HBB-5 semi-hollow bass stock pickups

[ChefBrianNYC]

Rainy tues off work figured why not! Love this bass, someone with more skills should demo it haha

Headphones are a must, it was recorded in my garage but I'm happy with it and feel like it's a good example of how it sounds.

Second link recorded direct in the daw

https://youtu.be/l9Iq9LBJZJ4

https://youtu.be/eVWUhZDF7-o

[wazkelly]

Good demo.

The pickups don't sound too bad, just not a lot of bright top end tones from that sound clip.

[FrankenWashie]

Nice work Brian, it looks fantastic being played and sounds great! Wonderful job.

[ChefBrianNYC]

Thanks guus! I wonder if the top end thing is my fault...been so many years since I've played on rounds I may have EQ'd out the top end...too much string noise changing positions! Haha

[ChefBrianNYC]

Also, one observation about the pickups from the video: You can watch the compression light on the amp, and set on 3 the bridge pickup solo barely triggers it. Also noticed when plugged in direct to my mixer the input is about 6db less on the bridge everything else being equal. Food for thought. I was assuming the opposite would be true given that the bridge pickup magnet was noticeably heavier than the neck. Or did I just totally install those wrong? I assumed the bridge needed more magnet because the strings vibrate less in that pos....any thoughts appreciated thanks

[ChefBrianNYC]

I am also embarrassed that I did not use the B string on a fiver ...shame shame

[wazkelly]

I am also embarrassed that I did not use the B string on a fiver ...shame shame

If it is your first fiver, you are forgiven as it does take a while to get used to.

[ChefBrianNYC]

Maddening to keep playing the E like it's the A. Other than that it's going ok I've been able to use it walking lines and for that it's amazing! Instantly changed a whole part of autumn leaves for me that gave me fits deciding where to go.

If it is your first fiver, you are forgiven as it does take a while to get used to.

[wazkelly]

Maddening to keep playing the E like it's the A. Other than that it's going ok I've been able to use it walking lines and for that it's amazing! Instantly changed a whole part of autumn leaves for me that gave me fits deciding where to go.

Quickest way to get your head around a fiver is to noodle around on 5th fret....on 4th E string this plays an A whilst on the thickest 5th string (if tuned to low B) it should play an E. So instead of playing low E open on 4th you start using 5th fret on 5th string. For patterns with a long stretch down near nut end it is a whole lot easier shifting up the neck to take advantage of an additional string to access that lower note.

Point in case is main riff in Money by Pink Floyd. Much easier to play on fiver as less of a stretch however when swapping back to a four banger it takes a few moments to remember where those notes are in a different position. Good way to force yourself how to explore many different positions on the neck by swapping back & forth between 4 & 5 strings.

Tend to find the low open B and bit too low and hang out mostly around 5th fret and maybe down to 3rd.

Otherwise it is a good thumb rest as you have already discovered.

[wazkelly]

Just ran a multimeter over my set of the same PUP's and each coil reads about 7.91k on each pickup so when paired together they should read about 15.82k or thereabouts. Looks like they are interchangeable and not the same as others where neck is usually a lower impedance compared to the bridge.

Maybe the bridge PUP is sitting too low and might need to be raised a bit and possibly neck one lowered to help even out sound levels. Rather than using meters this is usually best done by ear at normal playing volume.

Cheers, Waz