Graham

[quote name='Phil Adams' timestamp='1377634244' post='2189777'] +1 to the generally held view that it is largely mass produced and (expecting fully to be shot down) characterless to lovers of more serious music. Metal to me seems more about hair, tapping and selling albums than about expressing music beliefs. Awaits barrage of abuse from 14 year old headbangers............. [/quote] Well I'm twice that age, and don't plan on sending a barrage of abuse, but apart from a small selection of avant garde music that statement could be applied to any genre of music. In addition, there are plenty of smaller metal acts with no illusions of selling records and are simply doing it for the love of playing music and I think you'd be hard pressed to suggest that bands like Neurosis, Cave In, Akercocke or Sikth to give a few examples aren't interested in musical expression.

[quote name='thodrik' timestamp='1377616378' post='2189435'] It is the same venue. It is called Audio now though the general set up of the venue has changed a fair bit now. There isn't an EBS backline now but there certainly could have been EBS backline at Rockers before it went under. I never entered Rockers after 2007, though I can't remember any house backline being there when I was playing there prior to that (though I can remember trying to carry my old battered Trace Elliot combo to and from said venue!). [/quote] This would have been January 2010 when my old metal band toured up there, I remember bringinf my rack-mount Fafner head in and being surprised by there being almost the same amp on stage already. Not a bad little venue, shame we didn't fill it more tbh, but then we were trying to punch above our weight in the touring stakes.

[quote name='thodrik' timestamp='1377600237' post='2189154'] Can you recall what venue that was? I have never seen an EBS rig the as house backline at a local venue. There are a few HD350s in a local rehearsal studio, but not many Proline or Neoline cabs about. I actually only know one bassist who owns such an EBS rig of EBS amp and cabs. It might have been his rig! [/quote] I think it was called Rockers, had lots of band t-shirts on the walls, Audio is a possibile name too, but I think it was Rockers.

[quote name='redbandit599' timestamp='1377597879' post='2189110'] A bit off topic but Sam Dunn's film 'Metal - A Headbangers Journey' is pretty good and worth a look for either metal fans or anyone with an interest in music (pop or otherwise ) [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal:_A_Headbanger"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal:_A_Headbanger's_Journey[/url] [/quote] That is a great film, Mayhem are hilarious in it.

[quote name='thodrik' timestamp='1377558646' post='2188900'] Being in the EU it is fairly easy to source (ie buy) most kind of amps. Being in Scotland though, I don't see many of the boutique brands like Bergantino, Genz Benz or even much EBS stuff. Lots of Ashdown, Ampeg, Hartke, second hand Trace Elliot. Fair amount of Aguilar too. [/quote] That's interesting, I played at a small venue in Glasgow where the house amp was an EBS - TD650 and Proline cabs if memory serves, from that I assumed they had a fairly good presence north of the border.

As with most genres of music there's popular stuff that tends to appeal to younger or more casual listeners - radio metal is the term I use to think of it: Lamb Of God, Devildriver, Machine Head, Soil, Ill Nino, Killswitch Engage, almost any band on Roadrunner Records who you see proping up the first and second stage at Download. Then if you're willing to dig a bit deeper there are some phenomenal bands out there at the moment, particularly in the doom, grind and black metal genres, though obviously these more abrasive styles require a bit more of the listener and tend to put off tourists (apart from the hipster types who just want to say they listen to the most brutal things going). Anaal Nathrakh, Witchsorrow, Dillinger Escape Plan and Terror are the first names to jump to mind doing great things at the moment and Napalm Death are still releasing brilliant albums 30 years down the line: Utilitarian was a cracking record. So horses for courses really, if you want the more Metal Hammer/Kerrang friendly metal it's out there (I was enjoying a bit of Lamb Of God myself the other day), or if you want something heavier, more artistic, more interesting and dare I say it, better it's there too, but to suggest modern metal is irrelevant and lacking in quality is just daft.

I think a simpler solution would be something like a Radial Bassbone which allows you to switch between instruments and correct the output if they're at different volumes. http://www.tonebone.com/tb-bassbone.htm If those MXR pedals are what I'm thinking of, then you won't have much clean headroom on them before they start to break up.

Well, you'll kill the re-sale value, but if it's the one you've always kept and probably always will, does that matter?

A mate of mine has started working for them recently, he said there's a re-launch coming soon.

I was there today, spotted that but forgot to ask Mark for a go on it, played some other great basses though.

This video has it all: power metal, leather, studs, pointy guitars.............curling........... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAtBVRFD_Zg

It's not putting me off getting one, I'm strongly leaning towards trading in my Duck Dunn for an American Standard, but I think I'd go used from the '08-'11 era and possibly change the pickup for a Fralin/BK/Nordstrand....etc

I haven't played an '08 model Fender, but played a couple of '12 model Precisions recently and was in 2 minds about them, on one hand I loved the neck, really comfortable and I think the 1.625" nut width is just right for me, they were also unbelievably light. On the other hand, and to your point, I wasn't so impressed with the tone, very good, but not too Stellar - far more low end than was useable, particularly on the rosewood model, and this was with fresh strings in the shop.

Not that it helps you much, but isn't that what Tim Commofford used to play?

I was in GAK in Brighton last weekend and from memory they had: TC Electric Orange Ampeg Fender Mark Bass Might have had Gallien Kruger too, there was something else in the 3rd room I can't quite remember and it may well have been GK

Rick's Fine '52's fine 52 Precision needs to be on this list

Shockwave's green Pedula, though I'm not sure if he has it anymore

[quote name='DorsetBlue' timestamp='1376639758' post='2177080'] I will have to give it a try then, as I was put off by a pretty damn poor appearance on Jools (IMHO). [/quote] I don't watch Jools that often, but I do get the impression their sound techs don't know how to mix heavy music for broadcast - rarely sounds good

I agree, whilst not really an in your face bass tone, just a really good example of a rock bass sound - deep but not muddy, punchy without being thin and nice and smooth, good playing too.

[quote name='miles'tone' timestamp='1376567814' post='2176122'] I love passive basses, Precisions in particular. They are just perfect by design in my opinion... I do irrationally like the idea of a John East P-Retro preamp though! [/quote] I'm exactly the same I don't like "odd" shapes, yet the Gibson RD keeps calling my name

If you did it as a Paypal purchase then I can't see why it wouldn't just be normal purchase. You might have to pay the seller a little more to cover the Paypal fees in that instance. That all said, I don't have a credit card so I'm probably not the best person to ask, worth checking with your bank if you've got your eye on something.

You can Pay on credit card here if you do it by Paypal, most people are happy to accept Paypal if you do it as a gift payment or cover the fees.