Bassman Steve

Shame as the wood is so nice. I'd buy a sunburst one and install the J in that and keep that as is (change to white scratchplate though).

Fairly mild and probably only I noticed, a fair few years ago when I was touring as a pro I was playing an auditorium in Germany. The singer had been complaining during the soundcheck that the band were too loud on stage so as the soundcheck finished I hit the standby switch and asked if that was ok now? First three numbers were odd as I could hear the bass in the hall but it seemed inaudible to me on stage (I hadn't requested bass in my monitor mix) and just couldn't figure out what was wrong but sensed I was the only one suffering - everyone in the band had their own mix and so didn't need my backline. Eventually the penny dropped and I shuffled back to the amp and pushed the standby switch - problem solved!!

Graham's contact number is - 01903 893029

Not too sure of contact details - I'll check it out - but Graham Wheeler at Worthing is excellent. He used to work for Giffen in the UK. He built me a stunning bass eons ago and is a real craftsman.

Perhaps someone can explain this mixing 4x10's and 1x15 cabs? I have never understood why you would feed two different cabs with the same input. Surely you'd want to have a different EQ for each cab to tune into the individual properties of each. OK, I'll shut up now .....

No problems with the 'Precision-ness' of the P-bass pick-up on its own in my experience. Mine are strung with Rotosound Nickel Swing Bass (45 - 105) and sound great.

I have two and really like them. The pick-ups are Fender Japan and slightly weaker than US ones and so I have changed mine but I think later ones have different pick-ups. The body styling and matching headstock look great and they're nice and light. As with all Japanese Fenders, build quality is outstanding.

My Bass 400 has been in a standard rack case for over 20 years without any problem. I run the fan on fast just to be on the safe side. The rack was custom made at 300mm depth so the back of the amp is near the back of the case. I have always moved it myself (and wired it up) even when travelling with a crew so it's treatment is down to me (I remember walking behind a guy carrying the guitarists valve head (on his shoulder) when he tripped and fell!!!

One of my favourite cabs oif all time was the Orange 2x15, the one where the speakets were mounted back to back, firing up and down. Only used it once but was knocked out by the sound of it.

I have a 2x18 as you see from my signature. I think it's all about the speaker (as it always is I guess). The particular EV speakers in my cab give out a very well defined sound which leans towards the bottom end but still has plenty of clear sound as you venture further up the fretboard. In truth I only use it for outdoor shows as it is great for adding back in a lot of the bass that you lose on an open stage. I use a 2x15 of the same design for the usual gigs, and it's bl00dy heavy.

Sit down everyone (I have to when I think of this). [list=1] [*]Fender Precision (mint condition) serial number 0189 - bought at the Bass Centre for £995 (one of Entwistles) and sold through V'n'R about 2 years later; and [*]Fender Precision '66 Slab body - turns out they only made 20 - another Bass Centre purchase for £895 (IIRC) and sold about 3 years later. [/list] Can anyone beat that level of stupidity (though little choice at the time)?

Just a heads up but all my Precisions are in SKB FB4 cases which are brilliant (SKB made the Fender cases IIRC) and are 75 quid at DV247. The catches are far superior to the old latches used on the cases at that time. They are the same shape as the Fender one in the picture and may well be cheaper that the case you're going after (they seem very pricey on Ebay etc).

+1. I originally bought a PF350 head and PF115HE cab (at a great price). The head proved faulty and they happily swapped it and also allowed me to go for the PF500 which, taking into account the loyalty bonus points I had from the original sale, only had to pay about 15 quid for the bigger head. Hadn't been there before (except to buy my first P-bass in 1977) and will be certainly going back - very impressed with the service. Pretty much what a guitar shop used to be like - and no Stairway To Heaven being played in the shop either!!!

Talking of good deals, I got my Road Ready 2x18 on Ebay. It was an auction that finished at 7:00am on a Sunday morning and had a single £50 bid (from the seller) on it. I figured no-one would be up at that time and reckoned on a £75 bid with 30 seconds to go - got it for £62. It was only 40 miles to collect so no delivery either. Previously owned by Skunk Anansie (apparently) I shudder to think how much one of those was new!!

Let's see how my memory goes on this ..... 50 Top amp (50 watt guitar/bass head made by Carlsboro) Impact 2x15 cab Home made 1x18 cab with Goodmans speaker Marshall Bass amp Sound City 120 2x Sound City 4x12's Ampeg V4 (2x15 cab) Intermusic bass amp Peterson amp Peavet 1810 cab (1x18 + 2x10) Acoustic 220 3x Orange 120 amps Mesa Boogie Bass 400 (still own) - bought 1989 2 x Mesa Boogie Diesel 2x15 cabs (still own one) - bought 1989 Mesa Boogie Road Ready 2x18 (still own) - bought 2007 Mesa Boogie Bass 400+ (still own) - bought 2012

I've used my Bass 400 over the last couple of decades playing pretty much every kind of style of music and I would say that I reckon (with the right cab) every sound you want is in there. When I first got it (in early 1989) I wasn't always enamoured (and even went back to using a pair of Orange heads) but after about 6 months I got the hang of the various controls (and how they interact) and cracked it. Believe me, that head (and I also have a 400+ now) is capable of any sound at any volume once you've sussed out how it works and that's the important bit. That said my only experience of SVT's is as a supplied amp on foreign tours and I've never been a big fan - though I am happy to admit it may be because I haven't done 'the apprenticeship' on it. Boogie for me though - every time.

Welcome to the club! Discovered the nirvana of Boogie tone 23 years ago and haven't looked back (while accepting that's merely my own view and others will disagree).

Take the amp and buy the Boogie 4x10 on sale here and use the 20 quid change for the diesel for the trip - job done!

I'm sure there's stuff that would sound just as good (speaker-wise) as the gear listed in my signature and be lighter etc but I have always loved the sound of my rig and wouldn't change for what is probably nothing more than sentimental reasons. Have to say, the little Ampeg rig is amazing for the size and I'm just used to lugging the Boogies around so I'll stick with that. Doesn't astop me envying the lightweights though.

Tough call as this looks like a gig that could be going somewhere. It's a brave man who walks away from that. I think I'd start to let my 'good behaviour' slip and wait to see if the singer spoke to me - at which point I'd bring up the subject of the kids in that environment. The parents have brought their kids into that situation so presumably already think it's ok which is not a good indicator of any response to criticism (and he's a singer too!!).

Must confess I've not done it myself but would be interested to hear the result.

Kill Em Dead Cowboy are searching for a new bassist! We have gigs waiting and dont want any time wasters please!! Ideally you will be able to jam 1/2 times a week, have all your own gear, be able to drive and have a valid passport. Exceptions can be made for the right motivated individual. If you think you fit this bill please email [url="http://[email protected]"][email protected][/url] and we will get back to you. Our next show is a biggie too we are playing [url="https://www.facebook.com/Blissfields"]Blissfields Festival[/url] so time is against us! This is entered on behalf of the guitarist so please use the email address to respond.

I must say that I had a bit of a eureka moment when listening (on Youtube) to the bass part from Bohemian Rhapsody. The sound on that has always been my blueprint for bass (and if you're lurking John, any chance of buying the tort scratchplate off the bass you sprayed black?). I would guess that the Youtube clip is the dry sound of the combination of DI and the two amps (Acoustic and Hiwatt) but the sound is nothing like that on the record. I think Mr Foxen has it on the head with compression as the best likely answer but that was it came home to me just how big a difference it makes. That said, a 2x18 sure helps!!