LukeFRC

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1390672850' post='2348226'] Apologies, Luke, if I've mis-represented your intentions. I wonder what bass player asked for programmable colour-changing lighting panel, though. [/quote] I realised that my post seemed to contradict you- went to change it and the power went off. Let threads go off on any sort of tangent more interesting that way!

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1390671258' post='2348199'] Cross purposes..? Hardly. The original question was concerning the growing plethora of D-class amps with added 'features', wondering whether there was any real added value in these novelties. [/quote] no it was more wondering what was behind the design process - more what do they think us bass players want and prioritise. I for one almost bought a RH450 when they came out, 4 band sweepable eq, inbuilt tuner and so on - stuff I would use. I was all set to find one till I heard one... and then realised there had been design decisions that I wasn't so excited about.

I must say I enjoy the prominent STATUS logo on that buzzard.

sit ontop of this? :

plus I think it's the intonation

where are you? I'll look at it for free if anywhere near leeds.

[quote name='JPJ' timestamp='1390662335' post='2348071'] The main problem with the class D stuff is the lack of real umph. There is no other way of describing it but all the class D stuff I've tried is missing that real 'weight' to the sound. I do want to try the Aguilar Tone Hammer as allegedly this amp suffers least from this issue, but until someone brings out a class D module that sounds the same to my knackered old ears as a good old a/b design with huge transformers, then I'll keep the SWR and continue to be on first name terms with my chiropractor [/quote] I don't disagree (not enough exp to) I know the powersoft tecamp stuff sounded nice. But it's part of the thing I don't get.... do PA amps that are class D get the same decription? Some do, and you can go on forums and they discuss the low freq. abilities of various amps... but you get to bass amps.... and.... one of the big companies can bring out a loud 450w amp with lots of clever DSP and power management and it takes a while for people to work out that it's only 120w or whatever it was - which isn't the worst thing but...

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1390661828' post='2348061'] There's a flaw here, though (to me...). My 'choice' has always been pretty much minimalist. I play drums, bass and guitar ([i]no, you fool; not all at once..![/i] ), and have always thought that less is more. I respect the wishes of those attracted to the 'City of Tiny Lights' gadgets, bells and whistles, but would appreciate the 'choice' of having nowt to frig about with. It's purely consumer commercialism, imo, driven by the perceived need to renew, just because one can; built-in obsolescence. Yes, I'm old. That explains it..? No, I've always been like this. Thanks anyway. [/quote] it's the lack of focus on "sound" that gets me. Over the years everything has seemed to go towards a "simple as possible tone path with the smallest number of the highest quality components" as the way to go... this doesn't seem to be happening with some of these smaller amps, and if anything the other way - tecamp for instance going from a high end amp unit to a cheaper one.

intonation? Learn to set the thing up yourself. Save £50 time and time again

I used to have a JV squier Precision - it really was amazing and one of the best instruments (fender type) I've ever played. I sold it. Why? because my flatmate at the time had a Mexican Precison - now the JV was a lot better and more vintage sounding... but the mexican was very very good. The flatmate was moving to oz for a year and considered selling it, chatting about it he decided not too- because, as I pointed out, you would probably have to pay a lot more than you'd get to find one as good. Other mexicans I've played have been awful though. I like japanese, and japanese squiers are good too. Chinese squiers... not bad either american fender.... some good a lot bad... so ignore where it was made and go by what it sounds like. My squier MIJ jazz sounds better than most oner jazzes IMO, but you luck into a good one.

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1389978173' post='2340251'] Clarky's band All The Queen's Ravens .. Really clever 'fusion', amazing live too. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EysgZI-BPc[/media] [/quote] i enjoyed that a lot!

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1390648424' post='2347859'] I think that most probably know what they are aiming for. The advent of digital has opened up a lot of creativity in the bass world. It's a great time to be a bass player. [/quote] i think we're still waiting for one or two people to put forward the "benchmark" class D amps.

It's been interesting looking at the new class D mini bass amps coming out of NAMM and elsewhere - it does strike me though that design wise there seems to be confusion as too what they are trying to build and what the end user wants/expects. In traditional non-class D amps there is are certain vernaculars of what they are providing that they fall into - and when they offer more advanced features you understand why they have them for the market they are aiming for. For instance the Ashdown abm has the valve preamp and the sub octave- and you can imagine that the type of folk who wanted an ashdown would use it, likewise the first time I saw a EA head and the features it had it was kinda clear what the uses for it would be and the perspective users. It's less clear IMO for the class D stuff. a few years ago the MarkBass Little mark seemed to be the standard, preamp into a class D module with a couple of filters thrown in. My old tecamp puma was literally an analogue preamp going into the amp module. and then the TC RH450 seemed to throw the cat among the pigeons with a fully digital front end too* - and added tuners and sweepable mids and all sorts. I think the Aguilar Tone Hammer and the GB Streamliner as exceptions which had a very simple brief and did them well. And now every other amp seems to be adding more and more bells and whistles. The video and thread about the peavey amp kinda prompted this. Sure they are good amps. Flashing lights and two filters to make the bottom end seem bigger than it actually was... I wonder if ten years ago we would have seen that kind of feature as a positive or a negative? So I don't know what a lot of these amps are trying to do, what their designs are aiming for. it doesn't seem to be high end sound reproduction, just squeezing more into a smaller space. *I know yamaha and ashdown got there first but the RH450 seemed to be the first one that sold well.

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1390617361' post='2347694'] i really don't see the point in getting a vintage Fender J bass when there are Fenders like this around. ok its at the top of your price range, but i reckon you may take less of a gamble quality and weight wise. if not this. a Sadowsky UV4 is a tp draw choice[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nr06WZwz-b4[/media] [/quote] I prefer the older '75 reissues myself. Secondhand they tend to be about £800-900

[quote name='LawrenceH' timestamp='1390592296' post='2347440'] A 108 (or perhaps two) will hopefully appear at some point. I have already built a pair of 110s, loosely documented on basschat somewhere, that might represent a suitable basis for a 110 cab design - however we would need to identify alternative drivers since the Celestions I used, although very good, have unfortunately become prohibitively expensive. Those who read or commented in the 'Ideal Cab' thread, those comments were taken on board - but note that the initial prototype will be focused on getting the basic design elements right. A lot of the requirements people had were to do with ergonomics which, although important, can often be incorporated with relatively minor adaptations at a later point at the cost of increasing complexity or budget. My feeling so far is that Phil, Stevie and I each come at this from slightly different angles, though they may well disagree? But my assessment is that Phil has pushed for a cab that prioritises as straightforward as possible construction and very solid performance on a budget, making the design as accessible as possible. Stevie (at least in his own designs) probably prioritises absolute sound quality above all else, using very nice drivers indeed. As for me I like to maximise portability, which, if it's not to significantly compromise sound quality, increases build complexity and often cost. We also each have slightly different tool sets. I understand Phil has a fairly good workshop for prototype construction and has a lot of experience as a joiner. Stevie has a decent testing rig and a range of commercial software that will allow us to test drivers, model, and (importantly) subsequently assess the cabinet. Meanwhile I have much cheaper measurement hardware and have used free software for my own designs, which may be of interest to those basschatters who would like to do their own thing without such a significant initial outlay. In particular, when it comes to a 2-way design, I have not seen any documentation of the crossover design process on basschat, which might well be of interest to other DIYers. [/quote] YES, yes indeed

[quote name='marcus bell' timestamp='1390565248' post='2346880'] Looking for a cheap jazz for those moments I wanna get a Marcus miller'y, jaco' tone Is the squier classic vibe/vintage modified the best way to go? [/quote] nah, the one I'm selling at the mo obviously!

[quote name='solo4652' timestamp='1390556284' post='2346675'] Thanks everybody. That's a definite "No", then. Let me know if you have one lying about doing nothing, please. Steve [/quote] I bought one by accident after trying to flag it up on here for everyone! Not sure I want to sell it though

[quote][color=#000000][font=Times][size=1][b][i]Payment[/i][/b][/size][/font][/color][color=#000000][font=Times][size=1][i]: For this item/ amount of money I prefer payment by [/i][/size][/font][/color][color=#000000][font=Times][size=1][b][i]bank 2 bank/ wire payment[/i][/b][/size][/font][/color][color=#000000][font=Times][size=1][i]. No exceptions. [/i][/size][/font][/color][color=#000000][font=Times][size=1][b][i]Winning bidder must pay within 24hours of auction end[/i][/b][/size][/font][/color][color=#000000][font=Times][size=1][i].[/i][/size][/font][/color][/quote] hahahaha! I wonder who's going to fall for that one!

aww I'm the first one here! I bought an amp from Gelfin, it came with super packaging and planned. A little problem with the courier meant we had to wait a while - throughout Gelfin communicated well and managed to get it sorted out fine. A great guy and you shouldn't think twice about buying ouwt from him! cheers Gelfin!

[quote name='stevie' timestamp='1389651927' post='2336681'] It looks like a really nice driver. By the way, I've already plugged in my prototype mini-8 and it sounds surprisingly good. Lots of work still needed, of course. [/quote] this thread was halfway down the first page... any ideas what you lot have decided to design?

I wouldn't good basses though.

[quote name='njr911' timestamp='1390469715' post='2345658'] Oi! I live in Otley! [/quote] says Leeds on your profile! I went to Otley once, one of the hottest days last summer, I was on a big old cycle and ran out of water somewhere up near harrogate. Well cycled into Otley in a bit of a daze thinking it was ilkley and the fact that nothing was where I thought it should be confused me. Didn't even get some water, cycled straight out the town and ended up taking the old road straight up the chevin. Almost killed me. anyway nothing to do with basses that!

[quote name='throwoff' timestamp='1390300204' post='2343646'] Those MEC pots and EQ's can be a touch odd at first. Might need replacing if one seems to be doing nothing. [/quote] it's from 1985..... not MEC at all, they didn't exist then! hang on- i've a photo....

if the bass sounds too harsh then "better" pickups are probably only going to make that more obvious? unless they are voiced in a specific way to avoid that ?