Bigwan

[quote name='devnulljp' timestamp='1395988620' post='2408620'] Can't go wrongwith a 77 Aria Pro II -- an SB1000, 900, or 700. Great basses, and can be had for decent prices. I played an SB700 for years til it was stolen. [/quote] From what I can see there's a fairly fundamental flaw in that plan... They weren't introduced until '78, otherwise they'd be fairly high on my list.

[quote name='skej21' timestamp='1395909226' post='2407741'] Zac brown is great! He is really pushing a band on his record label who I actually prefer: Blackberry Smoke. Their whole live show. 'Live at Georgia theatre' is on YouTube. Check it out, I think you'll like it [/quote] Thanks for the pointer! Off to YouTube I go...

I've owned most of the basses I once coveted (Wal, Warwick, Lakland, Dingwall)... And sold them. The only ones I still want (60's Fenders mostly) are financially out of reach for the time being. I like the idea of a YOB bass so that's my next planned purchase. Liking the look of Yamaha and Kramer so far from what folk have suggested. Now if I could find a '77 BB1200, or SB1200 (don't think I've EVER seen one of those for sale) I'd be a happy camper. There are quite a few Kramers about it would seem, but they wouldn't all float my boat!

Yeah stick to the smaller stuff nowadays myself - did go to o2 Dublin a few weeks back and was BLOWN AWAY by Zac Brown... Stevie Wonder in the same venue a few years previous was a disappointment so it may be the act as much as the venue...

[quote name='barneyg42' timestamp='1395829702' post='2406721'] Our singer seems to have got it in her head [/quote] There's your problem right there.... Bloody singers... It's highly unlikely that bass would cause this even if the PA was cranked and, as already mentioned, the speakers would complain first.

[quote name='Fredde' timestamp='1395751381' post='2405751'] The redesign is mostly because I think the distortion of the push-pull triode when overdriven is a bit harsh and sudden. I want to try how a real power tube sounds at the output. Maybe we should move this discussion to some other thread, I'm starting to feel a bit like a hi-jacker... [/quote] Build Diaries forum one below this one? Please keep us posted!

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1395824646' post='2406647'] Keep this coming folks, a nice list of basses for me to avoid - I need room for my sausage fingers to blunder their way around the strings. [/quote] Same here - 19mm all the way! I find Ibanez 5 string spacings unplayably tight (except on the BTB series) so they might be worth a look.

Kramer look really good (and I've actually had hands on one and liked it as I recall). Travis Bean and Alembic are financially out of reach. Really like the Yamaha but they're pretty hard to find and date. There's some other very nice Japanese stuff to consider too. Hadn't considered Shergold but I'll have a look. When all's said and done a non-original Fender that needs TLC would probably be in reach! Cheers guys!

[quote name='Fredde' timestamp='1395749955' post='2405723'] No problem with the bass response, I usually keep the bass dial at around 50% and that's plenty for me. Bass frequency cutoff figures for transformers (and speakers etc.) are not very informative as they only tell the frequency at which the curve starts dropping, not how steep the drop is. But I will have to replace the transformer anyway whe I go for the 6L6 single ended design, and the planned trafo (Hammond 1760C) has a low cutoff of 70Hz. [/quote] Yeah that's what I wondered - did the response drop like a stone below 100Hz or not. Thanks for answering that! What's prompting the 6L6 redesign, if you don't mind me asking? I'd considered a cathode-biased 18 watt push-pull output for my own design with a suitable dummy load that was defeatable so you could use the pre for practice.

[quote name='Fredde' timestamp='1395688891' post='2405166'] Thanks! The preamp is a fairly common design found in lots of amps (the Alembic F2-B for one). The only uncommon thing is the rotary-switched mid capacitor (straight copy from a Weber Amp Kit schematic, probably a copy from something else), a very nice feature to have in a bass amp. The small power stage idea is not my invention, but it doesn't seem to be very common. I chose this approach as I wanted a tube head sound (which includes the power stage and output trafo), but no way I'm going to pay for and haul around an all-tube head with enough power to drive the fEARful cab. I'm still experimenting, and as I said, I'm going to redesign the power section for a 6L6gc and see how that works out. [/quote] Brilliant work! Been in the planning stages for a DIY preamp for a LONG time myself, and this is something I'd considered. The specs of the Hammond transformers put me off though - do you find they produce enough bass? The specs suggest they're very much guitar orientated with a low frequency cutoff of around 100Hz.

Actually that's not a bad shout... Keep em coming!

Don't want to make it too easy for you!

It's getting to that time where I'd like to get my hands on a YOB bass before the prices get astronomical. Obviously there's Fender to consider, although their prices may be beyond me at the minute, but what else is there out there? I know there is a wealth of rubbish but I'm thinking more along the lines of Yamaha BB1200 and the like. Caveats: I don't do Ricks, Gibsons or Stingrays or clones thereof... Thought I'd it cracked straight out of the gate when I was offered an Ibanez MC800 yesterday in minty fresh condition, but alas it's 79 and production only started in 78...

[quote name='No lust in Jazz' timestamp='1395360513' post='2401714'] [/quote] Someone pass me a towel...

New country is much closer to rock than what I would class country - especially live. You want to see a rocking live show? Lady Antebellum in a small venue. Best all round show I've seen. So says the former death metal head...

I was at C2C Dublin Friday and Saturday. Agree Zac Brown Band stole the show/weekend. Superb in every way! One of the best live performances I've seen and an absolutely brilliant band. Weird costume segue, fly covers dropped into the middle of his own tunes and a full on cover of Enter Sandman that even had the olds in the crowd jumping! Will definitely be going to see them again... Wasn't so impressed with Dierks Bentley or the Dixie Chicks. Both a bit meh. Knew nothing of DB beforehand so no loss there, but really disappointed by the Dixie Chicks (although more for the wife who's a fan). No Martina McBride in Dublin... Or pop-up stages... Or any of the festival type stuff London got... Saturday we missed Chris Young (opted to watch Ireland v France in the pub instead - we were in Dublin! On the day most locals seem to do Paddy's day. It's the rules!). Caught the majority of the band perry. Much more meh than Friday's offering - total non-entity... Why do 'band' members feel the need to pretend to play instruments? I have a twenty that says brother Perry's mandolin wasn't even plugged in! Rascal Flatts were great with some really tasty bass going on. Brad Paisley also great, although he seemed a bit out of sorts - in ears gave him gip all night which knocked his vocals a bit. Didn't effect his guitar playing one bit!

I'm assuming this uses a Marshall/Fender style tonestack? Perhaps a baxandall/james tonestack might be an interesting option. Also 6SL7 preamp sections seem to be enjoying a bit of a revival at the minute. A transformer driven DI would be a nice option too.

Flip a coin...