molan

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1381488886' post='2239712'] Here's my guess: Listening to one brand against another in isolation (possibly in a shop) is no way indicative of how those cabs are going to sound at a gig in a band situation and at battle levels. I found that the S12 I was using sounded [i]absolutely[/i] perfect live, but on its own at home (for example) less so. But of course it's the sound 'in concert' which counts - unless you're Michael Manring, of course. Basschatters know well that the sound of a rig in isolation has [i]no [/i]bearing on how it will sound 'on the night', so to speak. [/quote] It was in a large room, not the shop, but was in isolation. I've always found BF to sound very 'forward' in isolation but have only heard one once in a band mix and it was a bit subdued. Loads of other stuff in the band mix though and it could just have been that it was low in the PA mix. My personal favourites of the lightweight cabs in a live band situation are the Aggie SL112's. I've heard a few people using these live and never fail to be impressed. However I know some people aren't keen on them and I think they are more sensitive to amp matching than the Berg equivalent. Just 'horses for courses' really

[quote name='LeftyJ' timestamp='1381441925' post='2239337'] So does Rickenbacker. All 4000 series basses are 33 1/4 inch. [/quote] Amazing - I've played loads of Ricky's and never noticed they were shorter scale! I guess the overall ergonomics of a Ricky are so different to anything else that I've simply not spotted a different scale length. There's a V63 for sale at the shop I help at. Definitely going to try it in a new light when I'm back in next week Mind you, I can never play them without reaching for a pick, lol.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1381441138' post='2239315'] Polarised is right. I borrowed a Super Twelve for a few months and I liked it very much. Not heard the 3rd Gen stuff yet, but I was blown away by the S12 and will be buying a BF cab ASAP. I can't imagine how anyone who's heard one wouldn't like it! Horses for courses and all that, I suppose. [/quote] I agree - lots of people on BC seem to really rate them so they must work for them. Meanwhile I saw a one demo'd recently against a well known brand and several people were pulling ugly faces because they didn't like the sound. It's this extreme polarisation that I don't understand really. Usually when you hear a few things back to back you'll get people preferring one brand to another because of smaller differences but with BF you seem to get this big love/hate thing going on. I've genuinely met people who were nearly frothing at the mouth about how much they dislike them but then here on BC there's obviously a huge love for BF. It does seem quite common for people to buy them and then sell again soon after so there must be some core tonal characteristics that just grate on certain people very quickly. You often see this with basses but not so much with cabs so that's what intrigues me I guess

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1381439835' post='2239281'] Do you think it's because people in the real world like to hear with their eyes? [/quote] To be honest I think it's the reverse - I keep meeting people who really, really, don't like how they sound. I've never known a single brand to polarise people so much. You get brands that people aren't keen on all the time but it's rare for people to have such a strong dislike of a brand's core sound. You see a lot of them for sale in the classifieds. . .

I always knew there must be someone out there that actually likes the BF paint finish and now we know who

I saw Vic live playing bass for Bootsy - he can be as funky as hell when he's in the mood He was so good Bootsy didn't even pick up a bass and just sang!

[quote name='machinehead' timestamp='1381427521' post='2239044'] Seeing a Barefaced cab isn't what he needs - he needs to [u][i]hear[/i][/u] one, that's all........... Frank. [/quote] From a purely personal point of view I think seeing a BF in the flesh is really important - especially if comparing to a Bergantino. The quality of finish is leagues apart and really puts lots of people off. I genuinely can't understand why BF persist with the covering materials they use. I've never known a brand of speakers to get such a 'marmite' reception. People here on BC seem to love them but I meet so many people in the 'real world' who've bought some on spec and then sold them really quickly because they disliked them so much

I'm hooked on 33.3" scale now - big money option though as I only know of Jens Ritter that makes them!

[quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1381313742' post='2237289'] Cool! I like Swamp Ash. Nice and resonant and light. I hate to think how much Fred's R8 cost though! [/quote] The ash one weighs just 7.25lbs! Which one is Fred's R8? I can price it up for you if you want

[quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1381310708' post='2237221'] It's a bit annoying that Jens doesn't just have a price list on his site. I'd like to know that I'm wasting my time with a click rather than an email!! [/quote] Jens used to have prices on the site but had a few issues with people getting confused over the base price vs options and, more importantly, international exchange rates. The exchange rate issue caused lots of problems in some of the larger sales markets like USA and Japan and it was too complicated, for a tiny luthier business, to keep updating prices in line with local markets. He had an online currency converter on the site for a while but it simply wasn't accurate in terms of actual costs of buying currency and, obviously, couldn't allow for shipping and import duties. In continental Europe he maintains a fixed price Euro quoting system. For UK, USA and Japan he has authorised dealers who handle everything for him. Base prices are the same as if you were to order direct - at least that's certainly the case in the UK. The system now is that you can zap an email via the site and get a quote back within 24 hours. Simplest way is to pick something in the history gallery and then ask for an estimate on how much it would cost to replicate. Prices start just over £4K for a 4 string Cora like the one pictured. The ash body is a standard price option but it has been stained and sandblasted which adds to the price. It also has a minor electronics upgrade to give a passive option with independent tone control.

They've been pretty much 'dead' for a while but I kept seeing that they were looking for a new investor. Have they definitely shut up shop for good now? Prices have been rising over in the US but not so much over here yet.

I always thought doing my own basic setup was fine. I'm comfortable with bridge height, truss rods, intonation etc. etc. However I've recently been working with one of those guys who does this for a living and charges for his services. He can really, really make a big difference and is much better than anything I can do by a margin that I think it's acceptable to pay for. I'd happily recommend him to anyone who really wants their bass to feel that bit better to play. One thing I would say is that the margins between what I can do and what he's able to do are greatest the lower the required action is. For light touch players who want a super low action right across the board his expertise makes a real difference. He took in a 7 string he other day that played well but the owner wanted it to go lower and be more even playing everywhere. He removed the neck, shimmed it slightly, filed the nut, sorted out some badly fitted frets, adjusted both truss rods, adjusted spacing, re-set the bridge, set intonation and matched pickup heights. It played superbly when he was finished and the owner was grinning from ear to ear when he picked it up. He couldn't believe the transformation. Cost was £60 and, in my opinion, worth every penny

I hear that a rather fine bassist with a history of playing with Whitesnake, Sabbath, Brian May, Peter Green etc. etc is now using an ATS cab

Be very, very careful about the TC RH450. It can be quite an 'immediate' sounding amp in a demo room but a total tone-sucker if not matched with the right cabs and can disappear completely in a live band mix

I only caught a short clip of the show but the bass man didn't like Aaron James to me. Rest of the band were all the same guys I saw with Gregory this summer. This is Aaron

[quote name='keeponehandloose' timestamp='1380867925' post='2231617'] I stall have a csar on my forehead [/quote] Hope it's not Ivan the Terrible

I'd ask what he feels about US healthcare - you'd have to assume he was a pretty successful musician but the system is so poor that he can't get/afford decent healthcare and is really not at all well

I recently had the misfortune to play a bass that was obviously some sort of school project abomination. The fret ends protruded so far and were so sharp that I cut my fingers on it! It also had fret markers at 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 etc

I've had a few attempts to get Protec cases stocked - UK distributor not really very interested in actually 'distributing' them. . . I have no idea how these people stay in business

[quote name='AKAK' timestamp='1380710376' post='2229217'] Tecamps are now being sold by Thomman at a remarkably good price and cheaper than they have ever been! [/quote] Either Thomann are selling these at very low margin or Tecamp have decided to become a bit more competitive. The two Puma heads are much more sensibly priced vs US made brands than they used to be.

I had a good look at some basses with Babicz bridges the other day and I must admit I liked he design compared to a BadAss which, to me anyway, seems to be looking a bit dated now (and yes, I realise the irony of a bridge upgrade looking dated that's on a 1950's designed instrument, lol). The Bass Centre are importing Babicz and fitting them as standard on a lot of basses now. Seems like a really good idea

That sounds like a lot of money for a '62RI. It would need to be particularly nice to play and sound great to warrant that sort of price. I played a brand new Fender Custom Shop recently that was in a similar price brackets and it sounded really, really nice and I think the CS models will hold value better. I've seen early 90's RI basses that have been excellent that have sold for around the £1,200 mark. Obviously this one is quite different but I'm not sure that the early '80's models are really commanding this sort of value at the moment?

[quote name='tonyxtiger' timestamp='1380646217' post='2228413'] Westside expect these mid December. Hope no one is in a rush. I'm having to curtail my excitement now. [/quote] I hear there may be both models available then