Bigwan

"Doing up" your current bass will not typically increase its value should you come to sell it (unless you remove the upgrades and sell separately), despite what some folks around here seem to think If you found an Ibanez at the right price I'd go for that instead if I were you...

I don't accept that at all, and neither should anyone else. The Q-strip is £143 more expensive here than in the states. Let that sink in for a minute because 250 and 320 look pretty close until you actually do the conversion. £143...

Both of those are interesting but you can straight convert those prices to £ and add a bit. Take the Tech 21 q-strip as an example - $250 on Sweetwater in the USA. £320 in the UK. Won't buy any new Tech 21 products while that's the case, and US outlets aren't permitted to ship to the UK.

Having just had a nosey at the aforementioned schematics, there is a valve section AFTER the effects return and DI output (just before the signal is sent to power amp) so you might want to try swapping valves before you go further.

Well there's obviously mains voltage in there that would have to be exposed to properly diagnose any issue so safer taking it to someone qualified. But it could be something relatively minor (he says setting himself up for a fall!).

I know early OTB500s suffered from an issue with capacitors becoming unseated on the power supply board which might be related, but it really could be any number of things. A single dodgy resistor would cause this and that's a 2p component! You mention that the problem persists when you plug into the effects return, but is it present on the effects send too? Maybe try a line out to something else. What about the DI out? All this info could help diagnose the issue. But yes, if you don't know one end of a soldering iron from another or don't know what an oscilloscope is, take it to a professional. By the way, if you (or anybody else) has need of the schematics for the Orange Terror 500 I have them.

Just been reading Julian Pohler's blog post on bassic.de. He's working on the new version of the Growling Krizzly. Given his recent run of form there'll likely be a CNC milled enclosure if he releases it as a kit (features: BB footprint, screwed-in potentiometers, top mount sockets, adjustable Contour + Freq switch (500 / 800Hz), adjustable presence, + 15dB boost for the jack-out, permanently active DI - see it here: https://www.bassic.de/threads/lazarus-bastel-blog.14857964/page-26 ). I'd be interested in building one of these myself!

I've just started browsing for pickups for my future PJ build... These sound pretty close to perfect for me. Thanks for taking the time to jot down your thoughts @Raslee!

The Le Bass will also work off 9v as I found out when I bought mine (used) and it came with an 18v supply... I suspect it's not sounding its best at 9v, but it still sounds killer. Alas GAS for a helix has me in its grip so mine may also be going up for sale soon...

Would be awesome if it worked well...

What's your budget @modular? I'm sure you're well aware from your Warwick experiences that the basses you mentioned will be superb for somebody, just not necessarily for you! Personally I don't think you can go wrong with ANY Lakland if you're sticking to that list... My recommendation would be to try as many out in person as you can... and keep an eye out for a used ACG...

And all with 1 picking finger...

That's Paul Turner's Alleva Coppolo. Olympic white, so just the lighting giving the impression it's yellow... and boy can he play it!

Regarding your electrical problems I'd suggest having a tech replace all the electrolytic caps on the preamp PCBs. If you look at the circuit boards you may notice that there are components leaking a greenish substance, looks a bit like what you get from a leaking AA battery. Very simple job and only takes a few minutes for somebody handy with a soldering iron.

Now if they'd just get with the program and do an MIM version of that 60's P bass then we'd (I'd) be happy...

Last rehearsal room I was in had a Fender Rumble 1x15 100 combo, the v2 version. I was very impressed with it.

I'd be straight on to Alan at ACG...

There was somebody on the Barefaced facebook group selling a '69er (the cab you naughty lot!) for £650 the other day if I recall correctly...

My first thought was Line 6 Helix - I believe you can import 3rd party cabinet impulses if the Helix cabs don't do it for you. If it doesn't sound as good to you as the as the MXR maybe you should stick with the MXR and stop worrying! Law of diminishing returns and all that.

Have all the bits sitting waiting... Just real life getting in the way!

I have done in the past... But that Growling Krizzly DLX looks like quite the undertaking!!! EDIT: I should point out there's nothing about the electronics side of such a build that I would find daunting in the least! It's the enclosure drilling and application of decals that would have me quaking in my boots...

Do I even want to look near this thread since my Burman is still in a state of disrepair...

Very nice and not a bad price considering... 300 quid less than Ashdown's CTM100...