pantherairsoft

[quote name='Oakbear' post='1053247' date='Dec 9 2010, 07:33 PM']Hang in there champ! [/quote] Lol...

The Old Bell is a GREAT venue. Good size room and attracts much of the local midlands rock scene. Definitely worth getting in touch them to see whats happening!

Im glad Sheldon gave some input to this conversation and Im glad that he keeps an open mind to the negative feedback. I do not own a Dingwall. I have ben considering one for some time though… The Fanned fret idea interested me an awful lot and I got to try a couple of combustion basses about 6-7 months ago. While the fanned fret system shocked me into realising how natural the finger positions are with chords, the build quality and 'cheap' feel of the basses left me a little cold. At hat point in time I know the Combustion was a 'cheaper' model… but to me, the feel of the instrument, knobs, hardware and finish was similar to a mid-priced Yamaha in my local guitar store… around £450… not the £1200 that was asked for it! I left that day thinking that Dingwall had effectively priced the fanned fret system at a £750 add on to an average bass (hope that makes sense)… A few months later I was lucky enough to have a play on an ABZ. Given my previous experience I was not all that interested, but with a 'go on then' approach I played it. It took me about 60 seconds to realise that this was easily one of the most fantastically well made and well rounded basses I had EVER played. If the Combustion was £1200, this was worth £12,000… They really were worlds apart. It felt fantastic, sounded crisp and hi-fi with well defined notes, most noticeably up the neck after the 14th fret. I am quite particular about my basses these days and mainly go down the custom route… but I would love to own an ABZ (I'd prefer an Active EQ due to the way I alter my sound live in real-time) and its changed my views of the Dingwall brand completely. I'm not sold on the 36" B. It was great, but not more defined than the RIm Marseer I have, and somewhat less tight and defined than the GB Spitfire I had, both at 35". Yes the tension on the string was a little higher, but maybe my fingering style doesn't need the tension to keep the definition? The only thing I think is a shame here is the combustions pricing to fell ratio… It either needs to be £400 cheaper, or have a few key change to up its game. Change those horrid control knobs for some hipshot O-rings, put a nicer finish on the back of the neck… small things that make a massive difference in players hands. The reason I think this is an important point, is that most places you find a Dingwall, its the Combustion thats in stock (certainly here in the UK)… and I'm prepared to put money on the fact that I'm not the only person that was put off trying other basses within the Dingwall range by the price and quality of the Combustion. I know some of the points I raised here are negative, but the important ones are that the key elements of the Dingwall build are fantastic. The fanned fret system is revolutionary in terms of finger positioning and the tone and feel of the ABZ instruments are up there with the best in the world… I hope people that are disappointed with the Combustion series give other parts of the range a good go and don't turn there noses up at them like I did for so long A Dingwall is on my rather small shipping list for the future… Shep

[quote name='wesfinn' post='1052152' date='Dec 8 2010, 09:40 PM']if it was only in the venue then i would say it was almost certainly interference. Robbie has shielded the cavity more than well enough. But as everyone is saying it could be anything in the venue from fruit machines to beer pumps to light fittings! If you are worried about it though i'd take it to Robbie and get him to install an earth eylet on the base of the cavity and then earth from the top of each pot to the eyelet.[/quote] Already on it! Spoke to Robbie yesterday who suggested we do the exact same thing... We are hooking up in Jan anyway and he's planning to do this at that point. [quote name='BanditSid' post='1052189' date='Dec 8 2010, 10:17 PM']Does your amp have active and passive inputs ? If so,which do you use ? The passive input tends to be very high impedance, which then makes the guitar more susceptible to interference pickup. Try the active input which is usually around 10k, the gain may be slightly lower but it might help with interference pickup.[/quote] Just the one input on both the amp heads I own (EBS HD350 & EBS Fafner). It was the HD350 I was using that night, but being another bass was fine, as well as a keyboard through the amp I'm pretty confident it's the bass earthing that was the issue.

Its more tube-warth than overdrive. A tube head with the drive channel up a little bit for flavour plus a slight low-mid boost would do it… I doubt Timmy uses an Overdrive pedal on it at all to be honest. Overdrive pedal with the OD only slightly there and roll more mids into your sound should get you close… don't play the strings with too much attack… keep it soft on the fingering style.

[quote name='Truckstop' post='1051886' date='Dec 8 2010, 05:02 PM']Ha ha, I never know what to do with my hands either when people take pics of me and my bass! Truckstop[/quote] Yup… I was too bust thinking about that box of Oreo's sat behind me…

[quote name='Bass_Guardian' post='1051877' date='Dec 8 2010, 04:50 PM']The marseer's body is really tiny or is it just me...[/quote] It is tiny (but wide)… Shown here next to a Jazz-style bass… I am however only 5'4" so its pretty well proportioned against me…

Somewhat slightly longer than a week, but the bass is back from the spray shop and we are waiting on a few components for the electronics for final assembly and setup to take place… Not long… in theory! Pics to follow

Not so tidy shot of the inside of my Roscoe… That blob of solder in the middle of the shot has wire coming from it to each pot… I assume a similar set up on the RIM would be a good idea?

[quote name='icastle' post='1051693' date='Dec 8 2010, 02:05 PM']Very tidy looking job. None of the pots are earthed though?[/quote] No… Just the pre-amp as per wiring diagrams… Before you say it… Yes, I think I am realising why the bass did not like the venue...

Heres my 3 beauties (struggled to get a nice photo though due to the glare from the wintery bright sky outside! Still waiting on my new GB to join the family… Lots of pics of the basses floating around the forum anyway… but I'll get a better pic of the lot when lighting conditions allow! Shep

There is a large amount of wiring missing from there… Pic was taken before pickups were installed… The Aguliar pre is earthed to the jack (as per the wiring instructions with the pre) and not to the copper shielding (which is for outside interference). Updated pics as it stands today And may I add that Robbie has done a wicked tidy job of wiring that pre up with those pups in what is really quite a small control cavity!

Cheers for the advice everyone. I've been totally unable to recreate the issue outage of the venue. Have been playing around with my rig and bass this morning... Tried loads of of the electronics on the same mains ring, PA, wireless mic receiver etc... Had my bass right up against a TV and a PC monitor to see if it created interference... Nothing. I can't find any evidence that there's an issue with the bass at all... Maybe I have to accept that bass & that venue don't like each other!

[quote name='bobbass4k' post='1051213' date='Dec 8 2010, 01:19 AM']If the mid pot eliminated it the I'd say it's a certain frequency of interference[/quote] Agreed. Thing that was odd though was that altering the EQ on the amp made no difference, but changing the inboard bass pre did. The bass pre has a 400/800 hz switch... It both positions, boosting the mods reduced the noise (but never elimated it). My amp head can select frequency as well... But boosting or cutting the same frequencies made no difference from the amp...

Agreed. I was the first to set up and I discovered it. No PA on, no other amps. Tried a fee power sockets and 3 different locations around the room for placing the amp (as I assumed it was an amp issue to start with). Even turned the lights off! No change there at all. I'll have a good look at the wiring around the mid pot tomorrow. Shielding has just been done as it's a new bass and from what I can see on inspection is a very very professional job within the control cavity... Which is why the issue surprised me. Pic taken before the pups were in so this isn't as it wired at the mo... But shows the shielding job... The cavity cover is coated in the same way.

[quote name='Bloodaxe' post='1051199' date='Dec 8 2010, 12:52 AM']Sounds like your shielding wants a bit of looking into, something's getting through. Did the venue have any house lighting controlled by a dimmer circuit? They're known for playing havoc with instruments. Which bass & what p/ups? P.[/quote] There were some lights but just on or off, no dimmer. My RIM Marseer. Delano HS pups, Aguilar pre [quote name='icastle' post='1051205' date='Dec 8 2010, 01:02 AM']Yep. You've pretty much eliminated the amp and cables from the scenario. Your bass has either got a bad earth joint or shielding that isn't up to scratch. You're going to have to go digging around inside and look for bad or suspect looking joints as a first step and if that doesn't provide an answer you're going to have to look at the shielding.[/quote] But only having that issue in that venue....? The bass performs fine in the studio, home and 2 other venues so far...

Hi guys I know there is a wealth of info about buzzing issues on here, but this is an odd one... Played a gig tonight. Set up my rig. No problems. As soon as I connected my bass to it there was a loud electrical buzz... Kind of like being between radio stations... Changed all leads - same issue Changed the power socket being used a well as extensions - same issue I assumed my amp head didn't like crap wiring in the venue... But... Connected out keyboard player to my amp... Nothing... Nice and silent like it should be. Ok, so I bow assume it's an issue with my bass... Start playing with the pots and find that turning the mid pot all the way up removes 90% of the buzz, rolling the mid pot off make it much much louder. Something to do with earthing in the bass or a dodgy pot. At this point another bassist arrives and we try his bass. No problem. That solves it. The amp is fine and it's the bass. Later I get back to the studio and set my rig up and plug in to start elimating things to get to the root of the issue... And it's gone. Everything perfect. I've know amps to buzz and disagree with badly wired venues... But is it actually possible that a bass can disagree with a venue as it's only happened there? Shep

Awesome stuff!

Great little amp... Tbh only got shot of mine coz I needed the cash. Lovely sounding. Best practice/accoustic gig combo for the money without a doubt!

Your choice.. Unless your asking an engineer to help create 'a sound', then trust him. Out of interest, knowing your local to me, which studio is it (PM me if you prefer)... As I'm recording in Feb and want to make sure I perfect my argument if we're recording at the same place