LukeFRC

[quote name='Ghost_Bass' timestamp='1383585907' post='2266249'] From my recent experience i would say that a Pre+power setup beats a amp head. You have more of everything [/quote] I was looking at separate pre and power amps - but power amps are a whole new ball game that I don't majorly understand and aren't discussed much on here. WOuld I have to start visiting lots of PA forums to understand?

[quote name='cameltoe' timestamp='1383426754' post='2264459'] Again, not helping my gas- I love my Roadworn, but the 1.75 neck is (was) a drawback. The fact the Squier has a 1.625 neck is even more attractive. I do hear what you're saying about the hype though, but my [b]dream[/b] bass is an American Vintage '57 in white blond, that's been worn-in and batted around a bit (so as it's a bit more comfortable, and I'm not afraid to put my own dings in it) with a 1.625" neck. So Custom Shop only? I have owned a fairly recent American Standard (2005 model) and it was a fantastic instrument, but I found it a touch heavy, the finish cold and thick, the neck very hard, and it felt more engineered than crafted. It just didn't have that organic, wooden feel that I've grown to love. [/quote] why not save up for a custom shop? seriously - I think JV's are great, but they aren't exactly the budget option - but if you have a dream bass in mind why not save up and go for that? (or see if someone other than fender would make you it, bravewood or someone) [quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1383427861' post='2264479'] I promise you that ten years after Fender discontinue them , the Roadworns will have a similar cult status. [/quote] Part of the value of JV stuff is how good they are as instruments- and partly because there is (at the early end) interest from Fender collectors. Now the JV I sold recently was one of the ones with the early cult status, and one of possibly only 300….. the rarity inflates the price (rightly or wrongly) how many roadworns are there in existence? [quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1383562775' post='2265782'] This was my understanding, also. I think to dismiss the JVs as simply a cheap copy of the real thing would be a mistake. I have my old JV0 Precision (used to be Luke's) and it is without question the nicest Precision bass I have ever laid hands on. I can't say I have tried all the permutations, but have owned/had loan of/handled quite a few whilst looking for the 'right one'. MIJ, MIA, MIM - all sorts. [/quote] Corrected your post there.. [quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1383572456' post='2265957'] I'm not dismissing JV Squiers as a cheap copy as such , but they were relatively inexpensive when they were new and they are a copy , so there is an undeniable element of literal truth in that description . What stood about the Squiers was what nice basses they were for the money , especially by the standards of that time . They weren't the cheapest basses available in their day , but they were in a price range within the grasp of most enthusiastic beginners and were an excellent choice for both basssists and guitarists. Trust me , I was a young player at the time and I remember those days vividly . Their appeal was enhanced by just how bloody awful genuine Fenders were by 1982/83. No one wanted them , quite literally. According to my Historical Inflation Calculator , 150 quid in 1982/83 was the equivalent of £430 in todays money , so that gives you some idea of how they were pitched in the marketplace of the time they were current . In light of that then , in real terms these basses are selling for up to twice what they cost new . If someone has a nice Squier now and enjoys it for any reason then great , you pay your money and take your choice .The point I am making , however, is that if someone is looking to buy nowadays , it is only prudent to consider the current alternatives at the price point these Squiers are selling for , many of which can offer all the positive qualities of these old Squiers and a great deal more besides, in many cases. [/quote] I think it's important that any buyers take it on a case by case basis. Some of the prices for JV's I wouldn't pay, and others I would if I were in the market. Some of them are exceptional instruments. Some modern fender USA are exceptional, some modern MIM are amazing. Some are utter crap. Mind you I still have preferred every japanese fender necks to anything from the USA or mexico, maybe cos my hands are fairly small. Mind you Fullerton basses from the early 80's seem to have shot up to the £1.5-2k mark so maybe the JV's aren't that expensive now... I think the mistake you are making in your reasoning is making the selling price new a determiner as to how good they might or might not be. In 30 years time will we look back and say a 2013 warwick streamer is 5 times better than a fender roadworn? No we'll look back and retrospectively say that the roadworn were great and worth the money still. There are plenty of other basses we can look back at and say they were really great instruments,and if you look at the late 70's early 80's a lot of the instruments coming out as budget from Japan are still brilliant instruments. I picked up a 1977 Yamaha BB1200 to replace the JV, it's great, the BB300 I had for a while was nice too… early Ibanez models, Tokai were also really really nice instruments - and comparable to a lot of the new stuff being made today. Probably when they came out they were in the more affordable range compared to a genuine american fender. How does that effect how good they are as instruments now or their price? Mind you I also wouldn't agree that modern Fenders are that great, some are but a lot are mediocre, and the new 2013 AVRI seem a step back from the quality of the earlier AVRI range (which was v. good IMO) - but they are instruments that the price has shot up for over the last few years, as I said you take the JV quality on a case by case basis - but comparing them to the modern USA fenders… I don't think it's the USA fenders that are overpriced….

I didn't think most people buy basses based on what they think they will be worth in the future. I think they buy them to make music. But when at some point in the 80's the brand new shiny thing was good and they sold their old 60's bass for very little to afford active/graphite/pointyness I don't begrudge them looking at the price their old bass could have made now and sighing. The bigger crime was possibly the hair cut and clothes worn along with the pointy active graphite shiney bass- but that's a different thread...

[quote name='Jellyfish' timestamp='1383552222' post='2265633'] I recently finished a custom build, of a 5-string though, so hopefully I can be of some sort of use. I -thought- I had in mind what I wanted for my perfect custom bass, and it was fairly simple, but (depending on your budget) you might find yourself indulging quite a bit. There was a sound I was after though; something quite monstrous. The advantage of using Alpher Instruments as my builders was that they have custom pickup builders available and so they were made to spec. I haven't actually heard them yet, although the instrument is complete, but I've been assured that they're quite awesome. If you know what you want in terms of dimensions, then there's not much other to decide other than materials and electronics. One piece of advice that helped me immensely when deciding on who was going to built my custom bass; [b]make sure you get on with the person who's building it[/b]. I'd spoken to a couple of builders and then got in touch with Alpher Instruments. They offered me a lot more advice and genuinely seemed more interested and made me consider things I hadn't even thought of. [/quote] is your Alpher the one with the big humbuckers and narrow spacing.... it looks AMAZING I've had work done by Alpher on my bass, and played their first 3 basses - If I were going custom I would trust them to get on with, coms, and so on - good prices too. Their custom strings are very very good too.

[quote name='artisan' timestamp='1383517467' post='2265471'] Glad you like it Luke,i always thought it was a cracking amp'. Isn't strange how Roland bass amps don't get much love but are infact superb,that is the best combo i have ever heard. [/quote] oddly enough it seemed to really really impress our keys player!

My initial thought reading through the post is - if your overwater gives you "your" tone - why not get them to do it? (except I guess with EMGs rather than their own pups)

so played it this morning…. big grins here - it's really good! Much more uncoloured tone than the other rig

So…. in a bit of a curveball I bought a new bass amp today…. I have a Tecamp puma 1000 and M210 cab. It's great and gives a really punchy sound. But for a while something had been making me think... Recently we've been practicing at a church using their PA and using no amp and just putting my bass and monitoring of the rest of the band through a HK D.A.R.T. Wedge - it was great, even in the mix I could hear myself (it was pointing straight up at me) and more than that… it sounds amazing. There's a wee lack of low end but… well I plugged my Jazz in… and it sounded like a jazz bass, I plugged my p bass in and it sounded like a P bass and I plugged my warwick in and it sounded… well good most the time. and bad sometimes. I've got an ACG pre in my warwick - capable of some of the most amazing tones ever made by an electric bass guitar - and also some… that don't work as well. Then playing back on my own rig… it didn't sound as good. So I started a thread on here to find out from clever folk why this wedge sounded great http://basschat.co.uk/topic/210554-pa-gear-as-bass-ampcab-one-of-the-most-amazing-bass-tones-ive-heard/ and I found out that the HK wedge was a great full range speaker with clever DSP flattening out the sound (that's my quick description of what DSP does…) So then I had a number of options…. 1) Explore using PA gear as a bass rig 2) get a more full range bass cab 3) get a bass cab with inbuilt power amp and DSP... so how did it go? Well 1) PA gear as bass rig… well isn't as easy - most PA gear is designed to split the signal to the tops and subs. So there's not an amazing amount of stuff out there that can cover the full range with a good low end…. 2) a more full range bass cab - a good option - the new big baby 2 from Barefaced looks really good and I could use my tecamp amp. Still an option... 3) Get a powered bass cab with DSP…. which would be a good option - and would love a Bergantino IP series (well the 112, not the 310 cos I'm not hulk) except they are as rare as rocking horse poo and theres not much else out there…. and then artisan stuck up his roland D-bass 210 combo up for sale… and it's a 210 combo with DSP…. 160w power to each driver and 80w to the tweeter… so 400w in total (but as we all know that watts don't mean much unless you take speaker efficiency into consideration) well it's a odd thing - good review and people who use it seem to rate them, but over on talkbass roland stuff is as about as popular as the plague…. Well I went put some notes in artisans hand and brought it home… and it's… it's pretty good - side to side with the tecamp rig the tone is way way more even - much less of a middy hump. The low end is impressive and the high end is good - not quite as bright and sparkly as the tecamp. It's even better when I used the effect return to send the preamp from my Puma to it and bypass the slightly cheesy sounding COSM preamp in the roland. It's good - it will get a play tomorrow at church.

[quote name='cameltoe' timestamp='1383420222' post='2264367'] I was referring to was the first series, with poly finish, as I haven't tried the new nitro finished series. I do however own a Road Worn, which I would imagine is very similar to the new 50's lacquer. [/quote] but bashed about a bit…!

[quote name='skej21' timestamp='1383419191' post='2264350'] Are you referring to the Classic '50s with flash coat lacquer finish & hardcase (which I think is a fantastic instrument withs thin finish and a real vintage vibe!) or the Classic '50s with no case and poly finish? [/quote] dunno both I think, played a few hung up in shops they didn't show me the cases! … think I've played both. IMO the AVRI '57ri P I tried is the only modern production Fender precision that has come close to my old JV in terms of build and sound. But then I think the old (up to this year) AVRI fender range was the best stuff fender have been putting out recently, precisions and jazzes; and some of the japanese stuff is nice too. All my own opinion obviously

Compared to the classic '50's …. not even comparable. Compared to the AV '57ri …. comparable - one feels and sounds very very modern though, one feels and sounds like the baselines on your old records How big are the necks? 43mm or so, an accurate vintage width (unlike the AV'57ri) How thick is the finish? My old one never chipped so not sure. No thicker than any other, not as thick as the classic '50s felt to me. Do they have rolled fingerboards? yes, and one of the nicest neck you'll play. Are they resonant? Yes and some, an amazing projecting acoustic tone when unplugged. Even unplugged mine somehow sounded like a P bass should do. Are they light? usually under alb

I would have to spend many thousands to get a bass as good as my 'wick But it is an early one with customised pups and preamps… and it cost me a very small amount…

[quote name='thumperbob 2002' timestamp='1382020879' post='2246771'] I have a Mesa Bass Buster - 1 x 15 combo- valve 200 watts. No kidding as loud as my old Hartke LH1000- but sounds lovely. Best amp I have had- Ive had loads. Bought it for £800 from this very forum. I don't use it at gigs though as it weighs as much as a car. [/quote] there's a 210 buster combo for sale near me, looks great to me and was tempted till I looked up the weight! Flip its heavy! How do you manage even thinking about gigging it?

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1383344820' post='2263547'] Increase from the 11w one to the 60w one, same brightness. Because watts isn't the determining factor of brightness. Same way that it isn't the determining factor for loudness. [/quote] so florescent tube bulbs give a wide frequency light in the greeny bit of the spectrum, and incandescent a narrower frequency of light in the yellowy spectrum. What I'm wondering is what's better for metal?

theres a fair few folk on here from your side of the north sea. I would have thought that using a courier would be easier if you find the right folk. It may be easier to try and sell the warwick and buy a fender on here secondhand. I have a warwick and I also have had many fender type basses- my advice would be that it's good to have both.

Roland D-bass series as a DSP powered combo option… any experience?

[quote name='erisu' timestamp='1383320131' post='2263163'] That's true - though what I love about Warwicks is it feels like quite an exclusive club to be in and as they refer their customers as "being in the Warwick family" There's just something Warwicks that I love, even if other basses are better bought for better investment, a Warwick will always be a Warwick [/quote] they are nice basses - but they are just basses and I'm not more in the same family as warwick as I'm in the same family as fender players if I plyed a fender

I've had a fair few basses in the last few years, mid to high mid ranges, but mostly played one or two live. Not regretted it a bit, it's helped me work out what I like and what I want in a bass. Yes it does turn out to be the one I've played live the most but hey! I know that now!

[quote name='donkelley' timestamp='1383157522' post='2260984'] For me they're simply not very physically attractive. Come on, there has to be at least SOME sexiness in a bass for me to want to play her! The BB series is one of the most utilitarian looking things I've ever seen. The feel fine, nothing special imho but certainly sufficient if you're into their neck profile, and the sound very good in a classic fender bass kinda way. Very well built, also, with solid hardware. Body shape turns me off, so does the headstock, so do the LOOK of their pickups and general mounting area for everything. If I close my eyes I can really enjoy playing one though for a while. [/quote] I didn't like the look - esp the lower end ones with the pup selector switch in that odd position…. then I picked up a japanese BB300 in a trade - needed to sell it on but it did have a very nice neck. when I saw my BB1200 up for sale something about it caught my attention in a genuine old classic way - when I played it I "got it."

ooh I don't have an mp3 in or headphones out. but got a mute switch!

[quote name='k50' timestamp='1383162183' post='2261100'] I'm really pleased with it so far . I haven't had a chance to use it with a band yet but that should be rectified next week ( been busy at work ). Sound wise , its great flat with a slight upper mid boost quite similar to a MB F1 and with the taste control slightly to the right ( rich) it produces a lovely deep tone yet still retains all the detail. It does seem to have a steep high pass filter reducing extreme lows , not necessarily a bad thing .Its also extremely fast like most class d amps. Yes its certainly powerful , not in the same league as my TC Blacksmith , but as a back up that fits in my gig bag its brilliant. I bought a GB shuttlemax 9.2 earlier this year and sold it quickly , i know everybody rates these highly but not my cup of tea. I also owned an EBS 660 , great amp but the puma is a fraction of the size with more power , similar quality tone . Half the price new !! Owned various rigs over the years , Trace ,Eden ampeg pro4 ,MB FI, LMII,Ashdown ( caught fire after half an hour ). The Puma will definitely be staying along with the Blacksmith not to mention my gen.2 Barefaced big babies. ( probably order a gen 3 big twin soon ) Hope thats useful, Roger. [/quote] how do you find the puma and the barefaced go together?

[quote name='Budbear' timestamp='1382495631' post='2252875'] In my humble opinion (as humble as we New Yorkers are with our opinions), the only overpriced basses are the ones that don't sell. You see them on the shop walls, dusty, poorly set up, with dead strings, priced reduced several times, and yet, not cheap enough for someone to buy. People will buy most anything if the price is right. I'm involved in the retail end of the industry and that's the reality of MI sales. Just a word about Fodera. The price list linked to above is mostly suggested retail, not selling prices. Dealers give discounts. Nonetheless, they are expensive. I know Vinnie and Joey personally, and, in fact, am quite friendly with Joey (BTW, his last name is Lauricella, not Fodera. That's Vinnie's name) so I may be a bit biased. I live 15 min. from the Fodera workshop in Brooklyn. All their instruments are handmade, with immense care & meticulous craftsmanship. All their components are top quality. It's a small business, but they treat their employees well with a fair wage and excellent benefits and great respect. No one in that shop is getting rich. They all live in middle income, working class neighborhoods. Overhead is high in NYC. Customer service is extraordinary, and every customer that goes to the shop gets either Vinnie or Joey's personal attention and time. All that stuff costs money. Every customer is treated alike and well, whether your name is Victor Wooten or Joe Schmoe. Nobody gets a *star* endorsement deal. The margin is too slim for that even if they had that mindset. They may or may not be your cup of tea, but there is no denying their quality and, seeing as how well their resale prices hold up and how quickly they're snapped up when flipped, their value. I have played several but I don't own one, not because I think they aren't worth it, but because I don't play out nearly enough anymore to justify such an expense even at dealer's cost. Although, you never can tell. I just might sell off most of my collection someday and use that to get a custom Monarch made to my specs and cross that off my bucket list. Last words: Play what you like. If it makes you happy, it was worth whatever you paid for it. Be groovy to each other. [/quote] Good post - The thing is in another thread if we were talking about a business working building high end whatever, staying in the city near the users, paying decent wages and healthcare and working hard to come up with really well repeated products we would be excited that, a) we can still do that kinda high end low volume stuff in the west. it seemed to be run ethically in terms of looking after employees… c) people are doing stuff and making stuff and making it well and making a business model work but something seems to happen when the thing is something, well we kinda want, and well "why is it so expensive yadda yadda yadda" … Fodera are doing something well and making it work. Thats a good thing, not a bad thing. [quote name='Lowender' timestamp='1383141316' post='2260672'] What's your point? You agree? Disagree? Just want to be disagreeable? Fodera's sell out? So what. It's interesting that you owned FOUR and decided they weren't for you but choose to complain about a thread where someone felt they didn't live up to expectations. [/quote] i think you've misread what he was saying there - I think his point was that as they sell everything they make the must be doing something right and the critique of them is a bit dull. I don't think his owning four and selling them was a complaint about them - just saying he hadn't clicked. I could say I've owned 4 fenders and sold them all but hope to get another good one one day - it's not a complaint against my appreciation of Fender. anyway….

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1383063454' post='2259719'] My Missus has got one of them, and she loves the 'tone'. [/quote] does she go for clean or nitro setting?