LukeFRC

[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?

hmmm [url="http://www.rareelectricguitar.com/Fodera-Victor-Wooten-Yin-Yang-Standard-4-String-sale_893.html"]http://www.rareelectricguitar.com/Fodera-Victor-Wooten-Yin-Yang-Standard-4-String-sale_893.html[/url]

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1378514064' post='2201460'] Touching on what folks like Molan had to say earlier , I personally have always gravitated towards the highest quality basses , even when I was a kid looking at pictures in magazines ( that's all we had for bass porn in the days before the internet ) with no means to buy them . However , now that I have a bit more money, I have realised that most of those basses are completely superfluous to my real - world practical needs . I honestly think that you get most bang for your buck at around the just-over-a -thousand-pounds mark . An American Standard Fender Jazz will do everything that a U.S - made Lakland Joe Osborn or passive Celinder Jazz will , and it's not so expensive or difficult to replace that you need to worry unduly about looking after it . The way to get the most out of any bass is to play it and use it , and there is an inertia for most people that makes them handle expensive custom basses with kid gloves compared to more generic instruments . I am no fan of his playing , but it's great to see Victor Wooten playing his Foderas with scant regard for wear and tear , and Stanley Clarke spanks his Alembics with an equally gay abandon . That's the way to do it , in my opinion . That is what [i]really [/i]constitutes a good investment in a bass - to play it and love it . Overall , once you actually get your hands on them and play them . there is far less difference than you might think in the final results between a very good mass- production instrument ( i.e U.S.A Fender , EBMM, Lakland Skyline , ect ) and most very expensive boutique basses . There are , of course, plenty of notable exceptions , but I can't help but notice that many ( maybe even most ) great players in various eras who we all admire were capable of getting amazing results on fairly standard equipment . [/quote] +1 I sold a few basses I've had because I began feeling too precious about playing them. My streamer was bought well played and loved, and remains well played and loved. [quote name='lojo' timestamp='1383028843' post='2259192'] This also reflects our strange relationships with basses, you effectively lost a sale on your instrument because you didn't want to see it get gigged and become roadworn, nothing wrong or right about it though. I'm only a weekend player, pubs, parties and functions, but I'm getting drawn to a decent (I mean 1.5k, some may consider that low) bass , which is way beyond my needs, but I played one recently and I did notice the quality and playability. If I buy one, is that an indulgence ? [/quote] nah, the person in question wanted to buy my bass secondhand for £900 so he could keep his new USA fender version of the same bass in pristine condition under his bed to gain value… or something. no its not an indulgence if you play it

took it to practice today. In possibly the worst room for amplified music…. It needs a set up still… but it sounds nice - very try different to anything i've played before soundwise. Can do quite rock.

have a read through this thread, similar questions and a lot cleverer answers than I could give....[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/210554-pa-gear-as-bass-ampcab-one-of-the-most-amazing-bass-tones-ive-heard/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/210554-pa-gear-as-bass-ampcab-one-of-the-most-amazing-bass-tones-ive-heard/[/url]