henry norton

[quote name='RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE' post='479238' date='May 4 2009, 08:07 PM']With a budget like that you could get a 1980's Trace Elliot PLUS A STATUS [/quote] The SVT (whch is what most pro Ampeg users will use) isn't the first amp that comes to mind for fingerstyle and slap. Like Max says, for two grand you could get something really good and unlike the old school SVT, there are some good sounding, tonally versatile and portable amps out there. Get out there and have a go! I used to play a Stingray 5 - best bass I ever owned.

[quote name='cheddatom' post='474081' date='Apr 28 2009, 12:39 PM']This is my ride: [/quote] Did you used to be in the A Team before you turned to music?

Fiat Doblo Family - looks like Postman Pat's van but haven't found anything we can't get in it yet. The suspension is a bit harsh on valves so we have to drive carefully - unique seating arrangement means one can seperate squabbling kids (or band members).

[quote name='Musicman20' post='472939' date='Apr 26 2009, 10:06 PM']I know these aren't out...but here goes. I notice with the 2 800s, they are digital power amps. Whats the difference between those and the standard LMIII/Tube? Is there a sound difference in general with digital amps? Also, if one of the 800s is pushing out 500W at 8Ohms, is it safe to use a cab capable of 600W RMS....perhap a daft question but I dont want to get a head that is far too powerful. What about my Orange 1x15 at 400W? Would that cab not be suitable? Its one of these or a Genz Shuttlemax. Love the MB after the demo I had of one.[/quote] I think the general consensus is that digital amps sound a bit colder than the analogue equivalent. Don't worry too much about having a higher rated amp unless youre into having everything on 11 and overdriving your power amp (which sounds pretty awful with most solid state amps anyway). You'll hear your speakers complaining long befoe any damage is done if it's too much for them.

[quote name='umph' post='470631' date='Apr 23 2009, 01:54 PM']the bass sounds that distorted on its own? thats some pretty special pick ups its got in it if so and i think thats ruined my gas for a eb-0 after hearing that ;p[/quote] Hmm, I think the fuzz bss sound has as much to do with the crappy microphone he's using to recrd the bass - the sound had the same distortion when he played an early Precision. As for MusicMan basses, there was a big long running thread here not so long ago on how alot of people hated the sound of their MusicMan basses. Horses for courses I guess, tey all sound pretty good to me.

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='470479' date='Apr 23 2009, 11:58 AM']Y'know, as soon as the J pickup is dropped into the mix (on any fretless, not specifically the TF) it kills it for me. I realise I'm in the minority, though.[/quote] I totally agree. I fitted a J to the brigde position on my fretless Precision and found I only really used it to do Jaco ripoff harmonics. The P has a fantastic fretless tone.

Looks really neat! Is it the angle of the picture or did you decide not to angle the slot in the end?

+1 on all the above. The new Trace gear sounds fine from what I've heard but aren't built with the same quality components they used to use so they feel a bit flimsy. Used Trace gear is excellent value at the moment so long as you're happy lugging heavy equipment around. The valve amps they made are very good indeed but, as everybody knows this, they are really, really expensive. I'd go for it.

Yesss, pictures please!

I had a GP11 4x10 combo which was 150 watts and a GP12 head which was 200 watts - I think into 4 ohms so more like 100 & 150 respectively into 8 ohm combo cabs. Both were really good amps - the combo especially had no trouble volume wise in a really loud 3 piece rock group. The only problem was it weighed a ton. The quality of both the GP11 and GP12 was light years away from the current Peavey stuff - it really was pro equipment back then and should still be going strong.

[quote name='spinynorman' post='459656' date='Apr 10 2009, 11:17 PM']The problem is a good Gibson will cost you twice as much as an equally good Fender. Also depends a lot if you like Mahogany, apart from the Ripper period.[/quote] If vintage instruments are your thing then a 60s/70s Gibson bass will cost you alot less than the equivalent Fender - and another world away from the 'pre CBS' models. I've only recently discovered Gibson style basses, I used to thing they were just inferior instruments for people with small hands until I tried one. You definietly get extra 'cool' points playing a Gibson too.

If you've got your eye on the Marshall VBA then you should definitely give one a try before you dismiss it on the strength of someone else's SVT. The fact that you've got a shuttle (presumably a 3.0 with a ss pre amp) means you can bring it along to just about anywhere and give it a back to back test. But like Crazykiwi said, it really is horses for courses - a valve amp won't make you a better player and most punters won't notice the difference either but there are plenty of players who swear the osteopath bills are worth paying.

Thanks for the replies. I've seen a couple of used klystron combos recently and as I'm in the market for an amp they caught my eye. They were very well priced ex demo combos - especially compared to the new prices being asked. It's good news to hear they are a bit more versatile tone wise but I'm not keen on the looks (or the weight) TBH. I get the feeling I'm going to have to bite the bullet and add an extra few hundred quid to get a Markbass.... [quote name='steve-soar' post='457728' date='Apr 8 2009, 08:11 PM']You look like somebody I know, who has a similar bike, Ozzy Q?[/quote] Don't know Ozzy Q meself, but if he rides a 1965 Bonneville he's obviously a top bloke. Getting the Trace 4x10 combo on the pillion proved somewhat troublesome though....

Has anyone on the forum ever tried an Ashdown Klystron amp or cab? I was looking at the specs the other day and they look more or less identical to the ABM series yet they cost a fair bit more. They look nicer than the ABMs but surely there's more to it than that?

I played in an acoustic pop band for a long time using a fretless Precision through a mega cheap practice amp. I found most electro acoustic basses a bit rubbish - they certainly didn't have the acoustic volume needed to compete with our guitar palyer or percussionist, and there were quite a few engineers who wouldn't let me DI (presumably because most 'acoustic' type venues don't feel the need for a decent PA) and double bass was a humungus pain in the backside to move around. Nobody ever commented on my playing an electric. Don't worry too much about the equipment - just play the music!!!!

[quote name='Pookus' post='454695' date='Apr 5 2009, 03:37 PM']What is the solution for screw hole angle issues? I could fill the holes and re-pilot new ones I suppose.[/quote] That's probably your safest bet. You can tap some hardwood scraps and glue into the holes, clamp it up once it's dried and trimmed and pilot drill once you're completely happy with the set. Having said that you might as well try it with the existing holes first (it's already been shimmed anyway), but I just thought it might be worth keeping an eye on it just in case the change in angle and position affects the final position of the neck. Good luck mate - I've bought an EB0 off the forum and am really excited about getting started on it. Keep us posted.

[quote name='obbm' post='454498' date='Apr 5 2009, 09:47 AM']The original Stingray 5 had Alnico magnets and no phantom coil. They changed to ceramic magnets and added the phantom coil in 1992, probably at the time they were developing the Sterling. The early pre-amps are different from the later due to the way they handle the coil switching in order to equalise the gain between settings and reduce noise. Physically the Sterling and later SR5 pre-amps are different and have some different value components.[/quote] My pre EB 4 and early SR5 both sounded similar (and very good in both cases I might add) so the thing about magnets rings true although a phantom coil shouldn't change the sound at all except for the abscence of hum. There's a confusingly big range of MMs to choose from now and if Ernie Ball are to believed, every model has its' own unique sound. I suppose they felt they were missing out on some of the market share but I'll bet most people would fail the pepsi challenge if it came to a blind test back to back. That's unless you're one of those people who have a MusicMan collection....

[quote name='Pookus' post='454241' date='Apr 4 2009, 06:55 PM']Yep thats exactly what I'm after. I just need to be super organised when I get the router out. I reckon if I shim the jig I'm going to use I should get the neck pocket angle just right.[/quote] You'll just need to be careful with the holes for the screws as once the angle is cut they'll effectively be slightly angled themselves relative to the holes in the neck. How different is the dimarzio compared to the original pickup by the way?

That's such bad news, it really riles me when I hear stories like yours. If it's gone wrong within a month of you recieving it then you are absolutely within your rights to demand a replacement or a refund. A letter addressed to the company owner stating your "disappontment and disgust at your treatment" will often produce results or if you're having to call a call centre then keep demanding an answer (something like 'it went wrong less than a month after I bought it, you've messed me around for too long and I want either a repair, a replacement or my money back within a week'. The person you're talking to will not want to commit to an answer to this so you then have to 'speak to a supervisor or manager who [u]can[/u] sort this problem out NOW!'). It depends on what approach you're more comfortable with - either way a cool calm but very persistent attitude normally works. These companies rely on people's unwillingness to cause a fuss to fob us off with crap and make a huge profit. Dont let them!!!!!!!!

Presumably you want to give the Epiphone more of a set neck gibson feel with the board more or less flush with the body. If so, it's not much harder to rout an angled face in the neck pocket, negating the need for shims and maybe even the bridge spacers. How does it sound with your mods?

Looks like I'll have to work it out meself then - what happened to all the self opinionated know alls on this forum.......? I like the look of the MarkBass 1x12 combo (not sure of the exact name) which I've seen second hand for a bit more than my budget but would like to see whether the prices will soften a bit once the mark 3s start circulating. Here's hoping

I'm on the lookout for a new (used) bass amp. I'm not hugely fussed about speaker size (tried 'em all), but I would like something reasonably compact and with enough power to compete with drums and guitar in a pub/club sized venue. I would also prefer it to be reasonably light but with a budget of £400 I realise I won't be getting a Mark Bass Tube amp (or any MarkBass for that matter...). It doesn't matter if it's a combo or a head/cab. I'm not new to bass playing but have been out of circulation for a few years now so if anyone's got an opinion then I'll be glad to hear it.

I used to use a marshall 100 watt head (one of the old pre master volume versions), and it was plenty loud enough to compete with drums, guitar and keyboards. I'd be wary of 'saving up' for something like a MESA 400 or an Ampeg - they'll cost you way over your £250 budget and if something goes wrong they can be very expensive to fix, especially the MESA, which uses particularly expensive valves (something to do with having a fixed bias). Having said that, if you do decide to go for a big bass valve head, (ie. you up your budget for the head, the servicing and the roadie to carry it around for you), there ain't nothing cooler than a massive 3-400watt valve amp stacked behind you. It'll make your MarkBass combo look like something from Noddy