mcnach

[quote name='EliasMooseblaster' timestamp='1469527382' post='3098966'] Yeah, it was quite interesting, and I certainly didn't know about the four distinct species of cassette, but if I were being cynical the video could be summarised as "cassette tapes can sound amazing if you're prepared to sink large amounts of money into it." [/quote] I knew about the different quality tapes as a teenager. They were pricey compared to the standard ones, so I saved them for albums that sounded particularly nice on vinyl. I always made copies of my vinyl records, and play the tape normally. When the tape gets knackered, make another copy, thus saving the vinyl from dust and wear. It wasn't THAT expensive to have good sounding tapes. Just about any decent tape deck would do a good job. When CD players came out they were a LOT more expensive than standard tape decks.

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1469526417' post='3098955'] I've recently sold a couple of old tape decks on Ebay, both buyers were very enthusiastic and happy to pay [/quote] I must take this opportunity then! This weekend, I will take the deck from its box and test it You know, I assumed I'd pretty much have to just throw it away of give it to someone who still has a few tapes around... and it's such a nice deck I didn't want to give it to just anybody. Cool that it can sell. I can use some new strings

[quote name='pmjos' timestamp='1469538317' post='3099123'] Please don;t forget - what ever you buy get it set up - a set up makes all the difference. [/quote] this +1000

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1469535163' post='3099053'] Good point! Likewise, if somebody has a different opinion that would seemingly go against the grain, accept that people do have different opinions/experiences that may not adhere to your experience/opinion/liking. [/quote] stop being reasonable! this is an internet forum!

He is right about the chrome & metal tapes: they sounded so much better than the standard ones (assuming the source was good quality)... But, portability? Yeah, smaller than a CD, but you can put a lot more music in a CD these days. And let's not start with digital media players that can hold gigabytes of data... Durability? Unless you only use them in your high quality deck, you will get them chewed sooner or later, and your high quality deck won't be the 'portable' one, rendering the portability argument invalid. Who wants to listen to tapes these days, really? long rewind/forward, can't skip/find tracks, takes long to record... When our singer said tapes were 'cool' and he was going to look into issuing a tape version of our last album I thought he was joking! But one thing I see in common among all these tape enthusiasts: they weren't around when tapes were what we used everyday as it was the only really portable medium, and the only way to make your own compilations... I don't miss tapes at all. I still have a very nice Sony deck from 1995-1996. Maybe I should clean the heads and ensure the belts are in good condition and sell it to some crazy person who prefers tapes. I also have a VCR in great condition

Interesting video but... this guy wasn't around when we used tapes everyday, which explains his enthusiasm [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wwaj4HvhyU[/media]

[quote name='synthaside' timestamp='1469520092' post='3098887'] Well since going Mark-bass which my car's boot and back love me for , my hidden behind the living room door rig is , Trace Elliot SMC 715 GP7 plus a 15inch Trace Elliot 1153T >.< probably need to do something about this thing. [/quote] That would double as a nice paperweight too

[quote name='skej21' timestamp='1469519070' post='3098873'] My practice rig is 1 x TKS S112, LMIII and a precision. Gig rig is the same with an extra S112. Like you say, it's an unbeatable tone in a small, gig-stairs-friendly package. Couldn't be happier with mine either! [/quote] Beautiful. That's what I should end up doing too. I'm going to give it a year. If in a year I haven't used the BB2 rig live, then it's unlikely I'll miss them.

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1469515531' post='3098847'] When I first got back into this bass playing lark a couple of years back. I bought a bass and played it acoustically for a couple of weeks then decided I'd get an amp... This happened to coincide with the Fender takeover of Genz and some crazy pricing lead to me buying a ShuttleMax12.2 and a pair of neo 2x12s for the living room practice amp [/quote] brilliant! I'm considering putting the BB2 on the desk as monitors :-p It's a long desk

[quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1469486697' post='3098781'] [b]Jeez! There's no way on earth you could call that a practice rig![/b] Nice though, and [i]definitely[/i] worth keeping. My rig lives elsewhere, as there's no room in the house for it with 2 little _5s running around. My 'Practice Rig' is a DHA VT1 DI-EQ; line in, headphone out, happy days. [/quote] of course, that was tongue-in-cheek. It's just that yesterday I realised that this rig is pretty much only used for home practice these days and thought it funny as in... exaggerated. I keep the TKS downstairs with the covers on, ready to load and drive away

Two Barefaced BB2 and a Genz Benz Streamliner 900. Well, thankfully there's a very effective volume knob, because this can make some noise! They're great cabs, and so is the amp... but ever since I found the TKS S112 cabs, it's pretty much all I use. They're small, light, and sound fantastic. And I haven't really needed more than what they can do. Those two and a MarkBass LM3, with the Stingray or the Precision... I've never been happier with my sound. Someone more logical would say "great, then you can sell the BB2 cabs and free a bunch of new gear tokens! - keep the amp as backup"... but I can't bring myself to do that. Not yet anyway. How much stuff do we keep that we don't really need, "just in case"? I'm pretty bad at that..

When I started, I rehearsed sitting down and playing standing up was harder. Eventually it really does not matter. I practice both sitting and standing and both are fine. Give it time and it'll make no difference to you either... but if you find it hard at the gig because you're standing up maybe that's how you should practice too, at least for now.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1469469675' post='3098591'] I own a few of both, don't notice it during a gig tbh. [/quote] My USA SUB also has a slab body... and like Pete says, it's not very noticeable in action, really. I do prefer the contour but it's not a big deal to me. Does it bother you, highwayman? Or you just think it would be nicer that way? If the latter, maybe try to play some contoured Stingrays to make sure it's really worth the expense.

[quote name='thodrik' timestamp='1469471684' post='3098613'] My only problem with Barefaced on this site are when threads along the lines of 'I'm going to buy an Ampeg 6x10 but I'm also considering a Mesa Boogie' lead to replies of 'get a Barefaced!'. Even that is a minor quibble. [/quote] Does it bother you when someone posts "please help me choose, a Jazz or a Stingray?" and someone invariably says "get a Precision!"

With a budget of under £500 and wanting something a little 'special' I'd be looking to buy second hand. Not only you get an opportunity to buy better instruments, but if you decide they're not for you you can sell them again with minimal or no loss (and sometimes you could even make some profit if you're lucky!).

Having just skimmed through the thread, I detect certain frustration from some posters because you can't narrow down better what sort of bass you're after. I understand that, how can anybody suggest anything when the only requirement is 'good'? That's way too vague. BUT, that's kind of a wonderful position to be in. Usually when I want a bass, I have at least a good idea what kind I want: maybe Jazz-like, or more Stingray? or a hybrid?... But it would be great to just say "I need a bass, let's see what's out there" and just get out and try things. Eventually you'll come across one that will make you smile, and you'll know that's the one. It may not happen in a week, 'though. That's why all the advice you got about getting out and try basses, any basses, is the best you can get, I think, even if it's not what you want to hear. You seem concerned about not knowing about the instrument's quality from playing it a little bit. I think you will. If it feels good, balances well and it's comfortable, if it plays nicely and sounds good to you... then it'll be good. Electric basses are pretty basic things. Even on the cheapest basses the tuners will work and the bridge will work etc... it's not like a car that it looks good in the show room and feels ok when you take it for a spin but a month later the timing belt may go and kill the car. While expensive brands tend to produce mostly good instruments and the cheapest ones not so good ones, the midrange, where you seem to be aiming for, is a lot more mixed. Some Squier "Classic Vibe" series are truly fantastic instruments, for instance. But you need to go out and try things until you find the one for you. You don't seem to know (or have a preference) whether you are after a single pickup or twin pickup bass, or what kind of neck you like? There are Jazz basses for instance with very thin necks, as are most of Ibanez SR series... and Precision/Stingray basses with thicker necks. Most people tend to have a preference there and that can at least filter out certain options and allow to focus the search more. We can't do that for you. If you have queries about comparing individual instruments, I'm sure someone can comment. If you indicate the kind of bass you like, I'm sure someone can comment. But if you just ask for a good bass, and even your budget is vague... you're not helping us much here.

[quote name='ribbetingfrog' timestamp='1469348465' post='3097486'] I use [url="http://www.karaoke-version.co.uk/"]http://www.karaoke-version.co.uk/[/url] Not sure if it is exactly what you are after. They are decent covers, when you buy a track you can download it as much as you want and can keep or leave out any of the instruments each time. [/quote] I bought a few things from them, they're pretty decent

[quote name='thegummy' timestamp='1469198090' post='3096567'] Yeah I'd only change the pup on the Standard, I'd keep the 50s stock. Anyone know if the 50s ones are ceramic or Alnico? Think I could get used to the radius. Would be a stark contrast to the 16" fretboard on my J. [/quote] Classic 50s are alnico. I quite like the pickup in mine.

[quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1469141180' post='3096144'] These have been successfully used for Electric Bass, don't know about DB frequencies mind? [url="http://www.astounded.com/qtx-qr12pa-100w-portable-pa-system-w-2-radio-mics-and-mp3-player.html?gclid=CL3b-YrRhc4CFYkp0wodn3kKwg"]http://www.astounded...CFYkp0wodn3kKwg[/url] This is the 200watt one, the 100 watt is £10 cheaper...! [/quote] I have the 100W version. I have been using it for 3 years or so now. It's not the most beautiful tonally bass amp, but it's pretty damn good for the price and what it does. I have the 10" 100W version which is very portable and light, the battery lasts a long time, and it can get pretty loud. If extreme portability is not an issue I'd check the slightly bigger versions. But I'm very happy with mine. It does have a bit of a hiss, which gets worse as the battery runs out, but it's only audible really at home (I often use it at home as I can just move it wherever I feel like in the house, so easily). I'd probably use an EQ pedal if you want to be able to adjust the sound as the built in 2-band EQ is pretty limited. I use active basses mostly, and the onboard EQ is perfect. I did use a small Zoom battery operated FX box in the past with a Precision. You can do without, but I like to have the ability to adjust the sound better. The mics are not very good at all, no surprises... I binned all the extras. But it does well as a busking bass amp.

[quote name='pete.young' timestamp='1469173308' post='3096250'] That's a Sousaphone. Horrible things. [/quote] what are you talking about? Sousaphones and Tubas are brilliant! Yes, they can sound a bit like the soundtrack of a very fat man walking down the street to buy the newspaper... but they can do a lot more than that.

[quote name='rodney72a' timestamp='1469149053' post='3096174'] You'd be paying a significant amount to devalue your bass by a significant amount. [/quote] devaluing it for some, not everyone. If I have a bass I love because of its sound/feel/whatever but it's not perfect, and I know I can do something to improve it... I'll do it. Why so precious about the perceived monetary value instead of enjoying playing an instrument, which is what they're for? So, one day he may want to sell it. If the job has been done well, there'll be buyers for it, no doubt. He won't be the only one who loves everything about the Classic but things 'ah, I wish it had contours'. And what's the worst that can happen? It fetches £200 less or something? Big deal, at least he'd really enjoy it while he had it without 'ah, I wish it had contours' nagging thoughts. Some think it's sacrilege to change the preamp on a Stingray! Funny nobody cares if it's an Ibanez or Fender. Play it, enjoy it, modify it if it makes you enjoy it better. We only live once

[quote name='bassbiscuits' timestamp='1469142391' post='3096157'] Apologies from the outset if this is a stupid question, but... Any of you who use both flatwounds and round wounds on different basses - do you find you have to EQ differently depending on which you're using? I've been using round wounds on my basses for years now, but I've recently acquired some flatwounds - a set of TIs and a set of La Bellas, on different basses. I find the rounds too bright for some stuff, and the flats seemed a step in the right direction tonally - played unplugged they sound great. But up against my round wound basses plugged in, the flats just sound like sort of worse versions of my round wound sound, if that makes sense. So am I missing something? Maybe I'm going wrong by just taking the same old approach with my playing, EQ, amps etc - maybe there's something else I need to do to unlock the mysteries of these things and really get a good flatwound sound. Or am I just a die hard round wound user who hasn't realised it yet? Any advice? [/quote] Maybe try Ernie Ball Cobalt flats? Forget half-rounds or however they call them, you know, the ones that are supposed to be halfway between flats and rounds. Just go to these Cobalt Flats. They feel just like flats... because they are: very smooth, soft. But tonally they're nothing like any flat or half-round I ever tried, and I tried many. They sound much like rounds after they've been on teh bass for a little while. The zing is gone, but they do have a lot of top end if you want it. You can easily remove more top end and move the sound towards a more classic flat type of sound, or not and enjoy a sound that it's not quite like round-wounds, but not too dissimilar either. They have great presence and tight bottom end, not 'thud' (unless you make it go thud)... They're not the cheapest, but from what you say I think they'll be worth trying.

[quote name='Simon.' timestamp='1469183810' post='3096372'] Good to hear you are happy with Chris and getting him to do the work. I've had nothing but excellent results from him. I did like your comment that "[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]He doesn't mince his words[/font][/color]"! So spot on. He knows what he's doing, and doesn't suffer fools gladly. [/quote] His initial response, although positive, contained one thing that made me go "excuse me? who do you think you are?" for a second ... but it was clear in what spirit it was said. Then when you meet him in person it makes a lot of sense, and it's an attitude I really like. That, coupled with the standard of the work I've seen makes it a no-brainer for any instrument work. We seemed to have similar views about many things, but we disagreed about a few others and I enjoyed his attitude . He's passionate. His purple 50s style Precision-like bass was a real beauty and felt fantastic. It put bad thoughts in my mind... maybe I should start saving

[quote name='Fionn' timestamp='1469176911' post='3096293'] So, a couple of months later ... how do the Cobalts sound and feel? [/quote] They feel and sound pretty much the same, I think. It's not the bass I play the most (my Stingray has that job) but I've used it a fair bit at home and played a few gigs too. I'm tempted to put those strings on my SUB, so that I can compare better the sound, as I've never used the ATK with any other strings... but I'm still very happy with them. They're not my favourite strings... I'm still a steel/roundwound type of guy, but it's a great variation to have. The ATK with those strings give me a very thick tone that has lots of definition and the top end is there when I want it... and they feel great.

I started out just wanting a pickguard... but I've just left the bass with Chris McIntyre. He'll do the whole thing. He knows what he's doing, and I liked him a lot. Spent nearly an hour and a half chatting about anything and everything music. Uf, he has a couple of beautiful basses on that wall too. If I want another bass made, in the future, I'll have to come and talk to this guy. Simon and Kevin, thank you for recommending him