VTypeV4

So Christmas came early this year! I was asked a couple of months back by the Mrs' what I wanted for Christmas and half jokingly I said "I kinda fancy a 6-string as I haven't owned one for ten years".. It was suggested that I have a look at what was about and see if anything took my fancy but "don't go nuts".. My last 6 string was sold along with a multitude of other gear to pay for both a 600 Suzuki and lessons to ride the thing legally. Sadly of all the gear i sold, the 6 string was one of a few regrets. It was a '90s Status Energy with soap-bar pickups, a maple bolt neck, rosewood fret board and a flamed maple top. The bass had been well used and had a few knocks plus the electrics weren't great but it played sublime. I do wish I still had it but it was sold to a chap in the USA so it's long gone. Back to the present day and I decided to take a risk on a 'Wolf' brand six-string that appealed to my taste. I'd read a few threads on them over at Talkbass (there's not much here about them) particularly one more than a few pages long about a 7-string example. The neck-thru design is the first I've owned in 18 years of playing. [URL=http://s778.photobucket.com/user/VTypeV4/media/DSC_0258_zpsqq8xsmvk.jpg.html][IMG]http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/VTypeV4/DSC_0258_zpsqq8xsmvk.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s778.photobucket.com/user/VTypeV4/media/DSC_0259_zpsz2zouoba.jpg.html][IMG]http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/VTypeV4/DSC_0259_zpsz2zouoba.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s778.photobucket.com/user/VTypeV4/media/DSC_0260_zpsnbon9lgm.jpg.html][IMG]http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/VTypeV4/DSC_0260_zpsnbon9lgm.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s778.photobucket.com/user/VTypeV4/media/DSC_0261_zpsrhg1uqru.jpg.html][IMG]http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/VTypeV4/DSC_0261_zpsrhg1uqru.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s778.photobucket.com/user/VTypeV4/media/DSC_0262_zpskbsdlfy8.jpg.html][IMG]http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/VTypeV4/DSC_0262_zpskbsdlfy8.jpg[/IMG][/URL] It's a superbly constructed instrument, the satin finish is very smooth, fret edges are seamless, the machine heads are super smooth, routing where the pickups sit is tight, controls work smoothly and seem to be of good quality plus the individual bridges are perfectly spaced. String anchoring is done through the body with evenly spaced ferrules on the back At twice the price (It was £250) it would be more than acceptable in terms of attention to detail and quality. The guitar plays well although I tweaked a few of the saddle heights to bring the action down just a touch - not that it was high, just that I like it really low - and now it's where I want it and still doesn't buzz or choke out. Intonation is near perfect straight out of the box. I've found the string spacing to be more 'Fender' than 'Warwick 5' - I haven't measured it but would suggest 17mm / 18mm by the pickups so I've tripped up on that a few times but time and familiarity (especially being a 6) will cure that I'm sure. The neck profile has a distinct flat spot in the middle that tapers towards the upper end of the neck rather like my old Status did - it's go the 'wide but thin thing' going on which makes it comfortable and seems to naturally put my hand flat in the correct position without having to force it. Last thing worthy of note regarding it's playing is it weighs a ton (becuase of the walnut?) but balances well on a strap. The electronics are passive and as such basic with the four knobs offering a dual volume / dual tone confiig although I expect in the future, it would be easy enough to install an active tone circuit but I've no current plans to do that. The basic array of tones are as you'd expect from the pickup configuration - nothing overly flash or exceptional but it's a different enough from the Jazz and the Warwick to give it's own flavour. The output levels are healthy and directly comparable to my other basses. It's early days (I haven't had it 12 hours yet) but I'm happy with the bass.. I'll take it to rehearsal on Monday and see how it goes.

Mine was pricey back in 2001 when I ordered it from Academy of Sound at £1065. The equivalent model is listed at over £2400 these days, no longer comes with gold hardware (not to everyones taste I appreciate) and somehow just doesn't look the same instrument - not sure if they changed the shape or size a little since mine was built? I haven't played a new one and certainly haven't seen them in shops for years but I assume they're still a quality instrument? The price premium on them is just daft these days - I wouldn't buy a new one now. I won't be selling mine, it's my go-to instrument - it's recorded on most sessions I've done and have gigged all over the country with it. Other instruments I've had have come and gone but the Warwick has been a constant and just like the Trace gear that I love to play through, it may be out of fashion but it works for me and I don't feel the need to spend thousands chasing that elusive tonal horizon as I've already arrived.

I remember David Jacob demoing the new AH1000 & BFC at the guitar show at Birmingham around 2000 with his band.. Absolutley crackers but even more impressive was the V8 plus 810 he played solo on a little stage in the middle of the Trace stand. He had a green 6 string status bass for both demo sessions - I still have the Trace Elliot poster he signed that day too..

[quote name='gazzatriumph' timestamp='1479308216' post='3175509'] Not too 90's for me I love their sound [/quote] Me too, equally '90s are the SWR cabs I use!

All good..

I may have a couple of 16 ohm PAS if you'd be interested? PM me if you are.. In the Goli Jr, a few people on here have run the Eminence BP102 as well as Deltalite as alternatives to the PAS drivers. Mine had Deltalites installed but I preferred the PAS chassis that came with the sale.. Personally I'd re-driver the entire cab wiith an appropriate model (the above suggestions work in the 210 but I've never run the numbers on the 410) rather than running a different driver with the existing three..

Lovely looking setup there man, nice!

The Squier VM Jazz I own mauls any number of Fender models I've tried including a couple I owned. It's certainly the best passive Jazz I've owned even though the Japanese and US basses cost me far more.. So on this occasion, yes, I prefer the cheaper model.

You could rule the world with that! ^ Anyone have any news on Trace? I understand Paul works for Blackstar now..

Mixed on the 328s you have (had?), Crez?

I wasn't overly hot on the Finalizer processing - it sounds fine but I just found it a little uninspiring although to have the option again is a plus. The M2000s on the other hand are truly excellent and surpass the onboard Yamaha SPX (nothing wrong with them, they work just fine and are more than useable) and even my own TC Electronic M1. I looked at purchasing an M2000 but even second hand they're more than twice the price of a Unity. I also looked at another M1 as well as a Yamaha REV500 because they're both reasonably cheap (£120 or thereabouts) and sound great but I couldn't beat the Unity on bang for buck and the convenience of it being inside the console.. I really need to have a sit down with an X32 - still haven't really had a meddle let alone done any mixing on one. The pub across town (ran by my old boss - we're still on good terms) has one and he thinks it's great.

New card landed today! The item was just as described - kind of.. The seller thought it only ran the dual M2000 processors but in actual fact, the card has a dual license and runs both dual M2000 or M2000 / Finalizer! As a second bonus, the card is an extended in/out example complete with the TDIF / ADAT interface.. It's the latest software version too (v.2.20) so no updating required! [URL=http://s778.photobucket.com/user/VTypeV4/media/DSC_0258_zpsbo2627mz.jpg.html][IMG]http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/VTypeV4/DSC_0258_zpsbo2627mz.jpg[/IMG][/URL] I need to reconfigure some of the patches on the console as well as routing options as they seem a bit all over the place but half an hour will see it square and sorted. I've got some more recording tonight so I'll take some more pix of the 'analogue card 02R' if I get chance.

New Unity card purchased! It's due to land a little later this week.. On a different note, we did some recording this evening so I used the 'Analogue card' 02R for tracking via a Behringer USB I/O device - my MOTU is somewhat burried at work. The Behringer can only do two in / out but it's enough for recording. I'll have a look at mixing it at work assuming we finish the vocals tomorrow.. [URL=http://s778.photobucket.com/user/VTypeV4/media/DSC_0257_zpsnmch3oqc.jpg.html][IMG]http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/VTypeV4/DSC_0257_zpsnmch3oqc.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s778.photobucket.com/user/VTypeV4/media/DSC_0256_zpsag3yrmy7.jpg.html][IMG]http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/VTypeV4/DSC_0256_zpsag3yrmy7.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s778.photobucket.com/user/VTypeV4/media/IMG-20161107-WA0003_zpsp6ukao0x.jpg.html][IMG]http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/VTypeV4/IMG-20161107-WA0003_zpsp6ukao0x.jpg[/IMG][/URL] New and old working together - our drummers' newish Mac-Book with Logic X (It's pretty good to be fair but I'm used to Pro Tools and Cu-Base) plus the fancy 'I can control the faders with my ipad' app thing all supported via my semi vintage 02R and monitored via a really old Peavey XR600.

It's possible the original drivers were JBL D/K140s - I'm sure I saw an old advert a while back. The JBLs were very much the premium 15" bass speaker of the time and were used by lots of companies in all sorts of configurations irrespective of their box compatability.. I have a K140 in a compatible box and it sounds warm and oldskool in stark contrast to my SWR cabs. I also ran a D140 in an old Peavey TNT 130 for a while which was warmer and louder than Scorpion it replaced. I have a hankering for a Bassman 135 and matcing double 15 with JBLs in too..

Yet more food for thought there, cheers man.. Another Unity card has popped up on eBay for reasonable coin so if it's still there payday, I'll grab it..

[quote name='mike257' timestamp='1477516961' post='3162799'] Eeek, how did it go? Hope all is working ok now. In related Yamaha bargain news, I got another 01V for £100! They're a steal at the usual second hand prices, but that just seemed ridiculous. [/quote] Sadly it doesn't seem interested in coming back to life.. I've put it on eBay and I'll keep my out for a functional Unity when one appears. There's one on now in the US but he wants silly money for it.. Boo. Good news on your side though Mike - £100 for any 24 channel desk is a bargain let alone a digi with flying faders! Nice one fella. Have you seen the price of LS9s of late? I've seen more than a couple of 32 channel variants plus case for less than £1500.. I'm not ready to trade my 02Rs yet but certainly gives food for thought..

[quote name='E sharp' timestamp='1477395587' post='3161918'] I've not long ago bought a CA-9 . Should I now hide? [/quote] I'd love to put that next to my Crown 3600VZ.. Both weigh as much as the world twice over..

I've mixed lots of function bands as part of their audition process for one of the largest booking agents in the country. Probably more than 70% were drums, bass, guitar (sometimes two) and some sort of sequence track usually on a lap top with the drummer playing to a click. For some it worked really well, others sounded flat.. Seems very popular on the 'modern pop / classic covers' function type group scene.

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1477066358' post='3159687'] Well done that man. A pride in one's work. [/quote] Seconded.. I'm not getting into the 'PA size / adequacy / control / SPL / on-stage / FOH debate' as lots of angles have already been covered and discussed many times before in previous threads! Good sound is very important to me whether i'm playing or mixing so I'm very much in the 'whatever takes to make it right camp'..

There's been 'trouble a'th mill' recently.. Using both desks the other week I noticed nasty glitch spiking on the master console so assumed it to be having a clock issue so did some fiddling to no avail. I then tried dropping the first console out and that seem to fix it so some repatching later, i put all my channels on one desk.. Restarting the desk the following day showed the Unity card had gone mad with the access page saying 'please upload valid software' so I've bought the appropriate cable, downloaded the software and I'm gonna have a crack re-flashing it tonight.. Fingers crossed!

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1476874497' post='3157925'] I have this horrible vision of his band with a bass that is crushing people at the back of the room, a guitar shredding people's faces up front, drums that sound dull and thumpy at the low end combined with someone hitting a tin can with a spoon whilst the poor vocalist is desperately trying to get himself heard over the massive on-stage cacophony surrounding him. . . [/quote] Me too..

Lovely chap and a great player - I regularly deal with him in Spear..

[quote name='Dudley Powell' timestamp='1475186008' post='3143949'] He was the bassist in my vocalist's last band, and from various reports, yes it got built! [/quote] Madness! Although I wouldn't mind a quick go.. Ha!

[quote name='mike257' timestamp='1475060175' post='3142665'] Does that mean I can have the ADAT card for 75p to go in my 01V? [/quote] Ha! On a similar note, I watched a 'double stack' analogue card same as the ones I bought do £84. There seems to be little rhyme or reason to the price these things go for as I didn't pay half that for two!

Now linked on TDIF format rather than ADAT meaning I now have two spare ADAT cards if need them. My 75 pence TDIF card worked without issue. Superb! [URL=http://s778.photobucket.com/user/VTypeV4/media/DSC_0225_zpsg318u6uf.jpg.html][IMG]http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/VTypeV4/DSC_0225_zpsg318u6uf.jpg[/IMG][/URL] All sorted.