Deep Thought

Gather round, boys, and harken unto my tale of woe. There once was a prize prat who owned two combos, a Trace 1 x 15, his favourite, which he bought to replace his Ashdown Mag 4 x 10 with which he was not terribly happy. Pain that it is to sell amps, he kept the Ashdown, planning at some stage to trade it in for something else, possibly a 4 x 10 cab to get the full whack out of the Trace. It came to pass that the prize prat had a gig, and it occurred to him on the day before said gig that it might be an idea to run the two combos together for some extra wallop (why I have no idea, as the place the prize prat was playing was pretty small and the Trace on its own would have been fine). Anyhow the prize prat started fiddling around with things he did not fully understand, (and if the daft sod had read his manual properly it would have told him how to do it), and although he did not really know himself what he had done, he stuck the wrong jackplug in the wrong hole, and there came a funny noise and a spark, and suddenly neither amp would emit a sound. So now on the eve of a gig the prize prat had managed to bugger both his amps in one fell swoop. In a state of great desperation (envisaging having to buy a new amp which he could ill afford) he threw himself on the mercy of his local shop (Music Technology in St.Austell) who, fine bunch of men that they are, hired him a brand new Behringer and 2 x 10 cab for the night. The Behringer performed extremely well (the prize prat had to turn down 'cos he was too loud) and the gig went well. The prize prat has just had a text from his local amp repairer who reports that both amps have been saved by the fuses and are OK, and he is going to pick them up this afternoon, thankfully getting away with a bill for only £20. So harken ye, men, unto my tale, and do not do what the prize prat was foolish enough to do, and muck about with something if you do not really know what you're doing, but if you must, at least read the manual properly first. The prize prat got away with it this time, but it could have been a whole lot worse. How do I know all this? I was that prize prat.

UK Subs-Warhead

When I got my MIA P in June, I wanted the same black/black maple combo that you're after. The standard black P at the moment comes with a white scratchplate-they do make it with a black one, but I was told even if you ordered it with a black scratchplate, there was no guarantee it wouldn't turn up with a white one! I ended up buying the black/white one they had in the shop, and ordering a black scratchplate separately and getting it put on, and I am completely happy with it. The S-1 is, as previously discussed, as much use as a handbrake on a canoe, I just don't bother using it.

Ok forgive me if this is a silly question, I was never any good at this sort of stuff. I have two combos, an Ashdown Mag 300 4x 10, and a Trace Elliot 7215 SMC 1 x 15, which was originally intended to replace the Ashdown. However since I still have both here to hand, I have hatched the plan of hooking them up together to give me some more wallop onstage. Both are 300 watt (although I'm told the Trace only produces 200 through the onboard speaker and 300 when a cab is used, although there's no mention of that in the manual) and both take a minimum 4 ohm cab. Can I do this, how exactly, and is there any disadvantage other than the obvious weight/size issues? Thanks.

I'm on the second moulded one after the one which came with my P was sent back to Fender-it was crap. One of the catches wasn't even put on straight-and not just a bit wonky, I mean [i]very[/i] wonky, the padding kept popping out and, the two halves didn't line up so it was a pain to shut. My local shop were very good and pestered the Fender rep for months until they finally got me a new one. The new one is better but when it dies it's a Hiscox for me too.

They ought to fit it with a wang bar.

Me and my mate got to the stage of driving down the road shouting out anything we saw-'The broken down vans!' 'The National Speed Limits Applies!' 'The Dead Rabbits!' 'Toads crossing!' etc. Didn't come up with anything but it was an approach I suppose.

[quote name='steve' post='72120' date='Oct 10 2007, 01:03 PM']I think they look really nice, if the MM Bongo design team (ie BMW) designed a jazz, this could be it. I'd be interested to play/hear one[/quote] I quite like it-the headstock reminds me of old 80's Ibanezes.

You can't please all the people all the time. If you're going to get up on a stage you need to be prepared for the fact that not everyone will think you're fantastic. Most people will love what you do-great! Some won't. That's the way it goes-ignore them and do what you do and enjoy yourself-if they don't like it, well that's shame, but you can't help that-don't let it spoil it for you.

I was initially attracted to it (as I am with most things black/maple) but I read a terrible review somewhere and lost interest really. Realised that as usual I was compromising instead of having the patience to save up for what I really wanted, a US P-bass, which I subsequently got.

I had one for a while, it was my dream bass at one time, so when I saw one on Ebay for £325 I nabbed it. It was a slightly dinged-up example but it still looked the mutt's nuts. It never really looked as good whilst being worn as I was expecting, though, and the one I had buzzed quite a bit. In the end I bought an Ibanez GSR200 as a backup for it, and liked it so much I bought a GS500 as well and sold the Aerodyne on Ebay for what I paid for it-I put a BIN on it and it was snapped up overnight. Nice bass, I think I'd have liked it better without the cream binding. Sounded fine although I don't recall being blown away by it. The GS500 is gone as well now in favour of my P-bass, which I like a hell of a lot more than I did the Aerodyne. Some of the other Aerodynes are really nice-I saw a blue flame-effect Aerodyne P-bass in my local shop which was stunning, as nice as any boutique bass I've ever seen. Some of the so-called Japan only ones with pickguards are really nice too.

[quote name='eude' post='68629' date='Oct 2 2007, 01:21 PM']I was going to give you a shout, I found the old manual that came with it, you want me to post it down to you, it's in perfect nic too.[/quote] Hiya Eude, Is it the same as the one you can download from the Trace Elliot site? If so, thanks for thinking of me but I've already downloaded it. If not, yes please!

Pixies-I Can't Forget (Leonard Cohen) Sisters of Mercy-Jolene (Tin helmet on) I prefer No Doubt's version of It's my Life (incoming!) Stranglers-Walk on by Husker Du-8 miles high UK Subs-She's Not there George Thorogood-One bourbon, one scotch, one beer (John Lee Hooker)

Hi Eude, glad your new rig is floating your boat-I'm still very happy with the Trace! Got its first gig on the 30th!

Hoooweeee Muskie! Now don't that beat all! Just fine for your lil' ol' Country bass player! In all honesty that's a fantastic piece of work-I wouldn't touch it with two barge poles tied together, but it's a fantastic piece of work.

+1 for Peaches-not actually my favourite Stranglers song but an instantly recognisable bass classic. Valley Girl-Frank Zappa Lovely day-Bill Withers Charlotte Sometimes-the Cure Gotta Gettaway-Stiff Little Fingers +1 also for Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick Oh yeah-Baba O'Reilly

Cracking collection-the JV is the same colour/pickguard config as the MIJ Fender P I had years ago-I ordered one in all black and that was what turned up. I wasn't too happy and when I asked in the shop if it was possible to change the pickguard, they just said 'no'. In my naivety I believed them and just got used to it, until I sold it when my last band folded. The USA P is the same as my current one which I love to bits, but I agree the S-1 thing is as much use as a snake in an arse-kicking contest. I've never been a big one for Musicman basses-I just don't like that oval pickguard-but it looks good in black. Black/maple basses rule!

I find some songs I cannot sing and play no matter what I do, yet others come really easily, and some I have to work at a bit. Funnily enough it's often busier bass lines that I can sing over more easily. It's true you have to know both parts very well before putting them together.

[quote name='lwtait' post='57553' date='Sep 8 2007, 10:13 PM']The JJ Burnell... I've read the specs and stuff, but all in all its just a P Bass really isn't it? Please correct my if I'm wrong, but doesn't that cost a hell of a lot more than going out and buying a Fender P bass for pretty much the same? But on the other hand, it is a cool bass. JJ Burnell is an excellent bass player, too. I love the sound he has on Peaches.[/quote] True, but then again aren't a lot of signature models existing designs tweaked by the manufacturer to a particular artist's specifications, then marketed to the general public? I would hope that the Shuker version would be a darn sight better put together than your average Fender, even the USA ones, and I like the sound of the louder than usual overwound pickup. Most unlikely that I'll ever be buying one, but if I had a few spare quid...

How many of you folks have specific stuff to wear onstage, or do you just play in what you got out of bed in? Obviously tribute bands have to make some sort of effort to emulate those to whom they are paying tribute, but how many have proper stage clothing, and I suppose it would be remiss of me not to ask for photographs?

Shuker J.J. Burnel-surprise, eh? [url="http://www.shukerguitars.co.uk/jjburnel.htm"]http://www.shukerguitars.co.uk/jjburnel.htm[/url]

Well it arrived this morning and first impressions are verrrrry favourable. For a start it's a bit smaller and lighter than my Ashdown, and no trouble whatsover getting the sound I was after! A really nice growl with my P-bass, love the compression, and although I've not had a chance to give it a good workout (rehearsing Friday) it's plenty louder than the Ashdown! Plus a general air of being well put together-I like the way the knobs click as they're turned. Was a bit unsure about doing this but I think I've made a good decision! Thanks again to everyone for your input.

Seen Otway three times, the first time (many years back) was with just a guitarist (not Wild Willy Barrett), other times just him and Richard. Pants-wettingly funny. Presumably he also tours with a full band then? Would like to see that. Folks, if you ever get a chance to see Otway live, take it, the man's a genius. Welcome.