Sparky Mark

The Ibby EQ with the Nordstrand big singles is an extremely powerful combination and the amount of top end that can be added is huge. If your cabs have tweeters I would recommend you turn them down/off to reduce the very high frequency fretting hand string noise. Once your new strings are played in more they should become smoother (give them a rub with a clean cotton cloth) and lose a bit of that brittle top end. I guess oil from fingers also lubricates them a bit too. Use the SR' onboard EQ to cut the treble whilst the strings are settling down. I know that when we practice alone it's great to have a reaĺly clear full range tone but in a band situation a lot of that top end isn't required. It's interesting to hear the tone used for many of the greatest basslines without the other instrument tracks; rarely do they contain much top end at all.

Thank you, that's very helpful. I'm keen on 3TSB and not sure the extra £280 for the AP is worth it for me. Does the Fender bag offer any level of protection? I.e., how thick would you estimate the padding to be or is it canvas only? Is the Markbass bag for short scale or is it 4" or so too long for the mustang? Thanks again.

I've got post xmas GAS for a Mustang and wonder if you could compare the your two tonally please? I already have a couple of PJ and favouring the Vintera because of its faithfulness to the original Fender design but wondered how the single pup sounds compared to the AP version? Also, a lot of owners complain how crap the supplied Vintera gig bags are; just how thin is the padding please? Cheers, Mark

So what do you think of your SR1820?

I'm not sure that's correct. Bugera Infinium all valve guitar heads and combos are still readily available from many major retailers in the UK. I'm confident the technology works, it's just that the market for big heavy all valve bass heads is already well served for the very few bass players prepared to schlep them. Bugera/Behringer need to manufacture high volumes to have an advantage. The market for guitar all valve amps is massively larger because a lot of guitarists prefer how they sound and they don't need big watts whilst the vast majority of bassists are happy with solid state for 300 watts +.

Richard (rze99) has just bought a bass from me and the deal couldn't have been any more straightforward with clear communications throughout. Richard was good enough to travel across London to collect from me. A great guy (even though he let slip he's a guitarist primarily) who I wouldn't hesitate to trade with again. Welcome to Basschat Richard. Cheers, Mark

Thanks Richard.

Yoiks, I missed it too! (Unfortunately that's an indication of my poor timing all round I'm afraid). The whole BC community is here for you Lozz and hoping you continue to enjoy chatting with us as you step back from major gigging. Wishing you a very happy and healthy New Year mate.

Agreed; although I'd happliy gig it if I had roadies to do the lifting. It is actually a few kg lighter than an Ampeg SVT.

I bought a BVV3000 Infinium a while back to scratch my 300 watt all tube itch and still power it up now and again to remind myself what a fantastic amp it is. I don't gig it due to its weight although it's built extremely well as far as I can see and has the advantage of auto bias of the power tubes. I bought a Hotcovers vinyl cover, spare sextet of 6550B tubes and upgraded the spring type tube retainers with the Birtcher style used inside the Ampeg SVT CL Heritage.

^^ Yoiks!!! Them's sure is soft!

Exactly. £799 isn't half price.

Agreed. Plus I can't see the "half price" SR1820 on Andertons site that Silky999 refers to? I'm not sure Andertons has an SR2600 in stock to A/B either? Personally I prefer the finish and black hardware of the SR1700 and would ask about a possible (better) deal there as well.

I can't remember the last time I took an oblong case to a gig. I'd gladly take a discount on an Ibanez with no case that I could invest in a good quality gig bag.

Make sure he uses the correct diameter stainless steel bar and hole centres and you could possibly sell a few discretely (possible copywrite or whatever issue?) to make it worth both your while. $30 plus shipping is a bit steep but I'd definitely take a couple at a more sensible price.

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The Line 6 Studio 110 is about as small a single 10" combo there is/was if you can find one. It has lots of tonal variety and a puncy delivery. Less affordable but a fantastic sounding bigger than it should do option is the GK MB110 combo which only weighs 21 lbs.

I agree totally with the above. Tapewounds will push you way back in the mix. Although good for lovely warm supportive pillowy bass you'll be limiting severely the wider tonal options that roundwounds will give you with the Nordstrands.

I would expect five strings to be heavier plus wenge is very dense. I owned a maple bodied 5 string SR briefly recently and that was relatively heavy. I think that I prefer the SR with mahogany body centres and wenge/jatoba necks. Having spent my youth playing a 10lb slab stingray SRs are a breeze.

Even relatively heavy SR basses are lightweight when compared to most (especially Fender type) other bass designs. The really significant difference between the two basses you are considering is the pickups. If you can't play before buying you'll be wondering about the other. So the standard advice is try to play both first but my gut feeling based on your cutting through tone goal is you'll prefer the Nordstrands.

I've owned both Premium and Prestige SR basses and much prefer the more dynamic Nordstand pickups over the darker sounding Bartolinis. I still own and regularly gig an early Premium 1200 with Nordstrand big singles. The new prices are very high for an Indonesian made guitar but the quality, fit, finish and hardware are as good and better than anything else for the money. If you're going to pay £1200-1300 new I'd even consider buying the 4500 then replacing the barts with Nord B.S. Barts vs Nordstrand big singles is like night vs day in my experience. P.s. I forgot to answer your question; yes, the Nordstrands will cut through the mix much more than the barts if you want them to.