MichaelDean

I just upgraded my power supply in order to be able to ditch the additional power supply for my B3N and got one of these: https://www.dv247.com/en_GB/GBP/Fame-DC-Junior/art-GIT0040359-000?campaign=PSM_UK/kelkoo&ProgramUUID=MrLAqJarZEUAAAFobL.P7Dz7#rating-area With 500ma off each output, it should power just about anything I throw at it. Seems solid so far!

I saw someone on the Dingwall thread on TalkBass who had one made and echoed your sentiment. He was a bit nervous to start with, but practice made it much easier.

You can buy the RM 210 and 115 on the Ashdown website in different colours. Unfortunately, it looks like they only do custom covers on those two models though. Could be worth an email to them to see what they say?

There aren't a lot of aftermarket options if you're looking for Mustang specific parts. The bridge you'd have to get second hand as Fender don't sell them separately and there are no direct aftermarket options if you're after the classic look. Pickups can be purchased easily enough, but if you want Nordstrands or similar, often they don't come with the pickup shells (ugh!). The control plate and pickguards can be found easily online. Necks and bodies are harder to come by though. I think because there aren't any off the shelf replacements like you get for P and J basses, necks and bodies just don't really get separated. Your best bet is probably to put your DIY efforts into something else and just buy a Mustang.

After playing a Mustang for years, I got a Sterling by Musicman Ray 5 for a hip hop band I joined. It sounded great and was a good intro to 5 strings. They're also reasonably priced second hand. That wasn't a super budget nor super expensive way in to 5 strings. I only moved it on because I got a Dingwall as an engagement gift from my fiancée.

Yeah, exactly this on mine too.

I got one a few weeks ago - as all have said, they're great amps! I particularly like the bit of edge engaging the valve gets you. I have it set so it's not in your face, but it just adds warmth and will snarl a bit if I dig in a bit more. Enjoy!

I ran a PF500 for about 8/9 years, so it was an early production model. It did loads of practices and gigs and never let me down. Really solid bit of kit and sounds great. Got loads of compliments on my tone with that head. Only moved it on because it had been 9 years and I wanted to see what else was out there.

I can confirm it sounds fat and hefty with a 212! I'm very pleased with my couple of week old ABM 600. I just came from an Ampeg PF-500 and quite a few years before that I had a LMII. It's like there are some frequencies that don't fill out in the same way with class D. At least not the stuff I've tried. The size/weight does mean I can't put my head in my gigbag anymore, but it does balance nicely with my pedalboard in the other hand!

How about a bit of black nail polish in the dents?

Soooo, after my least thread about reliability I was convinced to get an ABM, but after scouring the used for a few weeks, I couldn't find one close enough to me. So I just went and ordered a new one! 😁 Doesn't quite match my cab like my old Ampeg, but its got the heft I wanted. I'm one happy bunny! Sounds great with my Dingwall and my Mustang. Really looking forward to the next practice now!

Also very useful! 👍

They only had the older v2 stuff in store otherwise I would have been tempted to try it out. Only interested in a head at the moment though. My Zilla cab is looooverly. Maybe I nip in on my lunch break and try the old range to get a feel.

This is what I wanted to hear! Thanks!

I'm in the market for a new amp. I've been using my Ampeg PF-500 almost since the model came out and it has been incredibly reliable, but I feel like I want a change. My first decent amp was a Trace Elliot Commando 12, which didn't have a proper DI out and wasn't quite loud enough for me at that time. I then moved to a Markbass CMD 102P - very nice too, but too modern for me. Then I got my Ampeg with the matching 210 cab and I was set until I started playing 5 string. I'm now rocking the Ampeg with a Zilla neo 212, which is an excellent combination, but I haven't been amp shopping for about 8/9 years and wanted to see if I was missing anything. I was in the Bristol PMT the other week trying some stuff out (really wanted to like Orange stuff but it wasn't me!) and what really grabbed me by the ears was an ABM 300 EVO IV. Sounded really smooth through the Orange 112 I was plugged into and very reminiscent of my old TE. But, both that and an ABM 600 that was on display both had reliability issues. The 600 didn't even turn on so the salesman got the 300 fresh out of the box in front of me. The 300 had a fault with the switches where it would cut out after pressing the switches. I know Ashdown are known for being reliable and have a good presence here, but two faulty units in the same shop makes me nervous! Has anyone else had any good/bad issues with the ABM EVO IV range? Also, anything else that I should be looking at amp wise? I know I'm not after anything too modern sounding, I prefer a more vintage tone and I like my mids. My main player at the moment is a Dingwall Combustion 5. I know I don't like the current Orange stuff (tried the Terror Bass and OB1), I don't like what I've heard from the Ashdown Rootmaster from using them at practice studios. I am interested in a Trace Elliot AH 600-12. Price range is up to £700 and second hand is encouraged. I'm a sprightly 32 as well, so weight isn't a huge concern.

Yes, I used their one. I should have ordered two cans of the clear coat though - it doesn't quite go as far if you want a gloss finish. My bike is a bit shiny in some places, but not all...

You might want to look at Spray.Bike. It's powder coat in a can and adheres to most metals. Not cheap, but after doing a bike frame myself, I think you'd get quite a few grills with a can.

I've got a verticle neo 2x12 from Zilla. It sounds amazing and handles a 5 string really well. I've played function band and rockier stuff through it. 600W @ 4ohms and it being verticle means that I have a really small stage footprint. Not sure I'll need another cab for the level of gigging I do. Two handles on the sides make it really easy to carry. The best thing might be the custom colours though. I got mine in purple tolex (matches the light on my PF-500) , fender style grill, grey piping and black hardware. It was ready in about 2 weeks after ordering. Its such a pretty cab that my fiancee doesn't mind it being on display in the house! I also live in Bristol and they were fine with me driving out to them in Somerset to try out one with my head and bass. Very nice in person, but it's a team of about 4 people and they get so many enquiries though email that they can take a little time to respond.

Hi everyone, I started making my own bass from my own hand drawn plans a while ago, using a friend's workshop. [url="http://imgur.com/a/eEPAl"]Album here.[/url] It stalled a couple of years ago and now I don't have the same amount of time that I did before, nor access to the tools. I've been contacting luthiers in the area (Bristol), but either I don't get a response or they don't want to do it. I do understand their point of view. They'd rather start something from scratch rather than deal with surprises from another build. The work I’d like to get done is:[list] [*]Trim the fretboard to the neck, radius (12”) & fret it [*]Central block levelled (even only roughly, I can sand to flat) [*]Pickup cavities routed [*]Control and battery cavities routed [*]Holes for controls drilled (or at least the selector switch) [*]Linking cavities with holes for wires [*]Bridge ground hole put in (I’m not going for the individual ones as per the album, I’ve got a MM style) [/list] Can anyone recommend someone that can help? I understand that it's possibly not the most enticing job for someone, but it's something that I'd really like to get finished! Cheers, Mike

Hi, I'm Mike. I'm new around here, but I do use Talk Bass quite a lot. My username over there is silentmike if anyone is interested. I've been playing for 13 years now and I'm the bassist for [url="http://thisismynormalstate.bandcamp.com"]This Is My Normal State[/url]. My current gear includes:[list] [*]1976 Fender Mustang [*]Squier Jaguar SS [*]Ampeg PF-200 & PF-210HE [*]Boss TU-2 [*]Boss FV500H [*]Homemade SparkleBoost [*]EHX Bass Big Muff [*]Wasabi Forward/Reverse Delay [/list] Anything else you want to know, give me a shout! Cheers, Mike