Bigwan

[quote name='Alien' post='270165' date='Aug 26 2008, 12:41 PM']I assume you did this upgrade by changing the speaker for a 4 Ohm one? If the new speaker had more sensitivity (even a couple of dB) then it will sound louder. Also, you get more dB's if the speaker is running in an undersize box - at the expense of lows. Andy[/quote] Nope... electrickery all the way!

I always bought into the whole "an extra 200 watts won't make any real difference" theory... until I modded my Ashdown ABM combo (from 300 watts to 500 watts). I don't give a monkeys what anybody says - it made a difference!

I've heard of them but they're not really well known. Apparently he also makes replacement pickups for the Ibanez ATK...

[quote name='ped' post='265353' date='Aug 19 2008, 12:01 PM']Mine is basically what I have now, but in a case that I am having made, with a couple of additions. To wit: Vigier basses > Roland Vbass > Line6 pod XT pro > out to IEMs and mixer/PA (Would maybe add a rack tuner and rack mixer) In a case that looks something like this- not a very good picture but when closed up the unit will only be about up to my knee: It will be light and easy to move and cater for my IEM addiction and be excellent for live and studio work. There is a place in Witney, Oxfordshire who I am discussing the case with. It will be made of quite lightweight stuff in flight case stylee. I only adjust the Vbass when mucking about as I can switch between patches and perform basic parameter changes from my bass, so having it up higher will be great. The pod I never really touch as the main setting I have spent so long getting is just amazing so now it functions as a pre-amp basically. Cheers ped[/quote] Hey Ped, Wouldn't it be cheaper to adapt one of these than have something built from scratch?: [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/6u_l_racks.html"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/6u_l_racks.html[/url]

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='264539' date='Aug 18 2008, 01:33 PM']Glad it worked out! Apart from the singer, can any of the band sing a bit...? Just wonderin'...[/quote] Cheers mate! Actually I'd say he's the weakest singer of us all. But I've never learned to sing and play at the same time (maybe time to start! Not great at harmonies either) and the other guys don't want to sing lead full time (fewer voices to harmonise then). The drummer's the best singer of us all. I'm not sure what the other guys are thinking about the whole situation, but I was aware long before the gig that the singer was weak, just didn't expect him to be pissed and abusive too...

Mine could have been worse I suppose... [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=25697"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=25697[/url]

Cheers guys. Was quite pleased with how things went, other than the PA and singer. I've spoken to our drummer since the gig (he's 'the boss') and he's of the same opinion as me. Singer needs a talking to. Also was very complimentary about my playing under the circumstances. I've talked to a few people who were there watching and they've given me a few pointers on songs that didn't suit us or didn't suit the voice of the person singing so there's a few things for us to work on. Funny how the pressure of the situation makes you panic though. Was just thinking this morning that since the mixer hadn't totally died (aux sends to the monitors still worked but the main mixer outputs didn't) that we should have run an aux out into the power amp and FOH and kept the monitors on stage. Oh well. I'll know for again! Every day's a school day...

Eventful gig... First off the place was a terrible layout. 2 separate stages, both small, about 15 feet apart, separated by a walkway from the dancefloor to the restaurant. 1 stage for the drummer, another for the rest of us (2 guitarists and me). Literally if I'd stepped back I'd have been sitting on the PA desk. Whole PA crapped out 7 songs in (not my fault - I didn't step back!). After 10 minutes of fiddling with everything we could think of (and chewing the balls off the guitarist who didn't bring his spare powered desk like he was instructed to do) we muddled on by using our active monitors as the PA and turning guitar and bass amps up to 11. Funny thing was none of the punters noticed. They just thought we were having a break! Unfortunately it played with our heads a bit as I couldn't hear the drummer at all (I was standing right next to my bass amp and the guitar amp and he's not a heavy hitter). Ever tried to keep time with a drummer you can't hear? Interesting experience... Pity, since with the monitors on stage and the PA pumping we sounded better than we ever have! Positives: The manager of the place wants us back again. My bass rig is smaller than I thought I could ever get away with and sounds awesome! (Ashdown ABM 1x10 combo into an Aguilar GS112) My nerves should be fine from now on if we can get through a night like that! Drummer and guitarists singing was top notch (they take lead vocals in about half the songs overall) Negatives: The singer needs a total dressing down (called someone he knew in the croud a c*nt over the PA, got more drunk and generally unprofessional as the night wore on, couldn't sing for toffee, also progressively worse as the night wore on - although probably because he was straining his voice as he couldn't hear what was going on). Also disappeared when it was time to load-up the van... The whole PA experience has made me even more sure I want to go with in ear monitors...

My first gig with my new band is tonight. All covers - my first all covers band that's made it as far as gigging. The nerves are made worse by the fact that a lot of the punters will be people I know. I've always found it more nerve-racking to play in front of people I know than to play to total strangers. How do you handle gig nerves or do you eventually get over them the more you play?

Just bought a Bongo 5HH from dougal. Great guy to deal with. Fast shipping. Recommended!

[quote name='eude' post='262190' date='Aug 14 2008, 09:24 AM']Holy crap! That looks good enough to eat! You must be stoked... Are you getting an adjustable ramp like on Dood's Doodle too? Cheers, Eude[/quote] Totally chuffed with how it looks. My only concern is that I haven't seen the maple fingerboard in detail yet, but I trust Jon's judgement as far as wood goes. Yes the ramp is the same idea as on 'The Doodle', the idea being it'll feel like one big pickup to rest my thumb on.

Things have been a bit quiet lately on this, but Jon sent me some pics last night. Took my breath away when I opened them! [attachment=12105:DSCN4951.jpg][attachment=12106:DSCN4954.jpg] Jon's having a week off next week and should be completing this one the week after that, which'll make it 42 weeks total build (quoted 12 - 20 weeks when I ordered). I'm in no hurry or I would have been a bit more annoyed about the delay, but these pics make up for quite a few of those weeks!

My shuker build was quoted as 12 - 20 weeks. It's now 39 and counting. Good job I'm not in a hurry...

[attachment=12071:13082008052.jpg][attachment=12072:13082008053.jpg][attachment=12073:13082008054.jp g][attachment=12074:13082008055.jpg][attachment=12075:13082008056.jpg][attachment=12076:13082008057.j pg][attachment=12077:13082008059.jpg][attachment=12078:13082008061.jpg][attachment=12079:13082008062. jpg]

The look is really growing on me actually. I think it's easier since mine is a subdued colour. Perhaps if it was desert orange it would be more difficult to love it! The white pickguard on that bongo 6hs really does make it look like a loo seat though!

I've already added a Bongo 4HS to my 'wanted' list. Would give me a bit more room to slap with my dodgy technique!

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='260796' date='Aug 12 2008, 01:22 PM']But do they work better than GK cabs with a GK amp, or Hartke Cabs with Hartke amp?[/quote] People seem to think there is some kind of synergy when you use amps and cabs of the same manufacturer together... I think that's total nonsense myself. Historically GK amps and Hartke cabs seem to be a combination people like. Whether that's for you or not will depend on your ear. Try before you buy if you can. If you can't then read as many varying reviews as possible (until you can see the actual trend and can weed out the "I've only had it a week, but it's so good I'll never sell it" guys and the "I'm only playing this because Fieldy/Flea/Victor/Marcus does" guys). Some of us don't get the chance to try quality bass gear before making decisions...

Have to say that a pair of DB112s in black and silver with a chrome ashdown ABM head would look altogether sexual!

GS came first. Been around for a fair few years and has won 1x12 shootouts galore. Some say it's a little mid-shy, but I don't hear that in mine. I'll be buying a second one one of these days. They are quite big (deep) for a 1x12. The DB is slightly larger and constructed from different wood, apparently adding more mids to the sound. Same actual driver as the GS. A different cab finish (vinyl rather than carpet). Better looking cab - very retro. Similar weight. If I hadn't already got a GS I'd go for a DB, but since I got a GS second hand then I'll stick with them.

[quote name='bassman2790' post='260464' date='Aug 11 2008, 11:24 PM']- it is![/quote] Yes it is a bit, but I don't have to look at it when I'm playing it!

Received myself a Bongo 5HH in the post this morning from our very own Dougal. Had it out to band practice tonight. WHAT A BASS!!! Preamp flat, pickup pan pot centred - Best sounding bass right off the bat that I've ever heard. Fat, punchy, buttery. Haven't had a chance to play much with the preamp yet but I think things can only get better! Also the best sounding B string I've heard in many a year. And no noise/hum whatsoever, no matter where I stand in relation to my amp. Fantastic! Only misgivings I have so far are over the string spacing which is a wee bit tight for me, but for this sound I can get over that. Having owned quite a few different basses in my time I can say the following: 1). If you yearn for a Wal (been there, done that), but can't stump up the cash - this is the bass for you. 2). If you want a fatter stingray tone - this is the bass for you. I LOVE IT!!! EVERYONE SHOULD TRY ONE RIGHT NOW!