Musky

Lots of good advice on here already but don't forget spares. Not just of the obvious stuff, but also the small things that you can't do without like fuses, IEC leads, etc. Oh, and have fun.

FWIW I've had a guitar 4x12 for bass duties for over 30 years. Other stuff has come and gone but the 4x12 has remained - admittedly it hasn't been gigged for the last 10 years but that's because it's a pain in the arse to shift! It was mostly gigged with an amp putting out 180W into the 200W cab with no ill effects, though someone did manage to damage one speaker (it needed a recone) when it was lent to a mate for his rehearsal studio for 6 months. Not to shabby considering I'd walked in there to see every control on the amp maxed out on one occasion. Just don't expect any real bass from it and be aware that you may get a different result to me if you push it too far.

[quote name='Monckyman' timestamp='1423436210' post='2684852'] Pedant alert. You don't take a kettle to the gig, you take an amplifier, the power cable for that is called an IEC http://www.techopedia.com/definition/25237/iec-connector Kettle leads have inserts in the shape usually that prevent them being used on other things like amplifiers. You can buy some very nice very flexible 240v mains cable and fit it to an IEC connector if you like. http://www.canford.co.uk/Products/33-351_FLEXIBLE-MAINS-3-core-2.5-sq.mm-Black-rubber Just don't bring the kettle. [/quote] Being even more pedantic you can use kettle leads on other gear but you can't use an IEC lead on a kettle!

Anyway, back on topic as I'm sure the OP isn't getting much help with choosing an amp here. Any of those combos seem worthy of consideration, although I'm not sure I recall any feedback on the Ashdown 250 on here as it's still relatively new. It does have a different class of power amp to the 420 so you might not be able to draw too many conclusions from any reviews of the latter.

Does polyester not resonate? Or is it that it resonates differently, causing some kind of comb filtering or something? And how do instruments like the plexi Dan Armstrong or Status's fit in? Why do many of these top flight luthiers who are carefully selecting their wood for its tone then go and lacquer with tone killing finishes? A little like the nitro vs. Poly debate I think, and I never really bought that one either.

[quote name='bartelby' timestamp='1423215403' post='2682216'] At band practice last night I went into the rehearsal room and there in the corner was an old Ampeg 1x18" stacked on an old Ampeg 2x15". Blimey, I though, I'm gonna give them a blast!! Plugged in my amp, plugged in my bass... Totally underwhelmed by the low frequencies. Unplugged everything and set up my 4x8" and 1x15" cabs. Much better. There's nothing like a practical to prove the theory. [/quote] Never mind that. I want to know how they got an old Ampeg 1x18 on top of a 2x15!

Too right Clarky. It may not be much but I bet you could think of more deserving recipients of £20.

Doesn't Paypal offer some kind of protection in these circumstances? If you don't get a reply or the bridge cover next week you should claim a refund.

The answer is contained your post: learn the songs completely and learn the scales, chord tones, etc. At a guess I'd say that the last quarter of the songs that you're missing are the trickier bits. Am I right? It's fine to learn just the riffs, and we all do this, but where you'll learn most is when you're pushing yourself a little. There are numerous apps that can help you with playing along to songs but if you have access to your PC whilst practising I'd recommend [url="http://bestpractice.sourceforge.net/"]Best Practise[/url]. It'll allow you to slow down the songs to be able to work out the notes and play along at a slower speed until you've got it nailed. It's much easier to work things out when you've got a handle on why things work in a song. Lessons from a proper bass tutor are the bet way to learn, but it's not always possible to take them for a variety of reasons. As an alternative take a look at [url="http://www.studybass.com/"]StudyBass[/url] and work your way through it. Start at the beginning and don't be tempted to skip bits. And lastly, any questions just ask here.

I think all the pictures are pretty horrific!

Man up and play the girly bass.

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1423008538' post='2679645'] You have to be in touch with what you want to achieve as a musician/bassist. I've been told on here more than once that my assertion that we should be learning to express ourselves through music and chosen instrument is bollocks. So where does that leave us in terms of learning from a pro's experiences? Is it mostly a technical exercise for some of us? [/quote] If you'd have said that on a guitar forum no one would have batted an eyelid - very many guitarists think their instrument is all about expression. I wonder what that tells us about the way bassists think? That our job is just about holding things together? There are plenty of session players who are first call precisely because of the way they express themselves, otherwise producers would just programme in the bass themselves!

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1423006589' post='2679616'] So, with that in mind, what can we learn from them if they were active members of Basschat? [/quote] Probably not that much in terms of gear unless they've got hold of some gear that's still in development, but I'd imagine their experience in certain situations might be enlightening. Even if most of us would never find ourselves in that position.

[quote name='blunderthumbs' timestamp='1422976264' post='2679052'] Here's my faker [attachment=182819:IMG_0419.JPG] [/quote] Bass Collection?

[quote name='skej21' timestamp='1423000931' post='2679509'] Exactly. Give an opinion and the cynical nature of forum mentality shows up. 'You would say that, I bet you're endorsed by them!' etc etc. I have a few things I'd like to put up on the forum, one of which would members might find useful, but have refrained so far as I'm afraid it'll get ripped to shreds like everything else seems to. I know the forum can be like this and I still contribute to some threads but I often bite my tongue and refrain from contributing as it feels like it'll descend into an unnecessary argument. Theres one thing the Pro players COULD contribute... An opinion on why they don't contribute lol! [/quote] It's really strange the way forum mentality works, and there's definitely a 'right' way of thinking at any given time. Doubtless this is all described by normal group dynamics but I wonder if any studies have found any interesting differences in the way consensus is found on forums? Stevie was ripped apart a few years ago for suggesting different size speakers have different sounds, and yet nowadays that opinion (with caveats) goes without remark far more often. And gear seems to undergo flavour of the week, never mind month. You should post up whatever it is that you've thought about contributing as some will always find it interesting. If you get some negative comments just ignore them and just address those who are genuinely interested.

[quote name='basskng499' timestamp='1422997330' post='2679417'] this is the one yes, still cannot view it on my content page :-( [/quote] Yeah, as Kev said not everything ends up being found on your 'my content' page. Best thing to do is hit the 'follow this topic' button at the top right of the page or just bookmark it.

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/254693-handmade-overwater-5-string-fretted-dulux-custom-j-series/"]This one[/url]?

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1422994661' post='2679338'] .. who actually had the time and inclination to contribute, say, 200 posts a year, what do you think we would learn from them that is not available from other sources, including each other as members? And another thought, are there things they can learn from us amateur/semi pro members? [/quote] Well I learnt that at least some top end pros won't even consider using compression as part of their rig and leave it all to FoH, so that they can retain some feel. They might learn that playing the Dog and Duck without PA support might require compression to be added by the bassist.

I'm one of the ones who didn't get on with it, and yes I prefer lower gain sounds. I bought it in the early/mid nineties and lived with it over a year. I used it with gain at about 9 o'clock, no blend, by 10 o'clock it was starting to get too distorted for my needs. And I was happy - the tone controls were great (huge amounts of beef available and the top could be tamed nicely). Things could get pretty wild dialling up the drive, which even though I never went there it was nice knowing I could. It was an always on pedal, no using it as a special effect for me. And then I noticed it. That fizzy edge that seemed almost separate from the signal. Once I'd heard it I couldn't get it out of my head, and no matter what I did it was always there - turning the blend to almost dry, turning down the gain, nothing worked. Even using the studio's Bassman 135 and matching cab (hardly known for it's top end) you could hear that fizz. So I gave it away. But no hate from me, and I've even recommended it on here to those who want an inexpensive aggressive pedal (where the ODB-3 really shines IMHO). It's just not for me.

A noise gate with a sidechain controlling ducking? Although you'd have to make sure the gate would hold long enough for what you're playing. You'll probably be looking at rack gear though, as I can't imagine a pedal being specced well enough for this.

[quote name='alyctes' timestamp='1422808262' post='2676977'] Humour me, and explain why Thunder 1As are rather nasty? [/quote] They're not, but as it stands that particular one is.

...not to mention the dirty great hole in the body! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121553910381

There's a sale of Precision decals in his recent feedback too, as well as a bass with a Fender neckplate that he had forgotten he'd ordered apparently. Stuff left over from other projects perhaps?

Yeah, as long as it isn't a sealed barrel type socket you can just bend the contacts back together again. If it is sealed you'll just have to replace it. Unfortunately that type of Planet Waves jack is known for messing up sockets.

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1422627244' post='2674796'] Lots of variables - age, condition, make & model all make a big difference. The standard stuff like Fender & Musicman always seem to hold their prices better than other makes or the more esoteric, custom stuff, but even that is subject to the fickleness of what's "in" at the time. [/quote] That's my take on things as well. I've never gone for the percentage thing (at whatever rate somebody decides is correct) for exactly the reasons you've mentioned. Picking up an American Standard Precision for 50% of the list price isn't going to be easy. Gear that's been deleted can often go for more than the retail price just a few months earlier if there's still a demand for it. Research on the current market is the only way to go really. Just too many variables otherwise.