uk_lefty

Yeah I don't get the power ratings, it restricts you to 600w or lower heads. Means I didn't grab one of those bargain RM800s sadly.

We had full PA support so I didn't really need to push it but the volume is there in spades, definitely, I use the Rootmaster 500 head. I've not used the ABM Pro Neo 2x10s either so can't compare exactly. What I can compare it to is the Rootmaster series cabs. I personally prefer the sound of 15s, it's deeper and rounder sounding to me than the 2x10s which can do the punchiness well and high end but I feel low miss and deep lows are lacking a bit of authority. The Rootmaster cabs are excellent value for money but I just feel there's more to the sound with the ABMs. This is of course my view based on me playing my stuff through my guitars, effects, etc. So others may get completely different results.

Gigged my ABM Pro Neo 1x15s on Friday night for the very first time. Powerful and authoritative sound indeed. Also easy to lift down a narrow passage over the top of my car to squeeze into the venue. Even had a punter stand behind the PA speaker in a little space where he was getting smashed in the chest by my bass rig.... He enjoyed the Ashdown sound (but also wanted to talk to me about it in between songs, which is nice but not practical. If you're reading this we can catch up another time).

There was an Acoustic amp and cabs advertised on Facebook last week for about £650, I don't know much about these but I thought it seemed like a great deal

Played my first gig with a "new" band last night... New in that I joined at the end of October but they've been going over ten years. Absolute belter. Made plenty of little fumbles at the start but no songs fell apart. Played one of their biggest gigs first off, great experience this time of year with people out in party mood and knocking out a few Xmas songs. More practice to do, next gig is 7th January!! But people were out in force last night to enjoy live music, it was a great experience.

I think that paragraph there sums up the skillset and attitude 99% of bands want from a bassist but not many always get. Use that when you enquire with other bands and you'll be top of their list of people to audition: hard working, aware of own limitations, knows his role. Sounds like the ideal bandmate to me.

I saw this on their Facebook today and am tempted to make an enquiry. I don't need it, it probably wouldn't work so well with my band, but it's so tempting. What sort of lead times are people getting from order to UK delivery?

So I'm getting ready for a gig tonight, here's my HX Stomp set up. Remember I was trying to go for a single box solution.... How foolish.

Exactly. I saw a right handed up for a grand and I put mine up for £850 buy it now. I included a very good quality guitar gig bag, some brand new Elites strings and I had to spend some cash on getting it ship shape after I bought it so it was all fair I think. A few months ago Status had a lefty S2 in stock on their site, I thought it must be cheaper than ordering one so I enquired. I won't be having a real Status!

Most pension funds probably are too. And deforestation, intensive farming, all sorts of unethical stuff.

Yeah it's moved a bit. Since the covid pandemic I think this is the chain of events... Sold my MiJ Precision to fund the MIJ Jazz. Bought an Aria SB Elite that I fixed up but ended up selling because I bought the Washburn Status. Built up a PJ Bitsa. Bought a fretless Warwick but sold shortly after. Sold the MIJ Jazz to @Bonin-in-the boneyard Bought an Epiphone Jack Casady. Also in that time I've started and folded an 80s band, left the band I've been in since 2016 and joined an established local covers band. I also bought and sold a Trace Elliot amp and have replaced my cabs with Ashdown ABM Neos. I shipped out my multi effects and got a Helix and have ended up building a board around it. Working at home 5 days a week for 2 years surrounded by music gear isn't so healthy I think! I have lots of guests over in December and my office/ music room has the sofa bed. It was getting unwieldy so when it was £1 selling on eBay I put up the Washburn because it wasn't getting use and it sold at full value, not even an offer made! I was quite surprised, the price was highish but fair. The bitsa is also up but I'm really not bothered if it doesn't sell, it's coming to my gig tonight as a backup. I want to keep to five basses at most, four ideally. If I get enough money in I might get a high end jazz bass, or just any Sire, I miss my old Sire a lot.

My first proper band... We rehearsed and were tight as anything. I was 17-18, drummer 26, guitarist-singer 21, so socially we weren't mixing and we were at different points in life. On our last gig the guitarist who wasn't a good singer introduces me to his mate and says he wants him to be our new singer. "Err, I'm leaving to go to uni next month" I said. We just didn't really know each other except when we were playing instruments. Most recent band. Four years in and covid hits. Tried very hard to get everyone motivated through lockdown, chance to rip up the set list and start again, do some remote recording... Nothing. Some positive noises but no action. We got together a few times when lockdown had lifted but it was very scrappy and had no focus. Drummer handled the band email and when it was clear lockdown was lifting and we got asked to name our dates for a pub chain his reply was basically "we haven't rehearsed for a year so we will get back to you when we're ready" which annoyed me no end. We want to get some kind of gig in the diary but can't align our availability, but because it seems positive I fold an 80s band I'd started and feel keen to go. I then get criticised by drummer for being away for three days for a wedding (all in the band calendar months in advance) as if it's anyone elses' business that I might visit my family for a bit while I'm back home. Then drummer announces a gig on Facebook for a date he knows i can't do. I wish the lads well for this gig I didn't know about. The others get itchy, the drummer thinks he can just announce a gig and it all falls into place. Guitarists don't know what time they're playing two days before the event. Singer has no clue either. Drummer gets annoyed because he thinks he's done his bit and now it's up to everyone else. Gig is a car crash. Singer takes a job with night shifts and can't rehearse except at times I can't do. I bow out gracefully and start speaking to other bands. Band hasn't done a thing since I left.

First gig running the Helix tomorrow night. Mostly using the factory presets, they work well enough for this band and set up and they are consistent in volume output. I've swapped around some different effects to "stomp" in and out as needed. Fingers crossed it behaves on the gig and gives out good enough sound quality! Edit: so the gig was last night. Some bloke came past the PA speaker to stand in a little area where he could get hit by the sound from my amp and in the break he was asking about what's making the bass sound. A few people complimented me on the sound which was Helix presets going into an Ashdown RM500 with the EQ bypassed, into two 15" Ashdown ABM PRO Neo cabs. So sound quality was a big tick. That was the main thing. The only slight drawback is scrolling through the presets is a pain in the bum and not something that can be done very quickly even with the outboard added switches. I will need to be smarter about arranging my presets around the setlist.

This is too many, for me at least. So one of them is going and another is up for sale. Logic: the five string fretless was an 18th birthday present and it's priceless to me but probably wouldn't fetch £200 on eBay, if I was recording something it's the bass I'd grab. The Stingray is number 1 for my new band, though I want to try the Jack Casady. The JC is great for practice without having to amp up and it sounds fantastic. The bitsa PJ sounds phenomenal in the right situation but I recently put it up for sale, there's no sentiment there. The headless has gone now, it was great but I'm not in an 80s band anymore and I don't have a Trace Elliot to play it through. Still feel I'm lacking a jazz bass though!

Well well well.... Used the bitsa at rehearsal last night (first gig with the new band tomorrow) and it sounded incredible. I used the rehearsal space Orange amp which I despise when using my Stingray but using passive DiMarzio pups it was P bass perfection every step of the way from fingertip to earhole. Think I'll reconsider the sale!

Awwww I binned one a few weeks back!! I remember taking a Peavey cable back to the shop years after I'd bought it, I'd saved the cardboard sleeve that said "lifetime guarantee". The shop worker was puzzled but just accepted it and gave me a new lead then and there.

I wanted one of these when I was a teen. Had to settle for the Bass State B150 which was a hefty lump, but not the prestige DBS line! Used to have one of these with a 2x10 extension cab. Also until recently had a fantastic Trace 2x10. My first proper amp was an 80s Peavey. It was knackered. It had weird dials for "pyramid" and other craziness. But it was "150 watts", 80s Peavey watts, and I'm fairly sure it was radioactive. I don't have any photos of it unfortunately. I'd love to be playing a Marshall DBS set up, or a good old Peavey set up, but I don't have the skill to repair or maintain these things, sadly and I'm all about having the job done reliably. I'd be stressing too much if I thought something could go wrong with my amp or bass at a gig. Love seeing these though, fantastic that they're still in use!

Well.... Here's the family today. The Washburn/ Status goes to a new home this week. It was fun while it lasted, it's a lovely, lovely bass but the collapse of my 80s band and joining something very different means it's unlikely to get the attention it deserves. The bitsa is also up for sale. Everything else is in use! The plan is to get down to four basses and stay there....

I've had both great and not so good service from them, but mostly they've been good. Their loyalty points are a good way to keep me going back. The not so good was when I returned a Line 6 wireless and it took months to get a replacement. Not Anderson's fault but there was complete silence on progress and I had to chase and chase. I've phoned once before and had some kid give me the impression I'm wasting his time, but usually I get really helpful people. It's still one of the first places I look for stuff.

Almost nobody would go to it. Sad but true. We are but a niche. There are members here who could just open up their music rooms and show you something more of interest..... BC "through the keyhole" anyone?

It's really hard to sell something with a repaired neck. Unless you know who did the repair it's hard to trust it's been done well.

Is there a line of Police recruits at the door waiting for a new helmet to be suction molded to their heads, like milk bottles on a conveyor belt waiting for their shiny gold tops? The imagery! In all seriousness, sounds like a great idea to cover the board for travel and to protect from bridesmaids swinging drinks around at weddings.

Never had this myself. Mine is noisy at home (not using DI) but I assume it's picking up electrical interference.

The Desert Penguins will play the Horn in St Albans for a late gig, 10:30pm onwards. And it will be my first gig as their bass guy 😯