Linus27

Just seen this also. Very sad indeed and my thoughts are with his family. R.I.P

I have a few clips up (check my signature) and all I do is stick a camcorder in front of me, put the CD into the CD player, plug the bass in, turn the amp on, set the volumes on the CD and amp and press record. Then finalise the disc, open it in Windows Movie Maker, add title and end credits, save and upload to Youtube. The bit that takes the longest is the Youtube upload. Thats it really. OK, not the best method but the quality seems good enough.

I must admit, the Epifani UL310 I am trying does sound really nice. Very clear and punchy. Very articulate with each note.

[quote name='johnny_b' post='533609' date='Jul 6 2009, 10:56 AM']The chance to A/B them is a really good offer - but for those not luck enough to be able to try one first heres my 2 cents. I have a Shuttle 6 and which I use most often through a MarkBass 210. All in all a very light rig. Main bass is a passive Shuker JB with Delanos. The amp seems very well put together, the controls have nice knurled alloy knobs which feel positive with a 'notched' action to them. It is quiet - it has a fan but the noise is not intrusive - similar to a computer fan. The 3 preset signal shapes - bass boost, mid cut, high boost are useful ways to get into a tonal 'area' quickly. The tone controls are clear and straightforward. The semi-parametric layout lets you tune out - or enhance between 150 and 2kHz and is very effective. It is a very clean, transparent sounding amp when you need that, but warms up nicely when you drive the preamp a bit. The headphone and AUX inputs are nice additions if you travel or need a simple practice set up I use it to DI a lot - the pre out does not need a dummy speaker load, which can be handy. I emailed Genz Benz with a question about the unit and got a reply almost straight away from Jeff Gensler himself - so customer service seems excellent so far! I think its best to be a bit more careful in live situations than with old fashioned amps - as its very light it could be dragged off its perch quite easily - if you are in a band where people jump about I would anchor your lead or the amp somehow, to be on the safe side. I haven't owned the amp long enough to comment on reliability. I have not used the optional footswitch, but if you change your sound often in performance, its probably worthwhile considering. I find I don't need it as I can dial in sounds very quickly on the amp if needed. ITS LOUD. but controlled. There is, IMO definitely no lack of bass! My only problem has been with the single tube. The 12AX7 can get some nice overdrive tones - but I have replaced the tube in mine with an old Mullard one - which I prefer. The stock tube is probably fine but I found that at low volumes, if sitting on a cab I would get occasional 'farting' noises - not loud, but noticeable. I took the amp off the cab and the problem disappeared. Figuring this might be microphonic or other tube-related noise, I changed tubes and have had no more problems. I wrote to the Bass Merchant, (who have it at the best price so far as I know) who supplied it and they said that there had been no other reported problems, but changing tubes would not void the warranty, btw. Overall, if you want a versatile modern lightweight amp give it a try - I was all set on a MarkBass but the Shuttle gives me a few more options at a better price. I'll post some clips soon if anyone is interested. J[/quote] Great write up and review, many thanks for taking the time to do it. I am trying Nicks out tonight so really can't wait. If I got one, I would probably get a Genz Benz NEO212 also as I also hear great things about them.

[quote name='dood' post='533581' date='Jul 6 2009, 10:11 AM']See, this is why I love BassChat. Where else can you get this kind of generosity? Nice one Nick![/quote] Have to agree with you on that. My main hangout now. So many nice, friendly, helpfull people here. Been lent some amazing gear to try out even when I hardly know them. Just goes to show, us bass player are the best people in the world.

In my search for a lightweight cab, I am pretty much down to two. Either an Epifani 212/310 with my Ashdown ABM EVO III head or a Genz Benz Shuttle 6 with the NEO212 cab. I am kindly being lent an Epifani 310 to try and it does sound very nice with my Ashdown head. It still has that Ashdown sound but the Epifani makes it a bit cleaner over my Ashdown ABM 410. What is the Genz Benz Shuttle 6 and NEO 212 like and what sort of sound does it suit? Never heard a Genz Benz but they do seem to be very highly rated. Might take a trip out to test one if they are worth it. Any advice, especially on the Genz Benz stuff very appreciated.

[quote name='bassmansky' post='533169' date='Jul 5 2009, 05:47 PM']i love the sound of my abm 4x10 but as you say it is a bit heavy for one person to carry.the handles are not exactly very kind on your hands either and i find when someone is helping you carry it ,the cab is not very well balanced.so after humping it around for the last year i am also thinking of going lightweight,but to what?I need a deep sound from a cab (or two) which is light and compact and needs to be loud without affecting the sound quality.good luck in finding a new cab, any reccomendations would be most helpful [/quote] Epifani and Genz Benz seem to be top of my list at the moment. If I go with the Epifani, then either the 3x10 or the 2x12 and I will stick with my Ashdown ABM EVO III head. If I go the Genz Benz route, then I am tempted to get a Shuttle 6 and the Genz Benz Neox 212T cab. However, I know nothing about the Genz Benz stuff apart from it is supposed to sound very good.

Well, I have been very kindly lent a Epifani 310 cab to try by Obhm and so today I plugged it into my Ashdown ABM EVO III head. At first I tried it with my Lakland Darryl Jones, running everything flat and it sounded very clean and punchy. Each note was very distinct and crisp. I then plugged my head into my Ashdown ABM 4x10 to compare and the Ashdown was much fuller and fatter sounding but less clean and distinct. It was punchy but the clean tone was somewhat hidden away under the mushiness that the Ashdown was giving. This was not a bad thing as what you lose in tone, you gain in fullness. With the Epifani, you get a slightly thinner sound but get a much cleaner precise tone. I then plugged my Lakland Duck Dunn through the Ashdown 4x10 and this sounds wonderful. Big fat precision sound. I then tried it through the Epifani and is sounded great but very bright and crisp and it lost a lot of the bottom end. I am sure the tone could be dialled in but for now, I just wanted to try everything flat. So, overall, I really like the Epifani and it really suits the tone I want to get out of a Jazz. However, the Ashdown, did stand up really well against it especially as it costs half the price. I am going to play with the Epifani some more over the next day or so but I do wonder if the Epifani 212 would add a bit more fullness to the sound over the 310. One funny thing though, after I finished testing. I packed the Epifani away which may I add, is so light its unbelievable. You can carry it one handed. I then went to pack the Ashdown ABM4x10 away and as I picked it up, I got a really sharp stabbing pain in the base of my spine. I am now in some discomfort and pain in my lower back and has confirmed in my mind that its time to go lightweight, whatever the cost. Its just not worth it anymore.

Anyone got any good venues in and around Reading fot indie guitar type of stuff????

[quote name='Low End Bee' post='531488' date='Jul 3 2009, 11:07 AM']I can recommend this chap. He's just getting back into band/music photography after spending a few years doing fine art still life stuff. He was the CBS (and then Sony) in house man for years. Done 'em all from Alice Cooper to Celine Dion! We had a huge laugh on the photo shoot with him and we're just waiting for the pics back from 'post production'. The few that I've seen are really top stuff. [url="http://www.bakerimages.com/"]Baker Images[/url][/quote] He looks pretty cool. Where is he based and how much did he cost?

[quote name='Stylon Pilson' post='531480' date='Jul 3 2009, 10:51 AM']I think you mean [url="http://www.tonywoolliscroft.co.uk/"]http://www.tonywoolliscroft.co.uk/[/url]. The .com goes to something quite unrelated. S.P.[/quote] HAHAHA beat you

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='531465' date='Jul 3 2009, 10:40 AM']If you want live shots then Tony Woolliscroft is your man. He was the Chilis official photographer for 15 years. His work is amazing...www.tonywoolliscroft.com. He has a book of Chilis photos out called 'Me And My Friends'. He's done virtually all the name bands over the years. He's based on Stoke but will travel. I have his number if you're interested.[/quote] I imagine he is going to be rather expensive. Just looking at the website now. EDIT: The correct link is [url="http://www.tonywoolliscroft.co.uk/"]http://www.tonywoolliscroft.co.uk/[/url] The link provided took me to a wool making website. Had me very confused

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='531464' date='Jul 3 2009, 10:39 AM']We've used a really horny Swedish bird in London for live photos. Never paid much attention to the quality of the pics, but the chic taking them is smoking! I'll try dig out her details if your interested. She's blonde, slim, probably early 20's. Lovely.[/quote] [b]SHALLOW MODE ON[/b] Yes please and make it snappy [b]SHALLOW MODE OFF[/b]

[quote name='molan' post='531453' date='Jul 3 2009, 10:26 AM']We used these people: [url="http://www.mrmstudios.co.uk/"]http://www.mrmstudios.co.uk/[/url] Studio is in Aldershot I think. Very professional & nice guys too. From memory I think we paid £200 for a live gig session & the main photographer must ahve been there for a good 3-4 hours. We got 150+ photos for this, all uploaded to his main site & easily downloadable etc.[/quote] Do you have an examples of the photos he took of your band? Also, did you tell him what you want or did he just do his own thing?

[quote name='Stylon Pilson' post='531392' date='Jul 3 2009, 09:04 AM']I understand what you're saying, but I think it's down to personal preference. I've been to the myspace page for Linus27's new band, and the music that they are playing is quite clean, refined pop. Not necessarily chart-friendly*, but certainly family-friendly. I think that if they are looking for promo photos then the professional route might be preferable. S.P. * I feel the need to append: I say this because of the nature of the charts, not because I think that Linus27's band aren't good enough. If anything, they are too good.[/quote] WOW, thanks Pete, feel embaressed now The music on our Myspace page are just rough demo's recorded at home and so, not very clear. We have recorded some better demo's which are being mixed but we plan to go into the studio soon to record some songs properly. I'm also not playing on any of those track, nor in any of the photos on the site, thus the reason for needing new ones. Glad you said we are playing quite clean, refined pop. I have no idea how to describe the music we play. The best I can ever come up with is take Radiohead or Coldplay and add a latin drummer and its sort of like that but not really that close

The band I am in are looking to get some proper photos done for promotion purposes. We want to pay for a proper job, not just some mate who is going to stick us in a field under a tree. We want a professional job. Anyone recommend anyone or used someone good? We are based in and around Surrey, Berkshire, London but don't mind travelling a bit. Thanks for any help.

[quote name='Musicman20' post='530848' date='Jul 2 2009, 05:43 PM']I have to admit as time as gone on, in 14 years as a bassist, I can see why people think a 1x15 sounds like it does. It might be based on more of the classic style 1x15s, not the new designs.....but there is a sense that a 4x10 is fast and punchy, whereas a 1x15 sounds nice and chunky and low. This is only with cabs i've tried....saying that my Orange 1x15 has very sweet highs...without a tweeter. Tom Bowlus noticed the same thing. So, I think its a tradtional view from tradtional cabs. New designs may indeed be different [/quote] I think you may have hit the nail on the head. I have been playing for 23 years and not really bought many bass cabs so I can only comment on what I have owned or tried which is why I say from a non-expert background. My first cab was a Calrbro 1x15 back around 1988. Then I got a Trace Valve combo 1x15 around 1996. Then a Trace combo 1x15 around 1997. Then I got a Hartke 4x10XL and 1x15XL around 1998. I ended up using the 1x15 more because the 4x10 was was so thin and tinny but that might have been because of the alluminium speakers. All this time I was playing punk rock pop stuff which needed fat full driving bass lines. The classic 4x10's in those days just sounded thin and to much top end which is why I chose the 1x15 everytime. I guess all my old speakers were the old classic style and why I have the opinion that 1x15's have a certain sound. I guess speakers have changed a lot in recent years. However, I still have to question, what the difference tonally there is between say a 1x15, 2x10 and 4x10 and infact a 2x12 for that matter and why do manufacturers offer the different configurations. My MAG 2x10 and 1x15 certainly sounded different and sat with the traditional perception. There was not a big difference but enough for me to notice and choose between depending on what bass I was going to play. Jazz would get the 2x10 to be clearer and more mids and top and my Stingray would go with the 1x15 to fatten it out. I guess things have moved on.

[quote name='alexclaber' post='530613' date='Jul 2 2009, 01:45 PM']I've said it before and I'll say it again - there is no such thing as a 4x10" sound. They all sound different! Same with every speaker configuration. The sound is down to the specifics of the cabinet, driver and crossover designs, not the nominal diameter. Or to look at an analogy, the performance of a car is not determined by the number of doors it has. Yes, there are lots of fast 2-door cars but there are plenty of 4-door cars with far better performance than many 2-doors. What matters much more is the weight of the car, the stiffness of the suspension, the centre of gravity and the power of the engine - just as with a loudspeaker the cone mass, suspension compliance, cone break-up modes and the voicecoil/magnet motor power matters much more than the nominal diameter. Alex[/quote] OK, talking from a non-expert background. I have always found that a 1x15 was always a lot bassier and boomier, especially when comparing like for like. For example, a Trace 1x15 combo always sounded bassier than the 4x10 combo. Even my two Ashdown MAG cabs I had sounded different with my MAG head. The 1x15 was much fuller and bassier than the 2x10 was cleaner, smoother with less bottom end. This was where I actually found the Ashdown 1x15 sounding wooly. So basing on my experience on different cabs, a 1x15 had always sounded too bass heavy for me and why I always chose the 4x10 option. Now, your cabs may be different but I just wanted to explain why I commented on a 4x10 sound.

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='530572' date='Jul 2 2009, 01:19 PM']Yeah, sorry. Its bloody hot here at work. I cant think much let alone come up with anything original. The problem (main one really) i have with my 1210R is its heavy. Im sure its nothing like your Ashdown (ill refrain from adding anything here ;-) but compared to my 1212L its a lot heavier. I do quite fancy something a bit more conventional sounding though. Not bothered about it sounding too uncoloured but sometimes the mid hump can get on my nerves a bit. Sounds great out front but im really a 1x15 man. Ive only heard great things about Alex's cab's and while im very tempted i dont actually "need" a new cab yet.[/quote] Yeah it is hot and I am just about to go for a curry. really sure thats a bad move. I've also only heard good things about Alex's cabs but I am more a 4x10 type of guy. I do need light though. Have you tried any Epifani's?

[quote name='51m0n' post='530559' date='Jul 2 2009, 01:12 PM']Uncoloured is a pretty tricky and subjective thing (Ashdown are really coloured IMO for instance) I'd +1 Alex' Compact mate, really think it'ss give you what you need, but if it doesnt the Big One will Or my usual response Berg AE410, I have a bad back, but I dont really struggle with this at all, its tiny as 410s go. Or the Berg ae12 stack Or if you are rolling in wonger the IP112 (lifted one last weekend, they are very light!) plus 112er[/quote] I do love the tone from my Ashdown rig but I think I could get better from a better cab. The one that seems top of my list is the Epifani 410 or Epifani 310. Berg's are so so expensive. Saying that, Alex's compact is half the price of the Epifani's. Of course, I have not played any of these other cabs with my head so it could all be a waste of time.