Ed_S

I had the ABM-500 e3, ABM-410t and ABM-115c and found the head to be nowhere near adequate for my needs. Interestingly, the same cabs with my old Hartke HA2000 were overpowering to the point where I eventually got rid of the 115c and just kept the 410t, which on its own, taking a maximum of 120W from the Hartke, never got above 4 on the master volume (in a loud metal band with a blast-beating drummer and two guitarists with Peavey 6505 and Boogie single recto). To be fair to Ashdown, another head that did manage to keep up quite well when I borrowed it was the MAG 600; it sounded much louder, more 'lively' (maybe less 'sophisticated') than the ABM and cut through the mix much better, so if you fancied a full Ashdown stack and didn't get on with the ABM500, that might be an option to consider.

Yup, agreed - we've tried a few and settled on a shared Google calendar as being the best option for us as we all have gmail accounts and decent phones to link them to.

Most threads about lightweight power amps tend to agree that Crown XLS, Peavey IPR and QSC PLX series are all good, solid amps. I can vouch for the Crowns - I have two XLS1500s that I'm very happy with.

My nice and simple (and cheap!) rig, kept just in case I should ever find myself back on guitar duties in a band (looking less and less likely the longer I leave it, but never say never). For the time being, it lives at the studios for our rhythm guitarist to use at rehearsals because it's better than it sitting in a cupboard doing nothing! So yeah, Marshall MA50H and 1936. The MA series took a bit of stick for sounding duff, but I honestly think that was because people weren't getting them out of their bedrooms and opening them up. I'm yet to hear a straight-up 50+ watt valve guitar amp with no attenuation or fancy digital tricks sound as good at bedroom levels as it does when you let it breathe a bit. For good or for bad, this one certainly sounds like a Marshall to me!

I always liked Metallica's "Kill 'em all" album, and that was released the same year as me.

A couple of weeks ago I decided to sport a bit of cash and a part-ex on something different to my usuals and ended up walking out of the store with an SR505. It played fine in the shop but then developed a buzz after a couple of days. No big deal, I though, and grabbed the tools to adjust it... whereupon I found out that the truss rod was completely stuck - no movement at all. So that was the end of that - I took it back and got another Fender instead! I think my point in posting is that if yours is perfect and never needed a tweak... might be worth checking that you can actually give it one should the need ever arise!

If epic/symphonic/power metal is your thing, then "Circus Colossus" by Leverage is hard to beat production-wise.

The Yamaha P3500S is a brilliant workhorse of a power amp - mine once ran flat out at a party in a field for pretty much 12 hours straight and it was barely more than lukewarm when I packed it away; the fan didn't even come on. Sadly I don't own it any more as I just can't cart that weight of gear so I swapped it for a pair of lightweight Crown XLS1500s (which I can also thoroughly recommend) but if you're able bodied and don't mind carting it, I can't say a bad word about the Yamaha.

[quote name='Graham' timestamp='1355552171' post='1899826'] Megadeth - Tornado Of Souls [/quote] Now you're talkin'! We cover that and it's always fun to play and gets a great response. My favourite cover at the moment, however, is probably Dio - Killing the Dragon.

I'd spend the extra fifty quid and get a Peavey Envoy. Just my opinion, but tiny practice amps generally sound pretty rough on the distortion channel unless they're the modelling type, at which point you seem to be paying a fair bit for something that won't take you much past your bedroom. I'd always favour a 'proper' amp that will play quietly at home but also cover rehearsals, jam sessions, gigs etc.

Lead vocals - Gary Hughes (Ten) Guitar / backing vocals - Dave Meniketti (Y&T) Lead guitar - Alexi Laiho (Children of Bodom) Keyboards - Jens Johansson (YJM's Rising Force) Drums - Anders Johansson (Hammerfall) As for the 'alive or dead' vote, just put me in any given line-up of Rainbow and take me on a tour of Germany

[quote name='S9_S12_Bass' timestamp='1354520832' post='1886810'] It is lovely, the blocks on the neck I think finish it off! Is it a poly finish and how does it play? [/quote] I'm pleased somebody else appreciates it - thank you Yeah, it's poly - quite thick compared to the current MIA standards but well applied. The neck is poly glossed, too, but likewise well done. It's taken a bit of getting right (the stock BBOT bridge was terrible - looked like it'd been hewn from the sheet metal with an old pair of false teeth, the stock pickup was fine but uninspiring and there wasn't a single shred of shielding under the guard or in the cavities) but it's always been worth doing because it plays as clear as a bell and with the Pro-Steels on it, it really does have that 'piano tone' they rave about on the pack. The BAii is just a really solid and easily adjustable bridge (no illusions about difference in sound) and the Delano looks great and sounds good and lively. Overall, it looks apt for my heavy metal exploits and has a tone that goes from quite expressive with fingers to quite capable of knocking nails in when picked!

[quote name='guybrush threepwood' timestamp='1354441540' post='1885893'] I'm not usually a fan of the Badass, but here it really works! I think it's the Delano pups with blocks and binding that do it; it looks badass! [/quote] Yeah, I'm really happy with how it's turned out! It's nothing I'd do to my MIA standard, but as it's already a bit of a 'marmite' bass given the relative popularity of black blocks on maple, I thought sod it - go for something a bit different. After all, I get more funny looks than it ever will [quote name='S9_S12_Bass' timestamp='1354477118' post='1886469'] lovely, what model is that? [/quote] Thanks! It's a 'Classic' series 70s from a year or so ago.. one of [url="http://www.fender.com/en-GB/products/70s-precision-bass"]these[/url] as it was when it was stock.

Guaranteed not to be to all tastes, but I've just got this one the way I like it, so thought I'd share...

[quote name='Jacqueslemac' timestamp='1354356253' post='1885064'] My only real issue with it is that the body is quite deep front-to-rear, so I found it a bit of a stretch for my right forearm, which ended up resting on the edge and was a bit uncomfortable after a few songs. [/quote] Oh yeah! That too

I had one not long ago and came to the conclusion that: + It looks nice + It sounds nice on its own + The J neck is really comfortable + It's light to carry round in a gigbag + It sounds pretty authentic when plugged in + The built-in tuner on the preamp is handy but... - The neck-dive is monumental when stood up - The body is small-ish so the unplugged volume is minimal (moreso than most I've owned) - Unless hard-cased, the tuner on the preamp turns itself on in transit and completely drains the battery - The room-volume before feedback is pretty low, so you need a sound-hole suppressor ...and as soon as you have the feedback suppressor in and you're DI'd to the desk, it sounds pretty much exactly like a P-bass in the mix! So, given that it was always for a side-project and was a big chunk of instrument to try and store when not in use, I came to the conclusion that it had to go, and I'd just use my P-bass.

Yeah, I'm looking forward to it arriving! I've already got a Super 12 so I reckon I know what I'm in for, which is why I didn't mind selling the Eden prior to its replacement making an appearance; I'm confident the Midget will do everything I asked of the EX112 and then some.

I had one for a fair while (just moved it on a couple of weeks ago actually) and found it to be a nice little cab for the money. It feels well constructed, it's surprisingly loud when you throw some wattage at it and sounds quite neutral yet bright due to the coaxial speaker design. Unfortunately, there's no attenuation for the 'tweeter' element of the speaker, which may or may not concern you. The only other possible downside is the single recessed jack socket; no speakons unless they've changed the design since. Why did I move mine on..? I ordered a Midget.

Why not go out and get that 2013 USA Precision on the day, then keep the copy of the day's paper along with the invoice etc. but rather than store it, actually use the bass and make sure there are plenty of good photos of you both on its journey. That way, when you finally choose to let the secret go that it shares a significant birthday and hand it over, there are some memories and extra significance to go with it, rather than it just being a nice 'thing'.

[quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1351416410' post='1850871'] "The main ingredients in fast fret is white mineral oil.." [url="http://www.epinions.com/review/Ghs_Fast_Fret_String_Cleaner/content_597182811780?sb=1"]http://www.epinions....7182811780?sb=1[/url] (but then the writer notes being made in the US as its main attraction, so maybe the source isn't so reliable!) [/quote] Sorry.. I'm not sure what you're driving at there, mate. WD40 is about 15% light mineral oil with a white spirit base to allow it to penetrate and a secret blend of other stuff that may or may not have any place either on a fretboard or in constant contact with skin, whereas Fast Fret is just light mineral oil soaked into a cloth stick. I have no objection to Fast Fret / light mineral oil (have used it on my rosewood boards, though I don't like the feel of it on my strings); it's the white spirit that I object to because I feel there's a good chance it could damage some finishes and dissolve some glues, so isn't worth the risk. This is, of course, just my feeling on the matter, and you're free to use whatever you like!

According to the data sheet WD40 out of the can is mostly white spirit so whilst it's probably fine for the strings, depending on the finish and consruction, I wouldn't have thought a good rub down with thinners would be all that much good for the bass. Maybe I'm wrong, but I wouldn't do it to my gear. Once the spirit has evaporated, it's basically just light mineral oil, so why not just use fast fret?

[quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1351371947' post='1850673'] Why? [/quote] Because as much as I'd support anybody in doing exactly what they want to with their own possessions, if those possessions were about to become mine and had been subject to non-standard 'care', I'd want to know.

[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1350899685' post='1844713'] This topic always brings out the most varied of responces. My own preference is "Fret Doctor" [/quote] I use Fret Doctor too - it's great stuff, isn't it! To those who use slightly more left-field products (Pledge, WD40, GT85, Trex etc.) would you disclose that in a for-sale thread? If I received a bass that somebody had routinely sprayed with WD40, I'd go absolutely postal; specifically straight back to the sender

[quote name='51m0n' timestamp='1351164490' post='1848076'] Wow [b]massive[/b] overuse of the VLE and VPF in here. [/quote] [quote name='LawrenceH' timestamp='1351180207' post='1848342'] Totally agree! I always start with these off. [/quote] I always finish with them off, too! With a LMII and S12 (no tweeter), I've just never found any better sound in the mix than the EQ all at 12 o'clock, both filters fully off, gain set to match the output of the bass and volume set to match the output of the drummer!

You look a bit like you're expecting the width of a 5 or 6 string neck in your hand and only finding a 4. Considering you have a 5 and a 6 in your sig, is it possible that it's a wrist position you've developed that way?