dannybuoy

Any idea if those Rays can be ordered with the SLO neck?

Just cancel your order then, you're fully within your rights to do so!

I think the J-Retro is so compact the battery can go under the control plate, so no need to route a hole for a battery compartment. Not sure if many other preamps can do the same, so worth bearing in mind if you want to be able to revert it back to stock unharmed!

How about a John East J-Retro preamp rather than a new set of pickups?

I've bought a few from various places, I'll say to avoid the EBS ones as they don't seem very roadworthy - I bought 10 and 2 were faulty on arrival and another one has become iffy since. The best ones I've tried personally are the Sommer Spirit XS ones from here: [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/search_dir.html?bf=&sw=patch+cables"]http://www.thomann.d...sw=patch+cables[/url] (plenty of cheap options in here too)

Not sure but I assume there is no problem since Mr Wooten has about a dozen knobs on his bass which is therefore probably active!

[quote name='K450B' timestamp='1464769067' post='3062265'] OK, thanks to Google answered my own question: [url="http://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Vox-amPhones-Active-AC30-Guitar-Headphones/O69"]http://www.gear4musi...-Headphones/O69[/url] [/quote] Yup, make sure you get the red ones for bass though, not the AC30.

[quote name='ratman' timestamp='1464772844' post='3062311'] So, has anybody here got their hands on an Aftershock yet? I pre ordered mine six weeks ago but I'm still waiting for it. I just checked online and Thomann and DV247 are showing them in stock at the moment. [/quote] Nope, I last asked Bass Direct a couple of weeks ago and they said "any day now!". Pretty poor show. If Thomann/DV247 were the same price I would have cancelled and re-ordered by now - Gear4Music has it for £120 but they say not until the 9th of June.

The Amplug is so tiny though and it hangs off your bass output socket so it's almost like plugging headphones straight in! But Vox also do headphones with the Amplug built in now too: http://youtu.be/lQnqi3c_9Cs I didn't think my old v1 Amplug sounded very good but it was ok for practicing. Victor Wooten seems to be endorsing the new line though so perhaps they're better! These are probably the best option for a limited budget. I use a PJB Bighead, and to get a more amp like sound I currently run a VT Bass into that. You could get a cheap equivalent of this by combining a Behringer BDI-21 with a Behringer MA-400. There are some units that offer comprehensive tone shaping, amp modelling and speaker simulation along with an aux in for headphone practice - EBS Microbass, Ampeg SCR-DI, DHA something-or-other and the forthcoming GK Plex Spring to mind!

Learn some James Jamerson lines - there's a few books out there that (frustratingly, for me at least) only have sheet music instead of tab!

So it's more a power delivery thing, and some amps just run out of power trying to reproduce big transients? And if so is that more down to Class D topology or the modern switching power supplies not being able to compete with a fat transformer? Many lump these two aspects together, referring to Class D as 'digital' when it isn't.

[quote name='Funky Dunky' timestamp='1464710638' post='3061702'] How does one get rid of clank? I have a Jazz Bass strung with .045-.105 DR Pure Blues nickelwound strings and it clanketh like Iron Man having a seizure. Is it the strings, does the action need raised a tad, or something else? [/quote] A mixture of strings, tension, action, string age/condition, and EQ (e.g. anything sounds clanky through a VT Bass with the character knob whacked up)! Maybe standard Dunlop nickels as they are a bit duller than some (I'll do you a good price on an unopened 45-105 set!) or DR Sunbeams, or compression wounds / tapewounds / flatwounds?

American Standard Magificent 7 Limited Editon - even cheaper than a regular US Standard! As long as you don't mind a PJ... http://www.dawsons.co.uk/fender-magnificent-7-ltd-ed-american-std-pj-bass-3-colour-sunburst

I bought the light gauge ones for my P Bass as I like clanky.

Anybody played an Orange Terror Bass and found it to lack heft?

I put Flexsteels on my T-Bird and love them! 50-105 tuned to D standard. Good match for a dark sounding bass.

Which ones did you try, nickel or steel and which gauge? I put a set of 45-125 steels on a bass that usually has D'Addario nickels of similar gauge and they do rattle a bit (I haven't had time to set it up properly). I have a 40-100 set of nickels coming in to try on a P-Bass which should be interesting...

[quote name='project_c' timestamp='1464546250' post='3060244'] Oh really? You can be 'creative' with your declaration? [/quote] Oh no, that would be illegal.

I just bought a couple of Planet Waves Classic Series cables from Amazon for a tenner each. I was thinking of going for their more expensive ones but went for the Classic after reading this review: [url="http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/guitar-cable-roundup-part-one-page-2-1"]http://www.premiergu...rt-one-page-2-1[/url] I don't know how much of that review is pure poppycock regarding some cables having more low end than the others though! They have a lifetime warranty too.

[quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1464611616' post='3060756'] I designed one that fits a bridge cover [/quote] Got a pic?

There's also this: http://www.bassmute.com/bassmute/bm_mainframe.html The advantages of this over the Fender mute is that you can fine-tune the mute pressure per-string, and also you don't have to drill any holes as you can mount it with double sided tape.

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1464595647' post='3060500'] That is a good tip - thank you. I have ordered one now. If all goes to plan I won't actually have to use it as it is a 'get out of jail' thing. I'll find out soon enough. thanks all! Edit - I already have a couple of A/B/Y boxes - would they have done the job? [/quote] It should work but I'd be wary that the wiring might not be up to the job of transmitting high voltage speaker signals vs the low voltage line signals it was likely designed for. The couplers above should have solid metal connections that would be able to take anything you could throw at them!

That's what I was trying to say - if lack of heft is due to the power amp then a pedal wouldn't help. But if heft is just a nice dollop of bass boost in the preamp then it just comes down to preamp design rather than the power stage.

The Hongkongbuckers I've seen are very thin too compared to the Epiphones: http://www.eyguitarmusic.com/Thunderbird-Bass-Pickup-Vintage-Style-for-GibsonChromeNickel_p_2287.html Also, you want the pickups at the height where they sound best, not where they look best! I've seen people have to put spacers under the pickup rings to give the necessary support once the pickups are raised up close enough to the strings.

Yes, I have one, not marketed as being for speakers though but it should do the trick. Here's one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0039ZGUHK