LukeFRC

I was looking on one of those Facebook music forums things and ended up talking to James Wiltshire (also called that on Basschat) there about cabs and his cabs and mine... we discovered we lived about half a mile from each other and decided a cup of tea and comparison session was in order. I found it very exciting and rewarding to be able to play and try a load of quite esoteric gear AND be able to hear someone else play them and get a more removed impression... I stuck that in my status on here and a few people asked for a wee write up... so here it is. Bare in mind... it was almost a week ago, and it was a just mine and Jame's ears giving an opinion. James should hopefully chime in here too and give his views... Me, former indie-artschool-pop bands, backing singer songwriters and at the moment mostly playing at church. Very much an amateur, I was using a 1991 Warwick thumb with barts and a ACG preamp fitted. James, super cool pro guy, great player. If I remember rightly he plays Reggae, electro type stuff, recording sessions and function bands. He had a (big no idea type) synth thing and a midi jazz bass that could go from a trigger for the synth to a trad jazz tone. Gear compared.... Cabs... ACME B2 (4 ohm) Barefaced Big Baby (8 ohm) Barefaced Big One (8 ohm) Amplification... Hellborg Preamp Ashdown APM1000 power amp Genz Shuttle 6.0

Clean tone, nice. Preamp has nicely chosen Eq points Earlier two unit Powersoft ones. Fat and warm Newer one unit ice power ones less fat and warm

I just go by what bill says

[quote name='Thunderbird' timestamp='1407274744' post='2519153'] Thats really good but if you live somewhere where there is not really many pros you either do it yourself or pay over the odds I think £30 for that set up was amazing value [/quote] He's in Cambridgeshire not the Isle of Rum! It's a bit strange I think, I wouldn't trust a nobody with a fret file, and the rest of the set up stuff is what I have done for free for my friends if they ask.

[quote name='roonjuice' timestamp='1407258131' post='2518897'] HAHAHAHAHA FLAME THROWER HEADSTOCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [/quote] Hi Chris Sorry I'm really really sorry that both the dogs got burnt, I saw the photos on Facebook and they do look odd without any hair. It must be hard to have to rub ointment into them every three hours. I guess you have the time now, how long do you think before you get the workshop up and running? Real shame about Alex, I'm sure you'll miss him. At this point PLEASE PLEASE can I point out that I had nothing to do with the flame thrower idea- I wouldn't suggest something that, as we now know, is so dangerous. I just was making a few suggestions to Roon and suggested they could help his Alpher bass "light up the stage" and he took it a bit literally. Luke

[quote name='roonjuice' timestamp='1407257428' post='2518883'] Cheers Luke, is exactly why I posted this thread, to extend ideas and see what's out there, ultimately I will be trusting Chris's judgment of course, that's why I am commissioning him as my luthier:) R [/quote] So if I suggest something idiotic and chris has to spend hours talking you down from the idea he's going to blame me isn't he? Alpher strings are really good!

personally I would be looking at this and asking Chris what he would think about making this part of the design.... http://basschat.co.uk/topic/239238-acg-eq03/page__p__2513463__hl__acg__fromsearch__1#entry2513463

my first thought is that anyone half decent wouldn't be running a service like that via gumtree. It doesn't seem that cheap either - its just a basic setup with a bit of a look at the frets. my second thought is.... if you're going to get someone mucking around with your frets go to a professional with a good rep. If you're just doing to just be setting, neck relief, height and intonation... flipping learn to do it yourself - it's not hard, it's not like many of us have floyd rose trems or the like!

I was about to start making suggestions but realised that I would just be describing a NT Warwick thumb - but you've got one of them! I think your challenge needs to be - growliest bass ever, that you can also dial other sounds out of!

[quote name='paulbass' timestamp='1406932010' post='2516118'] Well so far it seems like i'm going to be keeping the Warwick judging by all your kind comments . I just feel it should be used as it really is a top bass and i havent touched or missed it since getting the Jazz. Its an awesome bass to have as a second bass....i never thought i'd say that! But it has made me realise how lucky i am to 2 decent basses. I've always been a one bass man and a bit of guilt takes over i guess! [/quote] you'll get over it. I had the same with 3 basses. kept buying a third and selling it - went through about 5 good things I really wanted to keep that way. I went up to 4, now down to 3 and happy. Play them both for a few months, If you still want to sell keep the warwick in a case somewhere... if after another 3 months you've never got it out its case and you're not thinking about it at all... you're probably safe to sell. I did that with my JV precision - AMAZING bass, I loved it. But not getting played so stuck it in it's case and after 3-4 months realised it had never come out of it's case. Swapped it for a thumb bass which was my holy grail bass

ok. take a deep breath. Repeat after me... unless you're really hard up on cash. [b]It is okay, to have two basses[/b] I had a warwick and passive fender for years - and you know what after a few months you will find some things that the thumb can do far better than the jazz.... if you have them both you have the choice.

yes, But you could probably blow it with a 350w amp if you're not careful...

[quote name='tbonepete' timestamp='1406908821' post='2515851'] I guess the rise in popularity of sandberg has put them under pressure to increase production,...... but the newer ones I've had are decidedly lower quality in construction, component quality, and sound. [/quote] sounds like what happened to warwick around the turn of the century....

[quote name='Rumble' timestamp='1406738430' post='2514273'] I completely agree. I had a play with the amp eq at the last practice and it was probably the first time I've touched it in months. The point is I was touching it because I couldn't quickly access the tonal variety on the bass. I know it sounds ridiculous given how much variety the preamp offers, but I emphasise the word quickly! As I've already said, there's no doubting it's an incredibly powerful pre, but... I don't particularly enjoy driving high performance sports cars for more than an hour or two, but it doesn't mean they aren't incredible machines that some folks would give their back teeth for one. [/quote] what were you eq-ing the amp for? your sound or to fit in the room?

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1406662891' post='2513571'] Is this unusual then, or am I missing something really obvious? [/quote] kinda what I was thinking...

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1406542604' post='2512199'] As far as I'm aware, most of the current crop of class-D's use the same ICEPower module. Marketing nonsense does the rest. EBS seem to be acting more sensibly with the Reidmar, rating it at an honest 250w. I'm happy to be educated otherwise, though. [/quote] the old series of Tecamp puma used a powersoft Digimod unit - nice unit it was too- not sure how much of that was the preamp or power amp though.

how long does it take to tune one string?

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1406485925' post='2511865'] There are some people out there using the same power amp section that's in the Genz 900 but only rating it at 500w [/quote] you had alluded to this a while back but not mentioned names! I don't get this - surely power output is a given measurable thing - it's either 500w or it's not! You don't get this sort of thing as much in the PA amp world it seems (unless you're behringer)

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1406056364' post='2507935'] Passive and use the tone controls on your amp. [/quote] the cheap option - just turn the current preamp off! If it were me I would probably either go passive like BRX says or maybe get a version of a U retro.... but I guess it also depends what amp you're using.

[quote name='addam360' timestamp='1406474846' post='2511747'] Just an update, had to cancel the trip over to Newcastle and now buying online is looking quite probable so I'll be after a bass with more reliable QC. From what I've heard this means I should steer clear of MIM Fenders. The current top contenders are the Schecter Model T and Ibanez ATK800 Premium I think. Also, still interested in hearing about that Jaguar neck pup in series. I've heard only great things about MIJ Fenders. Any more opinions on the basses mentioned above or any other ideas? I'm thinking I can be more flexible on the thin neck thing. I've not really had any major problems with the Jazz. I'll keep you up to date and post pics once I've got whatever I go for. [/quote] buying online... this is in your price reach http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/OW_Tangle_Asp_elite_Fless_1.html

[quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1406473040' post='2511726'] Well the Prodigy at 250W is louder than my 900W Genz class D heads. I'm glad I'm not facing a Strategy re-valve though. That's an easy £300! [/quote] is that pushing them both to the max without significant breakup?