Double Bass M.O.G. Baby Bass

CDoell1

CDoell1

Nov 26, 2021
21
17
1,291
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Garfield, NJ
#1
I recently received my handmade M.O.G. baby bass from Columbia. Constructed by Andres Ortega, the instrument made it through U.S. customs, but with some damage.

The fingerboard was resurfaced and put back to the desired dark color by a local luthier; he did a really fantastic job. A loose tone potentiometer was tightened and the wiring was checked out. However, it seems the tone pot does nothing to change the actual tone. I can probably take care of that on my own.

This particular version of baby bass replicas did not come with the bridge bar, so I am looking for that.

The output is extremely low, and I am on-the-hunt for a solution.

Even when plugged into an Avalon U5, it’s difficult to get good output. I have adjusted the height of the magnetic base, too.
I’m open to changing the bridge for a wooden ~upgrade~ to improve the sound.

As of now, the bass has La Bella black nylon strings on it.

I am considering the Krivo magnetic pickup, as an alternative to the ‘’’stock’’’ pickup system; I know I’d require steel-core strings for it to work.

Any suggestions on getting this thing gig-ready would be appreciated. It’s my first EUB, so I am green (as they say) and open for help from this knowledgeable bass community.

Thanks in advance!
 

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#2
It may be better to use a piezo pickup with a wooden bridge, if you want a more "natural" tone.
However, I suggest you use a regular DB bridge and cut its legs like shown in the attached picture.
Don't get the small short BB wooden bridge, you won't get a balanced tone on all strings with that.
You can get in touch with @jakejazzbass, I led him in that direction too and he's very satisfied.
 

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#3
CDoell1 said:
Even when plugged into an Avalon U5, it’s difficult to get good output. I have adjusted the height of the magnetic base, too.
Click to expand...

Each Baby Bass that I've owned had a different output level. Did you raise the magnet up until the sound gets softer (or even cuts out) then lower it a bit? There is a sweet spot. Even then, it might just be a lower output. How is the Avalon set up? I owned a MOG bass and it had a lower output, but I was able to bring it up a bit.

I agree with Francois that a piezo pickup would sound better than the magnetic ones--if you go that route.

You can get the bridge protectors from Ray Ramirez. Store – Ray Ramírez Basses I don't know the quality, just that he offers them.
 
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#6
NickyBass said:
Did you raise the magnet up until the sound gets softer (or even cuts out) then lower it a bit? There is a sweet spot.
Click to expand...
I did mess around with the height for tone and output improvement, though, the higher I adjusted the low side, the thinner and tinnier the tone got.

The Avalon is set at Tone 2 with a volume @ 11 o’clock. I also ran the signal through a Broughton Messenger Jr. with the gain almost maxxed.
 
#7
It's been a while, but I think that there is a point when the sound will cut out when you go too high. When it does, you have to back it off a bit.
What happens if you go past 11 oclock on the Avalon? Does it get noisy?
I had an Ampeg that I had to push the gain a bit to make it loud enough, but it worked great. The MOG basses I've tried had a lower output. That was a long time ago, so I don't remember all the details.
As far as getting it gig ready, what genre are you playing? The classic Baby Bass tone is great for salsa, but if you're looking to play jazz or rock music, a wooden bridge with a piezo might be a great way to go.
Do you ever get down to southern NJ? Or, I met a guy from NYC who knows a lot about Baby Basses. I can see if he has any ideas and if he can meet up with you. I'll look and see if I have his phone number.
 
#8
CDoell1 said:
It’s funny you wrote this; I was just checking out Ray Ramirez’s website and noticed his baby bass bridges (for $50).
Click to expand...
That's the one I had in mind but didn't want to point it directly.

CDoell1 said:
Would the black nylon strings come through, with a piezo pickup? I’d have to switch to a steel core string set, if I went for the magnetic one.
Click to expand...
With a piezo pickup you can use any string; gut, synthetic, metal.
As long as the string puts a pressure on the bridge/pickup, you'll get some tone.
The fitting of the piezo on the bridge (typically a wing pickup) is very important though.
Not too tight or loose.
 
#9
The diaphragm magnetic pickup senses the movement of the metal at the diaphragm below the bridge feet, not the movement of the metal of the string.
So the string material does not matter with the diaphragm pickup. But a low mass, low tension string (like typical slap strings) might put a lot less (vibration) force onto the bridge which would result in a lower output.
 
#11
Francois Blais said:
It may be better to use a piezo pickup with a wooden bridge, if you want a more "natural" tone.
However, I suggest you use a regular DB bridge and cut its legs like shown in the attached picture.
Don't get the small short BB wooden bridge, you won't get a balanced tone on all strings with that.
You can get in touch with @jakejazzbass, I led him in that direction too and he's very satisfied.
Click to expand...
I may order one from Ray Ramirez directly. Have you seen his aftermarket, wooden baby bass bridge? It looks decent to me!
 
#12
NickyBass said:
It's been a while, but I think that there is a point when the sound will cut out when you go too high. When it does, you have to back it off a bit.
What happens if you go past 11 oclock on the Avalon? Does it get noisy?
I had an Ampeg that I had to push the gain a bit to make it loud enough, but it worked great. The MOG basses I've tried had a lower output. That was a long time ago, so I don't remember all the details.
As far as getting it gig ready, what genre are you playing? The classic Baby Bass tone is great for salsa, but if you're looking to play jazz or rock music, a wooden bridge with a piezo might be a great way to go.
Do you ever get down to southern NJ? Or, I met a guy from NYC who knows a lot about Baby Basses. I can see if he has any ideas and if he can meet up with you. I'll look and see if I have his phone number.
Click to expand...
I tracked with the baby bass recently and used the U5 as well as a Broughton Messenger Jr. The Broughton was a powerful signal, with the use of the LPF, creating an ideal thump sound; however, a snafu occurred with the DAW, and I ended up only salvaging the U5 track. A plug-in VCA compressor was added to the track and sent-off to the songwriter.

The Avalon did well for the baby bass with a much higher input level. A roll-off of the high end was absolutely necessary to squash the fingerboard movement, even with black nylon strings – I can only imagine the squeaks I'd get with nickel.

Francois Blais recommended I go with a DB bridge, cut down to height; but, I was thinking more along the lines of the Ray Ramirez accessory.

I am going to be in south Jersey in a few weeks for a festival gig with the rock band. If you can, share my info, and ask him to meet me Saturday, October 12th at Washington Park in Sewell, NJ.
 
#15
A regular 3/4 should be okay, but of course the legs will be almost completely cut off and the bridge will need to be shaped correctly.
Here's a picture of two bridges I've sent to someone here.
They were meant to be fit on a BB.
I've drawn some lines on the legs showing where they could possibly need to be cut.
Hope this helps!
 

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