warwickhunt

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1324948963' post='1478743'] There's generally a little bit of background hiss and hum - you won't hear it when you're playing. [/quote] However 'some' amps have a lot more background noise than others and it is a bug-bear of mine so I'd not give an amp houseroom if it wasn't almost silent when not in use. I have to say that my experience of GK amps is that they are generally not the quietest of amps (not eh worst) and unless you have an excellent clean leccy supply they can be awful! I briefly owned a 1001RB but couldn't get on with the background hiss... sold it sharpish. Saying that many people play GK and never comment on the matter, so it is down to personal tolerance. As others have said, try your amp without the bass plugged in and also try you amp with another cab as it could be that the horn/top end on the cabs is revealing more than you are used to; why not try other speaker leads as well.

Hartke LH500 or virtually any of the Peavey stuff (the old amps are bombproof and can be had for peanuts).

+1 I can't see any possible benefit that a BA has over the stock MM!

I'm sure it will have been covered. My last band had to declare as the guitarist was a solicitor and it'd have barred him had he been done for tax evasion. His accountant basically got him money back from the tax man on monies spent on equipment etc. for the first two years but then his accountant basically told him that we/he could no longer claim back as we spent more on instruments, gear strings, fuel etc. than we actually earned, the tax man declared it as a hobby and as such we couldn't get money back and they wouldn't/couldn't tax us. It all depends on the number of gigs you are doing, the fee you are getting for those gigs and to a degree the amount of money you spend on gear and associated costs; pub bands and originals bands just starting out (...or even established originals bands) are likely to make so little that it falls into the hobbyist category. HOWEVER, everyone's circumstances are different so you'd need to check out exactly where 'you' stand!

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1324725203' post='1477314'] I work in the insurance industry & know that my insurance covers me for. If you're not sure what yours covers, call the claims dept of your insurer & ask them. I've checked using my knowledge & also those of the claims & underwriting depts too. With my insurance it will also cover for business use if I want & I only have to specify individual items if they're over £2500 & not being used for "business purposes". If you need some help, PM me or ask me on here. WH, "Proffiesionally" can vary from insurer but here's what I have: [b] Business Use[/b][list] [*]Specifically excluded from the Personal Belongings section but cover can be provided subject to the item being specified. [*]Specify by selecting 'Other clothing and personal effects' and infill the item description and sum insured. [*]Apply the following [b]item level[/b] free format clause and infill the item description to extend cover to business use: [/list] [b]Business Use [/b] The [b]PERSONAL BELONGINGS SECTION[/b] covers [b]your [/b](Infill) whilst being used for business or professional purposes. [/quote] The problem is that a lot of folks either don't want to have to pay a bit extra or are simply afraid to ask questions because they don't want to hear the truth, so they opt for the cheapest insurance and act like an ostrich when it comes to expecting cover in the event of a claim. I've declared to my insurance company that I play with other musicians in pubs and I've declared that it is a hobby that I get remuneration for (though it is so small the tax man laughed when we tried to offset our bands earnings against tax, we were told we were hobbyists and not to be so silly as to try and claim it is a 2nd income etc).

Those folks with 'home insurance' - several of you have identified that you aren't covered 'professionally'... have you identified what that actually means? I had a revealing discussion with a friend who works in insurance and I was highlighting the fact that most folks that I knew had their gear covered under house insurance, he asked about gigging (which tbh many of us do). I elaborated saying for most it is a hobby and of those that gig, house insurance cover is probably more than sufficient. It appears not! If you gig (especially if you get paid but even if you do it for free... or at a loss), then you can be considered to be doing it 'professionally'. I pointed out that only a divvy would claim on his household insurance and say he was a paid gigging musician... turns out many do and companies are more and more refusing to pay out. The other scenario was that he knew of claims where stuff went missing during burglaries etc. and the claim form clearly showed that the type of equipment stolen would be above and beyond that normally expected to be used in the home (he quoted Marshall stacks etc with multiple instruments worth £***/£****), insurance companies then argued that this could only be 'professional' use... and if the onus is on you to prove otherwise you are on the back foot. It really is worth asking the direct question about your gear being covered (rather than just assuming in the blind faith that you will be covered just because you put down on the application form that you had music equipment) and divulging exactly what you do (in writing) so that they can't try and squirm out at a later date!

The Barts never made it into a Streamer but I've had SSI basses with Barts and I'd describe them as having a dark low mid tone (I'm rubbish at frequencies and such but colours and textures I can do LOL). I'd agree that Barts are a good choice if you don't like the MECs and buying used means you won't lose much if you don't like!

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1324650440' post='1476670'] that's a shame, they would have been good to try. I don't hate the MEC, but just a feeling of how they react to playing styles and right hand technique and sound a little compressed, like the top end should have more space and bottom more depth, the nordies had that. hard to explain, though the MEC have a bright sound with a hint of the deep darkness of the tone. I love the bass but not amazed with the tone... if that makes sense [/quote] I've often wondered whether some of that 'compression' is from the NT maple construction but yes I think the EMGs emphasis this a little less than the MECs.

Shame you hadn't decided sooner as I've just sold the Bart set that would have dropped straight in and are a great compliment to the maple of your Streamer. I'd agree that the MECs and EMGs though different are IMHO subtly different, SDs will give you a different sound again but what don't you like about the MECs?

[quote name='ravingdavies' timestamp='1324637571' post='1476457'] I hoped what you're suggesting would be possible. The 2 x 12 has two ports , one a speak-on and another a 1/4" jack (labelled "Full range"). My assumption was that they were both only input ports and that I wouldn't be able to get an output signal from either. I feel a bit stupid asking the question really but in over 30 years of playing I've never owned an amp with only one speaker output. Thanks guys. [/quote] Ah ha! If one or both of your cabs has two connectors then as you've ascertained, you've no problem.

I you are saying there is only a single output on the amp and the cabs defo only have a single connector each then you are knackered! However, no obvious reason why you couldn't make (or have made up) a splitter cable, I'd imagine you could rig up a splitter lead to come from the output of the amp to split and go to the individual cabs but I've never done that myself. Just ensure the cabs are both 8ohms!

Welcome. You have The Beatles and I'll raise you... ... ... ... ... ...[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1urq4Vb0XM"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1urq4Vb0XM[/url]

A sealed cab will be less efficient but that's about all. It will sound different to a ported 2x10 cab but no different to any two differing bands regardless of porting.

Sovereign, nice touch and that'll be a keeper then Peter! ;0)

Oddly enough when I saw your thread title I knew it was gonna be about a Warwick bass! The Warwick Thumb has a tiny body but still clocks in at 9lb+ everytime... Bubinga is the 'black hole' of the bass world

[quote name='jonsmith' timestamp='1324578652' post='1475927'] He actually does this at least once on the studio version too. [/quote] The oldage; 'Do it once and it's a mistake... do it twice and it's Jazz'!

Only listened through that once and it's great to hear genuine live recordings... is it just me though but does TB occasionally go into the chorus refrain early? Not that it matters as it fits harmonically but if it is then it's an even better representation of 'live' music!

[quote name='jackers' timestamp='1324568107' post='1475724'] I bought a new set of DR Sunbeams recently, put them on my bass today, played for about 15 mins, then realised that I wanted to save them for when I get my new gear in a couple of weeks, so I took them off and put them back in the paper sleeves. Will they still sound as new and be as good when I put them on my bass again in a couple of weeks? [/quote] Give them a wipe with string cleaner or similar and you'd not notice any difference at all... tbh you'd probably not notice a jot of difference even if you didn't wipe them, not if they aren't sweaty and gunked up when you store them!

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1324547461' post='1475360'] That's a ridiculous request...! [/quote] It was when you consider that to do just one gig a year meant not playing the town for 6 mths... with two gigs a ear at that venue you effectively couldn't play anywhere else in that town AT ALL!

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1324543849' post='1475299'] I think in pub-covers-land, think a window of couple of weeks either-side of the date is reasonable. Anything more than that is stretching it a bit. [/quote] We were asked last year (in our area Michael) to agree to not play 3 mths either side of any date given in a certain venue... that meant 6 mths not playing in that town (which probably contains at least 4 venues that I play regularly). I politely declined as I feel that I am in best position to decide when and where my band played, rather some unilateral ban imposed by the venue. I'm still playing regularly in the town and I've got the other venues texting/calling me on a regular basis wanting to book us more often and said venue wishing to impose the policy, no longer puts bands on! I can see 'why' some venues want to do it but a well managed/organised band can make those decisions without a venue trying to enforce them.

[quote name='BassBod' timestamp='1324473857' post='1474648'] Long term I'd go for the Dunlop "dual" version that has a more standard button, with the hole for the strap lock mechanism. If you forget your strap (or have problems) you can use any strap without having to re-fit the locks. [/quote] My Sterling has what I think BassBod is describing; an 'external' version of the OP's Dunlop. They accept the strap-pin as the OP's pic shows but they also act as a standard button if you forget the locking pin and you can just slip a strap around it. Probably the best solution!

Hmmm, I can only imagine either the sping-clip on the pin are worn (they keep the ballbearings forced out) or potentially worse; the socket is worn! Until you get the new kit to replace, have you tried reversing the pins and using the upper horn one in the bottom of the bass? Conversely, have you checked to see if the socket is worn? I've not had this problem with those fittings but it must be annoying if you just can't trust them and you have important gigs.