mcnach

[quote name='MoJo' timestamp='1393421952' post='2380005'] I've noticed that some members list themselves as being in more than one band in their sig. If you are the primary bassist for two or three bands, how do you prioritise gigs / rehearsals? [/quote] For rehearsals, we assign a particular day of the week. That may change after a while, and not every week has to have a rehearsal, but having a set day for a particular band helps. Of course, in my case it helps that several of the bands share a few members. There is a main band, in my case... and this band is also the priority of every member. But this "priority" status rarely has to be invoked. The gigs are booked on a first come first serve basis. I guess it helps that only the "main" band is very active... Of course, everyone is transparent about other projects they may have. In fact, it's been quite useful having band members involved in other things: we have expanded our "circle of influence" and in some cases it's turned out to be a good move technique-wise for some members. Not sure how common my situation is... but here it is: I'm in 4 bands currently. However, before you scream it's crazy... two of them are straight tribute bands. We have had a period of learning the tunes and rehearsing regularly. Now in one of them we rehearse maybe once a month, with the other we never do. We play typically one gig a month with each. Sometimes two, a few times none. The other two bands are originals. My main band is comprised of 8 people: 1) vocalist/guitar - he also plays in two other bands. We share one band. 2) rhythm guitar 3) lead guitar/vocals - he is in another band with me, where he plays drums 4) drummer - he plays in two other bands, one of which we share 5) trumpet - he plays in an orchestra sometimes 6) trumpet 7) sax 8) oh, that's me! Next week we have a gig with one of the tribute bands, but our drummer hurt his foot badly... so the main band's drummer is stepping in. It's like we have a large collective of subs if we need them . Last week I had to leave town due to a family problem, a day before a gig... But one of our other band's bass players has depped for me in the past and was able to take my place. I don't like using deps in originals' bands as a regular thing, but they can be a very useful thing when used sparingly. Of course, all this only works because we are largely reliable, we communicate, and use online calendars... those are a godsend.

[quote name='Sean' timestamp='1393450443' post='2380570'] I had the exact same experience today! [/quote]

[quote name='Me And My Bass' timestamp='1393435652' post='2380328'] Its my trusty old MM Sabre . . . beat up, but sounds amazing. [/quote] aaah! The lack of pickguard threw me off. Nice!

[quote name='paulie' timestamp='1389221955' post='2331692'] My local repair tech is extremely experienced and has seen every brand of amp on his bench at some stage. He even manufactures his own valve amps. He is very complimentary of other brands particularly Ampeg and Trace from a repair point of view and Genz Benz for using good power modules. However he advised me to steer clear of TC Electronic amps, so thats one brand I wouldnt go for. [/quote] did he say why? without a reason, it's not more meaningful than a car repair guy telling you to stay away from white cars...

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1389183418' post='2330948'] I find it a prime example as to how much watts relate to volume - very little. It wouldn't stop me buying a TC head. THey certainly look cool. [/quote] indeed. I only sold my RH450 because I found after 5 years I wanted a different sound... It was definitely loud, when paired to the appropriate cabs. Any issues with lack of volume must lie with the speakers. Issues with the tone/sound... well, each amp has its own. We don't all want the same tone.

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1383300173' post='2262723'] I owned the RH450 for a few years, then upgraded to the 750 and I still own it. Here are a few myth busters on this amp: - 1. The RH450 is louder than a Markbass 500W amp. You can CRANK the gain and master and it will not, repeat not, clip. The Markbass amps will simply clip and sound horrible once you push them past a certain point. At 1 o'clock on the master on a Markbass LM3, you are reaching its max volume. I'm also tempted to say it was louder than the Genz Shuttle 9.0 I tried. - 2. There is an inbuilt HPF and LPF on the RH450. This means it will sound quite a lot like a modern version of an Ampeg SVT through a sealed 8x10. Eg, lots of low mid push, great for the mix. The RH450 does have slightly muted treble, but thats the sound of that amp. This was then changed in the RH750, which still has the HPF, but the treble is much more extended to sparkly and bright, and you can adjust it properly. As BOTH amps have a HPF, the bass is basically not as extended as some amps. Genz do a very similar thing. - 3. They both have the relevant poweramp module, but the module is essentially 'limited'. This is difficult to explain. The TC website has a document on this. TC have a history of innovation, (Toneprint, Polytune) so to them, this is their interpretation of a warm 'tube like' clear bass amp, with everything you need in one package. - 4. The 'featues' work properly. The tuner is great, the EQ is great, the presets are great, the form factor is great. The tone is fabulous, and the volume on both amps is nothing to ever worry about. At all. - 5. The tone is basically a fairly warm/clear take on a vintage tone. The RH750 will get you into modern territory with the treble. TC wanted an amp that emulates a big tube amp pushed, and this will do that....it has the compression of the tube amp being pushed built into the sound. I've played a lot of the modern amps, and a fair few full tube amps, and this one does it very well. It isn't for everyone, but then again what is? For example, the Aguilar TH500 has much more bass, very similar thick chewy mids, and again, muted highs, but you cannot dial those highs in on the TH500...whereas you can on the RH750. To finish on the volume/wattage, the amusing thing is, when the RH450 came out, everyone raved and said they thought it sounded and pushed better than their Markbass 500W amps or Genz 600W amps. This went on for some years. Then the amp got reviewed and TC's 'Bass Gear Mag rated wattage' came out, and everyone suddenly believed it would be a quiet amp. This is in essence advice saying use your ears. It is loud, but tone is subjective. [/quote] good post!

Your post was enhancing my GAS... but I just got an email that my BB2 is in production and I paid the balance... can't wait!

Just got news that my BB2 is in production, and paid the balance... nail biting time starts...

[quote name='Me And My Bass' timestamp='1393278313' post='2378271'] [url="http://s833.photobucket.com/user/crookysax/media/F4D170C7-0699-4C31-B449-17DB50D2E8F7.jpg.html"][/url] Arrived today! Looking forward to giving it a blast tomorrow at practice. [/quote] what is that bass? Is it a G&L L2000 with a different bridge and pickups, or an entirely different hybrid? it looks great!

[quote name='grahamd' timestamp='1393365392' post='2379490'] One for all you funk lovers, for 24 hours only. Also streamed. Rude not too eh [url="http://www.jambase.com/Articles/120840/Free-Downloads-Lettuce-Catalog-Available-For-24-Hours"]http://www.jambase.c...le-For-24-Hours[/url] [/quote] Cool, I did not have the live album yet, so I'll get it now Awesome band!

[quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1393371179' post='2379583'] No need to learn, we like some things, we don't like others. Simples [/quote] simple as this, yup.

[quote name='Jazzneck' timestamp='1393346145' post='2379056'] You're gonna love this..... We are playing support to a long standing pro band at a charity gig next month (we're playing for free) and I've just been asked which amp I'm going to be using. Why? Turns out that the pro bass player wants to use my rig so he doesn't have to bring his all of 50miles to the gig. This pro band, I discovered, are being paid £550 "expenses". Can you guess my answer? [/quote] I'm guessing you said "I'll take whataver rig you'd like me to, and if I don't own that gear, I'll rent it for the occasion, as it's such a privilege to have you play through my amplifiers. Oh, and by the way, what's your favourite beverage? Just so that I make sure I have a crate ready just for you, darling" ... or something like that?

[quote name='graz66' timestamp='1393325149' post='2378635'] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Just to update everyone, i did in the end downsizing to a Markbass CMD 121P with a matching New York 121 cab. I've attached a picture of the the setup. Loving the sound & the weight !! Thanks to everyone who contributed on this post :-) [/font][/color] [/quote] Nice one! I ended up getting a Schroeder mini10-R a couple of weeks ago, just by chance. I was not looking for anything, but I met someone who had a Barefaced Big Baby 2, same speaker I have ordered and am waiting for, and he suggested I visited him and try his... So I did, and among his various speakers he had this tiny thing (it's a bit smaller than the CMD121P) that sounded great and was loud... and he happened to want to sell it. I have since used this combination once live and a few other times at rehearsal. It's awesome. I can only imagine yours is probably better. LOud, powerful, fits easily in the boot of a Golf with plenty of space left...

[quote name='Diablo' timestamp='1393281949' post='2378356'] I appear to have a box of black plastic bits and a pile of plastic swarf on my machine. Large chamfer, small chamfer, no chamfer, I'm too kind to you lot. I'm just waiting on mod approvals for sticking a link up on here to pay for them. Don't want to step on traders/sponsors toes. Rectangular to follow tomorrow morning whilst machine is set up for these. Cheers, Rich [/quote] thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[quote name='stoo' timestamp='1393008185' post='2375274'] I've got one. Bought a passive one by mistake - had been watching a few on eBay and got mixed up when I put a bid on. It's heavy. Haven't got round to weighing it but suspect it's around 3 or 4 tons. The neck is fairly chunky in profile. It plays nice and it's usually not an issue, but sometimes it can get a bit uncomfortable, despite me having fairly big hands - probably due in part to me having broken my scaphoid years ago, but my OLP stingray copy doesn't set it off in the same way. When I got it, I was never that impressed with the sound of it. It had a fair bit of stingray character, but there was definitely something missing. Since then I put a John east preamp in it and it sounds spot on. [/quote] the neck is identical (except the finish) to a Stingray neck. Fantastic basses. If you want a Stingray for £400 or less... this is the bass to go for. Active, of course.

That looks awesome! Thanks Rich! I'd also prefer the one with the tiny chamfer. I would take either of the two, but I much prefer the tiny chamfer one: My original one has no chamfer whatsoever and I find it very comfortable. I would take 5 of them, at £6. If it's too much of a pain in the arse as the numbers grow, I'm happy to get just a couple, but if it's not a problem, up to 5 would be ideal

[quote name='Diablo' timestamp='1392676086' post='2371594'] okay okay I give in. I've just ordered a sheet of black Perspex. Leave it with me to make a sample, maybe at the weekend. I've got engines to dyno and run in most of the week and I cannot run the dyno and CNC mill together. They are in the same room and after 10 mins of two stroke testing the smoke gets too thick to see the screen on the mill....! Cheers, Rich [/quote] Yay!

[quote name='Diablo' timestamp='1392657568' post='2371176'] I may make a batch of black plastic ones in the future, but I would need to CNC mill them. I've got all the gear, but the equipment and me are fully booked on other jobs for the foreseeable future. I will do it as a hobby project maybe in a month or two. Cheers, Rich [/quote] you're a star! no problem if you cannot, but if you can, you can count me in for sure!

Thanks for the effort Rich, I'm glad they'll be produced for those who want them. I'm afraid I'm out, 'though, as I already have a few and my only interest was in getting some black acrylic ones as it may look better in some basses. Aluminium will look good, that's the one shown in the first picture of my white Precision (first page)

[quote name='Pinball' timestamp='1392636620' post='2370824'] I'm still not 100% sure what I'm doing but It's sounding great. No further thought required. [/quote] Most of the population go through life that way... you'll be alright enjoy your bass!

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1392630809' post='2370712'] Yeah... 'loud' is only so-much use. My seven year-old daughter is loud, but I wouldn't plug my bass into her. [/quote] ... and now I feel very reassured about your parenting skills

[quote name='gsgbass' timestamp='1392600961' post='2370585'] I chose to go back to the RH450 over other heads, because of the Real wattage @ 450, not just a rated wattage. The mute, the phones, the three memory onboard, and the Tube Tone that really gives it an Ampeg SVT-CL sound that costs less, smaller in size, and weighs 8.8 pounds, instead of the SVT-CL's 80 plus pounds @ 300 watts. [/quote] Funny you mentioned the "real wattage". There was a bit of an "issue" about that following the tests by a guitar magazine whose name I forget, and leading to TC to admit it was true, it would normally be rated at 236 watts, but the way they processed the signal it sounded like a typical 450 watt amplifier. Do a search here, or especially on Talkbass, and you'll find a lot of information (and lots of posts from fans/haters -especially on TB- that you may want to skip too ). Whatever the wattage, nobody can deny it is a loud amp. I like them. I owned one from early 2009 until last week in fact! Right now I prefer something else. There was something about the RH450 that wasn't bringing anymore a smile on my lips like the Markbass, or subsequently the GB Shuttle, did. But they're cool amps.

[quote name='Telebass' timestamp='1392542690' post='2369760'] Tell me, why do folks think a mute button is useful? My floor tuner does all that is needed, keeping my LMIII nice and simple. [/quote] Most times I use a floor tuner too. But sometimes I do not. Not many... but enough times that it makes me wish it had a mute, like my old RH450, or the Shuttle... If it had a tuner and a mute, like the RH450, that would really be nice.

[quote name='redstriper' timestamp='1392565998' post='2370070'] I'm finding it hard to resist purchasing one of these bad boys - I play reggae and I need a deep, smooth tone using heavy gauge flatwounds. just 2 questions to any owners out there: 1) What do they weigh? 2) How is the tone from the neck pick up soloed with the tone rolled off? [/quote] Mine is lighter than my Fender 75RI, and a bit heavier than my Squier... I'd say it's pretty average. You might want to change the tone cap if you want a deeper tone, as it can still be pretty middy with the tone control fully off... which I like, but it's not as "round" as it could be. However , I imagine you would also set your amp differently from what I normally do. I think it would probably work quite well, as it is deep but it has "body". You could always change the cap fro something else if you wanted deeper. The pickup screws are made of butter. I was screwing the pickups deeper into the body to alleviate a "pop" I was getting sometimes when slapping, and I think I nearly destroyed the head of one of the screws, without much effort.