Paul S

A brief update. I decided to try a little experiment just now with a Harley Benton 'Prometheon clone' amp I have as a back up. Bass into the input of the Eden then, via the phones out, into the HB which had a BF Midget plumbed in. It seemed to do the job, controls on both units worked, seemed to be a sweet spot using the controls on the Eden about half way then the master volume on the HB to control the overall volume level. Mute on HB plus other bits such as colour and various other filters also worked although the tubey sound was getting increasingly lost with each layer of fiddling about. Which I guess was only to be expected. Is it worth it? Possibly not. Just an extra bit of kit to lug about and, if I am honest, the tube sound of the Eden isn't vastly different from the TC Electronic head I use. Maybe a bit more 'honest' but as soon as everyone else in the band kicks in I doubt anyone would hear the difference. I am sure it will do someone else a turn though, so it will be appearing in the classified very soon.

Looks like it might end up being a bit of a faff, really. I'll try it with both cabs whilst I still have them, just to see if i think it is worth it. If I decide I am dead set on tube preamp maybe I'll move this on and get a more powerful amp to keep my 'one amp, one cab' aim going.

Thanks for that - it is starting to look promising. Next question, exactly what types of power amp are going to be suitable? This is all completely unknown territory for me! For example, a quick search of the classifieds on here throw this up [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/259127-for-sale-hollywood-impact-600-power-amp/page__hl__power+amp__fromsearch__1"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/259127-for-sale-hollywood-impact-600-power-amp/page__hl__power+amp__fromsearch__1[/url] Is this the type of thing I should be considering?

Aha! Thanks for that - I will scrutinise the holes and see what they are labelled as. PS - just found the manual online! Should have done that in the first place.

I feel silly even asking this, as I feel it is so straightforward that I should already know the answer. But I don't so bear with me. I have recently acquired an old Eden traveller WT300 amp. This has a valve preamp and I really like the tone. But, into 8 ohms, it isn't loud enough. And I am about to rationalise my cabs and use a single BF Super Compact. Is it possible, therefore, to connect the Eden head to another amp (power amp?) to beef it up? Or doesn't it work like that? I said it was a daft question.

I ordered a SC a couple of days ago and have actually had to put back delivery as it was going to be ready too soon! Another myth busted

[quote name='Prime_BASS' timestamp='1428448458' post='2741466'] I've used a single super compact for over a year now. Best one cab solution out there. [/quote] I think I will cash in my Compact and Midget to get one of these. One cab has to be the way forward for me.

I think all things considered it isn't worth doing. I just need to decide whether to live with it as is or move it on. Thanks all

[quote name='Manton Customs' timestamp='1428403530' post='2740887'] We make custom necks by the way . [/quote] PM on its way, just for the sake of discussion....

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1428401708' post='2740859'] I'd buy a bass that was designed to be what you wanted in the first place. [/quote] Yup, that would have been the sensible thing to do. GAS is a cruel mistress.

Thanks again, much appreciated. I've just discovered that nos necks are available - just checking to see how much! If I am going to get a neck carved about probably best to do it to a new unfinished one and leave the original be.

Any observations and input are most welcome, I assure you. Looks like a new neck is nudging ahead at the moment. There is a chap who appears from time to time on the Shergold forum who makes replica necks - I might see if I can get in touch with him. I guess I just need to balance the cost of that against how much, realistically, I will use it. Might save me a lot of angst to just move it on rather than fiddle with it!

Yup, I hadn't thought of that but, yes, a possibility. Thanks!

I have a Shergold Marathon bass. Lovely old thing - very light, loads of character. Been fiddled with an awfully long time ago and has handwired pickups by a luthier of some renown, Jim Cairnes, and rather than one pickup it now has two which sound absolutely great. The thing is I don't use it as much as I would like to because I find the neck a little too wide - 43mm. Ideally I like 38mm wide necks. The neck is maple with black bound edges. You can sort of see it in these pics. [attachment=188688:marathon2.jpg] [attachment=188689:marathon7.jpg][attachment=188690:marathon3.jpg] What I am mulling over is the idea of having the neck made narrower. I assume it would be a kind of taper so that it still fits in the the pocket ok. I am sure it is possible, but have no idea of the costs involved mainly because I have no idea of the amount of work involved. It would mean it is no longer a standard Marathon neck, but then it is no longer a standard Marathon anyway. What would the good people of Basschat feel are the pros and cons? And does anyone have a rough idea how much something like this might cost?

You have 3 - are they all pretty much the same or have you found differences in each one? just curious, really. And, yes, the Dano secret is safe with me...

As far as the bass is concerned, it is a bit of an oddity - a mid 80s limted run medium scale Overwater. Fairly lightweight but not massively so. Had I sorted the issue with the pickup (which I think is actually more about the bridge and string spacing) I would most likely have changed the tuners for light weight ones as has been suggested by a few posters to make it lighter overall but I didn't like the inherent tone and didn't consider it worthwhile for me to spend even more money on it. As far as this post is concerned - naming names is irrelevant, it is so easy to find who is being talked about as I am sure the OP is totally aware. The first thing any of us is going to do is have a look at feedback and follow the chain, just to get the gossip. So I was horrified to see I was one of those being talked about. It all seems a bit snidey to me to have this kind of insinuation made - I'm certainly not keen on having my honesty questioned in a public forum as honesty is a value I hold dearly.

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1428229042' post='2739259'] At this time I don't want to name and shame. [/quote] Woah there. That's a bit harsh, fella. I am one of those 3 - use of the search facility very quickly shows that - and don't like your implication that I ignored an issue with the bass in order to sell it on. In fact, I don't think I could have been more honest in my description of the bass when I listed it. Any neck dive was, as far as I am concerned, not worth mentioning as, for me, it ended up horizontal when I took my hands off it. Hardly an issue. Frankly I believe you should think twice before saying things like this in public.

Is that with stock pickups, Pete? How do you have yours set? Mine never seems quite 'there' for some reason - never the old school woody tone I have in my head. The preamp is a U Retro, so should bring out a good range of tones. Slight aside, I gigged with my Danelectro Longhorn again last night and feel moved to say again how huge it is in the mix. Lovely, lovely bass. Re. balance, I think this does help to an extent but, for my particular needs, a neck diving 8.5lb bass is better to wear for lengthy periods than a 9.5lb balanced bass. Possibly it makes a difference where the problem in the back is?

Well, I changed the valve, cleaned all the pots - no difference. Changed the kettle lead - the problem seems to have stopped.

Thanks for your reply mr Bod. I'll have a go at that over the weekend - a spare valve came with it - also a few other things I'll try out too whilst the bonnet is up. All a bit of a learning curve! Would could possibly go wrong?

I saw him in London last year - or maybe the year before - in small theatre in Leicester Square. I think he is probably the most accomplished, well-rounded guitar player I have ever seen. Seems such a nice guy, too. I look forward to having a read through that!

That looks the business! Black/black/maple is my favourite colour scheme. Love the solid black scratchplate.

I have a mid 80s MIJ Squier 32" scale Precision which weighs around 8lbs. The whole bass is a scaled down version of a long scale Precision, down to the neck being 38mm at the nut. One of the previous owners - tedmanzie of this parish - had changed the electrics to a vintage loom/pots and the pickups to Fender Originals. To my ears you could not get a more vintage precision sounding tone than this bass, it is quite remarkable - and it is lightweight, slim neck and I just love the 32" scale. Tremendous build quality, as you would expect from a MIJ Squier of that vintage. They don't appear very often and have become quite sought after - I think I have 3 people who have asked me to give them the nod if I decide to move it on. But, if it appeals and one pops up somewhere, you might get lucky. I wonder if changing the P pickup in a Lyte to a Fender Original would make it sound more Precision like? It would tick all your other boxes and not really be very intrusive - just 2 wires cut and reconnected. I keep thinking about doing it to mine, which currently has stock pickups (but not the original preamp). Fender Japan have medium scale Aerodyne Jazz basses - these would be light but I don't know what they would sound like. Other than that my 2 lightest basses are a Shergold Marathon (7.5lbs) and a Danelectro Longhorn, which barely registers on the scales. Although neither have a Precision tone, both have their own sound which is voiced firmly in 'old school' rather than 'modern'. The Danelectro in particular is an absolute delight. Or, perhaps something totally different. I have a Hohner B2A that weighs around 7.5lbs and it is possible to get a woody Precision type tone out of it. Not everybody's cup of t though.

I saw them a week or so ago at the O2 Brooklyn Bowl. They are still uber cool - they somehow remain edgy and are totally having a blast. Still not convinced by Derek The Draw, mind you. That is such a great thing to do. Much respect.

That is just gorgeous. I think I said the same when you offered it for sale.