Mudpup

I recently went thru a similar GAS scenario. Play a Spector Euro normally in a rocky punky covers band (Foos', Clash, Leon, Pistols sort of stuff) and thought i needed something a bit more traditional and precisiony sounding to suit the mix a bit better. Decided i would need some sort of Precision bass. Sat in PMT Romford for 2 hrs a few weeks ago (thanks Bob for your patience!) trying all sorts of Fender/Squier/Precision/Jazzy type basses from £200 to £800. The Squier CV's were almost there and i quite liked a Modern Player Jazz too. The MIM Precisions were ok but didnt feel they were hundreds of pounds better than the CV's. The one that was absolutely head and shoulders better than all of them was a Yamaha BB424X. I wasnt even going to try it because i was sure i needed a Fender of some sort but i'm bloody glad i did. Bought it on the spot and the guys in the band can,t believe how good it sounds for a £400 bass. It has a real resonance about it, the p pickup is pure grunty precision and the j pickup has a real honk to it. Mix the two and you have massive punch. The only downs so far are that the fret ends are a little sharp but thats easily sorted. Neck is somewhere inbetween a jazz and precision feel. Has a bit of meat about it but easy to grab hold of and hammer away on. Try one if you can.

Anyone want these? Elixir stainless, taken off after a month. Couldnt get on with them. You need a 2 a side headstock - wont fit a Fender style. http://basschat.co.uk/topic/190079-fs-%3B-elixir-stainless-bass-string-set-l17-taken-off-a-spector-euro-after-1-months-use/page__fromsearch__1 Ped, i owe you a favour re a Peavey footswitch from a while ago. PM me if they'll fit your bass.

[quote name='rubis' timestamp='1352309353' post='1861460'] [i]You might want to consider this BG500 combo, easily loud enough [/i] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/189242-two-amps-for-sale-trace-elliot-and-tc-electronic/"][i]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/189242-two-amps-for-sale-trace-elliot-and-tc-electronic/[/i][/url] [/quote] This TC above is an excellent combo. Loads of features - tuner, presets, tubedrive, compressor, aux in and headphone out for practicing. Bargain at 250 sniffs. Had the 15" version for a while but reckon the 210 would sound tighter and punchier. The 15 was a bit wallowy for my taste.

+1 for The Bass Gallery, Royal College St, Camden.

Is there a Guitardchat or Howlerchat site? You might have more luck - this place is just full of bass players and everyone knows we cant play or sing.

Hey Alex Its a good thing - sometimes you need to get kicked out of your comfort zone to move forward. Dont panic. Your drive and focus will carry you. Chances are you'll look back in 6 months time and wish you'd done it sooner. Ps Still got the Ashdown speaker? Good luck Jon

[quote name='Taria' timestamp='1351963393' post='1857382'] Thanks for the heads up, I actually played through one at a gig a couple of weeks ago and I loved the tone I could get from it, way better than anything I have managed with my ashdown. However I am still open to options. I just need lighter stuff (I currently own a massive 2x15 trace Elliot cab which is impossible for me to move solo). I need to get stuff that I don't have to rely on the boys in my band to help me shift!! [/quote] You're looking in the right direction. The cabs are an easy one handed lift.

[quote name='Taria' timestamp='1351871140' post='1856455'] Excellent that's good news - I am looking at the GK MB Fusion too as it happens. Thought I would get the cabs first as I have an Ashdown head I can use currently, then when I have some more cash to play with the Fusion is definitely on the list to check out. [/quote] The Fusion head is WAY different from an Ashdown. Make sure you check one out first. In conjunction with the 12's in the cabs its a lot more bitey and less whumpy than the Ashdown. I made the same switch from an ABM500 evo3 as i couldnt get on with the pillowy sound and couldnt dial it out enough for my taste. The GK is more me.

[quote name='Taria' timestamp='1351867535' post='1856393'] I am just hovering over the checkout page on Thomann myself to buy 2 x 212 MBE cabs. Just though I would do a little search on here first and now I am slightly concerned as to whether to purchase. TBH the main things that attract me are the price (£207 per cab currently)! And also the handling of 600w per cab....however I am not sure I want to buy that cabs that have a propensity to burst into flames! Anyone else had negative experience with these cabs? [/quote] I have the same pair running thru a GK MB Fusion head and its all good so far.

Thats a worry Ive just bought 2 of them from Thomann! Better add a fire extinguisher to my gig bag.

Shame about the brand new neck plate

Is it as punchy as your Yamaha?

[quote name='L_Bass_Dog85' timestamp='1351293877' post='1849918'] I have HZ EMGs on my Spector Legend 5 and its my go to bass! The active pickups really do cut through the mix! [/quote] Got a feeling the HZ series are passive

Chas's daughter Juliet was the keyboard player in one of my old bands about 20 years ago. She joined the band and we didnt know who her dad was until she said we could rehearse at her house. Her dad looked vaguely familiar. All her family were lovely people - really friendly. We used to rehearse at his cottage/barn in Essex and his wife would make us tea and toast at 1 in the morning. I remember sitting in the front room one night after a practice and noticing a bass propped up in the inglenook fireplace. Had a look and it was a really old precision that was all scorched and bowed - probably worth a few quid if he wasnt using it as a poker. The house was rammed with musical history. Chas and Dave used to kick us out of the barn and move in with a crate of cigars and brandy for a week when they were writing. They would emerge when a new album was written and we were allowed back in.

Tom bought a cab from me. Good comms and easy to deal with. Cheers mate!