BassTractor

Welcome, Bazza! You'll be alright. Just try and avoid stepping on my etiquettes, there's a good lad. Enjoy the light! bert

Yeah, I'm with you on the built-in speakers. Our setup too used a mixer before the amp, so it's easy to imagine my wife's frustration with four on/off switches, a whopping six volume sliders and knobs (if she could find the correct ones that is) and all the rest of the electrickery. A stand-alone unit is soo nice in a living room environment. Funny you should ask about the RD-1000. Yup, I played it several times before deciding - the version with the thick silver tube legs. I still wonder if I should've gone for it. At the time, I loved it, but it was roughly as large and heavy as the Rhodes 73 Stage I already had, and the Yamaha KX88 delivered tougher key action - something I needed to develop my finger muscles. I deemed it slightly quicker as well. Isn't it so that the RD-300 is relatively similar in sound and possibilities? What I like especially about the MKS is its simplicity and how it punches through in the mix with the clearer one of its piano sounds. Very fitting in a rock band. Some careful arranging parts and you don't need a bass player. Bliss!

[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1383476874' post='2264756'] I find the Rhodes sound ok, but of course it don't play and feel the same. We have a Stage 73 in the house, so only comparing to that. [/quote] Good call. The Rhodes keyboard feel combined with its hammer action is very different. Also, imitating a Rhodes well would mean the imitation has to mimick the repeated note peculiarity of the Rhodes, where each hammer strike will be at different parts of the tonefork's moving up and down, so each next tone will sound differently from the previous one. I haven't heard a Rhodes imitation yet that will do this, though I would guess they exist now. That said, I had a Rhodes without Janus (?) amps/speakers at the same time as a Roland MKS-20 module. Comparing both through the same none-Janus amplification, it appeared the MKS-20 sounded more like a Rhodes with Janus than my real Rhodes did, even though its core sound was not as good as the real thing. I kept the MKS and sold the Rhodes. One heavy lift less, and one less keyboard to set up on its legs and trying to set up the mechanical pedal just right. Of course I deplore this terrible choice. Now I do. Too late I do.

This seems to be a rule these days, that semi entry level electronic pianos deliver a lot. Korg do a little one with 10 or so sounds in it (different pianos, harpsichord, Pianet, Clavinet, Rhodes, Wurlitzer, pipe organ even...) and it seems fantastic for the price. Same goes for a Casio I tried, where they'd even casted the keys so they had this wood nerve imitation that gave a good, secure feel. I was much impressed with these things. BTW, maybe pedantically, they're not electric pianos, but electronic pianos. Simply put: Pianet, Wurlitzer and Rhodes are electric, as in mechanical devices with pickup systems of different plumages. Electronic is when electronics _are_ the sound source.

Welcome, Stinky! bert (57 and yet to finish my first build)

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1385241006' post='2286092'] The neck looks on the narrow side for a five string. Has it been converted from a four? [/quote] Ha! My thought as well, but I couldn't say. Too little experience, me.

Me, I feel strangely attracted to it, and wouldn't mind being seen with it in a live setting. Here are some disclosing pictures. Below them are the seller's claim about it: [URL=http://s1170.photobucket.com/user/basstractor1/media/0001_zps5dda0a9c.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1170.photobucket.com/albums/r525/basstractor1/0001_zps5dda0a9c.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s1170.photobucket.com/user/basstractor1/media/0004_zps538b2eba.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1170.photobucket.com/albums/r525/basstractor1/0004_zps538b2eba.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s1170.photobucket.com/user/basstractor1/media/0008_zps75197cc7.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1170.photobucket.com/albums/r525/basstractor1/0008_zps75197cc7.jpg[/IMG][/URL] OK, so seller says it's an eighties Vox 5-string that lacks a name on the headstock, but was once presented in a leaflet together with the 4-string White Shadow models (fretted and fretless) that did have the name on the headstock. After that leaflet, the 5-string was never taken into regular production, according to the seller. Some people on the Dutch bass forum, like some here, commented on PU, headstock and black neck, and it was thought that this bass must have been built by Westone. Me, I wouldn't know. I just liked the thing.

As indicated in the title, these are small issues, so this is just a heads up for people who might like to order one, so they can be aware some work might be needed before takin it to a gig. I'm fully satisfied with the thing now these issues are resolved, so by no means want to warn people against them. OK, so I proudly took home my new RG-4003 last thursday, only to find: - Open E rattles heavily in the nut to the point where I believe it will start rattling on the first fret too (the part between tuner and nut moving so wildly that it gives the tone part of the string the leeway to move more freely up and down too). - PU switch only works in neck PU position. - PU switch very, very noisy - probably related to the above. - No or hardly any effect from Tone knob or knobs (actually didn't scientifically test this as I got red in my face before getting there, and only wished to return it as quickly as possible while I still had a car on loan). - Knobs moving beyong their designated MIN and MAX points. - Jack socket with bad contact. Me, I thought this was a bit much, and I took it back to the shop rather than opening it myself right away. Shop keeper invited me into the workshop and opened it right away, only to find that an electric lead had worked its way into the switch's parts (the switchblades I presume ), and the same or another lead (the ground lead at any rate) was not attached to its designated Tone pot. Some careful bending here and some soldering there, and Roberto became my mother's brother. At any rate: this did not happen during transport. That lead had been inside that switch all the time. IOW this is about lacking QC - and certainly not necessary at that price point. I know Yamaha do a good job for one third of the price (at least in Norwegian prices). Anyway, I'm satisfied with this thing, and have fun playing that weird but iconic shape - the shape of my youth. Kudos to Gitarhuset (a shop only people in Norway can order from) for fixing this right away, and for not giving me any stress even though other customers had to wait longer due to it).

This may be easy or hard, I don't know, but the seller says it's unique. Wanna have a go? I'll get back with the seller's answer. [url="http://s1170.photobucket.com/user/basstractor1/media/0002_zpse78cc7cc.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s1170.photobucket.com/user/basstractor1/media/0003_zpsb46b9615.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s1170.photobucket.com/user/basstractor1/media/0006_zps3f387060.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s1170.photobucket.com/user/basstractor1/media/0005_zpsf870f066.jpg.html"][/url]

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1385114637' post='2284554'] And when I asked him to pick it up at the end of the night... [/quote] Yeah. Those are fun moments, aren't they.

[quote name='Tobiasthegiant' timestamp='1385074471' post='2284313'] Some people will hear Ain't no mountain and wonder why they stole Amy's bassline. Sad times. [/quote] Exactly. Colin Blunstone, touring with Rod Argent, is always asked why the Hull they do this Santana track ... Happily he laughs when telling the story.

[quote name='Roger2611' timestamp='1384982247' post='2283196'] I am gonna try an Ashdown Little Bastard head [/quote] If you do like it (and I expect you to) but find the 30W too limiting, then a reported good option is to later invest in a MiBass head in addition, as the LB's pre-amp connected to the MiBass's power stage seems to sound largely like an LB. (BTW, this way you're effectively making a Little Bastard 550 - - IMS with the exception of a gain knob.) I do exactly that myself, but can't report my findings as I have found my bass playing is not yet good enough to make comparisons of this type.

Welcome, Paul! bert

[quote name='ubassman' timestamp='1384904253' post='2282290'] "Why The Fee?" [/quote] Class!

Welcome, Fivespoke! bert

[quote name='yepmop' timestamp='1384779269' post='2280550'] Thought you would have played the bass in "Some like it Hot" rather than Jack [/quote] Now that was a great way of putting it! Respect! Welcome, Tony! bert

[quote name='citymariner' timestamp='1384712847' post='2279834'] less KGs are alway welcome! [/quote] Yeah. Me, I'll never understand why you guys went metric at all, seeing as kgs are more than double the weight you were used to.

Welcome, Efrainot! bert

Welcome, Andy! bert

In Munich, you might like to try ProMusicTools, though they are outside the city proper. http://www.promusictools.com/

Welcome, Cestrian! bert

Welcome, Paul! bert

Guys! Marc secretly loves ABBA!!!!!! Oh, and welcome, Mark! bert

[quote name='RandomBass' timestamp='1384381699' post='2276130'] it's an English thing, I assure you. And for which I profusely apologise. [/quote] "Profusely", eh? I see a dark future where I try to understand the explanation of that word on Wiktionary, only to fail miserably again.

That has the look of being stellar.. Thanks for the heads up! I'll surely buy it and try for myself.