alexclaber

[quote name='BottomEndian' post='658220' date='Nov 18 2009, 03:38 PM']Anyhoo, we want to see it nekkid. Er, the cab I mean. Get the grille off. (That'll keep you busy for 10 minutes if it's as tough as mine.)[/quote] I use less velcro now so it's much easier to get off. Probably saved me about 10p too - hurrah! Alex

[quote name='Mandril' post='653330' date='Nov 13 2009, 08:37 AM']I just have a question: I've read there are three different tunings for this cab, so how does it work? Is it like a switch? Or do I have to order the tuning that I want in advance, when Alex builds it?[/quote] Port plugs! None in equals standard tuning, one plug in equals lower tuning, two plugs in equals lowest tuning. I have the foam for these now so they'll be going out shortly to all previous Vintage purchasers. 75% of the time I'd expect standard tuning to be best, 20% of the time lower tuning, 5% of the time lowest tuning. The lower the tuning the less bottom the cab has, so the lowest tuning would be for small indoor gigs with big subs or if your amp is naturally very boomy. Alex

[quote name='slobluesine' post='653520' date='Nov 13 2009, 12:13 PM']thx Alex, few layers of gaffa seems to have done it [/quote] Is there anything gaffa tape can't do?! Alex P.S. This could also be one of the alleged thousands of uses of blu-tack.

Yes. You can seal the back of it with silicone (but take both drivers out if doing this because the fumes are corrosive), or you can use a 1/4" plug (with no lead) to stop most of the leakage. Alex

[quote name='Dropzone' post='652723' date='Nov 12 2009, 03:46 PM']Will definately have to try one out. I am not sure when I will next be over at Brighton way. Is it possible to collect during working hours as I am sure I could find something I need to do over that way as I work for WSCC ;-)[/quote] Sure, send me an email and I'll give you my contact details. Alex

I'd put the MB on top as it's about 1/2" narrower. The extra depth doesn't matter because all cabs are front heavy and combos even more so. Let me know when you've got some time to pop over to Brighton to borrow one for a gig - zap me an email/pm. Alex

Hi Mike, The Compact is definitely worth trying. Whereabouts are you? Alex P.S. I can probably get that colour if you'd like to order a few hundred cabs!

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[quote name='Uncle Balsamic' post='650055' date='Nov 9 2009, 08:32 PM']How's the T'DM coming along Alex? [/quote] I'll have the first one ready this weekend - at long last! Alex

If 30" is short, 32" is medium and 34" is long is 33" therefore medium-long? Alex

[quote name='owen' post='647857' date='Nov 7 2009, 08:13 AM']One of my questions would be are there going to be obvious intonation issues with a fretted instrument with a mahoosive scale length?[/quote] No, intonation should be a bit better if anything. Alex

How does it sound when you play it unplugged in a quiet room? Alex

[quote name='JTUK' post='647904' date='Nov 7 2009, 10:16 AM']Another thing... is the basic combination of woods and how they interact on your bass is very important for getting a good basic tone.[/quote] Exactly! Get the acoustic tone right first, then worry about the electronics. You can't polish a turd (though, as Jimmy Carr pointed out last night, you can cover it with glitter - which I suppose is like sticking an awful sounding bass through a heavy fuzz pedal and ending up with a righteous monster tone). Alex

Skip's the man for ultra-long scale: [url="http://www.knuckleguitarworks.com/instruments/index.html"]http://www.knuckleguitarworks.com/instruments/index.html[/url] For a rig think big and have a steep high pass filter just below the cab's tuning frequency. Alex

That tuning frequency calculation seems way too high to be accurate. Use the signal generator on WinISD Pro to get a sinewave, put your cab on its back, sprinkle some salt on the woofer, and then sweep down from 150Hz towards 30Hz. The salt will bounce more and more until the port starts to join in and at the tuning frequency the bounce will be minimal. Once you go below the tuning frequency the bouncing will rapidly escalate. You'll have to go back and forth to narrow down to an accurate measurement but you should be able to ascertain the port tuning to within less than 1Hz. Alex

[quote name='Wil' post='647382' date='Nov 6 2009, 04:48 PM']Having put my new ATK though it's paces last night, I have to say I'm a total convert to active basses without doubt. It's lovely being able to dial in earth shaking lows without moving from your seat, or switch to a slap tone, or whatever. Lovely [/quote] Onboard preamps, crack for bass players! Alex

[quote name='LennyP' post='636655' date='Oct 26 2009, 05:17 AM']I have an '87 Warwick Streamer neckthrough which is definitely one of my favourites and would not think of selling it - very slim neck, light cherry body wings, PJ pups[/quote] I have one of them too! It was my main bass from '99-'08. Great bass. Weighs 9lbs. Alex

Well I'm certainly not stopping anyone writing negative comments about my cabs, here, in my sub-forum or anywhere else. I will step in to provided a counterpoint if I believe they're being misrepresented but, as I just typed elsewhere, they're not a panacea. Alex P.S. A 2x10" in a 7 piece band with horns is less demanding than most rock gigs. And I was specifically asking about the EBS 2x10" as I know its speakers have much less bottom capability than a TE or Peavey 2x10".

I've addressed all this stuff over on finnbass, but in summary: 1. The finish has improved on later cabs - Shaun's was a very early example. If any customers are dissatisfied with the finish then contact me directly - but that doesn't mean I'll put tolex/carpet on for you! Bear in mind that the earlier cabs were at a lower price. 2. I've just switched to metal corners - they're not easy to retrofit but it's not impossible. Contact me if you want to do this. 3. Claiming that EBS 2x10" was louder than the Barefaced Vintage is preposterous - obviously it was louder in the highs (tweeter!!!) but it was nowhere near in the lower frequencies. And there's one thing being loud at a given (low) wattage - what happens when you turn up? I have customers gigging with a single Compact in rock bands - is anyone managing to do that with a single EBS 2x10"? 4. Tone - the cabs don't add much colouration at all - it's down to you to put the right tone in. Different models have different frequency response profiles - I wouldn't try to sell the Compact to someone that wants a bright shiny slap sound, etc. 5. Performance - these cabs are made for gigging with, not for standing around in a room with a load of other bass players trying to show off the perfect tone. If you want to find out what they can do then use them on a gig. Alex

[quote name='Mikey R' post='640526' date='Oct 29 2009, 09:51 PM']Hey Alex, do you have any plans to send one out on tour? I'd love to put the Hartke through it with the three piece![/quote] Yes, I do! Alex

[quote name='pal1972' post='646603' date='Nov 5 2009, 07:28 PM']and for £175 too!!! [/quote] Bar steward. Alex

[quote name='Dubs' post='640369' date='Oct 29 2009, 06:41 PM']In all honesty, the electronics and amp will probably make more difference than the wood.[/quote] Depends on how clean and transparent they are. Honest pickups and amps will show up differences in wood easily. If I wanted a Thunderbird tone I'd wouldn't consider anything other than a mahogany body - and tonally maple is pretty much the opposite of mahogany (and ash isn't all that far from maple tonally). Alex

[quote name='Beedster' post='646597' date='Nov 5 2009, 07:19 PM']But what will the switch do to transparency [/quote] It's like those fancy LCD windows - install the switch on your Precision and it'll do this: Alex

[quote name='Beedster' post='646453' date='Nov 5 2009, 05:10 PM']I think there are sound theoretical reasons for taking pots out of the loop but, even if you don't use them, they might still add to tone even when apparently fully open?[/quote] The pots take out some treble as they're a subtle passive lowpass filter (like a passive tone knob). Erno @ Q-Tuner recommends having a bypass switch to get maximum transparency - my thinking is that the Q-Tuners are so extended in the highs that I can live with the pots cutting some treble, just like I prefer old nickel strings for their warmer smoother sound. [quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='646563' date='Nov 5 2009, 06:53 PM']The Status basses' eq is usually set at maximum treble & bass with the mids in the flat position. This gives a very sweet sound due to the higher freqencies adopted by the Status preamp. The Stingray is always on full bass boost, mids flat & a slight treble lift & the Jazzes are always all three controls set to max.[/quote] You must go for a very smooth mid-scooped tone compared to my nasty sounds. And full bass boost through my main rig would bring the ceiling down in smaller venues! Tone really is so much in the player and the conscious and subconscious decision they make. We are all individuals. (I'm not). Alex

[quote name='Moos3h' post='646136' date='Nov 5 2009, 11:56 AM']The flipside to having no tonal control on your bass is it forces your to do it with your fingers - I've got more adept at going from wooly thud to biting attack just with the part of my striking fingers I use, or by changing pick type. I then approach EQ on the amp as EQ'ing for the room and not the instrument. Any other players here with this approach? I'm not saying we should all ditch our expensive onboard EQ's etc but try it sometime, it's quite refreshing! It's like having nowhere to hide![/quote] I had an '87 Warwick Streamer with EMGs and the stock preamp. I replaced the preamp with an Aguilar OBP-3, upgraded to 18V power, and added a preamp bypass and pickup switch. I enjoyed the OBP-3 for a while but more and more found I was leaving it bypassed (the EMGs sound much fatter and cleaner on 18V than 9V btw). When I decided on the final details for my custom bass I went with a 4-way pickup switch, passive volume and tone and Q-Tuner pickups. Running straight into an Avalon U5 it is the most righteous tonebeast you've ever heard and your hands really get to do all the talking. Q-Tuners are expensive and non-standard sized but if you have bass with a pickguard so routing is easy, or are going custom from scratch, I highly recommend trying a passive set-up with them. You can always add a preamp later but I doubt you'll want to. Alex