Acebassmusic

I posted this in another thread recently. I first heard this guy when I was about 7 and even at that age was blown away by his tone and range. Took me a further 30+ years to find a copy of the record this was on 🙂 Worth listening all the way through (or jump to 2.20 onwards). Not only does he hit the low notes, he can hold them as well 😮

On my MV5-24 I'm currently using D'Addario Pro-Steel XL EPS300-5 (43 to 127) and really like them. Lasted me 5 months on a set so far and still some twang to go 🙂

Thanks for the link. I had a look and it seems that the newer "Warwick Sadowsky" pre amp is different to the ones I've seen before. It looks like they have changed the retrofit design from the screwed connections to soldered but forgot to highlight it on either the website or wiring diagram! It's definitely a soldered connection to the blend pot (you can see the 2 red wires in the cavity photo from the link)

Edited my text after looking at the wiring.... Where did you get the one you have from? It looks like the Sadowsky you have is a solder connection pre where the extra cables and black plugs connect to the preamp board (you didn't show one in the photo but I assume it is there) and the pickups solder to the blend pot. The ones fitted in my basses look like the top picture and fit in with the drawing you have. The lower picture is the retrofit on a plate version which has the screw connections. Also noticed all the pots on mine are round not square like yours. 🤔 Mike

I first heard this guy when I was about 7 and even at that age was blown away by his tone and range. Took me a further 30+ years to find a copy of the record this was on 🙂 Worth listening all the way through (or jump to 2.20 onwards).

I have 3 at the moment - Demeter HBP-1 800D - Not cheap and you now have to import it from the USA yourself I think (I got mine through Bass Gear when it was going). Very flexible EQ (standard and parametric), tube preamp which sounds like the sound I’ve been hearing in my head. Granted some of this is due to the combinations of basses and cabs its used with but it just seems to sound great whatever I throw at it (not literally!!! 😊 ) TecAmp Puma 900 - well made, loud, great EQ and I love the "taste" control which acts a bit like an overall tone control-ish so you can keep your main EQ in place but go from vintage to modern with just a tweak of the control. PJB D400 - Not gigged this one yet but looking forward to trying it out. Here's what I wrote about it in another thread "Just a quick update. I've been playing around with the PJB last weekend at home and comparing it to my Demeter for volume and tone, Using the same 4ohm Berg cab I found the 300w PJB to have plenty of volume against the 800w Demeter. My normal gig volume setting on the Demeter seemed to translate to the volume at 12 oclock on the PJB with room to spare. Pretty impressed and I'm sure that should I ever play a gig again (🤔😳🤣) there will be plenty of "me" to be heard 🙂 (If you're wondering, my nearest neighbour is 1/2 mile away so no problem there). The Lo Bass knob is good to dial out wooly-ness whilst still keeping a full punchy sound. One thing I did notice was that at lower volumes the tone of the PJB seemed darker with less top end sizzle and snap. At low volume I had the Hi-mid and treble nearly full up but when increasing the volume I dropped them down to what you see in the photo below.” I currently have them all racked in 2U Gator cases which for me is the easier way of transporting, setting up and keeping them safe.

Basschat quote of the day...."burnt myself..... a lot ......but eventually learned to be like an adult!" Sounds like some of my learning experiences 😁 Enjoyed the videos and although I've modded basses I've never taken the plunge on kit or full build.....yet 🙂

Just a quick update. I've been playing around with the PJB last weekend at home and comparing it to my Demeter for volume and tone, Using the same 4ohm Berg cab I found the 300w PJB to have plenty of volume against the 800w Demeter. My normal gig volume setting on the Demeter seemed to translate to the volume at 12 oclock on the PJB with room to spare. Pretty impressed and I'm sure that should I ever play a gig again (🤔😳🤣) there will be plenty of "me" to be heard 🙂 (If you're wondering, my nearest neighbour is 1/2 mile away so no problem there). The Lo Bass knob is good to dial out wooly-ness whilst still keeping a full punchy sound. One thing I did notice was that at lower volumes the tone of the PJB seemed darker with less top end sizzle and snap. At low volume I had the Hi-mid and treble nearly full up but when increasing the volume I dropped them down to what you see in the photo below.

I only got mine delivered at about 3.30pm today so not had much time to try it out but so far I'm pleased 🙂 Just need a band or gig situation to try it out properly......🤔

Funny you should ask this......I too have just bought a D-400 and before I did, I sent a mail to PJB asking that very question! Here's their reply.. "Like all electronic devices, it is not advised to leave it plugged into a power source when you are not using it, particularly if you have to leave for a long period of time such as a few days being away from home. Any spike from the power source, i.g. a lightning strike from thunder storm can harm the amp. This is a general warning, nothing unique to the design of the D-400." A bit like the "unplug your TV before going to bed" advice we used to get. 🙂

Waaaay too many times 😉 For the last 2 years I've tried to be more picky with what I buy and really try to justify: 1) what does the new bass / amp etc do that my current one doesn't? (and do I really need it to do it?) 2) can I use my current bass / amp etc in a different way that gives me 1) above 3) can I think of a vaguely feasible reason to overrule 1) & 2) that enables me to buy the bass / amp etc that I'm gassing over 🙂

For me I would make a hole of the correct size and use a metal jack plate recessed into the side of the bass. The metal plate will give you a much sturdier socket than removing wood from the inside of the cavity and then attaching the jack to whatever wood is left (2 - 3mm?)

Just bought Chris's PJB Big Head off him. Great to deal with and well packed parcel. Thanks again 🙂

I may read this wrong but for me if you have a small studio setup getting an 810 in there would be overkill and / or deafening! I think there is a little bit of confusion on the Peavey outputs, they are minimum ohms not max. When it says 4ohm output it means you can plug a single or combination of 4, 8, 16 ohm etc cabs in with no probs. I think that if your happy with your current amp and cab just plug in and play away. This does however mean that you lose an excuse for GAS!

I've been looking for one of the 24 fret versions of these for years. Unfortunately I get the feeling that so few were made and no-one wants to sell them on, that it will be one that always remains on the GPL (gas potentials list) 🙂

Here's a video that helped explain it for me. The guy talks / rambles a bit. It's worth watching from the beginning but its the visualisation of his hand movements just after 4 mins that helped me visualise what was happening.

I've used Ken Smith strings on a wide variety of basses over the years and love them. They last me a long time (and I like a decent amount of zing to the string 🙂 ) and are not flabbly like some strings. Usually use the TCRM and TCRML 5's with the tapered B, E & A. A quick check online said they are hex core. TCRML-5 Taper Core-Medium Light .044 .063 .080T .102T .125T TCRM-5 Taper Core-Medium .044 .063 .084T .106T .130T

These threads raise their head every few months or so in various disguises - "never play above the 5th fret!", "chords over everything!", "roots 'n' fifths only!", "slap it like it owes ya money!" 🤣 None of which are right.......or wrong! @Stub Mandrel said it for me "It depends entirely on the context". If we all subscribed to the less is more then those oft hallowed basslines from Rhythm Stick, Rio, Do I Do, Wherever I Lay My Hat, Roundabout etc. wouldn't exist. Likewise a pumping 16th note frenzy as the bassline for Dreams or Too Soon to Tell probably wouldn't work too well either. 😁

Sold Rod some straploks. Easy deal and great comms. Thanks Rod

Not the 310 but the 210. A friend has 2 x 210 MNT which he only uses both for big gigs. Normal pub gigs he only uses 1 in a 5 peice covers band.....and he's not quiet 🙂 I used his rig for a dep I did for him in a big hall and it didnt break a sweat. Based on this and other reviews I bought one 210 for the rehearsal space and running it with a Tecamp Puma 900 and find theres no lack of bottom end or clarity with it. I have yet to use mine on a gig as I usually use my Berg CN212 which is itself pretty awesome. I doubt you'd be dissapointed with either the 310 or 410 you're looking at. If you need the volume without PA support then the 410 might edge it. For moving and storage the 310 would win for me. Alternatively get one of each "just in case" 😉 🤣

I have in the past looked around for info on the switches as it wasn't initially clear to me whether the "lowest", "low", "high" etc related to frequency or boost. On the Ken Forums he only says something like the bass, mid and treble controls are set to "some frequencies that sounded nice but I can't remember what they are and I think I have them written down somewhere"! I then found a sheet on the Smith site for the PAPA outboard preamp that has the same dip-switches in and he talks about them adjusting the basic frequency of the unit. From this I gather that the bass, mid and treble controls give you cut and boost and the dip switches are there to "fine tune" the frequencies. Currently mine is set with the New configuration but I feel a "twiddle" coming on to check again what they do in practice 🙂 My current Fusion 25th and the 6'er I traded for it.