grunge666

I think I'm taking a punt on a TB500 when I sell my SVT3pro. I'm a bit worried - hope its worth the jump from my beloved Ampeg? Any thoughts?

Well, I got home Friday, took the strings off and took all the saddles off the bridge to force me to start the set up again! New strings, set saddles to 1/8th" as stated in manual and dropped pups as low as possible. Tweaked the trussrod a little (Righty Tighty!) and got the intonation bang on and action how I like it lowering the saddles just above buzz level up the dusty end. Plays great now but, I'm yet to try it LOUD! I did adjust to poles on each pickup through my practice amp so there's no peaks but, the real test will be at rehearsal tomorrow when it gets a run. I'll get there early, screwdriver and allen key at the ready. Fingers crossed!

Thanks for the suggestions. I use a Spector Legend and Rex4 as well as a P with hot DiMarzios and I can cope with changes live with no messing at all with my amp. I so want to love this bass, I'm sure it's the pickup height that is the major problem. There's thread after thread regarding this 'issue' on the bassesbyleo forum dating back years. I'm going to spend another few hours setting it up again, reset to the settings in the manual and start again. I've got to find the sweet spot! I ran it passive/parallel and at about half volume at one gig and it was a passable P tone. I Iove the series thump but, it was too much, too boomy - whic,h to me, points at the pups again. I do give it some when I play with a 'Steve Harris Style' though - it's just a totally different beast to anything I've ever played before! I'll stick with it for now and report back! Thanks again guys, it is really appreciated and I take no offence to any of the comments . . . So far!! ;-D

The 1st 3 Iron Maiden albums set me up for 30 years of 4 string happiness!

Well after 2 gigs with this monster, I just can't get on with this at all. It has to be me but, I love the neck... and that's about it!! :-/ The output is too hot and a pain changing basses and amp settings during gigs. It'll have to let her go

From 2006! [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f18/intonation-problem-solved-255834/"]http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f18/intonation-problem-solved-255834/[/url]

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1338541947' post='1675956'] I use MFD pups all the time and have never witnessed this myself. [/quote] Could I ask what the pickup clearance you have? Mine's nearly 1cm!

Well, I'm having real trouble with this bass I couldn't set the intonation properly - turns out the pickups are so powerful it pulls the strings towards them when its being set so everything was # !! I've had to set the pickups as low as they can go - set the intonation than bring the pickups back up until it starts affecting the tuning and lower them again slightly!! What a palaver! This can't be right can it??

It seems to be the the Parallel/Series switch (or 'Awesome Switch' as I now call it!) that makes the most difference?

Used it in anger last night - Jesus the output is hot!! It was clipping my wireless system! I'm at half volume on the bass and it's still peaking on my amp. How do you control this beast??

My latest acquisition. G&L L2000 Tribute. Cherry Sunburst/Rosewood. Thanks eBay!

This is very sad & as a huge KISS fan of 32+ years, particularly so. Neil Bogart started Casablanca Records in 1973 and the 1st two acts he signed were Donna Summer and KISS! Donna also sang back up vocals on the track 'Burning Up With Fever' on Gene Simmons 1978 solo album. RIP

Well, WOW! I didn't expect this to turn out how it did/is! I hope it's not strained any friendships on here as that's the last thing I wanted. One thing though, it's certainly opened my eyes on how divided everyone is on the +/- of DI's. I always thought the DI was the work of the Devil for bass players but, not anymore, there is genuine love for the thing I hated. Some great suggestions and technical insight of both options and suggestions for mic's too. I'm going to rethink my situation now and try a few things out with our upcoming gigs and actually discuss some of the ideas put forward here with the different sound guys. Maybe, just maybe, I'll turn a corner and embrace my nemesis! Thank you all for such a great debate - please carry on - it's helped me and I'm sure I'm not the only one that needed others' views on the matter. Cheers!

Cheers guys, a great discussion - thats what this place is all about. I can post EQ from my amp just that most sound guys insist on pre EQ. I can see why though. I think I'm getting cranky in my old age! I've spent a lot of wedge on my Barefaced S12 only to be using it as a glorified monitor on stage (I know technically it is a monitor of sorts!) and a PA colours your sound somewhat. I have had a DI/mic mix in studios before and to me that's a great sound but the practicalities at a gig limit what you can do. We play two sets so, I think I'm gonna try a little experiment at our next full gig. DI one set and mic the other and see if anyone notices! Thanks for the mic suggestions, I'll be trawling eBay for an AKG. Keep it low dudes!

(sic?) I'm sick of DI-ing! Every bleedin' gig - guitar cabs miked up - drums miked up - bass DI, grrrr I've got £££ worth of gear - why is there always an insistence of DI' ing the bass? Well, I've had enough - I'm never using Di again - if they've got an XLR cable, they can stick a mike on the end of it and enjoy the delights of a SVT3 and a BF S12 instead of a pre-EQ SVT3 lost in the mix somewhere. Now I've decided on this path of (self)righteousness - what do the BC fathful consider the best mic for the job?

Love that! Nice job mate!