FourStrung

Picked up a great 97 p bass on ebay just before Christmas and have just set it up and played it today for the first time as we only got back home last night. Really impressed with it. I tried looking for info on the Pro Tone before I bid but there really wasn't too much background on the model. So it was a gamble to place a bid, but I did see one for sale 2x the price I got it for, and with a wooden hard case - that is 4 x the weight of the bass! It has a jazz style neck so really easy to play and has a set of 40/100 strings on it atm. Especially nice since I set it up this afternoon Interested in any other info on these if anyone has one. I managed to date it as 1997 as they were only in production for 2 years from what I read.

[quote name='Alec' timestamp='1320680560' post='1429858'] As a bass player who, like many others, also does the PA, I understand it entirely. I've got our PA & my bass rig to the point where I can get the lot in with 5 trips from the car. Given the non-optimal parking arrangements at many venues, every trip counts! The lightweight & compact gear that I've moved to in the last few years has payback when humping it in & out of the car and around the stage. The rest of the time, it all goes on a trolley - I never carry when I can roll... [/quote] I know I said I was trying to avoid heavy/bulky ha ha... The MAG 115 300 is 28kg almost 62lbs and MAG 115 Deep cab is 27kg about 60Ibs great plan huh!!! I have managed to squeeze amp and cab, PA amp and 4 cabs, stands, bass, cables etc into my hatchback - I can still hear that suspension creaking... (and the shocks absorbers have just been replaced) even tucked a small guitar combo and and guitar too - hey no passengers that trip

[quote name='JohnFitzgerald' timestamp='1320615315' post='1429104'] This reminds me (very obliquely, you'll discover as you read on) of the time I did a fill in with another band. Friday night, Ashdown C300 Combo - 1x15 Mag version. I couldn't hear a thing. Just wasn't enough to do the job. I was out with them on the Saturday and vowed not to be caught out in a similar fashion again. I brought the combo as a front end and brought my PA system as a stand alone bass system. This consisted of 2 complete HK Audio Lucas systems. These are a 1x15 powered bin with two 1x8 plus HF mid top cabinets. I stacked the two bins one on top of the other and the 4 mid / tops right across the top and had that as my main. Then used the Ashdown as a front end DI'd into the mega stack. I heard myself that night, oh yes :-) 2x15s, 4x8s 4 x horns, plus the Ashdown. 1900 watts IIRC. They made me carry it all myself. Wanted nothing to do with it :-) [/quote] Thanks John, this made me smile this morning. I got rid of a heavy Fender Blues Deville because I was fed up with carrying up and down stairs along with the PA gear I have, so tried to avoid anything too bulky and heavy. But it was a great temptation to go 4x10/12, and have rarely heard a bad 8 x12. But then I would have had to buy a van as well. Not sure I could have got away with spending that much without a divorce case on my hands - next year maybe

The band is now testing out putting everything through the PA. Had the first run through last week. I had my reservations about how the bass would sound, although we have bass bins for front of house and 15" in the foldback. So i arrived with the full rig but the intention was to DI to the PA. While this was he first run at this sound setup, and came about as a result of the bad acoustics where we end up playing, I think I was a little disappointed. Not in the sound but the fact my new cab had become a little redundant. I could still hear/feel it on stage, but was told the sound overall for the band was a great deal better. Obviously this will be fine for bigger venues which are less frequent, especially in central France, so I will still get to benefit from the rig most of the time. Would be interested to here an advise /opinions on DI use.

Now have a MAG 115 Deep cab and it was such a good decision as the sound is just on the money for me. It adds such depth to tone and transforms the combo setup to something else. Thanks for you comments

Well, I eventually went for an Ashdown Mag 115 deep and hey it sounds absolutely great. .It has transformed the Combo in to a great sounding rig for what I am playing. Thanks for all you input

Ok, it had a good 3 hours of use tonight, full band rehearsal and it sounded just great. I am guessing here but think, adding the Ashdown 115 deep cab apart from giving the full 307 watts of power of the amp also allows the speakers to be driven much better. I notice with my tube guitar amp (Bugera V22) that when you start to drive the speakers the sound is just so much better and assuming that bass shouldn't be much different! So a big thumbs up for the +115 deep cab IMO or course. And like most things this is subjective I know, but at least I feel I spent the money well. By the way I bought the cab form Music Store in Germany 169€ inc delivery and arrive quickly too here in France

Well - after all that, I took delivery of a 115 deep Ashdown cab today and it sounds really great. It has a bigger enclosure and give extra dynamics to the sound quality. It will get full session use this Wednesday and don't think I'm gonna be disappointed

[quote name='bremen' post='1370424' date='Sep 12 2011, 02:45 PM']This I like a lot! It's not what I understand 'growl' to mean though. I'm struggling to think of an example...hang on.. ah, here we go: [/quote] While I love the bass on the first link, I think this may be closer to what I am seeking, thanks

[quote name='bubinga5' post='1370398' date='Sep 12 2011, 02:25 PM']Chris is right.. some basses just dont growl... but its not the bass on woods and construction alone..imo.. its a collection of things.. a growl (imo) is obtained by a certain string, a certain wind of pickups, a certain action, and in preamp cases, a certain preamp.. imo pulling the strings aggressively can do it, but sometimes chokes a note.. depends on your touch, and what your playing i guess.... sorry Chris , but imo a jazz bass with bias to the bridge is not really growl....... its a very focused tone, with no spill.. get a great roundwound string with a fat gauge.. not a hex core.. there way too tight.... you want it nice and floppy.. then if you can afford it some lindy Fralin P pups.. growl central[/quote] Remember I have a Precision...

[quote name='bremen' post='1370266' date='Sep 12 2011, 12:54 PM']eg, GHS Boomers. Not as 'brittle' or 'zingy' as Rotosounds. The G string is a bit fatter sounding on my Precision. Writing about sound is like dancing about architecture, though. One man's growl is another man's clank.[/quote] Guess we are still talking roundwound, what about gauge?

[quote name='Lozz196' post='1369771' date='Sep 11 2011, 08:58 PM']Rotosound roundwounds. Love `em, and they make my Precisions do exactly that - growl. Must admit, I prefer them when they`re old, but new there`s lots of growl and zing in them.[/quote] A string change sounds a cool solution, thanks for the tip. I don't know a great deal about bass strings as I played guitar mostly, but now having a lot of fun on the bass

Thanks Chris, I will try tweeking the EQ settings and playing nearer the bridge and see what happens

Hi Guys, I just love it when my Precision starts to growl, it just makes playing a bass such a blast. Wondering if there are particular strings that just may boost this aspect of the sound, or is more technique? But I want more of it – please .......

Thanks Guys, All good stuff. Sorry if appear to have duplicated somewhat from topic the about adding a 4x10. But I am moving forward with this and grateful for your comments. Now leaning towards a 2nd 15 as it is beginning to seam like the right way to go for sound, transportability, size & weight.

[quote name='LennyP' post='1368028' date='Sep 9 2011, 09:23 PM']Interesting! I recently bought the same combo EVO III. Initially I was looking for something smaller for a duo than my Ashdown Mag400 (2001 Red head which is great) and 2 x 2x10 that I use in a band setting. I took the combo in a trade but thought that the sound was only 'OK' and the volume with a P Bass was as you describe. However, it coincided with me getting one of the Kappalite 3015 15" speakers to experiment with in another cab. Anyway, I fitted it to the Ashdown today and very impressed!. Sounds much louder, due to better efficiency than the blueline speaker, and the frequency response seems much more even. I also have a Nathan East NE-1 preamp that I intend to use with the P Bass to boost the input slightly eliminate the need for another cab at gigs. I suppose there are a few ways for you to increase volume - it depends on how much gear you want to carry. On 15's - I've never tried 2 together, but some people love them. Like the post above, go to BFM's site and there is much to be learned on this subject[/quote] Thanks, I am off to check out the site now. Will post the outcome when resolved

[quote name='xgsjx' post='1364921' date='Sep 7 2011, 09:17 AM']I'm gonna go against what the rest are saying & suggest getting an Ashdown 1x15 cab. If you like the sound you're getting, the extra 15 is going to give you more of the same & will have a better dispersion to your audience than the 4x10. Adding the 4x10 does 2 things. 1, it changes your sound & 2, different sized drivers will give you different sounds at different venues. With the same sized drivers you'll get a more consistent sound from venue to venue.[/quote] Thanks, I had started thinking about another 15 after rethinking transportation issues with the 4x10, then began looking at the 2x10 and surprised that some are more expensive than the 4x10. I do like what I am getting from the 15. Had a reply back from Mark at Ashdown who suggested that the 2x10 would cut through the mix of a band, but not sure I am having issues in that area for my style and the blues/rock stuff we play. The 15 would be no problem when cramming all the gear into my Peugeot 307, so that could be a winner. Think I will have to try and find people with cabs I test out

Thought I had made up my mind to get a 4 x 10, but now having doubts more about the transportation side of things with the shear size and of course the extra weight. But having looked a some 2 x 10s I am stuck in the middle of them. The 15" in the combo is nice so I guess I could just get another one – damn another option Help me out here lads before I do something I may regret.

Have had the Ashdown combo for a couple of months now and liking what I am getting with my Fender Precision, so real issue on the sound front. However, finding it needs to be run around 75% vol at some gigs and think I need the 4 x 10 the help out with the power end without pushing the amp too much. Considered the Ashdown 4 x 10 to run the internal speaker with the external can at 4ohms and get full power from the amp. It will move more air but not sure what will happen to the sound along with it. Do I have that right so far? Hoping the more experienced players out there may offer some advice here. Its a long way to good music shop out here in the middle of France, so will be likely be a online buy or grab something when I am back in the UK in Dec, if I can wait that long – ha ha (urge to buy building up...) but wont have the any of the gear on the trip

Hi guys For the record, in the mean time I have bought a Fender P Bass which I just loooove. Ok you know how it goes, one more guitar then a new amp So now the Warwick looks like being an ok backup – surprise, surprise . . . I just happened to be messing about with some gear and set up my wireless system to the Warwick and found that it boosted the sound level without changing the tone a great deal – so what d'you know it sounds pretty damn good - result! Why didn't I try that before... hmmmm!

[quote name='yorick' post='1309916' date='Jul 20 2011, 08:36 AM']I had one of these. Well worth putting in a pre-amp into!!! I picked up an MEC circuit cheaply and put that in. Nice [/quote] Thanks for the thumbs up on a mod. Thinking that maybe a brand change on strings may be be worth a try too but not too sure what ones may bring our the best from it!

[quote name='mart' post='1309737' date='Jul 19 2011, 11:09 PM']If it's a Streamer Standard, I think the pickups are known to be low output. I'm also pretty sure that they are a non-standard size, so would be very hard to replace. You could try fitting a new preamp - that would probably change the sound a lot. Lots of folk on here will probably have recommendations for a good pre to try.[/quote] This is the model from their bottom end range although selling for over 400€ here in France. There isn't a preamp... in the cavity for the pots are only the 3 pots/wiring, plus the tone control does not seam to do very much. Hence why it really needs any type of pedal to give it a boost. I understand that one of the areas they don't use great components on cheaper stuff are the electronics. I guess maybe I am thinking these are the weak spot and maybe its just better to use an effects pedal to compensate. [attachment=85129:Rockbass1.jpg]

Looking for some advice from those of you who have updated their basses, maybe someone has already given their Rockbass a new lease of life. I have tweaked quite a few guitars but have only got into playing bass earlier this year so not so confident on this one. Recently got a Fender Precision which is a dream to play and love the sound through my Ashdown Mag C115 300 combo, although i think it needs the extra 4x10 cab to get the best from it. It's a bit sad to leave the Warwick gathering dust as it does play very nicely, but the sound is just not hitting the spot. Maybe I shouldn't complain at all as it was a donation from a friend, but output is low from the pickups and needs a pedal at least to make it useable. Any ideas on how I can breath some life into the poor WRB or should I let it RIP?

[quote name='FourStrung' post='1271553' date='Jun 16 2011, 03:36 PM']I like simple solutions and thanks for what must have seamed pretty obvious Cheers[/quote] Hey guys, Some great ideas, I really like the idea of just changing the pup or building a hybrid Think I just focussed on a stock solution – not like me as I am happy to swop out bits and customise to my liking Am very excited now by the thoughts of where I can go with this now Will post the outcome Thanks again for your suggestions

I like simple solutions and thanks for what must have seamed pretty obvious Cheers