Bigwan

[quote name='funnyfreddie' post='330286' date='Nov 16 2008, 09:25 PM']i like the ampeg steve, whats the model?[/quote] Usually referred to as "HOW MUCH!"

I'm more amazed by what I used to be able to play. When I was younger I played in a really technical death metal band. I listened to one of our demos for a laugh a while back and was shocked. I couldn't play the half of it any more, but then again I couldn't play the half of what I can now back then... That's about the most useless post I've ever made I think...

Band - the only way. I joined a gigging covers band a while back and have never played as much. It's true that lots of it is music I wouldn't listen to myself, but that's not the point. It's got me playing. Gigs are the ultimate learning experience!

I have an Ashdown ABM C110 combo (rediculous for home use, but you don't have to turn it up that loud!) which looks quite pretty. It's one of the early ones with grill cloth rather than a metal grill, so looks more retro than the current combos. I gig with it at the minute, but I'm thinking of hunting down a replacement head and keeping the combo at home...

'A long time' you can take with a grain of salt... yes Jon can be unrealistic with his quoted build time. But he's not in the same league, build time-wise, as say Martin Peterson/Sei (I believe the wait for Sei is more than a year now). It's pretty well known if Jon gives you a build time double the highest number he's given you. But the result is well worth the wait. I'm totally chuffed with what he built for me. He's also relatively inexpensive.

[quote name='bassmandan' post='327616' date='Nov 12 2008, 02:17 PM']I was about to suggest this... but the phrase 'easy on guitar' in the suject heading made me reconsider if you can encourage your guitarist to put in the time however, there's an awesome repertoire to work at there (have you heard 'Where The Light Is' yet Bigwan?)[/quote] The DVD should be in the post to me as we speak!

2nd hand is the only way to go so weigh-up what basses are in budget s/h and get out there and try a few to decide which style of bass best suits you. The new squiers seem great, and as somebody has already said the ATK is awesome for the money. I A/Bed with 2 Stingrays in Guitar Guitar (Glasgow). The Ibanez won hands down for me.

Some John Mayer Trio perhaps?

To me it seems this will please some yanks but I can't see it selling too much elsewhere. It's the total opposite of what the majority of bassists seem to want right now. The trend, as I see it, is towards smaller and lighter! Personally, and IMHO, I don't think Ashdown have released ANYTHING of interest since the original ABM series, and have made what I would consider to be some totally daft design choices in the past (who wants a 1000 watt amp that isn't really a 1000 watt amp? That one is still runnning!). They've given the ABM a facelift 4 times now, if you include the Klynstron series (what a rip off!). Some say there was an entire redesign along the way, but to me it sounds similar enough to be no different! The superfly series was a total disaster by all accounts and the seemingly mythical 'giant' series so far would seem like it's going the same way. Having said that they did get it pretty spot on with the ABM. Best amp I've ever played through for my requirements - I've flipped on an Aguilar AG500 and a Thunderfunk and kept my original ABM combo. *rant mode off* Funny I've never had any trouble with the rotary + slider eq... but then I normally leave the eq off and just use the shape, drive and occasionally octave. Never heard an amp that sounds as good for me. Really they could strip the ABM down to an input jack, gain, drive and volume and sell that in the 'giant' series shell and make a killing! There's loads of people who just want an amp with a 'louder' knob and noone, as yet, has given it to them!

Dave Perry's Status basses are very non typical with a rediculously girly 15mm string spacing! Only joking Dave! On a related note I'm considering selling my Bongo 5HH so pop me a pm if you're interested.

My Status 2000 arrived yesterday. I'm now even less concerned by the visual aspect after playing it with the band last night - it is awesome! A little too bright for me - I mean it's bright enough that with the preamp flat it would make Marcus Miller wince - but that's easily tamed with the preamp. An awesome bass.

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='322895' date='Nov 5 2008, 07:17 PM']Bigwan, you can run the 2000 series passive if it has the original preamp onboard. The toggle switch turns the preamp on and off on these earlier models. It's mainly the later three-band Status models that have the mid selector switch instead. Rich.[/quote] The bass in question doesn't have a switch, just 4 pots which I assume are volume/pan/bass/treble.

[quote name='woolleydick' post='322679' date='Nov 5 2008, 02:17 PM']Why not ask Rob to fit passive?[/quote] Well it's second-hand for a start. And I've never played one through my rig so I may be able to adjust elsewhere so the bass sounds right for what I do. If it doesn't 'do it' for me then I'll contact Rob about alternatives.

I'm awaiting the arrival of a Series 2000 Status at the minute so this thread is probably relevant to me. I've no feeling either way on what a headless looks like. It's all about practicalities for me. Small enough to a) fit in a standard guitar case/bag fit in the boot of my Skoda Fabia along with my rig c) allow my to turn around on the stage at one of our regular(-ish) gig venues without removing the head of my bass on a pillar/wall/guitarist. Also, being all graphite, it'll handle variations in temperature better than my other basses. Really a win-win siutuation for a covers band bassist. I am slightly concerned that it'll sound a little too 'ACTIVE', but I can live with that for a gigging bass. At worst I'll figure some way of replacing the pickups electronics with passive alternatives (I can hear cries of "BURN THE HERETIC!" from the Status lovers already!).

You're having a laugh aren't you! You're within 30 miles of London! If I find a really crap Fender in any shop within 50 miles then I'm doing well... dry your eyes... Seriously, I have had the same problem. I've started buying bits and pieces from here that I've always wanted to try. If I like it, I keep it (rare). If not I sell it on at the price it cost me, or trade it for something else of equal value. It costs me shipping each time but that's nothing compared to a travel to the nearest GOOD bass establishment (Camden again - and it's a LOT further for me than for you!). There are 3 rules you need to adhere to though - 1). Don't buy anything nobody else will be interested in or you'll be stuck with it if you don't like it. 2). Don't try to sell something for more than you bought it for the previous week - that just annoys people. 3). If you're shipping things PACK THEM WELL! Something broken in transit will ruin your run (and probably ruin someone elses day too)! For example Here's a recent spree experiment I had. I started by buying a; 1). Lakland Bob Glaub - liked it, but not enough to keep it so I traded it, plus some cash, a few weeks later for; 2). Fender Roscoe Beck V - a great bass. The chain should have stopped there, but i was GASing for a Stingray 4 (and it sounded similar to my Lakland JO4) so traded it with cash my way for; 3). Musicman Stingray - another bass I liked, but it didn't fit with my band so again it had to go. Sold it on added a little cash and bought; 4). Musicman Bongo 5HH - a really corking bass, but it's very 'ACTIVE' and I'm considering letting it go and going for another passive 5 string. Other than shipping, this little experiment cost me £100 in total on top of the first purchase by the time everything was evened out and that was over the space of 3-4 months. This is the sort of thing I have to resort to. Luckily I haven't had any lemons. All the above basses are top notch, just didn't fit my particular bill at the time.