Dood

Just out of interest, do those two op-amps say 4558 on the top? I can't quite see. If they are, they are a generic op-amps - ( a pair of 741's in a package for all the geeky types) So my guess is that it's a fairly old preamp - because there have been a lot of advances in both performance and power consumption since they came out. The same Op amps appear in an old combo I have which is well over ten years old, as a guide. It is possible to upgrade the chips - as iCastle has pointed out they will pop out and with a bit of investigation I'm sure it'd be easy to find out what the latest incarnation of a quality pre op-amp is. I recall names such as TL072, LF353N, OPA2xx, NE553x, LT1358(?) from waaaay back - most will just slot straight in - but it'd be hard to make a 100% definite choice without seeing knowing the schematic - though my major hunch looking at the lack of stuff on the board is that it's probably a gain stage and baxandall bass treble network - a very obvious method and used a great deal in active circuits. Given what we can see, if you decided to upgrade to an up to date preamp I am positive you will notice a big difference in Bass sound.

There's a recent post about the very subject: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=134360"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=134360[/url] Hope it helps!

[quote name='BottomEndian' post='1229965' date='May 13 2011, 02:33 PM']Oh, I missed that one. I desperately want a Harpejji! [/quote] Just for you mate: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=134706&hl=harpejji"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...amp;hl=harpejji[/url]

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='1229984' date='May 13 2011, 02:45 PM']And let's face it, there is a very small minority of people who buy basses with lots of strings that do it mostly for the attention. They must love threads like this.[/quote] Fixed it for you.

[quote name='bremen' post='1229918' date='May 13 2011, 01:57 PM']Yeah, but you're one of [b]us[/b] ;-)[/quote] I'm clicking the imaginary 'like' button right now. Very true, I am a BC lifer - always have been, always will be. Cheers Bremen!

Ok, I'll bite! - sure have an opinion about how a Bass isn't to your liking but seriously, ripping a guy you don't even know just because of the Bass he plays or the music he's in to is a major low ball. All the chats and comms I've had with John Turner have been helpful and informative. He helped me select and import a Bass once too - which he didn't have to do.. Not shouting or ranting, just would like to add a bit of perspective to the thread. Sometimes I am amazed at the closed mindedness of some!! - I've long hair, a goatee and long hair..oh dear, I play more than one ERB and like Dream Theater. WTF does that make me? As an observation, it was interesting to see that my Harpejji thread got lots of love - but as soon as a Bass comes along that *doesn't* have as many strings, it's deemed a freak of nature. I wonder if people's perception of what a Bass should be is creeping in to the equation just a bit here?

I...I.. Nope, I actually can't bring myself to post any response.

Speaking of preamps - There are a few names that come up often as proved upgrades. My friend and fellow BCer has an Aguilar OBP-3 that is installed in a metal box, a bit like a pedal and it was nice to hear what his jazz bass sounded like with and without it. Very nice with, I can tell you! - I think John East is also making some really good circuits too with tons of options available for different instruments. I have to put a shout out for Jon Shuker too, who has his own line of preamps that are really very good.

[quote name='LukeFRC' post='1226933' date='May 10 2011, 11:32 PM']I would have thought the preamp would have as big if not bigger influence on the sound.[/quote] Yes and no. Some preamplifiers are designed to not colour the sound at all, but just allow bass, mid, treble boost and cut where as other manufacturers have engineered a 'frequency curve' or 'tone' in to them. Interestingly the EMG preamps are pretty transparent - but the boost and cut is in really sympathetic frequencies for Bass guitar. Pickups will in most cases make the most amount of difference. I guess you'd only have to look at the pickup upgrade market for a P Bass alone to see that the differences are worth the upgrade/crossgrade costs.

Well, if anyone saw my Facebook ramblings today, it's this prototype beauty: Made by Andy Guyton of Guyton Guitars in Suffolk for Brian May. or at least a production model of - this one was at the London Bass Guitar Show:

[quote name='silddx' post='1225102' date='May 9 2011, 02:05 PM']Do it. Try and get a Jap Fender non-export model. A good S/H one won't cost much more than a new MIM, and it will kick a USA Fender's backside to kingdom come.[/quote] Yep yep! Infact, CIJ non-exp did do a 70's P with a maple neck. I was at odds as to whether I should get my black one with a rosewood f/board or a natural bod and Maple f/board. In the end, Mr Deacon won

Hmmm - I might just counter that opinion a wee bit. Yes I do agree that there is a percentage of the instruments tone locked away in the woods and physical hardware, but the pickups and their position themselves govern a large percentage of the overall instrument's amplified tone. So I'd have to say that swapping the pickups out won't make the bass sound exactly 'like the Spector you played', but there will be a marked difference in tone of the Bass. For example, the EMG DC active pickup that Spector uses in a lot of it's basses has a very strong character or 'voice' if you will and you can definitely hear it in different instruments. Whether or not it's an improvement is personal opinion.

Bring me an Alligator sandwich! And make it snappy!! [/coat]

Wouldn't mind running a HA5500 with my rig to see what they sound like! - I've heard other people with the 3500 and it sounded great!

[quote name='thebassman' post='1223255' date='May 7 2011, 02:35 PM']I'm not sure, i think the big one has been discontinued though.[/quote] Yep, it has unfortunately - I think the 2x12 eminence drivers 'out performed' the single 15.

[quote name='skej21' post='1223657' date='May 7 2011, 08:46 PM']Yeah, it's 555-KISSMYDOOD Hope that helps [/quote] Hot diggety! I gotta get me some of that fine ass! I'll have a go on that first! (etc etc etc)

Well, that took a millisecond to choose!

Consider it pinned - This is a brilliant walk through!

[quote name='Nick Brown' post='1222495' date='May 6 2011, 06:57 PM']Don't get around here much these days since giving up the bass due to some arthritis based hand issues. I came across a link to this thread on Marcodi's Facebook page and thought I pop along and contribute. Years ago I strapped on Warr guitar as I always liked the concept of playing bass and melody simultaneously and at the time the Warr seemed the logical way for a bass player to do this with a proper extended range. One thing led to another and it didn't quite work out for me as I'd hoped but the tapping style of playing still really appealed to me. Moving along a couple of years and my hand problems really hit hard and I had to start thinking about life without playing bass guitars (I still have a few in the cupboard ) but really didn't want to give up on music making altogether. It was at this point that I started talking to Tim at Marcodi and he was very helpful in explaining the concepts and the reality of the Harpejji, a few months later and ......... It is a beautiful instrument to play and opens up worlds of possibilities whilst still giving me that string fix, I alternate between the Harpejji and the Eigenharp these days. When I confident I'll post up some videos. BTW I have no other connection with Marcodi apart from being a satisfied customer. I'm just pleased to see them get a little more exposure.[/quote] Ahhh Nick! Sorry to hear about your hand problems, but it's great to hear that you have found an alternative for channelling your music! Thank you also for posting pictures. I'd definitely like to hear more about the Harpejji - and see some videos if you do indeed post some. Have you found it easy to adapt to the Harpejji's layout and are you finding playing with both hands a challenge at all? Dooooooooood

I'd like to hear some comparisons of the two as well actually. I think someone on BC has the Super Twelve T but I've not seen either a 'Big One T' or 'Big Twin T' at all. Are there actually any out in the wild yet?

It looks like a tastey piece of kit! Some of those wide interval piano chords just sound lush! I've just gotten a new Synth at home so am loving playing keys again - then I happened upon these. I think my wallet just rolled over and died!

[quote name='Wil' post='1222171' date='May 6 2011, 01:02 PM']Shameless plug, and perhaps just over your budget, but I'm selling my Crown XS700: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=132566"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=132566[/url] 750watt @ 4ohm, IE, it'll blow your balls off.[/quote] £230 with the rack too?! I'd rip Wil's arm off Ross!

[quote name='Ross' post='1222077' date='May 6 2011, 11:17 AM']Basically I'm making progress on deciding a new rig, i'm planning on using my bass pod pro as a preamp, then using a poweramp and probably some kind of 8x10 cab underneath it all. However I'm wondering if a standard power amp for PA systems is any good, or if I should be looking at a specific kind? Probably looking to spend £200 tops but preferably less on one. Cheers, Ross[/quote] Hi Ross - yes, a standard power amplifier (those used in PAs) are perfect for the job. Best advice, given the overwhelming choice out there, is to stick with the names you know to start with - and it doesn't hurt to get something powerful. If you are just going to use a single cab, or have no need for biamping or stereo operation, then you see if you can get a power amplifier that is 'bridgeable' - i.e. it 'sums' the two channels to make one single powerful channel - thus you may get away with a power amplifier that is only 300W per channel RMS, but will bridge to a much higher output, say 800W in the case of one of the QSC amps mentioned here : [url="http://www.qscaudio.com/products/amps/rmx/rmx.htm"]http://www.qscaudio.com/products/amps/rmx/rmx.htm[/url] Or you could just use a single channel on a power amplifier, but I would recommend starting at 500W per channel at 4 Ohms as an absolute minimum. £200 quid tops? Definitely go the second hand route. You may pick up a Peavey PV power amp or similar for about that price, but I wouldn't recommend spending that little on a new power amplifier.

I'm not entirely sure how I just stumbled on this, but I would love to get my mits on one! - Not strictly 'Bass Discussion' but this instrument does have a bass range in it as well, so it's tenuous. You probably know how much I love tap style and the Chapman Stick. I think the Harpejji is taking it all to the next level. I'll shut up now and just post the videos I've just watched! There's plenty more on Youtube - but I really like the idea of this instrument alot! Check out the bridge on this bad boy! ha ha