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I have a middle of the range Tokai 335 copy. Guitarist in my band has a Gibson 335. I daren't let him try my Tokai as I think it’ll just depress him.

After much trying out and research, I’ve finally sorted out my small rig. It’s unbelievable that this little lot ( Aguilar AG 700 and a Barefaced One 10) can produce the sounds that it does in such a lightweight package. Rehearsal tomorrow night should be fun!

Thank goodness you're here to save us, @prowla! Actually, while you're on, I've just snapped up The Mona Lisa for a great price. I'm SO chuffed.

1. What makes owners of Mesa gear like it so much. (general question about Mesa gear ie build quality, support and availability) - Sound, build quality, character. I have more compliments about my sound when using Mesa gear than any other. 2. What is it that made you pick that particular amp over others. (in respect to other Mesa amps or cabs and maybe in respect to other manufacturers gear) The 400+ is iconic. There's a reason it's one of the default models on Logic Pro X. It gives me a sound I absolutely love. Bass = 3, Treble = 3, MIddle = 10. I have a Walkabout Scout 12 too and use that with it's own 1x12 combo or with a BF TWO10. Both have very similar flavour sounds and cut through the mix. The 400+ is used either through a BF Big Twin 2 or a SIX10. 3. Is there a favoured set up that majority of owners prefer or would prefer. Not particularly. I change mine depending on the venue, my mood, whatever. 4. Can you describe briefly your preferred tone (ie, warm, mellow, mid-punch, heavy bottom end, high top end are just some things i can think off). A middy clank not unlike Duff McKagan, a thumping P-bass with flats depending on the song. Both the 400+ and the Walkabout get me where I need to be. Once you've learned how to quickly adjust teh knobs on the go, it's not an issue. 5. what bass do you generally use with it. (just to give me an idea of whether your bass is passive, active or has a deciding influence on how your tone might sound) Yamaha BB2024x, Valenti P-bass, G&L2500 6. Finally what Mesa gear would you recommend for a Mesa Virgin like myself playing mostly classic rock with a Jazz bass but occasionally depping for other music genres doing pup / club material. A Walkabout Scout or a Walkabout with a quality 210 would probably serve you well. The DI on Mesa gear is weird. You have to be aware that if you change the master volume setting it will affect the signal out so if you tweak up your volume on stage the desk is going to get a hotter signal. Worth mentioning to a soundman just in case. My 400+ measured the power output at approximately 245W clean and 350W maximum when clipping as done by MJW Amps during a service. Transients could well be higher. It's not stupidly powerful but it is loud through a good cab. As a comparison, my MJW Taranis 200 (4 x KT88) is 253 clean and 544 fully clipped.

Just in case you haven't heard this...

Awaiting for mine.

I ended up taking Dood’s Kenton MIDI/USB Host off his hands recently. It’s on my board receiving MIDI PC messages from my Boss ES5, and changing patches on my MS60B. It works a treat.

In the mid-90s (pre-hernia!) I did a gig upstairs at The Garage with an Ampeg SVT-CL and 8x10 - both in flight cases. I did have some help, but definitely wouldn't attempt it today that's for sure.

All the better to hold the headstock on with

Nice one!! That's the one I've settled on. Pretty basic but there's only a couple of songs I need to transpose to learn and the free basic version does enough for me!

I heard one of those narrower combos a few years ago, and even with a Wal going into it , it sounded nowhere near as good as the larger combo with the twin ports. May have been the lower powered one though.

One of the attractions is that the Torpedo seems to have power amp simulation as well as speakers. I have a Helix but I've not yet managed to get it to sound as good as the MXR!

LH500 good too. Cheaper and really simple front panel.

I like the "Tangareen matalic" one on the bottom of the page.. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Jazz-Bass-Guitar-Burnt-Tangereen-matalic-Ellesmere-Port/302592613091?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D49138%26meid%3D81a4d8b62765428ebfb9ee40077bee14%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D112736305513&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

It’s ok, he phoned me 30 minutes after we agreed to meet (he did text to say he’d be late) and said “I’m here, where are you?!” He was in the wrong car park. So I’m not shocked it eluded him.

Thanks Sean for your fantastic descriptions. Gives me a general idea of how you use your set up and how that differs slightly from my preferred tone. Thanks for that. One other thing MJW Taranis ? Never heard of them but just googled and they look tidy but not knowing enough about them i wouldn't buy one without trying it first. Dave

I'm a little sketchy on the really early stuff but MK5 was mid eighties (maybe '86) to about '89, Series 6 was the next generation from '89 till '93 then these were superseded by SM and SMX from '94 with an upgrade of the SM to SMC (with the dual band compressor albeit single knobbed) in '97 and a change from grey panel / grey tolex to black panel / green carpet - SMX models received the cosmetic change but were otherwise unchanged except 250w models were now claimed 300w and the 350w model was now 400w. Last generation Gibson models were the last of the 'old guard' produced from '99 until about '02 - 150 and 300w models had a new design power stage, electro-illuminescent panel plus the old 400w was upped to 500w plus the crazy stereo / triamp 1000w replaced the 600w SMX. Both 7 band and 12 band pre-amps recieved tweaks most notably the 12 band with an added valve drive and enhancer facilities. Production ceased in around '03 when Gibson closed the brand and factory. Peavey production started in 2005. Yours looks to be a lesser spotted model as most series 6 were the smaller box design and all SM were larger off-set suggesting a very late Series 6 from about '92 just before they were replaced. Sorry for the essay! Ha!

Not again, please.

[I know Ashdowns can stand a lot of signal on the input stage, but is there any advantage in a high input level on a Trace? Is it better to whack up the master and control the volume level with the input, or vice-versa,? Or neither?] I think it depends on what sort of sound you are after, I like a clean sound through the amp and the low input works well for that. But to be honest I don’t think I have ever managed to ‘push’ the amp yet. I could dial the input up to get the led on but there’s no point. One thing I notice on mine is that if I wat to use it for practice I have to drop the input more than the output as the output has less effect on the overall volume.

I'm a fan of the Trace Elliot sound but not the weight, so I use a TE head with light weight cabs, agree with everything Discreet says, Trace watts are a lot louder the D class watts and the preshape buttons are seductive when playing on you own but in a band situation a no no, I just cut the 50 and 60Hz sliders (GP12) to get rid of boom, but I do use a bass drive sim which does take out some mid range honk and have the input on full, the red light might flash very occasionally but that's it

Love that! Great job

All the info you could need is here https://www.bassesbyleo.com/gl_bbe_wiring_diagrams.html

+1 I agree that this seems to be more tremolo than chorus. Zoom MS-60B will get you a fair way down the line with either, and won't break the bank.

I guess we need to consider the Trace 1x10 that’s just come out, I’m planning to get one this year, haven’t tried yet though

There`s a thickness & thud to that sound that just doesn`t seem to be around nowadays.

Leslie cab - you can hear it spinning before the guitar comes in. Sounds like JPJ is just overdriving the amp as well.

I think the sandblasted series are my favourite basses that Fender has ever made. I lusted after a red one on sale many months ago but it was way out of my budget at the time. Somewhere in the region of £900 if I recall, so nowhere near the deal you got yours for!

a sansamp VT bass or a EHX BIG muff and a fast chorus would get you close id have thought

Sounds like fuzz and chorus to me. On my board I'd use the Chowney Fuzzster and EHX Bass Clone (neither of which are expensive).

'Over the top' .. certainly !

We gig this one and I just dig in with my valve pre amp peadal and valve rig and it doesn't sound right to my ears, I think the cheapest option would be a fuzz pedal, something like an MXR bass fuzz deluxe, but I can't really justify it for one number, I hear there was a lesley speaker involved, and a pick, someone recommends a digitech ventura vibe as well, there's some stuff here https://www.gearslutz.com/board/high-end/836166-john-paul-jones-studio-sound.html and here

I have an original Ibanez SR1205 - through neck, thing of beauty. There is one on eBay that has been there a while. The price is excellent and, as it has been there a while, you might be able to persuade him to post outside of the US. Note about CITES, though.... The auction is here. You could then change the pickups to EMGs. I did this - a 40P in the neck and a 40DC in the bridge. I have had the bass since 2009. Other basses have come and gone...but this is the one that will be buried with me!

You have a very impressive advertising poster at either Bromley South or Beckenham Junction station currently for a show at the Churchill Theatre - equally eye catching and impressive as the other ones for West End shows and pantos - I too noticed the sparkly clad ladies, but on the poster. Are you the show that the actual ELO band turned up to a gig of? I read in an interview with Lee Pomeroy they'd done that!!

That's what I tell the missus.

I sometimes run my Barefaced Four 10 with an 800+, although I usually favour all-valve heads. A touch of hpf and boost in the upper mids works for me with a passive Fender, and I tend to crank the voicing a bit to get a tube sound. Amazing speakers coupled with an amazing amp. I honestly don't think that the Barefaced tens, with their baked in character, could sound "bad" with any amp. Similarly the Mesa 800+ is versatile enough to be a decent match with any speaker, despite having a complex looking front panel I have found it remarkable intuitive to tweak.

Andy, thanks so much for posting this. A radius jig is next on my list of things to build, once I finish the two work tables, the work bench, wood rack....oh and the unfinished guitar and bass that keep on looking at me making me feel guilty. But sanding radii is pretty much my least favourite part of a build, so I shall be re-visiting this thread shortly, compass and stubby pencil in hand.....

Got one on order with the new SL-2

Agreed, it does sound like you have a duff one - I'm with Osiris on this one. You're very welcome to borrow mine - PM me if you do and I'll post it across to you.

Cor!

Mine turned up half an hour ago, quick tune up and straplocks on balances nicely on a Comfort Strapp. I ordered a case with it, the headstock just about fits, which I suppose is just enough really.

Couldn't agree more. It would be between those two for me. Was Orange Friday's me(n)tal orange swirly thing a 2017 build or earlier. It even out weirded the Psilos at the SE Bass Bash - and that's saying something! It does lose some points, though for seemingly being made out of dark matter.

Yeah the burnt ash is a beauty! I saw the body in the flesh when I was down a few months ago! I was very tempted to go the same route for my next bass. But I wanted a light coloured bass. I’m going with a walnut body, Italian sycamore top wood, sycamore neck and fingerboard, with a walnut scratch plate. Chris and Al are great guys, who are masters of their craft! I don’t think I will ever buy an instrument from another company.

here you go https://www.zoom-na.com/products/guitar-bass-effects/multistomp/zoom-ms-60b-multistomp-bass-pedal#downloads

It sounds like thhe crappy bass was the issue, rather than the B string - but if you don't need it, you don't need it 😀

Do 'best of' albums count? If so 'Steppin Out - the Best of Joe Jackson' would be in my top 3. Made In Japan, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath, Black Sabbath would be the other 2.