TRBboy

Welcome from another Herefordian! I had no idea there were others on here!

Just realised that cobalt is very commonly used as a pigment in rubber, plastics, paints and coatings, and is used just as much by manufacturers in the west as manufacturers in the far east. Anyone who has a guilty conscience can send their blue basses to me and I will [s]play them[/s] dispose of them ethically.

I believe that cobalt is in most electronic devices, and probably quite a few other things too. I'm not in any way condoning what's going on in the Congo, but there are other ethical and humanitarian issues which are just as big if not much bigger. There's a story on the news right now about child labour in the cotton industry in India. Is there any evidence that the cobalt being used by Ernie Ball isn't responsibly sourced?

[quote name='nugget' timestamp='1326903242' post='1503492'] Hi mate - Dont know the answer so will probably get shot down in flames (as usuall) - I would go for the toughest material you can find. Typically the harder it is the better it will finish ie you can polish the cut edges bettter with a harder material. But certainly make DONT buy one - wher's the fun in that?? Then you can make a neck for it, then a body..... [/quote] Ha ha! Thanks Dave. From what I've found out today, it looks like polycarbonate is the toughest, but acrylic is the hardest. Although this means that Acrylic will resist scratches better, it's also more likely to break whilst drilling/cutting, etc. I think I'm probably gonna go for polycarbonate. It's only 2.99 for a piece anyway, so no great shakes if it's a disaster!

Look out for a used Sandberg California in the FS section.........

I always like to have 10"s and a 15". I've currently got a Markbass 2x10" combo and 15" ext cab, and used to have a Trace head with a 4x10" and a 15". I agree that any extension cab of the right impedence will give you more depth and headroom, but in my opinion you can't beat the combination of the 10"s for tightness, definition and punch, and the 15" for out and out guts and rumble.

I'm not normally very interested in "posh" basses, but I have got a massive crush on this from the FS section..... No chance of me ever affording it though!

Hey everybody. I want a clear pickguard for one of my Sandbergs, but I fancy having a go at making one to save a few quid (£29 from Sandberg). My question is what should I use? I know that polycarbonate is about the toughest and most scratch resistant material, but I don't know how easy it is to work. I know that acrylic is relatively easy to work, but I don't know how well it will resist scratches. Can anyone offer any advice? (BUY ONE YOU TIGHTA$%E! I know.....)

Andrew Levy. Listening to the Brand New Heavies greatest hits is reminding me not to be tempted to play too much!

Shure Beta 87A is a great live hypercardioid condenser Mic, particularly well suited to female vocals, with exceptional detail and clarity. Not cheap though! I think there's quite a good sennheiser one too which is a bit cheaper, but I can't remember what it's called.....

I felt slightly scared and slightly flattered........

This is quite an old one from a local festival [attachment=97356:Wyeside.jpg] This is another fairly old one [attachment=97357:Pyroclast3.jpg] This was at our Stag and Hen party in 2008 - Pimps & Ho's theme! [attachment=97358:Stag and hen.jpg] This was a great funk/soul/disco band we had going, which sadly was very short-lived. Good shot of my wife going for it on lead vocals! (she's not really that much taller than me, it's perspective!) [attachment=97359:Jen's 29th.jpg] This was at New Years Eve just gone. This drunk, randy, middle-aged woman was gyrating and thrusting at me, performing some sort of psychedelic pagan dance over the course of a few songs. During a break between numbers she exclaimed "I was trying to give you a B%$wjob!". Having never encountered this situation before, and not knowing what else to say, I shouted back "Well done!" and cracked on with the next song! [attachment=97360:Groupie.jpg]

Hey everybody. I've got a black/black G&G Fender Deluxe Hardshell case which is surplus to requirements now, so I'm thinking of moving it on. It's basically in good nick, and hasn't actually been used a huge amount, although one of the feet has broken off and there are a couple of rips and scuffs on each end. The trouble is I don't know how much to ask for it as I can't find many examples of ones that have sold. They seem to be about £150 - £170 brand new, so I was thinking £80? Is this a fair price? I'd be grateful for any thoughts anyone has on this. Ta

We sold absolutely s%#@loads of Vintage gear in the shop I used to work in, because it's good quality gear for not much money, especially the Advance range. I wanted a cheap fretless, and I bought a V940fl and was blown away by how good it was for the money. Ok, so the finishes aren't always perfect, but for the price you really can't complain! Still, I bought a used Yamaha RBX270 last year for £70, and I'd take one of those over a vintage any day.

Yes, definitely I would say. Had a similar experience on new years eve. The pub had a suspended timber floor, wooden walls, wooden everthing, and my bass was just booming through the whole place. Like you, I had to go for a far more trebley, cutting sound than I would normally use, but it worked perfectly and sat in the mix really well. Usually though, I don't find that I need to alter my sound much for most venues.

Sandberg Basic's have got the skinniest, fastest, most comfortable necks I've ever played, even more so than any soundgear I've ever played. I bought my first one in march last year, and it turned my bass world upside down! My faithful MIA Jazz (which I'd owned for about 13 years and was my go-to) suddenly felt incredibly fat-necked and difficult to play, and sadly I ended up having to sell it because I knew things would never be the same again. I've since bought another 4 string Basic, and at the end of the month I'm parting ways with my TRB1005 and replacing it with a Basic Ken Taylor 5. With the exception of my spare/knockabout bass, I will be a one brand man. I'm fine with that, and I have no interest in owning any other type of bass now. I have also had a Sandberg California PM pass through my hands this year, and despite it being better than a Fender (controversial I know), it just didn't feel the same as the Basic. Don't get me wrong, I don't think they're particularly attractive, but they feel incredible and sound great which is all I'm interested in. I always think that the neck feel reminds me of and Ibanez RG guitar but in bass form; slim, effortless to play, and with that slight flatness down the centreline of the neck (which becomes more noticeable as you progress further up). I think the fact that they have a fairly flat fretboard radius helps too. All this combined with a very reasonable pricetag on the used market = good times for me! If you can get your hands on one, give it a spin, and if you're ever in Herefordshire you're welcome to have a go on mine.

Personally, I think you need to get some of these basses in your hands. I've always maintained that the feel of a bass is the single most important thing; if it doesn't feel comfortable and easy to play you're never going to get the most out of it or realise your full potential as a player. Anyway, my personal recommendation would be to go for either a Yamaha RBX270 or an Ibanez SR300. I would personally go for a bigger combo, like a 100w 1x15", a. because you'll get a bit more depth and guts out of it, b. because if you want to play with a drummer or something you'll be able to keep up, and c. because there's a lot of satisfaction to be had from cranking it up once in a while! As others have mentioned, any of the well known brands will be fine; Fender, Ashdown, Peavey, Marshall, Laney, Ampeg, etc, etc. There are some older Trace Elliot combos to be had for not much money for a great amp. Good luck, hope you find a bass you love!

I wouldn't have thought it would be too difficult to return it to standard. You'd just need to get an MM 'bucker and a standard pickguard, both of which you might be able to find s/h I guess. I would've thought it would be worth more like that but who knows?