mike257

I spent two years spinning round stages with a Sennheiser Freeport and never had any trouble (apart from forgetting to put fresh batteries in every once in a while). We had three of them on the go, but our singer gave up on his when he realised he never strayed far enough from the mic stand for it to be any use. Me and the guitarists even knew each others pedal changes so we could swap sides on the stage mid-song and not have to worry! Don't use it now as running around the stage throwing shapes is a bit inappropriate in an alt-country band, but I'd have no qualms about relying on it if the situation required.

As others have said, all the big 'name' sequencers/DAWs are just as capable as each other really, and unless you're going pro as a recording engineer (in which case you'll NEED to learn Pro Tools) then you can get by with any. I'm a long time Cubase user, mostly just out of familiarity. I've thought about learning the others, but my days of trying to blag a studio job are sadly behind me, and Cubase does everything I need it to, so I'm sticking with what I know!!

Hey Lew, Amps with a tube pre are ok, pre-amp tubes take much less of beating and rarely need changing. I haven't changed the ones in my SVT-3 since I bought it in 2006. Used a Trace cab with my Ampeg head on a gig earlier this year, found it had a lot more mid grunt than my Ampeg cabs, a very different sound - but a good sound! I'm not sure what they've got in Dolphin/Dawsons for bass gear at the moment, but it might be worth having a poke around and trying a couple of things, just to get a feel for what you're after. Oh, and the bands going great thanks mate, the EP is mastered now (some tracks on myspace.com/thebuffaloriot) and we're just getting a couple of dates sorted for Liverpool Music Week. Checked out your band on myspace, some filthy riffs on those demo tracks

Rocking! Just giz a shout when it's on the way I've used UPS in the past when I've been shifting cabs about, but I'm sure there's cheaper options around, didn't somebody mention Interparcel in another thread recently? Any courier should do the trick.

Any news on the next moves for the Big'un?

The Kangol works for Samuel L Jackson. Maximum cool points already, I'd give that a go

I've got a tasty, slightly gig-worn black/maple from 1980, it's a beast. It's been out of use and on my 'things to sell' list for a bit, but I'm increasingly tempted to slap a nice set of flats on it and give it a run out again. I'll get the camera on it soon as I get the chance, it's a beasty!

Hey Lew, did you not pick up that Nemesis head then? I'm moving on my SVT-3 soon, but to be honest it doesn't have enough kick into 8 ohms, especially as you're metalling it up!! There's this [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=63158"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=63158[/url] GK 700 in the For Sale, but I'm not sure what it puts out at 8 ohms, although a more learned soul could enlighten you. In your budget, and only a hop down the M62. They're wicked heads, would do you fine tone-wise, I'd say. This guy [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=48813"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=48813[/url] has a Warwick head in your budget, but doesn't mention if he'll post or not. Or if you want lightweight, there's this: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=62426"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=62426[/url] Plenty of options, just keep an eye on the forum and see what takes your fancy! Mike

I'd spend some time gigging with the J and P you have now, and see which one you feel suits your sound the best, and call it that way. If you're looking for something to be your long term 'main' instrument, you're in the lucky position of having your two top choices already, so take your time and see what works!

[quote name='Adee' post='614708' date='Oct 2 2009, 12:42 PM']Calm down, Calm down fella ! Not long now ![/quote] Haha, I hope thats a proper Harry Enfield Scouser 'calm down' I'll send the PM over now, nice one mate! [quote name='alexclaber']Tonally I know what I'd prefer but in terms of loudness you probably haven't got enough power for the Big One to keep up with the 610HLF.[/quote] I'm running my Shuttle with the master at about 10 o'clock normally, I don't ever get to halfway with it through the 610, so I'm not pushing much through it in terms of power. The cab is probably overkill for my current volume needs. Given that, do you think I'll still get enough power into the Big One? Got a long way left to go on my volume knob!! Mike

That's good news man, I can't listen to them now (work blocks the myspace player!) but I'll check it when I get home! Are they At The Drive-In fans, by any chance?

For what it's worth, there's not a huge difference between the A, X and XT. The A is the more recent model, which had some small component changes but was basically a redesign to make manufacturing easier. The front panel components seem a bit 'cheaper' than the older ones too, but apparently there's not a great deal of difference in sound. I've used the 160X in the studio plenty of times and it's a cracking compressor. There's apparently not much between the X and the XT, I think one has XLR outputs and the other doesn't, I'm not sure if much else was changed. You might notice the difference in the studio, but in a bass rig any of those three will do the job. There isn't a tube model that I'm aware of, unless there's some squeezed into the original 1970's 160 (sometimes called the 160VU), that's a little half-rack thing with a big VU meter, also sounds the business, but more expensive and not something I'd want to bounce around my gigging rack.

[quote name='Etienne' post='612090' date='Sep 29 2009, 03:40 PM']Mike, you're more than welcome to try out my Compact- you can borrow it for a rehearsal/gig one night soon when I'm not using it myself... get in touch! [/quote] Etienne, you're truly a gentleman! That'd be ace, I'll definitely take you up on it. I've just realised it's very nearly my turn for the Big One that's doing the rounds, so if you fancy it we could get them together and A/B 'em in a couple of weeks time. I'll give you a shout soon as I know it's coming our way

Crikey, it's almost my turn! Excitement kicking in, looking forward to getting my hands on this and putting it through it's paces next to the 610. I've got a feeling my Ampeg's gonna get it's ass kicked

[quote name='yorick' post='611780' date='Sep 29 2009, 11:37 AM']Sandberg JJ's are in your price range. Basically a super jazz, active/passive etc. Worth a look at.[/quote] +1 Truly brilliant instruments. Never looked back since I got mine.

Wahey, the Northern Compact is creeping ever closer towards Liverpool, I might squuze it in before the year is out Really looking forward to having a blast on this, and the feedback so far is really encouraging. Alex, if you're ever up gigging in Liverpool, there's sure to be a pint with your name on it in return for this gentlemanly endeavour!

Very topically, I've just been watching an Earth, Wind & Fire gig from Japan in 1990 (on BT Vision, if anyone wants to check I'm not just going nuts) and they do September right at the start. There's at least two bits in the song where Verdine White's right hand is nowhere near his strings, but I swear the bass is still bubbling away. It's all well and good bouncing round the stage in perfect choreography, but at least have the smarts to not be waving at the crowd or tweaking your tone knob when your instrument is still playing away, well cheeky!!

I did a Carling Academy tour once and we got properly looked after - butties, crisps, beer and water in the dressing room, and buy-outs for dinner too! Made a nice change, most gigs I've done we're lucky to get a pint or two, never mind getting fed.

[quote name='iamapirate' post='610628' date='Sep 28 2009, 10:18 AM']OT, but I've just seen one of the new ampeg transparent basses - look nice! Probably sound like sh*t for the price![/quote] Haven't tried the bass, but a mate of mine has the guitar. I wasn't expecting much, but it blew me away. Perfectly balanced, and a great neck on it. Sounded the business too, although that interchangeable pickup nonsense seems a lot of messing around. Clever idea though!

Can't comment too much on the content, as I'm not to clued up on how the covers scene works, but make sure every last bit of material you hand over to the landlord/agent/whoever has your contact details on. The front, the back, the disc itself. That way, when the landlord throws the disc on in his car and manages to lose the case somewhere, he can still book you when he realises how utterly badass you are - result!

All plans for a spare 6.0 are now off. I wonder if it's much heavier? That's bloody ridiculous.

Ah, 'Sticks and a smile' bands. Get them in sunny England too, and it's almost always kids with pushy parents. We ran into some on my old band's last tour. One in particular in the Music Box in Manchester who literally had drumsticks, guitars and nothing else. Not even a lead. Still stuns me every time.