BassBod

They are very similar to the Overwaters, maybe even the same strings!? I've only used one set of the nickels, but I like them. No "spherical ball end technology" bollo on the current ones, just regular brass bits.

I got there for an hour or so Sunday - great to see an event like this in the South West. Tried a few things out (the Custom Shop Pino Pbass, nice Pbass but very pricey and no better than my bravewood...) and chatted to a few people. I missed some of the luthiers...although everyone could hear Bernie! I did see one of Hugh Manson's current basses there and Andy's wonderful guitars, but there were no Overwaters, Jaydees, Seis, Shukers or my favourite Cliftons. Shame that. I'm impressed with Manson's "own brand" strings - very good for the price. BB

The one I had also had two extra resistors, to stop the stacks reacting to each other - I think it also dropped the output a bit, and made my jazz sound a bit dull and lifeless. Back to the three knobs for me....... BB

The only place I've been searched for drugs, and had the van almost taken apart. Very curteous and professional, but I couldn't help feeling they were protecting their own local suppliers......as much as law enforcement. Probably best bringing your own stuff (PA etc) as the (very few) locals can set their own rates..and get them? BB

So, can anyone tell me how the sound compares to the DB924 preamp?

Yes, they all got tossed in the end......

Years ago an uncle gave me a pile of old mags (Beat and International Musician, before you start...) and in one from the late 70s there was a review of a Pangborn fretless, with alu fingerboard. I'm sure it looked more like a two pickup Pbass than this one....

That sound was something special - Alembics and whatever was giving the fuzzzzz. I never could understand what happened to his sound later, the stuff I've heard with Warwick and Status basses just sounds thin and over effected to me...but I'm sure this is more to do with his choice of effects/signal chain than the basses themselves?

Well, I've got half of it, in the form of an old Alembic F2B preamp - run into the power amp of the Euphonic Audio 500, that's almost it for me. I would say the F2B together with the SWR Stereo800 power amp, but its a bit heavy and I hate the fan noise on smaller gigs. I love the EA stuff, its light and sounds wonderful in all situations, but I have to agree with people here who say that "older" designs just sound good in a way that newer stuff doesn't. I've got a TrySellin'it GP11 here, as well as the F2B and they are both great preamps. BB

Congratulations - bet you're hooked now.....it's gonna hurt.......but you'll be smiling BB

I bought some replacement mains leads (kettle plug to Euro plug) from Studio Spares - only cost a few quid, and they're a decent length. I don't like the travel adapters, they seem a bit feeble, and I want to know the ground is properly connected..... BB

I did a "repair" on one of these a few years ago (plastic wiring) because the factory wiring (black and white same on both volume pots) put the J out of phase with the P. When you turned both volumes up full the sound was very thin and useless (swap one set of wires around and it was fine). Look for broken solder joints first, either on pots or the pickups' hook up wires....

Various Sansamps (if you like them...) always work for me, if you're careful with the blend control...or the Aguilar 924, which is similar to the old Sadowsky, or the Award Session JD10. This is a bit of an unusual one, but its a "fender" style tone section, with a speaker simulator - very good for the money. I had one of Stewart Wards earlier/simpler "matchbox" DI's and it was great - that's the box that got me into using external preamps and DI with combos. One warning note - I've found that some preamp/DIs don't mix very well with high output active basses (unless you can turn down the output internally). I guess the deciding factor is how much "character" you want from the preamp? Good luck - sounds like a good project

My old Carlbro "cobra" was terrible - the power light would go dim if I hit a loud note...not good. The one that surprised me was the Peavey Combo 300 (or somethng like that). I almost bought one...even had a built in chorus. BB

The Award-Session JD10 is a good preamp/DI box - very "old fashioned" in that it uses circuit design to get the sound rather than clever digi stuff. Pretty much simulates a "fender" pre-amp (just like the Alembic preamps, but no valves...runs on a battery). Worth thinking about BB

I've had good luck (?) with a couple of Brandoni jazz necks, both plain and varnished. The seem to be identical to 80s Jap Squier/Tokai? You may have to do a slight fret level/polish, and as always neck pocket fit is never completley predictable....you have to take a chance. If you buy an unfinished neck its pretty easy to sand a thinner profile, but you've got to remember there is a truss rod trapped inside, just waiting to pop out! BB

I tried loads (bronze, nickel and those Acoustic Thomastiks) and ended up with Thomastik flats. Less acoustic volume, but a great warm amplified sound. I'd also suggest some black plastic flats but don't go for any heavy guage/high tension ones as they could put a strain on the top of your bass...

I recall an article years ago (Bass Player?) where Roger Sadowsky talked about "waterproofing" basses for Metallica - even putting them in the bath to test!! I think it was all about sealing the scratchplate and pots with silicone stuff....nice, eh? BB

Try doing it up slightly, just before you undo it? When you get the top off watch out for the cable connected to the fan.... BB

From memory, this is a potential problem for some older amps (like my SWR220) but much less likely to cause a problem on anything designed in the last ten years or so (since phantom power has become commonplace). I run a passive transformer DI from a jack output, and connect that to the PA, which blocks it completely. Also has the advantage of never overloading, which seems to happen with a lot of active DIs when you connect a line level amp output. BB

Try Wizard?? I thought the DM's were already potted in something gooey...even stuck into their cases? I don't think wax potting is something to try at home, as it can catch fire if you don't/can't control the temperature carefully.

Euphonic Audio CXL112 - you get what you put into it, I think there are currently some for sale on this very site..... BB