LawrenceH

[quote name='fatback' post='874435' date='Jun 22 2010, 02:20 PM']I asked Alex (barefaced) about those Yamaha stands, and he pointed out that you would reduce the reflections from the floor, losing maybe as much as 3db of certain low frequencies normally boosted by the floor. I shouldn't have hassled him with the question, as I later found the info is very clear here: [url="http://barefacedbass.com/technical-information/stage-or-floor-coupling.htm"]http://barefacedbass.com/technical-informa...or-coupling.htm[/url] Alex suggests tilting the cab upwards using auralex blocks as wedges.[/quote] I feel this is somewhat misleading - the overall effect is going to be negligible in the 'real world' since the Yamaha-type stand doesn't raise the speaker up all that much, and it's distance from the floor rather than mechanical coupling that is the critical factor for bass reinforcement, quoting from the page you link to: 'So what happens if you put your cab on a beer crate so you can hear it better and/or to stop some boomy sounding mechanical coupling with the stage - does that mean you lose all of that 6dB of acoustic LF coupling? Fortunately the answer is no - what happens is you still get the 6dB gain but the cut-off frequency goes down, so rather than you getting the gain below about 250Hz you might only get it below 100Hz.' The vastly improved speaker angle in relation to your ear is going to make far more of a positive difference to audibility in the mid-range up than the loss in a relatively narrow bandwidth caused by using the stand. In actual fact those upper bass frequencies are often the ones that are most difficult to tame in smaller spaces, so in a lot of places a modest loss there will if anything tighten up the bottom end. If the OP likes the sound he gets from putting his cab on a chair then it will not be an issue - he'll be losing at least as much doing it that way or more if the chair's higher. I'd really suggest trying the stand or a similar DIY fix temporarily first, since it's by far the cheapest (possibly free) option and involves negligible extra gear to cart around. Just make sure with a 2x10 that the centre of gravity is going to be ok with whatever design you go with. If it's a micro amp the velcro option should be fine, or you could bung a rubberised wedge under the head to bring it back to level, or just run the head to one side!

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='874120' date='Jun 22 2010, 08:47 AM']Also, have a look at the 75RI models, whether used Japanese ones or new American. They seem to have the smoothest sounding pickups & 70's pickup spacing gives you that little extra bite.[/quote] The Japanese 75s don't have 70s pickup spacing - which actually makes them an option if you like the 70s look but less the tone. As an aside I now have a Classic 70s and a maple/ash Jap 75, with an 80s Jap standard on the way. At some point I'll be swapping components around to see for myself what factors influence what aspects of the sounds of these instruments. I am starting to wonder if the fret size and profile is actually quite important to what I'm after sound-wise.

[quote name='ShergoldSnickers' post='873755' date='Jun 21 2010, 07:01 PM']Velcro. Yes, honestly. I've seen this done and it works.[/quote] This

Try something like this: [url="http://www.totalmusicsupply.com/Models.aspx?PartnerID=2&ModelID=96360"]http://www.totalmusicsupply.com/Models.asp...p;ModelID=96360[/url] I have an identical but differently-branded one, it's light and folds up making it nice and portable, and the tilt is adjustable. I find it really helps with audibility.

What type of bass is it?

Just sold vmaxblues an Ibanez SR500 - prompt communication and lightning fast payment, was also able to advise on courier services. Thanks for a smooth transaction!

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='869842' date='Jun 17 2010, 12:44 PM']I guess you won't be interested then that "statistically" with every non failing amp you had the likelihood of the next one failing increases exponentially until one day... pop. [/quote] No it doesn't, the likelihood stays the same. Anyway, unless the amp has actually been abused then he shouldn't have to pay for it if he is the original purchaser/has the receipt, if it's only a couple of years old. Have you not contacted Markbass directy? From what I've heard they are a helpful company, and this is one of their 'flagship' products. Kind of puts me off getting Markbass (which long-term I was seriously considering, in particular an F1) if repairs are this expensive - and that's despite the low failure rate, since it means that although the chances of it failing are low, the cost of such a failure will be prohibitively high. I think other 'medium compact' heads might be more easily serviceable, looking at the internal gubbins of my Tecamp that looked easier to work on than an F1.

Personally I wouldn't give a sh*t how reliable other people's amps are if mine was the one that fried and cost me £200 plus to repair. Sale of Goods thing mentioned on the other thread - retailers might not be aware of it but you just have to politely (and perhaps via a legal person) point it out. You should still be covered. Good luck mate.

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='868370' date='Jun 15 2010, 08:26 PM']To be fair I think it is the Squier that comes under criticism for it. [/quote] Aha - black permanent marker'd soon sort that out! Though again it would mean absolutely nothing to me...and I'm about the right generation for Greenday I think.

[quote name='Johnston' post='868283' date='Jun 15 2010, 07:04 PM']And the only tell tail of what it is [attachment=52322:DSCF0192.JPG][/quote] Is THAT the star people are complaining about?! It's flipping tiny! Plus unless you play above your head a la crazy lead guitards no'one's ever gonna see it - seriously who is going to see that bass and even know it's a sig, unless you're a) a bass player and b ) a Mike Dirnt fan. I'd never even heard of him until this thread.

[quote name='SignsOfDelirium_bassist' post='867605' date='Jun 14 2010, 10:55 PM']Excellent...an yea, I'm sure I'd survive the extra weight...I wanted to put in the SD 1/4 pounder pups, cos every bass I've played with them in has growled like hell, but with a really nice clear tone, I love it. I was thinking about the CV, but I really REALLY want the bound&blocked neck, as horrible as it is, I actually want my bass to look as good as it sounds, an I think they look just brilliant! They both cost the same amount from what I've seen, so I'll go with the VMJ for now...I think the Gallery might have one in stock, in on their site, so I'm going give em a ring tomorrow to ask 'em then pop down to try it out...Might ask them about possibly selling my 5string through them (After I put it up here...first dibs for the basschatters!) Also, am I right in thinking that the maple body of the VMJ would give it more or a snappy attack? Because I'd like to get the sort of attack you get with a pick, but...using my fingers. Anyone know what size hipshot I'd need to buy to install in the VMJ? And if they come in black? and again, thanks for the advice![/quote] I much preferred the acoustic tone of the VMJ to the CV - dunno if it's what you're after, but for snappy attack a maple neck can't be bad - was hard to judge the snap from the pickups IMO because they are not very 'open' sounding. [Shameless rule-bending plug] What you want is to get a VMJ, enlarge the pickup holes and fit [topic="88344"]these[/topic] badboys in there! More snap than a Croatian winger's ankle [/shameless rule-bending plug]. In all seriousness, that would sound monstrous. If I wasn't averse to routing out guitar bodies I'd never let go of them.

[quote name='guybrush threepwood' post='867558' date='Jun 14 2010, 10:19 PM']I feel that there's more growl to be had from it - especially with the 70's bridge pup positioning. Also, it weighs a ton, as the body is maple. However, if you're used to extended range basses, it shouldn't be a problem for you![/quote] Actually on a similar thread someone helpfully measured their bass and confirmed the VMJ has the standard spacing. However I agree, acoustically it sounded very warm and like there was a lot you could do with it.

[quote name='Bill Fitzmaurice' post='866668' date='Jun 14 2010, 12:44 AM']Absolutely swayed by the appearance. The only instance where a metal cone will sound different than a paper cone is when you hit them with a stick. There's no particular advantage or disadvantage to aluminum cones except as marketing tools.[/quote] Well I don't know if it's the aluminium or not but I'm pretty confident I could tell the difference between Hartke and quite a lot of other stuff, not foolproof of course, but the 10"s definitely have a distinctive voicing which to me is harsh and mid-heavy. With budget to mid-range hifis/monitors, if I hear one where I think the treble is harsh, it usually turns out to be a titanium tweeter. This isn't an issue with the higher end stuff so it's obviously not an inherent, unalterable quality of using metal! Perhaps with metal tweeters they cross over lower down and it's that that I'm disliking? I don't know and am drifting OT. But anyway, yes. Hartke. Don't like 'em.

This was me - woop woop! Didn't realise there was a BC thread going about it, as soon as I saw the listing on ebay I pulled the virtual trigger, didn't think twice. We'll have to see if it's any good or not, but unfortunately not for a bit as I live in Edinburgh - got family down there though who'll hold onto it for me. I also bought a rather funky looking black mexi classic 70s that was listed, thought it'd be cool to compare the sounds of different pickup positions. And now I have to sell things or I shall face ruin, sigh...

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='865987' date='Jun 13 2010, 02:38 PM']I keep thinking of patenting a design where you can slide the back J pickup around, between both positions. Wouldn't that be cool? [/quote] Yes! I also remember hearing a clip from a German company, of a bass they made that had twin jazz-style single coils at the bridge so you could switch between the two positions, hearing the sound of each in direct comparison which was very interesting. Incidentally I'm still pretty sure that the VMJ is 60s placement.