neepheid

[quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1334255989' post='1613416'] Why buy the RedSub if the Harley Benton is so much cheaper? [/quote] Duh, it's got a red speaker! Seriously though, at the time I was wanting one Thomann had no stock and it was unclear when they might take them back in. Apart from the speaker and the badge, I think they're identical, so mop up Thomann's ones while you can.

[quote name='thebuckets' timestamp='1334186282' post='1612446'] so if i got the combo and the 2x10 could I run all three speakers together as well as 1,2 or 3 and would it give me enough oomph for decent sized pub venues? [/quote] Difficult to say. For larger venues I detach the head and use it with a 4 ohm 4x10. I don't know if there are any issues with what effectively a 3x10 where 1 of the speakers is handling 250W and the other two are only handling 125W each. I have wondered about doing something like this with a 2x10 upright on its end, pointing out front and using the 1x10 to point to the side to project some bass to the rest of the band to aid with monitoring.

It's rubbish - here are the stats, direct from the original manufacturer (Beta Aivin): [url="http://www.beta-aivin.com/English/Products/Bass/BT/English_205.html"]http://www.beta-aivin.com/English/Products/Bass/BT/English_205.html[/url] Here's the head alone: [url="http://www.beta-aivin.com/English/Products/Bass/BT/English_206.html"]http://www.beta-aivin.com/English/Products/Bass/BT/English_206.html[/url] It's 250W at 8 ohms, 500W at 4 ohms.

Agreed, the Supertone is a vast improvement over the 2 and 3 point bridges. Like you I'll refrain from making any comment about sound (I don't think it made much difference to my RD Artist's tone if I'm perfectly honest), but what a difference in terms of functionality and all round sturdiness. Watch out for the gotcha though - some Gibsons (like my RD) use the same size insert for the front post of the 3 point bridge as the two side ones instead of a smaller one. The Supertone assumes this thinner/smaller insert, and you have to grind out the recess in the bridge base so it fits. No biggie - 10 minute job with a Dremel, but just thought people should be aware that it's not always an instant, easy improvement. Every other one I've done (2 Epiphones) has gone on without issue.

There's no way that bass is 12kg. 12lb is heavy for a bass and my BB614 is way lighter than that. I don't know who you've been talking to regarding the necks but you'll only find them chunky if you're strictly a Jazz bass type. I like a chunky neck and the BB, while more svelte than I prefer isn't objectionable in use. If you like blend controls then the BB424 isn't for you - it has a 3 way switch.

[quote name='Cosmo Valdemar' timestamp='1334155350' post='1611731'] Isn't the Laney Hardcore a guitar amp? [/quote] No there are Hardcore Max bass amps - the reference ends in a B for bass like my HCM30B - my first amp I would guess that the amp the OP is referring to is like this one: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/82614-laney-hcm120b-amp-l125-on-hold/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/82614-laney-hcm120b-amp-l125-on-hold/[/url]

[quote name='garbev' timestamp='1334091976' post='1610915'] Hi All, I've been trying to source some pickup surrounds for two of my 4 string Jazz Basses, without success I'm afraid. Both the basses have a set of EMG J's, standard size I guess, i.e. shorter neck than bridge. Any help in pointing me in the direction of a supplier or getting some custom made would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks, Gary. [/quote] America is the only place I have (quickly) found: [url="http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/bpickup_rings.htm"]http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/bpickup_rings.htm[/url]

Not sure how to answer this. There have been instruments before bass but gaps in between them, so not sure if migration is the right term. Recorder at primary school, a guitar that I quickly realised I couldn't play then ornamental bass followed by finally getting off my lazy backside and playing bass. I think I'll just vote other.

[quote name='Rick's Fine '52' timestamp='1333908053' post='1608100'] The pain is probably from playing a Gibson!!! ...........................(Taxi!!!!) [/quote] Taxi! Follow that taxi, step on it!

I don't get caught with bass face very often, but I got caught brilliantly last weekend - I look like I'm in pain or something

I once plugged my cab into the effects return jack of my amp and spent a frustrating few minutes (which seemed like an eternity) checking everything else before realising what the problem was, what a wally. Won't do that again, using speakons now

I don't know much of the back stories of any of my basses. The only thing I can do is create the next chapter in their existences, hopefully without causing too much further damage to any of them

[quote name='sykilz' timestamp='1333277103' post='1599424'] Hey neepheid, I notice you have a Hartke 3500 as well,I foolishly sold my one of these a few years back, and am now thinking of getting a redsub 500w head to replace my heavy Peavey tour450, how does the Redsub compare to the Hartke in terms of tone and volume? Seems too good to be true at that price and only weighing that much!! I play heavy rock, originals and covers, mostly using a Warwick standard corvette. Thanks in anticipation..... [/quote] It's a bit early to tell as I've only done one gig with it and in a brand new (to me) venue so I've no experience to A-B with. It certainly has no problem kicking up a fuss - for the gig the master was set to a little under half and the gain wasn't set super high, about 3/4 and it was plenty loud enough to be heard over the rest of the band and fill the pub with bass (minus a few blind spots downstairs) with no PA support. EQ-wise I had bass and treble boost on with the low/high controls at about 2 o' clock, a slight hump in the low mids on the graphic and the contour set in the middle (which is like half way round). Still playing around with it, but there's plenty to play around with so I'm happy with the initial outing and I'm confident that there's plenty scope in the EQ to cover most eventualities. The guy in the band before us used a P bass and it was doing its P bass thing in a most authoritative fashion. If anything it was maybe a bit too loud for their band - it was a more folky outfit with acoustic guitar, violin and a drummer playing with brushes. It blew them out of the water - normally this would be a bad thing but his mistake meant I could hear the bass super clear and I was pleased with what I heard In summary, I will likely be moving the Hartke on - loyal servant though it has been it's such a big, burly beastie and once you've gone mini head it's a pain to go back. Perhaps there's a little more warmth in that valve preamp, but to be perfectly honest I didn't really notice much difference between the valve and solid state preamps in the HA3500, someone will tell me I must be deaf but I really didn't hear what all the fuss is about. What I always liked about the Hartke was the directness and preciseness in the sound, it was bright and modern and just sounded great straight away - I never used the high/low controls on it and just put a bit of a sad face on the graphic for live and a happy face for playing by myself and cracked on with it. There's more to fiddle with on the RedSub and fiddle I shall. It doesn't sound as good as the Hartke when everything's flat, I'll tell you that - a bit harsh, a bit too "middy" but it's that's easy to tame with the contour control. Then EQ for additional flavour/room suitability.

Yay, more BB love! As I might have already mentioned elsewhere I have a BB614 and despite being my cheapest and probably most battered bass (not by me I should add) I love it because not only does it sound good it is also ridiculously easy to play in terms of ergonomics.

Video from last night's gig - we were joined on stage by our friend MC aka Millennium Child for a bit of freestyle to "Bring Down The Birds". Phone didn't pick up the bass too well, I'm simultaneously sorry and glad to say [media]http://youtu.be/vrszawQqwYY[/media]

The head out of the RedSub got its first gig last night and it did a great job paired with my Zoot 4x10 - plenty loud enough not to need PA support (just as well as it wasn't on the cards) and a substantial, thick, chunky bass sound with my RD Artist. All bands used my rig without issue, one of them was using a P bass and while he might have had it turned up a mite too high for the relatively laid back band he was playing in it certainly made itself heard. Plenty scope left in the EQ that I didn't need, enough oomph to fill a pretty big room on its own, and all contained in a laptop bag. I'm delighted with it and I think I've got a winner here.

There's a few niggly things going on right now that are bugging me, bandwise - but I don't want to go into that. Let's focus on the good stuff Last night's gig was in a pub called Slains Castle and it's one of those rarities in Aberdeen - a pub/club that used to be a church It's a big old room with lots of nooks and crannies - an acoustic nightmare you might think. Turns out not to be the case. There is no stage - there is a small mezzanine floor about 5 steps down from the top of the stairs and that's where the band goes. I guess it's a bit like being in an orchestra pit. Punters above you, in front of you and behind you, it was a bit weird at first - cosy space for a 5 piece band but we arranged ourselves as best we could in a semi circle. Gig went really well, from a bass point of view. I was using my RedSub head for the first time in anger with my Zoot 4x10 and it performed beautifully. No PA support, just the rig. Lovely thick sound coming from my RD Artist. I bloody love that bass! All the bands used my rig and while they were playing I headed downstairs and wandered about. Apart from a couple of blind spots, the sound travelled down pretty good, I was impressed In short, I think the gig went pretty well all things considered, I played pretty well with only a few minor bloops, got some folk dancing and filled a big old church with sound. I am pleased with my amplification equipment and I've got a bass that makes me feel ... strangely powerful EDIT: apparently someone videoed us... http://basschat.co.uk/topic/61774-show-us-your-playing-videos/page__view__findpost__p__1598648

Agreed, you're going to need more oomph than 15W. I once tried to play a wee pub with a 30W practice amp against one acoustic guitar and a keyboard and it was just about ok on stage but I don't think the audience heard much (probably a good thing ). Against a full band you'll need a three figure sum of watts. I know there's more to it than power, but it's complicated, and more complicated than my capability to understand. The 100W Laney you can borrow will probably just about make it but you'll maybe want a bit more headroom and leeway than that. For what it's worth, for the first few years of my gigging I used a Hartke HA3500 head into an Ashdown ABM 4x10 cab at 8 ohms, thus yielding 230W and I never had to put the master volume much higher than about 6 out of 10, even when I was doing a marquee gig without PA support and I was the bass for the room. Then I got a 4 ohm Zoot 4x10 cab for 350W and the volume went down to about 4 Now I've got a new head (gigging it for the first time tonight) which spits 500W into 4 ohms so I wonder what I'll have to set it at tonight - 2? Doubt it - it's a big room to fill tonight, no PA support (vocal only) and we're slap bang in the middle of a big old church which is now a pub - literally in 3D about in the middle - on a mezzanine floor most of the way up the stairs in the middle of the building. In my experience it's nice to know you have that extra oomph if you need it and it's also nice to know you aren't thrashing the hell out of your amp, running it at full tilt every gig.

[quote name='Townes1992' timestamp='1333097777' post='1597208'] I played some MIM's too and wasnt really excited by them. I was considering ordering a BB424 online (i played one a few days back and it felt good!), doesn't it concern you buying one without playing it? [/quote] When you live in a place like I do where the music shops are small and don't carry much (interesting) bass stuff, you kinda have no choice. At least buying new from a shop you have Distance Selling regs to protect you - you don't like it then send it back for refund. OK, it might cost you £15-20 to send it back to them but how much does it cost to traipse into town, get parked if necessary, look around, buy lunch because you're out etc etc.? I would add that anyone who buys instruments on spec alone really ought to be able to set up instruments for themselves, even carry out minor repairs - as that is sometimes required by the nature of the exercise. As far as I'm concerned, as long as the neck is good, I can fix everything else (or know someone who can).

Yes, although my main passion is Gibson basses, I do have a soft spot for my old, battered Yamaha BB614. It's always there for me in the office to pick up and noodle on at lunchtime, but I've gigged it too and it's no slouch. It's just so easy to play, it's not heavy, the neck is a little slimmer than I like but it's about half way between a P and a J and that's ok for me. It sounds pretty good too, the bridge pickup is surprisingly hot and keeps the neck pickup honest. I couldn't give a monkey's if they're cool or not according to the general bass playing population. I think Yamaha BB basses (only the truly broad ones though, I'm a bit meh about the slimmer bodied BBs) are cool, so they are.

Yamaha. My bass tutor uses a simple RBX170 in his band and it works great for him. I have a BB614 that I picked up for buttons (although it had some issues to iron out) and I would say that a BB414 would be a great, inexpensive bass (I have heard some people say they preferred it to the active 614).

http://basschat.co.uk/topic/169384-what-strings-do-you-use/

IBTL = Irritable Bowel Total Laxative?

I've done outdoor and marquee gigs armed only with a Hartke HA3500 and an 8 ohm Ashdown ABM 4x10. I'm sure you'll be fine