molan

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1476879163' post='3157998'] I wouldn't bother 'debating' with someone with so little intellect. [/quote] I must admit that I gave up the conversation after he inferred the only reason I didn't want to gig with a huge Ampeg stack was because I've had back problems in the past. Oh, and something to do with not being to cook like Gordon Ramsay - I got a bit lost with that one 😂

For those of you only using minimal PA - any of you using an SVT Classic with two large cabs as your bass backline?

I've been 'debating' with another bassist on the merits of using a PA for all gigs. The conversation started because he believes that the answer to a decent bass tone, in any venue regardless of size or room acoustics, is a monster Ampeg valve head and a huge speaker stack. His reasoning was that many venues he plays at don't have a decent PA so it's better to just have a massive rig and jack it up really loud. From what I can make out his guitarist does the same thing and drums are just 'acoustic'. He said his band never use a PA but I'm assuming his singer doesn't try to just shout over the lot of them without some sort PA support This all sounds wrong to me on so many levels. With decent modern PA being available at OK prices I just can't understand why anyone would want it have so little control over what their audience is hearing? Of course their are venues with poor house sound systems but it wouldn't take a lot to build a small system to complement what you might be presented with or to just use as a standalone setup. I've played the odd venue where use of the house system was compulsory but it was always of a decent standard. I have this horrible vision of his band with a bass that is crushing people at the back of the room, a guitar shredding people's faces up front, drums that sound dull and thumpy at the low end combined with someone hitting a tin can with a spoon whilst the poor vocalist is desperately trying to get himself heard over the massive on-stage cacophony surrounding him. . .

I asked exactly the same question about a Gallien Krueger head last week as they also say that individual heads are set to either European or U.K. Voltages. Their tech people said it was fine to use their MB heads anywhere across Europe and UK.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1476765276' post='3156994'] Now that I think about it "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" always gets me. Blue [/quote] The first or the second version? Personally I think the second

I've got a vague feeling we found a random tension strap in a store cupboard when packing things up at BassGear a couple of weeks ago. Not exactly sure where it went though Bung me an email at the [email protected] as a reminder (I'm currently out) and I'll see if I can find it.

I saw them at Hammersmith Odeon at their peak of fame. Full orchestra on stage with them I seem to remember. Fabulous live sound, one of the best I'd ever heard at the time.

Having got round to using a Flea signature Jazz at my last gig I thought I should go 'all out' and use a Precision at the next one. Decided to stick with my 'artist signature' theme and used a Custom Shop Clayton P this time around. It was always going to be an interesting comparison because I own, and have gigged a lot, a Lull P that was built for Adam Clayton in a gold flake finish. The Fender CS is visually quite similar apart from the flashy pearl blocks instead of the plain black of the Lull. It was a bit of an odd gig because we played a huge hall to a decent number of people but had a very serious volume restriction in place - the organiser actually jumped on stage during the first number and insisted we stop playing until we turned down (and we're really not that loud!). Anyway, the CS P was great fun to play. It has a J nut but the neck is way chunkier than the Lull and deeper than almost anything else I own. Action is set low and the tiny vintage frets made it a breeze to play. I was able to confidently play stuff without thinking that I often have to concentrate on. The Abigail Ybarra pickups have a lot more low end and overall power than the Lull and balance from strong to strong is excellent. I sometimes find low notes on the G string are too thin and reedy but the CS P was really full and meaty I used the same Monique, Demeter, Bergantino rig as last time with the Flea but the CS P had a lot more depth and punch - felt like I could hear every note really well, especially any mistakes, lol. It's definitely been a fun experience using Fenders live after years of owning them but only rehearsing or playing at home. Will definitely try the P again at the next gig where I'll be able to jack the volume up a bit - plus the gold glitter finish makes it just such a great stage bass Edit - for anyone who hasn't seen the AC CS Precision, here's the full package:

I've played a couple of these and really liked them. Should fetch £600 easily.

Seem to go for anywhere between £1,800 to £2,500 from what I've seen (sorry that's quite a big gap!). Quite a few specific models hitting the higher prices E.G. The Steve Howe signature.

Could be that I'm too old but I wouldn't want to haul any of the three cab combinations up 3 flights of stairs. Both the DB212 and the DB410 are fairly 'serious' lifts and lugging a DB112 in each hand is going to get you a set of gorilla arms pretty quickly Not too bad with the DB112 if you make two trips (which I'm guessing you'd need to anyway to carry bass, amp cables etc). The new Aggie SL410 is a great cab and fairly easy to shift around, although any 410 is going to be a bit bulky in a tight stairwell. Unfortunately it's over £1,250 so quite an expensive option vs a DB410. We had a customer recently who tested a Streamliner into SL112's, DB112's and a pair of TKS112's. He found the DB's didn't pair brilliantly given the sound he was after and thought the SL's still sounded a bit too 'neo'. He left with the TKS (in a very funky snakeskin finish). I think your stage volume is an important consideration here. If you're in the PA and only using cabs for monitoring and partial foh sound then the DB410 is overkill. Conversely the TKS cabs are going to run out of steam at very high volume because they are relatively small, lightweight, boxes and the drivers have a lower rating. Going modular with a couple of smaller lighter cabs will do wonders to preserve your back in the longer run though and give you options for small gig/rehearsal situations too.

I thought this was going to be a TC Electronics thread - how do they still get away with claiming nearly double the power output for their amps!

[quote name='Twigman' timestamp='1476041426' post='3150772'] one word: Brexit morons [/quote] I so agree with this. I've lost count of the number of customers bemoaning the price increases on imported instruments and amplification since the £ started plummeting post Brexit vote. It's quite common for people to try and blame us, as a retailer, for price increases. One potential customer last week wanted us to sell below cost simply because prices have risen so much recently!

I never use the pad, always feel it's just putting another 'effect' in the signal chain that you don't really need - just turn the gain down

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1475841175' post='3149119'] While I agree that reglueing is not a complicated procedure... it just seems that it should not be necessary. People have been building cabs covered with various finishes, glued, without problems. For decades. So that would/will bother me if/when it happens. It's something I'll put up with without fuss if I'm happy with the cab in action (compact, light, powerful, good sound, not necessarily in that order ) but I really hope they've sorted it out by now. I am under the impression that it was just an initial mishap with their glue choice/procedure. We'll see! [/quote] If it helps then it's always worth noting that build defects are covered by UK consumer laws for 6 years. If something isn't staying as it should within this period then you can ask the manufacturer to make good. You have to be the original owner though. Something as basic as making sure a covering stays glued in place during normal use ought to be covered without any issues

Looks like normal service has been resumed - I took a, little used, Ritter to rehearsals this week and everyone said how nice it sounded. None of them even noticed the Fender last week.

[quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1475768516' post='3148639'] I think 'Molan' Basschatter might be worth speaking to as Bassgear used to stock Zon Basses. [/quote] I think Joe is a lovely guy and makes great basses but, like a lot of custom luthiers, his perspective on delivery times may be a little different from other people. I'd suggest phoning rather than emailing to get in touch with him direct.

I used to know Mark fairly well - it's a shame he struggled with live performance (see what I did there TT aficionados) and more or less stopped recording new material as well

[quote name='thebrig' timestamp='1475437169' post='3145928'] Surely you walked immediately without buying the gear already in the till? I must say though, I used to use the Barnet shop quite a lot when they still had shops, and all I had to do was ring them about something and if they didn't have in stock, they would get one in for me to try usually by the next day without any obligation to buy. [/quote] That was my local shop -always helpful and friendly people there

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1475316476' post='3144949'] Lets hope it`s as accurate as Sid & Nancy....................... [/quote] They used to be visitors at my first flat in London. We had a few pretty dodgy characters round but Nancy was the only one ever to be physically ejected for 'bad behaviour'. This may have involved syringes . . .

[quote name='Lw.' timestamp='1475226253' post='3144118'] Well yes, I believe "German Pro Series" is the name of the line - I did hear some discussion about whether parts from Germany bolted together somewhere else or parts from somewhere else bolted together in Germany still counts as made in Germany but I can't remember which way round it was or the outcome. [/quote] Under EU regulations they are classified as being 'made in Germany'. However a degree of construction is carried out in the, much cheaper labour market, of the Czech Republic which isn't far from the German HQ. I'm not sure it makes the slightest difference in quality of construction but it always feels to me that it should be detailed in the product specs.