mcnach

[quote name='Jus Lukin' timestamp='1434029856' post='2796093'] Well, the Roland isn't coming off as the best option in this thread! Thanks for all the posts, if I get a chance to actually try the cube out I'll still give it a pop, but if I'm buying blind the Qtx sounds the safer bet, even though I won't be able to store (hide!) it quite so neatly! [/quote] The QTX is not as big as I thought from the stock image... compare it next to my bass:

It wasn't me! I promise!

[quote name='ballstomonty' timestamp='1433946629' post='2795336'] Thanks again for all the advice. Sound to me is more important than looks our band looks authentic due to lights,lasers and projections more than having right looking gear. Our drummers kit is nothing like nick masons for example. Just seen this on gumtree and I've asked seller for more photos serial number. At that price this baby could be the one. [url="http://www.gumtree.com/p/guitar-instrument/fender-classic-series-50-s-precision-bass-black-maple-rrp-£909-/1120196751"]http://www.gumtree.c...909-/1120196751[/url] If it's genuine ad I'll be very pleased with this. [/quote] That's a steal! Take it, take it before I do as I am planning a trip to Manchester! I love the Classic 50 Precisions.

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1433868275' post='2794715'] At the 8.5lbs I was expecting, they would reduce the risk. At the 7.2lbs it turned out to be, they almost certainly avoid neck dive. Mind you, it doesn't feel close to tipping over. I don't know how they've done it.... [/quote] The neck must be filled with helium!

[quote name='mrn1989' timestamp='1433867773' post='2794712'] I'm not a fan on the control layout, think Stevie Wonder drilled it [/quote] yeah, that's a little odd! when will you receive it? I hope it plays nicely. I'm not a big fan of that kind of bass, but I can see its beauty!

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1433840877' post='2794366'] How long does it last after a full charge? I'm quite intrigued now... [/quote] I don't know, I never used it for more than 2-3h at a time. So it does that at least.

[quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1433839283' post='2794341'] [size=4][sub]I had the Roland and it struggled even in an acoustic instrument environment. I sold it on to The Rev here for use with an upright double bass, don't know if he still has it? I have seen people using a proper 150-200 watt combo powered by caravan batteries and hooked up through an inverter. You do need a trolley however...![/sub][/size] [/quote] Yeah, that's what I was going to do, use my MarkBass little combo and a battery... but once you start adding it all up, the portability goes out of the window, and you would not really be saving much money compared to the QR10PA... So I gave it a try to see, as it was cheap enough. Happy I did! There is also a 12" and a 15" version, and I think the 15" is higher wattage too... but the 10" is so light and easy to take with me, I don't think the extra bulk/weight was worth it. I know someone who just went for the 12", we have to meet at the park sometime and try them side by side

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1433835368' post='2794287'] I've tried the roland one but I've never even heard of the QR10PA so I can't speak for that Does it actually sound like a bass? not twangy and honky? * having just checked it out it looks like a pretty sizable piece of kit so I'm sure that'll be miles better than the small battery powered Roland. [/quote] It's not the best bass sound in the world, but it *does* sound like a bass and projects well enough when busking. I know what you meant 'though, a lot of practice bass amps sound all midrangey and "meh" with small cabs etc. The QR10PA simply works. It's not huge, but it can do bass pretty well. The tone shaping is very limited, so an external EQ pedal can be a good thing. I used to use a Zoom MS60B with it, for EQ and tuner and it was nice to be able to use one of the amp sims to give it a nicer sound... but the MS60B eats batteries like crazy, so you needed to bring extra batteries. I ended up ditching it and just taking my Korg tuner with me. In addition, the QR10PA has a lot of other features... most of them not very good, but it does give you an option to run mp3 directly from USB, which can be nice for those who go solo and use some backing tracks. But the extra microphone and other extra things are not good at all.

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1433776226' post='2793845'] The trouble with these mini battery amps is they really don't have enough power to be of any use.. They are loud enough but it won't sound like a bass guitar. [/quote] Have you tried them? The QR10PA definitely sounds like a bass...

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1433690295' post='2793115'] This looks pretty good for doing a SH impersonation [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Japan-57-reissue-Precision-Bass-PB57-Dirk-Blue-Finish-Made-in-Japan-/311376380885?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item487f7a83d5"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item487f7a83d5[/url] [/quote] yum! the Japanese 57RIs are lovely!

[quote name='SH73' timestamp='1433670678' post='2792886'] vDo you mean this one? [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/fender_50s_precision_bass_mn_fr.htm?sid=bb572062ec2e8097dfe8e9b7be372519"]http://www.thomann.d...fe8e9b7be372519[/url] £653; SH £799 [/quote] That's the one. Although I thought the SH was around £900 so the price difference is not as big as I thought. I have one of the Classic 50s myself (shown on my avatar, I just replaced the pickguard as I don't like the anodised gold ones), it's one of the best Precisions I ever tried. The black one is very sexy too The neck on these basses is really nice, you should have a go and see what you think. They're wide and not as shallow as others, but not as chunky as say a 51-style Precision. It's a wonderful profile -for me, of course you may not agree, neck profile business is down to personal taste.

[quote name='SH73' timestamp='1433670030' post='2792878'] How would you point out a minor misalignment to the shop.They may turn around and say they would fix it for me so I may not be saving unless I order from Thomanm. [/quote] and if they fix it... then it's ok, no? If they fix it for you, it's fixed! They could have done it before you saw the bass in the first place and you'll be happy. There is nothing magical about who does it. My point is... it's really a non-issue! But *perhaps* you can use it to haggle a bit "hmmm, but look at this, the bridge/neck seems out of wack... I might have to take it to a specialist to check it out" blah blah blah... sometimes shops knock off a % off the price for pointing out things like that, if they don't want to bother with it. But, really, it's a non-issue, easily fixable in just about the time it'll take you to change strings...

The festival got cancelled, but an impromptu gig was arranged at another venue in town. It was touching to find venues offering to wake up their sound engineers and get a team to clean the place up quickly and to provide all backline just so that we could play In the end we went with one of the smaller ones (we were not sure we could fill the bigger nicer one at such short notice), and we had a good turn out, it was good. I used the new bass again. This time with a Peavey 1x15 combo that had seen much better days in a very boomy stage... The sound was awful onstage. So, again, I did not have a good feel for the new bass onstage, but they tell me it sounded nice out front, so it worked... But, I'm really getting a little frustrated with the P pickup. It's going, for sure. I love the way the bass feels, and the JJ pickup is great... but I'm in a mostly P-mood, and it's not cutting it at the moment. So, it's back to the Fender until I get the right pickup for this bass.

By the way, check the QR10PA in amazon, it's cheaper there, I think around £140-150

The QR10PA is pretty light as it is. The Roland is nice, but volume can be an issue. I've been using the QR10PA for a couple of years now and I'm very happy with it. I've also just bought a tiny battery operated mixer from Maplins (they have several, from £10 to £30 depending on features), so that I can put a few more things through it. When I checked the Roland, I felt that it would not be enough volume for me. With the QR10PA I have always had a lot more in store than I needed, even when I played with a trumpet player, sax player, three guitars through mini Roland amps (the guitar versions are good for busking, plenty loud if needed) and a drummer playing either a cajon, or a small snare and hi-hats. Playing out in the park, it's noisy, it can be windy... the Roland would have been drowned after a few feet. If you're always playing with a quieter band in quiet situations, then the Roland might be ok, but I thought the QR10PA was more versatile for not that much more weight (it's still light and easy to carry - but forget about the built-in wheels, they're rubbish, I just grab it by one of the side bars, they make a better handle than the actual handle). I've used it busking in quieter places, and busking in places we were allowed to be louder, like by the beach. We also played in pubs, "open-mic" style, where we can turn up a bit more. It just works, and battery life is good, so far.

[quote name='Fisheth' timestamp='1433603504' post='2792468'] I'm having this dilemma also, the Arry bass looks lovely, but it seems overpriced from my perspective. I'd love one though. But since there's a lot of other options out there, I just think it's a bit much. That's all. [/quote] The Classic 50 Precision, MIM, is fantastic and substantially cheaper. The colour range is limited, I think it's only sunburst, honey blonde, red and black. But if you like any of those colours... it's a hell of a bass. The SH might be very nice, but I'm not sure it's much better (if at all!) than the Classic 50, which also has a wonderfully thick yet comfortable neck.

[quote name='jezzaboy' timestamp='1433598849' post='2792424'] Totally agree with you but at the price they are charging, I would be wanting it spot on. [/quote] Oh, absolutely! But, if I want something that's hard to find, I'm willing to compromise a bit when I do find it. The fix is not much harder than changing the strings. Would you pass on a bass you really wanted because the action wasn't set to your liking? Of course, you can use it as a bargaining point and might save some £££

[quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1433587082' post='2792294'] [/quote]

[quote name='SH73' timestamp='1433575839' post='2792175'] Well if the bridge or neck is out of line on a big name such as Fender especially signature model I see it as a massive issues. [/quote] chances are it's just a minor neck misalignment, easily sorted. It's not uncommon, and all it takes is loosen up the neck screws a bit, realign, and carefully tighten the screws again. A very minor shift can look terrible and make it seem the bass is all wrong.

I played my first gig with it last night: I'm in love. It's really comfortable, I love the neck (of course, I did indicate its dimensions... but it's still reassuring to find I didn't make a big mistake somewhere, as Adrian thought I was going for too chunky a neck at first and I had to convince him that I like it like that ) Sound-wise... huge. It wasn't the best venue, regarding sound, and I used my Streamliner 900 into a provided 410 that was all lows and little midrange, so my experience *felt* good but I didn't hear it as well as I hoped, although outside at the front I was told it was good. I went for their stock pickups and... I'm not convinced about the Precision one. The bridge JJ is good, meaty, fat, I really like it. But the P is a bit... wooly, a bit too scooped. It makes me miss the Classic 50 P-bass. So I'm definitely replacing that to see. I ordered already an Entwistle PBXN, the neodymium one. I installed one in a Squier Mike Dirnt and I like it very much, although it's not a "classic" Precision sound, it has good presence and sounds really good. I think it could be a nice match for the JJ. I was meant to play it again at a festival today but the weather is being a dick, and the strong winds means it's been cancelled

I played my first gig with mine yesterday. It's the most comfortable bass I own. I guess that's what you get when you are able to indicate the neck dimensions you want. Only, if I could do it over again, I'd have chosen some other pickups. I went for their standard offering and I'm not convinced at all by the Precision pickup. The double J, however, is pretty cool.

[quote name='4-string-thing' timestamp='1433498506' post='2791507'] A couple of weeks ago, I traded my cheap Chinese double bass for a Fender Modern Player Jazz via one of the bass player groups on Facebook. No problem, both were valued around £300-£350, met up and swapped instruments both seemed happy. Now I see my bass is being traded again but he's valued it at £850! I don't even think they were that much new! Should I be annoyed that even if he gets £500 for it, [color=#0000ff][b]he's made a healthy profit from my bass[/b][/color], or should I just chuckle and think "good on him"? Generally when I see adverts on Basschat where people buy stuff then realise it's not for them, they usually just try to get their money back when they sell it on and I would see this as polite, but a £500 profit? [/quote] I see how it may sting a little, but... it's NOT YOUR BASS. You agreed to a deal, so presumably you were happy with it. So what it the next owner manages to make a profit? Sorry if it sounds a bit harsh

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1433324387' post='2790046'] It sounds to me like a mix-up in terminology. It's inconceivable for bands to provide PA in such circumstances, both for technical and financial reasons. Could it mean 'supply your own backline', that's to say the individual amps and cabs that the musicians play through..? That would make (a bit...) more sense, I think. Confirmation of requirements is the next step, I'd suggest. [/quote] yes, this makes more sense, if it's a misunderstanding.

[quote name='DorsetBlue' timestamp='1433320039' post='2789966'] Okay, this is for a colleague of mine. His son (14) and friends are in a band and they have been picked to play on a minor stage at a small local festival in a 'Battle of the Bands' kind of format. They have been told that they will need to provide their own PA, as last year some of the bands claimed they were not very good because of the provided PA. Now I have never used a PA and neither has my colleague (both Brass players historically) - so we are not sure what level of equipment this would entail. Does anyone have any experience of this kind of thing and could suggest what type of kit (possibly with examples) that they should be looking at? [/quote] The organiser should have arranged for a PA to be brought in and used. It is not reasonable to expect each band to bring and set their own. Battle of the bands? Just don't... It sounds like a disaster. Let the organiser "organise" the event, including PA, or pass.

[quote name='gafbass02' timestamp='1433332467' post='2790141'] I much prefer the micro tilt three bolt on my 75 reissue. Wish it was on all my basses tbh [/quote] same here