machinehead

My advice would be to read the [b]Barefaced website on "punch" before parting with either gear or cash. (Sorry, I don't know how I switched the bold type on, or how to switch it off)[/b] [b]Frank.[/b]

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1374241158' post='2146797'] You could start here.... [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Second_hand_Ex_demo_Bass_Guitars.html"]http://www.bassdirec...ss_Guitars.html[/url] [/quote] It's a long way from N. Ireland. Frank.

[quote name='jailbait' timestamp='1374079129' post='2145087'] I stand corrected, even if there cheaper made versions as whats on the US model there gonna be good. even looks like they got the adjustable poles in the pickups. They are the same pickups as the US version. You know you wanna [/quote] [quote name='leroydiamond' timestamp='1374080769' post='2145105'] My G+L L2000 has a wider neck than a standard jazz, but is quite shallow and doesn't feel junky at all [/quote] Mine is about 44mm wide but is quite shallow back-to-front. I find it an easy bass to play and I found it very easy to set up as well. Excellent basses and amazing value, especially if you buy used. Cameltoe. I know what you mean about the L2000 but I've found that reducing the volume on the bass and playing with various settings on the two tone knobs it is possible to get some really good "traditional" sounds from the Tribute. You also have more aggresive and modern sounds as well making it a cracking gigging bass. Mine weighs just over 9lbs on a fishing scale and is well balanced. Frank. Edit to correct spelling.

Why not add a Barefaced Midget? That way you have three options depending on the gig and venue. I find that the Midget can handle all pub gigs that I ever play, although, if there's space, I prefer to take the Compact for the smoother sounds. The Compact and Midget together is huge sounding - loud, smooth and a superbly balanced sound. Adding a Midget would be cheaper too. Frank.

I used to gig with a pair of those cabs and a LM II. Lovely sounding rig. You made a couple of great choices there. Frank.

The prices seem to be competitive. Although I can't easily read the specs. Very nice looks too. Frank.

The one I had was ash body, maple fretboard bound and blocked. Quality of the hardware seemed decent for the money, the sound was excellent and the looks stunning. Mine was the older one with the Fender shaped headstock. The only real downside was that it was a little heavy - around 10Ibs. Frank.

This might be off some interest to you? http://basschat.co.uk/topic/78214-more-stingray-gl-questions/page__hl__g In my opinion/experience the G&L is a superb playing and versatile instrument at a bargain price. It takes time to learn how to get the best from them. The pickups are quite aggresive sounding and have a high output. I found that playing with the volume and both tone knobs at say, 75% on, that it tamed the sound to a more manageable level. I never use it in active mode at all. It just seems to sound the same as passive but louder. Frank.

[quote name='roonjuice' timestamp='1373062834' post='2133473'] i own both streamer and jazzes. chalk and cheese. a good streamer rings and sings, a good jazz growls and barks...... [/quote] Much better than my contribution. Frank.

The stage 2 is in my opinion, the best all-round Warwick. That is very subjective of course. [indent=1]I find it hard to express sound in words but to me, the stage 2 sounds far more defined than a Fender jazz. The sound is "dry" and not as warm as a jazz. It's a tighter sound all round. Also perhaps a tiny bit thinner.[/indent] [indent=1]I don't feel qualified to give reliable advice on this but I think the stage 2 can't sound as warm as a Fender jazz.[/indent] [indent=1]Either way, I love the sound of a Warwick stage 2. Plus, the feel and action are, in my opinion, the best there is. Way better than any Fender I have played, and I'm a Fender player too.[/indent] [indent=1]Frank.[/indent]

I just noticed this on Belfast gumtree. If I was a lefty I'd be very interested in this, especially as it is stated as having only one owner. http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/1977-left-handed-fender-precision-bass-guitar/1020732794 I have no connection with the seller. I'm just pointing out a rare bass to all you lefties. Frank.

Great ballsy music. Really enjoyed it. Frank.

I do let other players use my amp, cab and sometimes even my bass but I do let them know the rules first. On one gig, the night was being opened by a jazz orchestra and the leader asked at setup if his bass player could use my amp and cab. I was happy to do this but when I turned up later the orchestra had started and the bass player had a pint of Guinness sitting on my amp. I immediately walked on to the stage and told him to get his pint of my amp - they were playing when I did this but, as far as I'm concerned, tough, because he was abusing my gear and it's replacement value would have been about £1500.00 in total. He gave me a sheepish apology and removed his pint to the floor. I do always keep a close eye on my gear when someone else is using it though and wouldn't hesitate to switch it off mid-song if I felt someone was treating it with any less care than I would myself. Frank.

[quote name='Iana' timestamp='1368727192' post='2080825'] Really dig his Bro Richard as well [/quote] Hehehe. Yes, they are really great amps. I love the sound and volume and of course, the size and weight. Frank.

I've been gigging for almost 40 years and I've had only one amp failure in that time. Fortunately it was on the last song of the night. Since that incident I always take two amps to a gig. One is left in the car and I hope I never need to go and get it. Frank.

I would go with those who recommended a G&L L2000 but I would add to the list the MIM Fender classic series - either a jazz or precision. Bought used of course. Great instruments and not expensive to buy used, but will hold their value and give years of service. Frank.

[quote name='LawrenceH' timestamp='1368097377' post='2073076'] That's an interesting question - someone like BFM or Alex would be able to give a better answer, but from what I understand you could swap out the various components of a driver like the cone, surround, voice coil, spider and dust cap. Developing a custom chassis would be really (prohibitively) expensive because of the tooling involved, and I'd guess changing the magnet options would be pretty limited? Several of the apparent OEM Deltalite-alikes, like the Genz as well as this Bergantino, claim greater power handling with the same magnet weight. Reduced sensitivity compared to the 'stock' speaker suggests they've changed the voicecoil, probably made it a bit longer so I wouldn't be surprised if xmax were a bit bigger on these, though xmech is most likely the same or reduced. Changing the stiffness of the cone by altering material, suspension and dustcap as well as having a big effect on TS parameters, can change the mid/high frequency output a lot, so you could change the perceived voicing quite radically e.g. to attenuate the massive upper-mid peak on the stock speakers. I'm pretty sure you could say to Eminence that you wanted a speaker that sounded like 'x' and as far as frequency goes, they'd come up with one. But like before, it's all a trade-off. [/quote] Very interesting. Thanks for the comprehensive answer. One thing I've noticed on all the Markbass cabs I've owned is that the speakers appear to have massive movement on the x axis, but then again, that might be an illusion caused by the orange colour. Frank.

Gumtree asking prices are sometimes even more hilarious. I can't count the number of times I've seen musical equipment advertised for the same as the brand new price - even sometimes more than the new price. Although I think this is down to chancers trying their luck because gumtree is free. Frank.

[quote name='LawrenceH' timestamp='1368033231' post='2072340'] I meant also to say, the off-the-shelf deltalite is a very far from 'neutral'-sounding speaker (I should know, I own some! ) which may be why a lot of people don't get on with the various iterations available and presumably why there's mileage in the OEM-tweaked variants such as these. [/quote] Just as a matter of interest - what sort of tweaks are possible, practical and cost efficient for a cab manufacturer like Bergantino to have done to a loudspeaker by say, Eminence? Frank.

[quote name='KiOgon' timestamp='1366472220' post='2053021'] Another one of Uncle Horrid's specials, he even custom built the bridge for this too [url="http://smg.photobucket.com/user/kjon51/media/20130420_162306_zps6e28f98c.jpg.html"][/url] [/quote] Lovely. That is exactly the same as the pickguard I have on my 51 RI - same colour body and neck wood as well. Mine has a Seymous Duncan pickup plus another SD in the jazz bridge position with a tiny 3 position microswitch between the tone and volume knobs to switch pickups. All professionally done and the end result is a wonderful bass. Sounds and looks fantastic. Frank.

I've had a look at these primarily because I love the blocked and bound necks and it's available in olympic white with rosewood fretboard - a look I really like. But I already own an American Vintage 75 reissue in natural ash body with blocked and bound rosewood fretboard, AND a classic 70s jazz in sunburst and again, bound and blocked rosewood fretboard. Talk about being greedy. Both are excellent instruments but....the US version costs almost 3 times the Mexican classic 70s and I'm equally happy with both - well almost. The US jazz has a slightly better finish, pickups and hardware, plus the three bolt adjustable neck and the neck feels just that little bit faster and slimmer. There's not a massive difference especially considering the price difference, currently £702 against about £1750 last time I looked. So, what am I saying? These new 74 reissues are overpriced without a doubt. But... if they are as well built as the 75 reissues before them they will find a lot of love and maybe that would take the sting out of the price. I'll be waiting for a good used one to come up anyway. Frank.

Oh yes, I forgot to say, I have a Compact/Midget review in the reviews section. Frank