Snag a set, would love to hear your thoughts after the fact.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
Welcome to TalkBass! Want to remove ads? Register an account and login to see fewer ads, and become a Supporting Member to remove almost all ads.
AERO PICKUPS - Religious Tone Experience
- Thread starter IngloriousOz
- Start date
-
- Tags
- aero experience pickups tone
Snag a set, would love to hear your thoughts after the fact.
Following this thread with great interest. Whilst I agree with Gianni's point about users promoting &
perhaps subconsciously justifying the virtues of their new purchase, I can't agree that slapping is a
valid parameter for judging the tonal character of pick ups. Many bassists agree that listening on
YouTube to slapping does not indicate the true balance of a pick ups useful range. IME, a slapping
sound is easily possible with nearly all pick ups wether expensive or cheap.
perhaps subconsciously justifying the virtues of their new purchase, I can't agree that slapping is a
valid parameter for judging the tonal character of pick ups. Many bassists agree that listening on
YouTube to slapping does not indicate the true balance of a pick ups useful range. IME, a slapping
sound is easily possible with nearly all pick ups wether expensive or cheap.
So am I! I expect to receive them around the end of the month (give or take) and will post my thoughts and experiences here after I get them installed.
What I really want to do is record my bass before and after installation as a comparison for everyone to hear. I likely will go direct to the interface with no preamp and with zero effects. Just raw tone right from the bass to the DAW. That way we can hear what I have right now and the end result with the Aero pickup installed.
I do not intend on changing anything else on this bass at this time even though it is currently an active bass. This brings up something I have been strongly debating with myself in the back of my head. Because there is a piezo pickup in it (yes a P bass with a piezo), it came with active electronics. Making it passive would all but eliminate the usability of the piezo which I am not yet prepared to do. If I find myself wanting to use the Aero 100% of the time, I can convert it to passive in the future (or figure out some crazy way to have only the piezo active if that is even possible... we'll see what my initial results are before I go down that road).
Larry convinced me that the best and easiest way to do this was just have it run through the blend knob first (the way it is wired now). He advised that I would be loosing some of the frequency spectrum as the pre does its own "coloring and filtering" of the signal. It also kind of levels the two signals from each pickup so you don't get such a discrepancy in levels. Being that the piezo has a much lower output, I would expect the onboard electronics to "limit" (in its own way) the Aero pickup. An engineer like Larry can explain it much more accurately than I can, but in my simpleton type brain, that's how it makes sense to me.
Larry pointed me to an interview he did back in November of 2015 with Jeff Floro of LA Talk Radio (www.latalkradio.com). It is about 53 minutes long and Larry actually talks a little bit about that active electronics thing I mentioned above starting at about the 31 minute 20 second point.
Here is a link directly to their conversation. Guitar-110215 | LA Talk Radio
Larry, I hope you don't mind me sharing this link. I figured it is out in the 'verse already... I'm thinking this will also be a good way for those who want to know more about Aero but do not want to spend the cost of an international phone call. 
As they say, the proof is in the pudding. We will see what my bass sounds like with a true A/B comparison first. Then we will see if I want to explore an active to passive conversion.
I'll keep you posted.
Agreed ... in fact I referred to the early years of Marcus as a session man during which he was working with fusion artists such as Dave Valentin, Tom Browne, Jay Hoggard, Dave Grusin, Lee Ritenour ... in those recordings, due to the jazz background characterising the music of those artists, Marcus was alternating slap and fingerpicking sections, often in the same tune ... that’s the kind of tone I had in mind when describing his original setup ... if one listens to Marcus’ records nowadays an extreme deviation towards a style dominated by slap-funk stints will be noticed, which i personally find boring ...
it is easy to check that I do not often write here (or anywhere - have no social media accounts whatsoever), and I was really in doubt whether I should write anything at all. but, after more than 4 years of actually owning, playing and professionally earning money with an instrument that has Aero pickups in it, I felt confident I could give my perspective, as subjective as it might be. turns out, even that cannot be good enough for some. (Brad, I am not talking about you, I know that your comment was not aimed towards me.)
I am trying to be objective, always say "IMHO, IME" and honestly write about my experience. of course these pickups are not the end of the world. but they work really well for me. when I plug them into any amp and max all pots on the bass, I get the Marcus sound (or something that has a clear Marcus DNA). while I agree that slap is possible on every bass (yup, regularly slap on my older-than-me P w. flats), not every instrument will give that sound. honestly, my Sadowsky Modern goes more hi-fi, and if the gig calls for slapping, I bring the Stingray anyway. DJ5 is used for jazz gigs where DB is not welcome for whatever reason, but Sadowsky would raise too many hairs on too many backs.
how about we all take one step back and think about writing anything before we actually do? and not be patronizing to each other? sometimes people just don't want a good advice - learned that one really soon on the playground... there are 90% of threads on the slab side of TB that are not interesting to me at best - guess what, I don't even go past the title/OP. and I don't recommend things "being as good as" or "getting the same result" if I didn't actually try both. even if I did - IMHO always, we don't have the same ears.
be well, V.
I am trying to be objective, always say "IMHO, IME" and honestly write about my experience. of course these pickups are not the end of the world. but they work really well for me. when I plug them into any amp and max all pots on the bass, I get the Marcus sound (or something that has a clear Marcus DNA). while I agree that slap is possible on every bass (yup, regularly slap on my older-than-me P w. flats), not every instrument will give that sound. honestly, my Sadowsky Modern goes more hi-fi, and if the gig calls for slapping, I bring the Stingray anyway. DJ5 is used for jazz gigs where DB is not welcome for whatever reason, but Sadowsky would raise too many hairs on too many backs.
how about we all take one step back and think about writing anything before we actually do? and not be patronizing to each other? sometimes people just don't want a good advice - learned that one really soon on the playground... there are 90% of threads on the slab side of TB that are not interesting to me at best - guess what, I don't even go past the title/OP. and I don't recommend things "being as good as" or "getting the same result" if I didn't actually try both. even if I did - IMHO always, we don't have the same ears.
be well, V.
Your contribution(s) to this thread have been extremely valuable for me and i'm sure others who want to read more about real world experience folks are having with these pickups. Hoping to see / hear more about it - particularly your "keeper" bass!
Thanks again for sharing
I agree with your sentiment 'we don't have the same ears' & would add....or the same taste & each to his own.
However, I do believe that experienced players generally gravitate to sounds that are musically rich
in harmonics, mid range detail & a clearly defined beefy low end. Pickups that can achieve those
parameters make any style/tone, sound musically melodic, including slap. That is why I am interested
in the Aeros.
I have a Lakland Skyline(2007) Custom with binding & block inlays 35" scale, with Delano large magnet
pups & Sadowsky pre amp, although I nearly always play in passive mode. The neck pocket on mine is
the same as you mentioned but I shimmed it super tight with steel shims & I discerned an obvious
improvement in timbre. It is my go to bass, I love it. Just so you know where I am coming from,
I am an old Blues/Rock player,played all thru' the 60"s & early 70's.
I have twice attempted to contact Best Bass Gear, via their news letter email, but have had no response,
so will have to contact Larry when I am ready to pop & rock.
Thanks for your contribution to this thread as well - just a heads up, BestBassGear is totally out of Aero pickups. Your best bet is to get them direct from Larry when you're ready to go!
So here’s my decidedly un-scientific impression of the P bass pups after only one show.
Played a medium size wedding in an old boomy room in one of our grand old hotels in the city. Going into my Markbass, two 1x12 cabs - I usually run an EQ or compressor for a little preamp on the Fender. No pedals this time.
Loud & clear. Left amp basically set same way, used the volume on the bass for mondo headroom and much more perceived bottom end than before.
Sorry, again not much help for those trying to compare. I’m just happy I made the switch - now I can get on with other GAS items on my list.
Played a medium size wedding in an old boomy room in one of our grand old hotels in the city. Going into my Markbass, two 1x12 cabs - I usually run an EQ or compressor for a little preamp on the Fender. No pedals this time.
Loud & clear. Left amp basically set same way, used the volume on the bass for mondo headroom and much more perceived bottom end than before.
Sorry, again not much help for those trying to compare. I’m just happy I made the switch - now I can get on with other GAS items on my list.
^ interestingly though - ever since I bought the Fender I’ve been researching preamps with a little warmth and compression with a little boost & color.
I think at this point I might still want a compressor - but probably something more open & transparent.
I was kind of underwhelmed by the tone & perceived power of my Markbass mini stack - but in giving it a little more to work with, it feels more solid now. I’ll report back after a few more shows to see if I still feel good - but man am I glad Jimmy convinced me to go Aero.
I think at this point I might still want a compressor - but probably something more open & transparent.
I was kind of underwhelmed by the tone & perceived power of my Markbass mini stack - but in giving it a little more to work with, it feels more solid now. I’ll report back after a few more shows to see if I still feel good - but man am I glad Jimmy convinced me to go Aero.
Jimmy is the freakin' man for sure, guy really makes great basses and knows his stuff. He's helped me out plenty over the years!
I've been loving my Cali76 Compact bass, works great with the Aeros - I do play in Drop C though and it's got a HPF + some coloration.
I use a Keeley Compressor Pro which IMHO is open & transparent when used judiciously. The Cali76 was
my first choice but decided to economise with the Keeley & I have no regrets. Either one would be an
excellent choice.
Re. pre amps, are you referring to the pedal type DI add ons or full blown proper ones that couple with
power amps ?
Yeah I was originally thinking something like a tonehammer or vintage ultra for a pre. But now not sure I need one.
For a compressor I’d love a Cali 76 but now thinking maybe a Darkglass symmetry.
For a compressor I’d love a Cali 76 but now thinking maybe a Darkglass symmetry.
I barely ever see or hear people using the Strymon compressor. OB.1 Optical Compressor & Clean Boost – Compressor Pedal - Strymon
They make a full range unit for bass and it has a boost. I'm loving mine... but that is another thread.
My Keeley Bassist is transparent and also idiot proof (raises hand)
I love that thing.
Here’s what Jimmy said I’ve got : highly recommended :
Pe Bass 4 , Type 4 , 19.00 mm CC ///// cover set Pickup , PB , 18mmH , Unexposed , Bk plastic........................
Pe Bass 4 , Type 4 , 19.00 mm CC ///// cover set Pickup , PB , 18mmH , Unexposed , Bk plastic........................
Is this the bass model? Or is there another one? These look cool.
The Bass and Guitar OB.1 look identical. The only visual difference is when you take the back off, it says BASS on the inside cover.
When you order it, you have to make sure you check the box for the "Bass Guitar Modification" for the full extended range.
Strymon customer service is also very responsive IME.