krispn

I was waiting on one of these also but ended up getting an EBS Valve Drive as I needed to get something sooner rather than later. Still waiting to hear what the consensus is but the clips do sound good on the website. Now when do you think their Precision style pick up will be coming out?

That TEB12 was mine and I'd done lots of work on it - Model One neck p/u, complete re-wiring, new CTS knobs, switch craft input jack - the works really! It was a nice wee bass before I got to it but it is, in my humble opinion, quite the hollow body monster now. It is now residing in Fife but Im not sure the new owner would entertain some offers but you never know. If you do get to try one, a TEB, then do as they are great fun, and nearly play themselves! G

Depends what you're after I suppose but then you could contact Wizard p/u and have one custom wound for your spec. I like the Hanson-Lakland pick up tht came with my BG Pbass and I know that they now do the Neo Punch which is their take on the 'modern hot' P bass p/u The list goes of for custom and replacement builders

I'd a long chat with Dave from Matamp about valves and he says its a nonsense - yes you'll get less or more output volume but nothing really that different. I'have recently tried out some old valves in my pre amp and while I think it sounds better I'd be hard pushed to tell you if someone crept in and switched them back while I was out of the room. Changing strings will have a more immediate effect but thats probably as expensive as buying 2 or 3 pre amp valves depending on which strings you buy. Flat wounds will give a huge change in tone from what you might be used to and the DR String review by Ed Friedland gives an interesting overview of the finer differences between strings within one brand - I don't have the link but type Ed Friedland dr string review into google and it should turn it up. I'll pm ya with so info..

Done a deal with Rob today and it was all smooth. Thanks for driving over else I'd have been humping across on the train. Hope you enjoy Thumpy as much as I have. Gavin

Thanks guys I think they were ECC83 but one of them has the majority of the printed info on the valve worn off. It still has the mullard emblem part intact but I can't be sure. The other is an ECC83. I knew the other valves gave less gain but as little as 19% !!!! I guess with only two valves in the preamp the effect is quite noticeable. I'll get back to the guy and see if I can try two ECC83's I have to say the tone was great - warm and round and with more extreme settings on the EQ I could get many great sounds or at least great to my ear. Thanks again guys very helpful gavin

So I had a chance to test out some old mullards today in my Aguilar DB659 preamp. I have to say that initially I was a little surprised as I tried my normal settings and i could barely hear anything - power amp was up full, volume around 1 pm and master volume/output at 9am on the preamp I had to really push the preamp volume to around 3pm amd drivd the output to around 3 or 4pm to get sufficient volume for what would be gig levels. The sound i was getting was a good one and i was half expecting I'd have too push the valves more to get the sound i was after. What i'd like to know is what other ppl's experience is with vintage or old vavles. Is it normally to have push them so much to get the tone or even the actual output volume or does it sound like the valves are past their best? Its my first time really trying out different valves in this preamp.

dia duit! I too am another interloper from Ireland living in Scotland, Edinburgh to be precise. I'd agree to find a bargain it means trawling the 2nd hand places evry few weeks and take the occasional trip West and do the same there. Always a bargain to be found and I've had a few first hand experiences of them - Rickenbacker guitar that the guy thought was a fake for £140. I sh*t you not! Welcome and good luck with the studies. gavin

Hi just to clarify I said the bass was dated I meant it was via the serial number. Thanks for all the advice so far. I was guessing that the woods were different but wasn't sure if that was just a supply thing or a specific run. I'll try and get a chance to play them through an amp and hear if there is any difference.

Any idea on the wood types ? Would they both be the same or did MM change or do different types? Cheers

A local shop has two stingrays in at the minute. Played them both (unplugged) yesterday and while one of them was quite nice the other felt much heavier. The guy in the shop claims the lighter model is a '99 model, has a 4 bolt neck and I guess he's right. The 2nd one was admittedly beat to hell with lumps out of the neck, chips in thr paint buckle rash and some very noticable damage to the g side of the fret board - like its been repeatedly dropped or gnawed by a big rat! Its also very evident on the left hand and Im not sure anything could be done to repair it other than a 'new' neck. Anyhow the point is this 2nd beat up bass felt considerably heavier and had a 6 bolt neck, metal battery cover etc and it was dated 89/90. The bridge appeared to have mounts for the mutes as well but they we long gone. Would the woods have been different in these two models? I am tempted but the cost of the new neck is putting me off as I cant get the guy to budge from about £550 - not a good deal considering the damage to the neck Cheers for any help

Hey folks, Seen lots of decent press and reviews about the Sad pre/di. For some tunes in my bands I'd like to 'stand out' more at certain times to really drive a certain part of the song or add emphasis. I use a couple of dirt pedals to add some colour to my tone but I don't always feel that dirt is suitable on every occasion. I've been looking at other options for added variety including the P retro and the Sadowsky pre/di Am I correct in saying the Sadowsky basically make Jazz style basses and if so would the pre/di be better suited to a jazz or equally at home on a p bass? It seems like such a silly question as any effect can be paired with any instrument (within reason) but just a consideration The foot switching ability is what attracts me to the Sad plus the di out so when Im not playing my own rig I can be sure of a decent tone going to the foh. Any advice is appreciated.

Tube amp pushed, compression, MM SR, and hit it like you love it but its gone done you wrong!

This was the house bass amp at a gig I played recently. Its a great amp and I recall thinking during the set that the bass sounded pretty good. Bear in mind that it was my only time playing it and someone did have a TE V4 head and I thought it sounded less good than the LH500 but maybe he didn't set it up to my liking. Oh an on the passive tone stack thing - I always try new to me bass amps with the classic Fender passive settings and with everything at noon just to be sure they are not passive stacks.Wise advice for you cats playing with other peoples gear.

This was the house bass amp at a gig I played recently. Its a great amp and I recall thinking during the set that the bass sounded pretty good. Bear in mind that it was my only time playing it and someone did have a TE V4 head and I thought it sounded less good than the LH500 but maybe he didn't set it up to my liking. Oh an on the passive tone stack thing - I always try new to me bass amps with the classic Fender passive settings and with everything at noon just to be sure they are not passive stacks.Wise advice for you cats playing with other peoples gear.

Its great to see someone do the actual leg work and find out the facts instead of just assuming what they read is correct about a bass product. Great work Davidak. There are a couple of spector basses in a shop near me which I'll test drive now for sure. It also shows how important it is to understand how something works before giving a negative opinion. Just think how osme of the more complex gear works or the tone you might get out if a classic Fender tone stack in a Bassman type amp. Its an interesting point how word of mouth can influence opinion or trends.

Done a deal which was quick and trouble free. Easy as pie!

So I was at the local TK Maxx in the search for a cover for my bike and happened upon a JBL Duet 200 stereo speaker. Been eyeing these up before for the ipod - Tthese retail up to and around £99 or there abouts. TK Maxx had them at £50 a while ago but I never had the extra funds for them until today I saw it at £25. Took it home hooked it up to one of my pedals for a little signal boost and boom there you have it - mini practice rig for my front room or any room for that matter. Now if I get the little iRig adapter for my iPod Touch I got the ideal minirig. I was doing something similar but the JBL speaker sounds pretty good and would be plenty loud for wee acoustic jams - wondering what it might sound like mic'd Good day!