Damonjames

Hahaha, even you amp is getting bored lol. Start tapping or I'm outta here!!!!

Hi Karl, I've not experience the "walking bass head" problem with my gear since I ditched my orange terrorbass 1000 and matamp 610, which occasionally would get bored with my crap playing and try to leave the room in disgust. It mostly only did it if the floor was a little uneven though. I was going to just use an occy strap ( it sure if that's what they call them here, but it's a bungy coats with a hook at either end), and just go from one handle on the cab up and over the head and onto the other handle and just let the rubber feet on the amp do the rest.

[quote name='darkandrew' timestamp='1482746866' post='3202448'] Just to clarify - I think we're making reference to the EBMM Sterling which is and always has been ceramic (edit - which Stingray Pete has just confirmed above), not the Sterling by. The Sterling by is Alnico I presume? [/quote] Well I'm embarrassed!! I've own a sterling and the previous owner told me it had alnico and never bothered to check!!! Well that makes total sense then!!!

Hang on a sec, so the sterling 4 has always had an alnico pickup, yet when they released the 5 they out a ceramic in it, and changed the stingray 5 which had a ceramic (as the stingray 4 always has) and changed it to alnico??? What are they doing over there???

Hang on a sec, so the sterling 4 has always had an alnico pickup, yet when they released the 5 they out a ceramic in it, and changed the stingray 5 which had a ceramic (as the stingray 4 always has) and changed it to alnico??? What are they doing over there???

[quote name='Woodinblack' timestamp='1482318648' post='3199465'] Would it be that simple? Isn't teh GK Fusion just a valve preamp and a class D power amp? I thought this wasn't a class D? - oh, seems I was thinking of a different amp. Although that is a lot more expensive than this isn't it? [/quote] Yes, over £1000 now!!

I have to admit, I'm relatively GAS free, but that's largely due to the fact my bloody house has just fleeced me in emergency repairs. Number 1 on the list has been there for nearly 4 years, just can't ever seem to do a deal on one. 1. Gallien Krueger Fusion 550 2. Musicman 30th anniversary Stingray5 3. Musicman stingray5 with HH in black/maple 4. Musicman Stingray 5 in a sparkle flake finish. Yes boring I know, but aside from some effects I've been dying to try for ages, that's all I'm into at the minute! Merry Christmas everyone!!

[quote name='Pinball' timestamp='1482536640' post='3201394'] I'm feeling strangley gas free this Christmas...I have been swapping and trying different basses regulary over the last 5 years and all of a sudden seem to have settled into Stiingray 5's and G&L's. Even though I will still sell and swap the odd one I am strangely GAS free. Could this be the end of searching and swapping? I went though the same with Electric and acoustic guitars but am pretty settled on that front too. [/quote] That's because you have reached the pinnacle if basses 😄

Thanks for the clarification Pete, I'll have to check the dates on mine, I think I have both alnico. The first is a '92 that has a pickup like th picture, and didn't realise they had changed the cover until I got my second one. The second one has an inverted curve on the top edge and is quite comfortable to play. Just not sure on the date, think it's an '08 with HS.

I would say yes but I am biased lol. Just try a stingray 5, if you like it then the sterling ray 35 is almost identical. Many find the extra cost for the USA Made full day stingray hard to justify. With all used gear, there is a risk of buying and shipping, but if the seller is known on BC, and they say it is ok, this should limit the risk. If you like a USA stingray 5, I'd say go for it 😄

[quote name='krispn' timestamp='1482566781' post='3201455'] I've a TTE500 for the grab and go rehearsals but my main gigging venue has no stairs and parking right out front so the big rig -preamp poweramp set up - comes to those gigs as well as the bigger Gigs I sometimes play. I love the sound from the big rig and while it's heavy my Tecamp 212 isn't and it sounds good to me on stage. I'd love to get my hands on a couple of DB112 cabs but honestly the 212 is doing no wrong for me just now to justify a change. [/quote] So what's the big rig??? I have the TTE500 also, and I've on the fence with it to be honest. It is great, but there is just a little something missing.

I remember being impressed with th sansamp BBDI and then later the VT BASS deluxe. It did sound a lot like a amped. Over time though I grew to resent it, to me it just had a horrible compressed and "manufactured" sound, it just didn't sound organic to my ears. It did a reasonable hugely overdriven sound, but that is all I used it for.

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1482497888' post='3201068'] if your niggles have gone away then you are a lucky fella! I was 59 this year and decided that I wanted to be 60 and fit, not 60 and fat. Back in the spring I changed my diet, changed my gym regime (under pretty careful instruction) and have since lost 4" off my waist whilst pretty much maintaining my weight. Subcutaneous fat and visceral fat levels have gone way down, muscle mass increased etc etc. I am much stronger and fitter - probably as strong and fit as I have been for a long while. But my back problem is still there. I still know about it if I use a bass over 9lbs, still have the weakness. I suppose what I am saying is that everyone is different - hitting the gym I am sure helps but it isn't always a cure-all. [/quote] Congratulations Paul!!! That's a real achievement. The back is a tricky beast to manage. I spent years in the gym powerlifting/bodybuilding as it is a prerequisite for the sport I played (American football). It wasn't until I started running and lots of stretching that I found my back injuries went away. I have had loads of Physio/chiro/osteo and nothing has been able to make it go long term. It was weird, I didn't even notice it had gone until I realised it had been months since it had bothered me lol.

The issue of weight applies on both sides... Many people are obsessed with the weight of gear (basses in particular). If we all obsessed over our own weight, and did some regular excersize, maybe the weight of gear wouldn't be such as issue. I'm now in the "over 35" age bracket, and to be honest, was starting to let myself get a little "cuddly" for want of a better word. I have also spent years playing sport/weight lifting and have more injuries than I care to remember (particularly at this time of year). Last January my wife and I decided to make changes and joined slimming world, started running, bought a road bike and got out there. So, the obvious thing was the waist size of my jeans when down by about 3", and naturally felt better, but the one thing I wasn't expecting... nearly all those "niggles" went away. Playing/carrying gear is really no issue (I use a stingray 5)... fact is, we could probably all do with moving a little more. It's. I wonder we complain about "heavy basses" when we stand up and play for 4 hours over a night, particularly if like me, you sit at a desk for a large portion of your work day. Obviously, if you have an injury, that needs to be respected, and there is a lot to be said for correct lifting technique, so look after yourselves. But get moving, and equally get stretching!!!

Easy mistake to make woodinblack, I think GK have a similar marketing department to musicman... MB FUSION 500 is the tube pre/class D power stage MB FUSION 550 is a tube pre/transformer power stage This bad boy here http://www.gallien-krueger.com/fusion-550-head/

[quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1482322481' post='3199523'] Interesting there appears to be a bit of a resurgence in Ashdown love. [/quote] This surprised the hell out of me too!! 😳

Prepare yourselves for the class D sell off boys and girls

If only there were a few more GK fusion 550's about. I've been desperately trying to get one used for 3 years, every time they come up for sale, I am not in a position to buy. Whenever I have cash, they are nowhere to be seen!

I think we are on the verge of a slight shift. I think tube pre with transformer power stage heads are going to be to the weapon of choice for the next few years (look at the drooling over the Hand Box amps). I agree at a certain something lacking with class D heads, and am in the process of trying to negotiate my amp situations at the moment. Now I'm not saying that going and humping about a peavey TNT 15" combo is a clever idea, but if you are getting all warm and fuzzy about trace Elliott, then go for it. Hey yourself a trace head, but get yourself a decent lightweight cab. It is cool to rock up with an amp in a handbag, but in reality we can all manage a 10kg head. I for one would love to hear a trace head through a neo 212 cab. They were highly regarded back in the day, I'd love to see how they stack up now!

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1482266479' post='3199132'] It's not alone, there's about 15-20 others keeping it company, lol A few are mine and others are in storage. I should add that the loft is carpeted, insulated and has low level heating [/quote] My lord 😳

Just give in bubinga, the sr5 is just amazing.

Cheers WoT, that hasn't helped my GAS lol

That does sound believable. EVERYONE in and around Manchester has the bloody man flu at the minute!!! Sorry to those caught out.