chris_b

It looks like a stretched out P bass pickup. The early 70's was a big time for experimenting with gear.

But some old Fenders were special, which is why the reputation exists. Over time many of the best old Fender basses gravitated to the studios. It's an environment where an extra, however subtle, level of quality in the tone will be noticed and appreciated. Then again. . . most of the first call session players, the ones with their 59 P basses at the studio, will use modern instruments when they are gigging.

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It's not "insane" to know the difference between a home studio and professional studio if you want to go into business in the recording industry.

The last home recording I did, I put my TH500 DI'd straight into Logic. A much better sound than any of the bass samples provided by Logic. Most studios I've been in since the 70's have preferred to DI the bass. That is the most prevalent way of recording a bass. Unless you want to capture the sound of a speaker breaking up, an amp doesn't add anything over a good quality bass and DI.

Anything old moves into the "antique" and rare collectable world and the prices rise because demand is greater than supply. Fender in pre-CBS days also had variable QC, but the good ones were so good that no one remembers the dogs. In the CBS days Fender were primarily about making money so many of the changes were not good for quality. A lot of the good pre-CBS instruments have been snapped up over the years by a generation of studio players. But. . . . electric basses are very cheap, even the expensive ones, when you compare them to the prices of other instruments. Collectable electric guitars can range into the hundreds of thousands of pounds, and most concert grade classical instruments will start at house mortgage levels.

I had that with my Ampeg SVT3-PRO. I could get the master to about 3/4 volume and stay silent.

Sorry to hear the bad news, but if you are good enough to be asked back then you are far more than a "hobby bassist". Maintain all those contacts and play as much as the new job allows. Never stop working at being a better player. Good luck for the future.

My rig used to be a Lull PJ5 into a TH500 through 2 Berg AE112's which were replaced by a Berg CN212. IMO two of the most excellent sounding rigs I've owned. Are you using any pedals? Apart from the phase thing, I have no idea why you aren't best sounding bass player in your town!

+1 for cycle shops and their cardboard boxes. Also expanded polystyrene sheets from B&Q.

Ampeg recommended my SVT3-PRO was run with the master as high as it would go and to balance the gain for the overall volume. I get a sound I like with my Aguilar amps by starting both volumes at 12 o'clock and adjusting the master for the overall volume.

What is your budget? Where are you? IMO cabs worth considering would be Bergantino, Genzler, Barefaced, Mesa Boogie Subway, Vanderkley and Markbass.

For reduced weight, size and increased flexibility, I'd look at 2 x 112's. The good ones will go just as loud as your 410.

I took both hands off tonight. . . . yeah, cool!

Feel the energy radiating out of the speakers!!

The best PJ5 I've played is my Mike Lull. I guess that's over budget. Maybe still worth saving for, though. I've heard several very good players using Sire basses. Not sure if they were playing PJ's or not but check them out. Every Sire I've tried has been too heavy for my bad back, but if I could find a light one it would be mine!

I invigilate for exams and we are already having trouble with cheating using all levels of technology, from paper to digital. If some of these people spent half the effort on learning as they do on cheating they'd all have firsts! If this technology comes of age the results of tests and exams will be questionable and that'll be the end of reliable academic qualifications.

Small Claims Court? Really!! The SCC isn't going to be very interested unless every effort has been made to resolve the problem first. That means, call Harry.

Put your old Jazz in for a service, set up and possibly a fret stone. It'll come back feeling, playing and sounding like it's in another league.

Preferences change. Time to start looking at other basses.

If you've got a problem that has been going on for that long, call the factory talk to Harry and arrange to take them in.

I don't think horizontal or vertical is an issue if you have diagonal speaker placement within the cab.

Barefaced Two10's can be stacked either way. That's the way Alex designed them.

Horizontal. I use my 210's in a loud band so the last thing I want is speakers anywhere near my ears.

BF cabs are as strong as any vintage cab. Light weight doesn't mean flimsy. I've packed my Super Compacts at the bottom of the van with PA and Fender Twin Reverb with JBL's on top and they were fine. . . . as I expected them to be.