Sean

1 hour ago, Eldon Tyrell said:

 

Cool stuff 👍

Needs a new cavity sticker though - Today is 30 April (although it feels more like 30 Jul)

Thanks. That’s really annoyed me 😬.  Especially since I like everything just right.  I’ll blame the heat and lack of sleep last night 😴. 

My 5th LHZ Glowup

The DarkGlass Tone Capsule is out.

LHZ-03 #739 is in.

It sounds like it should now. And it sounds subtly different to the others. In fact my four 4s all sound a bit different from each other, which must point towards wood differences. They've all got newish D'Addario EXL170s. This one, Peacock, has an ebony board.

I also treated her to some Schaller strap pins. The new strap pins used on newer Euros are rubbish.

Photos are:

1. Before opening.

2. The DG

3. The LHZ

4. A happy patient recovering well from the op.

These don't come up very often. Not my thing but surely someone here could give it a home

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/146518443184?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=yFb8bu-2SNu&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=6MnoMIQiQQC&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

I think we should have a rule/guideline where we don’t post people’s names in the subject of the thread without some context. 

Yet again, I looked at this and thought, "oh jeez, bless her but at least she had a good innins."

I used to exchange emails with her years ago, I even got a reply on Christmas Day once.

Bruce Foxton was the last one to not be dead when I opened that thread..

On 28/04/2025 at 18:07, Eldon Tyrell said:

Thanks and good idea. Problem is, I am not really into neck shaving and refin. However, if someone knows someone who can do it, then it could be an option. 

Jon Shuker did my Valenti #005. He can pretty much give you whatever profile you need. If you know the measurements of the Ian Hill neck, he can replicate it. Crimson Guitars (spendy) or Laverack could be other options but Jon would be my first call.

Neck shaving and refin is at the luthier end of the Tech to Luthier scale.

2 hours ago, bass_dinger said:

 

I am looking for an Eastman Mandolin, and Richard's Guitars seems to be the only UK shop with the full range of instruments in stock.  

 

Four hours on the train, but nevertheless on my "must visit" list.

I bought an Eastman MD505 from RG. All good. No issues.

Years ago the band I was in (3 of the 4 of us) went to a live sound mixing workshop. I think it was about £20 each at the time. There were about 10-12 people there and we learned the basics of mixing live sound. Everyone had a good time, we learned loads and sounded better afterwards.

I've no idea if these sort of workshops exist but you could find one and make a day of it.

This is how I'm running the 550 if it helps any. It has different pre but it still sounds very Bob Gallien.  I also have the MB Fusion 500 set up exactly the same.  Bright and Deep both engaged (difficult to see in photo). I don't use the contour although I've tried it and it's all very useful and makes sense. GK gear seems to have more usable tones than other amps I've used. What I mean is that pretty much whatever you dial in would be useful for something/ someone whereas with other amps I've got/had, you just operate them between 10 and 2 o'clock otherwise they start getting unusable.

The caveat here is that I'm running a Spector with EMGs and everything dialled to max except for a few songs where I just roll off the treble on the instrument a touch and get hold of a plectrum.

I've used it through a Marshall 810, a Peavey Nitrobass 410 and my own pair of BF TWO10s and yes, it does change sound/voice a bit, especially through the old 810 but I don't move the EQ much more than 0.5-1 from where they are in the photo.

On 27/04/2025 at 02:48, Paddy777 said:

It’s a really great & high end preamp isn’t it?! Amp sims sound massive and completely realistic & give you a great sound flat, but then the EQ options and contour switches can really add some flavour - I expect to see more love for the Plex, it’s great! (Altho the £519 price tag at Bass Direct is a bit wild 😕 but looking at other stuff out there for £300+ it’s worth the money!) 

 

 

 

 

I've had an MXR DI 80+ a few times, a Tech21 SansAmp, an Aguilar ToneHammer, an MXR Bass DI, a Tech21 DP3-X, DHA custom units, the EHX Battalion (shocking thing), the EBS one with the sticky out valve, a couple of others I've forgotten and the first one that does exactly what I want (and more) is the Plex.

Speak to Lee at Laverack Guitars. He makes Toltec pickups. They are handwound near Leeds. He'll pretty much make what you want if you chat to him and explain what tone you're looking for. He really knows his stuff and is good at demystifying it all. Also, it won't cost you much more than £100 for the pair.

I have a pair of Toltec hot vintage pickups and although they aren't being used at the moment, they're so good that they've gone in the box of things that won't go up for sale.

On 26/04/2025 at 10:48, attackbass said:

Anyone ever use tapered B strings on thier spector? 

 

Just out a set on my LT5 today and the low b sounds like it's going through a harmonizer and not in a good way!

 

Never knew this was a thing. Luckily my I have a Dunlop artist deal so hoping I can just exchange the other 8 sets I have!! 😅

I have a tapered 145 D'addario on my E5LX. No issues. 

Is there any looseness or rattling at the bridge or nut? Are all the saddle blocks tight? 

Only one way to find out.

Iceberg!!!!

HAZ vs Darkglass Tone Capsule

I'm struggling with the DG.

I'm now completely acclimatised to running the LHZ-03s on 10 and rolling back the treble for a few songs. Awesome (like a hotdog 😉).

Is the DG designed for folk that have time to potch (mess about) with knobs and stuff? Why on earth would you hide one of the controls inside? Why would you design something that is unusable when dialed to 10? What am I missing with this thing?

I can get some nice usable sounds but I feel like a safe-cracker getting the shower temperature just right (another EI reference, sorry).

I did this today. After fitting the LHZ to the still nameless maple board Euro 4LX.

I've decided that for the covers project I need my comfort-zone analogue boxes. I don't really need much and this does it all and more. 

A quick run-through:

1. The SFX Microthumpinator is essential (it's like an air fryer. How people live without them, I have no idea).

2. The GK Plex is my favourite pedal/box/effect/DI ever.

3. The TC Chorus just uses the Duff TonePrint, I don't need anything else.

4. The MXR filter (3rd time I've had one of these) is used on 2 songs.

5. The Made by Mike (London Era) ZVEX Woolly Mammoth clone, that I've had forever, is there in case I need to use this rig for the originals band. 

Other: It's all sitting on a Pedaltrain Metro 16. Power is from a T-Rex Chameleon and the buttons are Orange, Vimto, Vodka, Strawberry and Lime. 

Tuner? It's in the Plex.

Compressor? See above.

Overdrive? See above. 

Amp sims? Guess. 

USB Interface? That too.

Emergency Backup DI? Plex again, folks.

Headphone amp? Ole Bob G thought of that too.

Space inside for your stash? Damn right.

Another TonePumpectomy today. 

I said to @cetera and @Eldon Tyrell that I was going to time how long it takes me to do an installation without distractions and interruptions and it's about 45 min for a soldering installation including everything. It'd be a few mins less for an EMG flying lead installation but there's still a few joins when doing those.

This is my 4th.

I've got one to go but I am determined to understand that Darkglass Tone Capsule before it comes out. Then it'll be up for sale. Which reminds me,  is there a market for old TonePumps???

I went again last night and it was fab. A really welcoming crowd especially the regulars. I chatted to lots of new faces and even had a dance.  My friend got mistaken for a drug dealer but we put that to rest quickly. Amber had some compliments on how good she sounded being played with a pick and all was good with the World.

I saw The Warning this week supported by the bassist-less Sophie Lloyd. Sophie had a bassist back in December when I saw her in Cardiff but all bass parts are on a backing track now.  I understand keys and horn parts being on backing tracks because keys players generally want to stay at home and won't lower themselves to play in bands but not having a bassist! Come on.

LHZ-03 with everything up to 10 makes life very easy. The only adjustment I need to do is to roll off the treble for a couple of songs.

5 hours ago, SteveFate said:

Haha understood

I absolutely love it but the all seeing one who is never wrong said very flatly, "hmmm, nice but it'll show the dirt".

5 hours ago, SteveFate said:

Haha understood

What year, what pre, etc?

What needs doing to sort the intonation? Is it more than the usual adjustments?

5 hours ago, Eldon Tyrell said:

Cool stuff. When I first saw the bass, I mentioned the Stormtrooper vibes it was giving me. Well, looks I wasn't the only one 😉 

More weird coincidences.

15 hours ago, JottoSW1 said:

Yup. I got one for 599 some time ago, pick up only. Hefty thing to pick up from Halesowen

How're you getting on with it?

What do you play it through?

I think anything new from Hartke is worth investigating, it's a brand with huge history and reputation.

2 hours ago, bassofdeath said:

Cool response. Yes, I would genuinely be interested to hear that. I've fallen far enough down the Spector rabbithole that I'm all into the tonechasing of that classic Spector sound. Woods, preamps, pickups, build etc...obsessing over nuances.

You start thinking 6K is fair and reasonable to get exactly what you want...

Thanks. Are you asking if £6k is enough for a new USA instrument built to your spec?

£6k buys a lot of used US Spector but the right NS5-XL will take some finding.

I think we'd all be interested to know what you've learned about the differences between the US and CZ build processes.