4000

I think whether or not you need to crank the eq depends very much on the sound you're after (obviously) and how you play. Some may need to crank more than others even when trying for a similar tone. I always need to crank the eq on pretty much everything.

[quote name='lozbass' post='580359' date='Aug 25 2009, 03:58 PM']Hi, it's at Rumbleseat music in the US - I've come out in a kind of anxious sweat. (I'm off this week and will write properly later - my apologies for the long, long delay - crazy work situation!)[/quote] Hi Loz. No worries, reply whenever you can. I've spent the past 4 days either lying down or squatting as my back's gone and I can't sit down; a major handicap in the clerical job I do. It really is absolutely stunning, but £2700? Not sure about that. You can get a hell of a bass built for £2700. I think I'd be talking to Martin or possibly Enrico...or buying a vintage P Bass! EDIT: (I dunno though, it does look raaaather nice..)

[url="http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/interviews/interviews/geezer_butler_bringing_the_dio_era_back.html"]http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/interviews/...o_era_back.html[/url] Seems Gruber just did the demos and the album was Geezer. That's what he says anyway.

That is stunning, utterly stunning. And I don't usually like Jazzes! How much? Where? (Not that I can afford it currently).

[quote name='chris_b' post='580078' date='Aug 25 2009, 12:23 PM']No. The point of an EQ is that you can use it if you need to. If you don't need to then you don't use it![/quote] I've never met that amp in 29 years of playing... My only experiences of amps not working have been Trace (2, both dropped in transit to me so not their fault), an Ampeg, and also a Warwick which blew up the first time I used it (went straight back to Sound Control). FWIW, I used to have one of the first ABM 1x15 combos, a 200 watter. A friend owns/uses it now. The sound he gets is [i]not[/i] woolly. I used it relatively recently at rehearsal with my mate's Stingray and 70s P Bass. The Stingray sounded like, well, a good Stingray. The P Bass sounded like John Entwistle on Live at Leeds. Exactly like that in fact. I wouldn't class that as muddy either personally, although I guess the Marcus fans might.

Not tried the Hipshot (although I do think it's pig-ugly), but if it works then fine. I'd stay away from the SDs; I had some and thought they were pants. The Barts are supposed to be good. You could try Aaron Armstrong and see if he'll make something or you could contact Sergio Silva on the Rick Resource Forum. Thing is, it depends what sort of Rick sound you're after. For instance I'm not keen on neck high-gains and prefer toasters. Plus they're all wound differently anyway....when my restoration gets to me (couple of weeks or so hopefully) I will have an early/mid 70s neck high-gain I could sell you for a decent price (it has been replaced with a '73 toaster).

[quote name='henry norton' post='579286' date='Aug 24 2009, 05:31 PM']I thought the whole point of having an eq was to use it....[/quote] Ditto! I've never got a decent sound out of any amp without heavy eqing - and yes that includes Markbass and Epifani! To reiterate something I've already said, I've recently used an Epifani UL502, a Markbass LMK and my ABM500 through my Barefaced Compact, and the Ashdown was if anything brighter than the others. The sound also had more life in it (which may not be what you want). It was less polite and compressed sounding though, which may not suit everyone.

[quote name='Mr Fudge' post='578696' date='Aug 24 2009, 12:08 AM']Absolutely !!! which reinforces my theory that really no matter what bass or what rig (within standard set ups I imagine) 99.9% of sound comes from your fingers and attack.[/quote] In my experience that's more true the harder you play. If I had to list some sounds, these would be a few (I'm sure we did this not so long ago): [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQ_5h0SKUSM"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQ_5h0SKUSM[/url] Jon Camp, Renaissance. Of course any Chris Squire would do just as nicely. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDtByjb0hQY"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDtByjb0hQY[/url] Stu Zender - Jamiroquai. Unreal tone, IMO. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7BwRL2yhGQ&feature=PlayList&p=DB645F17C4CEC4D2&index=3"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7BwRL2yhGQ...4D2&index=3[/url] Leigh Gorman, Bow Wow Wow. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe7vyvyzOKg"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe7vyvyzOKg[/url] Matt Garrison solo

[quote name='WHUFC BASS' post='579935' date='Aug 25 2009, 10:27 AM']There's rumours that it wasn't actually Geezer Butler playing on that album as he went on the missing list for a while. Not sure how true that is but there ya go.[/quote] I thought that was Mob Rules? The bassist in question was Craig Gruber. However Tony Iommi says Geezer definitely played on both (although I suppose he would....) I kind of hope it was Geezer as I love the playing - and tones - on those 2 albums. Die Young is superb, rock bass at its best.

[quote name='allighatt0r' post='579243' date='Aug 24 2009, 04:40 PM']I want this tone: Although most of the time i don't sound anything like it! Can someone point me in the right direction for getting it? Or should i start my own thread to avoid hijacking? [/quote] Well at the time he was using a US BC Rich Eagle with all the electronic gubbins ( I saw them on that tour). Not sure whether he used it on the album. No idea what amps he was using at the time though. I'm just trying to regain the tone I had in 1993! There's no one tone I'm after. It all depends on context.

Yep, that's probably him. Unfortunately by the time it went I needed the cash. Story of my life!

[quote name='Stingray5' post='578248' date='Aug 23 2009, 03:29 PM']Ah, sorry, I don't have that particular issue of Total Guitar (I was mainly buying 'Bassist', 'Bass Player', 'Guitarist', 'The Guitar Magazine' at the time). That said, I checked through my old 'Bassist' mags and found a short series that started back in 1995 (Vol. 1, No.3) when they featured 'Guitarist' magazine's 1994 Bass Of The Year, a Sei Flamboyant 6 Headless (this was before 'Bassist' was launched). The bass in question was actually won by a lucky 'Bassist' reader (named in the article - maybe a current BC'er?) who gave a few requirements to Martin Petersen then had to sit back and wait while his bass was built. The series follows it's build across subsequent issues and finishes up with the final review by Roger Newell in the February 1996 issue. Others may well remember this and have copies but for those who don't and are interested to see this series, let me know and I'll scan the various pages and upload the images.[/quote] Ah, I remember it well. I also remember getting something through from the Gallery saying I hadn't won.

Could be all sorts of reasons. Maybe you just don't like the sounds they make; no real reason. I've played lots of basses, including really exotic ones, that I haven't liked the sound of, [i]in my hands[/i]. That's crucial. Some other guy might make them sound fab, but maybe they just don't work for you. Of course the amp/speaker/eq can make a huge difference; for instance if you normally didn't pay through a cab with a horn in it and then you tried something through a cab that did have a horn in it, it might come as something of a surprise. And yes, if they have actives in them and you're used to passive that may make a difference. Sometimes it's familiarity though; you get used to hearing something and when you hear something different you don't like it because it's not what you're used to hearing. This can work the other way too though. I don't know why you should [i]expect [/i]to like any given bass to be honest.

If you mean on the website, no. Urb's is a 4 with spalted maple facings. The amboina one on the site is very nice though! Of course there may be something in the shop that I don't know about...I hope not!

Niiiice.....love the inlays. I'm a bit of a sucker for fancy inlays.

[quote name='RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE' post='577786' date='Aug 22 2009, 07:15 PM']Now you've got me thinking........ I have only 1 and it's in tweed I'm using it with the AG5OOSC. It holds its own at band rehearsal. The one I have is without tweeter. The question I ask now is, have I got enough in one? I'm not gigging again yet,but will possibly within the next 2 months. I normally find about 250 watts is usually more than enough,and when I used my Eden combo had plenty of volume to play with. Please tell me I have enough power....... [/quote] My mate uses a single GS112 with a Markbass LMK in a regularly gigging cover band, doing stuff like Springsteen, Eagles etc. I think he hardly gets the rig past 2 or 3. Feel free to chime in Stu!

[quote name='Stingray5' post='577581' date='Aug 22 2009, 02:19 PM']Nice one, 4000. Thanks for that. I did remember it was a Flamboyant style bass which was typically what caught my eye. Off to the vaults now to dig through a few old guitar mags -- unless you or anyone else knows the particular magazine? [/quote] I've just checked and it was Total Guitar, Issue 6 May 1995. I have a really bad b&w photocopy of the article. If you have a copy I'd love a decent scan (assuming you have a scanner of course). Wonder if there's a copy on ebay? EDIT - just checked, and there's everything but. Blast.

[quote name='alexclaber' post='577584' date='Aug 22 2009, 02:23 PM']Usually two identical cabs stacked will sound a lot better by virtue of having more LF sensitivity and power handling, thus more output before they distort. The height of the stack will also make it easier to hear the tone. However if you don't like that tone then stacking a pair will make that more audible! Alex[/quote] Got it in a nutshell Alex!

[quote name='chris_b' post='577471' date='Aug 22 2009, 11:43 AM']I've never seen that happen. My GS112's were great together.[/quote] Ah, but you're not me. Or my mate. You may be after a completely different sound or may play completely differently. Having said that, I didn't like the cabs anyway, even singly.

Yep, it was Yolanda. The bass was a Flamboyant 5, cocobolo top on maple with ebony board IIRC, with a Bart MM in the middle and a KA hot Jazz by the bridge. There was a feature on it in an old guitar magazine.

When that Whistle Test footage was aired it the first time I'd ever seen anyone play slap; I couldn't believe my eyes. I thought the bass was as beautiful as anything I'd ever see (and yes I still want a Starchild near-replica, if one can be built that weighs less than 9lbs!). Then he played Dune Tune and blew my mind. It was a little later that I discovered Stanley Clarke and found out where it originated... My first JD was also from Musical Exchanges. I wanted a white one and they had one advertised, so I put my name on it sight unseen and trailed down there with a friend. When I got there it was a GA24 and had neck bow like nothing on earth, and I didn't know much about setups then. It also didn't work! The assistant got out a soldering iron to sort out the pickup selector and I played a few of the others they had while he worked. I eventually picked up a Supernatural in Butterscotch with Saturn inlays, tailpiece etc, and the initials PSR on the first fret. I decided I'd have that instead, although it didn't stop the assistant getting a bollocking for not giving the GA24 to the repairs dept to fix (he bodged it). I remember the manager saying "you could've lost us a sale". I eventually sent that bass to JD for a fretstone and while it was in he changed the pickups, as he said the ones in it were dying. Unfortunately when it came back I didn't like the tone as much! Also the neck wouldn't stand strings over 35s (someone had shaved the neck mercilessly - not JD I hasten to add) so I got rid. The next JD (a MK model) was white and was bloody fantastic, much better than the first, but I had to take it back to the shop a few days after buying it because my back couldn't cope with the weight (my back problems had started by then). Strangely I once contacted a shop (I think it was Monkey Business in Romford) about p/x-ing the 1st bass for something they had in; the guy on the other end of the phone said "what have you got?", so I told him. There was a pause and he said "has it got the letters PSR on the first fret?" When I answered yes he said "that's my bass! It was built for me!". Never did work out the deal though, sadly. It went to someone else in the end. I wish it had got back to him.

Martin's a superb bass builder. There are very few basses I've played that I like anywhere near as much as his. I currently have 2, and will get more in the future. He just seems to nail pretty much everything for me. Design, weight, balance, playability, sound; it's all there. Plus he's an absolutely top bloke. Glad you're loving it!

[quote name='chris_b' post='577323' date='Aug 22 2009, 02:59 AM']Don't stop there. Two DB112's will sound ten times better![/quote] Interesting you should say that. When I had my 2xGS112s, I thought both together sounded worse. My mate, who still has 2 of the same cabs, agrees. Horses for courses I guess.

[quote name='Bottle' post='576410' date='Aug 21 2009, 10:01 AM']Also remember seeing a short documentary on bass luthiers - I think it may have been Yolanda (again) having a custom 5-string made, can't remember the maker though.[/quote] Martin Petersen of Sei Bass fame. I keep meaning to ask him if he's still got a copy of that as I haven't seen it and would love to.