4 Strings

[quote name='chardbass' timestamp='1335813467' post='1636511'] But did you sound a bit more like Bernard Edwards than before? Hope it works out for you tomorrow. [/quote] YES, thanks, I did!! Only with my MM though. Mind you, I sound more like him because I'm practicing to do so ( long way to go on that score!), but it does give that punch Bernard got. Tried it with a Jazz Deluxe at rehearsals tonight and suddenly it all went wrong. Its a confusing thing trying to rush to get the best sound using more than one bass. Perhaps I should sell the Jazz.

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1335810714' post='1636443'] Great to see someone happy with the huge bass this little beast pushes out, and then boosting it Did the Compact handle it well? [/quote] Yes, no problems there.

Yes, apparently, 900W RMS (presumably with all volume and tone controls set to max). Into a single speaker of 8Ω (and so not actually 900W but more like 600W or less) or into two speakers of 8Ω each (and so 450W). One is 500mm, the other 1500mm. The long one will only be used with two speakers.

Your English is way better than my Italian! Like you I have just bought a Streamliner 900 and my findings have been similar to yours. Thanks for the demo!

Thanks guys, seems little adjustment from 12 O Clock being necessary for anyone, me too. I'm experimenting with noosting the lower of the mid bands a little, 220Hz seems to add a bit of punch. Barefaced cabs so each is a nominal 8Ω. I love it with the bass control up, not sure how clear that will be in a gig but sounds great indoors! I also found with the second volume up too high it hisses a little. So far, everything is virtually at 12, master vol at 9, although tomorrow evening is the noisy rehearsal, I'll take 2 cabs and see how it operates into 4Ω. I'm expecting it to be quite a bit louder but the master volume staying at 9. I'm more interested in how it pushes out some deep vibes though, hope it responds.

I heard him say it singed his hair, but I would have thought decades of rehearsals and gigging in front of a wall of sound would have had an effect. Worth it, in my opinion!

Its fine to say 'I would say' etc, and here I am with two elephantine speaker cables believing that the science surely shows its over kill and that there is no difference in using 2.5 or 4mm cable. No doubt diminishing returns are being applied so 6mm seems rather more pointless. I used a single 1.5mm for a gig on Friday (before I had time to spend making up the 4mm pair) and I have rarely been able to play so loud in a huge hall with no pa support, 900W amp - albeit delivering nothing like 900W. Nothing got remotely above room temperature and I have no doubt any sonic differences would have been totally inaudible either in the mix or in isolation. I'm really happy to be convinced otherwise! (I'd note that the flex taking power into the amp is 1.5mm, but I accept this isn't handling a complex audio signal.)

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1335773955' post='1635618'] And that is the point..Entwistle and Moon were an awful section in islolation but an unexplainable happy accident combined. No teacher in their right mind would point to either as anything other than how not to do it..but in the Who, they worked. But I bet solo playbacks in the studio were no fun at all [/quote] Can't understand this. Moon especially was very particular about his technique, all skins and cymbals flat (like the old jazzers and many drummers now rather than the 'wall of death' set up), shoulders not moving and very smooth rolls etc. Of course there's all the larking around and showmanship but that's what he does and one of the things that made him so great. He was not a fool on the drums and would have been angered at being called sloppy.

[quote name='chardbass' timestamp='1335773609' post='1635609'] I guess you're a fan so my intention isn't to rile but their sounds are similar, the way they attack their strings is similar and their note choices are similar. [/quote] Heh, suppose I am, not riled at all, Geddy is rather special but, to me anyway, quite different. Sorry to be brusque.

This fella get's me for parodies. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waIhJDgC5dQ&feature=relmfu Have a look at the others too, watch them with your bass friends and you'll be in pain!

I think his technique is amazing. He mastered 4 fingers on his right hand, nothing wrong with his left, even uprighters swap things around to suit positioning, laziness, feel etc. Much as I admire Pino, he's about as exciting as a cold fried egg in The Who. One of the few times I don't watch the bass player. Years ago, when my lads were a bit younger, their band at the time were having one of those wonderfully healthy music discussions and one was showing a 9 minute solo by Slash. Fortunately my lads were not too impressed (chip of the ol' block, clearly) and people were getting bored after 2-3 minutes so I did what I shouldn't and got involved. I played this clip from the 'Kids Are Alright' dvd, 8 minutes of isolated Ox. Their friends were transfixed through the whole 8 minutes.

[quote name='chardbass' timestamp='1335737837' post='1635365'] I imagine an isolated track from Geddy Lee would sound very similar. [/quote] erm... no.

For the bottom you'll be welcome to use my Hartke PRO1800 monster until someone wants to buy it, no real rush there. Its amazingly deep and loud.

I'm needing to learn some Sister Sledge (one being Thinking of You - what a beautiful and beautifully performed song!) and in my getting into the vibe of one of the greatest groove best players ever I came across this one. Here's our hero with a Precision, Kustom naugahyde stack and doing his pretending to have a plectrum thing. I know its mimed but, nonetheless thought it interesting enough to post... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQr_oCmQGuw

Which is the clone, Promethean, HB or Redsub? If these really are the same is Ibanez taking the mick? We might assume there are differences beyond the red face (heh!) but there probably isn't. How can we find out?

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1335619564' post='1633794'] ...by applying a transparent conformal coating to the PCB, which also has the additional advantage of protecting the circuitry from dust, moisture etc. [/quote] This stuff is great and should encase[u] everything [/u]in an amp to protect from vibrations etc, except you can't get to replace anything afterwards... I must say I get a little cross when I see weighty electronic components hanging from their own legs, much worse controls fixed only by the contacts with the pcb.

[quote name='danhkr' timestamp='1335607714' post='1633613'] Aye, although I wouldn't fancy my PC going through the transportation, heat, and speaker vibrations that my bass amp does. I guess the rule of thumb for any amplifier is try not to push it too hard however it's made. [/quote] Or take it off the speaker. Pushing its output is fine, why wouldn't it be? Its not made like your pc.

Ok, I think I have the answer to my own question. Just tried to use 4mm cable with a Neutrik. Had to shave the outer insulation and the conductors have to be carefully dressed to just squeeze into the connectors. Took nearly 20 minutes of fiddling. A 2.5mm cable goes in nice and snug. Surely the 4mm is too big for a Neutrik, surely Neutriks are made to handle more than the output of a bass amp (even the unlikely event of using the full 900W output of my untypical amp its going to be into more than one cab and so will be split between more than one cable) and so surely a 2.5mm is going to be more than ample. The cable looks like it's going to power a motor for a train.

Got one yesterday. Green Onions as 2nd half opener before the singers come out, done it before but just checked with our relatively new youngster guitarist that he had the guitar parts ok (the off beat 'chang' in the first versey bit, the riff that tracks the bass and the gist of the staccato solo etc); 'yeah, its just generic blues, its easy'. I made him sit and listen to it.

[quote name='sykilz' timestamp='1335544204' post='1632995'] Blast, the 500w head isn`t going to be in stock at Thomann til MAY now.....grrrr..... [/quote] Unfortunately I've not waited. I ordered one and have cancelled it (I hadn't noticed the coloured coins thing) and bought something unjustifiably way more expensive from Bass Direct. I'm really interested in how these amps perform

[quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1335268468' post='1628282'] Crap, just pulled the trigger on the HB one from Thomann, money I don't have.... Still I can flog my GK to fund it if it's good enough, if not it can go back to Thomann. Phew, justified that spend. [/quote] Is that the smaller one of the two? Don't forget to let us know how you get on with it

[quote name='Highfox' timestamp='1335587898' post='1633454'] Good choice. I'm still using the 600 version. [/quote] How are you finding it? So far mines not as 'warm' as the reviews have been saying but then I'm not comparing it directly with anything in particular (although my old SWR Workingman is warm). I'm finding, if I'm careless with the two gain controls that I can overdrive something I shouldn't (probably the power section) and get a nasty clicking sound before the 'Clip' light comes on. It only happens at a pointless setting of both knobs on '10'. Does yours do that?

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1335573729' post='1633426'] Ooh lovely, thanks for the review! A good Motown is important to me, too. [/quote] I'll hopefully do a proper one when I've got used to it and have a little time. Still waiting (or have missed) a review on your BFM!

Just back from the gig in a big hall. It was big too, nearly 250 seated at tables + dance space. Pa for 3 x vox, sax and bass drum only and I had my Compact. I have to say the set up is very impressive, there's no weight to the tiny amp and cab and they sat a little lost on the large stage but filled the hall with resounding Motown bass with the master volume at 9 O Clock (7 O Clock is actually off and 5 O Clock is fully on). I've got to get a feel for the controls as yet but a bit of boost on the 220Hz mid kept things clear, everything else flat. '76 P with Trubass and tone rolled off, it gave a very warm but solid sound. Not bloated as towards the end of the sound check I was asked to add more bottom so I tweaked the bass to 1 OClock. Its a big sound! If the bass is boomy I get asked to turn down so that I can't hear myself. With such a clear sound I was asked to turn up, (doesn't happen often!) and lots of compliments about the overall sound afterwards. Very pleased so far, it can do a good Motown which is important to me.

Tbh it would have to be a blind test. I bet we'd all come up with non-conclusive results too. The Squiers I've seen really look like well finished guitars using very nice pieces of wood, especially the natural finish models. But do they have the 'magic'? Do Fenders? Is the magic in the transfer? Do people not want to admit there's no discernible difference in case they are considered to be stupid? Not saying either way as I don't have experience of them both but it would have to be a blind test.