neepheid

The HA3500 is a fantastic head. I'm really bad a describing sound, but it always seemed really "precise" in the sense that you feel that you're getting out what you put in. Modern sounding but without being soulless. I don't know how much good that single valve preamp does over purely solid state, but I always used mine 75% valve, 25% SS without really questioning why. The only reason I don't use mine any more is that I've downsized and upscaled at the same time (smaller, lighter unit, but more power) as a consequence of buying what started out as a purchase for a particular type of gig rapidly turning into something approaching a panacea (combo with removable head). But I won't have a bad word said against the HA3500 - the sound with all the controls flat is great (something its usurper can't claim!) and it doesn't take much twiddling to get what you want. If you present it with a 4 ohm cab (or cabs adding up to 4 ohms) then you'll have plenty grunt for a good while. Can't tell you anything about the cabs though, never tried one.

Nice job. I would just like to clarify that I know very well what the EMG-HB sounds like, I was referring to the other two as having no knowledge. The EMG-HB is an EMG-35P4 in a guitar humbucker sized enclosure, so it's basically 2 split rails in a P bass configuration. It's loud, if somewhat clean, modern and to people who prefer the passive way of life, probably a bit sterile and lacking in grit/growl/inexactness. It certainly kicks butt in terms of output across the frequency spectrum, but it won't sound anything like any Thunderbird out there (except possibly the Epi Pro T-bird which I have tried - the EMG guts blow that out of the water but take the "activeness" of the sound that bit further). If you don't want it to sound anything like a Thunderbird should then go for it. I wasn't looking to make my Les Paul sound like anything other than a great bass - which it was, and I kinda miss it. You should have seen the looks of disgust on my bass playing peers at my Les Paul (yuck, that looks like a guitar) turn to first surprise and then happiness when they actually had a go of it

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1339936972' post='1696437'] The scary side of active basses that don't have a passive option. [/quote] Indeed, I only have one purely active bass now (RD Artist) and due to its ridiculous complexity if it breaks then I reckon I'll have to take it to the electrical engineering department at my work or cry or probably both

Epiphone Newport, I think. [url="http://www.flyguitars.com/epiphone/bass/1965EpiphoneNewport.php"]http://www.flyguitars.com/epiphone/bass/1965EpiphoneNewport.php[/url]

Tried a 5 string OLP MM3 - didn't get along with it probably due to the tight string spacing. Also I don't really play things that require a note lower than E1 and changing the "home" position for my right thumb throws me off too. Bah humbug. I might get on better with one with wider spacing, but I've felt no desire or requirement to try. Also, Gibson make precious few 5 string basses, and I don't think I like any of them.

While it's not possible to accurately measure (or even accurately define) the effect that a certain type of wood will have on the final sound of an electric bass, I'd be surprised if it amounted to 10% - and I'm being generous because it is an unknown quantity and I don't want to put anyone's nose out of joint. Far be it from me to say that anyone is wrong to do so but personally speaking I do not care for the endless, cyclic "discussions" about the minute details of the effects that different woods may or may not have on the sound of a bass. It is as much background noise to me as the effects would be statistical noise, if they ever could be measured - especially when one considers the fact that different cuts of wood even from the same tree never mind the same species won't be exactly the same at a molecular level. It's like nailing jelly to a wall.

Just do it. If you're capable of playing along with your OH then you're good enough to play along with others - and if you're not, the adrenaline and determination to succeed will kick in and you will very quickly be good enough (then be looking around for your next challenge).

I got my RD Artist last September for a smidge under £1100 delivered. And if I had the cash to splash then I'd have an original RD Standard to accompany my Artist, not one of these.

If you can find 'em...

I don't find threads like this are particularly helpful or healthy. You're entitled to consider it banter, just as I'm entitled to consider it bitter, cat-calling nonsense.

Here is my BB family (soon to be broken up though - BB614's for sale) A 1986 BB300 and a 2005 BB614 -

If someone says something nice to you it seems only sensible to thank them - regardless of whether or not you agree with them. File under "mmm, this is delicious" and "thank you for the lovely gift, you really shouldn't have". I always thank them for the compliment and thank them for coming and say how glad I am they enjoyed the show. If it's an actual bass player you sometimes get into a chinwag about gear etc. which is always good fun. I may not be the world's best bass player (and don't suppose I ever will), but at that particular point in time I was the best bass player playing on that stage

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1339498252' post='1689236'] And you know mine. We still on for a wee A/B sesh tha morn? [/quote] Aye, sounds good. See you about quarter past 12?

No pressure: (photo taken from Fly Guitars website - [url="http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/RDartist_techinfo.php"]http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/RDartist_techinfo.php[/url])

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1339497426' post='1689210'] Oh aye? Spill the beans. .... or is it the one I already know about? [/quote] Nothing to tell, you know of all my recent and in-progress transactions

Was it this? http://basschat.co.uk/topic/35505-advantages-of-an-18v-pre-amp/

[quote name='Leon Transaxle' timestamp='1339279526' post='1686399'] Nice job. Where did you get the scratchplate from? [/quote] I think I got it from the states on eBay.

I'd be tempted to try and rescue that if I wasn't about to buy other stuff.

I replaced one with a lipstick strat pickup (whichever one was wound the most), looked really neat and sounded pretty good too: And most recently, had a Fender single coil P pickup put in one.

Another thumbs-up for the HA3500. Used one for a few years with an 8ohm Ashdown ABM410T and then moved to a 4ohm Zoot ZB410. Excellent results with both, but the Zoot is slightly over half the weight of the Ashdown