JPJ

I had the BG500 2x10 combo which I didn't like, I couldn't get a tone out of it that didn't sound 'brittle' to my old ears. I've now got the BG250 208 combo and its great. Lovely warm sound, surprising loud for 2 x 8" speakers (I've upgraded to get the full 250 in 4 ohms) and so portable. Its ideal for rehearsals and acoustic style gigs. As someone else has already said, the SpectraComp toneprint adds a lot of warmth and girth to the overall tone so I'd also recommend this.

So the patient is on the operating table. Tuners have been disassembled, straightened, and reassembled onto the bass, and the neck & fingerboard have been block sanded to remove the old glue residue, and the fingerboard reattached. The glue recommends 24 hours in the clamps so I won't know until tomorrow afternoon whether this has been successful, so fingers crossed! [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/JPJ/media/6BD6E3EE-68A6-43FE-A3F9-D85C9B99A8E9_zps44ltc9vn.jpg.html][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v208/JPJ/6BD6E3EE-68A6-43FE-A3F9-D85C9B99A8E9_zps44ltc9vn.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[quote name='cameltoe' timestamp='1488497938' post='3249570'] Their online tracking is also so far behind the competition. It's almost non-existent. Have you seen DPD's? It tells me who my delivery driver is, where he is at that precise point in time, what number delivery he is making (i.e number 30 of 73), which number parcel is mine, and an incredibly accurate (in my experience, within a couple of minutes) expected delivery time. Sorry to hear about the breakage, and I hope something comes through for you to sort it. [/quote] Yes, DPD are pretty much leading the field in terms of tracking. Their app is good too :-)

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1488462096' post='3249156'] That's awful, and it's always a worry when you courier stuff. However, I can only speak as I find and I have used Parcelforce a number of times and had no issues. Maybe I have just been lucky? [/quote] In hindsight, I was 'pushing the envelop' a bit expecting them to safely carry something this large. The good news is a plan has been hatched for the repair and she should be back to pristine condition very soon (I hope so, as I wanted to use her at our Cluny gig on the 19th)!

Ooh nice result! The satin finish looks gorgeous, there is something undeniably more 'expensive' looking about satin finishes, to me anyway. Nice accident with the Stingray sounding neck pickup, but that has reminded me that I really need to complete my own Status graphite necked blingray build As I find myself playing my fretless more and more these days out of choice not necessity, I'll be interested to hear how build no2 turns out.

Stagg do a good folding stool that I've used for sitty down acoustic gigs I think I got mine from Thomann? http://www.staggmusic.com/en/products/view/MT300BK

That was the issue, I could get to the support page, but no open tickets. I guess this is because I requested support via email before registering on my.presonus.com Mind having said that, the other comments about the app still stand

I went to the app store to look at Notion but Progression seemed to be more applicable for what I needed. Avoid this app, its buggy, the registration tool for the 'free' ebass option doesn't function, you will receive an error message from your iPad saying the developer needs to update the app or it may slow down your iPad (a sign of an abandoned app) and Presonus' technical support is a joke. I emailed them about the problem, the emailed back with links to a support ticket with "updated information" on their support site. Click on the link, and you are required to register. Registration completed, and guess what, no open support tickets nor anyway of finding the ticket they say they have created. At that point I gave up and processed a cancelation via iTunes.

Lots of chat on the Behringer x-air forum about this, and one guy even offering to build a custom footswitch which will issue the necessary midi command. However, there is currently no 'out of the box' solution available for switching one of the four effects processors in/out of signal chain be it on insert or bus mode.

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1488042371' post='3245345'] Regrettably I think the first assumption you need to make when packing anything is; assume it will be dropped as a direct hit on it's most vulnerable side/corner/edge... more than once. All that said; good luck in getting it fixed. PS - I know packing wasn't in the OP's area of control. 2nd rule - read the small print. There's no point in paying the insurance cover against risk of damage, if the small print says "all instruments must be in a flight-case", and you didn't pack it in a flight case. [/quote] To be fair to the Seller, he had done an excellent job of packing the bass, and there wasn't a mark on the box to suggest the damage that lay within. Let's see how far we get on pursuing a claim against ParcelFarce. My local luthier has had a look at the damage and thinks it's fixable without too much effort.

Take a rubber band, cut it into sections, place a section between each string and it's saddle. Takes the edge off new strings a treat 😎

So I decided to take a chance on a KK Baby Bass as my next steps in the world of DB. A lovely five string came up on eBay and after a couple of friendly exchanges with the seller, a deal was hatched and the bass was bought. Only problem was the 369 miles between me and the seller So the plan was further developed to include insured shipping and the bass was packaged up and dispatched. Now when I learned the bass was coming with ParcelForce (aka ParcelFarce) I was a little concerned, and I awaited delivery with baited breath. ParcelForce give you a helpful eleven hour delivery slot with no online tracking, and of course they chose to deliver within the precise 30 minute window when the house was unoccupied, so this morning I trekked over to the local depot to collect the bass. The packaging was extensive and looked intact, so I was somewhat relieved, and even more so when the ParcelForce lady commented that this was just as well as they don't insure musical instruments. Dashing back to the batcave, I eagerly unwrapped the cardboard and nine miles of packing tape, and eased the substantial padded gig bag out of the box. Again, everything looked good, so I unzipped the gig bag and 'bang' the fingerboard, complete with truss rod fell out first! Easing the rest of the bass out of the case showed, three substantial chips in the finish of the top (probably from the truss rod retaining brackets), two bent tuners, the bridge knocked out of position, and the end pin driven so far into the body that the rubber foot had come completely off, and the end pin locking bolt bent. Its pretty clear that despite the 'fragile' stickers all over the packaging, something heavy has been placed on top of the bass, levering the fingerboard off (tearing the ebony at the nut end). Also, it must have been dropped on its end (both ends) to dislodge the end pin and bend the tuning pegs. As i type this, the seller is contacting ParcelFarce and I'm in contact with my local luthier about reattaching the fingerboard, but once again, a beautiful instrument has been virtually destroyed in the hands of couriers. My advice to my fellow basschatters is avoid couriers like the plague and avoid ParcelFarce in particular after this episode. Will keep you lot posted as this develops. [url="http://smg.photobucket.com/user/JPJ/media/84E0ADDE-13B1-49B0-B5B0-3861FBE64768_zps6fmlsvfy.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://smg.photobucket.com/user/JPJ/media/70B997FC-8550-41F9-8BC5-3AAF4A408373_zpsikxmcg3w.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://smg.photobucket.com/user/JPJ/media/FA6D5E55-46D6-4FC9-ABF4-571EA56BE587_zpsojopmihf.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://smg.photobucket.com/user/JPJ/media/1B944A7E-45D8-4CCF-B3EC-472E1C0E705D_zpszubygxdk.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://smg.photobucket.com/user/JPJ/media/6C149797-CFFD-4290-9BA9-865821DE6953_zpszxcu7ftq.jpg.html"][/url]

So after much humming and haring and lots of internet research I have plumped for that five string KK Baby Bass that was up on eBay for a very reasonable £750. Will report back once I have my hands on her, but the videos I've seen online suggest I'll be able to get the tone in my head, and the body shape/size means its a bit more appealing on the eye than the 'stick' style Yamahas.

I had one when I was going through an 'effects phase' and liked it but found it performed much better when powered from a transformer than when battery powered.

So as promised, I'm reporting back after a full band rehearsal. Generally, the Fanes are a big improvement over the OEM speakers. Volume was definitely louder for equivalent control settings, and the overall sound was fuller and fatter. Anything below a G on the E string is obviously the limit of these speakers / cabinet size, and the volume noticeably dropped off, but the speakers held up well, no farting out or any other nastiness. I'm still in awe of this little combo, the speaker upgrade has only enhanced my feelings. An unbelievably simple little amp with a great inherent tone, way superior to any other TC offerings I've tried in the past. True, it's not loud enough on its own to gig with in the main electric band, but for the acoustic band it's perfect. On the whole, I'm very happy with the upgrade.

I've used both softwood and ply to brace my builds, but always rebated into the panel. My 'test' was far less scientific than Stevie with his test tones, but I found that whilst ply 'on edge' added a lot of rigidity to the panel, the softwood wasn't far behind and it definitely had a damping effect which i guess is because the softwood would have a different natural frequency to the ply.

[quote name='TheRev' timestamp='1486054845' post='3228889'] That's a good price for a SLB 200. I'm local to the seller so if you want someone to check it out, just say the word. Dave [/quote] Thank you Dave, I am chatting to the seller at the moment. If I decide to pull the trigger I will take you up on your very kind offer. Cheers Kev

Without wishing to sound negative, I'd recommend a good quality filter face mask with the right filters for nitro, and spraying in a well ventilated space. In my experience, nitro is also pretty temperature sensitive and if it gets too cold whilst still flashing off it can go milky.

Happy to contribute to the process 😎

[quote name='andyonbass' timestamp='1485973357' post='3228188'] Here's a screenshot Tom, if you're on Facebook you might be able to message the seller..... [attachment=237109:Screen Shot 2017-02-01 at 18.15.31.png] [/quote] Cheers Andy, interesting!

[quote name='andyonbass' timestamp='1485948571' post='3227887'] This? [url="https://m.facebook.com/groups/298259546971359?view=permalink&id=958531427610831"]https://m.facebook.c...958531427610831[/url] Not mine btw! [/quote] Sorry that's a link to a closed group, any clue as to what it is?

[quote name='Phil Starr' timestamp='1485949379' post='3227896'] Yes, we originally planned a slot port and I built one and showed it around to a few people. It did look nicer than the round port version. The problem was twofold, the design was meant to an easy build for someone at home, I found I needed no fewer than eight clamps whilst glueing up which I didn't think most people would have to hand. Without extensive clamping the round ported cab was an easier build. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly putting the slot in meant the speaker was effectively operating into a square space and we got an unfortunate and clearly audible resonance on some notes giving a slightly artificial sound (I quite liked it, but that's just me). We killed that in the end by putting a big slab of wadding on top of the port shelf. It wouldn't be a problem with a 2x12 as you wouldn't have a short squat cab any more. If you want me to talk you through a 2x12 version I'm happy to do so at the cost of asking you to post up your progress on BC [/quote] Deal! I was thinking of a central slot port, with a driver above and below in a sort of homage to the Acoustic designs of old which always looked pretty cool to me, plus the side slot port is pretty much the exclusive territory of Barefaced these days. Having said that, the Berg OBBM is selling at the moment looks pretty cool with those corner ports that remind me of my old Schroeder 21012 (probably the best cabinet I've ever owned for 'tone' and 'projection').

Another thought. I did want to build a 2x12 version of the original 1x12 design but really prefer a slot port design. Without trolling through the whole thread, can someone point me at the relevant posts as to why a slot port wasn't used?

I've built a couple of small bass cabs over the years, and I've found that rebating softwood battens into the cabinet panels not only adds strength but can also damp the panels. It's not a difficult thing to do once you own a router.