music in the orchestral context, only full-size basses really fit the bill. For players with a bow they are the only ones that offer the penetrating, assertive bass characteristics with the right overtone and volume.

For this playing style the best option is a bass made from laminated or plywood. The vibrations caused by slapping and the stress from being on stage require stronger and more stable materials. The lower tone characteristics of a laminated bass can be compensated for on stage and in the rehearsal room with appropriate pickups and tone control on the bass amp.

The bass needs to be easily transportable as well as stable while providing a warm, natural, evolving bass sound. Here a compromise must be made in the form of a 1/2 size bass. Despite their size it is currently possible, in terms of Jazz music, to achieve very natural, full size, sounding results with the appropriate ceiling/top mounted pickup system on a 1/2 size.

In this case an electromagnetic pickup fits the role nicely. Although the basic sound will be more similar to an E-bass, this style of pickup definitely has it's advantages, especially at higher volumes. The bass sound stays defined, comes through well and is easier for the rest of the band to pinpoint. The susceptibility to feedback is also minimal as the vibration of the strings and not the resonations in the body are picked up. Optionally an additional slap piezo can be used with a two channel mixer.

For a bass with a solid top, a ceiling or top mounted pickup system is advised. These pickups are mounted between the bottom of the bridge and the top (face) of the bass. These systems work bi-directionally by detecting the vibrations created in the bridge and the top while playing.
While purely bridge mounted pickups produce a slightly castrated, mid-range sound, a top mounted pickup system generates a much more natural sound across a wider spectrum, especially in the deeper bass ranges. These systems are usually piezoceramic in nature or made with nanoflex foil and produce a warm, natural, overtone-rich sound with a classic bow.

Since the top of the bass is made of plywood and the bass was built for stability, it doesn't make sense to use a ceiling pickup system. In addition an electromagnetic pickup doesn't work since most rockabilly bassist ''slap'' using nylon or gut strings while they play which don't effect any changes in a magnetic field.
The best solution is a good piezoceramic bridge pickup in combination with a normal piezo pickup placed under the fret board to detect the slaps. These systems normally come with the corresponding pre-amp and mixing functions for each pickup. Another advantage of the bridge pickup system is that the resonations from the body aren't directly detected, which significantly reduces the risk of feedback.

The answer is simple! All of our basses are delivered ready to play and you don't need to take them to a technician. We set up the bass in your preferred playing style, with different stringing techniques for classical, jazz, or rockabilly playing.

On request we can also string your bass with the strings perfect for your style. You'll just need to pay for the correct style of strings, which are offered on our homepage.