redstriper

Here's another home made baby based on the Ashbory - [attachment=30253:rubber_b..._for_web.jpg]

The main lesson to come out of this tale of woe is not to sell your old rig until you are completely happy with the new one, especially if you loved the sound of the old one. No two rigs sound the same, but the LM2 is the closest I found to the tone of my old TE and it's louder. Compact style lightweight neo cabs are fantastic IMO and I wouldn't go back to the old heavy cabs in a hurry. Two 15s are ideal, I just use one for small gigs and take both for bigger ones. There is more than enough volume for stage monitoring and FOH at any pub type gig, with the DI into a PA for large halls. It took a while for me to get used to the new set up after the Trace while I spent ages fiddling with eq to try and get the same old sound. Now I don't touch the eq because I can get my sound just with the filters, but that may not be so easy for other tone types. I tried a lot of amps and cabs before settling on the LM2 and two 15s and I've still got the old TE as a back up, but it hasn't left the house in the past year. My new sound isn't quite as meaty as the old one, but it's a worthwhile compromise for me and I've come to prefer the tighter more controlled sound. Mr T's problem is tricky and I wish him all the best in finding a solution - I think it may be a simple matter of adding another cab.

Mr T - your band must be seriously loud. You need another cab, but it doesn't have to be expensive. Try any other 8 ohm cabs you already have paired with the compact, don't worry about matching drivers - if it works, who cares? You will get more volume and the top cab will be closer to your ears and the LM2 should be loud enough through 2 cabs. I have used an LM2 with a compact type 15" cab paired with an Ashdown mag 15 or 2x10 and found both set ups work fine with plenty of volume and my band isn't exactly quiet.

Sorry to hear about your problems Mr T. It's no fun when you can't get your sound right, especially when you had it before spending loadsa dough on new toys. Alex is so right when he talks about words being insufficient in explaining sound and there is often an element of compromise when looking for your perfect tone. When you described your sound as smooth, warm and deep, I imagined a similar sound to mine. After reading your eq settings on the TE amp, I realise your idea of deep is very different to mine and that you like a more middly sound that I would not get on with at all. The LM2 and eminence 15" neo cabs work great for my reggae sound because I don't want much middle or treble, just deep bass. For your rock sound, you like a lot more mid and treble which is almost the opposite of my sound. I would recommend cutting the eq that you don't like rather than boosting too much and don't use the filters on the LM2 at all. Don't give up on the lightweight route, it took a while for me to find my sound on the LM2, but that's because I was trying too hard and Alex's neo cabs should be easily capable of matching your old set up. The LM2 through the big one might be the best compromise.

[quote name='thedontcarebear' post='544637' date='Jul 19 2009, 12:45 PM']I didn't know where to put this, but anyway, I am sick of never hearing the bass on stage, I bought a kickback combo recently as I thought that would solve the issue, but it doesn't really, most venues I play won't put the bass through the monitors, and if they do, it's not much. So, I guess it must be my sound, it's a lot worse when the guitarist uses his mesa instead of his engl, must be something to do with the frequencies we use clashing. Anyone got any idea of what to boost or cut? I want a funky but versatile sound, as our set is quite mixed.[/quote] Sorry if I'm missing something, but why don't you just turn up the volume? You might need a more powerful amp and/or more cab(s), but you should be able to get the sound you like at the volume you need without compromising the tone.

I find the rotosounds too rough in feel and too rich in tone for my taste, but they are the most similar in tone to the TIs that I have found. I haven't tried pyramids or labellas, but I would highly recommend GHS 3050s for a very smooth feel and an old skool mellow tone similar to a double bass.

The Fenders are very similar to the GHSs, I like them too.

GHS 3050s are perfect for reggae on my jazz bass, very pure, smooth and deep but that might not be the sound you're after and I've never played them with a pick. You can get them on ebay delivered from the US for under £20.00. TIs are much richer sounding and they are lower tension, not really my thing but lots of people love them.

I thought the TIs were more similar in tone to rotosound flats than the other makes I've tried, (GHS, Fender, E Ball & DRs) when I tried them recently. They have a similar richness to the sound, but the rotosounds are more ridged and higher tension. I have some old well used ones you can have if you want to try them for feel and tension, only 3 though because I gave the G to someone else.

There's too much choice in everything these days. It leads to dissatisfaction and we spend too much time choosing and not enough living/playing.

[quote name='henry norton' post='517004' date='Jun 17 2009, 10:59 PM']Oops, I think I've hijacked my own thread[/quote] you think!

Nice one - hope it all goes smoothly, I see you kept the rotosounds on too.

You get used to an instrument after a long time and the main reason I haven't bought a new bass is because I'd feel bad leaving my old one in it's case. It's really not a great bass but it's been through a lot with me and never let me down - yes I'm just another overly sentimental old Hector.

It doesn't matter what the bid history looks like. You decide the most you want to pay, then place your bid and wait and see.

[quote]This bass plays itself it is so easy.[/quote] Handy!

[quote name='Major-Minor' post='512651' date='Jun 13 2009, 10:21 AM']That brings back memories - mention of A1 Repairs that is. I used to go into Ann and Grahame's shop regularly in the mid to late 60s. The band i was in could not afford gear from Barratts although we used to go in there and drool over the nice shiny new stuff. A1 was mostly second hand gear. Do you remember when you had to go down through a trap door to view all the stuff in the basement ? The ground floor shop was tiny and packed tightly with gear and there was a musty damp smell down there. I remember buying our first PA system there - Vox I think - and later we upgraded to a WEM. Good ole days! Of course they expanded hugely over the years. And then they sold out to one of the big chains (can't remember who) and up until recently when it shut down, it was a Sound Control store. As you so rightly say, gear has never been cheaper than now. Having said that, if you want real quality you still have to pay top dollar. The Major[/quote] I remember Anne was always stood behind the counter in A1 and it was a tiny shop until you squeezed down to the cellar and it was like Alladins cave down there. I'll always remember that damp smell and equate it with vintage gear! There was a lad down there who helped me a lot in choosing my bass, he was tall with long red hair and always wore yellow dungarees - those were the days! Barratts was just too posh for me with the suited salesmen, but I loved walking round their cellar too and just looking at all the shiny Fenders on the walls. I never dared ask to try one and soon skuttled back into A1. I think a new jazz bass in 1980 was about £250 which was a lot of money then, relative to wages and I don't know if the quality was as good as the earlier ones. If I was buying a new one today, I would consider the American Vintage 62 jazz at about £1500 and I would love to try one sometime and compare it to an old one. I wonder what the youngsters of today will be saying in 30 years about today's instruments and whether they will lust after a 'vintage' 2009 Fender!

£35 a week was a good wage in 1972 - I was a shop assistant on £12 a week then. I bought my first bass in 72 and I remember choosing between 2 - one in Barretts and one in A1 Manchester. Barretts was full of new Fenders and the only one I could afford was a music master for £35, but it was at the top of my budget and I went for an old Hofner for £25 from A1 instead. It took weeks to pay for at £3.00 a time when I could afford it, (I had to give my mum £3.50 a week for board). I immediately stripped all the paint off and varnished it, then I swapped it for a motorbike which I never got running! Fast forward to 1979 and I bought a customised 1963 Fender jazz for £150, I still have that one and it's been my only bass ever since. It was built buy Lee Osborne in Bolton out of parts and I don't know how much of it is original, but it's one of a kind and feels like another limb. I was perfectly happy with it until joining this forum and now I'm thinking of buying a new bass, possibly a precision! It's interesting to look back and realise that things are much cheaper relatively nowadays and we have so much more choice (too much IMO). Anyway Major, welcome to the forum from a fellow Manc and remember you're only as old as you feel..............

[quote name='The Bass Doc' post='507634' date='Jun 7 2009, 06:31 PM']Anyone out there confirm my recollection that the early imported run of Musicman Stingray basses (circa 1978) were supplied with flats as standard? ALSO same recollection on a new (in 1976) Gibson T-bird? - I don't have the bass any more but have just rediscovered a string set put away years ago and indexed 'from Bi-centenial T-bird' - Flats with orange thread wraps. DITTO 70s Rickenbacker 4001. I reckon they've always been around but guys re-strung so regularly and kept trying the latest products, usually rounds.[/quote] I thought all electric basses came with flatwounds until Jaco came and changed the World.

[quote name='pantherairsoft' post='507682' date='Jun 7 2009, 07:29 PM']Wow... until readind this thread I had never even considered the use of flatwounds on a fretted bass. I have always lived by the safe knowledge that flatwounds are for fretless... I'm interested now...[/quote] I always thought the opposite! When I started playing my influences were Jaco who used rounds on his fretless and Jamerson who used flats on his fretted. Once I realised where my style was going it was a simple choice.

hello and croeso - you must be in another part of Wales cos it sure ain't sunny here.

[quote name='EssentialTension' post='507474' date='Jun 7 2009, 12:44 PM']I don't think it's true that hardly anyone played them.[/quote] I've been happily playing flats for over 30 years and I'm not the only one, although roundwounds are certainly much more common especially since Jaco showed what you can do with them. I have a good friend who's been playing with rounds for the same time and neither of us would change - he plays jazz funk and I play reggae, we both have old fender jazz basses and neither of us are particularly nostalgic or religious about our string choice - it's simply a matter of having the right tools for the trade. The only difference is that he likes to change strings every few weeks, while it's every few years for me. The main problem is finding a good range of flatwounds to try. New basses are nearly always strung with roundwounds which makes it hard to know how they will sound and feel with flats. Maybe more new basses will come strung with flats now that they're regaining popularity and it's funny to think of people resenting it - they're just strings!

[quote name='Brother Jones' post='507007' date='Jun 6 2009, 02:52 PM']I'm sick to death of flats. They have been flavour of the month for a little while, probably because the sounds people are after are increasingly nostalgic.[/quote] Funny, I feel just the same way about rounds - never liked em, never will.

Nice one Stevie - you are a gentleman, I'll pm you my address unless you've still got it from the time you sent me the speakon sockets. I have GHS 45-105 flats on my jazz bass at the moment, which have been on for about 8 or 9 years I think, (I lose track of time). The E and A are fine, but I find the D and G a bit thin and toppy. I've heard very good things about the TIs, although I'm surprised at the dead D because they aren't cheap and they make a big thing about quality on their website. I was thinking of ordering some, but I'll hold on for a while until they sort the problem out. It will be interesting to try the Ernie Ball Chromes and compare them to the GHSs, I like a very deep tone, but I also like flexible strings and it might be a case of mixing string types to get the best of both worlds. Played in is better for me because I'm not bothered about sparkle, just deep smooth bass. Thanks again Stevie and please let us know how your replacement TIs shape up. Steve.