GregBass

My first gigging band used "a pair" of WEM colums. I think it actually sold as a 6x10 column that split into two parts for transportability. No way would they have handled bass duties - it's really not worth the risk. Edit to add this link: http://forum.speakerplans.com/wem-columns_topic31135.html Just look at the speaker chassis - it is clearly not built for heavy bass use.

Thanks Will - all useful info. Thanks for the offer, but I won't be venturing up into Yorkshire in the close future. Greg

The luthier is looking for a bridge too, and he will cover the cost of a replacement if we can find one. The whole experience has been a nightmare - it has now been two years since I first handed the bass over to him. It's a long story, but safe to say I won't be using him again!!

Thanks Walbassist. I have been trying ebay, but hen's teeth seem to be common compared to spares for vintage Mustangs. I am seriously considering just paying out the cash for a modern Mustang bridge and hoping that the string holes line up with the holes in the body. Anything else I can work around.

Hi chaps I have a 1973 Mustang bass that had been hacked around back in the days when vintage basses were just old basses, so I decided to get a local luthier to sort out the body and do a refin (as it had already been badly repainted before). It sounded like such a good idea, but ..... The guy had problems so stripped the bass down and sent the body away for a refin. This was done by Jack's Guitars, who did an excellent job and the body looks like new!! Unfortunately, while the body was away the first luthier managed to lose the bridge. As anyone with an old Mustang will know, finding an authentic 70s bridge is virtually impossible. Of course, there are now Pawnshop and Squier Mustangs around, and some places even carry the bridges - but Fender explicitly state that they will not fit vintage instruments without modification. So, I asked Fender what the difference is and they actually don't seem to know. Does anyone have any idea what is different between the old 70s bridges and those on current models? They look similar and seem to have all the holes in the same places. Thanks Greg

I have had both of those amps, playing through a Markbass 4x10 and 1x15 rig. I use a clean, scooped sound with no interference from those damned tube thingies. I found that the Shuttle was certainly loud, but didn't seem to have the real meaty depth that I needed to put the bottom into a rock band playing at pub volumes. The RH750, on the other hand, nailed the sound as soon as I had worked out how to set up the semi-parametric to the frequencies I needed. For me, it's the TC all the way!!! **Just a note to add that there's a Barefaced BB2 on the way, so the EQ will be tweaked again soon

He is now claiming it's a 60th Anniversary model. Didn't they have specially embossed neck plates? The back photo is blurred, but that plate doesn't look like any anniversary type to me.

One other problem that I've had in the past is dangling wires in the cab. Open it up and check that the wires are not hanging onto the speaker cones.

Back in the early 1970s, I had a 1971 Rick 4001 in fireglo with chequered binding (which I had bought new) as my main bass and a 1960s Hofner Violin Bass. As the Hofner was not being used, in 1974 I sold it (complete with original case, and possibly original strings) for the princely sum of £15. Even at that I thought I had ripped the guy off because it played like a dog and sounded like someone kicking a dustbin. I'd love to have it back now just to sell for a sensible amount. I later sold the Rick to a friend to raise the deposit for my first house. He still has it, and I would take it back in an instant if he'd sell. On the guitar front, I had an old Kramer aluminium necked jobbie that didn't appear in any catalogues I could find. My son took it with him to uni, and borrowed a case off a friend to carry it around. When he left uni, he handed back the case - with the guitar still inside!!! The friend has now disappeared, along with the guitar. A few months ago, one of my mates was talking about it and was sure he'd seen a pic of my old geetar. He tracked it down - a prototype for the thing that a certain Mr van Halen played for a short while, apparently. Bum. Just to show that these things also work the other way round, I took another of my sons (I have a collection) to see Extreme last year and we had the "meet the band" package. My lad took along the N4 he'd bought off ebay for Nuno to sign. As soon as Nuno saw it he said "wow - my old guitar - there was only one made in that colour". One happy son!!

Taking pedantry to a whole new level, shouldn't this be in the Amps and Cabs or Repairs and Technical section?

I have mixed 12" speakers in a guitar cab with no problems at all. The sound may be a little unpredictable for bass cabs, as (if properly designed) the cab should be tuned for the original speakers. BTW, where did you find a price for the Hartke speakers? I have a friend who is looking for one. Greg

Thanks for all the input guys. After a lively email conversation with Alex at Barefaced I have ordered a Big Baby 2.

I had one of those natural Squier VMs. Played and sounded great, but it was HEAVY!!

I'm with you on that, f8884. The Markbass cabs are pretty light for what they are, but I have just joined a band who rehearse upstairs in a hall with no car park. I can use my trolley to move the rig to the bottom of the stairs, but lugging it up then back down at home time has started to remind me that I'm not so young any more. I want to go for light, but it still has to have the sound.

Hmmmm. More middy could be a problem, as it's the mid I tend to EQ out. I really need cabs with a deep bottom end and capable of punching out lots of top.

Thanks for all the help guys. Muzz - how did you have to change the EQ? I like a sort of scooped sound - lots of depth (rearranging internal organs) with a click on top.

Hi everyone I currently play through a TC RH750 with Markbass 4x10 and 1x15, which give me a great sound. Unfortunately, even the Markbass cabs are becoming too much for my ageing back so I am considering changing to a pair of Barefaced Big Baby 2 cabs. I have no experience of these, but they seem to have a great reputation and Alex at Barefaced assures me that a pair of those cabs will outperform my current rig. Does anyone else have any experience of how the Barefaced cabs rate compared to Markbass? Thanks Greg

It was probably a good bass till someone beat the crap out of it.

I will be in the Lichfield area over the weekend if anyone splashes the cash and wants it collected.

Bought a Badass bridge from Mark. Very easy deal, and delivered by return of post. Top man!!

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1412859877' post='2572739'] I think if I get on with an older active German Corvette (which apparently have chunkier necks) then that should be enough 'proper' Warwick for me to be getting on with. [/quote] Noooooooo. Warwicks before 2000 had necks that were slim in both directions.