Painy

Well if I could describe the sound in just one word then 'focused' wouldn't be a bad choice at all. It is quite Hi-Fi sounding which might not be for everyone (I personally really love the core sound of it) but I find I can easily warm it up with pedals if I do want that more vintage sound.

It's just another finish option at the end of the day. I personally really like the look of an old, worn sunburst and maple P-bass and I do have a sunburst and maple P but being a poly finish it's unlikely to ever age that way naturally so a relic job may be the only way to get that look. However, I couldn't bring myself to intentionally damage it that way so I'll just have to keep taking proper care of it I guess . Generally though I think it's interesting that it bothers some people at all (obviously if it was done to mislead a potential buyer in some way then I get that completely) but nobody seems to question refinishing an old instrument to restore it to an as-new appearance.

I use an AG500 through a pair of 112 cabs (Aguilar DB112s) in a very loud pub rock covers band but we also play some slightly larger venues (maybe 4-500 capacity) Our drummer is definitely a hard hitter (think John Bonham) and is also miked up through the (all Peavey apart from the desk) PA which is 2 pairs of 4Ohm UL115 top cabs and a pair of UL215 bass bins all powered by 2 Peavey 2600 power amps. Both guitars are also each running 100w Marshall valve heads through 4x12 cabs. Even up against all that I'll generally run the head with the master volume between 10 and 11 o'clock and that's WITHOUT running it through the PA! Cuts through loud and clear with plenty of weight to the note (see how I avoided the 'H' word there) and plenty of headroom to spare. Hope that helps.

[quote name='ChunkyMunky' timestamp='1487013919' post='3236281'] ...and so it begins. A massive thanks to Painy for sending me the power supply (and accompanying cables that I completely forgot about). I'm truly grateful for the kindness of the people here and I'll be sure to repay it back. [URL=http://s1243.photobucket.com/user/chunkymunky921/media/20170213_183701_zpsrcf9gck0.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg546/chunkymunky921/20170213_183701_zpsrcf9gck0.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [/quote] You're more than welcome. I hope it serves you well!

[quote name='bazztard' timestamp='1486953254' post='3235845'] Fender = Sunburst and tort [/quote] +1 - for precisions anyway (I'm also quite fond of my Jazz in Olympic White / Black). From the available choices above though I've gone CAR (on a P) and LPB (on a J).

[quote name='PawelG' timestamp='1482344200' post='3199787'] Hello, I have seen this video a while ago and kept coming back. The sound that this thing has... It's just mind blowing to me. I was curious about other peoples thoughts on that. Obviously, Marcin is a fantastic player so that is one big factor that contributes to its tone but still, absolutely stunning. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YAfX4BbAME [/quote] That's pretty much how I dream of sounding when I try to play fretless. Unfortunately it generally comes out sounding more like this: http://youtu.be/C9ZPAgIL7hA

[quote name='BassApprentice' timestamp='1486735511' post='3234221'] Yes I'm very pleased. EQ is a bit disappointing so far but I haven't tried it at proper volume yet so that could be the key to getting a tone dialed in. [/quote] I found the eq to be fairly okay but wasn't quite getting what I wanted from it. Combining it with my MXR M80 pre-amp pedal though has worked really well for me. If I didn't have the pedal already though I'd have just put a Retrovibe Stinger pre-amp in it as has already been suggested.

Well I don't really need one to take to gigs as I have an MXR M80 but I'm now considering getting one to keep in my downstairs toilet.

I've got one of these kicking around that you'd be welcome to if it would be any good to you and you cover the postage. PM me if you want it . [URL=http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Richard_Pain/media/stuff/Screenshot_20170209-213957_1_zpsoivjn7fn.jpg.html][IMG]http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/Richard_Pain/stuff/Screenshot_20170209-213957_1_zpsoivjn7fn.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1486638828' post='3233410'] This is so subjective. Some players sound terrible to me and everyone else thinks they have the best sound in the world! So who can say! IMO good advice is all about common sense. Buy the best gear you can find and make yourself afford it. Start with a good bass with good strings. One thing kills tone more than anything else, gear thrashing away at the top of its range, so get an amp that doesn't need much EQing to get "your" tone and is more powerful than you need. Believe that more "headroom" will get you a better sound, because it will. Get the best cabs you can find. They'll translate your sound into the SPL that everyone else hears. Cut corners here and the you're wasting your talent and the quality of all your other gear and throwing away the best opportunity you have for greatness. A huge low end causes problems in too many rooms. The best bass tone is located in the mids and low mids. Get that right and you can own the mix, but don't go too low or you'll undo all the good work. People say there is no difference between bell wire and good leads. I don't believe that. The people who don't benefit from good leads probably have a bad sound to start with. Get good leads. Gramma pads are supposed to reduce the bad sound your bass can generate on hollow stages. Their benefits may be limited to specific locations but I've experience of them killing the problems of one bad stage, so as they don't hurt and can work, I'll use them as an insurance policy. IMO the guys who have the best tone are the best players. It's a sliding scale from there down and the guys who work harder usually sound better. Improving your tone is more than twiddling the knobs in a certain way. Get lessons and make yourself worthy of all the great great you buy. The only way you can get this right is if you use your experience, brain and ears. Protect your ears or you won't be able to tell a bar of music from a bar of soap. [/quote] You could quite easily take down this whole forum and just replace it with a link to this single post. Alright maybe keep the market place and the Gear Porn but apart from that.....

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1486638216' post='3233395'] Nik Kershaw is an absolute genius composer. The album Radio Musicola is wall to wall quality. [/quote] Saw you'd posted here Bilbo and was hoping you were going to admit to loving Moondance!

[quote name='Bbiigg Kev' timestamp='1486584486' post='3233062'] Geoff Whitehorn, nice guy and a fine guitarist !!! [/quote] A very nice guy indeed. Saw him at a Marshall clinic years ago at what was Academy of Sound in Norwich (became Sound Control and is now PMT) and our lead guitarist, who I'd tagged along with, had some questions about how to get the best out of his amp. Not only did he give some really good advice but actually have our guitarist his personal phone number in case he had any more questions! Really liked his playing on the Now album but Jaz Lochrie's tone on that album is one of my favorite recorded bass sounds. Saw Paul Rodgers at the Ipswich Regent not long after that album came out and was pretty disappointed that it was a different and generally pretty forgettable band playing with him (my overriding memory being the bass player wearing metallic blue spandex trousers and a zebra print spandex vest despite being a bit on the tubby side and this being the late 90s not the mid 80s - did have a nice 5 string Zon though). I did get to meet and chat to Paul after the gig though and he was a really warm, friendly guy who actually seemed genuinely interested that I played in a band myself. He does have exceedingly small hands though!

Well it looks like I've now found a good enough deal online on multiple packs of the Rotosounds as to be worth putting up with their shorter life span to get that sound. I think The DRs would have been a pretty decent substitute to be fair but looks like they would be a fair bit more expensive too.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1486598075' post='3233240'] On the basis of what I`ve read I`ve tried Prosteels, DR Lo-Riders, Dean Markley Blue Steels and Elites, but Rotos, even with their shorter life span still win. Theres just something in those strings that brings an agression that I just can`t find in any other string. DRs and Elites were nearly there, but not quite. [/quote] Rotos are unquestionably my favorite sounding strings when new so I'm with you there Lozz. I'm just looking for the best compromise I can though as I really can't afford to keep changing strings that often - especially as I have 3 basses that get used at every gig! I did just watch a comparison video on YouTube between Rotos and Lowriders and I did still prefer the Rotos but the Lowriders were definitely pretty close.

[quote name='Muzz' timestamp='1486586411' post='3233091'] I do love the bridge on that new Epi...mine's almost, almost there: Actually, looking at it more closely, I couldn't have a two-piece bridge: the saddles are too far forward on mine. Ah well, I'll have to struggle on... [/quote] With that maple neck and all that shiney chrome.... OooErr! If that was a fiver I would be robbing a bank to find the funds to make you an offer. Luckily for my local branch of Natwest though I don't really do 4 strings.

[quote name='Mudpup' timestamp='1486589988' post='3233142'] I like the Dunlop Super Brights steels, nice feel and they definitely stay zingy longer than most others [/quote] Would definitely be the Steels I'd go for - Zing is king in my book. The Prosteels are certainly bright but I find its more of a Ting than a Zing if that makes sense

I could really use some suggestions here. I used Rotosound Swing Bass 66s for years and years and anyways loved the sound of them when they were brand new but, as most people seem to find, they would go dead ridiculously quickly (in my case I'd often literally get just one gig). A couple of years ago I bought a bass that came with D'Addario Prosteels and as they lasted much longer I ended up staying with them since. To be honest though they just don't sound as good to me as my old Rotos used to no matter how long they last. So suggestions for something as close as possible to a long lasting Rotosound string as possible would be massively appreciated as I can't really afford to spend too much on experimentation (otherwise I'd just go back to the Rotos and replace them more often). I've been looking at the Dunlop Super Brights as they're really well priced but haven't the faintest idea if that's looking in the right direction or in fact completely the opposite to the way I need to go. Help!

I'm really enjoying playing The Final Countdown in my band at the moment. Nothing remotely challenging to play and it is an absolute cheese fest but it's bouncy and fun and the crowds are loving it. Same goes for Don't Stop Believing now that I think about it. Not really one for listening to too much of what I'd class as cheese at home though.

Got one of these fairly recently (different colour though) and they really are very good for the money. The output from the pre-amp is a bit excessive though particularly if you boost the bass at all but I just use the pad on my compressor pedal to tame it a bit and it sounds really good. Congrats!

[quote name='Clarky72' timestamp='1486420199' post='3231706'] Anyone had experience of B-5R or B2-RE? Light, solid state, not class D and would potentially beef up with a VT... [/quote] After that old BA500 died on me I actually initially replaced it with a B-5R (they run down to 2 Ohms which suited the speakers I was already running in the picture above). Unfortunately My Hermes broke it delivering it to me (luckily it was sent fully insured though) so I never actually got to hear if it would have made a worthy replacement.

[quote name='zawinul' timestamp='1486291498' post='3230545'] I want high tension strings amy recommendations for bright high tension strings please? [/quote] D'Addario ProSteels. I find they stay bright for a good while too.

[quote name='Clarky72' timestamp='1486305402' post='3230698'] I did use a BA500 combo and was really impressed. What amp is in that? [/quote] I had a BA500 combo and it was indeed a fantastic sounding amp but at about 95lbs it wasn't particularly portable so I did this to it to make it more manageable: [URL=http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Richard_Pain/media/stuff/IMAG1580_zpsnpazhbe2.jpg.html][IMG]http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/Richard_Pain/stuff/IMAG1580_zpsnpazhbe2.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Took the amp out and put it into the head box from a cheap Behringer BVT4500H head then cut down the cab and re-tollexed the top to make a separate 2x10 cab. The pre-amp is basically the same as the SVT450H head but with a different power section (500W at 2 Ohms rather than 450W at 4 Ohms). Not sure how similar they would sound given the different power sections but might still be worth checking out the 450H if one comes up for sale.

I've not actually needed to buy any cables since I've been a BC member but given the amount of positive comments on this site I think even I would recommend OBBM! Certainly if I do need any cables at any point in future then he will be my first port of call.

Looks like fun. I think I'd be afraid to use it with the expression pedal though in case it made my face go like that too!

After my recent thread thread asking for suggestions for IEM earphones on a budget I ended up buying a set of MEE Audio M6 Pro IEMs which cost under £40 delivered from Amazon. It was suggested I put something in here about how I got on with them and having gigged with them for the first time last night these are my thoughts. Straight away I'd say if you are on a really tight budget, as I am, then I would recommend these very highly. They are, as you'd obviously expect at this price point, just a single driver but the clarity and separation in the sound was really very good indeed. As a vocalist, your voice resonating through your jaw bone into your ears when blocking them is a very muffled sound but these are really crisp and clear in the highs which I found compensated for that nicely. Even if you don't sing though I still found the sound of the rest of the instruments, including my bass, coming through nice and clear too but also full sounding in the lows. The only issue I found to be honest was that the standard silicone tips I was using occasionally popped out a bit (the medium size Comply foam tips it also came with are too small for my BFG size lugs). I might get some of large size to try them out but I'm thinking more of getting custom molds done anyway once I can afford it. Other than that I found them really comfortable to wear with the memory wire loops over my ears. Overall, a massive improvement over the normal Sennheiser earphones I had been using and for very little cost. This morning I'm just enjoying the fact that I don't feel like my ears are stuffed with cotton wool after a really good gig last night.