lemmywinks

I've been using GStrings since it came out, never really needed anything else. Works well with guitar and bass which is all I really need. Are there any other decent free ones? Everyone I know (and on here) seems to just use GStrings!

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1319562718' post='1415858'] Interesting to apply the word 'boutique' to these cabs.. The Baer is about the only one that is getting there in terms of the pics and then they go and spoil it with the handles and footpads, IMO. I have to say that a few of the home-made BFM projects from guys on here look way better. Of course, no one will be fooled if the cab sounds awful but presentation is an important part as well. If it doesn't matter to you..it might matter to the person you are selling it to. [/quote] I'm more bothered about the structure and overall design than fancy trimmings. What does boutique mean to you? Cream tolex and matching leather handles? For me it means something designed from the ground up by a single engineer or a small team to fulfill a specific purpose. I would say that describes Barefaced, fEarful, and the others quite well. To me a cab is a well engineered box with speaker(s) in and not something to pose with, it has to be durable, I'm pretty much a carpet or textured paint guy. They need to stand up to the rigours of gigging more than any other piece of equipment I buy. I don't see anything that would put me off buying any of the brands pictured in this thread, they all look like they would last. I really like the look of the Baer and the Acme ones, particularly the Baer.

Aye funnily enough the cabs that I always look for in the FS section are the Barefaced, BFM, Acme etc. Different strokes I guess. I bloody wish they didn't hold their value well tbh, I'd own more cabs if that were true!

[quote name='Gunsfreddy2003' timestamp='1319545110' post='1415477'] Ok, well remember that in the future when you like the rest of us decide to change your gear and suddenly find that no-one wants to buy whichever of these cabs you like because they have no name or reputation! I am sure that at that time you will give a monkey's !!!!! Agree that you should choose with your ears and not your eyes but it must be impossible to find may retailers that stock all of these cabs. [/quote] All the cabs in the pic that Alex posted before hold their value very well, although you may not be aware of it as they're more popular in the US. Acme cabs are the most common over here out of those and they get snapped up on this site. Just because it's not a brand you have heard of doesn't mean they don't hold their value, there's plenty of people who will pay for quality and know what brands to look for. That's the nature of boutique gear, those prepared to seek it out are also prepared to pay for it. I see you own a GB bass, should probably have just bought a Squier, after all not many bass players know what a GB is do they?

Gotta love that little Acme!

Get you drummer to buy some in ear monitors! It's amazing how quietly they play when they can hear everything. Won't sort out the bandana wearing guitarist with Marshall stacks but at least the crash cymbal won't be perforating your ear drums. I always found it funny how some drummers claim that they need the volume to get a good sound out of their kit yet they can manage to play quietly without knowing it when they have in ears!

Still £7+vat for a 110x45x20 box weighing 7kg and £10+vat for a 130x50x30 weighing 9kg. The magic figure for the sum of all the dimensions seems to be 210cm, just 1cm over that and the prices rocket.

The thing that annoyed me most about the 3 point bridge on my RD Artist was just how flimsy the whole assembly was when the bass wasn't strung up. Having to put a bit of work in to get it playing well isn't a big deal, after all most basses have bridges that are a compromise, it was the fact that the saddles had a habit of falling off if you broke a string and having to be really careful in case any of the bridge posts were accidentally adjusted that wound me up.

Keep an eye out for the old Ozark, Hohner, Alliance etc ones. They all look similar (same factory probably) and can set up quite well whilst keeping within budget. I would extend your budget a bit to include a setup though as acoustic basses can need a fair bit of work, also maybe some nylon coated strings although he'll get more volume from bronze or steel rounds. When i got mine it rattled like hell (poor fret job/badly cut fret slots) and the bridge and nut slots needed filing right down. It's a nice instrument though and I never had any problems playing it, it just requires a bit more effort and focus to get the desired sound out of it which I never saw as a bad thing at the learner stage. Certainly not painful to play like a bad acoustic guitar with cheeswire strings, just made me think a bit more about how i fretted a note. A friend of mine has a Samick AB which was pretty cheap and it's a dream to play, really well built with a low action straight from the factory. Lots more volume and low end acoustically than my Ozark too.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4m-3-5mm-Jack-2-x-RCA-Twin-Phono-Cable-Lead-GOLD-4-m-/220770627298?pt=UK_Computing_CablesConnectors_RL&hash=item3366f46ee2

[quote name='JohnFitzgerald' timestamp='1319235484' post='1411832'] Keyboard amps are mini PAs and I love them. Having said that, I'm loving my new to me Peavey 410tx. Weighs a fair old bit, but the sound. Oh lord, the sound. [/quote] I recently went on a mini tour with a keys playing friend who was looking for some new gear, most of the shops had the Roland combos (the ones with the tilty fronts and multiple channels). Basically a little combo PA built for a full range signal, they sounded great. I was itching to pull a bass off the wall and stick it through them!

Nowt up with old Peavey gear!

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1319191775' post='1410973'] You'll shìt twinkies if ever you see a real luthier operation then. As for the quality of his work? Well, the pictures speak volumes my friend. Have a look at this guy -> www.bravewoodguitars.co.uk/PandJbasspage.html Still think that Shìtters is doing a good job? [/quote] The Bravewood stuff does indeed look more realistic. Maybe Shippers should ask him what brand of power sander he uses?

[quote name='lozbass' timestamp='1319136245' post='1410488'] +1 - thanks for this 51m0n - I'd no idea - we probably need a Basschat glossary [/quote] We already have one, he's called 51m0n! Although I don't like him because he reminded me how much I want a Thumpinator and I can't afford it at the moment......

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1319180768' post='1410792'] Would nicely disguise and diminish the look of my ever expanding gut. [/quote] Now there's an idea! Wonder if they do one with an extra deep recess in the back..... I'd feel like i was 18 again!

[quote name='Johnston' timestamp='1319140353' post='1410564'] Does it come with a matching headstock?? Or does that get fitted in the UK for the full Stingray experience [/quote] Evil!

Please tell me you've already taken the wrapping off the bass and that isn't how it was packed for trans-Atlantic shipping....

[quote name='Nyl' timestamp='1319109005' post='1409942'] ... ooooooo a string vest! do it do it do it! [/quote] It'd be like chain mail, probably quite handy for some of the dives I've played in! Found another use for strings today - cleaning out a blocked nozzle on a Henry Hoover. Gets to places where scissors and rulers can't reach!

[quote name='simwells' timestamp='1319106134' post='1409890'] ... Whether it's worth the argument is another thing entirely. [/quote] Having read through the thread I somehow don't think this will be an issue

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1319038123' post='1409197'] To be fair that's not really the same thing. These are custom builds of a ..ahem... certain competence, whereas the OP is about the current trend of wrecking something in order to make it look like something that's worth a lot more (the seller even says that) but failing. [/quote] You should see his other stuff, most of it consists of perfectly serviceable gear that he chops the wings off or adds bits too. The Vintage bass I mentioned before was like that, a formerly decent bass that he'd completely butchered into a crap shape and given a bad flashy paint job. Go on, stick him on your favourite sellers list, I dare ya!

Perhaps the worst thing is that these crop up on all my local searches and for some reason i always have to click to see what it looks like. I'm my own worst enemy!

I think a quick look at these beauties puts everything into perspective: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CUSTOM-BUILT-BASS-GUITAR-L-K-/180739108368?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item2a14e3ee10 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CUSTOM-BUILT-GOTHIC-COFFIN-GUITAR-L-K-/180739108112?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item2a14e3ed10 This seller is local to me, it's actually quite disturbing knowing this sort of thing is going on just down the road from where I'm raising a child. He's listed some even worse horrors in the past, one was a Vintage V940 he'd butchered beyond recognition into a wreck of a bass that looked absolutely awful. Many of his "efforts" sport that lame "custom" paint job too, looks someone has eaten a jar of Black Jacks, drank a pint of milk and then thrown up over them. At least the cack-handed relics can be sanded and restored.

[quote name='fatboyslimfast' timestamp='1318952792' post='1408184'] Is someone a bit tired? [/quote] It'll be straight to bed with no tea if he comes out with any more language like that.

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1318853028' post='1406808'] I've got one of these: Is that amazing? It's certainly odd [/quote] Case GAS!!!

[quote name='daz' timestamp='1318856669' post='1406918'] Talking of Rod Argent. The band he was in prior to Argent, was [b]The Zombies[/b]. (they had a big hit with [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/She%27s_Not_There"]She's not there[/url]) They are touring soon, and fortunately for me one of the places they are playing at is in Wrexham, not far from me, On 17th November. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/158065-duff-mckagen-touring/"]see here [/url]if you are interested. I wonder if he will have [i]that [/i]guitar with him? [/quote] They also did the rather excellent "Time of the Season" which is well worth a listen. In fact the whole Odyessy & Oracle album is pretty good.