Stompbox

Well thanks for the comments there guys - I used 18mm ply that was stamped "Imperial", 1.5" number 8 screws and Evostick waterproof PVA glue. The speakers are 16 ohms impedance Celestion BL10 100s . The cabinet is lighter than the original Ashdown as I think that on the original cabinet only the front baffle is ply, the rest is particle board, but the two Celestion drivers are heavier than the ones in the Ashdown, so it's about the same weight overall. It's not one for the purists, but yes, I'm pleased with the result as it's a decent amount of "bang for your buck", and it is exactly what I need at the moment. I bought the cabinet paint, handles, corners, covering fabric & feet from Blue Aran. Pics of the completed unit - firstly standing vertically with the 180watt "Blue" head on it [attachment=179071:Bass cab (33).JPG] Now horizontally with the 400W head [attachment=179072:Bass cab (34).JPG] Finally as a "stack" to get the full rated power with 4 ohms overall loading [attachment=179073:Bas cab (35).JPG]

I have a 2 x 10" Ashdown cabinet of 8 ohms impedance, and a Mag 400 amp - which will deliver 400 watts RMS into 4 ohms. I decided to build an "Ashdownalike" based on the dimensions of my existing cabinet, the new cabinet also to have an impedance of 8 ohms. The idea is, for larger gigs I can take both cabinets & stack them on each other and thus be able to drive the full 400 watts into the pair. I also have an Ashdown 180 "Blue" head that is just the right size to put on either of these cabinets if I stand the cabinet on its narrow side. All in all this should give me quite a range of different setups. I saw some 10" Celestion bass drivers with a 16 ohm impedance for sale very reasonably priced on Thomann's site & so I ordered two of them. This all goes back for quite a good few months now, before I moved to my present house, and I got the other parts, the covering material and the wood cut and determined to bring it all with me as a "flat pack" kit, ready to start on it when I was settled in, so:- Here are the bits [attachment=179020:Bass cab (3).jpg] I used glued & screwed construction - nothing clever or a shining example of woodwork, but, hopefully a sound, simple cabinet. Here it's starting to go together. [attachment=179021:Bass cab (10).jpg] This shows the main cabinet body, and the speaker baffle with the edging struts to support the metal grille fitted, and the "shelf" that forms the upper side of the front port slot which has now been attached to the front baffle. I painted the front baffle with black Tuff Cabinet paint, also the areas inside the port that will be visible so that the port would not show up in its wood colour. Now these two main sections are joined together [attachment=179023:Bass cab (15).jpg] Here's the metal mesh grille in grey primer ready to have satin black spray paint applied [attachment=179024:Bass cab (17).JPG] Now to cover it - oh joy, a tin of spray glue from Screwfix and a tin of Evostick adhesive...... [attachment=179025:Bass cab (18).JPG] More spraying, cutting, glueing (oh yes, and cussing). [attachment=179026:Bass cab (21).JPG] On go the corners & handles ( I went for spring loaded ones rather than the inset types with big cut outs in the cabinet sides as it's simpler). [attachment=179027:Bass cab (26).JPG] Now pretty well complete - I took it to a rehearsal and did an A/B test with the old cabinet - this is definitely a touch louder and has a bit more OOOMF to it - if I can describe it in such a technical manner. [attachment=179028:Bass cab (31).JPG] I'll put a couple of final pics on to show it with the other cabinet & amps in the next day or so. Hope this is of interest.

Well I started something there! I'm not unghappy with the market place, just, like I said it seems to have gravitated to high price stuff......... I'm more than pleased with the site, and I paid the £20 fee with no qualms, but maybe a price box at the front end/title would be good.

Well, I have just got back from the local pub watching the footy, and I looked (of course) at "Basses for Sale"........ Is it just me, or has there been a shift to some very expensive and rather esoteric (I've been waiting to use that word) basses? I mean, every other one is a six string, hand built from fossillised ebony dinosaur bones for a very reasonable £6k or so (plus postage). Wow. I know, I know , I'm exaggerating ( and I've done so at least a million times), but I do feel that there has been a shift. Perhaps we could have "Really Expensive" section and a "Meat and Potatoes" section of basses for sale. Or maybe it's just me - having been hyper-sensitised by several large glasses of the old amber nectar. Hmmm.........

Sold Mel some bass strings - good communication & paid promptly, great BassChatter. Stompbox.

Just come back to this discussion again after a disastrous attempt to run through of something that I played fine the other day - have taken solace in Bilbo's wise comments above. I must not be in the right frame of mind, or something like that. Do you have any other words of wisdom? - I'm taking the approach of !) Having a break, 2) Writing this brief whinge, 3) Having a cup of tea, 4) Reminding myself that it WILL all be worth it, then 5) Going back to it......

Just got some short scale strings off Paul. All good - deal with confidence (as they say). Cheers, Stompbox

No - no - just a joke!

I've just downloaded some more of the tunes to have a go at - it's a really useful resource! I bought the Hal Leonard Bass Method book recently - it's three books (with 3 cds) in one, and I'm resolutely working my way through the first book. it's the syncopated rhythms that I find hard to read & put into practice - I can play "by ear" in syncopated style just fine - trying to read is sometimes a bit like the sketch off the Jennifer Saunders show - have you seen this? [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FroICbwvJII[/media] Pretty funny - it's the only version on Youtube with a decent soundtrack - (the french subtitles are a bonus feature) .

Excellent thread - just found it. Have downloaded several (and, just to show that I'm playing through them & paying attention, found a bum note in bar 12 of Happy Birthday - the third note should be D not C). All good stuff, and yes, I'm struggling with learning to read Standard Notation, but it's really worthwhile I think, if I can just put the time in on it. It is simply mad using the old "play it from memory" technique that I've done for years. Why would you try to memorise a novel when you can get a whole library full out to read???? I'll stick at it - but some days I find I make a complete c**k of it, and go off muttering darkly to myself, other days I think - "Hey, I'm getting it"..... Keep on posting Grangur!

......and after just three of those excellent Jazz cigarettes - unconscious and not caring...(but smiling).... Interesting article - did you look at the "Rhythm Yardstick" clip with Anthony Wellington & Victor Wooten? - it came up as a related video on the You Tube page at the same time as the 4 levels video.

Excellent video and put across in a sympathetic and interesting way- thanks for sharing - will apply it to my EUB playing.