grandad

Any equipment that plugs into the mains should be PAT tested.

3 wired plug = class 1 - visual inspection & earth continuity test & insulation test

2 wired plug = class 2 - visual inspection & insulation test

A bought one of these in sunburst off fleabay a couple of years ago for about £125 to try one out and compare with my Squire Mustang.

Results were it was OK at it's price point but overall quality not as good. I set it up and restrung it and my grandson has it now.

My VM Squire Mustang is a keeper and and one of my favourites. The Jag is OK as a starter bass and I would put it in the <£200 price range.

But I've auctioned stuff on ebay and not got 1/2 what I estimated. Also sold stuff and got way more than expected. Now, if I do ebay anything I prefer to fix the price and maybe accept a fair offer. Much prefer to sell on BC though.

Well, they all sound a bit different & feel a bit different. There are so many opinions about the various models it must come down to personal taste and that means trying out various makes. My experience has been:

Epiphone - good instrument, semi-hollow.

Tokai - disappointing

Alden - OK

Hofner Ignition - good sound, lightweight, tuners are a bit iffy.

My 2 keepers:

Hofner contemporary - semi-hollow, good quality all round, detailed tone, strong pickups

Tanglewood - good quality, detailed sound with more emphasis on the mid's than the HCT. 

I always fit Labella 760FHB2 flatwounds and have learned to do a reasonable setup myself. Also,  it takes time to get used to the short scale and narrower string spacing.

They are, along with my Mustangs, my favourite go to bass.

Depends on need. A single One10 often does me , occasionally I'll use 2.

I generally like most variations of the violin bass but this one just doesn't work for me - 1960's Teisco.

That wonky neck pickup, body too wide and the bridge cover

4 hours ago, Reggaebass said:

That’s a great song, I had a play about with it a few years ago when I heard it on the radio, our very own Constantine has a cover of it here 🙂

 

Really useful, thank you.

Trying to figure out a manageable arrangement for  'Telephone Line'  by ELO.

This would be a snip at an offer of £200 for someone. I have the same RH model and it's well made. Flats and a setup. I play mine daily and love it. If you haven't tried a violin bass this might cure your curiosity

https://reverb.com/uk/item/37410799-tanglewood-rvb2-sunburst-left-handed-bass-guitar-with-hardcase?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=1726164661&utm_content=campaignid=1726164661_adgroupid=70264195649_productpartitionid=822747273346=merchantid=185738790_productid=37410799_keyword=_device=c_adposition=_matchtype=_creative=391637461803&gclid=CjwKCAiArbv_BRA8EiwAYGs23MMT4nQ0ed5PyltSO9OpJ_Jw4PwmcUEhsWNvhaBKOGDigjADAq4gqRoCSZ8QAvD_BwE

On 25/12/2020 at 08:26, PaulFenderJazz said:

Quick update, Tanglewood arrived, initial impressions good, flats on order, so we’ll see how it sounds once they’re here. Thanks for all the advice!

That does look nice. Exactly the same model as mine.

Apart from cleaning, oiling & polishing and a setup I only had to replace the knobs with small Jazz knobs on mine.

I'm ordering a set of Labella 760FHB2 strings. I have them on my Hofner HCT.

Let us know how you get on with it when you've fitted your flats.

Will you keep the scratch-plate on?

https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/using-di-boxes

https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/prepare-di

Thank you for a great review.

I'm still getting to know my Beatbuddy but think I'll probably just stick with the loaded patterns. The recorded sounds are very realistic.

I have the KC 150. They make excellent drum monitors. Good purchase.

Not an authority on compressors but I use Spectracomp toneprint on my BH250 head. Just set to about 9 o'clock I find it thickens up the tone, very effective.

7 hours ago, uk_lefty said:

There's a tanglewood violin bass back on, this time available for postage. 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tanglewood-RVB-2-Beatle-Bass-Left-Handed/293906337496?hash=item446e2eced8:g:VskAAOSwildf3Jay

This is exactly the same model as my newly acquired RH one. I'm very pleased with mine, good build quality , it polished & setup nicely. I paid £200 with a hard case from Reverb.

19 hours ago, PaulFenderJazz said:

Thanks, v useful and I did wonder about the Aria as a good toe in the water. Out of interest, have you found all violin basses to have the smaller tuners, or just the Höfners? Thanks!

Just the Hofners of the ones I've tried. All need medium length strings though to accommodate the tailpeice.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/black..dog/m.html?item=372428789106&var=641246717288&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562

https://www.expressmusic.co.uk/products.asp?code=319515&name=pre-owned-legend-by-aria-violin-bass-sunburst&gclid=Cj0KCQiA5vb-BRCRARIsAJBKc6Iq_KXYAnaqfx9MlTH_1wUXtezekeVzkfXqy8xogzY7RnlqumbHjWYaAkiJEALw_wcB

Might be worth enquiring about.

I've previously owned several makes of violin bass including an Ignition but now have a HCT. I've enjoyed them all, each having a slightly different tone. The Hofner pickups are the best amongst the bunch and give the sound I think you want.

I recently acquired a Tanglewood which is hollow and am very impressed with the build quality.

I always fit flats and the Ignition needs strings that fit the small guitar type tuners so special sets are available.

They are a bit of a fiddle to set up but great fun to play.

Then there's the big question - pickguard or not?

Good luck.

https://www.soundpad.co.uk/guitar/bass-guitars/other/tanglewood-rvb2-violin-bass-sunburst

I reckon this would be nice instrument with flats fitted.

+

Also a  pair of pliers + a rubber band around the handles can be used as a vice.

56 minutes ago, Old Man Riva said:

Love that, thanks for sharing! There are some really nice jams in there as well - the intro is something I really like.

To my ears they’re such good players, with a real ear for the songs/singer - and that Jazz Bass sounds tubby as anything!

One of the discoveries for me during lockdown was JJ Cale, after a mate recommended his music to me. I knew a few of his tracks (Cocaine, After Midnight) covered by others but as I didn’t like the artist in question the songs just passed me by. Then I listened to the JJ Cale versions and it all became clear what I was missing out on!! 

The musicianship is superb throughout.

Just found this - good concert, good sound quality.

Just discovered that G&L make a SS. I thought my gas had gone for good!

https://www.andertons.co.uk/brands/gl-guitars/fallout-guitars/g-l-tribute-fallout-short-scale-bass-surf-green

I've had mine less than a week and It's my new favorite for noodling several times a day. Someone will get an easy fix bargain.

If I was LH I would buy this.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/324399494800?ul_noapp=true

I've just paid £200 for a RH one and cleaned & set it up. I love it & it weighs just 5 & 1/2 lb.

28 minutes ago, BassAdder27 said:

Still finding the choice so difficult.

Just as I think yep that’s a decent amp with good price I find many bad reviews and this seems to be many of the newer class D lightweight amps ?

I’m tempted by the TCE BH550 as for price and spec it sounds a good amp.

My other choice was Ampeg PF500 but so nervous about reviews saying it cut out mid gig !! 
 

Back in the day the usual Trace Elliot / Ashdown, Ampeg, Peavey etc were trusty brands that delivered decent amps for live gigs. Now they all seem plagued with cutting out issues or over rated power etc etc

Just need a reliable and available Bass Head capable of hanging with a loud rock drummer and Marshall Half Stack 50w valve amp.. medium sized loud gigs without pa support 

Help !! 

 

 

 

 

You say you're tempted by the BH550. I've used a BH250 for a couple of years now and am not tempted to change it for anything else. Everything in 1 small light package. Effective EQ, built in tuner, I have spectracomp loaded & plenty of power for me. So if that's anything to go by then the 550 could be a good choice.