StraightSix

Use a small section of the back of the bass as a test to make sure the old and new paint finishes don't react. Is lighter fluid really the best thing for degreasing...I thought it left a film behind...? It is a petrochemical concoction along with most oil and grease products...I would just wash it gently in a mild soap and water solution and dry thoroughly.

I get my Duracells at the local big supermarket (pop them in the trolley when she's not looking) - they're about a fiver for two PP3s and they last me well over a year in my active Jazz bass.

[quote name='Ancient Mariner' timestamp='1317041201' post='1385791'] Personally I'd not change it, and instead hunt for an equivalent in black. Besides rosewood & white looks so much better than RW & black, but I would swap the scratchplate to tortoise shell.[/quote] I would agree - white and rosewood board with tort pickguard is the only type of white I like. [quote name='Ancient Mariner' timestamp='1317071869' post='1386491'] On a related subject, some years ago there was a lot of scepticism over cryogenic treatment of valves. I had several matched pairs of valves and access to liquid nitrogen, so..... I did some experiments with treated and untreated valves. Now some people can't hear the difference between an EL34, a 6CA7 and a 6L6, while to others the tonal differences are very striking. I got my wife to swap around the different valves for me while I was outside the room, and kept a cover over the amp so I couldn't see what was inside. I was able to identify every valve that she put in the amp correctly, and whether it had been treated or was standard. However posting the results on an amp building forum created a LOT of scepticism - they wanted to know that cryogenic treatment made no difference, and were not willing to even try the valves themselves. [/quote] Dare I say it but I agree again I have experienced the voodoo that is cryo valves...tis real

Just for further info there's another Octave thread here: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/161896-best-octaver/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/161896-best-octaver/[/url]

[quote name='AttitudeCastle' timestamp='1323614662' post='1465026'] Pardon my ignorance, but can anyone recommend an Octave which offers both clean octave up and down? Does one exist? [/quote] The old Pearl range included the OC-07 Octaver which can do 2 down and 1 up - it has four level knobs, one for each octave and one to blend in the normal note. Very nice but can be pricey. The last few on Ebay varied from £65 to £118.

Another Kramer thread that might be of interest here: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/162308-kramer-bass/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/162308-kramer-bass/[/url]

Google says this: [url="http://www.kramerguitars.com/"]http://www.kramerguitars.com/[/url] Wiki says this: [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kramer_Guitars"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kramer_Guitars[/url] This may also be of interest: [url="http://www.vintagekramer.com/"]http://www.vintagekramer.com/[/url]

One man's meat is another man's poison etc... My idea of 'best' might not be the same as yours (or anyone else's for that matter). Do you have a chance to try them out to see which [i]you[/i] prefer...?

Are you looking for a clean boost to push your amp harder or something which generates drive/distortion...?

The Sustain knob is your enemy when it comes to compressor noise - try turning that down...

If you want to get really carried away, try the Zvex Woolly Mammoth though be aware it's more of a fuzz than an overdrive/distortion and it's pricey...and MAMMOTH: [url="http://zvex.com/mammoth.html"]http://zvex.com/mammoth.html[/url]

AFAIK and I think it has already been suggested, it shouldn't cause any problem to disconnect the Piezo and try the cab like that - if it works how you like, this is undoubtedly your cheapest option There is talk of a similar problem here: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/68970-markbass-mini-cmd-121p-simplest-of-upgrades/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/68970-markbass-mini-cmd-121p-simplest-of-upgrades/[/url]

I thought I should stop by here and say hello to you all. I have already been posting (tut tut) but hey - it's a busy site with lots to read... I'm a rocker with a MIJ '62 reissue Fender Jazz with East preamp and an Ibanez Blazer Precision with EMG. I've been playing bass since 15 (loooong time ago) and have now done well over a thousand gigs. Currently using a Trace rig but looking for something new to tingle my spine at the mo - those Barefaced cabs look very interesting. Anyway, as you were and I'll be in touch

I just noticed that - £799 for the 6.0 12T combo Still a bit more than I wanted to spend for a small combo but maybe it would be all I need to replace the Trace rig AND get a small jamming setup...hmmmmm

Thanks for the reply xgsjx - I have an aversion to yellow amps so the MB is out before we start. The Genz Benz STL 6.0 12T combo looks very nice - and portable too. I will have to do some research on these. I may take a trip to BassDirect and have a play sometime soon. I was really looking for around 100W just for home playing and small jams really - the extension cab thing was just to give a bit of spread if needed (outdoors for example). I have a 1X15 extension that I will probably hang onto for this - very similar to the TE 1153 cab. The SWR Basic Black looks a possibility running 100W on its own and 160W with an extension. Cheers

[size=6][sup][quote name='Ed_S' timestamp='1322739228' post='1455059'] Machine Mart do a decent range of wheels, as well as ready-made dolly boards. Worth a look if you want to actually walk into a shop and handle stuff to get a feel for what's going to work best, rather than ordering online. They do some that whilst small and solid, are a bit more of a rubbery compound and work better when you hit rough and uneven surfaces. [/quote][/sup] [sup]I would suggest a dolly board as the cheapest, easiest route - a decent flat length of 1" thick marine ply with a 4" rubber-tyred castors near each corner.[/sup][/size]

[quote name='hairyhaw' timestamp='1322748652' post='1455314'] Anybody found that they've had diffculty integrating the bass part and the singing part? I've found that some of the vocals were clearly never designed to fit in with being played at the same time. [/quote] I sing lead and BVs sometimes - IMHO it is more difficult to play bass and sing than guitar or even drums and I've tried tham all...! With guitar or drums, more often than not, you have a steady rhythm part to play but basslines are often in a completely different rhythmic timing to the vocal which makes it more tricky. I ilke the idea of just having the first line of each verse as a reminder - typed big and on the floor.

Greetings Lowriders - my first proper post and I need some advice. I am looking for a smallish bass combo around 50-100W for portability but I would like an extension speaker out for those slightly more demanding lower volume bashes. I have a Trace Elliot GP12SMX 4X10 combo (which I may be parting with but that's another story) for bigger stuff but want something for jams and acoustic-ish get-togethers. I would love to get a Mesa Walkabout Scout 12 but the prices over here are outrageous compared to the States - it would give me everything I want with portability, extension out and the head comes out for use with other cabs...ah well. I have been looking at a couple of ideas - the Ampeg BA112, the Ampeg B100R and older possibilities like the Ashdown Five Fifteen and SWR Basic Black but AFAIK none of these can use an extension cab except the Basic Black - is it a good buy...? The Ashdown Five Fifteen has an extension out but it disconnects the internal speaker which seems like a bizarre design...? Any useful suggestions in my quest would be much appreciated