Sean

42 minutes ago, Al Krow said:

+1 for Nordstrands.

Pups maketh the bass! And I'm loving the Nords in my Ibby SR 4 string and 6 string basses.

So Sean do you have a Schecter 8 (which model?) in which you've swapped in Nords or did you manage to order with Nords when you bought?

I swapped the EMGs out and bought the Nords in the USA.

I have the Schecter pictured above, it's the Stiletto Studio 8. I love a neck-thru.

Here's the EMGs

And here's the Nordy Blades

Recorded into Logic Pro X and both tracks have exactly the same settings.

Please excuse the quality of the noodling 

This is the Schecter with the Big Blades.

1 minute ago, AndyTravis said:

Are those nordy blades?

Yes. In 30+ years of swapping out pickups these are the best I've tried. The difference is massive. I'm a big fan of these blades and am considering put a set of P and J blades in my Valenti.

Here’s my Schecter. It has Nordstrand Big Blades in it. Amazing upgrade over the passive EMGs that are stock. I don't think I'd ever played a Korean-made Schecter before this but would highly recommend, it's a very good instrument.

I should have some tracks that I can post for you to listen to.

I’m up for this. Looks as if I’m available that day. 

I shall bring a car load of gear including:

MJW Taranis 200 all-valve UK built amp

Various Gen 3 Barefaced cabs 

Laney Nexus Tube 400

Mesa 400+

and some of my basses.

In all my days of Basschat, Bassworld and what ever we had before, I have never yet been to a Bass Bash so have little idea of what to expect.  

If anyone wants to try out the only MJW Taranis 200 in existence, you’re welcome.

I’m in Gloucester but you’d have to book a rehearsal room to hear it properly. 

This is a stunning 1994 Yamaha acoustic. Rosewood back and sides, solid spruce top, amazing craftsmanship details as seen in pics. And it sounds beautiful. It's in superb condition. I've owned it from new, still have all the tags etc. and the minimal fret wear shows how little it's been played in 23+ years. No damage apart from a couple of very small dings on the back of the headstock (pictured) and one or two very minor knocks on the body (I can't even get them to show up on a photo). Comes with the very nice Hiscox hardcase shown in the pics.

Spark bought a pedal from me. Great comms. Nice and easy to deal with and highly recommended. Another Basschat winner.

19 hours ago, funkydario said:

Might be interested...I do have a BB3000A incoming and the tuners fête replaced...owner told they were  gold...but the bridge look really like your tuners 

Keep you  posted. ..rapidly 

All the BB3k I've seen were gold. Let's see.

9 hours ago, funkydario said:

Yamaha still available ? Are  they gold? 

Still here. They are nickel.

Another excellent basschatter and a great service. Quick delivery, excellent comms. Highly recommended.

Sadowsky.

I used to have chronic GAS for these basses. Then I played one and it just didn’t connect with me. I played two more over a couple of years and they all left me cold. The sound, the feel, nothing about them spoke to me in any way.

Also, I couldn’t fault its build, the look, anything. Top notch in every way, as you might expect but disappointing.

Difficult to explain why in the same way it’s difficult to explain why I connect so well with my Yamaha BB or my Valenti and think they’re amongst the best instruments I’ve ever played.

Bergantino cabs are also fabulous. Expensive and they don't come up used very often but match with the 400+ and WB very well.

15 minutes ago, dmccombe7 said:

Are all BF cabs lightweight ?

 

In comparison to other equivalents, yes. A lot of people also don't like them but I think since BF released the 10" versions they have wider appeal. Definitely worth trying. I'm sure you'll have someone who owns one close enough to you and willing to let you have a go. I think BF has a network of people who are willing to let you have a go. Maybe contact BF through FB.

Scaled down from my big board recently.

TC Toneprint effects are fantastic.

1 hour ago, gjones said:

The Hartke HA3500 are good loud amps and are cheap as chips secondhand.

LH500 good too. Cheaper and really simple front panel. 

3 minutes ago, chris_b said:

If you've never heard either then you're taking pot luck which ever way you jump.

There is one way you can try a Barefaced cab. Order one and if you don't like it you can return it within the first month and get your money back. If you buy the Mesa cab first and don't like it, you're stuck with it.

 

@dmccombe7

I have a BF SIX10 and a BF Big Twin 2 and use them both (not at the same time but I could) with the 400+. They’re very different beasts indeed. The SIX10 gives the most plug and play result, the Big Twin 2 because it’s so transparent needs more tweaking based on the room.

Both of them absolutely kick the back side out of the Mesa 410 Diesel I used to have. Weighed a ton and was worthy but didn’t do the amp any favours. I have no experience of the Powerhouse cabs. 

On 02/01/2018 at 13:03, Steve Browning said:

My favourite musical noise is a real Hammond through a Leslie at full throttle.

Not much in the world better than this.

24 minutes ago, dmccombe7 said:

Thanks Sean for your fantastic descriptions. Gives me a general idea of how you use your set up and how that differs slightly from my preferred tone.

Thanks for that. One other thing MJW Taranis ? Never heard of them but just googled and they look tidy but not knowing enough about them i wouldn't buy one without trying it first.

Dave  

@dmccombe7 the Taranis is currently a one off 😉.

It’s essentially the same power section as a Matamp GT200 or Orange AD200 but with two channels each with its own style preamp circuit and EQ.

One EQ is a Fender style EQ and the other is the Baxendale-James type. 

The channels are clean/driven vintage-ish and the other is driven modern to absolute filth with a switch that gives Ch2 two different characters.

It also has power switching options where it can go to half power across all four Kt88s or can be switched to run on two valves or can run on half power to two KT88s. Handy for recording at sensible volumes while caning the big tubes for that bottle-warmth.

It has a voice selector switch that gives it four distinctly different characters, one of which is great for guitars.

It’s all way over the top but is incredibly versatile and it cost about the same as a GT200.

I think the intention is that MJW will make a much more straightforward Taranis if anyone wants one. Mine was like an experimental (mental?) venture.

1 minute ago, mcnach said:

 

Is this using pre or post? If post, then many amps behave that way. If pre... I'm surprised any amp behaves that way  My D800+ does not behave that way, for sure.

Actually there’s no choice of pre or post. There’s an explanation for it in the manual for either the WB or the 400+. 

I’ve just been on the Mesa site for the first time in years. Wow! They’ve stripped the bass range back massively!

I understand them ditching things like the Titan V12, Big Block 750 etc but surely not having a bass combo is a gap? 

A combo with a D-800 that slides out to replace the Walkabout Scout seems like an obvious one. 

Do combos really only appeal to the low end and mid range of the market? 

20 minutes ago, LukeFRC said:

anyone else wondering what Jon charges for a new neck?

From £200 it says on his price list. I guess that’s 21 fret simple maple one piece without hardware. And then add upwards depending on what you want.

1. What makes owners of Mesa gear like it so much. (general question about Mesa gear ie build quality, support and availability) - Sound, build quality, character. I have more compliments about my sound when using Mesa gear than any other.

2. What is it that made you pick that particular amp over others. (in respect to other Mesa amps or cabs and maybe in respect to other manufacturers gear) The 400+ is iconic. There's a reason it's one of the default models on Logic Pro X. It gives me a sound I absolutely love. Bass = 3, Treble = 3, MIddle = 10. I have a Walkabout Scout 12 too and use that with it's own 1x12 combo or with a BF TWO10. Both have very similar flavour sounds and cut through the mix. The 400+ is used either through a BF Big Twin 2 or a SIX10.

3. Is there a favoured set up that majority of owners prefer or would prefer. Not particularly. I change mine depending on the venue, my mood, whatever.

4. Can you describe briefly your preferred tone (ie, warm, mellow, mid-punch, heavy bottom end, high top end are just some things i can think off). A middy clank not unlike Duff McKagan, a thumping P-bass with flats depending on the song. Both the 400+ and the Walkabout get me where I need to be. Once you've learned how to quickly adjust teh knobs on the go, it's not an issue.

5. what bass do you generally use with it. (just to give me an idea of whether your bass is passive, active or has a deciding influence on how your tone might sound) Yamaha BB2024x, Valenti P-bass, G&L2500

6. Finally what Mesa gear would you recommend for a Mesa Virgin like myself playing mostly classic rock with a Jazz bass but occasionally depping for other music genres doing pup / club material. A Walkabout Scout or a Walkabout with a quality 210 would probably serve you well.

The DI on Mesa gear is weird. You have to be aware that if you change the master volume setting it will affect the signal out so if you tweak up your volume on stage the desk is going to get a hotter signal. Worth mentioning to a soundman just in case.

My 400+ measured the power output at approximately 245W clean and 350W maximum when clipping as done by MJW Amps during a service. Transients could well be higher. It's not stupidly powerful but it is loud through a good cab.

As a comparison, my MJW Taranis 200 (4 x KT88) is 253 clean and 544 fully clipped.

As new Darkglass Symmetry compressor. A few hours of desktop use only.

Original box, manuals, plastic feet and even the Darkglass logo sticker.

£200 Posted.