machinehead

I've noticed in many threads that people state the date-of-birth of their basses. For example, " I was playing my 1978 P" or " For Sale, 1974 Fender P" or " My '90s jazz". That got me thinking about why people do this. Clearly, it's done in For Sale threads to justify the asking price, so I can leave that out of my thoughts. But what is the real relevence of the manufacture date? Especially when you see people mention a 1985 jazz bass etc. Why is 1985 relevent? Surely you can still buy the same model new today. I love old cars and I see the point in giving a date for an old car. But guitars? Fender, Gibson and the rest, still make and sell the same models that they made and sold 40 or 50 years ago. So why is the date important? Aren't they still pretty much the same? And isn't it easy to build a bass to look any age you like? Who would know the difference? I've never done it myself, but the only reason I would maybe buy an old guitar would be as an investment with a view to selling at a profit at a future date. Much better than 0.5% interest in the bank. So what is the reason for this obsession with age? Just some late night musings. BTW, I have a 1997 Warwick Streamer Stage 2. Not a crappy new one. Frank.

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='1098595' date='Jan 22 2011, 01:01 PM']IYO[/quote] Agreed! And I do understand people buying gear based mainly on looks. For myself, I doubt if I'd buy a guitar if I really hated the looks. I have to say though, I do find it hard to understand why anyone would knowingly pay a higher price for a lower specification cab and accept a lower performance just so they can turn round and look at it and think " That's lovely". But I know they do. So it just goes to show that we're all different and surely it would be a boring world if we were all the same? For a start, I would be robbed of the opportunity of feeling smug about my gear. Frank. Editted to add smily. My tongue is firmly in my cheek with the above.

[quote name='bumnote' post='1098058' date='Jan 21 2011, 08:16 PM']I am very tempted to build a Bill Fitmaurice jack 12 or Jack 2x12. I have had the plans for a while but its cold in my garage[/quote] That's something I've been thinking about for ages. It must be very satisfying to gig with a cab you've made yourself and know it's a superior cab to almost all commercially produced cabs. Frank.

No matter what way you look at it, the Barefaced cabs all have higher specification, more expensive, and superior performing drivers than any others. The cabinets are properly engineered too. Unless you prefer the sound of inferior drivers breaking up (which is great on guitar amps) and some bass players do like that sound, that should be a big factor in your choosing process. However, you only have to read a few threads on basschat to see that most player buy cabs based on looks. (Cue replies denying this) Frank.

[quote name='PauBass' post='1095489' date='Jan 19 2011, 06:50 PM']Sorry but I did say thanks on another post towards the beginning of the thread ...I appreciate all the help offers, Basschat is such a great place. I was waiting to say I was sorted until I knew I was sorted [/quote] Ah, no problem. It's just me being a sensitive grumpy old man. And i really do hope that you get sorted. Frank.

Six offers of help and no response - not even a post or PM to say "Thanks, but I'm sorted". And as it happens, I was in Bangor last night visiting my daughter. Frank.

Bangors not that far. Offer still stands. Frank.

No problem. I'm in Belfast and I'll try to help. PM me if you prefer and I'll give you my phone numbers. Frank.

[quote name='alexclaber' post='1089639' date='Jan 14 2011, 06:28 PM']The more recent 'on tour' Compact has just returned. Also one older 'on tour' cab has yet to return despite leaving numerous messages with a certain bassist, and this disappointing behaviour leaves me further disinclined to continue with the tour...[/quote] That's disappointing to hear considering your generousity in sending these cabs on a free tour. If I'm trying to be kind - perhaps he/ she is ill or working abroad or some other justifiable reason? I'm still 100% happy with my Compact (and Midget) after almost two years!! Frank.

[quote name='mcnach' post='1089801' date='Jan 14 2011, 08:17 PM']I'm a Stingray fan. I have a SUB5 (more Stingray than a Stingray5 according to some ) and just got a G&L 2500 Tribute. The G&L is lovely. But it does *NOT* sound like a Stingray. Nope. Not at all. If you like the G&L get that. If you want a Stingray sound, get a... Stingray. Or get both! [/quote] Haha. I already have too many basses. I've been selling gear recently to raise some cash and then you come along and tell me to buy a Stingray as well as the L2000 I bought last year. Get thee behind me Satan. Frank.

[quote name='Musicman20' post='1086596' date='Jan 12 2011, 12:46 PM']They seem to be a good price, more in line of what an import bass should be.[/quote] Aren't the 55-01 and 5502 both imports? Just being silly. Frank.

I thought I'd dig up this old thread because I remembered that I had never posted the outcome. I went for a G&L L2000 Tribute. It's everything that people reported them to be. The range of sounds is huge and when the bands playing the bass still gets heard. It does a thick P sound, nasally jazz bridge pickup sound and a lovely soft tone using both pickups. I don't really know how close to a Stingray it gets because I've never owned a Stingray. I think its OK. I like it for what it is itself sound-wise, as well as it's ability to emulate the other very popular and familiar Fender sounds. Using the bass and treble cut knobs adds more variety and the series/parallel switch changes the sound and frequencies quite dramatically. I don't like the volume change when you use this switch though. I find myself using it passive and even so, the output is massive. It seems hard to tame the sound until you get used to it. The neck is wide but shallow and I find it easy to play but I'm not as fussy about neck dimensions as others seem to be. I did a set up, and the action, intonation and feel is now to a very high standard. It wasn't bad at all to start with but it's now set up to my preference. The build is solid and the weight is just over 9lbs. It sits easily and comfortably on the strap. (My decision in no way takes away from the Stingray. I just decided that the Stingrays are comparitively over-priced and the G&L is not as much, and it's more versitile. That is just my decision and not Stingray bashing in any way.) Frank.

All internet advice comes with a health warning - it's best to try for yourself!! The Schroeder 1212L is a great cab. Loud, and it has decent low end. A really good gigging cab. The Compact might not be quite as loud as the 1212L but, in my opinion, it is easier to listen to, and has a more rounded sound. The 1212L gets tiring on the ears after a while I find. Don't let that put you off though, the 1212L is a fantastic cab. Frank.

[quote name='willyf87' post='1083098' date='Jan 9 2011, 12:57 PM']hmmm im tempted with the compact now, the one on here has sold now though:( was a bit too far anyways. Would you reckon that the compact through one channel of my lg1000 would be just as loud as me putting two sepertae 112's into each, I know there would be less watts but with the extra sensitivity etc..[/quote] I use an LG1000 with my Compact and always have enough volume for gigs in pubs and hotel function rooms etc. I don't go through the PA either. It's a pity you can't try a Compact. I'm sure if a basschatter near you had one you would have offers to try.... Having said that, Barefaced offer a one month trial. If you don't like it, you send it back. I think that says everything about the confidence Alex has in his cabinets. Frank.

[quote name='willyf87' post='1083073' date='Jan 9 2011, 12:36 PM']Alex advised me that the midget would be the best way to go but was worried that the mag300 wouldn't be able to produce enough oomph now I have the lg1000 may be a better choice, I'm just worried a single 12 won't be enough and I can't afford two midgets lol. I'm not a huge single 1x15 fan, always seems a bit boomy to me, I've always preferred using them in conjuction with a 2x10, which is what I do now.[/quote] You won't find a Compact to be a boomy 15" at all. It's very very loud even on it's own and easily capable of pub gigs with a loud band. And a bargain at the used prices you see them at these days. The Midget is almost as loud too. You need to compare the drivers Alex fit to his cabs against what other manufacturers fit and you will see that Alex fits the best drivers for the money. I would still think a pair of Aguilar 1 x 12s would be a great used bargain if you can get them. Frank.

They are excellent all round. High quality construction and finish and a great sound. Mine has the rosewood board which seems to be much more rare than maple. The best thing about them though is the neck. I think it might just be the best feeling and playing neck I've ever played. They're probably over-priced compared to a US standard jazz. I wanted a 70s jazz for the funky, burpy neck pickup sound and I was seduced by the looks. I think you'll love it. Frank.

[quote name='deepbass5' post='1076568' date='Jan 3 2011, 05:57 PM']The words around the Bass Player article does basically state that of the Barefaced Cab article Machinehead posted, which is there are an awful lot of factors to take into consideration, Cab design porting etc. But one constant we can all recognise is cone surface area. Because a particular make of speaker cone can travel 5mm further than another makes no difference musically. Any one note played in any song will have a pitch which will determine the vibration frequency and our volume settings and how we attack that note will determine how far the cone will move on my rig or any other bass rig. I don't think anyone should consider that cone extension is used as a sales plus musically. It is nice to know that maybe a short on your jack socket will not destroy your speaker before you can turn it off. What this point highlights is that, is it not better to have four speakers moving a quarter of the amount than that of a cab with one speaker cone in it.[/quote] This would only be correct at low volumes. At higher volumes your speaker with less "travel" will fart and distort. And the speaker with more "travel" will be clearer and louder. Frank.

I'll state the obvious - the solution depends on how much you can spend so........ Some good advice above, cheapest is raising the cab and boosting mids while cutting lows. Definately will improve what you hear at least. I'd agree with warwickhunt that more speakers is better for volume than more amp watts. Don't get too hung up on single 4 ohm cabs to get more power. Most cabs can't handle the power of 500watt amps anyway. I don't think you'd hear much difference through your existing cab using a more powerful amp. (There are some exceptions, like the Barefaced cabs range) So, I would try to buy another identical cab second hand, try that and perhaps buy a Littlemark 500watt amp later if you want more headroom. Of course, there are lots of more expensive options. The list is endless really. Frank

This might be of some interest. [url="http://barefacedbass.com/technical-information/Volume-displacement.htm"]http://barefacedbass.com/technical-informa...isplacement.htm[/url] Frank.

[quote name='cameltoe' post='1074801' date='Jan 1 2011, 09:53 PM']Thanks for your help [/quote] Not sure if that was sarcastic or not but I really meant what I said. One thing that might help is to back off the knobs a bit, all three or just the treble and volume. I find this makes the sound less aggresive. Frank.

A Stingray can't do a G&L sound. Seriously though, why not just find sounds from the G&L that you like and just use them without wishing to sound like something else? These are really great basses. Frank.

[quote name='EssentialTension' post='1072746' date='Dec 30 2010, 02:21 PM']At US prices I wouldn't buy one either but some possible reasons for choosing one over the MIJ are: (1) More money than sense. (2) Better materials and build quality - e.g. quarter-sawn neck and graphite reinforcement bars. (3) Available in eighteen different colours - and I guess they'd do any colour you wanted if you asked. (4) Available with maple or rosewood fingerboard. (5) Available fretted, lined fretless, or unlined fretless. (6) Available in three different nut widths (1.5", 1.625", 1.75"). (7) Available with Swamp Ash or Alder body. (8) Choice of slab or contoured body. (9) Choice of single coil or split coil pickups.[/quote] Fair enough. Never thought of it like that. I am only refering to the 51 P though. But even if you have as huge a range of choices as you do have, the price difference is also really huge plus the cost of offering those options doesn't mean anything to the buyer. He just buys a bass of his choice. The Lakland brand name adds value for lots of buyers too which is fine. I'm not actually knocking them. I am certain they will sell in droves, but I wouldn't pay that money for what is essentially a very simple and basic instrument. Frank.

I'm trying to think of a reason why someone would buy the Lakland 51 P over a Fender MIJ 51 P which is more true to the original look - especially at the Lakland price. Each to their own though. Frank.