Thoughts on my new Infinity

[bassoctopus]

I finally got to practice with the Infinity yesterday with my band.

I started off playing my thumb bass so I could do a true comparison, then moved on to the Infinity.

First impressions are that the Infinity has a stupid amount of bottom end. I had the bass control almost completely rolled off. I don't know if this is indicative of a problem with the preamp as this characteristic isn't nearly as noticeable when switched to passive mode. I need to have a bit of a play with that to find out.

Once I'd got used to the sound I was able to relax with it and start to play properly.

The closest comparison I can find is that it has all the best sounds from a Streamer Stage 1, then add in the mid and definition of the thumb bass and you're getting close to what this bass sounds like. It is an amazing sounding instrument and an excellent companion to my thumb bass.

I never felt my SS1 cut through in the band (unless played with a plec - which I don't do) but it always sounded like the best bass in the world when played by itself. The Infinity gives you that sound but with good definition/ It's also a much nicer weight compared to my 91 thumb when practicing for long periods.

All in all I still prefer my thumb with 300ft Gorilla - but then I have been playing it for 15 years! But for lighter funk stuff and for 300ft Gorilla live work I think the Infinity is going to work out just fine

BTW I'd be interested in hearing any Infinity NT 5 owners thoughts on the amount of bottom end from the preamp.

 

[IncX]

nice review!

i think i have the same comment when i first tried on my Buzzard BO5 in a live band setting.. before that i used a Darklord and a Pre EB MM stingray...

i guess i just got use to the treble that i found other basses "too bassy" ...

must be the same thing with you... i read that the darklord and the Thumb belong to the same sonic tree in warwick... im not sure how true that is though...

 

[bassoctopus]

Interesting.

Part of my problem is that I use the mid pre-shape on my vintage (!) Trace Elliot which sounds amazing with the thumb, as it must give the bottom end a really nice boost. The Infinity was more manageable with it switched out.

In fact I should buy myself a TE foot pedal so I can switch it when I switch basses

 

[warwickhunt]

Glad you're digging the Infinity Neil

It's always tricky when switching from an instrument that you've played for soooo many years as you'll always make comparisons.

 

[bassoctopus]

Must try and find time to bring it round to your place sometime.

 

[maddrakkett]

Something to look into - your Infinity should have a trimmer pot on the internal EQ circuit board. It's a gain control, but if it's boosted just right, it might be causing your bass to sound overly bassy. You could mark where the pot is set and try backing off that slightly and see how it sounds. If that doesn't work, or if you don't like how it sounds, just return the pot to the setting you marked.

Even better - you might try lowering your pickups - that works wonders for removing low-end mud on the $$ basses!

Just my two pennies...

 

[warwickhunt]

Something to look into - your Infinity should have a trimmer pot on the internal EQ circuit board. It's a gain control, but if it's boosted just right, it might be causing your bass to sound overly bassy. You could mark where the pot is set and try backing off that slightly and see how it sounds. If that doesn't work, or if you don't like how it sounds, just return the pot to the setting you marked.

Even better - you might try lowering your pickups - that works wonders for removing low-end mud on the $$ basses!

Just my two pennies...

Good point! If the Infinity is anything like my Infinette the trim pot will be a little blue plastic recessed flat screwdriver dial!

 

[bassoctopus]

Tried dropping the pickups up to the point at which I was finding them uncomfortable to play with ( I use the pup as a thumb rest)

And there's no trim pot in this bass unfortunately (or in my thumb bass)

 

[maddrakkett]

Well, looks like my 2 pennies were pretty much worthless. Darn inflation... :lol:

I guess it's just the anture of the beast then. The only other solution is to do as you suggets and get a footswitch for the amp. Or you could try experimenting with brighter steel strings or brighter pickups and/or adjustable active electronics.

 

[Avram]

from what I've read in other posts...the Infinity has an insane bottom end... :shock:

 

[bassoctopus]

I still love the sound of the bass, just seems a bit odd to play it with the bottom end completely rolled off!

It'll take me a while to get my sound out of it and the amp anyway

 

[Pedro]

awww i want an infinity so much it actually hurts!!!

Where do you crazy ppl get enough money to buy these basses!!!???

 

[bassoctopus]

Saved and worked for my Thumb bass 15 years ago - £900 second hand.

Bought a second hand SS1 18 months ago when I sold a load of old studio gear and didn't want to waste the money, then sold that and put in another £100 for the Infinity.

I've never bought a new bass, and see the second hand ones almost as investments at todays rates.

 

[maddrakkett]

Saved and worked for my Thumb bass 15 years ago - £900 second hand.

Bought a second hand SS1 18 months ago when I sold a load of old studio gear and didn't want to waste the money, then sold that and put in another £100 for the Infinity.

I've never bought a new bass, and see the second hand ones almost as investments at todays rates.

Having bought some of my Warwicks new, I decided to check ebay and get the upper priced Warwicks I had dreamed of owning. I will almost always buy used now - haven't had a bad deal yet and they have been well cared for by the previous owners!

 

[Lewis]

awww i want an infinity so much it actually hurts!!!

Where do you crazy ppl get enough money to buy these basses!!!???

i flat out saved for 4 solids months, very hard to do, but when my CS buzzard comes it will be well worth it. :twisted:

 

[IncX]

i bought and sold MIJ guitars ... and if it isnt enough, i ask, beg, borrow from my dad's business *lol*

currently i owe him something id be paying for in the next 4 months

 

[warwickhunt]

I bought and sold traded my way through basses; used work redundancy money and the easiest way to be able to afford them... don't have kids :lol:

 

[Lewis]

I bought and sold traded my way through basses; used work redundancy money and the easiest way to be able to afford them... don't have kids :lol:

thanks for the advice i dont know what id love more a new warwick or a kid, prob the kid just :lol:

 

[Grgzilla]

I bought and sold traded my way through basses; used work redundancy money and the easiest way to be able to afford them... don't have kids :lol:

thanks for the advice i dont know what id love more a new warwick or a kid, prob the kid just :lol:

When it comes to possesions,kids cant compare.They have a different value that money cant buy. :wink:

 

[bassoctopus]

Update:

Used the Infinity and Thumb on Sunday and have grown to love them both.

I have my amp settings sorted for an easy switch between them - gain down, thumb in passive input , Inf in active input - and the Infinity rocks! What a great bass. As I suspected everything I love about the SS1 but with the growl and mid of the Thumb.

A truly awesome and very versatile beast.

My plan to semi-retire the Thumb for big gigs and recording will work perfectly. (I see my Infinity as replaceable with the correct insurance but my 91 thumb as not)