lemmywinks

Tune all your strings to E? 😀

I would look at Sire and Cort, both can do a decent 5 at a reasonable price. Cort also make Ibanez basses, never liked the Ibanez EDB 5 string I had though, low B sounded poor in comparison to the three Cort branded 5ers I've owned.

https://worldaroundewe.com

Sounds like you need a more powerful rig if you're after more clean volume, if your combo has a speaker out then an extension cab would be your best bet. Maybe you can try compression and a high pass filter but from your post it sounds like the crux of the problem is not enough headroom. With an extension cab underneath you'll be able to hear it better as well due to getting your combo closer to ear level. I use a Fishman Pro Platinum preamp pedal which has those features and also a tuner etc but it isn't a magic wand to make your amp louder or cleaner.

If MDP was a taxidermist.....

+1 Some BCers might remember the thread on Davie504 where he got slated and called everything under the sun by some forumites and that guy can actually play! Where was the Basschat defence squad then to save poor doe-eyed Davie?

As long as he keeps putting monstrosities on eBay then it's fair to comment on them IMO, same as that mad German seller who doesn't seem to get any defenders on here unlike MDP. Maybe it's because he's faceless and MDP puts himself out there but for me as long as the criticism is of his bizarre workmanship and doesn't get personal it's fair. As for ripping people off - there is a definite car salesman vibe to his listings, extolling the virtues of questionable decisions using pseudo-technical terminology that will only fool novice players who don't know what they're buying so for me there's a slight predatory element and it should be called out. Same with making a cheapo J bass pickup out to be some bespoke unit and implying that the Vintage brand is made in the UK by a fella called John Hornby Skewes, he knows what he's doing there IMO. Check out the listing with the bitsa P bass which has a video attached, no way is that fit for gigging yet apparently it's had a "full overhaul of the electronics" and will "keep pace at any level you might use it". He then sticks a £233 price tag on it and calls it a Squier in the listing, probably because it looks like one he saw once.

Always great when you have a superior product combined with excellent after sales service, top stuff!

Just noticed a new video up too which is a bit of a treat, some adventurous playing and even some impromptu singing: You can buy the 7 string conversion here for £401.50 delivered: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wide-neck-SG-Guild-De-Armond-converted-by-PCGC/193111553756?hash=item2cf65876dc:g:tQUAAOSwnMxdg5YG They are quite hard to find and relatively sought after as they aren't too metal oriented for a 7 string which is a rarity, shame to see this one given the bespoke Jazz Bass pickup from John Hutchinson of Janika guitars treatment tbh.

TInkering for tinkering's sake, like adding odd coloured knobs or jamming inappropriately sized pickups into existing routs. There'll be some spiel in the description about aiming for specific tone goals or improving player comfort, purely to justify incessant bodgery and the urge to replace parts for no real practical reason so he can claim he built the instrument and write his name on it in biro. On the rare occasion he can leave an instrument alone they look alright. Way overpriced and play/sound like sh!t going off the videos but you could gig them with a bit of work and a new nut. This thing though, if you turned up to a gig with that you'd be sectioned before the end of the soundcheck.

We use a pair of RCF subs all the time with matching tops. They aint light but they were cheap (two separate auctions from the same seller) and worked out at around £550 for the pair which is something to keep in mind if you're looking at new Alto gear for similar money. We've played in a football stadium (League One side, on the pitch facing a stand) with our rig and didn't struggle.

Quick Hide, before you look at the rest of the bass.

My default solution to preamp problems on any cheapo bass is to just whack a cheap Artec in it, the 2 band 4 knob version is under £27 delivered. Saves messing about trying to resurrect the (likely inferior) stock one, unless you like mucking about with bass guts of course! Have one in my spare bass and it sounds reet, nicer than some preamps on more expensive basses in fact. EDIT: Last one apparently: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ARTEC-SE2-Bass-and-Guitar-electronics-board/352530556899?hash=item52147567e3:g:sfkAAOSwTapV6Che

en where he's burned the wood on the edge of the neck with his sander? It must be one of those roasted necks everyone is talking about...? Either that or he's used it to unblock the toilet...

Well his negative feedback is actually a bit misleading as the guy never intended to receive the guitar. His neutral feedback is from the poor sap who bought this knackered G4M cheapo acoustic for £260 delivered: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wide-neck-round-bowl-back-electro-acoustic-6-string-with-48mm-nut-width-/193007829184?nma=true&si=YuJND8lKl6NUBPOApUDaDXAtFxo%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Saw this one the other day, definitely one of the strangest things he's listed. The neck is interesting which makes it more disappointing that he's hacked it into a vague Tele shape, drilled weird mounting holes for the tuners and scribbled all over it in pen.

Will be covered in biro by the end of the week.

Not radio friendly but sod that, I can listen to this on repeat: Tidy Warmoth bass in there too.

I had a Thomann ABS case many moons ago and it was extremely good for the money, was much cheaper than the £56 they cost now though but are definitely made of strong stuff. Mine was run over by our fully loaded van (all old heavy PA gear and lights too!) and the Warwick inside it was completely unscathed, in fact aside from a crack in the ABS the case was fully functional afterwards too. I'd say that's a pretty good test! Also had one of the foam zip up ones (Warwick Rockcase) which was surprisingly good. If the Blake gigbags are suitable shoot me a pm, been thinking of offloading a couple as I just use them for storage now and I need to clear some basses out (to buy more obviously).

Well I quite liked it! Some unnecessary (at times intrusive) fills for sure but he's just having a bit of fun at least they sounded crisp and tight and didn't wallow over the entire bottom end of the song, I always like that kind of drum sound.

Carvin used to do some exquisite stained quilt basses, have a look at these for some inspiration:

That's a lot of money for a cover, if you can find somewhere else that makes them then you can probably halve that. I got one made by Bacsew for my little EA cab and it came to £20/£25 (can't remember which, it was a while ago) and miles better than anything by Roqsolid: https://www.bacsew.co.uk He's down the road from me so I don't know how much postage is.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vision-Bass-Guitar-Electric-Vintage/323924387815?hash=item4b6b65e7e7:g:t7kAAOSwC8dddP6M Looks horrible but if you're local then might be a good bet. Weird configuration with the pups and switches, anybody (basically directed at bassassin) anything about it?

Neutrik connectors and Klotz cable, just get good quality basic stuff and it will last ages without costing the earth: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Klotz-Guitar-Lead-Cable-Neutrik-Straight-1-4-Jack-Plug-AC106-Colour-Ring-Option/251906401887?hash=item3aa6caa65f:m:mp6kdjMI5FastV8rMAXJ-iw

I think those are passive overall tone with an active bass boost so maybe roll a little treble off of the tone control and boost bass a little. They aren't great basses but you should be able to get a usable sound out of it. What mid controls does your amp have?