ped

Hi guyzzzz!! I feel like I'm opening an Apple store!! [size=6]We're now OPENNNNNN!!![/size] http://basschat.co.uk/cp/2-shop/ Many thanks - please order away and make sure you read the bit at the bottom (sizing, shipping) Cheers ped

Thanks! Glad you liked it. Where else would people like me to visit? (bass related, of course, and no I'm not going back to my therapist )

Glad you enjoyed the article. I really got a great feel for the company. They were great hosts and really into their bass playing.

I look forward to any comments and please ask any questions as I'll forward them to the team or see if Kim (PR manager) will pop along himself to answer anything. Cheers ped The buzz of my alarm sounded for just a second before I smartly switched it off. I was already awake, I had to catch a 6am flight and I can never sleep before midnight. Kim and Morten by chiscocks, on Flickr I had been invited to see the home of the TC Electronic operation in Aarhus, Denmark. TC have been one of the longest running sponsors on Basschat and I really like Denmark, so I was keen to snap up the chance before the school holidays ran out. My fist trip to Scandinavia was when I was about 12. I went to legoland and it was literally the best week of my life as Lego was the centre of my universe at that age. But since then I’ve grown to admire Denmark for lots of other things, whilst still being thankful for the small plastic bricks which got stuck in various orrifices (and still do). Design. That’s what I like about This country. The Danish design museum in Copenhagen. The art museum in Aarhus, even if it would be better if they told you how much the paintings were worth. Even the way the streets are laid out to accommodate cyclists and drivers alike. It’s fair to say my knowledge of TC Electronic was minimal before my visit. Quite new to the scene, first releasing their bass range with the RH450 bass head, RS210 bass cab and RS212 bass cab, launched at Winter NAMM 2009 (January) in Los Angeles. they have approached the bass amplifier in a Danish way. Innovative, tactile, loud… It’s difficult to use the right superlatives to describe the gear TC produce. From the super light combos and heads to the top of the line Blacksmith range there’s now something for every budget and plans for more in the future. Shipping by chiscocks, on Flickr I was shown around the ‘R&D’ centre (where there is also a limited amount of manufacturing) by my contact Kim Bang, TC PR Manager. Kim is a bassist. I immediately identified with him when he explained how he bought 9 P basses looking for the right one -one from 74, one from 72 and the rest from 77-79. He finally decided on a sunburst ’79 with rosewood board and an A-neck. Ask him if he plays a five string and there’s a similar story finishing with a Fodera Emperor with 70′s Jazz pickups and spacing. Most of the manufacturing is done abroad, with only the ‘Blacksmith’ amplifier being produced on site. The facility in Aarhus is home to the team who design and test the products so this fairly small building is responsible for what hits the shelves. When I arrived with Kim we had a general walk around and saw the various elements that make up the building. Eventually a set of stairs led ominously underground into the darkness. Nestled among some mad Frankenstein creations, huddled in the corner like some product engineer gollum was a chap named Morten. Morten and speakers by chiscocks, on Flickr Product Specialist, Morten Ehlers, is a larger than life character. He’s an energetic player with a sense of humour and a no compromise approach to his craft. I love the way TC employs players like Morten, who describe the sound in their heads with words like ‘ping’ and ‘butter’ (albeit in Danish) and spend time turning it into an amplifier. One of his main responsibilities is to develop the range and find artists to ‘toneprint’. If you’ve never heard of this feature you can read about it on the TC site. It’s been so successful that artists are now approaching him to be ‘toneprinted’, to invent a noun. The development areas of TC are split into three; guitar, bass and ‘pro’, which is also referred to as ‘HD’ and covers high-end studio and not least broadcast equipment. They are actually quite secret and I was only allowed through once all the secret meetings had finished. I’m pretty sure I saw spider man leaving with an RH450. Kenneth Wandall, the Electronic hardware engineer (Bs.Sc.E.E) has the responsibility of testing the equipment. He’s got a special pair of gloves that he wears to isolate him from the energy in the capacitors and is every bit like my friend in technology class at school. After telling numerous visitors to hold their ankles as he slips on the said gloves he gets what he deserves when people clap and shout BANG behind him whilst he’s elbow deep in an electronic device. Manufacturing with R&D by chiscocks, on Flickr So to the torture chamber. There’s a shipping container in the car park from which you can just about hear a repeating bass groove. Had they finally given Morten his own ‘office’? No, it’s just a whole bunch of Amps and speakers rigged up to a CD player for months on end in intense heat to see how they perform. Two BG250 combos have done 6 months so far. Nobody knows what TC stands for, apparently. There are legends and myths, most of which sound un-printable on a civilised website like Basschat. But that doesn’t matter because I saw what TC really stands for on my visit, and you can refer to the earlier superlatives or try one yourself. Just make sure you’re wearing brown trousers. Project Room by chiscocks, on Flickr Fiskergade on the canal at night by chiscocks, on Flickr Your Rainbow Panorama (ARoS) by chiscocks, on Flickr Den Gamle By old town bench by chiscocks, on Flickr Mehari side by chiscocks, on Flickr ARos Terrace BW by chiscocks, on Flickr

[quote name='Bloodaxe' timestamp='1347574822' post='1802777'] Note to self: Wash Finbass T-shirt. [/quote] Wash your what now?

[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]1. Hamster - Fender Hotrod P/J, Bareface Compact, Auralex Gramma Pad, SFX Thumpinator; either Markbass 800 Tube or Ampeg PF500 Portaflex[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]2. BigBeatNut - Rob Allen Deep 5, Status Electro, Lakland 55-02 Fretless, Markbass CMD121P, a selection of SFX micro pedals[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]3. Stingray5 - Musicman StingRay5 and Stingray fretless, Tune TWB-6, Trace Elliot BLX-80 combo, Boss GT-6B fx, Gramma Pad, (+ raffle bits & freebies).[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]4 OBBM - undecided on basses but Schroeder cab(s) and mini-rack Mk2 (+raffle bits)[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]5. Charic (tentative) - ACG Finn 4 (Drop C tuning), Yamaha RBX6JM, Modded Fender MIM, TC RH450, 2 x TC RS210, Line6 DL4 (delay pedal), Behringer Chorus Pedal[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]6. Happy Jack - Ampeg Baby Bass and (just for OBBM) at last I'll bring along a Hofner Verithin. If there's enough (any) interest, I could also bring along a Fishman Fusion pedal plus a rig to play through.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]7. Macdaddy - custom shuker or custom Iceni Zoot or Hamer Blitz + raffle bits[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]8. Billyapple - Gibson Thunderbird, Un-Finished Wishbass Lobe, Matamp GT200 Head, Matamp 212 Cab, DHA VT1 Eq[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]9. Walman - (assuming it'll all fit in the smaller car I got last year as I was cutting down on gear ) Wal Pro1/Custom hybrid, 2 x G&L L2500 US, Tanglewater ClassicJ, Roland PK5 bass pedals w DSI MoPho synth, GenzBenz Streamliner 6, BF Super12T - alternatively a poll on which to bring may be required[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]10. OliverBlackman- going to bring the Tokai as it seems in a recent thread not many have experienced the 80's Jazz sounds.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]11. Shockwave - Gibson RD and Gibson Grabber or Fender P-J Antigua.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]12. dc2009 (tentative) - Warwick Corvette $$ 5 Special Edition, Lakland Skyline 55-01. Sansamp, SYB-5, Q-tron+, BSY600. Anything more will need a lift![/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]13. Eude (tentative) - ACG Finn SC Classic BO 5 string 33" Scale, ACG Finn SC Classic BO 6 String 33" Scale, Ibanez Promethean 5110C & EAD Foundation 112 3-way Prototype.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]14.Bloodaxe (tentative) - Aria SB-1000 Frankenfretless, Ibanez Promethean 5110C [might add the SB-900 & Bloody ZZB Custom to this if anyone's driving from E or SE postcodes & I can blag a lift][/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]15. 51m0n - the usual guff (Roscoe, Berg, MB blah blah, if in doubt check my sig) + a very tentative PluxTheDuck & related kit[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]16. Urb - Sei bass plus laptop (maybe) and my fingers[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]17. Seashell - Fender Precision (MIM) and Ibanez SRX500. No rig![/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]18. Mikey R - the P bass + possibly the pedal board (if Merton will let me sleep on his sofa that weekend)[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]19. Merton - multiscale 5 prototype, other things maybe, like Mikey's sleeping bag[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]20. Russ - Sei Bass 5-string fretted singlecut, Sei Bass 5-string fretless J, Ampeg SVT-7, Markbass 106H[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]21. Silverfoxnik - Roscoe Beck 5, Schecter Diamond P 5, BC Rich Eagle, Hughes & Kettner Bassbase 600 head, SWR Triad, Boss ME-50B[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]22.Bassmanady-Yamaha BB 2005,Yamaha BB605[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]23. Hen Barn - Status Kingbass[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]24. 6feet7 - matching pair 1999 Fender Hotrod Precision & Jazz basses, GUS G3 Retro Active[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]25.Barneyg42 -Status S2 classic 5 headless, Status series 1 five, NGC Nanyo Bass Collection fretted and fretless,MXR pre into Crown poweramp into Acme low B and Barefaced Compact[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]26. Ashwood1985 - Streamer $$ 5, Thumb BO4, Silver Series Jazz Squire, maybe SR1000 FL, Roland D-Bass 210 combo, Sansamp BDDI, EBS Unichorus and IQ, maybe Bassmurf[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]27[/font][/color]. ped - Vigier Passion, S2 1988, Roland V-bass, arse hair clippers [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]28.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]29.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]30.[/font][/color]

Very nice, looking forward to seeing it when you've cleaned it up and adjusted it to suit. Cheers ped

OK dudes the Lanyards have just shipped to my house, so the shop should be LIVE and shipping any day now. I'll update in the blog and FB/Twitter and on this thread when we're ready Cheers for the support, BC is currently run by Polo shirts ped

OK the winner of the second book is 'Keeponehandloose' - PM sent, if he already has a copy then I'll re-draw again!! Congratulations!!

Actually Satah has a copy so I'll re-draw the second book tomorrow!

Sorry it's taken a few days but I've just done the draw! Winners: Sarah Thomas John Elliot (via FB) Well done guys - PMs being sent now! Thanks for playing everyone, look out for more competitions soon! ped

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1347183982' post='1797676'] Fixed [/quote] Took me ages to find a ball gag

[quote name='andydye' timestamp='1347050115' post='1796561'] Dude, triple post funnybusiness goin on... [/quote] Argh my internet is being really weird tonight... that's it, I'm spanking the router

[quote name='andydye' timestamp='1346936913' post='1795023'] Pedster, how's progress with the shop updates...I 'need' another t-shirt soon mate [/quote] Hi mate thanks in just waiting for the lanyards to arrive. Should be here any day now.

[quote name='andydye' timestamp='1346936913' post='1795023'] Pedster, how's progress with the shop updates...I 'need' another t-shirt soon mate [/quote] Hi mate thanks in just waiting for the lanyards to arrive. Should be here any day now.

[quote name='andydye' timestamp='1346936913' post='1795023'] Pedster, how's progress with the shop updates...I 'need' another t-shirt soon mate [/quote] Hi mate thanks in just waiting for the lanyards to arrive. Should be here any day now.

Hi everyone. I've been pretty ill these last couple of days and have loads to catch up on so I'll do the draw and get the addresses of the winners ASAP, over the next couple of days. Remember you only had to say hello to enter and it's a draw from a hat, so good luck!

[quote name='thunderbass1' timestamp='1346584756' post='1790764'] Here is my 1984 Passion, currently up for commision sale at Bass Direct. [/quote] Hmm very nice. Unusual to see a passion with pickups in those positions. This has the brass laminate under the fingerboard yeah?

Ben had a play with some settings so should be ok now, thanks

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1345994536' post='1783888'] ...which is a posh way of saying that there's probably a datacentre out there that's had builders in today and one of them unplugged a router to make room for his drill... [/quote] Thank god for this paragraph!!

[quote name='dc2009' timestamp='1345994633' post='1783889'] Where's the shop gone? [/quote] Lol, I'm waiting for some new gear to be ready so sort of halfway through creating the code in the shop!

Yeah, me too. I'm away at the moment so I hope kiwi and Ben can help in my absence

Hmm I have some pictures somewhere showing some views of the different types of bass, I'll see if I can find some. I also hope to visit Vigier for the BC blog at some point, so I may be able to tell you more about the story and hopefully take some 'behind the scenes' pictures.

Glad to be of service. You might be surprised what you can find on the used market. I paid £500 for my series 2 'shell' before adding the electronics. Check out French bass forum 'onlybass' as sometimes they come up for sale, and here of course. Cheers

Hi guys!! Well, I know a little.. I've had three in total and played a few more. You're right; it's not an easy bass to try out, which is a real shame. Bass Direct have some Series 4 models but if you're looking for some older ones it's very difficult to get your hands on one!! OK so... Series Series 1. Wood neck and body, with brass laminate under the fingerboard. There are some even earlier ones with no laminate but very few indeed. The laminate acts as a neck stiffening device and apparently was massively successful. The hardest part was bonding the wood to the brass, but once it was figured out it worked well. Series 2. All carbon neck thru. Very straight neck, little to no neck relief. No truss rod. Around 1984 onwards. Series 3. 10/90 neck (10% carbon, two T shaped rods of very dense carbon with little resin, 90% maple). As rigid as the full carbon neck but with a more traditional sound and a 'textbook' amount of neck relief. Super stable and again, no truss rod. I think these were introduced in 1989. Series 4. Introduced most recently (2008). A 10/90 neck but a bolt on design. Different electronics and new finishes. The basses are easier to make (apparently the old rigs for making the neck thru's were getting too old and needed replacement). The basses are cheaper when new than the other basses due to this. The necks are just as stable and the sound is largely the same, some say more punchy. Ergonomically they are preferred by some people. Electronics This has changed over time and it's difficult to pinpoint what happened when. Essentially, early basses have two single coil Benedetti pickups and a pre of some sort, ranging from 3eq to passive arrangements with tone controls on the rear pickup only! More recently, Vigier use Delano pickups with an excellent Glockenklang pre-amp with a 3 band EQ. If I'm honest I think the electronics are the weakness in the early designs - the pickups could be quite noisy and they weren't especially powerful. However in the right environment they sounded superb. The most recent system is extremely tidy and sounds fantastic, so it's an improvement. I had Benedetti pickups in my fretless which I mated to an East U-Retro pre which improved it no end and really let the pickups sing. My fretted 5 was all standard and my fretted 4 1988 series II is a real frankenbass with Basstec pickups and a Marleaux pre-amp and a GK system. Passion/Arpege Quite different beasts. Both share similar construction but the electronics vary in that the Arpege has more traditional spacing similar to a Jazz Bass and the Passion has both very near the bridge. The Arpege has seen a great deal of experimentation in the electronics department, probably due to the extra flexibility offered by the pickup placement. Features like a ROM memory unit for saving presets were introduced at different times. Ergonomically they are very similar and the necks identical. The Arpege has a slightly different body shape which I find feels basically the same in practice. Nice and thin, too. Conclusions I honestly don't think you'll find a better bass than a Series 2 Passion/Arpege; the neck/body combination is just magical - resonant soft body wood with a rigid, flat and tonally rich neck - Kiwi described mine as a 'velvet brick'. The sound is surprisingly flexible and also quite individual. That said, I think you'll want to experiment with different electronics and/or pickups. Mind you, that's like buying a Rolls and changing the tyres. Depending on your style you might prefer a particular type of bass (for example I like super low silky action so love the 'flat' series 2) and the pickup placement is up to you. I hope this helps a bit. Price-wise I think you will find the series 4 basses quite expensive new and used as they are relatively recent, made in very small numbers and very different in manufacture than anything else out there. You can pick up earlier basses more cheaply sometimes but you might find them in varying condition. Like I say though, the basic 'chassis' of the bass is where it's at. I wouldn't worry about finding a mint one, as most have been played as intended by those lucky enough to have tried one. Let us know if you have a try. Cheers ped EDIT: Do'h, beaten to it!