Clarky

Glockenlang souchong tEden

Time for tea-related amp brands: TC Tips Orange Pekoe Assampeg

[quote name='Grendel' post='1244086' date='May 25 2011, 11:46 AM']Ouch! That is on the long side, I suppose picking one up used might mitigate both wait time and price....[/quote] Well, based on there being three 'Items Wanted' threads on BassChat this year seeking a 5-string fretted Wal a phrase involving rocking horses and poo-poo springs to mind!

[quote name='pantherairsoft' post='1243920' date='May 25 2011, 09:34 AM']Good point![/quote] Ampeg amps make the best cup of tea, no arguments

[quote name='pantherairsoft' post='1243893' date='May 25 2011, 09:13 AM']Only so everyone can find them in a search… is 99% of people call them Kettle leads and you actually want to sell some then calling them 'kettle' leads on the website is a pretty good call! [/quote] 99% of the people can't be wrong

[quote name='pantherairsoft' post='1243885' date='May 25 2011, 09:07 AM']Correct. Its a 3 pin IEC cable! If whatever you get your hands is not long enough, the place I used to work do them from 1m - 10m and they are pretty damn cheap as well… [url="http://www.audiospares.com/home.php?cat=724"]http://www.audiospares.com/home.php?cat=724[/url][/quote] Well audiospares describe them as IEC UK Mains "Kettle" Leads, so they must be KETTLE leads

[quote name='marvin spangles' post='1243766' date='May 25 2011, 02:12 AM']The Focus or Clarus as it is now is actually more powerful than the EA Doubler ( although I said it is flimsy I think it is a serious piece of kit) . I can see that you are a journey to sort out your sound problems with your band. I have no idea what sound is in your head. I'd imagine you are trying to get the best quality and loudest sound from your onstage amp without getting any feedback. In a loud band situation that's always going to be tricky. I suppose it depends on what type of sound you are after. If you really want the 'sound' of the DB then you will really have to think about the whole signal chain. ie bass , pu, amp and speaker. There are many proven set ups that seem to work well for many pros. I have no idea what the mag pick up is like. I understand it will allow for big volumes but will you have to sacrifice tone? I have played in a Rock based 14 piece using a Hybrid DB, Full circle AI Focus EA 112 CXL . It wasn't a great experience though because the onstage monitors were so loud that I had to constantly dampen the strings on my bass to stop it vibrating . I was guesting so I wasn't brave enough to suggest that the onstage volume was way too loud. That been said I have used the same set up with a 12 piece big band ... with a great onstage sound . I just hope the FOH was as good. Keep us up to speed with your journey.[/quote] Thanks for your advice marvin. I am indeed looking for hi-fi double bass sound at volume which may be unachievable! If the new AI heads were cheaper I would have plumped for one of those over the Doubler given their unbeatble sound quality and the extra headroom (800W now I believe). Trouble is the latest list price puts the Clarus+ at just over £1,000 with padded case

I sent an enquiry to Wal about the cost of a 5-string Mk2 build (standard type spec, nothing fancy) and was emailed back yesterday. Delivery time is now up to 15 months from date of deposit. I'm obviously delighted that a quality UK manufacturer has such strong demand for its products that its waiting time has gone up, but damn thats a long wait! PS, if interested the price I was quoted for a 5-string in American walnut with an ebony fretted neck was £4,100 (out of my league I'm afraid)

[quote name='JTUK' post='1243823' date='May 25 2011, 08:04 AM']if you still need one I'll send one.[/quote] I am sorted now thanks, JT

[quote name='gary mac' post='1243814' date='May 25 2011, 07:56 AM']Clarky are you trying to upset all the purists on here? Wait for the slightly angry post, telling you that it is NOT called a kettle lead. [/quote] Haha! My playing would upset all the purists on here too, or in fact anyone with any interest in music Flat Eric has kindly agreed to send me a spare KETTLE lead and in return I am making a small donation to BC, so everyone happy

[quote name='FlatEric' post='1243806' date='May 25 2011, 07:46 AM']If you mean a bog standard Amp/PC mains lead - three pin, I've ended up with loads of them. PM me your address and I'll ping you one over. [/quote] That brill mate, PM coming your way

I got a Euphonic Audio amp this week from BassDirect and the manufacturers had supplied a US kettle lead in the box I can obviously swap from another amp but this is a pain and also a recipe for disater if I turn up to a gig or rehearsal having forgotten to swap over. So does anyone know where I could buy a standard UK kettle lead for an amp? Muchos gracias

[quote name='marvin spangles' post='1243289' date='May 24 2011, 07:07 PM']Hi Clarky The EA is a good amp and should be loud enough for most gigs . I alternated between the AI focus and the EA doubler. The lack of an extra speakon out can be solved if you have a speaker with two speakons. I like both these amps. The EA is slightly coloured IME(not a bad thing especially with EB) where as the AI seems more neutral. Build quality the AI wins. I feel the EA is a little on the flimsy side.[/quote] Interesting. I do agree the Doubler is a little flimsy but I guess that the price you pay for such a miniscule, ultralight (2.5 pounds!) amp. Hope to get a quick go on it tonight when back home (been in sunny Frankfurt for the day hence the absence of my usual 278 posts!) The AI is the single best sounding DB amp I have ever heard but its just not loud enough for my band unless I use it (frankly a bit of a waste of it) as a power amp for my Mackie speaker. One of the two will end up for sale on BassChat of course ;-)

[quote name='walbassist' post='1242322' date='May 23 2011, 09:50 PM']And what do you think of it? I loved the Doubler I had.[/quote] Too early to say - can only play at very quiet volumes due to neighbours! Sounds quite bright with my Shadow pickup. I need to play around with EQ to get a bassier sound .... but I have been instructed by she-who-must-be-obeyed that its too late to be playing it now. I can't believe how small and light it is. Edit: one thing I am less enamoured by is only having one speakon out (I stupidly didn't spot that when researching). Thats fine if you have a good cab that can keep up with the band but in my case I have found the best results with my AI Coda combo with a PA speaker on a stand at head height (for me) as well as the combo cab on the floor (for the drummer). Can probably solve this with my Barefaced Midget as thats mighty loud but even so, an extra speakon out would have been a nice option (which needn't have dramatically altered the miniscule dimensions of the Doubler). Also the DI out is a jack socket, although I had been warned about this in advance by BC'er Fatback so I had a short jack-to-XLR cable made by obbm, as Fatback did. Edit again: I just sneakily tried it at low volume through my Midget T and it sounded a whole lot bassier than through the Mackie C200 PA cab I first tested it with. Promising

Thank you gents - fortunately it worked fine when I swapped for my UK-ended Acoustic Image kettle lead. Phew!

Just got hold of an EA Doubler for a try-out. It has come with a US kettle lead, natch Can I just swap over for a UK kettle lead, given that it came from a UK supplier? Don't want to blow it up without even playing the damn thing!

[quote name='mikegatward' post='1241697' date='May 23 2011, 03:04 PM']I've been lucky enough to get tickets for the champions league final on Saturday. Have got to catch an early train to get the best price so will arrive about 10.30 and can't check into the hotel till 3.00pm or so It seems like an opportunity to explore some bass orientated music shops. Wondered where was recommended and where I should avoid.[/quote] Go to Camden and visit the Bass Gallery - proper bass porn there. Then wander up to Camden lock and get some nice food!

Weekend Warrior and Nigel having a w*** Today's Sesame Street was brought to you by the letter 'W' [attachment=80735:Bert_and...ie_sized.jpg]

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Silver-Star-5-String-Bass-One-of-a-kind-/180671155058?pt=Guitar&hash=item2a10d70b72"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Silver-Star-5-String...=item2a10d70b72[/url]

Update: We had a (nearly) full-band rehearsal yesterday ahead of the festival gig next weekend at pretty hefty volume. I used a Mackie 10"PA speaker (a C200) on a stand at head height just behind me and it worked brilliantly (for our drummer as well). Thanks to Mr_Bassman (Keith) for suggesting this route. Will use this at the Meadowlands festival. Setup yesterday was: Shadow SH950 pickup ->LR Baggs Venue DI preamp ->Acoustic Image Coda ->MackieC200

If I can join you Jack, I will - the big variable is Mrs C, who is recovering very slowly from her ski injury. We have her checkup with the consultant on Friday regarding whether she needs surgery and how extensive. If that does not go well she will not be wanting me to disappear into town for the evening

Sold Mike a J-Retro. Couldn't have been more friendly and helpful in his communications

[quote name='BassBod' post='1220684' date='May 5 2011, 09:58 AM']Try emailing Bert Gerecht @ Hotwire in Germany. He seems to have a good relationship with Pyramid and may be able to get them pretty quick?[/quote] Good shout BassBod - I just got some Pyramids black nylon flats (from Thomann, which got them back in stock). They are certainly nicer under the fingers than TruBass - almost feel as if they are made of some soft type of fabric! Also I can get the action lower with these than with Tru Bass, so win-win