fretmeister

I've recently put some TI on my Ray5. I'm loving the sound in the house, but the real test will be tomorrow when I have orchestra rehearsal. The boss likes the bass to sound as much like an upright as possible so hopefully it will work!

I love them. I have them on my 4 strings and am going to put them on my 5 strings as well for a bit of low A action.

5 string: http://www.thomann.de/gb/thomastik_jf_345_ebasssaiten.htm 4 string: http://www.thomann.de/gb/thomastik_jf344.htm Unless you get an order over £150 there is a £10 shipping charge, but even with that they appear to be way cheaper than anywhere else I can think of. And the Tech 21 VT Bass-DI is only £158 at the moment (UK RRP £229) and that gets free shipping. http://www.thomann.de/gb/tech_21_sansamp_character_vt_bass_di.htm

I heard from a music importer that sometime this year all amps will have to have a 30 minute no-use auto shut down just like TVs do. So the amp will have to have to know when no signal has passed through for 30 mins and then turn off. That will be great for valve amps. Not.

[quote name='Ant' timestamp='1424852925' post='2701074'] i use a demeter Minnie 800d power amp for my pre/power set up, it is ridiculously small and lightweight (fits in the pocket of my mono m80 gig bag) and can go very loud [/quote] I recently bought the Demeter head that has this power amp built in it. Stunning thing! I did email Demeter themselves - the poweramp in that format is NOT rack mountable, but for an extra $50 they will build it into a a standard rack unit instead. I'm already thinking about that as an option to go with my Ampeg preamp!

I want one!

I'd like to go as I understand that Roger Sadowsky will be on the Bass Gear stand, and as I've just played my first Sadowsky NYC bass and I've fallen in love a bit!

I played my first NYC Sadowsky at Bass Gear on Saturday. Now I have serious gas for one!!

I wasn't aware you had electricity down there, let alone the internet!

I solved the problem by joining the music trust orchestra that my kids play in. I get to see the kids loads and gig and I've learnt to sight read on the way. It might not be rock n roll, but I'm a far better player for it now.

[quote name='drTStingray' timestamp='1424637832' post='2698660'] Depends on your viewpoint. They did a great design job with that bass and the standard electronics do the job extremely well. It most certainly ain't a turd!! [/quote] Just quoting this to keep it here when your humour gland is reconnected!

[quote name='rodney72a' timestamp='1424564264' post='2697899'] I have yet to see an EBMM bass that has benefited from 'upgrading' its pickup or preamp. (Snip) [/quote] I can't tell. Are you saying it's the finest instrument in the universe incapable of being bettered? Or are you saying that you can't polish a turd?

That's a beauty! Where did you order it from? Can I ask the weight too? I'm really picky about that!

I'm really pleased with my TM5 which I bought off-the-peg at Bass Direct but I quite fancy a 4 string to go with it. I'm still playing with the configurator to decide exactly what I want, but it is likely to be a TT4, maybe even passive (although the active will run in passive mode... Mmmmm). Then the main decision is whether to go for a lovely Tobacco-burst with a bit of relicing, or to go for a proper Larry Graham style bright white, gold hardware, maple board with while pearl inlays. But - to anyone that has ordered one in their own spec - Who did you order from? How long did it take? Any downsides etc etc?

[quote name='spectoremg' timestamp='1424337427' post='2695182'] I've three other Spectors and had no trouble. Do they come in different thread sizes? [/quote] Yes.

[quote name='ubit' timestamp='1424250393' post='2694247'] Nor I, I like a bass to sound good obviously, but it's got to look good too. That's part of the charm of different basses. A guitar is something sexy. If you are happy to play a garish, horrible looking thing, you are further tarnishing the reputation of bassists to be the dull one that sits at the back supplying a necessary evil to the flashy guitarist, and not be an equally flamboyant star of the band! Ok, pink would be flamboyant, but not in a good, rock star way [/quote] [URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/DrSativa/media/bgm-electra-bass-big.jpg.html][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/DrSativa/bgm-electra-bass-big.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Awesome!

[quote name='Count Bassy' timestamp='1424281775' post='2694729'] I have a feeling that some of the Blackstar guitar amps do this, but could be wrong. [/quote] Didn't some Warwick bass heads do that - had a little power valve on the board, and then into the proper SS poweramp?

Steaks at Rosie O'Grady's on Time Square. Yummy!

I've got 2 that I would happily play forever - a Sandberg TM5 and a Marleaux Consat Custom. They are very different in feel and tone. I'd be hard pushed to pick between them.

I have both shiny and relic. It's definitely true that I worry less about the finish on my Hardcore aged Sandberg than on my shiny Marleaux! Finish is way down the list when I pick a bass though. Weight, balance, sound are the important things. I'd happily gig a neon pink bass with an airbrushed pic of One Direction on it if the main criteria were met. Now - can we ban this topic for once and for all? Or at least auto merge it into 1 thread forever?

That grain and lightweight - is it Swamp Ash? Looks lovely!

Buy a Prodigy. It's an awesome amp.

[quote name='drTStingray' timestamp='1424032299' post='2691842'] You mean Talkbass?! I can't see the EBMM forum having much of a view although no doubt some may think you have taken leave of your senses and should sell the Ray and buy a bass you actually like?? It's your bass, your choice though. [/quote] You on the staff at EBMM? I do 'actually' like it. I love the easy playability and I've managed to get a nice lightweight one as well. Considering the positives of the instrument I reckon the "missing" 10% is far more likely to be the missing "15%" or more on another bass, even if it was another Ray - assuming I could find another one as light. All production line basses are a compromise based on the lowest common denominator most likely to generate a sale at a particular price point. However the relatively recent introduction of the HS and HH model 'Ray shows that EBMM realised there was a market for something different - it's just that they don't want the punters doing it themselves for some reason. I'd happily try installing a EBMM Single coil at the neck position on my Ray, but EBMM won't sell the parts. Even Ricky will sell parts! EBMM seem to be the only maker that insist that their stock instruments are absolutely perfect. They are the Apple of the guitar world (I like Apple too - but improvements or options are also obvious there)

The euro exchange rate is in the toilet at the mo. I got my Empress for £178 on thomann.de.