Roland Rock

[quote name='michinho' timestamp='1395069808' post='2398254'] [color=#000000][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,]I'm still stumped on what to go for! The Monos seem great but i'm concerned that they are ONLY padding. Even though people are stating it provides ample protection I am worried because the case looks very flexible.[/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,]The Contego looks cool because it has re-enforced panels. The same goes for the Reunion Aero and Continental.[/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,]My concern is the Contego might not support my bass enough well on the inside. E.g. the neck brace doesn't seem as good as some other makes etc. Plus from some pictures the fit of certain basses looks a tight squeeze![/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,]Completely stuck still! The worst thing is I am not in any position to try any of these out and I need to get one quick! [/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,]Does anyone know if the Reunion Blues Aero has any storage compartments?[/font][/color] [/quote] In terms of tight squeeze, my W&T has quite a wide body and it is a tight squeeze for the Mono - the Protec is a better fit.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1395059011' post='2398083'] TBH I never watch any of these on-line demos any more because when I actually get to play the basses for myself I sound nothing like the demo did. [/quote] Yeah, I have a video of the maker demoing my actual bass, and it sounds really different in my hands.

[quote name='ratman' timestamp='1395056599' post='2398061'] That may be true, But the review doesn't show off the range of sounds the bass is capable of. This is supposed to be a review of the instrument, not some dude showing off his indie licks. [/quote] Yeah, the amp settings are so coloured that they don't let you know what the actual bass sounds like. Good for indie band mix, even good as part of an amp demo, but bad as a bass demo.

Just an amiable chap playing a few indie/rock/pop bass lines through an amp setting which is far too overdriven and middy to be of any real use for a demo.

I like my angled machine heads. Is it an aesthetic, or an ergonomic dislike?

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1394957596' post='2396988'] You can buy wax sticks of wood filler. These come in a variety of different shades. I saw a small set of sticks yesterday in Homebase near the varnish. To use the wax you kneed ot in your fingers to warm it and make it soft. Then when its like putty you push it into the holes. In the hole it sets and goes hard. if you later want to re-fit a pick guard then the wax is removable. [/quote] Yeah, this. Also you can mix the wax from the different-coloured sticks to make the correct colour

I'm getting the Super Twin to pair with my SS head, but if it sounds great with my valve head too, it could be time to sell the '69er! Looking at the OP, however, I'm intreagued by the speaker distortion comments. I'd be amazed if my little valve amp could distort those super drivers, but we'll find out soon enough.

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1394901831' post='2396517'] LOL! I'm soooo getting a white Bongo and equipping it with a... er... "custom" picture pickguard! [/quote] I thought that's what tort was, no?

Yeah. I ordered on 7th Jan, no word yet :-(

This one? http://youtube.com/watch?v=2AbBwTb9AZM

[quote name='michinho' timestamp='1394790031' post='2395197'] Would you say that it does well against the elements? Have you been caught in heavy rain with it? [/quote] I put my bass back in the Contego after a soundcheck once and left it in the back gear room while we went for some food. I came back to find that the room had flooded, and the case was standing in an inch of water! Thankfully the case was bone dry inside.

I'd be interested to try sliding pickups to see how the tone changes, but preferably not on a Star SC*, even if it does have a 'thumb rest on the bottom' :-D Give me a Gibson Grabber or the Wood &Tronics one any day. *I'm sure it's lovely in the flesh, but in that video it looks like a cheap LP copy.

Nice one BRX, hope you can make it

Next gig is at Jam Cafe, Nottingham next Thursday. Also expect some lively action from MC Youth Oracle https://www.facebook.com/events/218702751657782/

Last night was a fundraiser gig organised by students at Penelope's club in Sheffield. There was the potential for it to be a real shambles, but thankfully it was really good. The organiser contact was on the ball with good communications, and really nice. We pulled up in the city centre location to be greeted by a lady who showed us the best parking place, and then had a chap help us in with our gear. A back room was ready with comfy seats and beers, and the soundguy was great. The place started to fill around 11, and we went on at 11:30 to a great, happy appreciative crowd. The only downside was no monitoring, so i struggled to hear my bass, I had to just know I was playing the right thing. Altogether a really fun night. Roll on next gig!!

I have a Mono M80 and a Protec Contego. Like BRX, I find that the Mono is quite uncomfortable after a while, which I think is due to the tops of the shoulder straps being so close together. Everything else is great on it - quality materials and hardware, great protection from both knocks and the elements. The Protec Contego is much more comfortable to wear, but it is noticeably heavier than the Mono. The materials and hardware don't look as sexy as those on the Mono, but they have proven to be very durable and reliable. Which is better? Well, the Protec is used every week, and the Mono has been used twice in the last year.

[quote name='obbm' timestamp='1394648786' post='2393728'] Looks very nice and I'm sure it sounds wonderful however why build a modern day amp to the width of a Marshall 4x12 cab when most folk are using cabs that are much narrower. Even a 19-inch flight case can be too wide for some. Having an amp hanging over the cab just looks ill conceived and untidy. [/quote] As per above, that's just a prototype, and the liklihood is that production models will be 19" or less. I agree with you entirely. I couldn't own a rig with a head wider than a cab.

Looks fantastic! Not sure what else to suggest in terms of features - what else do you need on a quality valve amp other than gain, bass, mid, treble and master? Also, I could see more of a market in a 100w version than a 400w one. What is the width? I wonder whether it would be possible to make it the same width or less than a standard 4/6/8x10

IMO Ritter are making all the right moves recently. I like the guitar designs, but in terms of basses, I was never that fond of the Roya shape, and think that the more recently-introduced Cora and R8 shapes are the two best looking designs that they do. Lovely Cora BTW Greek

To me the 2024x is not beautiful - it's too masculine for that word; it's robust, well-proportioned and handsome. In my opinion, it is by far the best looking Yamaha bass on the market (although I also like BRX's white Yamaha). I agree with Peter above though - the mahogany (or sapele?) stripes in the laminated neck are the only fly in the aesthetic ointment of what is otherwise a stylish and virile beast.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1394479658' post='2391794'] I got the Maplins folding one for twenty quid. Works for me. [/quote] £35 could solve all your hernia troubles: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Forklift-Truck-LPG-Diesel-Electric-/281275134731?pt=UK_Lifting_Moving_Equipment&hash=item417d4df30b

[quote name='Kiwi' timestamp='1394452097' post='2391395'] What's an OBT? [/quote] Orange Biscuit Tin

That sounds really good. I often encounter overweight-bandanaclad-solostoolong type blues jams, but this is refreshing. I would buy a few funky-Jemmott-era BB King CDs and play along. There is a wealth of superb inventive playing there. Live and well and Completely Well spring to mind.

Fair enough. I thought the issue was that you were unable to remove the feet