dannybuoy

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

I think we need to be able to define 'heft' first of all. e.g. no high pass filtering, lots of power on tap and no over the top compression/limiting? If so, that's why I feel like the Orange Terror Bass has 'heft'.

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1464344624' post='3058610'] The worst part of all this is that the prices have rocketed AGAIN. Since when were Roadworn basses almost £1200?!?!? [/quote] WTF, has the price of sandpaper gone up or something?!

Yes. You get to fill in your own customs declaration though, and for a dollar or two they will remove all the paperwork from the package that might indicate how much it was worth...

There are plenty of parcel forwarding services about though. I've used Shipito.com to forward on a pedal that was only available in the US before.

What are the pot and tone cap values? That might have something to do with it. Surely rolling off the tone gets you closer to traditional P territory?

Obviously you wouldn't want to fit these to a 64 P, but for anything less precious that you don't mind drilling into, I have a bass with these fitted and they're a revelation: http://www.luminlay.com/indexen.html Surely you must be able to get small circular glow in the dark stickers from somewhere, similar to the tape job above but tidier?

[quote name='Leonard Smalls' timestamp='1464419089' post='3059290'] There's no-one as funky as Bootsy... And I know cos I was there when he was born! [MEDIA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Sh9cezHNec[/MEDIA] [/quote] Just fixing the video link so I can view it - for some reason the video owner chose to not allow it to run embedded in other sites!

These guys are local too: http://www.themojoslide.com