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I think there are a number of reasons for this, bass was almost seen but not heard in the past, but now even us oldies expect to hear more bass. Just try learning the bass part of a 60s song on an old car radio. To some degree, we have gone power mad. In the 90s, 300 watts was considered a monster. However, you only have to read how many people are using the micro amps, Elf, Gnome etc to gig with. These output about 100 watts into 8 ohms and will keep up with two 30 watt guitar combos and an acoustic drummer. The difference between 90 watts and 100 watts cannot be heard. Of course, some might respond that valve watts were more powerful than solid state, nonsense. Valve amps compress nicely but can only output around 40% more power at maximum distortion, the same as a solid state amp of the same power. So why are all my three amps 700–800 watts? Strangely, I use one of them as a spare that can be used either for bass or PA. The main reason is that they are there, and I can afford them. If we think back to the good old days when guitarists had 100 watt valve stacks, 300 watts were not enough (tell that to your ears) and 300 watts either Valve or Trace was the minimum you needed. However, playing with a couple of Fender Twins, AC30s etc in a pub/club, 300 watts are more than enough. As my cabinet is 8 ohms, 350 watts is comfortable with headroom (remember, solid state amps are usually quoted at 4 ohms. At 8 ohms, they will usually output 50-60% of the 4 ohm power).

I've been extremely skeptical since it was first announced and how slow the information being shared was. Then when we got more detail the organisation on the day didn't seem to have any logic of clarity to it. Plus the shocking use of poor quality logos in the website just added to how unprofessional this was looking. The informal bass bashes organised by people voluntarily on here seem to have more thought into things.

Good thread revival, 15 years! I have a Kustom Defender (pre-mod) that I used as a practice amp at home.

I occasionally played a gig where jammers were allowed to get up during the interval. I never did like people using my bass (you never know where they've been...yuk ).

Welcome!

Easter treat from Thomann. NS Dimension 4 for £1,222 (incl. VAT, free shipping). I am not into multiscales, but someone here may is: https://www.thomann.co.uk/spector_ns_dimension_ms_4_walnut.htm

I remember being in one of the bigger guitar shops in New York and the new Gibson Thunderbird had come out (this was the one below with the different pickups and the switches). I was using a variety of other 'birds at the time (see elsewhere). Plugging in, you couldn't really hear anything different going on. I mean, if anything was actually happening tonally, it was on such an infinitesimally small tonal swing that you couldn't really identify any difference.

It seems the only announcement on this has been the website page. Nothing on their social media apart from all posts being removed from Instagram. I'm still 50/50 on scam vs disfunctional shambles...

Last night, did some bass backing for a couple of people - the most notable being backing 12 year old Amelie (vocals) and 14 year old Phoebe (guitar) doing Sweet Child O' Mine. I think Phoebe's guitar playing was better than our guitarist (but don't tell him I said that). It's good to see that there are youngsters coming on as well as the old brigade.

I wouldn't worry as long as it has a volume control. It will be obvious if you are over-driving the cab. It will make horrible noises before it expires.

The entitlement of some people is quite staggering, isn't it?

One of those drunk idiots once said to me, after chipping a headstock against a wall, "what are you looking at me like that for? These are supposed to be bashed around a bit!"

My hair (or lack thereof) is as depressing as a Leonard Cohen song . TBF, I quite like Laughing Len, the original version of Hallelujah, being the best, by quite some measure, IMO.

I think it's next to impossible to achieve under 8.5 lbs with the wood combination, which is similar to a Ken Smith. The average Black Tiger 5 string weighs well over 9 lbs I believe. Hope you find a solution on the weight Jeff as Mark is a really nice person, hard to find these days! 😬

Got lucky with the timings then!

Welcome GStack.

The actual scratchplate is pretty horribly cut. Shame, as otherwise, as a travel bass, it has potential, such an easy fix too.

Why do you want to change? You don't like the sound, or just want a different sound? The main issue with replacement pickups is finding the right dimensions. Try an outboard preamp. That will alter/improve your sound without the need to mod your bass.

Exactly. Even if your bass isn't expensive, it's yours and you have the right to decide who, if anyone, plays it. I used to take a cheap eBay special to jams as a loan instrument. Several people turned up their noses at it and demanded to play my vintage Jazz or my Spector. Sorry, sunshine. Not happening.