Kongo

[quote name='alexclaber' post='486583' date='May 13 2009, 07:45 AM']Absolutely no point stacking a 2x10" on top, it will fart out long before the Big One gets going. With a powerful head or pre/power rig the Big One will be plenty for that environment. Possibly! But it is one cab solution, no need for a second cab. It's completely different - different woofer, different alignment, different tuning, no crossover, no midrange. More traditional sound, much less bottom and top. For your situation I'm pretty certain the Big One will be enough on it's own. The high end very nice and bright but I am working on an optional switchable tweeter, will hopefully get that sorted by the time this batch is done, so if the midrange doesn't go high enough for you then you can switch a tweeter in. Alex[/quote] Add a tweater and I'm sold. Trust me, there are a lot of bassists out there that would rather that "Marcus Miller" sound on top as you said LOL! I hope this does the job, I don't want too much boom and not enough high or the other way round. But if I can get away with this one cab all the better...And it'll be easy to transport / store. ONly thing is I wont get all the juice from my head with one cab but 6 ohms is better than 8 so half there. July you said somewhere right? I can save up enough for one by then. I guess I shall anticipate the Big One and hope it delivers...So many cabs have let me down, this sounds about right for me. But defo consider adding a tweater...then you technically get 3 speakers in one...A LOT more bassists will buy them then it makes a lot of difference with harmonics for example. Oh and how does the cab distribute frequencies? I've used a 15" with a 2x10" enclosure before and I swear the 10" was being pushed as much as the 15" and just wanted to pop out...Needless to say I cut the bass a bit to avoid it. Forgive me for questioning everything but after trying a lot of equipment, and money is soon to be on the table, I have to. It's not like I can try one of these in a shop anywhere and even if I did, in a shop and then with 2 guitars and a drummer...things get a bit different HAHA!

[quote name='Paul Cooke' post='486581' date='May 13 2009, 07:45 AM']or just fill in the gaps with pickups... he don't need any poncy ramp... mind you, there's room for another pickup there... [/quote] More pickups would affect the sound. If I like the tone 2 J-pups deliver why would I want more? Anyways, I really need a camera cause I made something for my Jazz I call a "Flight Deck" bassed upon the many ideas here. It is attached to my pickups but doesn't go over them...I didn't want the magnetic field obstructed by anything so I went from my neck J to the Bridge J and slightly past, contouring it so it goes with the shape of the control plate. I need to shim it slightly as it's not [i]quite[/i] flush with the pups but almost. At the mo it's a prototype made out of Foamalux but ones I get it perfect I might make it out of scratchplate material. Then I need to shim the underside. It works like a ramp but stays true with the pups and best of all, leave no marks it was ever there! Must really get some picks up of it though...it looks quite "Bionic" at the mo as it's black and my scratchplate is white so it's obvious it's there but then I guess at least it gets noticed. I feel this Jazz test bass is gonna get VERY bionic with DIY features I feel work for me.

[quote name='Faithless' post='488178' date='May 14 2009, 07:06 PM']People, AREN'T YOU TIRED OF THIS?[/quote] Yes...I tire of every topic, both in person and on forums about players. Everyone has thier own oppinion and that's it. Some like McCartney, others Entwhistle...Others Wooten...Others Sheehan...Others Hamm...Others Miller... It's not so bad...until they start pushing them on you. I like Wooten...then I get bored...then I like again... But these threads are just....boring and pointless. It's all oppinion so yes...very bored.

[quote name='ARGH' post='486547' date='May 13 2009, 01:10 AM']Just be really aware of left/hand technique,and string muting isnt that much of a problem,Ive tried the scrunchie idea and didnt like it.... Sock under the bridge is a good thing though.[/quote] Can be a bit tough keeping 6-strings from ringing out due to harmonics everytime you lift off a string. Think playing a root, 5th, octave, maj 7th (10th) along 4-strings. Left hand plays root and maj 7th (10th) and right hand plays the 5th and octave. Run that up and down and you'll soon get annoying harmonics ringing out, begging to be muted only to find you just muted it on a harmonic and set yet more off...ARGH! Indeed lol! Too much energy and concentration lost. Then add 2 more strings......I think the Michael Angelo string damper would be good on a bass...even though I dislike the player that mute is a great idea.

[quote name='molan' post='482645' date='May 8 2009, 02:51 AM']Played a fun gig this evening for which we were paid the princely sum of £250. This was shared between 8 of us (7 in the band plus the ever attentive sound man) and we held some back towards the rehearsal kitty. I bought a, small, round for a couple of the band plus an after gig beer for myself & worked out I had the net figure of about a fiver for the night. I have to say that this doesn't really bother me a bit, it really was a fun evening and I can't imagine a better way to spend a dull Thursday than with some really good friends playing music for an appreciative audience [/quote] That's great man. I hope you continue with this. Some wedding bands get paid silly money! I saw a decent one called the "Funtime Frankies"...LOL!!! Get to play Elvis tunes and what-not plus all the wedding cake and booze you could want...Ah ok not so glam but still, must be fun for those who can do it.

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='486544' date='May 13 2009, 01:01 AM']My fretless Stingray's got holders for them, but the mutes must've been removed by a previous owner. I've been thinking about finding some and adding them. I've never had a bass with string mutes before though. And I'm genuinely a "bass player" so I've never tied a girlfriend's scrunchy around the top of the neck either.[/quote] Works a treat in damping unwanted notes for tapping seriously...when using like a piano, would never do this much work for one string tapping. Or if your one handed like Bill Clements you could use a sock!

[quote name='Oscar South' post='486519' date='May 13 2009, 12:01 AM']Heh, D'addarios have the highest tension/worst flexibility compared to gauge of any brand of string I've tried. La Bella Hard Rockin' Steels are my personal favourate. Great feel, great life, great tone.[/quote] To a note of what I said about bending with fingers behind the string on a .55 guage I was actually refering to D'Addario Pro Steels. I love them, and the Nickel plated version, for their tention, tone and reliability...took me a damn few years to find and strings I liked.

[quote name='josh3184' post='486525' date='May 13 2009, 12:10 AM']Cost me nothing too, its the plastic cover on an A4 notebook that I cut up [/quote] Omg WHY DIDN'T I DO THAT!!?? Does it bow in the middle though lol I can imagine the sound to be like Rolf Harris playing bass haha!!! Hmmm that might be a quick fix until the real deal too...I might work on that idea, thanks!

[quote name='BottomEndian' post='486103' date='May 12 2009, 04:43 PM']There seem to be a lot of people who think Ibanez = metal. While I would agree with that first impression when it comes to their (6-string, up an octave) guitars, I really don't get that from their basses. The only Ibanez bass shape that shouts [b]METAAALLLL![/b] is the ICB: The rest just seem like nice simple designs (with the possible exception of the BTBs, which are admittedly a bit pointy, like a stag beetle had sex with a tree). Compare with ESP. They're all points and edges. Pure metal. And my Ibanez BTB sounds... well... sort of... kind of like a Jazz, but a Jazz that's been to the gym. Huge, but well-rounded. Not really a metal tone at all. Just my 2p. I haven't had enough experience of different bass brands to contribute much more, so... as you were. [/quote] +1 on the BTB. I play metal in my band and as much as I love it, it's not metal tone but then, BTB standad for "Boutique Bass" so they are designed with makers like Alembic in mind and are aimed at Jazzers really more than metallers. The pickups are actually modelled more for dynamic response than an actual tone on BTB's so I guess that explains it. Not sure it's any pointier than a Peavey Cirrus though (what I had before). Ibanez have themselfs to blame for being slapped with the "Metal" tag but I guess money talks and that's where they get it from. Not many that play them complain either...but a lot are afraif of being badged a "Metal bassist" by playing an Ibanez Bass. Of course, with the right tools and mind there's nothing wrong with being a metal bassist either so that stigma really shouldn't be. Oh and yes to someone else here they are 80's designs...much like Fender are 50's - 60's designs...can't change facts really (or argue them). If Fender still use those designs what's wrong with Ibanez?

Didn't Roland make synth basses before in the 80's? They only tracked well enough to be used on the high notes though...and looked like a lazer gun! Would love to find one just for the hell of it...PROPER 80's look that would have on stage! *points headstock to crowd and makes lazer noises"

[quote name='YouMa' post='484403' date='May 10 2009, 05:25 PM']Am i cheating by relying on compression i dont use it that often but have started messing with it a lot lately? Does anyone else have any views on this.Also did Jamerson and other early pioneers rely on any effects or outboard stuff apart from there amps and fingers,surely they must have just wanted the sound to be good and easy to play in order to just get the job done when they performed as paid artists,so i would imagine they would have grabbed anything that was about,i know fuzz and stuff was about early on but was there any bass pedals that affected the dynamics of the sound around at this time.[/quote] I used to think this...ALOT! Until I said this to myself...I've been a changed musician these past few months...Listen to my words: [i][b]"You are an Electric musician...and Electric bassists...Even using an amp is cheating, you'll never get that sound accoustic. Plugging into an amp makes your dynamic range ALOT bigger but it's not natural...So, a Compressor will help bring things down. As your electric, not accoustic, and take into fact that using an amp is cheating...A compressor is just an extention!"[/i][/b] For YEEEEEEEEEEAAAARRRS I had not used a compressor for fear of cheating but then I thought, it's my life and my instrument...why not? And BOOM! The penny dropped...Now my bass sounds like it does on my lap through my amp. All the notes sound like they should, behave how they should and by "Cheating" it sounds more natural. So try it. Screw cheating how can you cheat? Adding EQ is also surely cheating. A compressor is just another "section" in the signal chain if you like. Hell this is all IMO and I'm sure many here will say against it but MAN it changed my playing and now I feel like I'm starting all over again because my notes sound so natural and pure...It's like my bass is as it should be. So...Compressor = (if done well) a bass guitar unamplified, amplified. [quote name='51m0n' post='485044' date='May 11 2009, 01:35 PM']Most bassists use nasty comp pedals that have most of the controls preset to 'suitable' settings. These settings are usually pretty shabby, mainly cos they are average settings for average bass situations. They rarely have decent monitoring lights to tell you how much gain reduction you are getting, so as far as most bassists are concerned the comp isnt doing anything unless they can hear it doing stuff to the sound. Which usually means they have got the comp button dimed, which will be a combination of lowering the threshold and upping the ratio and makeup gain to staggering levels. Sure you can hear it happening now, it just happens to sound cr@p, chokes your tone (so more eq please) and kill your dynamics to a very noticeable amount. To me, thats not using a compressor, thats getting used by compressor manufacturer's marketing t("our product will make you sound great like Joe Bingbaldy the great bassist for WeSuck") and not bothering to RTFM or learn how to use the tool.[/quote] +10 on that!!! I HATE pedal comps and would never use anything that doesn't have an LED meter. Plus pedals pump too much for me as well...and do not offer the kind of comp I like. I'm still messsing with mine all the time but it's awesome how clean it can make your bass play and thus, sound. I first got into compressors years ago before recently using one on bass. I used to use one for drums to get that "Click" sound of the bass drum. Do that to a drummer who uses double kick and watch him smile as he hears him bass drum back to himself, not so saggy sounding as it was before hand. [quote name='MacDaddy' post='484413' date='May 10 2009, 05:35 PM']It's an old argument, one where effects pedals are called talent boosters. Well let's see you get a nice chorused sound with a touch of delay from your fingers, is what I used to say. Anyway compression rules! Nice big phat bass mmmm... [/quote] Quote copied! I love that so I'm gonna use it wherever I can...I don't think there's an answere to it. Again this is just old complains coming back. Once upon a time bassists said that the "Electric bass can never sound anything like a bass...More just like a guitar"...how wrong and naive they were. Effects, taking this into mind, are generally new too so give a few decades down the line and watch this rant vanish. Shall we have this thread frozen in time? LOL!

[quote name='YouMa' post='486522' date='May 13 2009, 12:07 AM']I was wondering how many players on here use string mutes or at least something shoved under the bridge,would be interested to hear peoples views on this.[/quote] String mute at the nut but not the bridge. Excellent for damping unused strings when tapping...Not so good for fingerstyle. Rickenbackers and early Fenders have these, I'm sure someone here has one...Never been too sure what they are used for / sound like myself so I think I'll kick back and listen as well.

[quote name='alexclaber' post='484383' date='May 10 2009, 04:50 PM']That's what it's good at! It doesn't really matter where the ports are, so it'll just be coincidence that the front ported cabs contained better 15" drivers. The smaller speaker is really essential on this design because the woofer is almost a subwoofer, very different to the 'fullrange' 15"s normally found in bass cabs - more akin to a good PA sub. That's where the high excursion design makes such a difference - about three times as much clean excursion as typical bass guitar 15", which gives you nine times the power handling. Yes, the information on the site is honest - even the name is a bit of a tongue in cheap jibe at the barefaced lies pedalled by some in the name of specs. Glockenklang, SWR, Dr Bass and AccuGroove have all made similar cabs in terms of large woofer plus midrange driver (though often with an additional tweeter) but they haven't used as potent (and expensive) drivers and/or they haven't engineered the design so thoroughly (especially the crossover). It certainly is cheap - if you were buying such a cab from a shop you'd be paying about £1200! The reason it's relatively small is that the midrange speaker is in a very small sub-enclosure so almost every bit of internal space has been given over to the woofer for maximum sensitivity and bass extension. It's still relatively tall - I need to update the specs to include the added height of the feet and wheels (which weren't originally on the pre-production version) - don't want anyone buying one and finding that extra inch or two makes it too big for their car! Alex[/quote] Coasters huh? Useful...very useful. I'll be taking one of these at least twice a week bare minimum out with me so the coasters means I can wheel it in the door. Boy...that 15" sounds cool. I know you say there's no need to add another on top but I do like my 4x10"'s too so with this bad boy I would couple a 2x10" at a later date...But this should do the trick. Half the time I find cabs can't even handle the head they are "Paired" with and about halfway volume the cab just can't take anymore. If these have the power to boot then sign me up now before you get too big and add middle men LOL! Hmmm July is it these come in stock? Might be worth my time holding out for a better cab until then...Wanna test one of these bad boys. It'll blow the band appart and give me a clear ammount of space for my sound. My band is a Prog Metal band of sorts so I have drop-B guitars to go against but the Bass is very important to our sound too both sonically and structurely and alot of the time amps I use let me down and I'm only against a 50 Watt Orange RockerVerb and a Line 6 40 watt both all valve. This might be just the cab I'm looking for and it would be a shame to miss out now. Best continue saving then LOL! Be good to see a different amp name used on band websites too...I know from previous experience that people get amazed by sound and ask what your using...Imagine telling them you use "Barefaced cabs" and then tell them they are handmade here in the UK. Dare we add in limited numbers too. Lemmie have a think...well more of a funds calculation to D-day but I do fancy one of these...and £625 is cheap! EDIT: Weighing up a few things I think there is a problem for me with the Big One. It's 6 ohms! Coupled with an 8 ohm cab means I'll be under 4 ohms...and that's one fried head! I see the Compact is the same as the Big One except power handling, one speaker etc...Is there anything else different about this? I was thinking of adding a Midget-T when you make them on top because I do need some crisp high end too (I use a 6-string bass with a High-C string foe one). Having a 12" with a Tweeter would make for a great sound coupled with one of your humongus 15" speakers...then when we add this I feel the Big One a bit overkill so maybe this is a better option?

[quote name='WinterMute' post='484693' date='May 10 2009, 10:58 PM']In my case it's down to physiology, my wrist joints have been over developed and strengthened by years of martial arts, they don't have the radial angle movement needed for comfort on a long necked 5 string, the extension to the B string on the lower 5 frets or so just stretches the tendons and causes pressure on the nerves. It's just the way I'm built. I have no such issues on a 4 string bass.[/quote] Interesting.......I wonder how our playing is actually affected by everyday life?

[quote name='noelk27' post='485092' date='May 11 2009, 02:37 PM']Perhaps relating, subconsciously, to the versions of these iconic designs as they first appeared - '51 and '57 Precisions, both with maple touchboard; and '60 Jazz, with rosewood touchboard.[/quote] I think that's my love. I feel very retro inclined when with a Fender...Being a real Fender or not lol! My P-bass project really came a dream come true when the maple board replaced the Rosewood one. Anyways, you can buy Maple boards from many parts companies now...Blank obviously so no use to a Fender. Can't find 5-string 20 frets ones though and I'd love to if anyone can point me there. (Excluding Warmoth)

[quote name='nick' post='486476' date='May 12 2009, 10:43 PM']Not even mid-priced, why not try a nice old (80's) Ibanez Blazer, preferably natural finish, ash body. IMHO these certainly give a decent P-Bass a good run for the money. [url="http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Electric+Bass/product/Ibanez/Blazer+Bass/10/1"]Ibanez Blazer reviews[/url][/quote] Suit you sir I like that! If they were easy to find I'd get one for sure sometime.

No comment...I've jumped from make to make like no bodies business...more so this year than ever! I feel like a Poor Entwhistle...That being said then Warwick is my bag? But so far I do like (but not favourite indefinite): [b]Fender[/b] - P-bass for the win...May be a one trick pony but it's one trick is the best there is to offer. Like woody tone? Think P-bass LOL! [b]Ibanez[/b] - LOVE my BTB's...shame tone doesn't do well in band. [b]Yamaha[/b] - Trustworthy and you get ALOT for your money. I guess favourite BrandS is more it lol! Not ready for brand loyalty yet sorry...there's a world out there to try...and a limited wallet to do so!!! [quote name='simon1964' post='485902' date='May 12 2009, 01:34 PM']Fender, so long as its a Precision! They may be a one trick pony, but they seem to fit in any mix.[/quote] +1 on that one. And may I add: "Have consistant tone from amp to amp". SOme basses sound COMPLETELY different though different amps...P-basses sound like a P-bass but either better or worse as the amp goes lol!

[quote name='7string' post='485069' date='May 11 2009, 01:58 PM']I just bought a piece of ebony off of eBay for a ramp for my Tyler. A local bass-player got it cut down to the right size and put some foamy double-sided tape to it. Amazes me that someone hasn't got a ramp-making service. Saying that Jon Suker made a ramp for my Conklin and even colour-matched it to match the bass. He de-fretted it for me at the same time and did a great job. [/quote] Nice Conlkin GT7! I never could find one in this country...very nicely priced...I'd use it as my 6-string but with a Low-F# below instead. Ramps suit these kind of basses very well. Yes indeed, companies have not caught on yet that bassists are starting to look into and use this "Ramp phenominon" that's going on right now...And rightly so. Who woulda thunk it? All that time it was the pickup that kept your fingers in check...and then you wonder why you cannot play with fingers at an angle (Like Jeff Berlin would have you do on fear of death LOL)...The mind boggles. The ramp is genius! Best of all, if your pickups are ultra hot they wont clip the signal no more as they don't need to be quite as close. [quote name='Paul_C' post='485139' date='May 11 2009, 03:47 PM']I made a ramp for my Bongo from a bit of MDF radiussed and then covered with some scratchplate material : [/quote] That's cool man! [quote name='josh3184' post='485144' date='May 11 2009, 03:56 PM']i made a really bad ramp out of some plastic which I just screwed the pickup screws through [attachment=25047:25042009123.jpg][/quote] I like that. Gives me an ideas of a ramp built on Fenders old metal plate designs eh? And now my brain explodes...I wonder if I could make a ramp that goes over the pickups in a flashy manner? Of course, your bass has inspired me!

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='485550' date='May 12 2009, 07:46 AM']Depends on how hefty or slight the player is, I suppose. Heaviest thing I ever played was my CIJ Marcus Miller Jazz. Damn, that was heavy - Even moreso than my recently departed Yamaha TRB-6.[/quote] Yeah for sure, TRB 6-strings do weight a fair bit. 8lbs is quite light.

[quote name='stingrayfan' post='485405' date='May 11 2009, 10:50 PM']G&L L2000 Tribute. It's active but a flick of a switch and hey presto it's passive P or J bass! [attachment=25063:G_L_L_2500_blk.jpg] Should be able to get one s/h for around £350.[/quote] Give it to me NOW!!! (Joking...I have no funds LOL!)

As well as strings let your other fingers help. Bending with your ring finger let your middle and index push as well behind it. Mammoth bends there even on .55 G-strings. Smallest guage I ever used was 35 - 95 Elites Player series...When I used Elites. I was playing alot of Level 42...

Welcome friend.

[quote name='WinterMute' post='484318' date='May 10 2009, 02:13 PM']FWIW I've gone back to 4 strings after 20 odd years of a Warwick thumb 5, I found the extra extension for my small hands was causing tendon and carpal tunnel problems, (not massively, but after a couple of hours, it definitely hurt) I'm back with Jazz's now, and the only pain is in the fingers from all the extra playing I'm doing. However, I'd definitely recommend a 5 string and not a re-jigged 4, it's just easier, and a good 5 will end up replacing your 4 live if you need the extra extension.[/quote] +1 Then you have the option of two basses. How did you injur yourself playing one? Was it your hands or techneque? I play a very broad 6-string and my hands cramp up on 4-string with thin necks.

[quote name='BOD2' post='480762' date='May 6 2009, 11:12 AM']There was a short craze for double neck guitars in the mid/late seventies so they probably saw a market opportunity. But then punk came along and a double neck guitar was the epitome of everything punk was against - so they quickly disappeared.[/quote] I would imagine they could come back. Now (at least where I am) Punk is going and Prog is returning...I could well see a twin neck SG soon! One neck is enough for me though LOL!