Clarky

[quote name='molan' post='906532' date='Jul 27 2010, 12:06 AM']I think that crackle is very common - mine often does it & so did the only other one I've tried. Have you checked boring stuff like the fuse in the mains plug & the plug itself to make sure there isn't a loose wire somewhere?[/quote] Just changed the mains plus fuse, no change unfortunately

[quote name='Paul_C' post='906490' date='Jul 26 2010, 11:35 PM']I stand to be corrected, but a solid state amp doesn't need to see a load in the way that a valve amp does (so not plugging in a cab will blow the output transformer) and the reason you shouldn't use an instrument lead is because it isn't designed for the current from an amp output and might well catch fire Reading the manual suggests there are a number of safety devices built in and those should protect the amp up to a point. I suggest if it still doesn't work after a period of cooling off (and it's not just a blown fuse) then just send it back as faulty.[/quote] Thanks Paul. I've read the manual and there is no mention of a fuse anywhere (it does say "do NOT use instrument cables" but no mention of the consquences), so there appears to be nothing I can do. Just turned it on again and there's a slight electrical crackle from the on/off switch at the rear and nothing else.

[quote name='Beedster' post='906482' date='Jul 26 2010, 11:31 PM']Mmm, you might be lucky 'cos you can get away with it, but I've seen a few amps go that way. There's a reason manufacturers discriminate between cables! Let's hope it's a fuse mate C[/quote] If its not a fuse, have I just blown five hundred quid in one absent-minded moment?

[quote name='Beedster' post='906473' date='Jul 26 2010, 11:23 PM']So an instrument cable not a speaker cable mate?[/quote] One of those double-ended cables you use between pedals, yup. Stupid I know but it looked very similar. Only realised the mistake too late when I was looking for reasons.

Took brand new TC 450 Classic head to band practice this evening. Big ugly Fender combo in the practice room. Great, I think, I'll disconnect the in-built 15" speaker and feed the TC head into the speaker and - bingo - my own tone. Except ... I plugged the TC into the speaker socket without realising I had grabbed a pedal-connecting cable not an amp cable (this may or may not be relevant). The red 'on' light came on with the TC ,then after few seconds it faded and died. No noise came out (apart from a faint electrical whistle when I turned it off and on again), no bang, nothing. It is now dead as a dodo, albeit when left for a while there is this slight whistle when I turn it on. What have I done and is it fixable? Was it the incorrect cable somehow overloading the amp? Is it a faulty amp (although I tried it last weekend through my Barfaced cab and it sounded just fine)? is it a simple fuse issue (not that there's an obvious fuse to change)? Its a brand new amp (was my birthday pressie last week) and I am horrified ... All help gratefully received

[quote name='Bilbo' post='905800' date='Jul 26 2010, 01:40 PM']Nothing!!! Why would everyone need to know any one line more than any other? If I never play a Motown/Stax line ever again, it would be too soon.... Personally, I find thousands of famous (and profoundly memorable) basslines so jaded by over-exposure that they bore me rigid. (oops argument already rehearsed and requisite scolding undertaken) Learn some scales (Major, Minor, Melodic Minor, Augmented, Diminished, Chromatic), play them in thirds, fourths, fifths, sixths and sevenths, in 3, 4, 5 note patterns - in all modes and all keys and there you have it. Its all under your fingers.[/quote] You really know how to scare off a beginner, Bilbo! You are also ignoring the fun bit that - when learning - it really reinforces your enthuiasm to be able to play along to music you really like or appreciate. Learning scales may make you a better musician but it ain't fun, in isolation

Dock of the Bay - dead easy and very chilling to play Jammin' (Bob Marley) - for the same reasons as above

Take it back and list the points you mention - some may be easy to fix (eg, the foam may be a bit compressed under the pickups so that they don't move with the screws as they should), other may be more worrying (eg, loud G or dead spots). if they have a decent on-site set-up person, they may be able to sort these out with little/no difficulty. Either way, they are obliged to replace if its not fit for use. RW Fenders are not cheap and should be perfect!

I don't have the brain or fingers to be a very good bass player (that isn't false modesty, its a fact) so I don't ever expect to be technical "musician" (cue Bilbo telling me to learn to read ). What I do want to do, however, is to make a joyful noise with like-minded individuals and for the occasional live audience to get pleasure from it.

[quote name='sprocketflup' post='905035' date='Jul 25 2010, 06:24 PM']Ok , Im hoping I dont get flamed for this coz its a genuine question, and I mean no offence Ive never heard of Alleva-Coppolo. Its a nice looking bass thats for certain, but what are the qualities that would make someone choose this over any other p style bass please? i.e. exotic woods, amazing electronics package etc etc. Like I said, I mean no offence with the comment, just genuinely curious cheers, Dave Sprocketflup[/quote] Luthier made in small NY workshop with amazing attention to detail, top quality woods (eg high quality rosewood), hand sprayed nitro finish, exceptional preamplifier etc etc. Plus this toured with Clapton in the hands of one of the bass greats Check out the Alleva Coppollo thread in Gear Porn for more info

Great news that it met the sound you are after Dave. Re scratch plate, as you would have guessed I would go tort!

[quote name='barks' post='904965' date='Jul 25 2010, 05:39 PM']I've still got your old 3x10 cab by the way [/quote] One of several bits of kit I wish I had never sold with the benefit of hindsight! BassChat and my OCD together have a lot to answer for

New pics of my new (molan's old) Willie Weeks posted in a separate Gear Porn thread here [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=94372&pid=904739&st=0&#entry904739"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...mp;#entry904739[/url] They are at post #17 in this thread

Promised pics - sorry I am no lysdexia ('birds and basses') with a camera

[quote name='Clarky' post='901975' date='Jul 22 2010, 02:54 PM']15 Clarky clan members descending on us from around the globe - if I can get away I will need more than a cold one, more likely ten! If I can't make it, hope its a corker, Adam![/quote] Sorry LEB, they are all still here and its 9.25pm Hope the gig was a blinder!

The Gold bass is quite stunning with the stack-style pots. How good would this look in sonic blue or sea-foam green? Yummy

[quote name='deaver' post='902930' date='Jul 23 2010, 10:42 AM']Back to the Spoiler, my scales suggests that the black Spoiler might be up to 1.5 pounds heavier than the maple one - surely it can't be paint alone - or do Alembic have a secret tonal ingredient in the paint?[/quote] I have read that early 80s Spoilers were slightly less heavy - maybe the body is a tad thicker on mine? Certainly the neck feels a fair bit chunkier, although that might be the glossy black paint playing tricks on me. My left shoulder certainly notices the difference! Anyway I will be trying it out live for the first time tonight, for a cover of Metallica's Enter Sandman at a pub gathering for someone's stag do. So tonight, Matthew, I will be Jason Newsted

Fret gaps apart (which should be a quick fix) is this what you had hoped it to be Dave? I know you have been searching for the right bass since you sold me that P5 a year ago ... and I hope this is the one!

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='902614' date='Jul 23 2010, 12:16 AM']The big question is, how does it compare sound-wise to the natural flamed one, mate? [/quote] To my metal/punk destroyed aural sensibilities, it sounds very similar (the pickups and electronics which are key to the sound of each Alembic model are identical). I suspect, played acoustically, Deaver's maple capped Spoiler is fractionally more resonant, although that may be due to the weight (mine weighs 11 pounds, one more than Deaver's). Sounds good in a rock setting with a nice amount of mid-range bite in the mixed pickup selection, although doesn't fill the lows quite like a P bass (what else does?) My only gripes would be the extra weight and my inability to find strings that perfectly match the neck (fortunately Deaver has tracked down some Alembic 40-100s which we will do a joint order on from the US).

You are a lucky man! That's utterly fabulous, jazzyvee. Enjoy finding your sound

Aha (said Alan Partridge). I misunderstood your OP and assumed you could see daylight between the frets and the board! The pics actually don't look so bad. The frets are seated properly and its just the holes, as walbassist, said that are drilled a little too deep. Tougher call that - probably easier to keep the bass, if it plays well, although if you can get the retiler to pay the Gallery to put a little filler in each gap to tidy it up it would be the best result.

Looks like it balances perfectly - as long as you don't mind playing it as a semi-upright and occasionally smacking the headstock on the side of your head.

Sorry Dave but that really sounds like bad QC. They were obviously not seated properly and its probably pure luck the bass doesn't buzz like hell. I would take photos and send these to the retailer if only to alert them (I presume you could return the bass if necessary under the usual consumer rights?) One potential trouble is, if you decide this bass is not for you, then you may have difficulty selling on an imperfect bass without taking a large hit. If it were me, hassle though it is, I would send it back and get a replacement, asking the retailer to check over the new bass very carefully before dispatching to you. Edit: its probably relatively easy for the Bass Gallery (which I know is not too far from you) to fix this but it would cost and you shouldn't have to bear any extra cost here

[quote name='Low End Bee' post='901972' date='Jul 22 2010, 02:52 PM']9:30 ish. There's a late bar after the gig too. I'll even buy you a cold one.[/quote] 15 Clarky clan members descending on us from around the globe - if I can get away I will need more than a cold one, more likely ten! If I can't make it, hope its a corker, Adam!