A friend in Seattle emailed to tell me that when he attended a PAS L1® demo at guitar center the guitar player was using some kind of a great sounded floor bass through the system. He plays bass so he noticed - but I play guitar and need to add bass and no one at my local guitar center seems to know what I'm asking about. HELP :-)


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Hi duogig,

That sounds like a
Porchboard Bass

Thank you ST [wow. prompt :-] and yeah, that might be it. Porchboard bass. I read through and didn't find an update from Tony-at-Bose (about the passive questions he asked). Am I missing something do you think?

Hi duogig,

Nope, I don't think you are missing anything in the conversation. From recent postings in the Announcements section, I'm guessing that Tony-at-Bose is on the road touring. So we may not hear back for a bit.

Yup, Tony's on San Fran doing some gigs and demoing the system.

Steve

I'm back, and yes, the porchboard works great in channels 3 or 4 without any preamp. I'm still baffled as to how they do it! To me it sounds like a really cool kick drum, so it would be a great addition to a bass/guitar duo in addition to my application of solo voice and guitar. As cool as it is, it would probably be fantastic for a lot of different band configurations. The Bose system is the perfect means of amplification for this revolutionary new instrument.

Yep. It sounds amazing and full. Tony, you just need a high hat or something to kick with your left foot and we can get you a gig at Pike Place Market.

Dan

Will the porchboard work with the LI Compact? From what I read the frequency for the PBB is around 33 which is lower than the L1c capability.

Hi Downtown Freddy Brown,

I use the PorchBoard with my Compact.

When I first tried it, it seemed a little wimpy compared to what I was used to hearing with the Classic and the Model II.

But when I stopped comparing it to the big guns, I realized that is sounded okay, and it was still doing what I needed it to do - support my rhythm and enhance the bottom end.

DrumrPete started a really nice discussion about all of this here.

The Compact and the PorchBoard - can it ever work?

Does that help?

Thanks ST. That does help. After I posted my question I found your post on the PB site I think talking about turning the front of the PB around to put the wires facing you.

Well I guess I'm sold. I just ordered my Porchboard today and looking forward to "kicking" butt when I get it.

You'll love it for your solo work.
And if you ever jam with a drummer, you can get him to keep the volume down by using it with a snare w/brushes.
I am now using my porchboard for about 1/3 of the gigs I do.
The country and bluegrass guys really like the subtle sound of it compared to drums.
It's amazing how much high-end information (noise) a bass drum puts out after using the porchboard for a while.

OK. I got my PB and had a chance today to give it a good trial. I absolutely love the sound through the Compact (I have never heard it through a Classic or Model II so I can't really compare) especially with my Joe Pass Jazz guitar. I run the PB into one of the stereo inputs with an adaptor. I found I needed to run channel 2 around 7 or 8 and adjust my guitar down a bit but that seemed to make the guitar sound better...go figure. Now for a guy who has good timing and taps his foot a lot, I found that I occasionally stop tapping. I also found that I'm using muscles that I'm not used to and my foot (ankle) gets tired quickly. The other problem I'm having is I usually sit on a normal chair to play but with my feet elevated slightly to play the PB I can't lean forward to sing into my mic and read my cheat notes. I guess I'll have to experiment with a stool. I got short legs and most stools are too high for me (I think they are normally 29") I have a stool I used to use that I sawed the legs shorter by about 5" and it works for me. I have seen some recently labeled 24" now. I found that I used both feet a lot of the time when the tempo was faster. Like anything else - practice makes perfect. I can't wait to use it on the next gig!

Hi Freddy,

Yes, I hear you ... it can take a little bit of adjusting to having this new instrument, ergonomic issues and all.

Try the short rail on the back. It's a different height and that may or may not work for you, but it probably won't work all that well if you are playing with both feet.

I'm really glad you like the sound.

My one complaint is that now, when I don't have my PorchBoard, I stomp my left foot (my toe-tappin' foot) waaaaay too hard on the floor. And that's what hurts later.

My left knee has some cartilage missing (I used to lay in bed and put my knee in and out of joint when I was younger - not sure why but my dad could hear it in their room and yell at me to stop) and in certain positions it "clicks" in and out of joint, a very odd feeling. I noticed that if I use my left foot for the main tapping I feel my knee doing it's thing occasionally so I am using my right foot mostly. I suppose I should have an operation and get a new knee but I haven't fallen down yet! (It probably wouldn't hurt to lose a couple hundred pounds either!)

Hey Freddie. I use a drummer's throne on stage. It is not only comfortable, but it is height adjustable and the base folds up for transport.
ST: I hear you about playing without the Porchboard. I feel as if somtimes I'm going to stomp a hole in the floor.

Respect

I used to have a set of Eko bass pedals and used a drummer's throne then but the pedals finally gave out and you can't get them any more unless you go with midi controller pedals and a sound module. A drummer friend of mine wanted the throne because it was way better than his so I sold it to him. Maybe I'll go have another look at what they sell now. I'm a big guy so a cheap one will just snap in half (been there, done that, not fun)

Hi Downtown Freddy Brown,

Here's something I find really comfortable and flexible. I don't haul it out to gigs because it is a little more than I want to carry, but if I was willing to carry a drummers throne, I would take this instead. It's nice to have the adjustable foot rest.


--== click the picture to see it in context ==--

Front to back depth: 12.4" -31.5cm
Side to side width: 16.3" - 41.5cm
Thickness: 60mm
Height positions(9): from 22.2" to 33.6"
from 56.5 to 85.5cm Frame width 14" - 35.5cm Frame depth 18.5"- 47cm Fold- up size 16.1"W x 36.2" H x 7" D 41cmWx92Hx 18D Weight capacity: 250lbs- 112kg
Weight: 17.8lb- 8kg

My local Long & McQuade doesn't normally stock this, but they can order it.

Thanks ST, I'll check at my L&Ms. Hmmm only holds 250...not so good hahaha

Now that I've experimented a bit more with my porchboard I find I like to use both feet but I like alternating with both the heels and toes. I'm thinking I need to get another one and put them back to back setting one on L and the other on H. Does anyone else do this? They both would have to plug in but I'm guessing a "Y" adapter would work.