TheButler

I used to have one of these. My observations:

1) Loud. I used to play this in a loud, post-rock ban, battling guitarists, keyboards and drums. It could be heard, sitting in the mix, at volume on 3 and gain on 1. Despite this, if you cranked it up another 3 notches it wouldn't 'double' in volume, if you know what i mean. Still, it is louder than most people would ever need.

2) The EQ did a very nice job, to get that Orange character through, without having an AD200B. It was impressive that a little 4KG Class-D head with a couple of 12AX7's , could have so much valve-y character. However, i liked the EQ on flat - but think that is where it should stay. I couldn't get the boost the mids to the extent of being able to cut through that massive wall of sound coming from my band mates. In all fairness, competing against thick synthetic sounds very various keyboards and heavily effected guitar, it did well. Ideally though i just needed a wee bit more. I used it with a '78 P-Bass, i will go as far as to say this amp made the bass even less versatile.

3) The D.I. I gigged my one several times, at several big venues with some very professional sound engineers. None of them could get anything but distorted, hot sound. I was told this wasn't a problem with the amp, but with where they were all plugging it in at. Still, it must've been different to the norm for them to make the mistake.

4) The weight. Okay, so being so light is a merit for most people... just not for me. I used mine with a Matamp 212, 900W @ 4ohm. I had to tape the head down to the cab, because it liked to go walkabouts whenever i dropped on to the E string. The other thing i found was i just needed that weight. Some weird psychological trait of mines perhaps, but i just needed that '' weighty, packed with valves and more power than i'd ever use '' kinda amp. Hence why i bought a Mesa 400+

So, to conclude. Try one out mate.

4 day bump Don't be shy folks, roll up, roll up.

[quote name='OldGit' post='807726' date='Apr 15 2010, 10:11 PM']As a parent I have to say "[i]Who[/i] bought it?"
Perhaps you should give it back to your dad to sell... to TheButler [/quote]

Right. I'm going to let the advert run.

I'm not in any hurry to get shot of the bass. It is ideal for me, just slightly limiting.

I've narrowed down my trades to a Sadowsky MV4HPJ, ideally, would gladly consider other reputable, quality P/J's.

I've also decided i fancy a mid to late 70's Jazz. If i find one of them and my tonal needs are met by using that and this, then i'll withdraw.

Of course, it is a game of each to his own. I love the weight, and baseball bat neck but could easily see how it'd be a problem. Equally, i love the sound, but could see how it's one, two at best, dimensions could be a problem too.

I'm quite sure that issues will extend past that of the strings. As said above, i'd send it in for a service with someone reputable. I probably don't need another one, but its tempting. Not got a 70's Jazz which you think is crap too?

Cool. I'll buy it then

Well, i'm 19, played for 7 years. In that time i've had:

Yamaha RBX270 and 15 Watt Marshall and Zoom Bass 607 - Only bass things anyone else ever bought me.

The Bass Company JJ-400 or something - Incredible bass, astonishingly nice.
Ibanez SR506 - With EMGs and EMG pre-amp
Hughes and Kettner BassBase 600 and H&K 410
Yamaha Attitude Limited II
Fender Jazz (1996) MIA
Orange Bass Terror 500W

Various effect pedals in that time - Including Eventide Modfactor and Pitchfactors.

Currently:
Fender Precision Bass (1978)
Mesa/Boogie 400+ (1991 - Bought recently on here from JonH. It was actually in very good condition. Hardly used, and only on its first set of valves since it was new. Just been re-valved with JJ's and fully serviced by Dennis Marshall. I'll have it back tomorrow or Friday. Cannot wait.
Mesa/Boogie 1516BE with EV's 450W @ 4ohm. Fully flightcased, as is the 400+
Matamp 212B - 900W @ 4ohm
Looking at buying another 70's Fender, but this time a Jazz. If i can afford that without selling the P-Bass that is.

Anyway, i don't think i'm doing to badly?

Ah, i bought mines from the US - for a bargain price. It was totally worth the hassle of having it shipped. Good luck.

Get some second hand Trace gear and you'll be sorted.

Hey folks,

Right, so whats the best way to re-cover a cab? Where can you buy the tolex? Any online guides how to do it? Or, just get someone that knows what they're doing to do it?

Cheers
Jamie

In my perfect world i'd have this and a 70's Jazz - both with maple necks. I personally love the 70's Fenders. Then again, i'm all about solid, weighty instruments that sounds as they look and feel. In an inperfect situation, like this, i need something which combines the merits of both, or something which is different but still makes for a nice compromise. I could always look into getting a 70's Jazz... where would one find that kinda coin though.

I play in an Edinburgh-based post/prog rock band called Midas Fall. I joined in August last year, after most of the hard work was done. We've got a UK Tour coming up in May, details of which can be found on our myspace/facebook or website:

www.midasfall.com or www.myspace.com/midasfall

Good bunch of people and we've all got high hopes of getting far-ish. It'd be nice if you decent people could buy our album when it is released next week - so we could have a chance of recouping some money.

We're on price comparison sites (which is quite funny) but you can buy it from the usual places:

[url="http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=280;-1;-1;-1;-1&sku=413287"]http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetail...&sku=413287[/url]

[url="http://www.play.com/Music/MP3-Download-Album/-/938/1178/-/14051409/Eleven-Return-and-Revert/Product.html?searchtype=genre"]http://www.play.com/Music/MP3-Download-Alb...earchtype=genre[/url]

[url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eleven-Return-Revert-Midas-Fall/dp/B003AT9DN8"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eleven-Return-Reve...l/dp/B003AT9DN8[/url]

[quote name='MuseMatt' post='803476' date='Apr 12 2010, 10:23 AM']Would something like [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=49810"]this[/url] interest you?[/quote]

What a beauty! Easily the nicest and most tempting thing i've been offered thus far.

The only worries i have are: Never heard of the maker. Not got a clue how much it is worth. You said, in an other thread, that it ''doesn't suit the rock music you play'' which could mean it wouldn't sit well with me either. Also, you're a wee bit far away. Bloomin' nice bass though.

If anyone has joined this thread and thought '' Wow, this is some impressive rambling '' I'll synopsise you.

[b]Money:[/b] Looking at £1100 FIXED - It's a 'Basschat-bargain' at that, bearing in mind it has a fresh set-up and brand new D'Addario XL Chromes Flatwounds. Can travel for fee (Located in Edinburgh). Can post, at buyer's risk in fairly rugged wooden case.

[b]Trades:[/b]!

Sadowsky MV4HPJ in an ideal world. Otherwise, will consider other quality P/J's

Hmmm... i've got an irrational fear of Stingrays. I've tried them time and time again and just always fail to 'get on with them'. I'm still convinced a Ric, through the Boogie 400+ 1516 and 212 would be apocalyptic. Bearing in mind i play post-rock, so its all about making a huge sound. That sounds kinda crap though, woolly and twangy the two worst possible bass adjectives?

Yeh, I would gladly run two 1516's, or maybe the 1516 and a 215. Parting with the Matamp 212 will be difficult though. I'm going to run both, the Matamp 212 and the Mesa cab and see which i prefer i guess. The Mesa has really tatty tolex, but its got a custom flightcase made by packhorse, and it's got the 450W EV's in it, all of which are in very good condition. Its missing the grille badges, and being the kind of guy i am i'd like to source some. If anyone would have any ideas where to do such a thing that'd be braw.

Yeh, i guess i've just taken on the ignorant opinions of other online-bassplayers. The neck on this particular bass is fairly chunky, i really like it and would hope a Ric would a reasonably similar profile. If anyone does have a Ric and would like a temp swap then please by all means contact me!

[quote name='Simon.' post='800638' date='Apr 9 2010, 10:29 AM']Great looking bass TheButler, and pretty much exactly what I'm having a GAS attack for these days. Ant local, too... Sadly it's just a bit beyond my reach financially, so I think I'm going to have to settle for a CIJ P-bass instead. Good luck with it![/quote]

Unless you find a Rickenbacker under your bed. I've been looking at them and i think GAS for one is starting to consume me. If you want a blast on the '78 and your in the Burgh just give us a PM.

[quote name='Beedster' post='800595' date='Apr 9 2010, 09:54 AM']PJ is a good choice, if I were you I'd PM John and have a chat about just how close to a Jazz bridge PUP tone you can get from the P-Retro. Of course, Rics look the best, but the degree to which a Ric is the best choice will depend on your style of playing and the music

C[/quote]

I've never had a Rick. I've played them, and loved the ones i played. Then i hear lots of people saying that some play like dogs, but that might just be their preference, these things are really in the eye of the beholder. Their sound would be very fitting to the music i play. The greatest post-rock band of ever, Mogwai's, Dom Aitchison makes good use of his and his sound is immense, something which i'd aspire to achieve - but with my own take on it, by not using trace gear, like him. Although, i'd maybe have to consider that i'd be going from one one-trick pony to another? Anyway, I reckon it'd be pretty monstrous with the 400+ and EV-loaded 1516BE.. and Matamp 212. I believe it might have been yourself, judging by your sig, that bought the other 1516BE that was on here? If so, my bird says to thank you. Regardless, i still kinda want two.

[quote name='Beedster' post='800578' date='Apr 9 2010, 09:42 AM']Jamie, something you could consider is buying one of John East's retrofit Precision preamps (P-Retro). I've not used it so I can't be too explicit about what it will do to your sound, but if it does only 50% of what the J-Retro does to the versatility of a Jazz Bass, you would have a very versatile instrument, whilst keeping that classic P-Bass signature tone, and that lovely vintage bass.

Otherwise you could follow my bass journey

Precision to Jazz (several) to Stingray (several) to Modulus (Fleas and Sonic Hammer) to Rickenbacker to Precision!

Good luck whatever you do

Chris[/quote]

That does sound like an avenue i should explore and i must admit, hadn't considered

Your bass journey sounds nice - and costly - but whilst i've not been around long, i've decided that if i stray from the path of Precision it will likely only be as far as a P/J... or a Rick.

I didn't think i shared a city with such mad people... oh, no wait.

I'm trying to figure out if this is my old bass..? Regardless they were amazing, i really regret selling it. I completely agree re the remark about TRBs and the best under £1k.

Okay, seen as i'm serious about this i need to really add a much better description.

So, its a 1978 I'll get more pics up ASAP. The bass is in excellent condition, the only thing making it not perfect is hair line cracks in the lacquer on the headstock. I didn't notice them when buying the bass, and they don't show very well in pictures. I'll try taking some more though, so you can all see what i mean. I have a hard case for it, not the original but it serves the purpose of a case quite well. The fretboard is clean, with just the usual signs of play, some minimal build up of crap, around the fret wire. I'll see about getting that done when i put it in for a set-up. Weight wise it's about 9lbs.

As i said, i would prefer to do any deals face-to-face.

I guess a cash price would be somewhere in the region of £1000-1100. I'm stating that so people might have a better idea regarding trades.

Whilst i love the bass, i am still young and naive and want to continue my quest for 'that' sound. The band are doing increasingly well; we've got a UK tour in a month and an album primed for release. However, as things move along i'm hoping its now time for me to make a more personal mark upon that sound.

I've hopefully taken care of the amplification side of things, but now want to focus on the bass. The P-Bass is, as i'm sure you all know, a bit of a one-trick pony. This one is no exception. I'm not going to dupe anyone under the false pretense that this can sound like anything other than a bloody nice P-Bass, because it can't - simple as that. It does what it does blindly well. Indeed, I really do love everything about this bass, but unfortunately i'm not in the circumstances to buy more basses to fill the tonal gaps that it inevitably leaves. The perfect scenario would be to buy another bass, but i can't justify that right now due to the amount of money i am putting out for all matters of things. I would love to buy more P-basses, but only i had something else to bridge the gap between sounds. Had i never owned a Jazz before this i wouldn't be aware of what aspects i was missing, damn. Blissful ignorance would be nice right now.

Therefore, i'm looking for something with that little bit more versatility in the sound department. Something maybe P/J would make sense. I could add cash to the bass, albeit not much, and would only be looking to sell if i seen something in the classifieds that took my eye.

I should add that this was fully set-up by a guy in Edinburgh 3-4 months ago. Its due to go in again to be set-up, intonation checked, action set blah blah and have D'Addario Flatwound XL Chromes .45-.105's fitted.

I still like the idea of a Rick btw, thats the only thing i'd part-ex this for outwith the P/J sorta realm. Fire any questions you have away and i will do my best to answer. I would also prefer anyone that is interested to do the transaction in person. I can travel mutually and will be touring the UK, as i said early, at the end of May so could make life easier.

Nope, sold a few weeks ago - my bad.

[quote name='slaphappygarry' post='794729' date='Apr 2 2010, 11:37 PM']You guys deserve nothing but success Jamie. Love your new record.

[/quote]

How do you know which band i was talking about, eh eh!?