Clarky

I think its telling that a number of the older bass 'greats' (eg, Willie Weeks, the guy from the Meters, Nathan Watts, Joe Osbourn, Bob Babbitt etc) still play Fender Ps (in some cases Js) and their derivatives (eg, Alleva's, Laklands), even though they will have had all manner of more "advanced" basses thrown at them by willing sponsors over the years. You could say its just familiarity but these guys are not going to cut their noses off to spite their faces as they are working musicians.

[quote name='Clarky' post='899544' date='Jul 19 2010, 10:50 PM']As someone so bloody English that I virtually apologize before crossing the road it would be something of an achievement to get a thread locked, not to say a little punk! Rock n roll credibility at last Ps sorry for the swear word[/quote] Back into my English box, apologizing to all and sundry for overreacting. Back to discussing scale length and the merits of nitro finishes

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='899534' date='Jul 19 2010, 10:43 PM']I'm in before they close this thread! [/quote] As someone so bloody English that I virtually apologize before crossing the road it would be something of an achievement to get a thread locked, not to say a little punk! Rock n roll credibility at last Ps sorry for the swear word

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='899523' date='Jul 19 2010, 10:32 PM']Probably because it echoes the bass_ferret "action like a girl" thread. Just guessing...[/quote] Seriously I hope that's not the case. Because if it is, that's just bollocks. There are so many downright offensive and/or insulting posts in the rather wilder OT threads which are allowed to run and run .... As I say I hope that's not the case. Ps happy to delete this post if it's completely barking up the wrong tree

[quote name='JMT3781' post='899514' date='Jul 19 2010, 10:27 PM']does this mean i've been blacklisted for crimes against basschat? [/quote] Fraid so. Here's the pistol, you know what to do ....

Perfectly harmless, valid discussion point and no antagonism. Looks strange that it was closed??? Maybe if it had talked about the catholic church or Raoul Moat it would have been left to run ....

[quote name='farmer61' post='899426' date='Jul 19 2010, 09:11 PM']Does this mean you don't want the next available GB Shuttle 6 anymore....?[/quote] Yep, I'm no longer in the market farmer61 (that sounds a bit odd, very agrarian!)

[quote name='alanbass1' post='899362' date='Jul 19 2010, 08:26 PM']Hey Clarky, how much did you pay for the 450 Classic?[/quote] PM'ed. They are listed at 560 delivered

In the end I chose a TC Classic 450. Not as small and light as some of the options discussed above but a good approximation of a tube amp (similar to a Mesa Walkabout) in a very user-friendly package that was obviously very carefully designed for the gigging/travelling bassist (eg, accepts different voltages without having to make any adjustments, one input covers active/passive basses, mute button for tuning, built-in compression that works etc). What is more they have just cut the price by £100 so that it did not cost a great deal more than the best offer I had for a second hand shuttle. Check it out at BassDirect folks

I have BareFaced Vintage and recommend it highly. But if you wanted some less-than-15 in the mix, how about the BareFaced Big One? A 15 and a 6.5 in one lightweight package. [url="http://barefacedbass.com/product-range/big-one.htm"]http://barefacedbass.com/product-range/big-one.htm[/url]

[quote name='jazzyvee' post='897809' date='Jul 18 2010, 09:34 AM']Hi I'm a new member, a long time alembic owner and this is my first response. i'm an exclusively alembic bass player and have a number of their basses short scale 4 and long scale 4 and 5 string basses. The closest long scale bass that has simple controls like a spoiler is I would say the standard alembic Elan which has volume pan and low pass filter. It is also an all maple body and neck is maple with some slim walnut laminates, so the tone has a lot of high end frequencies without losing the bottom end. Most of the more higher end Alembics have the bridge bolted to a large brass sustain block. The idea being to keep the vibrating string vibrating for longer whilst reducing some of the higher levels of attenuation that would be experienced if the bridge was bolted directly to the body and hence improves sustain of the vibrating string. I don't find any of their instruments sterile sounding at all. I think one of the key things about their basses is their pickups and electronics. Their pickups, unlike most other manufacturers, are low impedance and "non voiced". The are just designed to reproduce as accurately as possible the signal from the vibrating string. The pre-amp and filters allows for a very wide, useable and versatile tonal spectrum. I wouldn't be interested in anything else. Jazzyvee[/quote] Hey jazzyvee and welcome to BassChat. Funnily enough I sent you a message on the Alembic Club site yesterday, congratulating you on your new 5-string, which is the nicest Alembic 5 I have ever seen!

Sounds like a great idea to me, especially as you have written on several occasions how your ESP just "fits" you. Its actually a much lower risk than buying a new bass as you will be completely familiar with the body/sound/right hand placement etc and John Shuker is a craftsman. The only way this could be a mistake is if he or you somehow compromise the existing bass or its neck (eg, damage the neck pocket) which I am assuming will not happen. Go for it!

Mark at BassDirect just got a TC Classic to me in record time. I had left it too late for the Friday courier when I placed the order and was a bit disappointed as I wanted it for Monday, so that I could have it on my birthday (Tuesday). Without charging extra Mark put it on an overnight delivery to arrive this morning, complete with a cheer happy birthday message on the outside of the box. Now that is (again) really good, customer focused service. Can't recommend highly enough. PS tha amp sounds remarkably tube like, like my old Mesa, and I am very pleased with it.

Yowza! Thats close to three grand including shipping and duties. When I was an active member of RickResource I vaguely recall one or two changing hands for less than this although I can't exactly recall by how much (the translation into sterling wasn't so horrible in those days). Ever thought of going sunburst Mark? Would save you a lot of money

Sorted now - I have paid a bit extra to get a new TC Classic 450 as it does everything I want and as it was only £90 more than the best offer I had of a s/h micro-amp

[quote name='Viajero' post='896241' date='Jul 16 2010, 08:42 AM']Grand Wazoo - I am indescribably impressed that you have that. Great story to it, too. If you plan on dying any time soon, could I have it?[/quote] Thats one way to wish GW a happy birthday! (see bottom of BassChat home page )

Thanks all, you've sold me. So its a level playing field between micro heads with and without valve pre-amps. Now it just comes down to me deciding which head fits the bill best in terms of price, availability and features. PS, I do have an Items Wanted thread, looking for just such an amp if you haven't spotted it! [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=94809&st=0&p=892771&#entry892771"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...mp;#entry892771[/url]