grandad

Question - Was it worth the £88? Well first impressions are yes. The increase in weight is noticeable as were the increase in low-end response and loudness. I think it's warmer and fuller on the bass notes. The high-end response seems about the same to me but my ears are old and I dip the mids a bit. I would equate the loudness now to about the same as my old Roland CB100 which I gigged with for some years. I was impressed with the build quality of the cab which is sealed, lined with wadding and with evidence of sealant around. The cable form and connectors were well made. I now have a more powerful, reasonably lightweight amp with a small footprint. It's simple and has a built in tuner. Can't use an extension cab with it now but don't need to as the whole point of the modification is to realise the full power from just the one combo. I don't like to have my master gain much more than 12 o'clock on any amp. So my verdict is yes It was worth it for me, but I thought is was a good little amp anyway.

I was quite content with my amp until I read read this post: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/296736-sold-tc-electronic-bg250-208-with-2-new-fane-sovereign-8-225-and-original-speakers/page__fromsearch__1"]http://basschat.co.u...__fromsearch__1[/url] So I ordered 2 of these from Bluearan who delivered them the next day. [url="http://www.fane-international.com/downloads/Fane%20Sovereign%208225%20DS030513.pdf"]http://www.fane-inte...%20DS030513.pdf[/url] I fitted them last night. Straight forward swop. Litttle bit of a struggle to wiggle the spade connectors off. I gently used pliers to bend 2 tags outwards on the lower speaker to accommodate the thickness of the baffle. [attachment=234609:100_0298.JPG] On the upper speaker I disconnected the green and yellow leads to the Speakon extension speaker socket. [attachment=234610:100_0296.JPG] Had to pinch the spade connectors with a pair of snipe-nosed pliers to ensure good connections again. The weights are compared below. [attachment=234612:100_0295.JPG] Weight of each original speaker = 1439 gm = 3.173 lb New speakers = 2879 gm = 6.06 lb Increase in weight of amp = 1440 x 2 = 2880 gm = 6.4 lb

Congratulations, I'll be watching.

Welcome to BC.

[quote name='Zummerbass' timestamp='1481480097' post='3192601'] After a short scale hunting trip to a well known Exeter dealer my conclusions are- Gibson SG (used) quality build,decent action despite way too heavy strings.Ok sound,just expecting more (strings again?) Fender Mustang PJ, bad neck dive,good playability, weak J pickup. Gretsch Electromatic, very impressed. Decent build quality,very good neck. With both pickups on and tone slightly backed off the pick of the bunch.Cheapest here and for me the best. Only one problem. They can only get it in black. Aggghh! Really don't want another black bass.Got to be sunburst. [/quote] In my quest through various SS's I bought one of these. Agree with you, comfortable neck, not too narrow and nice old-school thump. The sunburst is the better looking. I was going to rewire it a la Jazz, (V V T). Often think I should have kept it. Build quality was pretty good.

[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1481413062' post='3192194'] I read that article, and it contains a very obvious [i]non sequitur[/i]: '... [color=#000000][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][size=4]when you string up a short scale set that was originally meant for long scale, the balance goes completely out, resulting in overtones.[/size][/font][/color]' The last statement [i]does not follow[/i] from the first. Neither does it accord with my experience of using Chromes on short-scales. So don't panic! [/quote] Agreed. I don't seem to have encountered any of the problems highlighted in this article. I just posted it out of interest. It would appear that overtones are not necessarily a bad thing: [url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overtone"]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overtone[/url]

[url="http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/strings-c1/bass-guitar-strings-sets-c34/la-bella-760f-mus-stainless-steel-flat-wound-30-scale-fender-mustang-bass-p9677"]http://www.stringsdi...tang-bass-p9677[/url] Changed to these due to it being a string thru' bass. The silk at the ball end is longer. If other medium scale strings are used there is a kink on the wrap where it passes through the body and over the bridge plate. This is okay and shouldn't lead to any damage of the wrap if care is taken when restringing.

TCE BG250-208 with built in tuner = no hassle, 1 less thing to think about. Amps with built in tuners must surely become the norm' in future e.g. the new Peavey heads.

A while ago I helped a friend of a friend with some calculations involved in the Acoustics section of an OU music degree course . The published notes and workbooks were very good quality. I was impressed with the high standard.

[quote name='pineweasel' timestamp='1481190776' post='3190329'] Another interesting comparison: [url="http://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/the-tone-garage/flatwound-roundtable"]http://www.seymourdu...ound-roundtable[/url] [/quote] Thank you, that was an excellent review.

Maybe a BC Icon Award might be in order for members who have made a lasting impact on Basschat. I would second Blue for bringing The Beatles and Milwaukee to our attention. Many others are worthy I'm sure.

Thank you for that. After listening several times on headphones my old ears could only hear a very slight difference between them. How to describe the subtle variations I don't know. I'd say the D'Addario sounded brightest but not bright. The Fender and Rotosound were even/balanced. La Bella deep/soft. Thomastik were growly. Anyone else care to post a quick impression?

[quote name='Floyd Pepper' timestamp='1481130576' post='3189927'] Initial thoughts are very good. Fairly well balanced for a SS, quite a punchy tone (I have the active mahogany) with quite a bit of tonal variety through the pickup selector and the bass/treble cut /boost. Personally, I prefer the treble rolled off quite a bit. I am a fan of the pickup selector switch which gives me instant tone change between songs. Having moved from a medium scale passive bass, I'm still getting used to the 18mm string spacing (although I can see this being helpful when I get used to it) and the heavier gauge strings as I usually play 100 - 40 rather than 106-44 that come with it. [/quote] Thanks. This is my SS, bought on ebay 12mths since. It's my first and only maple fingerboard. The string spacing is pretty close and does take some getting used to. The tone control is quite effective for treble cut and the pickups powerful considering their small size. It's a simple guitar with a good finish all round and great value for money at <£300 new. [url="http://www.notreble.com/buzz/2011/08/26/squier-releases-vintage-modified-mustang-bass/"]http://www.notreble....d-mustang-bass/[/url] I had RS77M on it which I liked, tone and tension. When I discovered that La Bella did a special set for the Mustang I fitted them as I had wanted to try out La Bella's after the hype here and elsewhere. Are they worth the outlay? I'm in 2 minds. The action is pretty good now after a set up by Rockstar Guitars of Blackheath. The tension with the La Bella's is I think slightly less than the Rotosounds and the tone a tad less modern.

[quote name='Floyd Pepper' timestamp='1481109267' post='3189723'] Where are you based? I've just picked up a Scott Whitley SWB-1 Standard from ebay and it is very impressive so it might be worth keeping an eye out for one of those. Also, there appears to be a very nice Atelier SS in the classifieds here [/quote] I'm curious about the SWB-1. What's your thoughts so far?

"For artistes whose writing, recordings and performance have made a lasting impact on the nation's culture" I don't think so!

More info'. http://www.ghsstrings.com/pages/faq-bass D'Addario do a tension guide but to much information for me to process quickly. Just found this 'au contraire' article. http://menga.net/adventures-with-strings-on-a-short-scale-bass-guitar

[quote name='Numerov' timestamp='1481016224' post='3188907'] With a 30 inch short scale bass I assume there will be a fair drop of tension in the strings. Am I correct? If I'm correct what do short scale bass players do to overcome this? Thanks. [/quote] My 2 medium have D'Addario flats I think and the tension is certainly not loose. The Rotosound flats on the Viola were medium tension. The LaBella flats on the Mustang are slightly looser than the Rotosounds I had on previously. I think the core thickness/material is the main contender where tension is concerned, more so I've found than the gauge.

[quote name='Floyd Pepper' timestamp='1481012774' post='3188877'] I'm just starting out playing a short scale. I'd be keen to hear from those that mix playing long (medium) / short scale instruments as after having played a 34" jazz bass for most of my years, it's taking some concentration to get used to playing short scale (muscle memory, string spacing, string tension and overall body / bass position (when playing standing up)) It's not that it's uncomfortable or impossible, its just that its unusual and I find myself concentrating harder (more tense) when playing. I guess it's like all things that the more you practice, the more you get used to it but I'd be keen to hear from anyone that went through this process - did you keep swapping between medium and short scale or just stick with the SS for a while? [/quote] I swap between medium and SS without a problem. 34" now requires a conscious effort to move my LH whereas medium and SS require less LH shift. Each neck feels different and width/string spacing to me is the major 'feel' factor. It does take quite some time for me to get comfortable with the action and feel of a different neck and I still swap around between my instruments, some days preferring this one and then another day a different one. I mostly play my Mustang nowadays. I gave my Viola to my 14yr old grandson last month who seems to have taken a real interest in it. Quite a good light weight SS to start out on.

I'm afraid this thread est devenu moyen sur ma tete. So, as an amateur late-comer to bass, or any music making, I shall just continue to gain pleasure from my efforts, enjoy the company of some lovely fellow musicians, and slowly gather musical knowledge and theory as I go along. I'm sure some will wish me bon voyage.

"Believe it or not, we're a southern rock band " Now that's what I call good live music.

Snap. Great little amp.