Max Normal

Packed pub, New years eve 1999 11:30pm. We have played 2 sets and are having a half hour break for a rest and a pint before we go on to do our rocked up version of Auld Lang Syne and some up tempo numbers for the new year when an extremely drunken bloke falls onto the mixing desk severing three essential cables at the plugs where they enter the desk. Luckily we have a toolkit. I spend the next 25 minutes in a packed dark sweaty pub desparately trying to strip and resolder the leads. We make it with about 2 minutes to spare.

On my board is an MXR filter, a Bass Big Muff Pi and a Micro Pog. Pog tracks great for the sub bass, but perhaps sounds a bit metallic so that's probably getting replaced with an EBS Octabass. MXR filter is great, so no probs there, but I just can't get on with the Big Muff, it's just so harsh and over the top. I tried it with the onboard blend mode and also with an X-otic X-blender but I still hate the sound. So right now I'm looking for a classic Stevie Wonder clavia bass synth type sound. Any experience of this? What distortion did you use, overdrive or fuzz, and which pedal? Cheers! M

Checked it out. The main road from Fender Corona to Fender Baja is the CA-1.

I always assumed it was because some of the components are Mexican and they were shipped up the road to California for assembly and to get the USA serial number. I had a Highway One precision and an American Standard precision at the same time. The USA standard certainly had way better finish and a much slimmer more modern feeling neck, but the Highway one sounded much better (after I switched out the greasebucket tone circuit and added proper P-bass wiring) , it had lots of natural resonance and harmonics that the USA standard lacked. I swapped the standard and kept the Highway one.

Just got my EMG pickups off timo in and they are in great condition. He posted them straight away and had great comms, answered my messages straight away. Top bloke.

I'm in. Live nearby and can provide a small PA if needed.

We should probably pick a town first? I guess the majority of people in Hampshire live in the Solent area, but those travelling might want it more mid Hampshire (like Basingstoke). If people wanted South Coast, I could probably rustle up a few ideas around Southampton.

Thanks! And yes Strings and things have been superb with their comms.

Yes I suppose you are probably right. That would however class everything that you can choose on their website as "non-standard". I'm still psyched to get the bass but it's just a heads-up for anyone choosing this method of getting one. For the record, I only had one luthier-made bass before, a hand made one-off headless set neck 5-string and it took just 6 weeks!

No you don't pay extra, you just get to specify the colour, fretboard wood, neck type etc that you can get already on shop models. MM don't have a custom shop. Was it worth it? Definitely, I really want this bass so that's why it's not a whinge. If I'm going to drop that much on a bass I want it in my spec. I particularly wanted an SLO special which are a bit harder to find than a standard neck model.

Yes i have been in contact with the Uk distributor. MM are pretty tight lipped about it. When I first asked it was 3-5 months.

This isn't really a whinge just a PSA really for anyone thinking of buying using Musicman's online configurator. If you do, make sure you have about a year to wait before you expect to see it! You are probably better off getting one off the peg unless you need a specific configuration like I did. It's not due to the rosewood fretboard either as they haven't applied for the export licence for that yet. I wonder what the problem is? Musicman getting really popular? Short-staffed? Shortage of hard woods?

Agreed. I'd like to throw this place into the mix as a possbility. They often host musicians, and very good beer and coffee too! https://www.steamtownbrewco.co.uk/

Same here.

I'm in Eastleigh. The Concorde club and the Railway club were the venues I was thinking about. I work at the uni so there might be something available there too. Any other ideas?

Ok will do. Not sure where people would be wanting to host it, but I have a couple of venues in mind.

Yes that's what I thought! Hmmn, the missus is not going to be pleased.....

Haha! Yes I do, I have been using valve and tranny amps for many years, I used to have an original 60's Orange with a 4x12 and a 70's Marshall valve head with an 8x10 may years ago before I switched to Trace. Been a modern (hybrid) Ampeg man for the last 10 years or so but this my my first CL. The advice I was asking was for a particular gig and the reason that I asked is that when I plugged the CL into my SVT HLF it really did not sound as good as the SVT3-Pro at home volume, so if my question was not clear, will this cut it for a smallish gig without lacking punch as I can't crank it. My sound is important to me and I didn't have time to take it to a rehearsal so I didn't want to risk it for 1 gig. As it happened I took the 3-pro as it's a known quantity, but I have a few festivals coming up in the summer so the CL will get an airing then. Not a newb and I didn't come down in the last shower, was just looking for some quick advice from those in the "know" so I didn't spoon my gig with a mushy bass sound. Ultimately I'm a bit worried that the HLF is not the best pairing for this amp, it being a ported cab and all, the last CL I used was with a sealed 8x10 and it sounded much better. Prob a bit much for pub gigs though.....

I just acquired an SVT-CL head and I have a Paddy's day gig tomorrow night in a medium sized pub. Usually I use my SVT3 pro and I get plenty of punch, cut-through and dynamics at pub volumes. From experience, will this amp cut it at pub volumes or will it sound flat due to not being cranked enough? Would you take the CL or the 3 pro? Cab is an SVT410 HLF Thanks for your advice!

Actually, I take my opinion back, I just opened a sealed pack of them now and there are only 3 strings in there! D'Adderio string takewaway

I'd be interested too. Would even help with the organisation. I'm in Eastleigh.