| PICKUP
ARRAYS |
Standard
TrueTalker Pickup Array
-- This is the pickup array which comes standard on the
TrueTapper instrument. It has a single 'dual-rail' pickup for the bass
strings, and another single dual-rail pickup for the melody strings. The
'dual-rail' design of pickup produces a powerful and clear sound. Use it
with the tone-control wide open for a bright and clear tone suitable for
classical, country-style, and ballads. Or use the wide-range tone
control to close down the high-frequency content for a more muted or
rounder tone such as for jazz, smooth-ballad sound, or to drive into
distortion effects. A reliable and good-sounding general purpose pickup
array, adaptable to most types of music.
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TwoGold
Pickup Array --
Each gold-case pickup contains dual humbucking coils,
and is equipped with adjustable pole pieces. These pole pieces can be
raised or lowered so that the magnetic field is brought closer or moved
further from the vibrating string. This adjustment permits you to
equalize volume across the strings.
Pole piece adjustment serves a further purpose as well. As you move a
pickup closer to the string, the signal gets louder, but at a certain
point, the magnetic field begins to affect the trajectory of the string
in its movement, and can degrade the tone. Adjustable pole pieces give
you a way to find the loudest signal but avoid a signal that becomes
distorted.
This design of pickup pulls more mids and lows from the string, and so
produces a warmer and fuller tone.
Also - a very sharp looking jet black pickguard.
As shown, the TwoGold array has been installed on a TrueTapper, and in
the photo you can also see the blonde 'Tusq' string saddle upgrade. Tusq
is an exotic material manufactured by Graph Tech in Canada. The Tusq
saddle upgrade (and a custom nut of Tusq as well), extracts more of the
string's harmonics, and in combination with the TwoGold array produces a
rich, yet warm and comfortable sound.
The TrueTapper bass with this specific upgrade to
Tusq nut and saddles and TwoGold array is called a 'TrueTapper Gold' and
special pricing is available on this very sharp looking and very sharp
sounding touchstyle bass.
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TwoBart
Pickup Array
-- For those who only care to play the very best, this
may be the one. It's kind of hard to see, because those dull black
Bartolini pickups don't photograph so well against the shiny black
pickguard.
But
they aren't hard to hear!
Many
musicians feel that Bill Bartolini makes the best pickups in the world,
and our 'TwoBart' array might make you a believer. These
black-cased beauties deliver a solid punch that have a kind of groan to
them. They produce near PAF output, so they're quite loud.
Engineer Bartolini knows his electronics and these beautifully detailed
devices show careful attention to detail. We don't know what he does
that makes them pull so much rich sound from the strings, but that's
what they do.
In
this particular photo you can see that the TrueTapper shown has also
upgraded to Graph Tech's charcoal-coloured 'String Saver' string
saddles. This exotic material preserves more of the string's harmonics,
and also contains some slippery stuff so that your strings stay in tune
longer during the gig, and break less often. The String Saver saddles
(and nut) upgrade is a good match for the TwoBart upgrade, and the
combination produces amazingly rich tone.
TwoBart Pickup Array, black cases in jet black pickguard.
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ThreeGold
Pickup Array -- This is the standard pickup
array on our 'MaxTapper' instrument, shown in the photo.
The
ThreeGold pickup array is a good match for the premium woods found in
the MaxTapper (mahogany, rosewood, and sapele). These warm-sounding
woods enhance the warm tone of the goldcase pickup.
The
ThreeGold array places one pickup beneath the bass strings, and provides
two beneath the harmony or melody strings. You will find that during
play, whereas you rarely need to change your bass sound much during the
song, having access to different sounds for your rhythmic chords or
melodies is quite useful, so the dual pickups on the melody side are
switch selectable. The switch is located upper left, near the fretboard.
The switch permits you to select front, rear, or both melody pickups.
Against
the dark wood, this is also a very dramatic looking pickup array.
ThreeGold Pickup Array, jet black pickguard
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ThreeBart
Pickup Array
-- No photo available. However, the pickups are aligned
identically to the ThreeGold photo immediately preceeding, with one
rich-tone Bartolini pickup beneath the bass strings, and two pickups
beneath the melody strings. Melody pickups are switch selectable, and
Bartolini tone is world famous.
An
intense sound, with rich lows, and yet very crisp and comfortable melody
tone. Almost somber looking, with the dull black Bartolini cases set in
the shiny black pickguard.
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FourGold
Pickup Array -- No photograph available, but
pickups can be seen in the preceeding 'ThreeGold' photo. Pickups are
aligned as shown in the photograph next following.
If you like the round and mellow tone and sharp looks of these
gold-case pickups in the jet black pickguard, the FourGold gives you
four of them!
Two switch-selectable pickups for your bass strings, and two
switch-selectable pickups for your melody strings give you a wide array
of immediate tonal choices during the gig. Although tonal differences
between bass pickups may not be quite as audible as on melody strings,
the signal from both bass pickups does add power and dimension, and
that's a nice plus in this very sharp looking gold in black array.
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FourBart
Pickup Array
-- This doesn't need much explaining. It's just
legendary Bartolini rich and powerful sound, and a lot of it!
Two
powerful black pickups for your bass strings, switch- selectable, give
you a rounder tone for the front pickup, and a crisper tone for the
rear. Blended with both on, it just adds a groaning dimension to the
sound. These are quite high output as well. They needn't be turned up as
loud, as Bartolini seems to pull more fundamental from the strings.
Likewise,
on the melody side, a switch-selectable pair of melody pickups. The
surprise is that Bartolini pickups under melody strings are extremely
clean and clear sounding.
On
the MaxTapper instrument pictured, you'll notice that the Graph Tech
String Saver saddle (which come standard on the MaxTapper bass) are
there working hard to keep the harmonics rolling through the strings so
the Bartolinis can grab them. And they do!
FourBart Pickup Array, black cases in black pickguard
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JazzMaster
Pickup Array -- Feeling jazzy? You got the
cool? Just the sound for a late-night after-hours gig. With two 'Les
Paul-type' bass pickups (three-position selector), and two matching
round-sound 'Les Paul-type' melody pickups (another three-position
selector), you can play as cool as you feel. The 'Les Paul' design of
pickup produces a strong signal which is rich in mid-range and lows, so
you can obtain a smooth and mellow sound, but plenty of power to cut
through.
These pickups are installed bare without cases so that the wide coils
sit near to the strings with none of the 'rounding' of sound that casing
can produce. This is a wide frequency sound, with a mellow tone and just
a hint of groaning in the bass. Black bobbins with a 24 adjustable pole
pieces looking real shiny in the jet black pickguard.
This is the standard pickup array provided on the ToneWeaver
fanned-fret instrument, and the Graph Tech saddles riding on individual
bridge plates work nicely to maintain an individual quality to each
string's sound.
Because of the fanned frets, the melody pickups are reading melody
strings which are shorter than our other instruments, and so you get a
somewhat more defined melody tone. The longer bass strings match well
with the heavy coils of the JazzMaster to let the longer bass harmonics
come through.
JazzMaster Pickup Array, jet black pickguard.
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BluesBuster
Pickup Array
-- The BluesBuster is designed for those days when you just feel, well,
the blues. You got 'em. You know it. And they just aint goinna stop!
So you might just as well get to Bustin' the Blues!
The BluesBuster Pickup Array contains two heavy duty Les Paul-type
humbucking pickups on the bass side with a three position switch to
choose your sound, and on the melody side you have three
individually-selectable high-output rail pickups so you can choose neck,
middle, bridge, neck and middle, midle and bridge, or all three! The
'dual-rail' design of pickup produces a clear and strong signal,
suitable for driving effects, or crank the tone control down for smooth
and clear voice. Jet black pickguard.
Bust em!
(Picture Pending)
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| SUPPORTS |
The
MegStrap
-- Our unique new design of a 'Guitar Strap' has all the convenience of
the usual strap, including a shoulder pad to increase your comfort while
playing. But as the drawing reveals, we've added a new feature.
The
cord attachment from the shoulder pad to the megatar's head both keeps
the shoulder pad self-centered so it won't slide off your shoulder, and
at the same time the attachment keeps the head of the instrument
positioned high for perfect two-handed touch-style play.
You'll
appreciate how easy it is to put it on and take it off. While your
instrument is sitting in its stand (or lying in its case), the strap is
already open. Just slip it over your head and -- bam! -- instant correct
positioning.
Won't muss your clothing or costume, either!
The Mobius MegStrap (included free with every bass)
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The
MegHook --
Lots of us tappers like the convenience of a belt-hook. For the first
time, you'll discover how useful to have a removable belthook!
Just attach the belthook to the rear of your megatar instrument, and
then slip the wide hook portion over your belt to support your
instrument from the belt.
You
can use the belthook all by itself as long as you keep your two hands on
the instrument's neck (to prevent it tipping to the side), OR you can
use the belthook in combination with the MegStrap.
Using
the belthook in combination with the MegStrap will eliminate any lateral
(side to side) motion of the instrument if you get to dancing on stage,
and of course the instrument's weight on your shoulder is further
reduced, because the strap bears part and the belthook bears part.
The
main objection to a belthook is when you need to play while seated,
because the belthook holds the instrument close to your torso. When you
attempt to sit on most chairs, the body of the instrument will then
interfere with the chair! Not comfortable!
And that's when you'll fully appreciate the convenience of a removable
belthook!
The Mobius Removable MegHook, clear acrylic with choice of red, blue,
or black connector knob.
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The
MegBar --
Like to play seated? Then you'll appreciate the Mobius MegBar. We got
this idea back in 1994 in a conversation with tapper Bob Culbertson, who
was then performing regularly in Northern California using this idea.
One
day, Bob reports, he got the brainstorm of attaching a stick crossways
to the body of his instrument, so that the stick could rest on his
thighs while he was seated. Voila! The first known lap-bar.
The
MegBar is a variation of this idea, an updated form-fitted design, made
to comfortably rest on your thighs while reading or performing seated,
and is normally supplied with a black, non-slip finish.
The
MegBar is completely removable, and can be used either alone or in
combination with the MegStrap. If you stand up to play (using the
MegStrap for support), the MegBar can remain attached without
interfering with your standing performance, and yet it's still at the
ready for seated play.
It's
a simple idea, but a great one.
The Mobius MegBar, in non-slip black only, with choice of red, blue, or
black connector knob.
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| BRIDGE
SADDLES AND NUTS |
Graph
Tech 'Tusq' or 'String-Saver' string saddles
--
CAUTION -- To preserve the Buzz Feiten Intonation System
installed on your Megatar, the replacement bridge must be factory
installed.
Canadian
company Graph Tech has designed (and patented) some brilliant string
saddles. The 'Tusq' material is an ivory substitute, beautiful to the
eyes and to the touch, and with an exceptionally brilliant compositional
structure, with the result of maintaining full-frequency sound from your
strings.
Their
'String Saver' saddles are also made of a super-hard material to improve
frequency response, but one with a special property -- the harder
strings press, the easier they slide. It's as if your strings ride over
the saddles on microscopic ball-bearings (because that's pretty much
what's happening), and so you get two unique benefits: (1) When you tune
up, your string can equalize its tension better along its length, and
this means you stay in tune longer! (2) Because the string is
'cushioned' at the saddle, they break less. In fact, that's why the
brand is called 'String Savers'.
Saddles
naturally include dual height-adjuster screws (just like on our steel
saddles on factory instruments), positioning springs, and custom metric
'cap-screws' for setting intonation.
Either
saddle increases sustain (about 15% longer than equivalent steel
saddles). The Tusq are a beautiful colour similar to ivory, and the
String-Savers are a deep charcoal colour. Both look great, and sound
even greater!
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Graph Tech "Tusq" String Saddle
|
Graph
Tech "StringSaver" Saddle |
Graph
Tech 'Tusq' or 'String-Saver' Custom Nut
-- See information under 'String Saddles' for a description of Graph
Tech's brilliant Tusq material and their patented 'String-Saver'
material.
Your
instrument's strings change direction at two places. From the ball, the
string comes through the instrument's body (this anchoring position
maximizes sustain), and then they change direction as they go over the
rounded saddle. The string then extends the length of the fretboard and
when it reaches the nut, it must again change direction to access the
tuners located on the tilted-back head (this tilt-back head design again
maximizes sustain over flat head designs).
So as
a matter of physics, the two locations where your string changes its
direction are the two places where your string is actually connected to
your instrument. And it is here that your string's sound is modified by
your instrument. For
example, if you made the nut or the saddles of rubber, you would have
one dead-sounding string, because the nut and saddles would *absorb* the
vibration, effectively killing it.
Luthiers
around the world have experimented with different materials for the nut
(and to a much lesser degree with materials for the saddle). Various
ivory and ivory substitutes, brass, aluminum, and steel have been tried.
And by test, the Graph Tech materials out-sustain them all!
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Contents
(c) 1999 Mobius Megatar, Ltd. All rights reserved. Reproduction without
written authorization is prohibited. Contact Information -- Mobius Megatar
USA: Post Office Box 969, Fairfax CA 94978 USA. Email: tappers@megatar.com
Website: http://www.megatar.com
Phone:
(415) 435-8803 Fax: (415) 453-1485
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