basslowdown

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/P-bass-by-Kay-Guitars-MIJ-and-believed-to-be-1968-/190730721369?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item2c686fd859&_uhb=1#ht_596wt_1220"]http://www.ebay.co.u...1#ht_596wt_1220[/url] Can only think he's been inspired by Warwick angling the heads back!!! Taken to new levels of course and it's good to know that the age old art of 'honing' jack sockets is still alive and well. Alas, no pictures of Mr Phillips or his bright red van this time!!!

Yeah the new Gibson stuff looks really interesting although I'd be interested to try the semi as I believe it's not a traditionally built semi rather more of a hollowed out solid guitar (a bit like the Rickenbacker semis?) More exciting is that the prices look much more realistic. The New 70s Tribute G3 bass is being advertised here [url="http://www.rockpalace.com/en/product/Gibson-Grabber-G3-70s-Tribute-Satin-Honeyburst"]http://www.rockpalace.com/en/product/Gibson-Grabber-G3-70s-Tribute-Satin-Honeyburst[/url] And unless I'm mistaken looks like it'll be less than £700!!! Whether that'll change when it's in stock I don't know?

[quote name='Dandelion' timestamp='1347996653' post='1807947'] Gowd... what ever happened to Making Music? I used to like that. [/quote] It became Playmusic Pickup then just Playmusic, it was in print up to about the start of this year and now it has gone over to exclusively online. I wrote for it a bit a few years back. [url="http://www.playmusicpickup.co.uk/"]http://www.playmusicpickup.co.uk/[/url]

Thanks

That would be a great setup (presuming that two 112, sound the same as my 212). All the sound in a much more portable package.

[font=Times New Roman][size=3][color=#000000]As the name suggests the Bergantino HD212 is a straightforward 2 x 12 bass cab, featuring two slightly offset vertical drivers and a high frequency horn between the two. I believe the HD stands for High Definition although I’m not altogether sure what this is meant to mean with regards to bass!? [/color][/size][/font] [font=Times New Roman][size=3][color=#000000]The cabinet itself is rated at 700 watts and covered in tolex, the speaker grille is of the punched metal variety, round the back is a standard panel featuring a pair of parallel speakon inputs and an attenuator for the high frequency horn. At this point I should say that from a construction point of view (even with my unit being second hand) the HD212 is faultless. It doesn’t look flashy but it looks like it’ll go on forever with none of the strange rattles and vibrations you can get over time.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Times New Roman][size=3][color=#000000]So far I have only used the cab with my Momark 800 and they seem to be a perfect match in power and tone. I personally find the Momark a little devoid of personality but with a very strong EQ module that allows me to shape the sound as I want. The Bergantino also appears to have a reputation of simply reproducing anything you put in to it but in this case is certainly seems to add some balls to the Momark and creates a nice thickness around the lower mids. The Bergantino can handle both modern and old school sounds with everything from an ACG 5 String, Passive Jazz to an old Framus Semi Acoustic going through it.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Times New Roman][size=3][color=#000000]What I also like about the cab is that it never seems to complain, one band I play in is (too) loud and sees the Momark turned up over half way and even with my five string the Bergantino doesn’t complain, doesn’t sound strained and maybe most surprisingly doesn’t sound hugely different to the same cab at lower volumes. I believe these cabs are very efficient too although not really an issue with my own amp.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Times New Roman][size=3][color=#000000]A slightly meaningless test but one I like to do anyway, is to play pre-recorded music through any new speaker. Using the Momark’s FX return I was surprised to hear that the Berganitno’s reproduction was actually quite accurate, there was a bit of thickness around the 300 Hz range (which bears out my thoughts on how it beefs up my Momark) but the sound is certainly better than many similarly priced PA cabs I’ve heard.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Times New Roman][size=3][color=#000000]At the gig, the HD212 just seems to deliver whatever I want from old Motown sounds to modern finger style stuff. You do need to make sure you keep it out of the corners but other than that it does the business. I tend to have the HF horn virtually off as the 12s reproduce all the high frequencies I need, but if that’s what you’re after the HD will sound incredibly Hi-Fi, you do get a little hiss through the horn but in fairness it can only generate noise that is already present so it can hardly be at fault.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Times New Roman][size=3][color=#000000]So is there anything I don’t like? Yes… The weight![/color][/size][/font] [font=Times New Roman][size=3][color=#000000]After running a few Neo cabs, this thing is a beast, I reckon about 40kgs maybe? But it’s bloody heavy, and a funny shape to carry. I have fitted casters but again the shape does make its centre of gravity a little high when pushing it. Still if you’re careful you’ll be OK… I love it and my cab GAS has receded![/color][/size][/font]

Thanks I think I understand better now. At least I know any upgrade can come later.

Apologies if I've missed this discussion somewhere else? I currently have my heart set on a Gibson Thunderbird bass and whilst I know these are a bit of an acquired taste the three point bridges seem uniformly hated. Having not had huge experience with them I was just wondering what is actually wrong with them. Are they unserviceable and useless? Or just difficult to work with or...? Cheers Martin

[quote name='Jack' timestamp='1340469986' post='1704967'] he'd never heard of Epifani and just couldn't bare to tell me I'd mispronounced 'Epiphone'. [/quote] Ha ha, I actually had this one when someone come in asking for an epiphany guitar!!! Although not as good as the young chap who come in asking for a Pervy Amplifier!

Yeah these all sound like typical responses, and I did work in a music store for 7 years so I know it's sometimes difficult to separate the timewasters from the genuine people but that's no excuse. It is certainly the case that some distributors do have a minimum order policy and if the shop is struggling they probably don't want to invest more money in stock, although that is really playing into the hands on the online box shifters who I have personally used and received nothing but excellent service and support. However, I have had issues recently with some of the more specialist bass stores (without mentioning names) I needed a set of rack ears for my Momark head and ordered some on line and paid for them. Two days later I got a refund, no message... So I emailed and asked what had happened and got a very short, "don't have them anymore". Tried emailing another 'elite' bass specialist who didn't even respond... Ultimately I went straight to the importers. Giving these stores another chance I visited one to have a look around, and I was looking to spend significant money too and I was spoken to (at) like an absolute idiot (which I don't think I am), luckily I was able to sort out my requirements through the sales section on here which went great... I know times are tough but it does feel like the shops have already slung in the towel. In future though I will probably just use German or American stores and pay the extra carriage!!!