BassBod

The weight was the only reason I sold them - great size and fantastic sound.

I'd try the foam to dampen, but maybe keep the springs too - Warwick use a nice threaded insert and it would be a shame to lose the positive support. My guess is if its that noticeable its going to bug you, so needs sorting out. Make sure the treble isn't boosted - easy to do with a new circuit. It could be a dry joint - these can respond to physical vibrations, but the finger noise does sound like microphonics within the pickup casing to me. Have a coffee, double check the whole circuit again and see if anything else makes noise when it gets waggled. Also turn the preamp gain up to half way - it may be acting strangely at its lowest setting. The only real test is to hot wire a pickup to the jack, and see if it makes microphonic noises?

Sounds like microphonic pickups - but Barts are usually sealed in something like epoxy, so I wouldn't expect them to do that, even after many years. Are they new or a few years old? I've had a few J bass pickups do this, but usually "open" (not potted) single coils...and it usually happens after a few years.

I do up the grub screw just enough to mark the string, then undo it again, take the string out and re-cut as close as I dare to the mark, plus a few mm's. If I can still feel a pointy bit I bend it down with pliers so it isn't quite so spikey.

Use whatever sounds best - the preamp is flavouring to taste, sometimes you want a different taste. I do this a lot with neutral(ish) amps, then add Sansamp/Aguilar/Sadowsky pedals to suit the situation. No one but me notices or cares in the slightest...but it helps me enjoy the gigs.

Haven't seen them in a long long time, but I never thought his sound worked well in a live setting - the bigger the hall, the worse it sounded. Probably a lot better these days, with modern PA systems. I was at one of the live shows that became the Physical Presence album and that captures it well..with all its rattle ping and honk. My favourites for bass sound are Standing in the Light and True Colours - one very JD, the other pretty much Status (I guess). Good to see the old slapper still getting about, isn't it?

I thought that sounded pretty good, for a quick backstage bash...I've heard worse!

The trusty old DiMarzio Model J is nice, but not as bright as a single coil - its got a lot of nice low mid stuff that makes it very clear and solid. There is also the more recent DiMarzio Area J that seems to give a more faithful J bass sound. Personally, I'd go for the new Aguilar ones...but I've not heard them.

Yep, the very same. I never turned it off on my Sadowsky PJ either...just don't crank the eq much. I never use more than half the bass boost and about a quarter of the treble. Different strokes and all that

Sadowsky outboard preamp - basically a refined music man type boost 2 band eq. Only thing is, once you hear the low end boostyou'll leave it on all the time.

Do let us know how it works out. I'd assume their choice of power amp is pretty good, and very effective. I gave my S15 a good thrashing today with a SWR 350. Did a great job with no PA help - class.

DR Sunbeams - feel great, sound warm but lively and don't do much damage to your fingerboard (even rosewood).

I find this an interesting move for two reasons - the impedance issue and the "coloration" issue. I've always understood cab impedance to be very nominal - although its quoted as an absolute value, in electrical terms its anything but. And I've experienced problems from a reputable manufacturer slapping an 8ohm label on a cab, when the driver inside was labelled 4ohm. I had no idea why my amp was going into thermal protection (with a pair of 8ohm cabs) until a few years later, when the driver came out of the cab. The modular 2 or 4 or 6x10 makes perfect sense to me. I've now tried several of the modern "flat response" type cabs, and I find them hard work to eq. I prefer the "musical response" built into cabs like the Bag End S15, and most of the old SWR boxes (although they can be a bit too voiced). I hadn't expected to see BF go in this direction, but I expect they will will do it well and only produce designs that work in the gigging environment. The original Compact had a very useful voicing, so now they have more control over driver design I assume they can also be more accurate in how far they go with neutral/voiced cabs. Looking forward to seeing how this goes.. PS - I'm waiting for a powered Super Compact...hint hint...eh?

One of mine needs to go in for a hum check sometime...might try and get that added at the same time. And get the DI sorted for phantom power protection.

Must look into this one...is that the Talkbass thread?

Yes, a rack bag just about does it for me, with a bit of overhang. My dream set up is the Alembic F2B, with a quality 1u power amp, and a pair of S15's. I'm half way there...

Been using an S-15D for a few years...small and very good all rounder, but old school weight. Gives all the stuff you need to hear on stage, but does miss the real low end - actually works as a benefit when you DI, as you get turned up a bit louder in the house! I'd love to use a pair of these cabs for louder gigs but I've never found another cheap enough to do it. Old school, but a solid performer.