bassmayhem

Blue Joe with the new matching Reunion Blues Continental, Midnight Series...

[quote name='Bill Fitzmaurice' timestamp='1427666591' post='2732924'] The height of the Bose array makes it very limited in how well it works as a line array. It does not function the way the Bose marketing claims. As the bass modules are so small they don't function as line sources at all. Required reading: [url="http://www.diy-audio.narod.ru/litr/nflawp.pdf"]http://www.diy-audio...litr/nflawp.pdf[/url] [/quote] Well, I ain't gonna go to battle over this; it works for what I use it for. Why read about how it sounds when I can listen to how it sounds. I even have a wireless system so I can go as far as the back wall or beyond. Compared to any other amp used in the same context I find no backlashes. The (low) height of the system makes the volume drop like a traditional speaker after some 10-12 meters, but the interesting thing is the area within 10-12 meters where you won't go deaf from the volume an ordinary speaker throws out to get the same volume drop after 10-12 meters. Try it! Like it or dislike it, but try it in real life gig situations first.

There is a lot of bullsh*t in the bass community regarding the Bose systems. I have used an L1 model 2 with two B1 subs for years; primarily for church gigs, and it works very well. Since the line array makes the sound spread more horisontal, you won't get that [i]rolling and tumbling low frequency rumble[/i] in the church, but a more focused sound that is easy to control. I have NEVER run out of power. I've used the rig for "unplugged" kind of gigs, more singer-songwriter kind of acts, for jazz, for EUB, for acoustic bass, and as PA for duo-trio settings in small clubs. We even used my system for bass and digital drums backing a choir in a gospel gig. Every rig has its pro's and con's. If you want to colour your tone with an amp, well, BOSE isn't your choice, maybe. Another weak link is when your guitard has a Fender Super Reverb aimed at killer volume at his calves, complaining "I CANNOT HEAR MYSELF", well, then the Bose is overrun at near distance (ie. on the stage). I use different setups: sometimes right into the T1 mixer, but that is not the best way to go. More often the DI send from a preamp straight into the analog input. I use EBS, Eden, Avalon, my Streamliner 900 (as pre) and earlier I used the Boss GT-10B. B1 or B2 subs? Definitely two (or more) B1's! They sound way better, even if the B2 "woofs" a bit more. The B2 gets boomier and not - in my opinion - as focused. Yes - I have "real" bass rigs too, everything from 150 W combo to 3400 W giga-rig, with a lot in between. Each rig in its own context. The one nearly never used is - not unexpected - the giga-rig. Here is an old pic from my living room... ...a church gig... ...and a "Sinatra" gig. (Try to find the rig!)

My old Charvel 3B hockey club I bought new in 1986... I have no picture of it, but it looked exactly like this one: Neck thru, nice profiled neck, mega jumbo frets. I used it some years until the pearl flake hockey club 80's ideal kinda worn out. I miss it a LOT; I know the guy who owns it now, but he won't part with it. I changed the pups to EMG's, since the original preamp wasn't too good. It became one of the best basses I've ever owned. Period.

Premier gigged! A P-bass couldn't be better. It is very responsive to touch and playing style. A groove machine suitable for everything above low Eb. (No! It won't get D-tuner...)

Now it is home. The work is top notch! The neck is incredibly comfortable to grip, with "hard oiled" surface like on US Lakland. The frets have the same old school small profile like on Lakland basses, also meticulously set, shaped and dressed. All hardware is from Hipshot, no licensed things. The icing on the cake: the weight is just over three kilograms, it has tone as a crazy and is damn good looking. The original case was unfortunately lost, but it came with a good gig bag. The package also included an original tool, which was very clever. Of this, I upload a picture when I get home. The headstock looks better in real life, just so you know... And - of course - a "Certificate of autenticity" signed by both Dan Lakin and Bob Glaub. (Not that it matters, but it's a bit of fun ...)

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1425926422' post='2712373'] That sounds reasonable to me, how much for a Jazz 5 and is there an active one? [/quote]Well, I paid [b]a lot[/b] less, but it is second hand... (£1K mentioned above...)

Well, tomorrow it arrives... review will follow.

We had a lightweight amp shootout at the TKS workshop back in September. If I remember correctly, the two favourites were the Streamliner 900 and the MB Fusion 500. You could get the same kind of sound out of them, but not exactly. The Streamliner felt more like a full valve amp than the MB Fusion. One or the other, both will make you happy.

My new TKS H115, two of them. 450 W RMS and 14 kg a piece. Old school with a touch of future...

Here is a review of this bass. I wrote Ed Friedland to ask if it is the exactly same bass. I kind of suspect that, since this is number 007. Check some 6:40 into the video: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beKbt1g8PO0[/media] This bass has 1,5" nut width too; also suggesting it is the same bass...

I couldn't resist this one, bought it from a friend. A nice P-bass in the style of Bob Glaub. Top notch material, well built! It is soon on its way... The headstock is a bit... awkward, but someone has to try one, and it better be me...

Here is my '78 Fender Jazz Bass, original from neck up, with the exception of refret and a new nut: [IMG]http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd169/bassmayhem/20141227_131849_zps36599faf.jpg[/IMG] My Skyline 55-02 fretless: [IMG]http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd169/bassmayhem/photo9_zpsbd4fe8da.jpg[/IMG]

[quote name='steviedee' timestamp='1423929482' post='2690487'] I've got got a Genz Benz Streamliner which I really like. The only niggle I have is there is no footswitch to engage the gain! I know I could just walk over to my amp and hit the switch but I don't. Is there anyway I can use a pedal to drive the preamp and not increase the volume just get a natural distortion. If so what would be a good suggestion? [/quote] I use to do like this: I set the gain and the preamp volume at around 2 o'clock, depending on what bass I use. Then I control the overdrive with my fingers and playing style. When I "hold back" the amp is nice and clean, but when I dig in I am rewarded with a nice grind, without changing settings. Try your own settings to find your own "sweet spot"...

I've got a fretless 55-02, a fretted 55-94 and a US JO5. The 55-XX basses are more "all round tone machines" mimicing J, P and MM in a rather good way. The JO is a real J. Nothing more, nothing less! Well, the 35" scale and the fifth string makes difference, of course. If you are a "tweaker": go for the 55, if you just want to play your Jazz Bass: go JO! Same necks, different bodies! I am a Jazz Bass guy myself so I prefer the touch and feel of the JO5, even if the 55-XX basses are more versatile.

This is... immoral...! Kind of! Nice!

Start with knocking on them; if the box gives a hollow boomy sound, then it is not stiff enough. (Like EBS Classic 112, that acts like a cardboard box...) The only thing to do to cure [i]that [/i]problem is to put "stiffening rods" inside the cab, from side to side, from bottom to top, from baffle to back, just like a forest of bass bars. Cheap cabs are cheap of a reason...

To quote Ritchie Blackmore: "We want everything louder than everything else." This setup is overkill. In every situation. Period. But it was nice to experience the shockwave... Other than that: it sounds very very good. Clean, full, articulated etc. (I won't use the word "transparent" since it would be silly.)

Fender Jazz Bass, 1978 Steinberger XL2, 1988 Lakland 55-94 Deluxe, 2004 Lakland Bob Glaub, 2007 Lakland Joe Osborn, 5 2004 Skyline 55-02 Fretless, 2007 NS Design CR4M, 2008 Kremona double bass, 2012

[IMG]http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd169/bassmayhem/2015-01-17-Ett_zps66e3a175.jpg[/IMG] I just had to put them all up and let them stretch out for a while. Eden WT800B, 2x2126 and 2xH115 with a little help from their friend Steinie...