Linus27

[quote name='obbm' post='535534' date='Jul 8 2009, 11:20 AM']ideally you should terminate the amp input with a short circuit and then see what noise/hum is generated by the amp itself. If it's different when you plug different basses in then the extra is coming from the basses/cables. The amp is just making that noise louder. A pick-up coil is a very efficient aerial and will attract all sorts of interference. Check your doemstic environment for noise sources such as motors, lighting dimmers, fluorescent tubes, etc. try taking it to the bottom of the garden ad see what happens. [/quote] Not sure my back could cope lugging the amp and speaker to the end of the garden. After all the rain we have had, I have a feeling that the speaker may also sink into the garden due to its weight :) So far I tried turning all the lights etc off and no difference. The one thing I need to try is plugging into a different mains socket. Thanks again for the help.

[quote name='obbm' post='535522' date='Jul 8 2009, 11:06 AM']An unterminated instrument lead, i.e. no bass, acts like an aerial and will just pick-up noise and amplify it. That is not a realistic test. Either put a bass on the end or short circuit the connector.[/quote] Thanks Dave. I will give it a test tonight. I think my thinking behind it was that it was noisy with the different basses plugged in so to eliminate something, I would try it without the basses plugged in and it was no different. However, I will double check tonight again.

I have an Ashdown ABM EVO III Rack Mounted head that seems to have a hum but only when I turn on the EQ. It also only does it when the guitar lead is plugged in despite no bass plugged in on the other end. If no lead is plugged in, then the amp is silent. I have tried about 5 different leads and they all do the same, including brand new ones from OBHM. It also hisses quite loud when I turn the treble up. The Input dial also makes a whooshing noise when I turn it from zero to half way. I did speak to the guy at Ashdown but he said the hissing is normal and was not really interested in the humming noise. Pretty dissapointed especially as its only 6 weeks old. Before I take a trip over to Ashdown, just wondering if anyone else has this head and finds it noisy. I want to sell it as I have just got a Shuttle 6 but don't want to pass it onto someone if its faulty.

Just to say that I like Old Horse Murphy's Shuttle 6.0 so much, I bought it from him :) No problem with lack of bottom end either. A killer amp head. I can't wait to get it at the weekend and hopefully get the Genz Benz NEO 212T by the weekend also.

[quote name='51m0n' post='534942' date='Jul 7 2009, 05:35 PM']Epifani have rep for having a deep pillowy bass sound and not much in the way of agression (esp comparing like for like 410s) I think this may tick a lot of the boxes you have, except the final tone. Just a thought.... Not knocking Epifani one bit btw, just not sure they are right for you, I think you should definitely try before you buy if at all possible![/quote] How do the Genz Benz NEO cabs compare to the Epi cabs? Currently testing an Epi 310 and its a very nice tight punchy sound with the Shuttle 6. Not sure to get the Epi cab or the Genz Benz Neo 212 cab.

[quote name='silddx' post='534838' date='Jul 7 2009, 04:04 PM']Many, many times .. I sing lines in my head and try to play them, naturally I disappear up my own arse half the time But I find it really beneficial to write this way. Having a bass in my hands is so restrictive. I have to write a bunch of bass lines for this new band and I am going to work out the lines without a bass first, so they should be reflective of me as a musician, not just a bass player. If I can't play them at first, I'll learn how to.[/quote] I pretty much do the same. I find singing the bass line in your head does not give you the restriction that working one out on the bass does. Its easy to fall into the trap of following the same patterns or routes when writing on a bass. Singing it in your head is a lot more free flowing. It just means it might be a bit harder to transpose when you do try it on the bass but its worth it in the end.

Does anyone else tend to write bass lines that at first, are too hard to play? I always seem to come up with a bass line that is just impossible to play but after a few days of getting my head around it and playing it live at rehersals, I seem to master it and never have a problem after playing it. Just wondering if anyone else does this.

What about the Genz Ben NEO212?

[quote name='Musicman20' post='533843' date='Jul 6 2009, 03:02 PM']I nearly went with genz but the LM3 bottom end warmth swung it for me. I was also shocked at the size of the Shuttle Max amps....lightweight, but NOT small. Looks like a good bit of kit though.[/quote] I tried the LM3 and I was not that impressed with it. Could not get a sound I liked out of it. However, I do suspect it may had been the MB 410 cab I was using. I have heard that they are not so hot sound wise.

Just seen this also. Very sad indeed and my thoughts are with his family. R.I.P

I have a few clips up (check my signature) and all I do is stick a camcorder in front of me, put the CD into the CD player, plug the bass in, turn the amp on, set the volumes on the CD and amp and press record. Then finalise the disc, open it in Windows Movie Maker, add title and end credits, save and upload to Youtube. The bit that takes the longest is the Youtube upload. Thats it really. OK, not the best method but the quality seems good enough.

I must admit, the Epifani UL310 I am trying does sound really nice. Very clear and punchy. Very articulate with each note.

[quote name='johnny_b' post='533609' date='Jul 6 2009, 10:56 AM']The chance to A/B them is a really good offer - but for those not luck enough to be able to try one first heres my 2 cents. I have a Shuttle 6 and which I use most often through a MarkBass 210. All in all a very light rig. Main bass is a passive Shuker JB with Delanos. The amp seems very well put together, the controls have nice knurled alloy knobs which feel positive with a 'notched' action to them. It is quiet - it has a fan but the noise is not intrusive - similar to a computer fan. The 3 preset signal shapes - bass boost, mid cut, high boost are useful ways to get into a tonal 'area' quickly. The tone controls are clear and straightforward. The semi-parametric layout lets you tune out - or enhance between 150 and 2kHz and is very effective. It is a very clean, transparent sounding amp when you need that, but warms up nicely when you drive the preamp a bit. The headphone and AUX inputs are nice additions if you travel or need a simple practice set up I use it to DI a lot - the pre out does not need a dummy speaker load, which can be handy. I emailed Genz Benz with a question about the unit and got a reply almost straight away from Jeff Gensler himself - so customer service seems excellent so far! I think its best to be a bit more careful in live situations than with old fashioned amps - as its very light it could be dragged off its perch quite easily - if you are in a band where people jump about I would anchor your lead or the amp somehow, to be on the safe side. I haven't owned the amp long enough to comment on reliability. I have not used the optional footswitch, but if you change your sound often in performance, its probably worthwhile considering. I find I don't need it as I can dial in sounds very quickly on the amp if needed. ITS LOUD. but controlled. There is, IMO definitely no lack of bass! My only problem has been with the single tube. The 12AX7 can get some nice overdrive tones - but I have replaced the tube in mine with an old Mullard one - which I prefer. The stock tube is probably fine but I found that at low volumes, if sitting on a cab I would get occasional 'farting' noises - not loud, but noticeable. I took the amp off the cab and the problem disappeared. Figuring this might be microphonic or other tube-related noise, I changed tubes and have had no more problems. I wrote to the Bass Merchant, (who have it at the best price so far as I know) who supplied it and they said that there had been no other reported problems, but changing tubes would not void the warranty, btw. Overall, if you want a versatile modern lightweight amp give it a try - I was all set on a MarkBass but the Shuttle gives me a few more options at a better price. I'll post some clips soon if anyone is interested. J[/quote] Great write up and review, many thanks for taking the time to do it. I am trying Nicks out tonight so really can't wait. If I got one, I would probably get a Genz Benz NEO212 also as I also hear great things about them.

[quote name='dood' post='533581' date='Jul 6 2009, 10:11 AM']See, this is why I love BassChat. Where else can you get this kind of generosity? Nice one Nick![/quote] Have to agree with you on that. My main hangout now. So many nice, friendly, helpfull people here. Been lent some amazing gear to try out even when I hardly know them. Just goes to show, us bass player are the best people in the world.

In my search for a lightweight cab, I am pretty much down to two. Either an Epifani 212/310 with my Ashdown ABM EVO III head or a Genz Benz Shuttle 6 with the NEO212 cab. I am kindly being lent an Epifani 310 to try and it does sound very nice with my Ashdown head. It still has that Ashdown sound but the Epifani makes it a bit cleaner over my Ashdown ABM 410. What is the Genz Benz Shuttle 6 and NEO 212 like and what sort of sound does it suit? Never heard a Genz Benz but they do seem to be very highly rated. Might take a trip out to test one if they are worth it. Any advice, especially on the Genz Benz stuff very appreciated.

[quote name='bassmansky' post='533169' date='Jul 5 2009, 05:47 PM']i love the sound of my abm 4x10 but as you say it is a bit heavy for one person to carry.the handles are not exactly very kind on your hands either and i find when someone is helping you carry it ,the cab is not very well balanced.so after humping it around for the last year i am also thinking of going lightweight,but to what?I need a deep sound from a cab (or two) which is light and compact and needs to be loud without affecting the sound quality.good luck in finding a new cab, any reccomendations would be most helpful [/quote] Epifani and Genz Benz seem to be top of my list at the moment. If I go with the Epifani, then either the 3x10 or the 2x12 and I will stick with my Ashdown ABM EVO III head. If I go the Genz Benz route, then I am tempted to get a Shuttle 6 and the Genz Benz Neox 212T cab. However, I know nothing about the Genz Benz stuff apart from it is supposed to sound very good.

Well, I have been very kindly lent a Epifani 310 cab to try by Obhm and so today I plugged it into my Ashdown ABM EVO III head. At first I tried it with my Lakland Darryl Jones, running everything flat and it sounded very clean and punchy. Each note was very distinct and crisp. I then plugged my head into my Ashdown ABM 4x10 to compare and the Ashdown was much fuller and fatter sounding but less clean and distinct. It was punchy but the clean tone was somewhat hidden away under the mushiness that the Ashdown was giving. This was not a bad thing as what you lose in tone, you gain in fullness. With the Epifani, you get a slightly thinner sound but get a much cleaner precise tone. I then plugged my Lakland Duck Dunn through the Ashdown 4x10 and this sounds wonderful. Big fat precision sound. I then tried it through the Epifani and is sounded great but very bright and crisp and it lost a lot of the bottom end. I am sure the tone could be dialled in but for now, I just wanted to try everything flat. So, overall, I really like the Epifani and it really suits the tone I want to get out of a Jazz. However, the Ashdown, did stand up really well against it especially as it costs half the price. I am going to play with the Epifani some more over the next day or so but I do wonder if the Epifani 212 would add a bit more fullness to the sound over the 310. One funny thing though, after I finished testing. I packed the Epifani away which may I add, is so light its unbelievable. You can carry it one handed. I then went to pack the Ashdown ABM4x10 away and as I picked it up, I got a really sharp stabbing pain in the base of my spine. I am now in some discomfort and pain in my lower back and has confirmed in my mind that its time to go lightweight, whatever the cost. Its just not worth it anymore.

Anyone got any good venues in and around Reading fot indie guitar type of stuff????

[quote name='Low End Bee' post='531488' date='Jul 3 2009, 11:07 AM']I can recommend this chap. He's just getting back into band/music photography after spending a few years doing fine art still life stuff. He was the CBS (and then Sony) in house man for years. Done 'em all from Alice Cooper to Celine Dion! We had a huge laugh on the photo shoot with him and we're just waiting for the pics back from 'post production'. The few that I've seen are really top stuff. [url="http://www.bakerimages.com/"]Baker Images[/url][/quote] He looks pretty cool. Where is he based and how much did he cost?