Roland Rock

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1366034264' post='2047487'] I have to admit that I tried a Streamliner but couldn't get on with it at all. Sounded boomy and mushy to me and not at all like a classic vintage tube head (which was vaguely what I was expecting). I'd certainly give one another go with a different cab set up though to see if it was an issue with the Genz cabs. However, I'm not sure i could ever trust a GK head as a regular gigging tool. Just too many stories of their heads having quality control issues. I have a feeling it's the Shuttles rather than the Streamliners but it's certainly enough to put me off owning one [/quote] I agree, doesn't sound like a vintage valve head. No boominess or mushiness here, so I suspect that the cab match is important. Maybe my sealed cab design is a particularly good match. Re. Reliability, (I assume you mean GB) it's still under warranty, but fingers crossed nothing goes wrong!

[quote name='Jack' timestamp='1366033645' post='2047477'] Curious to know which of those two relates to me. [/quote] Ah, so that was you :-D I'm genuinely puzzled by it. I can't stand a scooped tone, and found the OTB way too scooped for my tastes. This, however, I'd describe as mildly scooped, nothing that can't be fixed with some minor twiddling.

I've just picked up a second-hand Streamliner 900. Although I'm very happy with the sound of my existing rig (100w valve amp and Barefaced '69er), I'm aware of the volume limitations. I often run it full tilt, and sometimes it has just about been loud enough. I thought a small but very loud amp would be good to have for those larger venue/no-bass-through-the-PA type gigs. I've just had an initial tinker, and things are exactly as I had expected: - It's LOUD - It sounds really nice, with big lows, and a good deal of clarity - There's no substitute for the tone you get from a valve power section - Whoever said that it has a ridiculous, unusable scoop either had a broken mid eq, or does not know how to use tone controls So, I'll rehearse with it this week and probably gig with it this weekend, just for fun. If it sounds great in the band mix, I may gig with it more regularly for the convenience and headroom. Recording and small gigs will definitely still use the valve head. edit - if anyone's interested, it sits perfectly on top, and the handle doesn't get in the way as it's situated towards the back of the cab.

About ten weeks. Started the second year of uni in September and was told by friends that they were starting a band and I was on bass! Quickly sourced a second hand cheapo bass and amp to learn on, and our first gig was the Halls' Christmas party. Went down well too

Can't wait!

I needed something small and loud, and Mark was the man to provide it! No messing, good communication, item well packaged and as described. Cheers Mark

Bumping this Bromsgrove gig. After that, it's The Golden Fleece, Mansfield Rd, Nottingham on 5th May

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1365703492' post='2043295'] Another teaser for the new EP I love Sam's tasteful carefully crafted parts, my kind of guitarist. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYzeNBlcYOA[/media] [/quote] I saw this on Facebook - great stuff. Unfortunately I won't be at your gig, but good luck, sounds like it'll be fantastic

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1364972192' post='2033373'] I've come to the conclusion that tonewoods make such a small difference to the sound of an electric bass or guitar, that it's hardly even worth spending much time thinking about. Certain woods look good if they have a nice grain, but for me, that's as far as it goes, aesthetics. [/quote] Hey Milty, Just interested, as per the below quote, I thought you were a tonewood believer. Has something happened to make you a tonewood atheist? [quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1358201529' post='1934903'] If it's maple, that will give the body a brighter tone with a through neck design (i do believe that maple is a bright tone wood). If it was mahogany or something like wenge, it would be perfect for through neck, because of the bassiness of those woods. But it depends what you want, and there are advantages to them all. I suppose with so many frets (going well out of bass frequency) you want those high notes to resonate as good as they can through the body, so through neck would be ideal there, but again, it depends on the wood and what you want. [/quote]

Steel Pulse - Handsworth Revolution Howie B/Sly and Robbie - Stripped to the Bone Ultra Lounge (Kitsch sw***y jazz that my daughter likes) The Congos - Heart of the Congos NoMeansNo - Wrong Edit, haha, I can't write 'sw@nky'

A couple more Jamiroquai type songs: http://youtube.com/watch?v=upKsTCKYm4E http://youtube.com/watch?v=yn0EaB4pXPs

Trouser Elephants

I must pop in to Hot Rox again. Last time I went there to buy a pedal (they had the cheapest EHX in the UK) I had to bring my bass and amp to it out, as they had neither. Sounds like they have expanded. Great for valves too.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1364758140' post='2030569'] You should have heard 'em when I said I thought Mark King was rubbish . I'm still expecting to get a severed thumb in my bed one night . [/quote] I read that as 'severely thumbed' :-o

1: I've had these Etymotic ER4 in ear headphones for 7 odd years. Great sound, something I'd been taking for granted until I used some others. Lovely natural bass, as long as you get a good seal. Noise isolating too. 2: Got some ACS Custom earplugs recently. I decided on this after a particularly loud ska gig, with a hearing impaired soundguy, left my ears ringing. Tested at a Squarepusher gig last night, they're good. They definitely lose some top end definition, but still work well, and good for super loud gigs. 3: I remembered that Etymotic and ACS are the same company (?) so hatched a plan :-) Lo and behold, the diameter of the ACS Filters is the exact same as the ER drivers. The drivers insert into the earplugs with satisfying balance of resistance and ease. A great fit! 4: Maybe it's because the seal is better, or that the channel is now leading further into the ear to the exact right place, but WOW! What a sound. Fullness and clarity. I'm a happy chappy.

A nice range of interpretations. Voted

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1364394110' post='2025832'] [size=5][sup]I find the very best amps have very little EQ..or need litttle EQ so you might want tio decide whether you like the sound of your bass or need to change it.[/sup][/size] [size=5][sup]This is, of course the wrong fight to get into. IMO.[/sup][/size] [size=5][sup]The best amps tend to have substantial output stages, IMO..like the DB750's and the SVT and Mesa All valve jobs.but you wont find killer EQ on the[/sup][/size] [size=5][sup]these amps as they don't need it. Simple dials will suffice..[/sup][/size] [size=5][sup]How much on a tone colour do you really want..?[/sup][/size] [size=5][sup]For me, if the basses sounded bad thru one of those amps..the bass would have to go...[/sup][/size] [/quote] Thanks, makes sense. I'm not actually after an amp, just trying to learn more. I don't like a scooped sound at all, so was curious what 'naturally scooped' amps there were out there so that I can avoid them, or bring my own amp when gear sharing. The OTB is an example. I've heard lots of people rave about them, but when I used one belonging to another band, I disliked the tone (I was too polite to tweak the eq too much, but they seemed in an ok position). Then I read on BC that the OTB is very light on the mids. Made sense.

[quote name='Ant_On_Bass' timestamp='1364333181' post='2025104'] I'm Interested to know if anyone has managed to clone a Wal or at least clone the pickups? [/quote] Not sure this counts ;-) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wal-Custom-Chris-Squire-Triple-Neck-Bass-Replica-by-Hiroshi-Kid-Kids-Guitars-/330891518625?pt=Guitar&hash=item4d0aabe2a1

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1364316056' post='2024762'] Thanks for that Bert, I was looking at a NU3000... peak power 3000W @ 4ohms mono bridged. That's still around 2000W RMS or thereabouts... [size=4]...should be just about enough power, methinks?? And it would reduce the weight of my rack* by 9kg![/size] *I don't mean my moobs. They're just fine, thanks. [/quote] A 2/5 review on amazon, but for an odd reason: "Well, I haven't got round to actually using this after nearly 2 months, because I don't know how to connect it." :-D

[quote name='Pembo' timestamp='1364334831' post='2025146'] Also love the bass on Van Morrisons "Astral Weeks". Not technically great and sometimes slightly out of time, but feels so, so right.... [/quote] I love the bass on that album. Like you say, the (mis)timing is part of the charm, notes like big fat raindrops falling onto an arid landscape :-)

For those of you guided by shapes, you're in good company. Stuart Zender: "I see shapes and patterns on the fretboard rather than scales. Usually I just try and feel the groove" (BGM Jan 2010)

Cheers for that. So, concentrating on models, rather than brands, I've heard you say that the OTB is naturally scooped. I've also read that the Matamp GT200 is 'all about the low mids'. This is the kind of thing I'm interested in. Are these commonly held ideas, or is it a lot more subjective than that?

Reading various posts on BC, I gather that different types of amp have a tendency to sound a certain way. Eg. 'Naturally scooped', 'Hi Fi or transparent' or 'mid heavy'. I'd love to get more of an idea about what brands/models fit which category

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1364316982' post='2024786'] Is it safe to have this discussion? Is Inti/Antelope anywhere withing hearing distance...? Simple is good. But often it seems that we have to go through some kind of "life cycle" as a musician. You start off crap (obviously), but through practise and dedication start to get quite good. Some people stop there and are quite happy. Others aspire to more, so they practise harder and longer. Maybe learn theory. Maybe have lessons. They start to get seriously good, and start to demonstrate their expertise by playing all over the music that they play.... Some people are impressed... Then comes the "economy" stage. You know where the notes are, and how to play them. You may well have a commanding knowledge of technique and are skilled in various styles.... BUT (and that's a big but) you [b][i]choose[/i][/b] not to play them all the time! You are now a tasteful player and are a far more valuable commodity to bands and other musicians. For that reason, never judge a player by what they play. You have no idea what they [i]can[/i] play! [/quote] Nicely put. I would add that it is only after a player has been through this right of passage, that they are then able to play simple lines extremely well. It's more of a feeling than a tangible difference. Subtle dynamics within a bassline, instinctively knowing exactly how long to hold the note for - these things come instinctively with a combination of good technique, experience and talent. You can't put your finger on it, but you know that you're listening to a top-drawer player. So, in that sense, technical ability, in the form of ultra-subtle nuances, is part and parcel in the most beautiful music. But what we're really talking about here is fretboard pyrotechnics, right? I don't care how complicated something is to play, what's important is that I like the music. When someone posts a vid of some 'impressive' playing, I tend to scroll down so that I hear it, but don't see it. That way, I can more easily objectively judge whether the sounds that that person is making are pleasing to my ears

Looks alright to me. I've seen MUCH uglier