krispn

I suppose there are a few questions before deciding which eq. Sweepable mids or switchable between two or three frequencies? Do you often switch mids about on your current gigging bass or do you settle on one setting? Aguilar make nice eqs but as I mentioned before the Fender norm of 40Hz on the lows and 4k on the high is kinda what the Aguilar is set at with the mids sweepable. If the lows at 40 aren’t your preference then there’s other more suitable options such as rhe uni pre etc. Bass direct have a good selection which I’m sure you’ve checked out but with what you’ve said previously about eq preferences I’d be looking at some other options before the Aguilar namely the East Uni or tone capsule specifically for the lows being a bit more useful.

It is a very nice looking bass!

So was the eq busted or just not set up correctly for the bass?

So in answer the the poll a fourth option was needed. “I’ve my eye on a third bass which I’m more likely to get” 😂

There is a bit of that eq’ing with the eyes not ears too but that’s not always as easy for folks to do. Manufacturers should be quite explicit in how to get the best form their gear and it’s naff when the manual say things like ‘Bass Control: controls the amount of bass in the signal.’ Doh! 😀

That’s the thing though so many tone stacks are based of two main designs the baxandall a la B15 or the Fender and while it’s not ‘common knowledge’ as such there’s been heaps written about the Fender stack and it derivatives being ‘flat’ at 0-10-0 or 2-10-2 if folks are buying an amp with BMT it’s worth trying the above as a starting ground. I know it’s been covered on basschat numerous times. Plus Mesa bass amps often favoured a passive mid control but it’s not immediately obvious I think the Walkabout labelled it as passive mid - they tend to sound more musical I..e it’s less likely to screw up your sound with a passive cut only.

. Sorry my bad. I thought you’d nabbed a 5’er but returned it due to a dodgy eq. Look forward to the warts and all in a nbd thread 😀

Anyway there’s a killer Sandberg for 1k going in Scotland for any synth bass fans who love a five string, reverse p and fancy a near mint go to bass!

Didn’t you already nab one and return it?

What did you agree to buy? I only ask as it even has midi which you mentioned fitting to a cheapie 5er. It literally ticks all boxes. It’s uncanny!

I was impressed with doods review of the berg stuff. Sounded good! I’ve always fancied their NV215 and I’d love to hear it via that BiAmp

They are pretty nifty🙂

The orange isn’t a bad amp -a venue we play well before Covid-19 (actually two venues) use the OTB as the house bass rig with an orange cab (one venue is head/cab the other I think is the combo and it’s not terrible but you’d be getting a more defined sound with your DG and more flexibility on managing the lows with a very clear knowledge of your eq points etc. I tended to bring my own gear but did a few shows with the house rig as we were using the in house pa for the room and the amps were really only for stage monitoring. I wonder if the cab just isn’t a good match and an alternative cab would be an option? Or does running a drive in front warm things up? Not sure which drive pedals you’re using buy you were singing the praises of the VT Bass. Wouldn’t that add the warmth you fee is lacking? If the Mesa is coming in at what 12kg that’s surely not too much of a schlep considering how good they sound? My TB600 is about the same weight and it’s a pretty easy two handed lift in a soft case or gator moulded plastic case and that’s including up and down stairs on some gigs. Clearly though you have your mind set on the Orange (this week) so good luck and I hope it’s gonna tick whatever boxes the others don’t quite reach.

If it’s a fender style design it likely similar to BMT 2-10-2 with some boost on the BT and cut only on the mids. Also a fender style is in and around 40-400-4k but with a broader band boost then in other amps. If it’s a bax type there sslightly more interactivity but as ever using eyes over ears isn’t the best way to set eq. I’d have thought the DG AO would have been an already light weight head with a more flexible EQ and switchable drive. The newer OBT1000 are a tad more versatile than the 500w but it’s still a ‘one sound’ head and any tonal changes would require tweaking between songs. A decent pedal would give an options drive but if your covers band is anything like mine one sound with a touch of drive when needed should cover most gigs?

Have you considered the Tone Capsule? Lows at 70 if I recall, 500 for the mids and hi mid (rather than treble) at 2.7 I’ve used these settings on my amp eq and it’s not bad. I still prefer the mids a bit lower for my jazz but depending on a few variables it’s a good even range. The issue as raised before is that with sweepable mids like someone mentioned on the Bongo (I’ve experience with that preamp and it’s very powerful) we’re more likely to mess up the tone rather than find a sweet spot especially as a gig progress and we get ear fatigue. The other issue of using ear plugs we tend to push a certain frequency until we hear it but the overall sound can be terrible.

I only asked abt the Sandberg as they usually keep their value on the used market quite well but buying new and selling on will always see a more significant loss over flipping on a used bass. It initially read like you lost more on it for a reason other than depreciation.

I guess your keeping tight lipped on the loss on the Sandberg? Was it bought from new and a priced to sell sold below market value? I’m just curious? From memory they do three or four wood options and can chamber a body too. I think the point of going the guitarbuild route would be a keeper bass to your exact spec right down to the weight. I’ve not been on the site in a while as I had thought about a reverse p build before modding my p. If your thinking in and around the £650 mark with your exact spec it’s nearly a better option. Especially if your gonna swap tuners etc anyway. The problem is you can’t nitpick the small stuff which many folk use as an excuse not to actually buy in the end i.e. the preamp is only two band, it’s only got 21 frets etc. wrong colour etc etc. If you’re minds set on getting a P/MM to a very tight spec guitarbuild is probably an even better option especially if buying the hardware used... if you’re serious of course and not just thinking out loud on the internet. Plus you may recoup more on a custom build over selling a HB branded bass

Be interested to know how much you lost on the Sandberg and if that was a brand new purchase and you just lost the normal new to used depreciation or if it was some other reason? My HB was £90 and I already had the pick up. If I route it for a reverse p I’ll still hang on to it and it currently sounds better than the cheap bass we have at work for our music/choir group. Worst case the HB will be left at the music room and I’ll use it there. Might fit the tone styler too and hear what that brings - the joy of doing the work oneself so no additional labour costs. Add a soldering iron to you upgrade costs and learn a new skill too while saving money! If you’re after a near mint used Sandberg then naturally you’re into four figure territory but then you could wait for the spec you’re after and I suspect there’s no rush your end. There are some bargains out there though. As you know I’ve pimped a Squier bass and very happy with the results so I’d still say just buy the HB, do the upgrades and if you sell it down the line you can shift the parts and not lose too much on it.

A simple break down of the potential cost. Used Sandberg approx £850 HB £350 approx -preamp and MM pick up upgrade -£250 approx for -tuners £120 fitting and set up £150 approx or more at London prices. Buy a used sandberg and change out the pre or pick ups if it’s not 100%. Retain the originals and if you decide to sell it return to stock and sell or keep the upgrades. Upgrading the hb with your track record on moving basses will only result in a loss or you’ll decide to upgrade to a Sandberg in about three months after buying the HB 😀

For the money the go for it’s worth a punt. The Bass the World guys would be as solid an opinion as anyone on bc and they seem to suggest it’s a solid ‘platform’. It’s simply a matter of changing the preamp and a pick up you can always nab one on here at a good price and there’s loads of solderless stuff out there too. I’m going to route and fit a P pick up in a 51 style HB I nabbed here a while back for a reverse P - Mike Dirnt style. Quick respray and it’s all coming in under £200.

what about nabbing another 414 and having it done?

Isn’t the 614 active? I’m not a Yamaha historian 🙂

There was a pewter one on sale here a while back from a Scottish guy too. Not sure where it went. Interestingly that’s a few pro guys who’ve moved their NEBB’s on so I wonder what it was that wasn’t hitting the spot of them? I think @TJ Spicer mentioned his pro’s and cons in a review.

Festivals always do well in terms of ticket sales so seeing various festivals ’selling out’ isn’t really a surprise or at least it isn’t to me. Most of the big ones sell out in a matter of hours as it’s become a summer institution to ‘do’ a festival. It’s a positive sign as it means folks aren’t afraid to get back out and socialise. Whether that means another wave by August or September let’s hope not!