Musky

[quote name='Bassman Rich' post='532891' date='Jul 5 2009, 12:05 PM']Thanks guys for all your input. Bill/Musky, Re Too small cab, its about 60 litres internal, and ported, so just within the spec for the eminence (Vented 51-144 liters/1.8-5.1cu.ft. ), and as ashdown want £85 plus £10 shipping plus vat, ie £109.25 for their blue 250w speaker), i'm more than tempted to go with Thormann who will do the EMINENCE KAPPALITE 3015LF at £109.97. The cab sounded fine before it blew, and I don't use 5 string or octaver, so real low down performance isn't the priority. JTUK, Yes the combo thing isn't ideal, so after a couple of years lugging the heavy combo about, I bought a sleeve for the amp to turn it into a head and effectively separate 1x15 cab, just turned the grill/logo round on the cab, so it now looks like an 'amphead' sized port at the bottom of the cab, and for big gigs when not putting bass through the PA, rig up my old (1997 I think) Marshall 4x10, which again sounds pretty good to my ears. I phoned some guys in Keighley RMJ Loudspeakers (http://www.recones.com/) who quoted £48-68 for a recone, but they didn't sound too knowledgable on the phone, they hadn't heard of ashdown! Could you supply the details of the recone guys you are using now, please? Thanks again to all of you for your input[/quote] Unless you're playing dub you don't want the LF version of the 3015 as it doesn't provide any decent output in the upper mids. I'd hazard a guess that the Bass Doc and JTUK were talking about [url="http://www.wembleyloudspeaker.com/"]Wembley Loudspeakers[/url] - they've been in the business years and have a very good reputation.

I once played a gig where the provided 'bass amp' turned out to be a HH Musician VS 2x12. It didn't exactly have bags of bottom end, but it didn't destroy the speakers at gigging volume either. Though it rather depends on what guitar sound you want - I'd say the HH is good for post punk or wirey rock'n'roll type stuff (think Wilko Johnson). Overall I'd say Mr Foxen's suggestion of a cheap valve amp and different cabs would be your best bet.

I can imagine you're going to get a few suggestions to use the Eminance 3015 here. The orange label Celestions aren't particularly suitable for bass apparently, so you might want to steer clear of them. Oh, and it's perfectly feasible to blow a 400w speaker by using a 300w amp - the 400w rating just refers to thermal power handling. Where bass speakers often fall down is how much bottom end they can mechanically handle, which might be as little as a third of the the thermal rating.

Hi Steve. Someone was asking a very similar question the other day and I pointed them to Brycebites [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=42"]preamp valve comparison.[/url] Obviously the thread's not what it was, but if you're a member you could checkout the updated list at [url="http://www.finnbass.com/showthread.php?t=22"]finnbass[/url].

[quote name='stevie' post='530637' date='Jul 2 2009, 01:58 PM']If I want a car with four doors, I want a car with four doors. I don't care how fast it goes as long as I don't have to swing the front seats up to let the kids in every time I take them to school. A car with four doors meets my needs better than a car with two doors - to take your analogy to its logical conclusion.[/quote] I'm not sure an imperfect analogy needs taking to a logical conclusion.

[quote name='lozbass' post='528417' date='Jun 30 2009, 10:36 AM']Gordon (Witham) and (John) Smith also had a band as far as I remember (Shy Tots) and played around Manchester in the late '70s and early '80s - mainly rock and biker pubs. The guitars and basses were - in the main - fairly simple but beautifully built. Some instruments had fairly innovative features (a bass with individual pickups for each string - I think these were housed in a small round casing that could be rotated to adjust the pickup height). Finishing and quality of materials was/is excellent - attention to detail and build quality is also first rate. A friend of mine had a black and maple 'precision' built for his son (I was teaching the son at the time) - it was a stunningly beautiful instrument, fabulous to play and a classic P tone. I wish I'd bought it when the student gave up. As the Doctor suggests, there is a Gordy Status copy knocking about - this really was rather naughty - it's a very close copy indeed but lacks the 'class' of the original in my opinion (i.e., it looks a bit cheap). Gordys and Gordon Smith basses come up on ebay - a few a year I'd say - they're almost always worth a punt. I've seen a few that are knocked about but you have a chance of getting a beautiful handbuilt at a reasonable price. There are still a lot of G and GS guitars and basses around in the North West: Gordon Smith is still in business - though it's Johh Smith and his wife Linda now - they continue to build guitars in Partington near Manchester). Just found this - the official GS site: [url="http://www.gordonsmithguitars.com/"]http://www.gordonsmithguitars.com/[/url][/quote] I was just about to chip in that I remember a review of that bass from the early eighties. Pickups were laid out in P style and I'm sure I remember the review saying the pole pieces were also rotated to subtly alter the sound. Though maybe I (or the reviewer ) got that bit wrong.

I was about to point you at Brycebites very handy [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=42"]Preamp Valve Comparison[/url] thread, which was a sticky at one point. Obviously it's not as useful as it once was, but there's probably still some useful info there before you need to look elsewhere. If I remember rightly he was at the time using a Hartke as his test bed.

[quote name='Hodge' post='529670' date='Jul 1 2009, 03:43 PM']There's alot of suggestions here for questions to ask suspected scammers. I'd have to say if you have serious doubts about the legitimacy of a seller then don't even send them a message. I had an experience several years ago, it was an Eden head of some sort if I recall. The seller had all the tell-tale signs.... payment via Western Union, a hotmail address for contact etc. although his feedback was very good. I contacted him to ask about cash on collection and got some story about having a policy of not meeting strangers off the internet, protecting his family etc. That settled the matter for me and I took it off my watching list and forgot about it. A week or so later I had recieved several messages from irate buyers wanting to know where their goods were. It turned out that somehow, through my contact with him, or possibly it was through my watching of the item???...dunno how these things work, but basically he'd hacked my account and used it to stick up a new batch of scams, benefitting from my 100% positive feedback. I contacted Ebay security and they immediately sorted the matter out, removing all auctions in my name, contacting buyers and even removed negative feedback I'd recieved due to non-arrival of goods. It all worked out in the end, for me at least, but it just goes to show that there are risks in merely contacting someone you suspect may be a scammer.[/quote] That's a strange one. I've heard of scams where people have been phished by accusing a seller of duplicating another auction and posted a link as proof. Of course the link takes you too a fake Ebay log in page and they get your (and anyone else who was interested in the auction) password that way. If your email included your name it's also possible they could have sent you a convincing looking email from 'Ebay' and phished you that way. How were you certain that it was the same guy responsible for hacking your account?

Although I never met him I'm sorry to hear that. My sympathies go out to his family.

Depending on exactly what issues there are with that, I think I could live with just bringing it back to a playable condition, re-glueing the fingerboard and replacing the tuner. Probably have the headstock veneer renewed as well. Everything else I could happily live with. I suspect this is still going to fetch silly money though.

[quote name='Born 2B Mild' post='522078' date='Jun 23 2009, 09:35 PM']When I started out pretending to lay bass, in '73, I aspired to the 'better' fender copies. 36 years later ..I've bought my first one! In a few days I shall take delivery of a Columbus jazz Bass, purporting to be from the 70s. I'll post a pic when I do, and maybe someone will educate me more about what I have bought?[/quote] Is it one of the two that sold on ebay recently? They both have painted in cutaways so are most likely plywood bodies. The one that sold most recently was a bit naughty describing it as solid wood, even when somebody probably pointed out it was ply. "For the record: It has been pointed out that this is SOLID but not one piece of solid wood."

I think whoever told you to get a preamp was probably talking about an on board preamp. I can't make any suggestions which ones to look at because I've no experience whatsoever in retro fitting one. Active pickups aren't usually counted as the sort of preamp you're talking about because all they do is boost the very low levels the pickups output to something usuable by your amp's preamp (if that makes sense ). Some pedals will do the job of a preamp, like EQs or the SansampBBDI. Sadowsky do an outboard preamp that's the same as their onboard version, though it's not a pedal as such. An onboard preamp won't do much to improve the sound direct to a soundcard because the levels probably won't match the input, though it will give you more scope to shape the sound.

[quote name='hookys6stringbass' post='520902' date='Jun 22 2009, 05:04 PM']That's a Anniversary/Jayro copy- I'd know that sh*te bridge pick up anywhere![/quote] The BIN is considerably higher than Express Music are asking for a new one as well. It'll be interesting to see what it actually sells for - if JH doesn't stick his oar in first.

[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='502020' date='May 31 2009, 01:11 AM']Pic from tonight, what cab am I playing through? didn't see a model number but it was DEEP!!!![/quote] Only just seen your post Wayne. It looks like a Trace 1524.

[quote name='Rasta' post='518821' date='Jun 19 2009, 08:17 PM']Picked up a 1970's Antoria Jazz bass on eGay for £112 - fancied something cheap that i didn't mind leaving in the back off my camper at festi's and something for a bit of campfire jammin with a battery amp, lots of booze etc. Well....to be honest I'm totally blown away with how well it plays and feels, very warm vintage jazz sound and nice neck too......And according to the seller this bass has history too as it was frequently gigged by some known talented muso in the North UK who fled to a hippy commune in the USA-name unknown though. So failed again in finding a rat bass for parties but instead got a vintage fake that fakes it far too well and sounds to nice to trash, let alone the history and age! Anyone else know much about Antoria's or have played one/ play one? I heard they were made in Japan and copied Fender, Gibson etc.[/quote] Jon's the best man to ask really, but from what I've gathered these were made by Fuji Gen and are also to be seen branded as Ibanez. Pics from the Ibanez catalogue [url="http://www.ibanez.ru/info/catalog/1974/09.jpg"]here[/url] and [url="http://www.ibanez.ru/info/catalog/1974-2/18.jpg"]here.[/url]

Yeah, I just looked at their T&Cs to check and under Prohibited Items it says "Magnets or items containing ferro-magnetic material", which actually would include a lot of ordinary day to day items. Quite how they'd react to claim I wouldn't know.

I've used Interparcel without any problems though I seem to remember that their T&Cs stipulate no magnetic material, which might cause problems if you have to make a claim for your speaker. As far as I know Interparcel aren't a reseller - I've seen a large depot with their own artics in there and they have plenty of their own transits driving about town.

[quote name='The Bass Doc' post='515166' date='Jun 16 2009, 12:12 PM']There would have originally been a 'smoked' perspex bridge cover which was kept in place by being wedged in by the string retainy thingies.[/quote] Cheers for clearing that one up - that would make total sense. In a quirky British sort of way.

I'm not sure it's a thing of huge beauty, but it's very quirky so I like it. One thing I'm wondering about is the string guides either side of the bridge pickups. I mean, obviously they aren't string guides but they're identical to the ones on the headstock. They're located where I'd expect to see screws for a pickup cover (if it ever had one) but, errr... why?

I think what he's say there is that he's actually widened the holes in the body slightly, probably because the holes on the other neck he tried didn't match up exactly. That might affect the stability of the neck but is an easy fix if it does prove to be an issue. If you wanted to do it yourself you could simply try using a cocktail stick/sticks as a kind of rawlplug. If you wanted to go the whole hog the holes can be filled with dowl and redrilled, but I'd imagine the first method would do the job.

Don't know about the MM copies, but some of their other basses are reckoned to be good value. I know Noirpunk raved about his precision copy so much that their rep offered him an endorsenment. There's a review of one of their other models [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=9244"]here[/url] and a thread about the brand [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=35610"]here.[/url]

[quote name='Golchen' post='512269' date='Jun 12 2009, 04:27 PM']I'd love to play in a band myself, but for me the fear factor is just too great. I don't know why, but my standard of playing (all instruments) goes right down when I'm with other musicians. What I need is a few people I know to just go and make some noise and try to get into it. Unfortunately my only two musician friens both live about 100 miles away from me. I wish I'd done it when I was younger, my biggest regret in life.[/quote] You ought to do it now. Just click on to Gumtree or wherever right now and put an ad in. I regularly see ads from musicians in your position looking the for people to jam with, improve their playing, have a few beers and maybe gig when ready. Sure it might take you out of your comfort zone to start with but you're likely to be playing with people in exactly the same position. In my experience playing with others is less about ability than the way a band gels as people. You've nothing to lose but your regrets.

[quote name='hookys6stringbass' post='512461' date='Jun 12 2009, 09:36 PM']I've just got an Anniversary Rickenfaker, which is what the Jayro basses are called over here for some reason. I have to agree that this bass is very well built. It has the same feel of my old Hondo II in size and thickness of the body and plays really well out of the box- but i'll get spot on over the next few days. Funnily enough I found the neck pick up to be louder than the bridge pick up..? The neck pick up has adjustable poles..... feck knows what the bridge pick up is supposed to be, but i'll replace it with a toaster pup for the moment.The bridge pup cover is utter sh*te and i've binned it already! The wiring is wrong if you want it set up like the real deal, but i'll sort that out as well. All in all i'm really really pleased with it.[/quote] You'll have to let us know how you get along with it once it's fully fettled. Seems like what Jon predicted 18 months ago when RIC upped their prices is actually happening - more cheap copies coming on to the market. A quick look on google reveals that they're selling for quite a keen price. With more and more new Rickenfakers becoming available you've got to wonder what that will do for the prices of old Japcrap.

[quote name='sgt-pluck' post='512054' date='Jun 12 2009, 12:52 PM']Would it be selfish of me to own [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=220431918438"]two[/url]?! Pluck[/quote] That's lovely - certainly wouldn't hurt to stick a bid in. Then again, how much do these usually sell for? The BIN doesn't seem excessive to me for something in that condition.

Yep, they've been around a little while now. Judging by the number of newer Rick copies popping up nowadays it seems that RIC's lawyers' reach isn't as far as they'd have us believe. Not much further than Ebay in fact. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?act=Search&CODE=show&searchid=43fd1542bb935d254a0d01845a857206&search_in=posts&result_type=posts&highlite=%2Bshine"]More Shine sightings in the RickenFaker thread.[/url]