EBS_freak

Mark has always been a legend with me. Mind you, I tend to go in and go, "I want this". "Cool. Here you are". Job done.

[quote name='DBerriff' timestamp='1477639745' post='3163454'] Some companies go well beyond what is strictly necessary in looking after their customers. Hipshot helped me out when I found a problem with one of their bridges on a Roscoe bass. I am grateful and impressed. [/quote] Hipshot are immense. To be fair, all of the hardware companies that I have dealt with have been exceptional in the customer service front!

[quote name='NancyJohnson' timestamp='1477609369' post='3163416'] I honestly have no idea about damping or any of the acronyms at work here...life is too short! The Matrix is outstanding. It's a belter; plug in your pre-stage, plug in your bass, power up and booooom. That is all. [/quote] Would like to a/b - this sound very interesting. I think that I would be less bothered in bass - but when it comes to guitars, my ears are a lot more pedantic about tone.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1477637363' post='3163445'] You should see the fun they have trying to park them all up and then turning them all around come home time in the Tickled Trout car park! [/quote] Haven't you seen that the Tickled Trout now has a helipad for the artists to escape quickly before the fans mob them?

^ That's the most annoying.

BBNE2. But alas, I needed the money for something that I really wanted. Would still like the BBNE2 to be in my arsenal though (It was black though... and I favour it in white... hence I can live with it a bit easier!)

[quote name='stevie' timestamp='1477582289' post='3163174'] The first time I came across a variable damping option was in the Duncan Convertible combo (although it had been around for decades before that). It was a simple knob that allowed you to vary the damping factor from high to low. Lowering the damping factor gives a pleasant "bloom" to the sound together with slightly more warmth, which apparently makes the electric guitar sound better. The effect was certainly audible. Whether it's appropriate for bass depends on what you're after, I suppose. [/quote] I'm guessing the "bloom" is where EAW comment about "muddy" and "punch"? Sorry to the OP if this has suddenly made life more complex!

I found this from the EAW site - [color=#7F7F7F][font=myriad-pro, sans-serif][size=3]Amplifier damping factor (DF)is defined as “the ratio of the load impedance (loudspeaker plus wire resistance) to the amplifier internal output impedance.” This basically indicates the amplifier’s ability to control overshoot of the loudspeaker, i.e., to stop the cone from moving. It is most evident at frequencies below 150 Hz or so where the size and weight of the cones become significant. A system where the damping factor of the entire loudspeaker/wire/amplifier circuit is very low will exhibit poor definition in the low frequency range. Low frequency transients such as kick drum hits will sound “muddy” instead of that crisp “punch” we would ideally want from the system[/size][/font][/color][color=#7F7F7F][font=myriad-pro, sans-serif][size=3].[/size][/font][/color] I suspect that I have read this before - this is probably why the frequency 150 Hz is stuck in my head and associated with damping factor. The summary from that page is this - [b] In Summary…[/b] [color=#7F7F7F][font=myriad-pro, sans-serif][size=3] So what have we learned? In live sound reinforcement systems, damping factor is really driven by the length and size of our wire and the impedance of the loudspeakers we connect at the other end. Since damping factor mostly affects low frequency, we should endeavor to keep our subwoofer loudspeaker lines as short as possible and/or use larger gauge wire. We should keep the impedance of the connected load as high as possible by connecting only one transducer per wire instead of two.[/size][/font][/color][color=#7F7F7F][font=myriad-pro, sans-serif][size=3] So is more amplifier damping factor better? As one of my colleagues recently said, “Sure! If the loudspeaker terminals are welded to the amplifier output terminals!” Well, maybe he overstated it a little bit, but yes, as long as the loudspeaker wire is really short, then by all means![/size][/font][/color] Anybody interested in that page - http://eaw.com/amplifier-damping-factor-more-is-better-or-is-it/

Yeah - talented bunch. I sent a drawing of a kn*b with his name next to it over the new text message thing in iOS 10. That seemed to accelerate his response.

[quote name='KingBollock' timestamp='1477579463' post='3163145'] It is a cynical, nasty way to go about business. It's something that should be talked about and threads like this are important and would be even better if spread over Facebook and other popular social media. Seeing a conversation like this might encourage someone who is not so internet savvy to learn the skills needed to not get ripped off. [/quote] +1 I just hope it doesn't inspire others to set up a similar business though!

[quote name='krismpos' timestamp='1477575481' post='3163098'] We have a secret FB group, where we post youtube links etc, but we communicate via a Viber group chat 'cause the singer -believe it or not- doesn't have a FB account. At least, things got faster when he got a smartphone. [/quote] One of the singers in my band doesn't have FB. The guitarist refuses to use WhatsApp and never checks email... So it's a case of repeating the same message and delivering it through as many channels as I can. If I had my way, I'd get everybody on Slack and then everything can be nicely divvied up by gig, we can have attachments, discussions everything.... but no.

[quote name='stevie' timestamp='1477574981' post='3163097'] It's worth bearing in mind that the Matrix was designed with a very low damping factor specifically for the electric guitar. [/quote] I'm no expert but wouldn't the damping factor be less significant because we can assume the amp is going to be sat right next to the speaker? And the fact that it's importance is more empahsised under frequencies of say 150Hz - meaning that it's significance for electric guitar is even less?

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1477518983' post='3162813'] With just a few mis of testing i can tell the new speakers dont have the heft and fullness our old Peavey's have, but thats not to say it's a bad thing. The EQ on our desk seems to be more responsive with the db's. I guess its a more open sound, and certainly the upper mid range is clearer. [/quote] Glad that the DBs are making you happy in the lightweight department. Yes - it doesn't surprise me that the DBs are more "light and airy" in terms of tone but I suspect when you are on the gig, you will thank them for their extra clarity and detail. You can add back in the weight that you are used to with the Peaveys with a bit of EQ - but conversely you can't make the Peaveys sound like the DBs. Looking forward to hearing your appraisal of them post gig. And I'm guessing they sound very different to your Ashdown combo!

[quote name='Tony p' timestamp='1477573862' post='3163085'] That would depend on your definition of " tour bus".... Does a ratty old mondeo count? [/quote] Well, I guess. I have to hire my tour busses.

Be wary if buying bodies for use without a scratchplate. A lot have oversized pickup routes so theres some flexibility for the pickup to fit through a hole in a scratchplate. Will look pretty naff if there's no pickguard and a pickup with a big gap around it.

[quote name='phil.c60' timestamp='1477571830' post='3163055'] He can't be - we run the same system so it must be me! [/quote] Jeez, how many of you guys have tour busses?

[quote name='Kiwi' timestamp='1477560500' post='3162931'] 1) I'm not sure whether you're directing comments at me personally or whether you're having a general moan. I'm not interested in being scapegoated for what is going on but I understand the sentimental attachment to the area. [/quote] Im pretty sure that it wasn't directed at you in the slightest. You didn't exactly wave the flag to say let work commence.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1477563073' post='3162959'] I'm waiting for JTUK to tell us all his guys must be on 24/7 call via, email, mobile, skype, landline, whatsapp and BlackBerry messenger or they won't get past the first stage in his "pick up gig" selection process! Ha [/quote] Don't be silly, he just shouts down the tourbus to see who is available.

Its one of those buyer beware situations. It's always going to happen... seems unethical but there's always somebody out there trying to make a quick buck.

Who is the one that is pants at getting back to you re:availability? For me, it's always the guitarist. Flakey as.

If you are looking at that sort of money of the two quoted, I'd still be looking at the XR16 and XR18. High aux count costs money. The XR16 will record direct to USB in stereo... XR18 will go to a DAW to output all of it's tracks individually. Both have 6 aux sends and of course, all the onboard fx engines, compressors, eq and the like. Alas, great kit but I think it's still more money that the OP doesn't want to spend.

Not listening.

Good job it's the wrong pickup configuration for me

Bloody hell, you don't half play hard ball with the Tickled Trout.

The world according to JTUK really is fascinating.