eude

Totally agree mate, Ashdown definitely seem to be upping their game of late. My only experience of them really, has been using an original ABM head when they first came on the scene at a brilliant rehearsal spot in Glasgow years back, which was very VERY impressive, and blew away the Ampeg SVT it replaced, after I blew it up a bit. And, more recently, playing through a MAG rig, that was fine, but nothing special. It's hard to ignore all the folks moaning about the Ashdown tone being a bit wooly or flat, but from what I've heard more recently, that has been more than addressed in all but the lower end equipment. The new gear looks fantastic, and I agree the valve stuff in particular, but I fear that gear will always be out of my price range, but I'm particularly interested in the MiBass gear. Here's some more pics nicked off Dan Gooday's Facebook page (apologies if I've stepped on any toes by posting these). Lovey pic of a MiBass Combo [attachment=103429:522380_10151419171485394_560445393_23348023_1572089805_n.jpg] MiBass heads on top of MiBass Cabs, Mi10 on top, Mi12 at the bottom, I think... [attachment=103430:545987_10151419179315394_560445393_23348097_1606468597_n.jpg] TE 500 head and some MiBass Combos [attachment=103432:564564_10151419178980394_560445393_23348093_1286722489_n.jpg] Can't agree more with you about Trace gear either, they were "THEE" amp when I was bit a nipper and it took a while before I could afford some, but when I finally got a Trace Combo, I couldn't have been happier, till I discovered lightweight gear that is They're definitely up there as one of the classic amps, with the Ampeg SVT etc. Cheers, Eude

[quote name='Dread Bass' timestamp='1332676921' post='1591428'] Bet you cant wait [/quote] He clearly can, this thread is evidence of it Glad you're finally getting them mate, really hope they're worth the wait Eude

Any news mate?...

Matt, I must take some pics of the Promethean for comparison. Yours look fairly neat though

[quote name='ColinB' timestamp='1332583717' post='1590237'] Looks like they will. [/quote] Yup, you're right. I read that original article a bit quickly, as I was having a mare at work, and it was quite badly written, but here's another one confirming the 1x10 and 1x12 extension cabs >> http://www.gear4music.com/news/article/Musikmesse-2012-Ashdown-Announce-New-Bass-Amps/57S/2012-03-23 Eude

When I first saw the MiBass stuff I thought it would work really well in that capacity. I love my Promethean 1x10 Combo, but want for a little bit more natural low end, something a 1x12 would deliver nicely. I also would love to be using British gear, albeit British designed gear - built in China or wherever. I was considering maybe getting a MiBass head with 2 of their VS112 cabs, but I wonder if they'll be doing anything cab-wise to match up specifically with the MiBass heads and combos?... Eude

There's a 2x10 Combo with the TE 500 head in it too. That and the TE 500 head have a dull silver faceplate like the old Trace Twin/Quadra/Hexa-Valve Heads had - very nice Eude

Seems Ashdown have a raft of new kit launching at Musikmesse 2012 Lots of bad iPhone pics on Facebook, but the only real info I can find so far is this link >> [url="http://www.mi-pro.co.uk/news/read/musikmesse-2012-ashdown-launches-raft-of-new-gear/016385"]http://www.mi-pro.co...new-gear/016385[/url] A few products are really interesting... [b]Tonal Emphasis 500 head[/b] 12 band EQ with regular and XLR inputs Apparently it's nicknamed the "TE 500", a little more than a nod to Trace Elliot there me thinks. [b]MiBass Combos[/b] These seem to have a one of the two proper MiBass head mounted on the back of a front ported cab, which is removable just like the Ibanez Promethean design, and I assume you would need an additional cab to put out the full wattage, available in the following setups >> MiBass 550 1x15 weighing in at 21kg MiBass 220 1x10 weighing in at 16.2kg MiBass 220 2x8 weighing in at 20.1kg MiBass 220 1x12 weighing in at 17.8kg There's some other improvements to some of the lower end lines and some effects pedals too. I'll add more info as I find it. Eude

Not a huge mistake mate, I guess that's quite a minute detail in the grand scheme of things, one I would probably overlook myself, so I'll keep that in mind. Dots, lines or otherwise, you can really make that bass sing mate

Subtle Ivory?

Awesome bass, and awesome playing Meester Spoombung

Yup, heavier strings are you friend. I used to use 120 - 100 - 80 - 60 - 40 on my 5ers when I played regular scale basses, now I've shifted to 33" basses, 5 and 6 strings, I've moved up to 130/125 - 105 - 85 - 65 - 45 and a 30 C where applicable. The C can be zingy, like dunc says, but you'll find that on any bass, it's just the nature of the lighter gauge string, but you'll find it sounds thicker than the equivalent would on a 34" or 35". If you're used to lighter strings and a softer feel, DRs are a great choice for your setup too, as the heavier gauge feel really good on the 33" scale. I'm keen to try Fodera nickel strings too in the same gauge, they're meant to be very good for this set up as well. You'll need to share some photos of your new bass here too >> [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/140476-the-acg-thread/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/140476-the-acg-thread/[/url] P.S. if you find DRs a bit pricey here in the UK, I get mine from here >> [url="http://stores.ebay.co.uk/bassspecialties"]http://stores.ebay.co.uk/bassspecialties[/url] Eude

[quote name='sprocket123' timestamp='1332465026' post='1588868'] Wow , nice bass there eude [/quote] Thanks mate, I'm over the moon with both of them. I was playing the 6 string through headphones last night for the first time, and the natural tone of the intsrument just blows me away! It's exactly what I was hoping for, especially the sound from the front pickup Once we've moved house, probably in about a month, I'll have a lot more room for bassey goodness, so I'll get set up to do some recordings of both my ACGs, perhaps even some video too, if you guys can stand my ugly mug Eude

[quote name='whynot' timestamp='1332463951' post='1588859'] Not very attractive, although sure it sounds fine within it's price bracket. TC have hardly put a foot wrong in their effects design for years IMO. They hit the ground running with the RH450 look. What's going on? [/quote] I guess, it's what they can do at that price point. Like I said above, I'm not convinced, but I guess it's good they're trying to generate a bit more mass appeal and affordability. It is dang ugly though...

Roscoe beck seems to like it.. [url="http://youtu.be/7z5YD6lZCGg"]http://youtu.be/7z5YD6lZCGg[/url] Eude

[quote name='Fat Rich' timestamp='1332417888' post='1587935'] Fair enough although that's not been my experience, although I agree neck stiffness is a factor. Had a listen to the tracks you did for Hoochie Fig and your 33" sounds great, very nice playing too! [/quote] Wow! Thanks mate Very kind of you to say. Cheers, Eude

I'm not sure the scale length is the only way to achieve a good low B, both my current basses and have 33" scale length and the low B on both is fantastic, in fact it wipes the floor with other low B's I've tried on basses I won't name here, ranging from 34" to 36" in scale length. The additional length of course plays a part, and is obviously the [i]easy[/i] way to get a good low B, but a super stiff stable neck and body construction, plus some additional luthier voodoo can get you there too. Eude

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1332414776' post='1587872'] How about one of these? [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/166546-fsft-fender-roscoe-beck-v/page__p__1541570__hl__roscoe%20beck__fromsearch__1#entry1541570"]http://basschat.co.u..._1#entry1541570[/url] [/quote] Hot damn, these are meant to be very good basses...

[quote name='LiamPodmore' timestamp='1332413393' post='1587847'] My personal choice in that kind of price range would probably be a Stingray 5, or possibly a Sadowsky. Liam [/quote] Oh yeah, a Sadowsky maybe as well, they have no problem shifting secondhand either. (I'd still go for an ACG though... )

[quote name='Walker' timestamp='1332412996' post='1587834'] Thank you gents. To be honest, I feel I’m not ready for a custom build just yet – I need a few more years under my belt. Maybe for my 50[sup]th[/sup]. I think a fairly easily re-sellable bass that will hold its value will be a better bet for me as it’s going to be my first five string and who knows – lots of folk don’t get on with them. That’s not a defeatist attitude – I’m just trying to be realistic! [/quote] That's fair enough then mate. I'd certainly have a look at Stingray 5ers then, you can probably pickup a nice used one on here and sell on easily enough. I think if you did get hold of a Dingwall, you'd be in the same boat as a custom if it came to selling it on, they have very little mass appeal as the whole concept hasn't quite stuck yet, probably worth considering. If you like your more trad basses, I tried an American Standard Fender P 5 string a while back and it wasn't bad at all, the B's on Fenders 5 strings get fairly mixed reviews, but the good ones are apparently very good. Good luck! Eude

From what I've heard, the low B on Musicman Stingrays is incredible for a 34" bass, but if I was you mate, I'd go for a UK based custom build if you're looking at that kind of money. A few builders in the UK have done and probably still would do fanned fret builds, and if you're going custom, you could tweak the scale(s) to how you want them if you find the regular Dingwall 37" reach a bit much. ACG would get my vote, they're are making a fanned fret 6er right now which is 36" to 33" >> [url="http://www.acguitars.co.uk/Gallery/254/"]http://www.acguitars.co.uk/Gallery/254/[/url] (other scale lengths are available... ) Cheers, Eude

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1332353390' post='1587228'] I think at this price, they have just taken a huge chunk of the market...its almost a 1/3 less than similar combos from MB/GB, and its cheaper than the Promethean! [url="http://www.dv247.com/guitars/tc-electronic-bg250-bass-guitar-amp-combo--96671"]http://www.dv247.com...mp-combo--96671[/url] [/quote] Hey Gareth, I'm not sure they'll sell a lot of these. Even now TC are a bit of an unknown, and dare I say it "geeky" brand to the majority of bassists who are likely in the market for an amp like this at this price point, of course there will be some folks like yourself who know their sh*t and are looking for a backup/practice combo, but in my opinion, folks spending that kind of money, in the majority, are looking to make their 2nd amp purchase, post practice amp and the words "bigger" and "louder" would certainly come into play. I'm not sure it's fair to compare this with the Promethean either, especially if you mean the 1x10 combo. On paper, that combo wipes the floor with this, it's smaller, lighter, more versatile, has a removable 500W amp head, speaker out when in combo mode and the finish and build quality is up there with the TC high end stuff. The Promethean punches well above its weight and is considered, at least by some, to be "pro" level equipment. There have been some QC issues, but there's been plenty of that with TC's bass gear too from what I've heard. I'd stick my neck out on this one and bet that the little Promethan sounds a lot better and is a lot more practical in the real world. If you're comparing it with the newer lower end Promethean 1x15, then fair enough, they're the same price, the TC might edge it with it's built in single effect thing and it's mysterious invisible tuner. The Tone Print thing, in my opinion is a gimmick, and using one effect at a time then having to overwrite to try another one would probably get a little frustrating in use, I may have misinterpreted how that works of course. That Octaver does sound good though, I'll keep an eye out for a pedal version of that. I also think the combo is pretty ugly, I guess that's a personal thing. I'm just a little perturbed, as I think, yet again, TC are missing a trick here. If they made a pro level lightweight powerful combo, based around their RS112 cab and high end heads, but with the ability to tilt it back, with all the aux in - headphone out and a speaker out stuff, I think they would sell a hell of a lot of them, I for one would be very interested... </my other 2p> Eude

The real question is why is it so freakin' ugly?! ...and, why not make it a 12" cab with a wedge style - kick back shape? Surely that would be a lot more useful and a bit more interesting! I do get the impression that TC don't really listen to bass players, I've got about 5 unanswered emails to them suggesting new products. </2p> Eude

I know, I have serious GAS for 2 of those 1x12s and Streamliner 600 head...

If I remember correctly most of the high end Sadowskys are chambered too, you don't hear folks complaining about their tone very often I personally would just go for a lighter wood, as it would be a lot cheaper, leaving cash for black jack and other important things... Eude