Bigwan

Have someone who knows electronics service it or replace it with something better. I think contacting Fender over this may be a total waste of time... It's probably a fairly generic circuit. As a starting point have a look at any electrolytic capacitors on the board - if they look gunky they're probably shot and will need replacing. It's an age rather than amount of use thing. I had that problem with my Wal preamp, with similar sounding effect.

Yes that seems to be the way Ashdown have been working from the start! I'm not knocking the designs - I've used an ABM for 10 years - but there seems to be what might be called a familiar thread running through their range... Others might might say that that thread looks more like the titanic's mooring ropes...

The SB14 (modelled on the EB Sterling) also has the series/single/parallel switch, which I found very handy on the Stingray 5 I once had. I believe the EB Sterling has a slimmer neck profile than a 'Ray, but whether that's the case with these I'm not sure. Different pickup in those 2 basses too (ceramic in SB14 vs alnico in Ray34). Not sure what you're referring to with the maple neck as they are both available with maple neck? Also different body shapes...

[quote name='walbassist' timestamp='1333088484' post='1597068'] And I shot this one for the LB30 yesterday... [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjuLMqgk4Qk"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjuLMqgk4Qk[/url] [/quote] Good job once again Gareth! Bizarrely Ashdown have just posted the worst demo video I've ever heard for the same amp...

Sure thing: [url="http://www.tech-soundsystems.de/eng/12er/412.html"]http://www.tech-soundsystems.de/eng/12er/412.html[/url] Only 13lbs heavier than my GS112 (a cab you have experience of too I believe).

Like this for example (no affiliation with seller - just an example of how far your money can go): [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/171780-trace-elliot-2-x-10-gp12-smx-300w-bass-combo/page__hl__bristol__fromsearch__1"]http://basschat.co.u...__fromsearch__1[/url]

I wouldn't waster your time with the 15 watt practice amp against a guitarist, let alone a drummer! I've struggled with more than 100 watts in that sort of setting in the past. 200 odd quid should get you something more substantial than the EB on the 2nd hand market. You're getting into 300 watt trace elliot/Ashdown MAG combo territory there! Reading back through 3 or 4 pages of for sale ads on here you could put together a rig that'd do everything you're ever likely to need (until GAS sets in) for about the same money as a small combo with a fairly limited ability (in my opinion - your mileage may vary!). Check gumtree/local ads too. There are bargains to be had EVERYWHERE, especially if you're willing to go with something a little older than the current fad. Good example is a friend of mine bought a trace 300 watt head, 2x10 and compact 1x15 for under £300 in really good condition. Sure it's heavy, but it's a fantastic sounding rig for very little money.

[quote name='Jesso' timestamp='1333040758' post='1596686'] Sorry, Ballymena! Just checked yer profile! [/quote] Yeah not that far away as I say... and you could hire out your rig for knocking down walls when you weren't using it! The 4x12's awesomeness is much more than I currently require!

[quote name='walbassist' timestamp='1333088484' post='1597068'] And I shot this one for the LB30 yesterday... [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjuLMqgk4Qk[/media] [/quote] Great! Now I can hear what the amp I bought 3 weeks ago sounds like... Only had a chance to plug it in once

The Ibanez ATK series is always my top pick when I'm asked this question. Loved them since I A/Bed an ATK300 against 2 different 4 string Stingrays in GuitarGuitar Glasgow a few years ago. For a bass that's obviously a Stingray-a-like it beats the real thing into the dust in my book (and I've owned 4 Ernie Balls - Stingray 4 & 5 and Bongo HH 4 & 5). I bought a well used/abused ATK700 (the porno looking one in blue with the ugly double dot inlays), which plays great, for £150 and have since sold my last of Sterling Ball's wears... I plan to eventually strip it of its blue finish and cover the ugly inlays with some of those stick-on block inlays. Also really rate Farida and the Squier CV series.

It'll sound very similar to the Ashdown 550 spyder. Check the Ashdown youtube video demo. Gareth/Walbassist did one too. Same preamp but class D power amp.

How much more oomph do you need? I'm thinking of selling my Tech Soundsystems (now called tecamp) 4x12 (8 ohms), and would you look at that, you're not far away... Might be too much though...

[quote name='Gareth Hughes' timestamp='1332940725' post='1595173'] And oh yes - you're mad. (but that's nowt to do with the in-ears) [/quote] True G, I cannot deny it!

I should clarify that the in-ears would be for me only, using one of those wee 'more-me' mixers and that would be in addition to the LB rig (for everyone elses benefit).

Don't fall for the 'If I have a B I might as well have a C too' argument. For me that was a step too far and as a result I have a very nice ornamental Shuker 6 hanging on my wall. Just can't make the transition at all. OK for a little blast now and again, but I wouldn't ever dream of gigging with it! If you need a 6 string you wouldn't think like that, you'd just need it, full stop. Bongo HHs are great sounding basses. I've owned both 4 and 5 strings (as with all MM basses I can't get along with the neck shape and I've tried on 4 different occasions) and if I could get one with the same shape neck as my J or P bass then I'd probably have it. The colour thing is down to you - I've never bought a bass based on colour, my thinking being that I won't notice the colour when I'm playing it, and I don't spend much time admiring it when I'm not playing it. That being said there are colours I wouldn't buy...

This may just be a passing phase (and goodness knows I have enough o those), but I'm considering getting rid of most of my amps and cabs and going with a Sansamp VT bass and wired in-ears and putting together a half decent PA. I don't really want to play uncontrollable volume wars any more, and according to my wife my hearing is getting pretty bad (although I think she mumbles to be honest)! I have the 'big rig' (Terror Bass and Tech Soundsystems 4x12) for when I occasionally have to compete with 2 guitarists with half stacks in the rock/metal band I play with sometimes. Last time I played with these guys I couldn't get my rig to the rehearsal space and ended up using a Laney 1x15 combo. I couldn't hear myself (apparently 300 watts), but the rest of the guys didn't even notice the change of gear... The small rig (Terror Bass/Ashdown Combo and Aguilar 1x12) gets quite a bit more use, but I've recently acquired an Ashdown LB30/LB212 stack which could do the job there and I wouldn't want to go much louder than that. And a PA could be VERY handy for my current little cover band (which is currently begging and borrowing PA gear) and anything else I want to put together in future - thinking of a DIY BFM SLA Pro/Titan39 rig with a powered mixer and separate sub amp. My thinking being if I needed more of a bass rig than the Ashdown setup then I could take one side of the PA along instead... Someone tell me I'm mad...

True bypass looper. Just a separate box with a switch...

Anthony Ackson uses the Meyer Sound CQ-1 powered full range speaker (1x15 + 4" compression horn) - $8450... EACH!!!

Try an Orange Terror Bass with your current cab (or with cab and speaker in your combo if possible) just to be sure it's the cabs that are the problem. I'm not a fan of TE stuff, but never found them to be particularly quiet. I was absolutely blown away with the volume on tap with the Orange (and the guitarist and drummer had to leave the room when I cranked it up - they felt physically sick) although I'm using a VERY efficient Tech Soundsystems 4x12...

Something involving meyer sound cabs I would say!

[quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1332492978' post='1588964'] Score! [/quote] Yeah but it's [size=5]HUGE!!![/size]

Without doubt I'd go for a good envelope filter. I've been buying lots of effects lately and the envelope filter is the one I'm having the most fun with (I ended up with an EHX Qtron, the big one - £50 off ebay). Octave pedals are good, but I know at 16 I wouldn't have enjoyed one as it involves too much modification of my technique - have to play cleaner and not use chords. Another option would be something like the soundblox multiwave bass distortion. Distortion and fuzz galore and some of the more wacky settings sound very synthy which could be useful for his funk band. Good luck and let us know how you get on!

Just received an MXR Octave pedal from Pablo. Great transaction and super fast delivery! Deal with confidence!