basshead56

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1380494292' post='2226271'] Your sig is a bit of a giveaway, frankly. [/quote] Should probably shorten it to : The lot!

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1380492905' post='2226253'] You don't [i]really [/i]believe that, do you? [/quote] Should she read this... totally. Otherwise... of course not

Hi all, Ok, so I've had another GAS attack. But I think I've convinced myself, and more importantly, the missus that it was for the best. For the last 2 years I've slowly been building my southern hemisphere rig, getting some genuinely fantastic basses and amps and all for not much money (have a trip back home to Ireland and a wedding to pay for!). After getting my hands on the only BH250 in New Zealand (chuffed with that!) I said - done!!! No more gear and promised the soon-to-be-missus the same. Besides, I'll be packing up my gear in Ireland and shipping it down here in the not-too-distant (bye bye floor space in the music room!) But I had a get out of jail free card - A while back, we had a chat at a nice lunch out in a fancy cafe. We were talking about my gear and it's value and I said ok, I've got enough for what I'm doing and that from now on, I will be good and not buy anything else too massive/expensive, and I wrote a wee note to that effect and signed and dated it - in a fun but morally binding kind of way. Then I thought, hang on, there are a couple of dream basses that even though I might not actually NEED them, I have always wanted/lusted over. She thought that was fair enough (given my addiction; hey - I don't smoke, do drugs and not much of a drinker any more, a man needs a vice!), so I wrote an addendum - a list of 6 basses that, should they come around (and not cost the earth), I have her blessing to go for. Well guess what... Saturday afternoon came around and I found a Dean Stylist Cabbie on fleabay in Oz. Good condition, flats and hardcase included AND he will ship across the Tasman! A very quick 'discussion' went exactly like this: Me: "Come and check this out. I'm going to bid" Her: "Sorry Col, but remember our chat and your 'contract' ?" Me: "Sure do honey, but look at the piece of paper" (folded note produced from her purse) Her: "Oh yeah. Yip, it's definitely on there-at the top. Hey that looks pretty cool, you should get it!" Bugger it I thought! I'll place a bid and wait till I'm outbid just before it closes at 4am. Woke up this morning to an email telling me I'd won (at start price of $500 AUD / $565 NZD). Shipping and customs will be another $320NZ or so Delighted but a bit a tiny bit gutted (think I've grown up a bit - again, holiday, wedding and a few DIY bits need doing!). Oh well, I have been after one of these since they came out and I have a sales bonus coming next month, so how bad... I have amended the 'gas pass' contract and whittled the list down to one last bass. But read this now... No More GAS!!!

I've always liked the Ampeg SVTDI box's tone. Rare as rocking horse s***t but always gives good results. I'd have one in a heartbeat! I've recorded using my VT Deluxe with good results too. No noise, plenty of bottom end and a touch of SVT overdrive. Poifect! Plus some of the factory settings on there will give you some of those older fliptop Ampeg sounds

Salty Dog Weedwhackers on my Baby clone. Didn't like the 'proper' Spiro ones that came on it (made it sound like an EUB not a DB). Chucked on a set of WW's out of curiosity (hey, $30 shipped is cheap for DB strings!) and totally changed the sound of the instrument. Real old school DB tone in spades!!! They made the tone much darker and fatter and they have 'that click' sound that's just right for what I do (with my so far, limited technique). They even sound great pizz- great volume and clarity. They are also much easier on the fingers of a noob like myself! And they come any colour you like! Can't speak highly enough of them, but I know they aren't everybody's cup of tea. Cheers Colin

Ok, so my new (ex-demo) BH250 arrived at work this morning - even though I only ordered it at 3pm yesterday from a shop in Nelson and I'm in Invercargill (only a mere 972kms away!) Anyway, impressive logistics aside, I can't wait to get home and have a go. In the meantime, I have time to look over the cosmetic condition of the unit (near perfect, aside from 3 slightly bent back corners and rack handles) and have a quick peek through the manual. Looks pretty straightforward. Love the fact that there's a built in tuner (and I use the TC Poly on my board) with mute on the front) Based on looks alone, I reckon I did good with the price and I can be smug in the knowledge that mine is currently the only one in New Zealand!!! Only downside was having to justify it to 'Her Indoors' - so parted ways with my Squier VM Jaguar Bass on Sunday - genuinely gutted, especially considering it was probably my most used bass, but having got the Fender version, I really couldn't keep both of the same model (except when they're Precisions, she knows I can have as many as I like ). Still, my gear from back home will soon be in a container bound for the land down under-er (she'll lose her mind when she sees al that!) Right, only 4.5 hours till I can get home for some TC/Mesa goodness!!!

[quote name='geoffbassist' timestamp='1379403393' post='2212131'] Congratulations that sounds like an incredible first gig! [/quote] It sure was! Playing bass guitar almost seems pointless now! haha Nah, never, but I really enjoyed finally having a proper go at it after a couple of years of half-hearted attempts. Thanks again everyone

[quote name='sarah thomas' timestamp='1379319794' post='2211096'] Fantastic - there's nothing like the buzz of playing for an audience. Do you have the KK baby bass? I'm thinking of getting one and would be keen to hear your thoughts. [/quote] Hi Sarah, I'm not sure what make mine is, but I don't think it's a KK. Whatever it is, it's bloody good though. Thanks all, it really was an awesome experience and I definitely can't wait for the next gig!!!

Hi All, Ok, so after months of bedroom jamming I finally got my first taste of playing live with the old upright - and it went great!!! Have been slapping and noodling away for a couple of years now, on and off. After finally getting a decent EUB that I really love, setting it up the way I want and playing along to records, I reckoned I was ready to get out and do a bit. I joined a local blues/folk collective. With me, it's a 7 piece band: Drummer (suitcase kit ), bass, gat/vox, 2 percussionists, harmonica/blues harp player and piano accordion. We play a mix of old-school blues, some folkish stuff and a wee bit of rockabilly (my fave!) So after arriving at the venue (occupied by mostly emo and metal fanciers) and producing my gleaming white mean machine (Ampeg Baby clone), I had some attention. Bit of slap soloing to a drum warm up (my weedwhackers sound HOT!!!) got the room's undivided attention. Once the band were finished adjusting mics and levels we were straight into it with a cover of Folsom Prison and then straight into some of our original stuff! The audience were genuinely loving it, crowding right up to (and a couple of times, onto) us (I thought this poor wee blue haired girl was gonna fall onto the accordion's mic, which was right in front of me!) It felt good, think I hit one duff note during the whole 40min set but that's because someone stood on my foot! haha Hands were a bit cramped afterwards and still a tiny bit now (didn't warm up very well), but overall I reckon we did bloody good. Someone filmed the whole thing, so keen on watching it back and seeing if it matched up to my recollection - but I'm usually my own harshest critic, so that makes me feel good about it all! Just thought I'd share my experience

Fender version too! http://www.fender.com/en-NZ/basses/jaguar/troy-sanders-jaguar-bass-rosewood-fingerboard-silverburst/ SICK!!! A combination of my favourite basses at the mo - my Squier VM Jag and my Fender jag: P + J pups, active pre (on or off) and master vol and pan pot. Looks nice with matching h/stock too. Real nice!!!

Dean Stylist Cabbie Eatwood Rocket (any colour) Fender Coronado (CAR) Gretsch Electromatic short scale Shortscale Gibson Thunderbird Fiesta red Precision (pref an 80's 62 RI) ARIA SB-CB Black Anyone got any of these they want rid of? Especially the first two!!! Amp wise: Nothing really. Maybe a Heritage SVT and 810 or a Bassman TV 210 I reckon getting all of these would finally sort out my GAS. Game over man!!

Hi all, After years of being addicted to huge cabs and uber heavy heads I have had something of a 'moment of clarity'. I have decided that the best way to go for me at this point is finding a head for my Mesa Scout Radiator 15, as dragging the Powerhouse 8x10 and M-Pulse 600 around is getting harder. I have also down-sized vehicles so transport is a factor I had been doing quite a bit of research on what lightweight head would give me the best bang for my kiwi-buck. I have also had to factor in availability because the market is isn't as good down here and it takes forever for new stuff to get here (and being Irish, I have no patience whatsoever!) So after trying a couple of different options, i was all set to save up for a hugely overpriced Orange Terror Bass (500) when I happened across the TC BH250 on this website. I love the idea of a tiny head that has all those features including the Toneprint and a tuner and puts out 250 watts into 4ohms (which is what my Scout 15 is rated at) After contacting the NZ supplier I have been told that there aren't any availble in NZ yet but they can get me one new for $850 (425 quid?!). OR there is a demo unit with a slight bit of courier damage (bent handle I'm told) they can let me have for about $400, which is what i'm considering. My question is: Will the BH250 go well through a 4ohm 15 in terms of volume? Playing with a drummer and guitarist with a halfstack? I have played the M-Pulse through it and was afraid to drive it cause I didn't want to blow the speaker and it seemed fine at low volume. Also, how useable are the toneprints? good? Or am I best going flat and using my VT Bass Deluxe?

I tried an 83 62RI in Fiesta Red with rosewood board (a dream bass as Kim Deal had one in the Pixies) and it was the best I've ever played. Couldn't afford the ridiculous 'vintage' price the guy wanted but missing it haunts me still! The second best one I've played is one I still own - a 78 in Siennaburst. Can't find a single thing I don't like about it (other thanit's sitting in my studio back in Ireland). Beautiful tone, lovely weight, great neck profile. a gem!

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1377762466' post='2191359'] Accompanied by the usual xenophobia about Chinese Fenders. Sheesh, get over yourself, America. Poor show. Exciting to see some official looking pics later in the thread, even if it is only the guitars. [/quote] I know! I appreciate that they are passionate about quality control and associate Made in USA with perfection but do they not realise that other countries are more than capable of producing goods equally well, or in the case of Japan and Korea - better. All that said, my find of the century was a 2011 American Standard Jazz. Flawless! Anyway, don't care where the Coronado is made now- I just want one!!!

New info (apparently from a US retailer) Made in China and well under $1k (US) (link http://www.thegearpage.net/board//showthread.php?t=1302626&page=8) Still would!!!

Solved! Found a decent diagram. Now for some fun

Hi All, A late engagement present for myself has finally arrived - I figured I'd done the hard part paying for a big diamond ring for her indoors, so why not treat myself Got a bargain of a deal on an unsold shop-stock Fender Jaguar ( Hot Rod Red of course!) She's sitting here by my desk at work and I'm counting down till home time... Stunning finish, lovely weight and a great feeling neck! Problem is it's like mission control with all them knobs and switches and I'd like to know what I'm doing before I plug it in My question is: What's what in terms of the controls? Cheers Colin

Hi Guys, Looking to sort a second amp for mostly EUB purposes. Recently, I managed to get a great deal on a (4ohm) Mesa Scout Radiator 15 cab and when paired with my M-Pulse 600 it sounds mighty!!! Plenty of click and clack for my remedial rockabilly-slap stuff too. The problem is I don't wanna keep taking the M-Pulse out cause I find with the EUB I use here (a Baby clone), I find that I have to be careful with EQ and volume-don't wanna overdrive the cab and it's also a pain having to reset the EQ to the right settings everytime for my P or J basses (into the MP600 and through a Powerhouse 8x10) vs EUB. So... I already have a VT Bass Deluxe on my board that comes everywhere with me anyway. I am wondering if running the EUB into the VT (which I tend to do anyway, as I have saved the EUB sounds I like on the second set of presets) into either an EHX 22 or 44 Caliber amp pedal, then into the Mesa cab. Would this be loud enough for small gigs and rehearsal (drummer, electric gat and vocals there too)?? Or am I dreaming? Any thoughts on this would be really appreciated, as always

That's all great advice. Thank you very much indeed I reckon I might price taking it to an auto shop that I took a P Bass to last year-they were great and not very expensive. What do you think about the neck though- anything different need to be done there?

Hi All, Have recently been thinking about having my Baby bass clone repainted, as the old white finish (which i suspect is not original) is flaking and coming away in places on one side. While I do like the mojo'd look, I would also love something a little more rockabilly-since it's mainly a slappin' machine anyway. (Red Wheedwhackers on it). I'm thinking of having it done Candy Apple Red with white Pinstripes around the edges and inside at the front. My questions are: Will this effect the sound in any way? What are the steps involved- prep, paint, finish etc or would I be best in having it done in an auto shop that can do it? What about the finish on the neck? Any help at all would be greatly appreciated guys and gals Colin

I used a six string set on my Thunderbird Studio V. Just didn't use the low B and moved everything down one. Bit of tinkering with the bridge and she was away.

That cab looks like sex!! Except I'll definitely be having it soon...well, once the price comes down anyway

I'm definite;y in for a Coronado - I'll have mine CAR with matching heatsock and pref a Coronado II model. Passed on an original in Wildwood a few months back-would've been a bad trade at my end, but I was VERY tempted. Hopefully the new ones will be Japanese and won't cost the earth... Like the look of the Starcaster too, but definitely far more into the Coronado!!!

Some of the contenders I've played/owned Marshall VBA400 w 2 x 4x12's Ampeg SVT Skunkworks-played one once for a 2 hour gig nd now it's what I compare evrything to in my head! Ampeg SVT CL- still waiting to own one! If only I could stop buying basses!!! Mesa MPulse 600 - my baby down here in NZ at the moment-love the EQ section and compressor! and sounds mean thru the Powerhouse 810! Ampeg SVT4 PRO- sooo much power!!! Ampeg Micro VR- serious piece of kit, especially with two cabs! Mesa 400+: owned one for a very brief period-far to big and heavy for lil' old me but ALL THOSE TUBES!!!! Fender Bassman (135 I think)- played one a couple of times at a rehearsal studio- beautiful. it was on top of an Aguilar cab too. My VT Bass Deluxe - turns every crappy backline combo into a beast and leaves all the other bass players for dead-well, tone-wise anyways !!!

Black if it's a maple board! Tort if it's rosewood! Simples!