bassmayhem

[font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif][size=3]Guess whose TKS 2126 cab acted as "centerfold" in the big TKS review in the Swedish "Fuzz Magazine" this month:[/size][/font] [font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif][size=3][/size][/font]

This is a very cleverly designed bass ... I thought the bridge was a little too bulky with a lot of strange details until I - to my surprise - found this: Adjustable string spacing! The previous owner had missed these important details: - He had not tightened the locking screws to the intonation of thebridge saddles, with the result that they fluttered like aspen leaves in the wind when played. - He had not tightened the locking screws for the string spacing (one per saddle) which made the spacing fairly uneven with some audible buzzing and other [i]peculiarities[/i]. Overall, this means that you can get " compound spacing ', ie . the same distance between the strings' " winding periphery " instead of equal distance between the center of the string core. This means that the distance between the strings adapts to the strings' diameter : larger diameter - larger center distance = same distance [ in ] between [/ i] strings. Smart! Feels just right ! Now I'm just waiting for a set of new strings so I don't have to use my own old ones. If I try to describe the tone of the words, something equally baroque, like dancing about architecture, but I make an effort: a homogeneous tone with granular core, perfectly bridge pickup bark without a shred of thin crispness. The neck pickup can emulate P- bass tone if you like, both pups in combination becomes like a juicy tonal boullion with a light fragrance of thyme and wild meat. Tastes best with a Cabernet Sauvignon or Cotes du Rhone... (Heck, I said I would try.)

This one has Bartolini pups and three band eq (with hidden mid band pot in the control cavity). The fretboard is rosewood, but I oiled it yesterday evening so it was "soaking wet". The guy who had the bass didn't really know how to set up a bass, so I spent some 45 minutes filing the nut to appropriate height, adjusting the twin truss rods, intonate the bridge and raise the pups to a level of "non anemic content". The bridge pup was set so low it didn't make a difference, nearly. I put some foam under both pups and screwed them tight. I set the mid control on full et voilà: the bass sang like a bird (just lower). Before the tweaking I did some serious cleaning of the fretboard with a ScotchBrite spunge soaked in oil, also cleaned the laquer with my standard solution: window cleaner (kind of...). I was a bit surprised though, since the bass is rather neck heavy in spite of the long upper horn. Not a problem, just not expected. Oh, I changed the buttons to Schaller Strap Locks. Ambient: I cannot comment on the similarity to the American made Tobias basses, since I've never played one. Still, it has a very nice tone, touch and quality. The neck is asymmetric: also a new experience. It feels more expensive than it was, at least after my tweaking. The strings were wery, wery old so I changed them to a set of not-so-very-old strings, but plan to order some balanced sets from Circle K Strings. Anyone tried them?

Toby Pro is another animal... Here is a better picture: This bass is REALLY nice...

Well, here it is: [IMG]http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd169/bassmayhem/11_zps01523223.jpeg[/IMG] After some tweaking it proves to be a very nice bass...

I just got hold of a nice and rather rare bass in a swap deal: a Tobias Standard 6, made in Japan, one of the 400 made pre Gibson take-over. In one hour I have it at home. Anyone out there with experience of such basses? I'd be happy for a comment. Pic's will follow...

Made In Japan!!! Definitely! Even if I don't call it heavy rock; just plain old school 70's rock with a lot of blues flavour. A double album full of playing and musicianship. A gigantic jam session! There is only one double album to match Made In Japan, but in another genre: 8:30!!! Same, same but different!

I got a pedal somewhat like that: the old Markbass Distorsore. (Out of production) It is a tube/valve unit with a compressor in front of the drive circuit, then lowpass and highpass filters and then a blend control for unprocessed and/or distorted sound. Also gain and volume controls on a tandem pot. I never use it since the type of distortion is not what I looked for, It has that Sheehan flavour with a distortion that can sound like an octave above the played note. (Due to the harmonics produced by the valve, I presume...) Anyway, a nice "instead of" Sheehan pedal. Also - the compressor can be used without drive so you can parallel compress your signal. I have it in its box, complete and just like new, waiting for someone to buy it...

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1385624101' post='2290294'] I'm interested in making it. I'm going to make a ramp for my LTD jazz, I'll try to do one for This one too. Hopefully without having to ask Cameron to send me his bass, but not sure how possible that is. Sorry Bill for hijacking your thread. If we go ahead on the ramp and post pics maybe I should go to another thread? or do we stay here? [/quote] Good idea with the ramp.Also nice to see someone else having a "Dirty Blonde" too. I've been thinking about a ramp for mine too, as well as selling the bass from time to time... [IMG]http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd169/bassmayhem/CIMG1336.jpg[/IMG]

I am sad to hear that things aren't so good with GB (No - not Great Britain!) and a lot of rumours are flourishing. Anyway, I got myself a nice Genz Benz Streamliner 900, at a more than good price, that will come in handy when a small powerful rig is needed. Since my big 2126 cabs are 900 W RMS at 4 ohms, one of them is the perfect match to the S900. Even if the cab is rather big it is light, the whole rig is somewhere around 61-61 lbs. The pedal board isn't ready yet, I'm waiting for cables with tighter jacks for closer placement. Some reorganizing still to do...

I'd say my Lakland Hollowbody with Ernie Ball Cobalts on...

I have a very, very, very nice Warwick Thumb LTD 2006 "Dirty Blonde" that MAY be for sale. It looks like this: [IMG]http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd169/bassmayhem/CIMG1336.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd169/bassmayhem/CIMG1337.jpg[/IMG]

Well, I had three, but now they're just two... [IMG]http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd169/bassmayhem/3-Thethreemusketeers_zps7efab81d.jpg[/IMG] The fretted Skyline Standard is nowe gone in favour of a Fender Precision 2012 [i]Jade pearl metallic...[/i]

Two 112 cabs will be excellent. One wide 212 cab will also be excellent, since it won't look (too) stupid with a Marshall head on top of it. If looks isn't an issue I'd go for two 112's.

Here they are: [IMG]http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd169/bassmayhem/3_zpsb81cac18.jpg[/IMG]

[quote name='MoJo' timestamp='1381247840' post='2236415'] Is this right? I never knew that. So I can run my MB800 without speakers? [/quote] I cannot say ALL S.S. amps can be run without a load, but most of them. Check the manual or contact their support. When I use my QSC power amp with just one cab connected to one of the power amp modules, the other one "goes empty" without problems.

Here is the new TKS-cab among its new friends... This setup sounds very good. Eden WP100 Navigator into a QSC PLX-3402 and then to the new TKS-cab, with the new model name 2126; without an initial letter. The 1100 Watts RMS at 4 ohms per side works well with the specification of the cab, giving each cab some real 1100 Watts of power to push a heavy load... It is a bit annoying having two 2U SKB-rack of different models and then realize they are not stackable. Really stupid, SKB! That's why there is a cushion from a chair between the racks. Tommy will build me a matching 5U rack to accomodate the power amp, the preamp and a rack tuner. It will have the same visual appearance as the cabs, ie. black box and crème coloured lids. It should look ravishing... Well, now just wait for the twin cab...

In a week or so my D2126 number two will arrive... They will look great in pair. Just imagine how big the sound when placed side by side and play some fretless with stereo chorus... [color=#800080][size=6]MMMMMMMMMMMWWWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAH!!![/size][/color]

It is no wonder a Fender Precision Bass always sits well in the mix. Its natural tone has a lot of "urrrp" and "cardboard box" qualities. A P-bass may sound dull, or even ugly, by itself but always good in the mix. Well, to the topic... Scooping means "disposal of the cardboard box in your tone". The lesser cardboard box, the lesser you'll be heard. The most important thing is to sit down with the band mates and have the discussion: "Are we a bunch of soloists or a band?" In most of the cases the problem is that it gets crowded in the frecquency spectrum where the bass is. More and more drop tuned guitars and sub-woofered kick drums make our life a misery. Share the frequency spectrum! That is the solution in many cases. Anyway, a nice scooped sound is fine in a YouTube clip, but will make it harder to get heard. Like Lozz196 writes: "...[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]but "my" sound is what works in my bands...[/font][/color]" That's the thing. The main thing. Make it work! No primadonnas, but the whole ballet...

[quote name='andydye' timestamp='1380117870' post='2221053'] These cabs are seriously sexy! anyideas which one would do the 'ampeg b-15' sound most easily when paired with an ashdown lb30 head? [/quote] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Since the Li'l Bastard is kinda li'l, I'd [size=4]suggest[/size] a smaller cab to match it with, preferably the 112 with measures:[size=4] [color=#000000](WxHxD): ca 52x37x34 cm, and weight: ca 10 kg,[/color][/size][/font] [color=#000000][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]or the D112, slightly larger with more low end[/font][/color][color=#000000]: [/color][color=#000000][font=verdana]measures (WxHxD): ca 52x42x44 cm, and weight[/font][/color][color=#000000][font=verdana]: ca 12 kg. Neither of them particularly expensive...[/font][/color] [b]Edited 9/27-2013:[/b] Here are some fresh updates from TKS Facebook. I mark some nice options for the LB in bold writing. [color=#333333]([/color][color=#333333]Preliminary prices in SEK gives prices in £/GBP [b]slightly less than 1/10[/b] compared to the price in SEK.[/color][color=#333333]) [/color] [color=#333333]Here's the list:[/color] [color=#333333]Two way high performance cabinets (based on the current 1126 / D2126 cabinets):[/color] [color=#333333]1126 - 8 ohm, 450W, 15 kg, 6200 SEK[/color] [color=#333333]1156 - 8 ohm, 450W, 22 kg, 7000 SEK[/color] [color=#333333]2126 - 4 ohm, 900W, 26 kg, 9200 SEK[/color] [color=#333333]Standard cabinets, all cabinets except the 112 available both as 61 cm wide and the narrower/taller format (52x74x40 cm WxHxD). All based on the previous 112/212/2128 cabinets:[/color] [color=#333333]S112 - 8 ohm, 250W, 10 kg, 2900 SEK[/color] [color=#333333]S/W212 - 4 ohm, 500W, 20 kg, 4900 SEK[/color] [color=#333333]S/W115 - 8 ohm, 450W, 17 kg, 5500 SEK[/color] [color=#333333]S/W2126 - 4 ohm, 500W, 23 kg, 6400 SEK[/color] [b][color=#333333]Extra light cabinets - neodymium magnet speakers, the L115/L212 are slightly smaller than the standard S212/S115. Aluminium grilles instead of steel, and different handles, all to keep the weight down.[/color] [color=#333333]L112 - 8 ohm, 150W, 8 kg 3300 SEK[/color] [color=#333333]L115 - 8 ohm, 300W, 13 kg, 4900 SEK[/color] [color=#333333]L212 - 4 ohm, 300W, 14 kg, 5200 SEK[/color][/b] [color=#333333]One way high performance cabinets - something in between the standard 112/212 cabinets and the 1126/2126 ones. High excursion, high power handling speakers, for bass players wanting to match a single 212/two 112 cabinets to a powerful amplifier, but not are in to the sound of the two way cabinets (1126/1156/2126).[/color] [color=#333333]H112 - 8 ohm, 400W, 10 kg, 4500 SEK[/color] [color=#333333]H212 - 4 ohm, 800W, 18 kg, 7200 SEK[/color]

Well, today the first of two TKS D2126 "Bass Mayhem Edition" arrived. The next one arrives during next month, due to late order from my side. It will be exactly the same, no tweeters. Black tolex on the box, crème on the front frame, Fender tweed era cloth over metal mesh. Nice, eh...?

I have just seen the instrument, never played it. A professional technician has done some work on the electronics so it is fully operable. (Was that the correct word?)