Conan

I've just got one, and I'm pleased with it -but I'm a little baffled by the interaction of the gain and the tone controls. Wouldn't you think that when the gain is set at zero, there would be no sound at all? I played most of last night's rehearsal with the gain on zero!! (And I was pretty loud...).

[quote name='No lust in Jazz' timestamp='1425654135' post='2709451'] I'm amazed (in a good way) that this tone goal is so clear to you [/quote] It was very simple really - I wanted more midrange in my tone and the LH500 couldn't give it to me! Other amps I have tried since have been able to provide the mids, but due to the way the controls work, finding a sound that I like and can use in a band situation is more difficult than I had anticipated... The Aggie (which I tried last night) has lots of potential, but (as I recall reading in someone else's post a while back), the interactivity of the controls is counter-intuitive and frustrating. What it shows (quite clearly!) is that there is no one "bass tone" and that each manufacturer of bass gear has different goals in mind and different ways of achieving them! As with other things in life, sometimes the journey is more enjoyable than the destination

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1425646708' post='2709347'] All of my obbm cables are still operational. [/quote]

[quote name='GregBass' timestamp='1425638131' post='2709231'] Conan - if you don't get the sound you want from the Aguilar and still have RH750, I can guide you through the setup on the RH to push out those mids. Give me a shout if you need it. [/quote] Thanks for that - but as I do not have a big budget for bass gear, the RH750 was the price for getting the TH500 (i.e. I traded!). TBF, the TC had no problems pushing out mids, it just had too many features that I didn't need and I found them distracting.

[quote name='Thurbs' timestamp='1425636549' post='2709212'] I fear you are sucked in to a whirlwind of GAS and will come out the end of it significantly poorer but none the (tone) wiser. Finally, have you considered a different cab if it is mid tone shaping you are after? [/quote] Point taken about the GAS - but it's really just a means to an end. I knew that my previous amp (Hartke LH500) wasn't giving me the tone I wanted, but I wasn't sure what would. After a lot of reading and considering my budget I thought that the amps in my original poll would be the best options... I am very happy with my cab though. It reproduces mids very well, but only if the bass and amp put them out in the first place!

I just got a cable from him this week, so yes - he is definitely still in business! What is it you need? I have several OBBM cables that I no longer require and I will be looking to sell...

[quote name='Matt P' timestamp='1425558608' post='2708549'] i've tried a th500/barefaced rig and it was epic, if i hadn't been broke i would have bought it on the spot! [/quote] Sadly, you've just missed one at a stonkingly good price! Not that it was for sale for long... [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/257053-aguilar-tone-hammer-500-lightweight-bass-head-l399/"]http://basschat.co.u...bass-head-l399/[/url]

[quote name='Thurbs' timestamp='1425543894' post='2708297'] If mids are an issue, wouldn't a parametric EQ sort out the problem? Also, why wouldn't you make sure your next amp had one if a seperate pedal was not ideal? [/quote] I tried the pedal solution. It was OK, but I just don't like using pedals. I used Trace Elliot gear for over 20 years, so I'm well aware of the capabilities of a graphic EQ (and that was 11 band!). But on this occasion I'm looking for a number of things in one package - not just the midrange control. Even then, being able to add mids in a useful, sweet-sounding part of the frequency range is more important to me than having infinite control over many bands that may or may not sound good... The thread has evolved as time has gone by and other options have become available or been drawn to my attention. I really looking for an amp with a pleasing core tone, and without extraneous features (I'm a fiddler you see, and I would just waste time and effort tweaking things!). An amp with a small footprint is a bonus, although not a deal-breaker as I'm not decrepit yet! This thread is also the product of the BC membership - where lots of people will (strongly) recommend what [i][b]they[/b][/i] use and explain why nothing else will suffice I apologise for your baffledness, but to be fair the thread was for [i][b]my[/b][/i] benefit and it has certainly worked in that respect

Rather than decide on a certain model, it may be easier to start form the point of view of a budget. Search the for sale threads here and look at everything that falls within your budget range. It is a buyer's market at the moment (and has been for some time) so there are definitely bargains to be had!

[quote name='miles'tone' timestamp='1425565154' post='2708660'] Those lower 5 are much more useful to a bass player imo (well,this bass player anyway) [/quote] This one too! This^. One, two!

[quote name='low&' timestamp='1425555008' post='2708475'] That Buckethead got some mean bass chops... [/quote] If he has, I'm not sure that particular clip does him justice. A dead boring rip-off of Larry Graham meeting Verdine White and Mark King... I think I might dip out of this thread - it is making me seem extremely negative, and I'm really not!

[quote name='Thunderbird' timestamp='1425545582' post='2708322'] Pickguard screws should be long enough string trees are not normally fitted with uber long screws anyway you will see what I mean when you take the old retainer off [/quote] I've had the pickguard [b][i]and[/i][/b] the string retainer off... and the screw that attaches the string retainer is significantly longer than the PG screws!

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1425544682' post='2708307'] It's normally delivered with the screws, where did you buy it from..? Here's the Amazon ad,which shows the screws; that might give an idea as to what's required..? [url="http://www.amazon.com/Hipshot-Bass-String-Retainer-Chrome/dp/B00OSIDU48"]Amazon 3-string Hipshot ...[/url] Hope this helps [/quote] That's frustrating as I usually shop on Amazon but couldn't find one on Amazon UK... I bought it from Bass Direct! And they look like pickguard screws in that picture, don't they?

[quote name='HowieBass' timestamp='1425544954' post='2708310'] I'd measure the thickness of the headstock and try to find a screw of that length... you know that the string retainer thickness will take up some of the length so you won't get it coming out on the other side. You'll need to be careful when you make the pilot holes too. [/quote] Good advice - but is there a specific type of screw I should be looking for? Would any type of countersunk wood screw do?

Pete and I just traded amps (his Aguilar Tonehammer for my TC RH750). An extremely smooth transaction with excellent communications throughout. An absolute pleasure to do business with! Highly recommended

[quote name='Thunderbird' timestamp='1425543084' post='2708284'] Depending on the hole size but pick guard screws should fit depends how big the countersink is in the retainer [/quote] Will they be long enough? There will be a lot of tension on them as the string retainer will have to pull the A string down a long way... Countersink is quite deep. This is a Hipshot item BTW...

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1425489839' post='2707876'] I think you`re in for a treat this eve. [/quote] Sadly the rehearsal was postponed (at the last minute - I was loading the car!) until Sunday...

In fact I need two!! What kind of screws do I need to attach a string retainer like this one.... ...to the headstock of my J&D jazz bass? And where would I get them? I was a bit disappointed that it didn't come with fixing screws, but such is life I guess.

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1425517508' post='2708226'] I've heard Steve Lawson's rig a couple of times, sounds amazing ! He uses TH500's and SL112's.[/quote] I suspect he would sound amazing through pretty much any rig...