TRBboy

Bargain! I was looking for a single plate like this for the cab I'm refurbing, but they don't seem to exist 🤣 I also want a neutrik/jack combo socket, but the postage is twice the price of the part, and I'm far too tight to go for that 😅

I'd suggest dropping Penn-Elcom an email, they look to do ones identical to yours but in 50mm, might be worth asking if they can get the 75mm version? They do some 75mm ones, but as you say the wheel is narrower. That wouldn't be a problem if the overall housing dimensions are right, but I don't know what yours measures. There are full measurements on the PE website. https://www.penn-elcom.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=Recessed+edge+castor

I only actually use one bass during a gig these days, but I always take a second as a spare. Although failures are rare, I always figure that if you own more than one, why wouldn't you take a spare? I virtually never need to use it, but it's there I if I do. In fact, our last gig before Christmas I had a problem with my main bass during sound check so used the spare for the gig. I did have one gig a few years ago where BOTH basses developed issues, but I managed to limp through. I've chalked this up as an outlier that'll probably never happen again in my lifetime... 🤞

Fantastic news Andy! Really pleased for you mate 😊👍

@AndyTravis sorry to hear you've lost the love man (although I haven't read the entire thread, so maybe you found it again along the way! 😅). As with all things, you will end up where you need to be, I'm sure. If you don't have a desire to get out gigging currently, and just want to play a bit at home, that's fine. I guess I'm saying don't be too hard on yourself. Don't feel pressure to set expectations on yourself that you don't feel in your heart. Do whatever makes you happy at the present time, even if it's not what you think you should be doing. I don't practice anywhere near as much as I should, and when I pick up the bass I tend to play the same old stuff. I feel like my creativity has disappeared. I know what I should be doing about it, but I guess I just don't want it enough otherwise I'd get on and do it. I'm also guilty of spending more time tinkering with gear and browsing than actually playing at the moment. Band wise, I'm fortunate to have been in a really good covers band with some really great friends for the past 13 years, and although we gig fairly regularly, we don't really find the time to rehearse any more and learn new material, what with family/work commitments etc. The band feels like it's stalling a little tbh. I'd quite like more gigs, but I feel so out of the loop I don't know where I'd start with finding something else to supplement it, a new project. 20 years ago there was a vibrant music scene around here and I knew loads of musos, but now those connections are mostly gone and there doesn't seem to be much of a scene, outside of pub cover bands like us. I wish you all the best on the next leg of your journey, enjoy whatever you're doing, even if it doesn't center around bass at the moment. 🙏

Think I may have jumped into this too early, didn't check if the pickup actually has 4 conductor wiring ... A Google search suggests it probably hasn't 🤦🤣 As you were folks. 😅

Thanks! That looks most like what I did before I think. Presumably would work the same with a humbucker, it's still two coils 🤷

Ironically, none of the ones I can find look like what I can recall doing before! 🤣 This one from Seymour Duncan looks good though: https://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/latest-updates/on-on-on-switch?fbclid=IwAR1y5Rii7vqgoIgVZB0Js_vR4990autpGjVpxHkNxbBoQhA55wy6QgGQ5vw

Hey folks! 😊 I'm looking for a wiring diagram for a series/split/parallel switch (DPDT on/on/on), I've tried googling but coming up with lots of different answers 😅 The annoying thing is, I've done it before years ago but can't remember how to do it now! 🤣 Thanks in advance! 🙏

I've looked at British Audio Service, who have loads of NOS spares for Trace gear, but it looks as though the port trims haven't been available for years now unfortunately.

Thank you, I'm flattered! If I had the time and facilities to be able to make basses for people I'd love to, but really can't see it happening in the near future. 😔

Hey folks! A dream of mine for many years has been to build my own bass, from scratch. I was formally a carpenter, and I've done repairs, services, setups and mods on guitars and basses for many years. However, making the neck from scratch always scared me too much! My long time friend and guitarist/singer in my band started building guitars a few years ago, and has made quite a few now, with great results! I asked if he would help me build a bass, and at the start of this year we began. Finally, in early December we finished it, and I have already gigged it! I'm so happy with how the neck turned out, and it sounds incredible. I still have a few minor setup tweaks to resolve, and I did mess the paint job up not once but twice, so a respray might be on the cards in the spring. I had it in my head that I wanted to use native British woods, so the body is solid Poplar, and the neck and fretboard are Sycamore. It's nice and lightweight! I based the shape roughly on my old Yamaha BBN5, as it's just a good, generic, comfortable shape, but nut width, fretboard radius and string spacing are based on my Sandberg California TT5 passive. I struggled to find Alnico V PJ5 pickups at the right spacing, and was recommended Catswhisker pickups. Allan did a fantastic job, and they sound amazing! I'm really pleased with it, and I really look forward to playing it more next year! I'll try to take some better photos when I can. I did mess up the paint job not once, but twice, so a respray is probably on the cards in the spring! 😅 Specs: Solid Poplar body Sycamore neck and fretboard Black dot inlays Dual action truss rod with carbon fibre reinforcing bars Gotoh hardware Graphtech nut Custom Catswhisker Alnico V PJ5 pickups VBT 'no load' passive controls Lychee pink Matt finish

Thanks for all the help guys, @SamIAmhas kindly offered to help me out, so I'll be posting the only existing ring to her to scan in. I've not been on BC for a while, but this has reminded me why this forum is the best! 😊🙏

Wow, thanks for the help guys! By my rough measurements, the OD of the port tube measures around 108mm. What would be the cost to get something like this printed?

Hey folks! I'm about to start turning an old TE combo into a compact 1x15" cab, but I'm struggling to find any port rings that'll fit.... I have one of the originals, but it's a bit tatty, the other is missing altogether. I don't seem to be able to find anything similar in the right size, does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks 🙏

Hey folks 😊 I've been having a look for some Alnico V 5 string jazz bass pickups that will hopefully sound decent but not cost the earth, and there's not as much choice around as for 4 string... I stumbled across the Old Timer range from Alegree, who seem to be well regarded by our guitar playing brethren; USA flatwork and rods, decent build quality and an absolutely bargain price (£20 each for the 5 string model!). Just wondered if anyone here has any experience of this range, and if so can you give some feedback on how you've gotten on with them please? Thanks! 😊👌 https://www.alegree.co.uk/collections/old-timer-pickups/products/old-timer-rumbler-5-string-jazz-bass-pickups?variant=39482903232590

The style won't be for everyone, but the guy is ridiculously talented, and worse still makes it look effortless 😂😭 I enjoy watching his videos 😊👌

I'm also interested, depending on when/where. I'm on the border in Hereford, so anywhere down the east side or into mid Wales could be doable for me 😎👌

I've not been on BC for a while, but just thought I'd hake a look at this thread and I don't know what's happened, it's all gone a bit cockle-eyed! I'm still hoping to come, but won't know for certain till much nearer the time, would be good to reconnect with the community a bit. 🙏

New Amp Day! (well, Friday was 😅) I took a bit of a gamble on this amp having not been able to try one first, although I have had a number of markbass amps so kinda feel like I know what I'm getting. As my Little Mark Tube had sold in record time (and before this one arrived), I had my fingers crossed that it was going to be good! 😬👍 Going by the specs and reviews, it seemed like it was going to suit me well. First impressions: Oh Damn! It's bigger than the usual markbass amp size! 😮😂 I honestly was not expecting that! Fortunately I have a bag that's exactly the right size for it. It's also stupidly light for a 1000w amp. I don't know if it's an illusion because it's bigger, but it feels lighter that other MB heads I've had (and definitely lighter than my LMII). Well, I needn't have worried, this thing sounds absolutely incredible! The usual markbass quality is there, but this amp seems to have a little special sauce somehow! Someone whose opinion I value described these amps as having some extra 'Mojo' above the LM range, and I think that's a good description. The seperate solid state and tube gain knobs are a bit of a gimmick in my opinion, certainly where you only have a single tube in there, as its not enough of a difference compared to a full tube preamp to really be that exciting. That said, there is a discernable difference between the two sides, solid state is tighter, faster and more articulate, and the tube gain is softer and rounder. I don't think I'd describe it as warmer as it doesn't seem to add any tonal qualities, it's more the dynamic response that's altered. I was unsure how I'd like the graphic eq, as I'm a fan of simple and I like the usual markbass 4-knob eq, plus of course the VLE/VPF, which are handy for quick adjustments. This graphic is great though! Clearly you have a lot more control over your tone, but the frequency bands they've chosen and the way it's been executed means that the tone is always musical even if you cut some fairly extreme shapes! I normal roll with a low mid (and slight low end) bump on little mark amps, but I seem to be able to get more pleasing results on the Stu, and able to find just the sound I want more easily. And man does it sound great! 😍 Oh and by the way, YES IT'S VERY LOUD!!! I nearly had to get a structural engineer in to check the house out 😂👌 PLUS.... The illuminated eq sliders and Jack sockets are super cool! 😎 So, I'm very happy thus far! Two gigs this coming weekend, so we'll see how it fares in real use. Massive thanks to the team at Bass Direct for their excellent service as always 😉👍

Meet up with Jez last night to buy a Bass Crybaby off him, it was exactly as described and he was a thoroughly nice chap to chat to!

I've had LOADS of different straps over the years in search of ultimate comfort, and have landed on the Gruv Gear Mono strap, by far the best I've tried, for me anyway. If you're on a budget the 4" wide Levys or Planet Waves nylon straps are pretty damned comfortable.

Very cool indeed mate! Enjoy! 😎👌

I concur with what @BigRedXis saying. The problem is in your situation that you don't know whether it's the pickups themselves or the preamp that's not giving you the sound you want. If you set all the controls 'flat' on your preamp (recognising that flat isn't always actually flat with a preamp) and adjust eq on your amp or a preamp pedal, that'll tell you as much as possible about whether the pickups or the preamp is the issue. If you can get a sound you really like that way, yes it's probably the preamp that's not delivering. If not, then maybe it's worth looking at upgrading the pickups first. If you're okay with a soldering iron, you could play with bypassing the preamp altogether to hear the true sound of the pickups, that would be the most accurate way to figure it out I guess. 🤷🏻‍♂️