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funkypenguin

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Posts posted by funkypenguin

    Sharing backline

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I’ve seen too much gear being treated like s*** at multi band gigs to let anyone near my amp. The cabinets maybe, provided that the other bands had asked ahead of time. If they just turn up and expect to use it then no

    • Like 1

    Show us your playing videos!

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    This is the most recent of the lockdown projects I've gotten done from my laundry list, and It also happened to tie in nicely with the odd meters challenge thats been running over on SBL! This is taken from Dream Theater's Live At Budokan DVD, it was built around The Dance Of Eternity and features music from various other instrumentals.

    This is Instrumedley!

    Its a particular thing (as is all of progressive music) but hopefully some of you will dig this.

    Ben

    p.s - props to any of you that make it through all 12 minutes!

     

    • Like 4

    East Pre makes pickups sound better, even in Passive mode

    in Repairs and Technical

    Posted

    42 minutes ago, Killed_by_Death said:

    I spent some time looking at Warwick schematics & can't see room for improvement, so I will have to concede that East is just doing something better. I assume the Passive sound being better than stock has something to do with the separate paths for the signal when Active or Passive, but there's the mystery. Can you drive back over there & ask him to explain it you? 🤣

    This is where taste comes into the equation, as opposed to being able to split them simply by looking at the spec sheet. I can't stand the voicing of the MEC pickups or their preamps, for me they are the weakest part of any Warwick bass especially at the top end. My own Warwick has Seymour Duncan pickups and the East preamp, and the bass sounds fuller and a lot sweeter to my ears. I have no idea about any of the technical specs of Johns preamps (or any preamps for that matter), I only know that I prefer how they sound to the MEC units :)

    Ben

    • Like 1

    East Pre makes pickups sound better, even in Passive mode

    in Repairs and Technical

    Posted

    I have an East U-retro in my Warwick (it replaced the old MEC 2 band unit) and it sounds a lot better in both active and passive modes. John makes seriously high quality circuitry that I don't think any mainstream manufacturer can match for the reasons that @Dood has already mentioned. Top quality = top dollar, which extends to Johns after sales care, after part of my preamp came loose (my fault!) he had me over to his workshop and sat me down with a brew while he fixed it free of charge. I would recommend his preamps to anyone, for me they are the best retrofit preamps available anywhere

    Ben

    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1

    Electronics recommendation for Warwick SS1

    in Bass Guitars

    Posted

    1 hour ago, CookPassBabtridge said:

    I would love to try out a John East pre sometime, never played with one before. I also suck at soldering so that’s another +1 for it 😂

    Everything on John's preamps is plug in or screw terminal so you don't need to worry about your ability to solder! Shoot him an email if you want to discuss your requirements, his knowledge and customer service is second to none.

    When a part of my preamp broke, he had me round to his house and sat me down with a brew in his workshop while he fixed it completely free of charge. I've never come across any manufacturer that comes close to his level of customer care and after sales service.

    Ben

    Loudest gigs you've been to

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    1 hour ago, JottoSW1 said:

    Am looking forward to Albert Hall next year! Never seen them live and hope that Fredrik Thordendahl will be there. Something about this Band. Most of the imitators fall short or sound like parodies of themselves. Helps that they're all ace musicians.

    Yeah, between Thomas Haake's kick drums and Thorendal's right hand it was one of the most brutal gigs I've ever seen! 

    So I’m thinking I fancy a Warwick

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    2 hours ago, Misdee said:

    I  would echo everything Ben has said. 

     In my estimation the wenge neck/ fingerboard  is a big part of what sets Warwick basses apart. They seem to add some natural compression to the sound. 

    I can't really comment on the MEC  preamp vs the John  East , but I can tell you that some of  the Mec pickup designs  ie the ones modern-style ones with enclosed pole pieces are  way too microphonic for my taste. 

    I don't like the way the Corvette hangs on a strap in terms of balance and where the neck hangs, but you may feel differently. The Thumb is similarly awkward-feeling to me, but some folks don't mind them. Thumb Basses certainly sound good, that's for sure.  Also be aware that a lot of Warwick basses can be pretty weighty. 

    I remember when Warwick basses first came to the UK  and how the Bass Centre were instrumental in giving them a high profile in the industry by introducing the pro players in London to their undeniable charms. But as Ben says  the older pre-2000 basses were different . And they were all German-made. Nowadays a new German Custom Shop bass is crazy money. Too much money for what it is.   You can buy a used vintage Warwick for very reasonable money and there is plenty of them out there .

     

    You're dead on with the body shapes all hanging differently, the streamer has always hung nicely on a strap for me, but the 6 string thumb I tried was too far over on my body when on the strap which made first position awkward. I've never been a particular far of the corvette aesthetically but thats just me. I still can't get to grips with what is made where with the Warwick range at the moment, things were much clearer years ago when you either had a German Warwick or you had a Rockbass.

    If you want to hear how my Warwick sounds with the East preamp, I'll post a recent recording I did below (using my Hellborg rig). I grant that its not 100% representative of low end playing but since its completely unaccompanied its as clear a sound sample as you're likely to hear short of actually playing my bass.

    As for the Warwick vs. Spector debate.....I've never played a Spector 6 that I really liked, the spacing is too wide for my tastes and 35" scale is too long. Also the electronics in anything other than a top spec NS with the HAZ preamp seem a little lifeless and 'plastic' to my ears (the older locking bridges also have a habit of falling to pieces the moment you try and adjust them....). Warwick for me every time, though as always YMMV with that :)

    . 

     

    • Like 1

    So I’m thinking I fancy a Warwick

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    If you want to dip into the world of Warwick, I would recommend going for a bass made in Germany in the late 90's or earlier with a wenge neck and preferably with electronics and pickups other than MEC (EMG, Bartolini and Seymour Duncan are the other makes often used). Thats a specific set of criteria I know, but the basses that fit within them are better instruments than a lot of the basses made post 2000, unless you were to go for a top of the line custom shop model. 

    The wenge neck is what sets a lot of the great Warwick basses apart, the basses with ovangkol and maple necks don't sound the same to my ears, they miss that lovely Warwick growl. The MEC electronics are the weakest part of Warwick basses across the board, to me their top end is too thin and brittle sounding. My own Warwick has Duncan's (standard) and an East U-Retro preamp (retrofit). The change of preamp transformed the bass, it was literally like night and day compared to the old MEC 2 band unit.

    Hope that helps somewhat!

    Ben

    • Like 3
    • Thanks 2

    Heart Of The Bass (John Patitucci) - Solo performance

    in Recording

    Posted

    Hey guys,

    Over the weekend I finished my last recording project of 2020, a performance of Patitucci's Heart Of The Bass. This closes the chapter that started when I transcribed this back in 2013, and was on the laundry list of projects to get done during this year. We had some technical issues during the session and the audio isn't absolutely pristine (my engineer thinks its the power supply in his building thats the issue but unfortunately due to COVID we couldn't use his studio). The performance isn't perfect either but its the best I'm capable of right now.

    It was recording via the following signal chain. DI was taken from the Hellborg Pre and we had mics on the cabs to capture the lovely warmth and harmonic grit from the Hellborg power amp and speakers.

    Warwick Streamer LX6

    TC Nova Delay

    TC Ditto X2

    Warwick Hellborg Preamp

    Warwick Hellborg Power Amp

    Hellborg Hi Cab (2x12) and Lo Cab (1x15)

    I'll link in the YouTube video and also my soundcloud for those that want to listen to a high quality WAV file (I definitely recommend headphones!)

    Hope you enjoy it. This performance was dedicated to my daughter, Aurelia.

    Ben

     

    https://soundcloud.com/funkypenguin-1/heart-of-the-bass

     

    • Like 1

    warwick thread

    in Gear Gallery

    Posted

    11 hours ago, optimus said:

    Nice.
    I've never seen the Hellborg Warwick amps and cabs in person. I appreciate they were probably targeting a particular tone or sound, but was (is) the premium pricing reflected in the quality of construction?

    I would say so, the preamp and power amp are massively engineered (the power amp is heavier than the moon so it needs it....). All the switches and knobs have a really solid, quality feel to them. Obviously I haven't taken the cabs apart or anything but they seem very well engineered to me, and are tuned to work together as a full system (like really high quality monitors), so it might look like overkill on a gig but there is reason behind the madness. I bought the entire rig either second hand, clearance or B stock, so it cost me a fraction of what it would have cost as new back in 2007.

     

    Show us your rig!

    in Gear Gallery

    Posted

    9 hours ago, three said:

    Superb rig and fabulous with the six string I’d imagine.  My favourite pre but interesting to hear how you get on with the power amp. I’m on my third (stereo 250) and find that they impart some harmonic colour, a kind of fine grit. Musical but a bit unexpected - I tend to use my pre through the back end of a db750 where complete cleanliness is required.  I hope that you have sound floors. A very substantial stack (and if you need to add a few pounds, I think that Thomann still have a few of the Warwick dedicated 3u cases). Lovely to see the complete set - stunning!

    It works beautifully with my 6 string. Its a great sounding bass regardless of the amp, but through this rig it sounds rich and sweet in a totally new way. I haven't cranked it yet for obvious reasons but can't wait to see how it sounds in a bigger room where I can push it a little!

    It's interesting you mention the power amp, I discovered the exact same thing. I played through a Hellborg rig back in 2008/9, but was in a room with a bunch of other gear (trade show) so didn't notice the harmonic grit. I wasn't sure if it was a fault or not so I went back to an old copy of bass player mag where they reviewed this rig (club cab rather than Hi Cab) and they mentioned this very characteristic. Its certainly unique and takes some getting used to, but adds a lovely warmth to the sound, especially after the transformers have fully warmed up. I've never played through anything that has this blend of warmth and clarity, and the dynamic range and attack are amazing. 

    Really happy to have the dream rig assembled! obviously it still has to pass the acid test of being gigged, but the signs are very encouraging!

    ben

    • Like 1

    Show us your rig!

    in Gear Gallery

    Posted

    4 hours ago, PaulThePlug said:

    @funkypenguin Youngest is not fussed about bass gear but has a keen eye for spotting a UCS Imperial Star Destroyer... The Force is strong in my youngest!

    Well spotted! The force is indeed strong with your youngest!

    The Star Destroyer was a present from my better half, she remembered me staring at the same model in the lego store in NYC while we were on our honeymoon last year. I wasn't in a position to buy it then and it would been hell trying to get it back to the UK, but she remembered it and surprised me with it last month! My desk has now been repurposed until I can find a suitable display case for it! Once we eventually get into a house of our own in the next couple of years, this and my UCS X wing will make quite a nice pair in my home studio!

    • Like 1
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