machinehead

I use the D'Addario balanced-tension nickels in a very light gauge. They sound great but, equally importantly, feel good to play too. Frank.

I've had Markbass combos, 1 x 12 and 2 x 10. Both are excellent and cheaper now than when I bought mine 6 - 8 years ago!! The Mesa Walkabout is brilliant but expensive. (I have the head only now.) Now I have a AER amp two, 1x12 + 1x4, which I think trumps them all but again, not a lightweight or cheap option. If I was buying a combo now it would be the Fender Rumble 500. Loud, great sound, lightweight, cheap and very pretty. Frank.

Any of the AER combos, amp one, two or three. I have an AER amp two and it's stunning. Even so, I'm tempted to change to an amp three just out of curiosity. Frank.

Thanks for the links Stoo. My mind's made up. I'm going for it. Frank

G&L L2000 does a reasonable P bass sound and lots more besides. The Tribute version is a bargain from Thomann at the moment. Frank.

I'd suggest buying one of the G1/G2 BF Midgets if you want a bigger sound. That way you have 3 rigs that you can use as the gig demands. I've found that only a few gigs really need both cabs and in a small pub, even the Midget is often easily enough. Still, that way you'd have a big rig if you ever needed it. And a glorious sound it is too. Frank.

Great job!! I like it so much I think I'll do the same to my US SUB. The paint's getting a bit worn anyway. Frank.

The G&L L2000 is simply the best value and most versatile bass on the market in my opinion. The only sticking point for some might be the wide neck. The sounds are all wonderful. Frank.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1444925969' post='2887439'] The tone of the s112 is great...lends itself to hard pick break up, and also a more funk element. I wouldn't say its is completely at home 'flat' but it has quite a smooth..not bassey, sound. Some 12"s cabs I've used are definitely compromises in between percieved 15" and 10" ground and that is a lot of ground to cover. I don't think anyone will have any complaints about the TKSs112 tone..but I'd have a tweeter in it if just the one. Maybe' it is emperors news clothes but my mates rave over this new rig... where I run TKS 112's with a Demeter. It is pretty clean and can be spikey if you want it to be. Never the bassiest of cabs..and who'd want that anyway... but full and deep but with attack.... never boxey...IMO. Build quality is almost Berg like...and that is probably just style thing than anything else. 10kgs for a ceramic cab... I'd say that stands a very good chance of getting close to an HD. All my cabs are ceramic speakers...and s112 sit well with my DB cabs as well.. [/quote] Just remember though that, as far as I know, all those cabs use the same driver so the performance will be similar so you have to ask - if that is indeed correct, what are you paying for between the cheapest and most expensive? Frank

They both have the same (or almost) volume displacement even though the One10 is only a 10" loudspeaker. Nothing like stating the obvious. Comparing the other specs will tell you quite a bit too. Frank.

Excellent advice all round guys. Many thanks to all for taking he trouble to reply. Frank.

That's super value - almost what I paid for mine (used) about 7 years ago. The neck on mine is the best I've ever owned. And there have been a few. Frank.

I have an American Standard Jaguar bass. It plays well and sounds superb in both active and passive. (And looks very cool in Olympic White) It's also lightweight and balances well on the strap with no neck-dive. However, I feel the strap on the top horn is turning inwards to the body a little too sharply. It's just a little mind and really, I can live with it. It just feels different to wearing a Jazz. So, can anyone recommend me a straplock that will move the strap just a little away from the top horn (0.5" or so will do) to roughly the Jazz position? Thanks for any advice. Frank.

[quote name='colgraff' timestamp='1444578563' post='2884249'] Yamaha basses have been solidly good for as long as I have been playing. Having said that, pretty much everything made by them from instruments to motorbikes and everything in between are spot on. [/quote] The only brand-new motorcycle I ever bought was a Yamaha. It stopped every time it rained, bits fell off and it wrecked a main bearing before it was two years old and less than 10000 miles. Their customer care was to ignore me. I was 17 at the time. That was in 1974 and I swore I would never, ever buy another Yamaha product again.... and I never have and never will. A pity because their bass guitars are excellent. Frank.

And yes, the new Fender Rumbles are excellent. The Eden combos are the best value at the moment though. The 2x8, 2x10 and 1x15 have been on sale at the same £199.00 recently too. They are bloody loud little beasts! Frank

Anderton's have the Eden EC28 reduced from £439 to £199. I bought one in March and I've been using it for rehearsals and small pub gigs. It's a sweet sounding amp and loud enough while keeping the same tone at higher volume. The combos mentioned above are all good but the E28 is now a bargain and as useable (for what you seem to need) as all the others. Frank

Some crazy low prices on there. The 74 RI in particular looks great value. [b] [size=3][size=4]If I hadn't just bought a new bass this >>>>Fender Vintage Hot Rod '70s Jazz Bass (Candy Apple Red) would be mine[/size]. [size=3] [/size][/size][/b] Frank.

I have an American Standard Jaguar. It has a PJ pickup configuration, is active and passive. It's lightweight and well balanced and has a fantastic and very useable range of tones. It has a superb neck - the same dimensions as a Jazz neck. What's not to like? Frank.

Sharkboy, what music did you play at home that day? Frank.

[quote name='sPiKi' timestamp='1442506048' post='2867441'] Hard to find a decent review or clip on YT that demonstrates bass amps played in a rock style...nothing but noodling...why??!! [/quote] Maybe you didn't notice but I offered you a chance to try my Barefaced gear. I was a little hurt that you ignored me, in fact, I cried a little. So painful. Anyway, there are lots of opportunities to hear good lightweight gear in a live situation in Belfast and environs. Let me know if you're interested. Frank.

I have gigged with a Barefaced Compact G1 successfully for about 6 years. For smaller pubs I've used the Midget, and it's loud too but not as smooth and deep as the Compact. Both are easily gigable cabs though. Together they will handle any gig, including large festival stages... a wee bit of Barefaced & Mesa Walkabout action. In this case a pair of G1/2 Midgets. Like this: [url="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=934119803318310&set=a.934115536652070.1073741916.100001608970035&type=1&theater"]https://www.facebook...&type=1[/url] And this: https://www.facebook.com/BluesDirect/photos/a.892577164136916.1073741829.395327500528554/892577027470263/?type=1&theater The new Barefaced G3 cabs are a step up again so I would have no worries about their gigging capabilities. There are a few Barefaced users in N Ireland so you could possibly hear/try them. Whereabouts are you? Frank.

Congratulations! These are excellent basses from this era. And I agree, there is a step up in quality, playabilty and sounds at this level. It's everything you're ever likely to need. My main gigging bass for over a year has been a 2010 US Jazz and it's superb. Frank.