thodrik

[quote name='Blademan_98' post='1139438' date='Feb 24 2011, 12:04 AM']Other folk on the site that know a lot about valve amps and electronics will probably clarify, but I'm sure that it is something to do with power tubes needing to have a load of some kind. +1 Always best to have a load on a running amp. May I ask why you would want to run it without anything attached?[/quote] I don't know about the original poster but when I have done it, it is just to use the amp as a preamp going to the desk when recording in the same room as live drums.

Usually its fine, I've done it with Trace Elliots, Ashdowns, EBS etc. However its best to check the documentation to any amp to be sure. I'm sure that Orange will have user manuals online. Other folk on the site that know a lot about valve amps and electronics will probably clarify, but I'm sure that it is something to do with power tubes needing to have a load of some kind. As most hybrid amps just have preamp tubes, I don't think that they get damaged when they are run without a cab (most of them just have a 12AX7 or something similar, which can be found in lots of valve overdrive pedals), but I could be very very wrong!

First bass: Westfield Precision copy 'Go to bass': Fender Precision 1978 My bass: Fender Precision 1978 I rarely use the Fender nowadays for gigs etc, but if and when I ever get called up for a blind gig with strangers or a new project and I am unaware of the style of music that would be played, I would have to go for the Fender, as it never looks or sounds out of place.

[quote name='EssentialTension' post='1136431' date='Feb 21 2011, 10:33 PM']The Music Man has always been known as the toilet seat. Some people think they surpassed themselves with the Bongo.[/quote] I knew I must have got that from somewhere. The Bongo is something else, as is the Big Al! I do really like the look of the Reflex model though, as well as the HH Gamechanger, though the technology behind it is probably more than I could handle or need.

[quote name='bassbora' post='1136393' date='Feb 21 2011, 10:07 PM']Almost pissed myself over this. I am guilty of having owned a fretless toilet bowl. My problem was it did not measure up to my Thumb.[/quote] I don't know if its a widely used technical term, but its pretty much the term I have used to describe them since the age of 14. I do love the Musicman pickups though, they are generally stunning. The only problem I had with the Thumb was that I prefer a large body that is able to cover my... excess girth. I always think its great for people to branch out and try basses that are a bit more 'out there' than the traditional Fender design. So the long as the bass is in tune and properly set up, it shouldn't really matter what bass it is, so long as the bassist is comfortable playing it. I still take my Fender Precision to the first practice of any new project though, or any one off session, just because some people tend to listen with their eyes and consider any instrument not associated with Leo Fender to be rubbish! I feel that its good to put people at ease before I bring the Vigier out.

I think that everybody has preferences in regards to looks which can rule out great basses. I for one have never liked the 'toilet bowl' look of Musicman Stingrays, so have never really been tempted by them, despite them being great basses. I have never really been impressed with the looks of most Warwicks (Jack Bruce model apart), and didn't really like the one thumb bass I have tried, but every time I hear them in a live setting they generally sound great. If it feels and sounds 'right' I would suggest sticking with it. Over time you might just get used to it and learn to love it for what it is and get more comfortable with the bass over time.

I was tempted by one a few months ago, I really liked the neck on them and felt far nicer than the Fender and the Overwater I tried on the same day. I do think though that the feel of the Lakland did help persuade me to get a five string though, as previously I hadn't ever really played a five string that felt right to me personally.

I have only bought one bass as a direct replacement for another, which was the Sadowsky Metro I bought to replace my old Precision. The Precision was just getting a bit fragile for constant gigging, so it has been retired from gigging so I can just enjoy playing it myself. The others are organised in terms of tunings and purposes. Whichever bass I'm using depends on what I'm doing, though from recently getting a five string I have found that it can cover most ground, if I had known this ten years ago it may have saved me a good bit of money!

[quote name='sussexbassman' post='1133599' date='Feb 19 2011, 05:08 PM']Yep, my 78 p-bass has the 'Made in USA' in the same place on the headstock under the word 'Precision'.[/quote] Mine too.

Once a week is the general goal, of course several times a week would be great but schedules and the cost etc.

[quote name='PVTele' post='1131401' date='Feb 17 2011, 06:52 PM']Sorry! Knowing the 715x I just mentally inserted the 'x'. You're quite right - the 715 is a lot cheaper, and a lot less amp. I hadn't realised the 715x was more than twice the price... that puts a different complexion on the OP's question for sure. For that money there are plenty of alternatives with at least as good a spec, aren't there? Ashdown, GK, Laney (the RB's a darn good, unjustly neglected, amp, as is its 2x10 cousin (RB7?))...[/quote] True, I forgot about the RBs, I think they are really good value for money.

I would say mint or plain black. I have never been a massive fan of tort though.

[quote name='PVTele' post='1130603' date='Feb 17 2011, 09:14 AM']That's the plain 715 you're thinking of, thodrik. The 715x is rated at 360W into its 8ohm internal speaker, and 600W with an 8ohm extension - parallel to give 4ohms together. The 715x has a separate Speakon outlet for the extension, with the internal plugged into a 1/4" socket next to it. I've never owned one of these, but I've tried a friend's, and it's a real contender, especially at this price. She is very pleased with the sound with her passive Dean Jeff Berlin bass. It's a recognisably Trace Elliot sound, solid and punchy. Add a 1028H and it's very loud indeed. However, what she is not pleased with is the weight. 80lbs! Even on castors (do they come with these or did she add them? Don't know.) it's a real handful (did I mention something about 80lbs?) and totally impossible for her to load unaided, especially with only side handles, so that she often ends up using her little Line 6 Studio 110 whenever she can get away with it - on small pub gigs, and with acoustic guitarists.[/quote] I was aware of that, but isn't the title of the thread for the 715? I'm sure that the 715X is a lot expensive than £500, in fact GAK have them for over £1200. So if it is the 715X for £579, then its a fairly good deal. I've not tried the new series 715X. I have an old 1x15 combo from the GP7 SM300 series. Same idea though. Loud, good tone, killer with an extension cab and heavy as hell!

I think that the new 715 trace elliots have been discontinued, I'm sure if you shop about you could get one for less than £500 as many of them have been just sitting unsold in stores for ages. If I mind right they were only 200 watts or so going into a four ohm load, meaning that you can't hook up one with an extra extension cab. They are good amps but I would maybe reccomend looking out for an older Trace Elliot combo on ebay or on this site. I'm not saying that the new stuff isn't good (I own two of the new cabs and use them happily) but I just think that you can get a really good Trace Elliot 1x15 from either the glory days or the Kamen era(post Gibson stuff doesn't have a great reputuation). The older combos tend to be a good bit louder too as old TE watts go a long way. You would also save a couple of hundred quid too. They tend to be a lot heavier though. Saying that the new combos are not exactly light either! Of course, there are a lot of good amps/combos for around £500 today, such as Hartke, TC Electronic, Ashdown, Fender Rumble, and more if you don't feel like you have to have the Trace Elliot signature sound. Best of luck.

For me it would be the AD200 and the OBC 4x10 if I was going to an all Orange set up. If it was for full on touring, I would assume that I would have decent transport to get to and from gigs, so the need for compact wouldn't be that important. 4x10 is big enough do manage any gig really and if needed another one will lead to an 8x10 basically. For me, I only put a premium on compact for one-off gigs in town where I need to get a taxi to and from the gig.

I am liking these.

Maybe you could trade the M6 in for an M3...

Recently just got my first five, which I felt I needed as the stuff I am doing now involves a low B or low A. I could have altered a 4 string to acheive this, but then I couldn't really use it for standard tuning as well. I am still happy on a four string bass though, I only 'need' a five when it involves music in a lower register than drop d. I would just say to play what works for you personally.

I only tend to buy a bass if I know its going to be a keeper. I would not sell any of my basses. My 1970s Fender Precision will always be mine, as will the 2 Vigiers and the Sadowsky Metro. The basses I have are pretty much the only items of value that I own. I would only sell them if I really needed money, but never for the purpose of getting another bass. In terms of amps though, yes I could imagine selling or trading. Or if I was buying a bass blind and I didn't like it when it arrived, it would maybe go. I have never described a bass as a 'keeper' though, I think that I just take it for granted that I'm not going to trade it on or sell it.

Very talented musician. For me he is in the Jeff Ament league of 'everybody knows he is good and his band is really really famous, so there is no need to talk him any further'.

Its nice hearing from a guy that has really thought about every aspect of his signature model rather than just putting his name to anything. Very cool video, though the bass is not something I would ever play myself, but then again it is his bass not mine!

Spare bass, lead, amp if possible! Spare set of strings Tuner (Boss pedal for me) Wire cutters Allen key and set of screwdrivers Batteries A decent strap for every bass Case/gigbags for bass a watch (so I'm not always late) Optional things I really like to have personally: A good overdrive pedal A good on the floor preamp if the soundguy wants to put you through a DI box (Sansamp or similar) Power supply for pedals

[quote name='mart' post='1108145' date='Jan 30 2011, 02:06 PM']I thought this was going to be about Jeff Berlin [/quote] Me too.

I have only had a five for a little under a week, but I have been tuning B E A D G. But since a lot of guitarists seem to insist on drop D tuning and playing riffs that require a ringing low D and high D (listen to a tool song for examples of this type of playing), I'm probably going to need a low open D anyway. I will probably end up tuning A D A D G. It looks stupid written down but I have found it makes more sense fingering wise than say B D A D G. Obviously I bought the five string for the low B and the rest, I'm not sure I would find much use for a high C string outside of bedroom soloing. I would personally say that if I was lucky enough to own a five string P bass, I would feel obliged to have the option of a low B. Depends on what you want to play though, there are no real right or wrong answers.

I have never tried any Genz Benz stuff myself, though I'm sure they are great. I have never tried EBS stuff and walked away feeling let down. I do think that the amps tend to have a very transparent sound to them, which isn't for everyone, as some consider them to be a bit sterile. The cabs are great at reproducing the really high frequencies, though I find the Proline series to just be a bit heavy for me. I currently play through a Fafner and it is probably about the most flexible amps I have tried in terms of sound, as it can either be very clean or very warm. I preferred it over the 650 because of the ease of use really. The new Fafner looks incredible but would probably overwhelm me.