BassBod

Doubt if I could get to either..but I'd love to. Only seen him once, and it was a noisy music show. Would be great to see him in a small venue - highly recommended.

For a jazz I'd suggest the Sadowsky (old or new style) or the Aguilar DB924 (OPB1 in a box). Both very similar, but add a great active boom/sheen to a passive fender, without carving holes for batteries and extra pots. I guess the tone hammer is the same, but I haven't heard one yet.

Sorry if I was being a bit vague about the dangle - yes, its mostly about the top horn being very short..but my thoughts were they could've moved the whole "scale length" an inch further south..if the battery box was put somewhere else.

A friend of mine has a Thunder 3 - very good bass, but there is one issue that I've noticed. Because the battery box sits at the back of the bass the bridge is positioned slightly more to the neck than normal, which makes it feel a bit top heavy/out of balance? its not a heavy bass so its not a big problem, but if you're used to a fender its a bit odd. I wouldn't pay more than £200 for a nice one...look out for worn fingerboards on the fretless models.

I left the MU a few years - I thought they withdrew the instrument insurance member's benefit (but retained the PL)? Anyway, I'm insured with broker Vic Knight - they used to be recommended when the MU covered the first part of a claim. I've no idea how good they are, as I've never had to claim but they've always been very professional and helpful when I've spoken to them.

Compact handed over to Mr Foxen in deepest Bristol last night...anyone else interested in the Bristol area get in touch with him quickly before he "melts it" his words, not mine! It might be too late already, of course. BB

Ummm...what it came with? I really don't know what they are. At a guess they are the bottom four of a heavy-ish guitar set, but the "low B" is bigger than a normal guitar string. Next time I talk to Mo I'll ask him - chances are he has them made by Picato.

Ummm yes, I think is the answer! But there are other options out there. If you get one try putting it into the effects loop return, its got enough level to drive the power amp directly - that usually sounds better?

Ummm yes, I think is the answer! But there are other options out there. If you get one try putting it into the effects loop return, its got enough level to drive the power amp directly - that usually sounds better?

They've all got their own sound..but here's my experiences Sansamp bass driver (original version) used it for years, normally to make clean amps sound a bit warmer or dirty. Fantastic box, but ignore the suggestd presets, I find I use only a 50/50 mix of effect / dry even for the roughest sounds. Also a good flat DI that happily runs on phantom power. Aguilar DB924 - same as the original (non DI) Sadowsky box - a "Musicman style" boost only eq in a tough metal case. Doesn't add any distortion, but makes a good Jbass sound like a great Jbass. Also doesn't really add any gain, so you have to run the vol up full to hear it properly (bit unusual for a pedal). Works well with all passive basses, but not really needed for anything already active. Sansamp VT pedal - a more refined version of the bass driver idea, but allegedly doing an Ampeg emulation of the SVT or B15. Who knows how close it is? I've never heard any of the big Ampegs I've used, due to crap stage sound and good ear plugs...and I've only used a "portaflex" for about two hours in my whole life..don't even know if it was a "good one". That said, I think its a great pedal - good range of distortions and nice eq. I'm using the B15 settings for everything at the moment and I just forget its there. Nice. Hasn't got a DI..but just run it into one? Hope that helps BB

When I got the EA 500 I realized that my bits bag (cables, music stand and real book) was heavier than my amp. When I got the Clarus..just the leads weigh more. I like. So who's gonna start the lightweight cable trend (Alex?) or carbon fibre music stands...I've already seen a real book on the iphone..and it transposes for you!

Yes, I wouldn't say the Compact was Doom-worthy..on its own (heh heh..). I'm sure you have a plan? Have to sort out how/when to get it to you...

Some first impressions on the Compact that recently arrived here..on tour. My usual gigging set is - GK combo (for small/quiet or lazy gigs) EA500 head with either 1 or 2 EA CXL1x10s or single CXL1x12. I also use an Acoustic Image Clarus..more on that in a bit. Basses are Fender jazz types..Alembic Epic or Clifton EUB..sometimes a Warwick Thumb. I really like the EA cabs, although they have a bit of an unforgiving mid emphasis when heard in isolation..and are not exactly light. The 10s are something like 32lbs and the 12 is 44lbs - not really heavy..but heavier than you'd think from their size. They also have co-ax tweeters which I turn down at least half way. They are also expensive. The Compact is very light for its size and the "slim but tall" shape makes it easy to move through doors or into cars etc. I thought one handle was a mistake..but it works. You just have to lift it and it all makes sense. For a lot of my work (jazzy bands at functions or restaurants, folky "acoustic"gigs) it is too big - even carrying it into a posh hotel they'll ask you to turn down before you've plugged it in. Despite that, I took it along to a duo (guitar/bass) restaurant gig, powered by the Clarus, with a Sansamp VT pedal as insurance. With a passive/flatwound jazz bass it was a good sound with a mere tweek of the amp's (limited) eq and a fantastic sound with the VT's eq and emulation. Much bigger low end than I normally use (CXL1x10) but perfectly controlable, even in a boomy acoustic. There are plenty of mids there, and note definition was easy - even at a far lower volume than it was ever intended for. It has all of the better characteristics of a "good old" 1x15. Plenty of warm sounding lows, and a pleasing traditional voice...but much better clarity and mid range. It doesn't do snappy highs..so no Marcus Miller...but there are enough highs there to sound good (in a 70's disco way..not even MM had tweeters before 1984?). It seems to be an easy load for my amps - maybe 10-15% more volume at the same settings compared to my EA cabs (completely unscientific observation, but noticable). The Compact is a great all-rounder - a perfect pub rock cab? Maybe not if you play very loud with a 4x10 and still want more...but very good for most gigs. The light weight is fantastic and the sound is great. For me, its too big for a lot of my gigs and I have got used to tweeters, even if I turn them off most of the time. A Midget T would do the job perfectly for a lot of my work...and a sub option would cover the louder stuff. Or a Big Baby?? Thanks to Alex for his work on these cabs - its a good time to be an ageing bass player! BB

Just a quickie.....but the Clarus (III) worked splendidly with the Compact on a liitle jazzz gig....I'll report in detail in few days BB

I regularly use just a GK MB combo or one EA1x10 with EA or Clarus amp head. A lot of my gigs are "almost acoustic" or no drums so I can get away with it..I've learned the hard way that very very few drummers are comfortable playing these quiet gigs. Rather than get frustrated at having to keep the volume down I like to look at these gigs as a chance to have a really good full sound - well, it keeps me busy anyway! Bit more boost at 42 Hz anyone (or would 46 be better in this room)?? I have also done a lot of big PA jobs with no amp, just the Sansamp and using the stage monitors. This is almost impossible to predict, and you never know what it sounded like anyway...but seems to work ok, if you can suspend any belief in what you are hearing whilst playing the gig.

I played a very similar bass (fretless Kestrel with 2 Kent Armstrongs) a few years ago that had an accident..and a complete headstock re-build by Hugh Manson. Was completely sound and a good repair, but if this is the one, it should be disclosed. Obviously may not be the same bass, but there can't be too many of these around?

I'm still very happy with my lightweight set up - EA 500 with one or two cxl1x10s. The cabs are a bit heavy for their small size, but that's relative. One thing I've done for years is to dirty up the clean sound (also with SWR) with a Sansamp..it really helps to make things sit better in most musical styles - not really distortion, but just a smudge. Don't forget you can pick up old trace/swr/ampeg/alembic preamps fairly cheap - they're not popular because of the 19" rack format, but they also light! I sometimes use the EA 500 as a power amp and it works very well.

There could be fault with the trace XLR, but more likely (as suggested) its the difference between mic level and "line" level...as I understand it there isn't much of a standard amongst amp makers. I've had numerous complaints over the years with various amps' XLR output being "too hot" or "not there" or "too noisy"...usually the desk can take either./or be adjusted to a working level. The only failsafe method I know of is using a jack line output from the amp into a good passive DI box that sends a mic level signal with no added circuit noise or hum issues. Also usually works fine with active DIs provided they have a line or attenuated input...but they can overload. And not in a nice way.

Another endorsement for the K&M (with backrest and footrest) from Thomman. When the exchange rate was better it worked out around £100 delivered. It really is good...the only problem is something else to carry in to the gig. But there are loads of times where it makes life more comfortable, even with a heavy BG. Its also good to use for practising at home...although I really need to do more of that!

Look at the Orchid electronics site - around £35 and really good.

Look at the Orchid electronics site - around £35 and really good.

I used one in the late 80s - very light (nothing in it!) and usable for small gigs. Don't expect it perform like an old trace elliot.... If you are on a very tight budget and won't be playing very loud its ok....but I'd suggest a trawl through evil bay to see what they go for?

I got the old preamp a while back and got some replacement knobs etc from gbaudio. I think a lot of the bits are generic UK industry though, so maybe worth looking up some general electronic bits suppliers?? Switches all work fine on mine as well...although I have seen some sold on evilbay as "rare" or "hard to find"...