Deedee

[quote name='Kiwi' timestamp='1487754261' post='3242370'] Nice. I have one too now but have yet to try it out...! [/quote] The very one! I take it you're still not on the same continent as each other?

[quote name='sonnyonbass' timestamp='1487503633' post='3240213'] We need pics! :-) [/quote] Here's a pic but alas I've since moved this on to a fellow Basschatter. It is a great head but when it came to packing the car up for rehearsals and gigs, I found myself opting for the SMX more and more. I've since tried numerous other amps including Class D and each time I come back to Trace solid state gear. Oh well, at least I tried a full fat valve one!

[quote name='lownote12' timestamp='1487424259' post='3239700'] Well, you know, Rich, even though I concede to you totally when it comes to knowing about Higgs bosons or juju or whatever goes round in wires, fitting the KiOgon loom did make a difference. Overall it's a cleaner sound and most obviously of all the cheap and nasty twangy top end is now a dignified subtle treble. Bottom end ain't wonderful, still a bit blurred and boomy/thuddy, not 3D and crisp and focused and all that. But I'm used to my Sire, which is awesome, and my other P bass is on flats so I'm not used to roundwounds on a P bass. And I'm in a raucous blues band, not a refained solo artist. So I've decided I'm not spending £130 on a Nordstrand or Oil City for a possible improvement, I'll just wait until a serendipitous buy comes my way maybe. [/quote] Same here. I fitted a Kiogon loom and new jack etc and there was a noticeable difference. It just sounded 'fuller' and yes the tone pot now seems to give more of a difference between full on to full off. I too am still pondering whether to swap the pick up or not. I'm after the Custom Shop '62 sound that I have fitted in my MIJ 4 string P. The rewinding path sounds an interesting option.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1487414522' post='3239594'] That`s my thoughts too - I actually thought mine was broken when I got it as the treble didn`t seem to do much. However the 5k on the graphic really adds in the highs. [/quote] Ah it's not just me then. I managed to try one out at PMT in Nottingham last weekend. I was playing a Stingray and had to really crank up the treble on the bass to brighten it up. Certainly sounded better than other Ashdowns I've tried, but for my tastes didn't really float my boat.

[quote name='vinorange' timestamp='1487187443' post='3237934'] I wonder if we need an "I want my bass back" or "broken hearted bass player seeks reunion with former bass" page? [/quote] Gets my vote 😀

I agree. The best mix for me is lightweight cabs (Barefaced Super Twin being my current fave) mixed with more traditional heads. I've tried lots of class D heads but always go back to Trace. I can live with the size and weight of the compact Trace cabs (1153 etc) too but any larger than that and I really can't justify wrestling them In and out of cars at 1.00 in the morning.

There have been a couple of regrets in very recent years. A 2010 black and maple US Fender P bought from Pestie and sold to Lozz (it was his originally a good while before). It had a few minor dents on the body but played beautifully. The pain of getting rid of this has only been eased by the MIJ 70's reissue P I picked up last year which plays equally well. The other regret was a 2005 Honeyburst and rosewood 3 band Stingray. The best playing Stingray I have ever had. Sold to BigThumb (I think) as I'd just been rather extravagant and bought a Wal. The Wal spent most of its time hanging on the wall as I was terrified of taking it out to the local Dog & Duck. The Wal therefore departed and I do often wonder where that lovely Stingray ended up. I'd be pretty tempted to have it back should it come up again.

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1486946290' post='3235839'] I used to have a Markbass 2x10 combo. One handed carry. Now I have a non neo EBS 4x10 and a stonking big Radiovox valve amp which has a casing made out of used battleships & weighs the same as a tanker full of dark matter. [/quote] 😂

[quote name='2elliot' timestamp='1486204738' post='3230001'] I've gone for it. Should land Tuesday, just in time for band practice. Fingers crossed. [/quote] Nice one. Look forward to hearing your thoughts

Here's my current TE collection (accompanied by a Barefaced Super Twin): 1215 Series 6 Combo AH250 GP12 SMX AH600-12

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1486073935' post='3229119'] If you like the treble end of the range, have you considered going EADGC? [/quote] It's definitely the low B I'm after, but with just a little more clarity/defined tone.

[quote name='whizzzy' timestamp='1485957610' post='3228002'] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]As a suggestion you could look at the Nordstrand NP5 or NP5F. I fitted these to my VM5, they are a direct replacement and they worked out quite well but whether there is £100+ worth of improvement is subjective. I guess it comes down to what sound you are after. Personally I think you can achieve a lot more, for less money in getting the right sort of stings fitted on the bass to suit the particular sound you are after.[/font][/color] [/quote] The strings! A very good point that I'd foolishly not considered. I currently use Fender 7250M strings, purely because I like them (or MLs) on my 4 strings. However, these clearly may not be the best strings to give a good B on the Squier. Any tips on a good brand for a clear and bright B ??

[quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1485885083' post='3227505'] VT Bass. Done. [/quote] +1 All the clang you'll ever need

😂 for sure

[quote name='No lust in Jazz' timestamp='1485876209' post='3227413'] I rate the pick up in that bass along side the Aguilar, Fender and Xotic pick ups in the other basses that I own, buying the Squire with a view to changing the PU - I haven't needed to. We're all different though, I'd be interested in how you get on. [/quote] You may well be right. As I said, it certainly doesn't sound bad in fact I was pleasantly surprised. I was just curious if other people had experience of replacement pickups that they really raved about.

Yeah saw this. I imagine the reserve is a fair bit higher though.

Can anyone recommend a replacement pickup for a Squier VM 5 string P? I believe Ben64 of this parish was also enquiring. I've previously fitted Custom Shop '62 pickups in my 4 string precisions so that's the kind of sound I'm after. It's not that the Squier pickups sound bad, just that they don't sound as good as my 4. EDIT: Forgot to mention, I've already fitted a rather lovely Kiogon wiring loom with CTS pots etc

[quote name='ped' timestamp='1485724925' post='3226218'] Sweet. I've got kiwi's Hexavalve here but haven't really tried it yet [/quote] Crikey! Resisting the urge - Expert level It really is a great amp

Picked up the AH-600-12 last night and I've only had chance to play it at bedroom levels this morning. First impressions? Very good:[list] [*]Very easy to get a decent sound from the off. Even with the graphic flat it sounded great when tried with a couple of different basses [*]Drive and blend are far more sensitive and therefore more aggressive than i was expecting, but can obviously be toned down for just a touch of bite. All very different to the SMX valve/blend set up [*]The compression is again far more sensitive than on an SMX. The slightest tweak and you can hear the difference straight away [*]Fans are quiet and working without rattles and squeaks [*]All knobs, buttons and sliders feel solid [/list] When I plugged it in last night just to 'light it up' I did think that the centre of the graphic was unlit suggesting that a bulb was out at the back. There may well be, but looking at other pictures and asking a couple of other BCers I'm not 100% whether there's a light out or not (no Smiths jokes thank you). I did also notice that when playing with the amp at barely audible volume (lower than normal bedroom volume) there was a slight distortion evident. I have read about this on the forum but it's certainly not evident at slightly louder volumes, so at this moment in time doesn't concern me. Thanks all

😟 no good I'm afraid. Many thanks anyway.