Conan

Well, it certainly works for me. My Series II has been my main (and sometimes only) bass for 25 years and rarely do I find that it lacks any particular sounds.... although it would have been nice if the EQ had three bands instead of two! As Chris says, the mid-range from the bass itself can be slightly lacking - but the output is so hot and low-noise that it is easy to add more mid from your amp if so desired. To my ears it can do P bass on the neck pup soloed, a reasonable Jaco tone on the bridge pup soloed, and a range of sounds by blending the aforementioned! They are not as "hi-fi" as they are rumoured to be. They can growl and shout with the best of 'em! Endless sustain, clear harmonics, incredible stable tuning... Add to that (at least on the series II) that you can bypass the active circuitry for a whole different range of tones... Just get one.

[quote name='drewk_ie' post='1231050' date='May 14 2011, 03:48 PM']Hi I use an Ampeg 15 & 2x10 with my SVT 200T head, amazing sound and tone[/quote] Pleased to hear you are still enjoying the amp!!

[quote name='ZMech' post='1246660' date='May 27 2011, 09:10 AM']Something something JAZZ something something CRETIN! Will that do? [/quote] Perfect!

[quote name='Lfalex v1.1' post='1246112' date='May 26 2011, 07:26 PM']As the title says; Is being in [i][b]MY[/b][/i] band now so expensive that I can't afford to play live and not get paid for it?[/quote] I think that is what you meant to say....

[quote name='wulf' post='1246599' date='May 27 2011, 08:05 AM']If you choose to play anti-commercial music then you either have to supplement that by a day job or by playing other music which does attract some income. Or perhaps you are missing opportunities to either reduce expenses or get some income.[/quote] That's what I was trying to say, but phrased much better!

Isn't it about time we had a few of the purists and pros jump in to tell us how wrong, misguided and subversive we are for playing for nothing or next to nothing?

[quote name='Lfalex v1.1' post='1246583' date='May 27 2011, 07:36 AM']I've never even been paid a tenner for a gig. The sort of music I play doesn't get paid like that, but I fail to see why I should have to play stuff I don't want to (functions/covers). ....Based on there being no financial return, it's a cost I can no longer afford. Nice. Now we're turning into a hobby for the well-heeled only. Never thought I'd live to see the day.[/quote] Sounds like you have a dilemma then. This is why a lot of musicians in original bands also play in cover bands. One finances the other as it were. If you refuse to milk the cash cow then where else are you going to get the money to cover your losses in the original band? Surely if they are good enough and you play at carefully selected venues you can expect to be paid? Other than that, you are stuck in a cycle that has no end and no way out. Don't shoot me, I'm only the messenger!

[quote name='SteveK' post='1245313' date='May 26 2011, 10:42 AM']Buy a fretless Musicman Stingray and a boss octaver - sorted![/quote] Yeah. You don't say whether your J is fretted or not and both of those tracks were played on fretless basses. Might be a challenge to replicate those tones on a fretted!!

They certainly look the part (if you like purple, which I do!) and they are very light. Never heard one in use, but have read very favourable reports on them.

[quote name='spongebob' post='1243245' date='May 24 2011, 06:39 PM']Nobody batted an eyelid over the Squier headstock - it was a very good tool for the job.[/quote] Were you seriously expecting them to? For the non-bass players in the audience (i.e. most of them), the only thing they might notice about your bass is the colour. Sound-wise, they are also unlikely to notice you unless you sound particularly awful or are too loud. Bass Chat is not the real world...

[quote name='bungle' post='1243021' date='May 24 2011, 03:10 PM']What sort of cabs should I be looking at then?[/quote] How long is a piece of string? My advice would be to trawl the used section here and buy stuff! Most of the prices are so good that if you don't get on with a certain cab you can probably sell it on again at pretty much the price you paid for it. Maybe even more if the market eventually picks up! Alex at BareFaced also does a month's trial on his cabs if you buy one new. If you don't like it you can return it for just the cost of shipping. Could be a good way to try one out?

[quote name='skankdelvar' post='1243075' date='May 24 2011, 03:51 PM']I've got a packet of Tommy Walsh Rawlplugs in the shed. Light years better than the stock item.[/quote] Ah yes, but take care. They do not do exactly what it says on the tin. They are not standard rawlplugs endorsed by Tommy Walsh, but plastic devices designed specifically for use when one wishes to strongly attach items of furniture [b]TO[/b] Mr. Walsh. Otherwise the guarantee will be void.

[quote name='Vibrating G String' post='1242531' date='May 24 2011, 01:58 AM']Let's start a trend of non musician endorsements for our basses. I have a MIM 5 string that needs to be a Natalie Portman model. How about a Carl Sagan Precision? A Bob Fosse Jazz Hands?[/quote] I've seen a few adverts for "CS" Precisions recently. I had no idea that they were Carl Sagan sig models!! Deeply cool indeed. Where can I get one?

[quote name='Doddy' post='1243034' date='May 24 2011, 03:21 PM']Sure you could play a major 3rd over a minor,wince and correct it,or you could take away the guess work and play [i][b]the right note [/b][/i]straight away.[/quote] I'm not sure I like or agree with the idea that there are "wrong" notes. Certainly there are some notes that sound strange in certain places, but to me a 'wrong' note is a note that is played when the intention was to play a different note. But sometimes the mistake can sound better than the intended one, so where does that leave us? I don't read. At 45 years old with a family and a full-time job I am unlikely to ever find myself in a situation where this will hold me back. Some of the members on this forum are professional or semi-professional bass players, whose income may depend upon their ability to read. Obviously in their case it is a desirable if not prerequisite skill. For us weekend warriors and part-timers I see it as a luxury. I would like to be able to donate the time to it to see what difference it makes, but in the foreseeable future that is unlikely. I know a small bit of theory - but not enough that it makes much difference to what I play. I like to think that I have a reasonable ear and feel, and those have stood me fairly well over the years. However, if my personal circumstances changed and I found myself potentially having to rely on playing bass for part or all of my livelihood; I'm pretty sure I would put a lot of effort into learning more theory and how to read! Better to have it and not use it than not to have it at all...

You may be right about the Hartke being too clean.... but your pedals can easily add the grit if required. Sounds like my Trace Elliot 2x15 would suit you down to the ground. I'm not just saying that because I'm trying to sell it of course... but it really is a quality piece of kit for very sensible cash. Loud, clear, warm, solid, robust.... and you could probably sell it on in a while for more than what you are about to pay me for it!! [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=125690&hl=1528"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=125690&hl=1528[/url] It's all good.

[quote name='JTUK' post='1242601' date='May 24 2011, 08:34 AM']I really wouldn't be thinking I'd get 500watts of bass out of a 2x10. If you want to run that volume..you want to be thinking of 2x210..IMO.[/quote] Or, as markstuk suggested, a BFB super 12.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPN-vp-quOs"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPN-vp-quOs[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ4xiRzlwwI"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ4xiRzlwwI[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgvAwBDbuIo"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgvAwBDbuIo[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU9j5VTnZhA"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU9j5VTnZhA[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Lb4pS6n4mM"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Lb4pS6n4mM[/url] OK, some of these are not strictly bass "intros"... but very prominent bass parts at the beginning of the track. Good enough?

[quote name='ziggydolphinboy' post='1240078' date='May 22 2011, 10:15 AM']looks like ill be going for better cabs anyways now. !!![/quote] They'll only be "better" if they suit you and your sound more. Trace cabs are good enough for most situations and in some ways the search for the perfect amplification rig is even more complex than the search for the perfect bass!

[quote name='BigRedX' post='1240064' date='May 22 2011, 10:02 AM']Any place where I thought that there might be a danger that my instrument would be stolen or badly damaged I would also consider that my person was in danger too and therefore I wouldn't be playing there at all.[/quote] Totally agree. Why buy an expensive bass and leave it at home? If the majority of your music is played in a live situation, surely you want to play it live with the best bass you can get? If you like expensive basses (as you clearly do) then so be it. They are only instruments (i.e. tools) at the end of the day. They are made to be played, not to be collected. In the same way, it always confuses me that some people "collect" wine, rather than hoying it doon their necks... Gig with a cheap bass that you are not happy with and your performance will suffer. You just won't feel it or believe in it as much as you would with your favourite instrument. Not that a bass needs to be silly money to sound good or play well of course...

[quote name='bubinga5' post='1235822' date='May 18 2011, 03:18 PM']is he singing his opinion of Fenders??[/quote] Sorry! My mistake - I inserted the wrong link, Duh. Now corrected. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wI5QCem2fx4&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wI5QCem2fx4...feature=related[/url]

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='1235402' date='May 18 2011, 11:06 AM']Road Worn series? [/quote] Ah! But that's clearly spaghetti, not beans. That's like comparing apples and pears - or (God forbid) Precisions and Jazzes!

Aside from the blatant excuse to mention It Bites (who I am off to see in Newcastle this evening!), you may find it interesting what Frank Dunnery has to say about his "Fenders"... Listen from 1:15... [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wI5QCem2fx4&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wI5QCem2fx4...feature=related[/url]

Not for me I'm afraid. Everything that's wrong with bass solos.... still, if his fans enjoyed it fair play to him.

[quote name='famstd' post='1232137' date='May 15 2011, 04:17 PM']The Hartke HyDrive cabs will give you great mids.[/quote] Maybe. I play my LH500 through two different 2x15 cabs. Through the Trace Elliot, the sound is very smooth with plenty of top and bottom, but it's through the BareFaced Vintage that the mids really shout. If you like the LH500, it might be worth experimenting with a few different cabs to get more midrange out of it? Also, maybe your bass of choice has a scooped sort of tone too?