fretmeister

I had a passive ABZ5 and it was very easy to play. The only reason I sold it was because I'm extremely selective about the strings I like and I couldn't get them long enough. But I would happily have a Super J which has a slightly shorter scale. I think the passive ones are a bit sterile sounding, but I'e also tried a Super J that was excellent - sounded like a very good active Jazz. The best option might be to pick a passive one and then add the onboard preamp of your choice - or even get someone like Nordstrand to make passive pickups for you that fit (They'll make anything) At some point I will own a Super J!

Got an iPhone? Then a Line6 sonic port and Amplitude

I had the White Nylons on a fretless first and lived them so much I got some more.

Abortion of Chips

Annoyingly I was all set to put an old set of Chromes on my Ray5 when I discovered that the D wasn't long enough anymore - it had been on something else and I'd cut it short. But I have now got La Bella White Nylons on it and it is sound fab! really full and plummy. I might end up keeping them on it.

Marshall VBC412 (12 rather than 10) Very underrated cab. One of my favourites. Pretty cheap used as well.

Never seen one either, and I was helping a mate look for a cheaper MM at the end of last year - we looked at everything. I reckon NJE is right and that it's a bitsa. Stay clear unless you actually want it.

I don't think I've ever played a Spector. That's very lovely though.

16.5mm string spacing. Damn. I had that on a Status once. Was too tight for me. 17.5mm (as per my Ray5) is the tightest I can manage and I prefer a bit more room than that too.

It's not as "wonky" as there is only 1.5 inches different in scale from the sides. 35.5 to 34 A Dingwall is either 37 to 34 or 35 to 32 depending on model.

I find the Super J to sound far better than the AB series stuff.

I've just got a Ray 5 that came with ancient strings on it and they need changing I also have a selection of flats in my Trunk of Things. I have Chromes, TI Flats, La Bella White Nylons, D'Addario Black Nylons. So I'll give them all a try over the next few weeks

[quote name='Passinwind' timestamp='1420306203' post='2647881'] You might want to look through the Talkbass threads on that amp, thermal issues have been mentioned at least a few times. The latest pics I've seen seem to show a bigger heatsink, so hopefully it's all sorted by now. I'm really looking forward to checking one out, but it's likely to be a few months before that happens. When I built my own amp last year it was intended just for practice or very low key EUB jazz gigs. At least one very experienced engineer told me I needed to use a fan, but he also admitted to having no experience with the particular ICE module I used, which is not common in bass amps at all, and not the one Demeter uses (the one I used is bigger and more expensive, intended for pro PA duty, and requires more outboard parts). I added some heatsinking just to play it safe, and have ended up using this amp in a few fairly loud rock situations with no problems so far. [/quote] The new Demeters are in a bigger chassis too, as well as the bigger heat sink.

I like the B 15 settings best, thick and rounded. Superb for Motown stuff.

Attenuators are very amp specific. You'll have to try out different models. The THD is a good bit of kit but might be completely wrong for the amp. Same as the also awesome Weber Mass attenuators.

Start with the example settings in the manual and tweak from there. Run it directly into the FX RETURN on your amp, leaving the amp preamp section out of the signal path. It's great!

I've been investigating this issue for my own use. I have discovered that the Demeter Minnie VTBP head has completely passive cooling - no fans [url="http://www.bassgear.co.uk/product/demeter-minnie-vtbp-m-800d-amp/"]http://www.bassgear....tbp-m-800d-amp/[/url] The poweramp alone does have a fan with an off switch for recording - not sure if that would be a good idea to leave off for an entire gig though.

Does the Demeter Minnie 800D power amp have a fan? Photos are not clear, but you could add that to a simple preamp like a Tech21 pedal.

[quote name='0175westwood29' timestamp='1420033018' post='2645009'] ive had alot of amps but even ones with loud fans like the Aguilar db750 or ampeg svt pro 8 never were so loud that as soon as anyone was playing the noise couldnt be heard. and more and more amps have the heat sensitive fans now so only come on when needed. andy [/quote] Every fan is too loud if it's just bass and clarinet! Lots of space in classical music - fan noise really kills the mood.