jrixn1

2 minutes ago, lidl e said:

You just linked back to this thread!

Oops - I meant https://www.basschat.co.uk/topic/474410-mxr-m81-bass-preamp  and will fix my original link.

You say you want something small and you don't need overdrive but then you say you are looking at the SCR-DI, which is a large pedal (bigger than the MicroBass II) and kind of the point of it is that is has overdrive.  If you're interested in Ampeg, they do another smaller preamp pedal 'Classic Analog' with their tonestack but without the 'Scrambler' (overdrive) section.  For your setup, you'd use it in conjunction with a separate DI box.  Or if you were happy with the MicroBass II, how about MXR M81, which is a good quality, transparent EQ preamp with DI. I had one for a while and thought it was really good.  I saw that there's one for sale in the marketplace (no relation to seller).

It has a variable HPF on each channel, if you move the switch from Notch to HP.

1 hour ago, Burns-bass said:

I'm being asked to do some upright gigs soon, which may require amplification. I have a few powered PA speakers. CouId I use this preamp and a powered PA speaker

Yes absolutely.  I've been doing exactly that for a while: upright and bass guitar > EBS Stanley Clarke > powered speaker.
I've used Yamaha, QSC, RCF, and FBT powered speakers.
Best setup ever.

What make/model is your very loud backline?  If it's loud enough to fill the venue but you can't hear it well yourself, the first advice is usually to tilt or raise it.  The potential problem with your proposal to run backline and two monitors all at the same time in a small venue is that you'll have bass coming from three sources bouncing around all over the place and it will sound muddy/indistinct.

2 hours ago, spyder said:

Strings are rotosound RS4000 with a B of unknown make. 

Thank you for the info above. Why did you send back The Band? It works great with my bass.

 

Thanks.  I currently play a mixed set of Spirocore and Gut-a-Like (which sound good but aren't a perfect match tension-wise) but they might need replacing at some point, so I will look into the Rotosounds as they sound interesting.

The Band gave inconsistent results with my bass - sometimes even during when it was in use...!  And at its best, it seemed to give no improvement in tone compared to my Bass Max.  But great to hear that it's working out for you.  There are lots of different pickup systems and strings, and although I'm pretty happy with what I've ended up with, still I'd love to experiment more (need more time and money though).

K&K Bass Max - had mine for years/decades.  It sounds ok on its own, but I find it improves once in the band mix.  Really easy to work with live - I never have a bad sound or any issues.

Headway Band - just send it back... I found it useless.

Mounted mic - I haven't used that particular one, but I've owned similar, and currently the band put a DPA on me in theatres but don't bother at weddings (too loud).  I found best results is to send to the mixing desk but don't route it through your stage amp/monitor - unless you are all quiet enough that you can do so without feedback, in which case great.

What are those strings - lower steel, upper synthetic?

Sounds like I'm in a minority - but I contacted Bass Bros with all the details and photos etc of a bass I was hoping to sell via them, and never heard back.  The bass was since sold elsewhere.

These D'Addario Chromes came installed on a new Sire bass I bought last week - but I'm into Ernie Ball strings at the moment so swapped them out after a couple of hours.

Unsure of the gauge, but I've emailed Sire and will update here if they reply.

Cut for a four-inline headstock, so there's enough length to fit any 34" bass.

£25 posted.

3 minutes ago, nilorius said:

But if seller in starting point says - no refund, no sell back. It can be real or i am wrong ?

Your right to return is legally protected.  Even if the retailer writes otherwise on their website or in their terms & conditions, it doesn't matter - they can't override your statutory rights.  (This is in the UK - I don't know the law in Latvia.)

In addition to what Dad just said:

The retailer must refund the original outbound postage (or their minimum normal postage cost, if you chose a higher-priced option).  Some shops try to subtract this postage amount from the refund, but push back and they will refund it (if you need to quote some legislation to them, it's the Consumer Rights Act 2015).  Similarly, they can't charge a "restocking fee".  Basically, they should be refunding you 100% of what you paid.  However, if you did damage the item, they can charge for that.

On 21/01/2023 at 11:01, CookPassBabtridge said:

I have often wondered how the manufacturers and shops are covered when sending their stuff through the post though. I guess they must have some kind of special arrangement/contract with their courier of choice that covers them, because of the volume of items they send and the amount of business they bring. 

The cost of insurance is always going to be more than the expected value of loss/damage - the difference is how insurers make money.  The shops could be getting a special deal like you say, but I also wonder (and this is just a guess) if they just send them uninsured because of the volume that they're trading.  If they are turning over £1,000,000 of basses, it's going to be cheaper to write off £5,000 of lost basses versus paying £10,000 of insurance.

It's different if you're an individual and only buying a couple of basses per year - i.e. if you are the unlucky 1 in 100 person whose bass goes missing and can't afford to take a £700 hit because you needed that money this month to fix your broken car etc.

On 20/01/2023 at 22:43, ReeV0 said:

So I haven't really found a viable option yet either here or in the link mention previously, for posting a £700 bass (in a soft case & cardboard box) within the UK, fully insured. Pretty crazy

A Gear4music foam case is £45 - you can always sell it on afterwards.  Although they're actually pretty good - I bought one initially for exactly this postal insurance reason, but ended up keeping it for many years.

(Or buy a few and set up a side hustle bass case rental service for other people in your situation...)

BTW get the seller to take photos of the bass as they pack it - see these T&C, "We will request these photos if your package is lost or damaged":

There was a recent thread about this with some good suggestions: https://www.basschat.co.uk/topic/472167-courier-with-insurance-dec-2022-any-suggestions-please/

The cost depends on the value of the bass.  I recently sent a bass insured for £1000 which cost £49 with Overland Express (carrier was Parcelforce).  Fortunately I didn't need to make a claim so can't give any feedback on that aspect.

Jazz bass pickguard in 'Vintage Cream 3 ply' without truss rod notch, from eBay seller earlpilanz.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/112648257368?var=414847990248

£5 posted.

20 minutes ago, lidl e said:

Velcro

 

How about low profile Dual Lock.  There are a few Dual Lock products - the one I have is called "SJ4575".

2 minutes ago, TheGreek said:

Just wanted to give you one final reminder that my free masterclass, The Blues Bass Transformation Method is happening tonight at 8PM EDT.
 

Bit confusing at first, as this reads as if you ( @TheGreek ) are giving a masterclass.

But actually I think your whole post was copied and pasted from somewhere?

48 minutes ago, Al Krow said:

That's a very good point John, but does require the band to fully mic'd and any backline effectively be reduced to stage monitoring? The drums may present a particular challenge but I guess you could get away with an ambient overhead mic for the drums?

Ah yes, good point - I'd over-assumed that everything was already running through the PA.  (If everything had been, and if you had a digital mixer, you could likely record each track individually - i.e. independently of whatever you're doing with the FOH or monitors - and mix it down later)

I've had 7lb 11oz and 7lb 2oz P basses which didn't have neck dive.  They too also had Ultralites.

What are you recording - if it's your own band, can you record straight out of the desk?

Yes - will an ATA carnet be needed?  It was touched upon in another discussion the other day - https://www.basschat.co.uk/topic/473203-any-spanish-brethren-who-could-help-out-a-uk-band-with-gear-loanhire-in-march 

53 minutes ago, Paul S said:

 

Just glancing at the FBT ProMaxx 110A, wondering if that would have enough beans?  It is significantly lighter again at 10.3kg, looks like it has the same amp but a different 10" driver.  I am not versed enough in the data to make a meangingful comparison in my head.

Specs are one thing, but I found I never really know if something will be good enough other than playing it in real-life situations for a few months.

I was using a 10" Yamaha DXR10 mkII for a year (in between owning the RCF 732-A and FBT ProMaxx 112A) and it performed really well; I was very happy with it.  Just in a few situations it did not feel quite as effortless as a larger powered speaker does.  I was tempted to keep it anyway for the gigs that I knew would be lower volume; but in the end I'm trying to take a more minimalist approach to owning (and storing) gear.

The smaller and slimmer form factor of a 10" will always have an appeal - not only the weight saving, but close to half the geometric volume of a 12".  Let us know if you get one!

P bass & upright bass
→ EBS Stanley Clarke preamp
→ FBT ProMaxx 112A (normally as stage monitor, or as backline if there's no PA).

I'm loving the FBT.  I've never seen it mentioned by bass players (I searched the entire internet loads before buying it and found nothing).

My previous 12" powered speaker was an RCF 732-A, and in a nutshell the FBT is comparable in price and performance, but at 80% of the weight - just 14.8kg.

On 08/01/2023 at 10:47, Linus27 said:

Rather than drag my Barefaced Two10 [...]

 

However, the other option is a MarkBass Traveller 2x10 which has a slightly smaller and lighter footprint. The trade off however is I would need to still bring a small head

Why are you considering a MarkBass 102 cab when you already own the Barefaced Two10?  The Barefaced is already smaller, lighter, and has less footprint than the MarkBass.

I bought a book from @Cat Burrito and he posted at the post office literally within a few minutes of me paying, which is an unsurpassable level of service!
Thanks Tim!