Gear Reviews
MJC Ironworks Premium Bass Strings Review
MJC Ironworks Premium Bass Strings Review…
MJC Ironworks Premium Bass Strings may be the newest bass strings on the market, but that only comes after years and years of research by founder Michael J Connolly during his many years at Dean Markley. There are no tricks here, just years of knowledge and testing to find the right combination to give bass players what they need in a set of strings. Michael has worked with many artists over the years, listening to their feedback and building off of that to develop what is a top-notch product in the world of bass strings. Before we get much deeper into the review, let’s touch on the coolest packaging, with good reason, that I have ever seen. I could say it’s in the tin, and it is, literally. MJC Ironworks Premium Bass Strings come packaged in a real cool tin, that is reusable for whatever needs you have at the current moment. I’ll get into that a little later. I’ve never been much of a stickler for strings, thinking, strings were just strings, some costing more, and the different windings, and everything else that goes along with them. Then there are artist endorsements. That seems to have a pull on what strings we may want or not want to go for. As we get older, we realize it’s not the name; it’s how we like the texture, tone, and most importantly the feel of the strings. I have to admit, I have never been a fan of the stainless strings, and they always seemed to have a gritty feel, until now. The MJC Ironworks Premium Bass Strings in the stainless flavor don’t have that gritty, feel, in fact, I thought maybe something got packaged wrong and I was playing nickel strings. I have to hand it to Michael, stainless strings were never possible in my future until now. I encourage everyone to give the MJC Ironworks Premium Strings a try, you will not be disappointed!
I actually had the opportunity to sit down a talk with Michael about the strings in detail!
Why the tin?
Well for one, it’s cool and I think if you are going to have a premium product, you need premium packaging. When you are dealing with some of the issues that come up with corrosion, one good way to get around it is to put it in what I call a “potato chip” bag, which seems to be what everyone is doing. They serve their purpose and it’s a lot cheaper to put the strings in the bags. Then there is the RNPROTECTS, which is a big part of what my strings are about, which is a foam strip inside the tin. The tin is cool, because it’s also a place to put stuff, things musicians need, whatever they may be. It stands out, is definitely different, and we aren’t charging any more for the tin. Our strings are competitively priced with strings that are in the bag.
What does the foam strip in the tin do for the strings, and I’m also aware that you have a separate foam strip for the strings?
That’s exactly right. Both of them are called RNPROTECTS. The RN is the initials for a friend of mine that had passed away. What the RNPROTECTS does is that it emits a natural occurring anti-corrosion inhibitor. It sticks to everything metal and permeates the core wire. When the RNPROTECTS is in the tin, the strings are so well protected and there is not going to be any corrosion that occurs at all while it is in the tin. As soon as any metal gets exposed to oxygen, which is the enemy of metals, that’s when everything starts corroding. When you take the foam strip, (which I have a bigger one that you can buy, and place it in your case). Every time you open and close your case, there is a static charge that happens and it sticks to everything metal, even permeating the pots. The RNPROTECTS won’t stop corrosion, but it will inhibit corrosion and it will protect for up to two years. RNPROTECTS is a revolutionary product that really offers something. They use these products in computers for the space shuttle, AWAC planes, and even use it to treat rebar in concrete so that the rebar in concrete won’t rust. Everything I have, the tin, the quality of the product, it all ties in to a perception. The perception is that, in a tin, this is a great product. It adds value to it and it is a premium string having a lot of aspects to it that other strings don’t like the anti-corrosion inhibitor that you can use and reuse for up to two years.
Your stainless steel strings seem a lot different than the rest. For one thing, they don’t have that “gritty” effect on your fingers, can you tell us what contributes to that?
There are a couple of manufacturers that make most of the wire, and there are a couple companies that make their own wire. You are basically buying wire from the same companies. You buy that wire, bring it in, and put it on your machines, wind them, and you get your finished product. When they make the wire, they run it through dyes, and when the dye starts to wear out, it can cause some grittiness. On stainless steel in general, when you are pulling it down, it gets that gritty feel. I use a lighter outer wrap on my strings with the idea to try to mimic nickel-plated steel. This goes way back when I was working at Dean Markley strings. We came out with the SR2000, which was a tapered core string, and every string in the set was tapered except the G string. So for me to get that vibe, Dean, who didn’t want another stainless steel string as most players were buying nickel strings, I had to try to mimic the nickel strings. I went to smaller outer wraps, took the strings to Dean. He felt the first one and said that was stainless and the second which was nickel, and he was right. Then I handed him the one with the smaller stainless outer wrap and he thought it was nickel. That’s how we got it through because it was a stainless string. So, smaller outer wraps is a big part of that, in addition to the quality of the metals.
What would you say that makes your strings stand out from the others?
I wish I had the answer to brand loyalty. I think the real answer is how the string makes you feel when you play it. If you get a set of strings and they don’t feel or sound good, you don’t play good. You don’t like them and you can’t wait to get rid of them. Manufacturers have their own flavor on how they make strings, their tensions are different, it’s a stiffer string, and you are only going to like what you like by trying stuff. I could go on and on about string manufacturing and what makes one better than the other, but what it really gets down to is how does it make you feel. There are a lot of finite reasons why strings are inherently different over other strings. Some have to do with pull down pressure and your core tension. Our firm belief is that you don’t wind a string tighter than it would be when it is tuned to pitch. Then you have low B issues. I am a big proponent of B strings. It’s a whole other engineering scale length problem that, in my opinion hasn’t been addressed. There are some companies that make some really good low B’s, but at the end of the day, what I have found with our artists is that people love the strings for three reasons. One, they love the tension, two, the love the feel, and three, they love sound. It makes them feel good, and they have a place to put their” stuff”. With that, you have RNPROTECTS and we are going to be expanding the RNPROTECTS into a whole bunch of other lines. We are just getting ready to launch acoustic and electric strings for guitars as well. The response that we have gotten from bass players is nothing less than overwhelming. It’s really extraordinary that you made the observation on stainless because I do hear that a lot. All of these companies make great products. I’m not in this business to rag on other companies. We all have a different approach, feel, and texture.
You owe it to yourself and your bass to take the time and check out the MJC Ironworks Premium Bass Strings. Strings are available for 4,5,6, and 7 string basses in both nickel and stainless. Gauges available are light (40-60-80-100) Medium light (45-65-85-105) and Medium (50-70-90-110). The low B in the 5 string sets is125 for light and medium light, and 130 for medium. Some of the finest artist use the MJC Ironworks Premium Bass Strings including Rocco Prestia!
Check out the MJC Ironworks Premium Bass Strings website, and feel free to contact Michael J Connolly and talk with him about his strings, he would love to hear from you
MJC Ironworks
140 Mountain Spring Drive
San Jose California 95136
408 300 0889 Office
408-483-5547 Cell (Michael says… feel free to call me and let’s talk about strings!)
Visit online at mjcironworks.com
Gear Reviews
Review Transcript: BITE Custom Bass – The Black Knight PP Bass
This is a written transcript of our video review of the BITE Custom Bass Black Knight PP Bass originally published on March 4, 2024
BITE Custom Bass – The Black Knight PP Bass Review…
Bass Musician Magazine did a review on a Steampunk bass from BITE Guitars about three years ago, it was an amazing instrument, and we were very impressed. Now we’re happy to bring you another BITE bass, the Black Knight PP.
Everybody needs a P-type bass, it’s the standard of bass. If you’re recording, they want you to have a P bass. So why not have something that gives you a little more by having two instead of one P pickup. That’s the idea of this bass, it’s the first thing that leaps out: the double P pickup configuration.
Installing two of their 1000 millivolt split-coil pickups, BITE then went one step further and wired them up in a 4-way parallel/series circuit, a look at the controls reveal a 4-way rotary selector:
The first position, marked “B”, gives you the bridge pickup by itself.
The second position, marked “P”, gives you the bridge and neck pickups in parallel mode, that’s the traditional J-type circuit, it reduces output due to the physical law of parallel circuits.
Position number 3 is marked “N”, it gives you the neck pickup by itself.
And finally, number 4, marked “S”, gives your bridge and neck in a series (humbucking) mode which adds up resistances and thus boosts output. The other two controls are master volume and master tone.
What’s more, like every BITE bass, this one also has a reinforced headstock heel designed to give it extra output and sustain. The BITE website features a graph and explanation of what they have done to the heel, as compared to traditional headstocks.
A look at the body reveals a beautiful Black Blast body finish and underneath that we have alder wood. The bass has a matching headstock with a 4-in-line tuner setup and the traditional bite out of it, so everybody will know what kind of bass you’re playing. The pickguard is 3-ply black, the neck is vintage tinted hard maple and it has a satin speed finish at the back which keeps your thumb from sticking.
On top of that, there’s a clear-coated roasted black locust fretboard with black blocks marking the frets. The nut is a black Graph Tec nut, we’ve got diamond dome control knobs, and the tuners are lightweight compacts with cloverleaf buttons and a 1:17 ratio precision gear. The bridge is a Gotoh brass bridge with 19-millimeter string spacing.
Overall measurements: we’ve got a standard 34″ scale, a 1.65″ width nut and a C neck profile. This bass weighs 8.2 pounds, or 3,7 kilograms for our metric friends, and it uses standard 18% nickel silver frets.
Taking a closer look at the sound, this bass is a joy to play. The BITE proprietary 1000 millivolt pickups deliver an extraordinary amount of output which is surprising considering this is a passive instrument. You may even want to set your amp to active mode because of all of the juice you’re getting out of this guy.
The tonal possibilities are very versatile, it’s a straight P if you want but also much more with those different arrangements of the circuitry. So why have multiple basses when you’ve got one that can give you your basic P plus a lot more?
To sum it up, the Black Knight PP is an amazing instrument. The attention to detail that BITE puts into their basses is second to none. This bass is also amazingly balanced and gorgeous to hold and feel with the satin neck finish.
For more information, visit online at bite.guitars/product/black-knight-pp
Bass Videos
Reviews: Phil Jones Bass Compact Plus 450 and Bass Engine 17
Phil Jones Bass Compact Plus 450 and Bass Engine 17 Reviews…
In this issue, we take an in-depth look at two new amps from Phil Jones Bass, the Compact Plus 450 and Bass Engine 17.
For more information, visit online at pjbworld.com
Bass Videos
Video Review: BITE Custom Bass – The Black Knight PP Bass
BITE Custom Bass – The Black Knight PP Bass Review…
I am sure many of you saw my review of the Snobby Steampunk Bass from BITE Guitars back in February of 2021 and will remember what a remarkable bass it was. BITE has been building custom basses since 2019 and has a unique custom approach where you can configure your bass to your specs.
I am very excited to have another Bass From BITE Guitars in my hands, The Black Knight PP Bass!
The need for a P-Bass in one’s armamentarium is pretty standard for bass players and I recall chatting about this with Marty O’Brien about a year ago. It turns out that Marty and BITE Guitars got together and came up with this excellent configuration that gives you a P-Bass with a whole lot more. Marty even played his own Black Knight PP bass at the 2024 NAMM show. You can see his review here.
Join me as I take an in-depth look at this very cool instrument and share all the details.
Here is The Black Knight Bass from BITE Guitars!
For more information, visit online at bite.guitars/product/black-knight-pp
Gear Reviews
Gear Review: Origin Effects Cali76 Compact Bass
Origin Effects Cali76 Compact Bass Review…
Throughout the evolution of music, bass players have sought tools to sculpt and enhance their sonic landscapes, and one indispensable ally in this pursuit has been compression. Origin Effects, a name synonymous with premium audio craftsmanship, introduces the Cali76 Compact Bass Compressor, a pedal that pays homage to the legacy of compression and brings forth a new chapter in bass sonic mastery.
As we delve into the world of the Cali76 Compact Bass Compressor, we’ll explore how Origin Effects seamlessly weaves together the heritage of compression and contemporary bass demands, promising a pedal that not only honors the past but propels your bass playing into the future. Join us on this sonic expedition as we dissect the nuances of the Cali76 Compact and uncover the secrets it holds for bass players seeking the perfect blend of vintage warmth and modern versatility.
For Starters, the Cali76 is a studio-grade FET compressor pedal, based on the classic Urei 1176, but with some features optimized for bass guitar. For those of you who are not familiar with it, a FET (Field Effect Transistor) compressor is essentially a solid-state tube compressor emulation that allows for fast and precise control over the attack and the release parameters; allows for extreme compression ratios; and finally adds the typical 1176 color and character to the sound.
Together with the common controls we see in most compressor pedals – Ratio, Attack/Release, input (just like the original 1176, the threshold in this pedal is fixed), and output (makeup gain). The Cali76 offers two more controls dedicated to us bass players.
A Dry control – This allows us to mix in our dry, uncompressed signal to the pedal output. This is great for when we want to add back some of our playing dynamics to the compressed sound or for when you want some volume back in situations where the compression starts taking away the volume.
A High Pass Filter control – Low frequencies on a bass guitar signal normally overwhelm compressors. This high pass filter allows the compressor to only react to higher frequencies, which helps preserve the natural dynamics of our playing while keeping the low end intact.
Metering on this pedal can be a bit hard to get used to at first. There’s a single LED light on the pedal, that not only serves as an On/Off light, but it’s also our meter. It glows red when no compression is applied and orange for active compression. The brighter the light, the greater the amount of gain reduction. Yellow signifies that the gain reduction reached 27dB and maximum reduction occurs around 38 dB.
In practical terms, it’s all about working with the input and the LED to find the sweet spot (turn the input to zero, start playing and slowly increase the input level until you start seeing the LED glowing orange, which means there’s reduction going on).
With 6 highly interactive knob controls, this pedal implies some degree of compressor knowledge and also some amount of tweaking and experimentation to find the perfect settings. The good news is that it is very hard to make this pedal sound bad…
It can go from very subtle compression settings to very extreme, and it can do everything in between. Also, the team at Origin has been kind enough to add a couple of sample settings in the manual to get players started and to help us understand better how the pedal works.
Dynamic Control is a setting that provides natural compression, balancing dynamics between various playing techniques. It is a subtle compression that will work almost out of the box almost all the time. Having a medium setting for the High Pass Filter ensures an honest translation of the lower string dynamics.
Parallel compression is a popular studio technique, where both compressed and natural signals are blended. We get the sound and feel of hard compression while retaining the natural playing dynamics.
Percussive, lively & Fat is a setting that uses a slower attack time to accentuate the start of any note. Then using a fast release allows the compressor to recover between notes so that the phrases sound more percussive. Ideal for slapping and other percussive techniques.
Finally, I would like to mention the classic 1176 tonal coloration. It’s not a secret that engineers all around would sometimes use the 1176 compressor, without applying any compression, just to get the tonal coloration into the instrument sound.
And the Cali76 compressor is no different, it has such a rich, warm, and full coloration that’s super pleasing to the ear and makes you want to have it ON all the time. So be aware, that if you want a transparent compressor, this pedal is not for you!
All in all, it is easy to understand why this pedal became a favorite of so many bass players around the world. The Cali76 Compact stands as a testament to the meticulous craftsmanship and thoughtful engineering that Origin Effects is renowned for. It seamlessly navigates through the rich history of compression, offering bass players a gateway to the soulful resonance of the past while empowering them to sculpt a contemporary sonic future.
Whether you’re a seasoned bass maestro or a budding virtuoso, the Cali76 Compact invites you to embark on a sonic journey where every note is held in a delicate balance between tradition and innovation. As we bid farewell to our exploration, we do so with the realization that the Cali76 Compact is more than just a pedal; it’s a sonic companion that elevates the artistry of bass playing
For more information, visit online at origineffects.com
Gear Reviews
Spector NS Ethos HP 4 Bass Review
Spector NS Ethos HP 4 Bass Review…
Not long ago, I did a review of the Spector NS Dimension HP 5 Bass and I have just been given the honor and privilege of reviewing the Spector NS Ethos HP 4 Bass. I have to say, another great bass from Spector that is hard to put down! While there are some similarities between both basses, there are also some noticeable differences which is why I believe having both is essential to any bass arsenal.
Spector, widely used by many rock and metal bassists like Ian Hill, Alex Webster, Colin Edwin, Doug Wimbish, and many more, just to name a few, has a long-standing in these genres. Well, that’s about to change! The bass I used for the review, didn’t see any of those genres, matter of fact, I used it on a few classic country gigs and at church too! However, when at home in the studio, I let the funk out. The NS Ethos HP 4 Bass is an all-around great bass for any genre and will not disappoint.
Let’s get into the specs about the bass, and here we will find the differences between the HP 5 Bass and the HP 4.
Forget that one is a 5 string, while the other is a 4, while that is a difference, that’s not one that I feel needs to be noted as both models are available as 4 and 5 strings. The Spector NS Ethos HP 4 Bass has a 34” scale, 24 fret, 3 piece maple neck through construction with solid alder wings, ebony fingerboard along with centered and side dots and the 12th fret Spector logo inlay with a brass nut.
While the pickups are different as the NS Dimension HP 5 Bass uses the EMG 45DC and the NS Ethos HP 4 Bass sports the EMG 35DC pickups, they are the same pickup configurations, the difference being, one for 4 string, the other for 5 string. The electronics are the same, consisting of a Darkglass Tone Capsule preamp which consists of +-12dB @70Hz for Bass, +-12dB @500Hz for Mids, and +-12dB @2.8kHz for Hi Mids. Controls for Spector NS Dimension HP 5 Bass consist of Master Volume, Blend, Bass, Mid, and Hi Mid controls. The electronics are powered by a 9-volt battery.
The bridge is a Hi-Mass locking bridge with intonation screws and the tuners are sealed die-cast. All hardware is black. Same as the Spector NS Dimension HP 5 Bass, the HP 4 Bass is available in 4 different finishes, White Sparkle Gloss, Gunmetal Gloss, Plum Crazy Gloss & Black Gloss. The bass also comes with a very nice and well-padded gig bag.
Check out the Spector NS Ethos HP 4 Bass at a Spector Music Retailer today near you or visit online at spectorbass.com/product/ns-ethos-hp-4/
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