Billy Apple

Try Sneaky Pete's.. [url="http://www.sneakypetes.co.uk/"]http://www.sneakypetes.co.uk/[/url]

[quote name='Woodinblack' timestamp='1372626391' post='2127922'] Not least as it is £200 these days, whereas it was £8 in 1981! [/quote] £20 in '87

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1372620627' post='2127815'] Sorry I missed you too! I'm only in the shop 2-3 days a week and Saturdays are usually fairly quiet. The Ritters are killer instruments. I snuck one home a couple of weeks ago and am struggling to bring myself to take it back again I'm guessing the MarkBass was the Big Bang. I have to admit this really surprised me as I thought it was going to be too bright and aggressive with the Bergs but it just seems to work really well with them. That Ricky is fun to play isn't it? I can't resist slinging it on a super long strap, grabbing a pick and trying out my best Bruce Foxton impressions (which are, of course, rubbish!). [/quote] Hey, Barrie. I was sorry to have missed you, especially in respect to the constructive (gear related) PM's I have received from you [size=4] .[/size] [size=4]The thing is Barrie, is I'm not a pro-muso-fingery-wizard. I'm an enthusiastic [/size]amateur[size=4] plank-spanker [/size]who regards[size=4] style and attitude being just as important as substance. And Bass Gear has been one of the few high-end specialist shops I've been in that did not treat me like a mug and boy was it refreshing![/size] [size=4]Lady Bones made me laugh. I asked her what was her [/size]favourite [size=4]bass, and she went straight to the 'Ruby' Ritter. She has very good, if not expensive taste [/size] Best wishes to you and Phil [size=4] [/size]

Post up your Glastonbury experiences here. The one and only time I went was 1987, when it was called the Glastonbury CND Festival, and in some-ways was on the cusp of the end of the Stonehenge free-festival thing, to the full blown corporate monster we have today. I have only good memories of it. Me and the Lass set out hitch-hiking from Sheffield early on a Thursday morning, the very first lift we got was from a lorry (an old Army type Bedford thing) going to Bristol. He dropped us at Bristol rail station, and while we were crossing the road a Transit van stopped and just offered us a lift to Pilton. They were running a burger stall, and took us all the way in. TBH, we did not even really know where Glastonbury was, the Lord will provide we thought, and he did. Any-hoo, Friday for us was the Soup Dragons, Julian Cope (boring) and New Order (laser show, but I thought they were boring). Saturday was The Wooden Tops, Green On Red, and Elvis Costello (with his attractions). On his own he was dull, but with the Attractions it was ace. Sunday was The Poppies, Stump, Gaye Bikers, and Dr and The Medics who were all ace. All in all it was a great weekend, there was so much else going on with theatre and alt-performance, and it did feel like we were doing something alternative, and not the new mainstream. However, I could feel that things were changing and I have never been back. In some-ways I had more respect for Reading and Donnington (as they were at the time), at least you knew they were there to make money, and you were well provided for. Anyway, we did not chance out luck hitching back, instead flying National Express back to Sheffield. And that's it. Great times, seemed liked the summer would never end!

[quote name='KiOgon' timestamp='1372536318' post='2127034'] If your bass is not shielded a decent job of shielding will definitely cure it. [/quote] +1. I have one shielded bass (which kiOgon built the circuit for) and is noiseless under 2 halogens on dimmers.. All the rest.. Hmmmmmm

I don't think the neck will put up with the increased tension, what with no truss rod and that. At best it will have a right forward bow, at worst it could break.

[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Me and the Lady Bones have just got back from a trip to Bass Gear. Phil is a lovely guy who let me get on with a vintage 4001 which sounded ace thru Mark Bass and Berg. They have a wide range of stock, and lots of stuff you don't see in the run of the mill type places. The Ritter's will take your breath away. I was just sorry to have missed Barrie.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Very nice to be made to feel welcome and not a hindrance.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I highly recommend you take a visit [/font][/color]

I've just come back from Bass Gear in Twyford. Played a 1980 vintage 4001 through a Mark Bass head and Bergantino cab. Sounded monumental [size=4] [/size]

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1372462853' post='2126205'] missed this anyone got a link.? [/quote] I missed it too. Been watching 'Starship Troopers'

[quote name='bassmachine2112' timestamp='1372450556' post='2125993'] They are great and nothing like strapping yourself in and going on stage to gig. I,ve got a 1999 one and the finish is incredible and the sound. I did replace the bridge and I did put the vintage circuit in as well. Looking for a d-tuner now. One pair of shoes don,t fit everybody [/quote] I get the same feeling when I strap on the Thunderbird (another Marmite bass which I love). What is the vintage circuit you had put in? Is this not the Rick'O'Sound pull-out on the pot of the modern 4003's?

How do you find the neck? I had a MM one, and all things considered (as in price) I thought it was very good

[quote name='simon1964' timestamp='1372462691' post='2126203'] I'm afraid it's not fashionable to like Rickenbackers. 200 of us voted for a ban, so the other 26,800 are not allowed to like them any more [/quote] Well, JH was making things very difficult for the Board Of Guv'nors [size=4] [/size]

[quote name='waynepunkdude' timestamp='1372449844' post='2125985'] I've played a real Ric, it was awful which is a shame because they look awesome. [/quote] I remember you having a Ric in a bag at one of Clarky's gigs. Was that it? Mapleglow? Come to think of it, it might have been Clarky.

Well guys and gals, just had a try on a BN fireglow 4003 in Wunjo. Totally blown away. Solid build, superb finish, loved the sound (even with the sh*te strings), loved the neck, loved how it played and how it hangs. And it looked fantastic. Now I've got complete Ricky GAS. JH aside, I can't understand why these basses garner such hatred. Bloody loved it me. BTW, I really didn't want to like it, but I did!

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1372166306' post='2122365'] It's a 100W all-valve jobbie [/quote] I thought this was a guitar amp? (maybe you are using this for guitar?). Are they voicing it differently for bass, or is it OK for both as is?

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1372286369' post='2123980'] Yes you can. Thank you. Now sod off... [/quote] Oh, thanks for that. Just a joke. Sheesh.

Right. I've bloody well voted. Now can I please get back to [size=4][quote name='Clarky' timestamp='1372278728' post='2123840'][/size] pointless debate on Flea v Wooten, Fender vs non-Fender etc.[/quote]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1372153596' post='2122164'] What's the form factor on that hybrid? Or is it still too much of a prototype? [/quote] [size=4][quote name='Matt P' timestamp='1372152193' post='2122147'][/size] That sounds like the kind of service that i like, what was the size of the hybrid and digital heads? if they could build something the size of their mini-mat guitar heads then i'd have one in a shot, especially if it had the gt200 preamp! [/quote] The hybrid was for all purposes a finished product. It has very similar dimensions to the Mini-Mat series, compact and easily manageable. What sold it for me was the range from the tone-stack and the usable gain pot. This can do super-clean to super-dirty. I think it knocks the OTB into a cocked hat. They rate the B&O power module at 450w, and it is the same one that other manufactures rate up to 600w. Has plenty of usable features like bass/mid/treble shift buttons, active/passive with pad and an attenuated DI out. I didn't play through the digital, I was engrossed with the hybrid, and ran out of time, but it's dimensions are similar to other 400/500watt digi heads out there. It would be an easy fit into your man-bag [size=4] [/size][size=4]. It had the same power section as the hybrid, just a SS front end. The tone stack had some different features, but I can't remember them at the mo.[/size]

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1372145179' post='2122049'] My first-ever Matamp is due to arrive this weekend, Sean. I'm rather hoping never to need their after-sales support, but it's very nice to know that it's there. [/quote] Brilliant! What are you getting?

Hi All, Thought I'd just regale you with my tale of today's trip to the Matamp factory. I've had a bit of trouble with my GT200 of late, so I took it to a local fixer who was recommended here. The idea was to save myself the 200 mile drive to Matamp. Any-Hoo, after the local chap had it for 3 months and was no further forward with the fixing, I took it back and bit the bullet for the 400 mile round trip. Boy, do I wish I'd done this in the first place, and saved myself 3 months waiting. I drove 200 miles up the M1 today, and after a cup of tea with Andrew and Hayden they set about fixing the head. First up was the 4ohm socket was jiggered, they fixed it, but upgraded both that and the 8ohm output. The other problem was the amp was very quiet, which was found to be a dodgy cable running from the instrument input socket to where-ever it goes in the amp. Detected and fixed in a couple of minutes. [size=4]Andrew did an over-all health check on the head, and found a wobbly-wave on his [/size]oscilloscope[size=4] which was rectified with some biasing. Anyway, according to Andrew my head now has more power and is less dirty![/size] [size=4]BTW these two issues had surfaced with other heads and they have now changed the equipment for both the speakons and cable.[/size] I'd also taken my 212 cab up to have the input plate changed from jacks to speakons. They soldered and screwed on the new plate while I had another brew and played on the new 450 watt hybrid bass amp that is in development.... This piece of kit was the nuts, great tone (from the same front end that is in the new-monster GT200), impressive range and versatility, plus light-weight and powerful. I also saw the new all digital bass head, and the new GT200. I think the latest GT200 will set the standard that all valve bass heads will be measured from (step aside Ampeg? [size=4]).[/size] So one fixed, up-dated and up-rated GT200, and one up-dated 212 cab, plus they made me up a new speakon to speakon patch to hook the head to the cab. And a few cups of tea and a good crack with Jeff, Hayden and Andrew. And the charge for all this?.. £0.00p Credit where credit is due, and in a world where we are quick to bemoan bad service, it is only right and proper to sing the praises of an outfit who act in a manner that is above and beyond the call of duty. And it's not just because they did the fixing for nowt, it's the guys' attitude, and the whole atmosphere. Everything about the place exudes the kind of passion that reinforces the fact I made the right choice 3 years ago. I guess the pay-off for Matamp is people like me can't wait to tell others what a great experience I've had. Plus, I reckon when they get round to putting the hybrid out, I'll most likely be at the front of the queue! [size=4]Thank you Jeff, Andrew and Hayden[/size]

I think the Daft Punk track is ace, and I love Industrial Metal stuff like Ministry/Pitch Shifter etc. A good song is a good song, and if it floats your boat then it's all good. Anyway, the more influences you let in the more rounded player you become, IMHO. You ain't got a problem, you're just not as limited as you thought you were [size=4] [/size]

[quote name='Kiwi' timestamp='1371417210' post='2113743'] [size=4] You're all playing The Game BTW.[/size] [/quote] I'm not. I'm playing In 'A Gadda La Vida' by I Ron Butterfly.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1371337743' post='2112815'] Yeah! Shut up Milty, you dweeb. [size=4] [/size] [/quote] You are the bully with a cork-screw perm in Waynes World, and I claim my £5

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1371308371' post='2112421'] why not just put the bass directly on the scales ? [/quote] I can never get mine to balance, without leaning it against something or holding it to stop tipping, which must absorb some of the weight side-ways-wise into the adjacent wardrobe, or yourself, or something.