Gunsfreddy2003

Agreed, as long as whatever you play makes you smile when you play it then who cares? [quote name='BigRedX' post='1168022' date='Mar 19 2011, 10:30 AM']I thinks it's all down to what you want out of a bass. If you like the look of the traditional designs, there's hundreds of options at every price point out there, and one of those will be the right bass for you whether it's a £59 Sue Ryder or a boutique J-style bass costing 100 time that. I you want something a bit different from a sound/ergonomics/aesthetic PoV then your options are significantly reduced. For instance I love the look sound and feel of some vintage/classic basses such as the Ovation Magnum, Gibson EB3 and Travis Bean TB2000, but these days I only play 5-string basses, so if I want one to actually play rather than just part of a collection, I've going to have to have it custom made for me which will cost. Get a cheap bass or an expensive bass. It doesn't matter so long as it's the right bass for you.[/quote]

One of the best basses that I have ever bought Karl!! Love it [quote name='karlfer' post='1167924' date='Mar 19 2011, 06:39 AM']Glad you are still enjoying the old girl (so to speak ).[/quote]

I am a posh kid who has spent too much money!! I'll throw in my two pence worth here, I have a GB Rumour which was built for me a couple of years ago and has a fantastic feel, look and sound. Great as it is I am having a lot of fun with my beat up old 74 jazz bass at the moment which yes you could say is still an expensive bass because it is old but at time of manufacture would have been seen as cheap compared to a custom built bass from a bespoke luthier. To compound this I have also just bought a 1977 Musicman Stingray and I bet that will get some serious use when it arrives next week. So I can see where you are are coming from, mass produced basses can give the bespoke lot a good run for their money but ultimately it depends what you are really after, great sound and feel or that and a stunning looker too!! If you want all three then you have to go bespoke and spend big!! [quote name='bubinga5' post='1167587' date='Mar 18 2011, 08:13 PM']Im getting into my 11th year of playing bass.. ive had a few boutique-ish basses.. i adored the Sei i had.. but i really cant see me playing a bass with a sexy wood top now.. im talking spaltedmapleburlishroseofthemountain... im getting more and more interested in cheaper basses and what i can do with them mod wise and musically...my SR5 is the bomb..ok its a little flashy but nothing brash.. not expensive but is possibly the best 5 on the planet.. im not knocking the boutique basses but personally, and this is just me, i would feel like a posh kid who has spent too much money.. if i had £5000 to spend on only bass..., i would prob buy basses under £1000, and mod them to my liking.. i feel i have enough knowledge to mod a bass that could keep up with any £2000 + instrument.. but lets face it, most can its just personal...[/quote]

Jesus - any other cheaper options that you could recommend? [quote name='warwickhunt' post='1165085' date='Mar 16 2011, 10:30 PM']By those particular couriers I was quoted $450-$500 for a Sterling to be shipped in a hardcase from the USA to UK... cost of adequate insurance doesn't help matters as you are taxed on the shipping costs and insurance![/quote]

Anyone got any idea what the costs are to ship a guitar back to the UK using Fed-Ex or DHL? [quote name='Macko1968' post='1164476' date='Mar 16 2011, 02:58 PM']Only £92 cheaper than this example though; [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ernie-Ball-Music-Man-StingRay-Classic-Bass-Powder-Blue-/110659046866?pt=Guitar&hash=item19c3cb0dd2#ht_5234wt_1141"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ernie-Ball-Music-Man...#ht_5234wt_1141[/url] By the time you add shipping, VAT & duty you'll barely save £150 over Uk street price.[/quote]

I bought the GigSkinz bag from Mark when I bought my Little Mark III and have to say that I am really chuffed with it. The amp fits securely inside and is really protected courtesy of the huge amount of padding. Then there are enough other zipped pockets to carry my speaker leads, bass leads, ear plugs, a few essential tools and power cables etc. I would highly recommend this bag. [quote name='Soliloquy' post='1151089' date='Mar 6 2011, 01:05 AM']This one ? [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Gig_Skinz_Gig_Bags.html"]http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_sp...z_Gig_Bags.html[/url] Or this one ? [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/MB_GB_TC.html"]http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_sp...s/MB_GB_TC.html[/url] There's a big difference in the prices, which is best for protection and pockets etc ? [/quote]

When I had my Aguilar AG500 SC I put it in an SKB X-Series rack case as they did a really shallow one that the amp fitted in perfectly so it was still really light and portable. Link below [url="http://www.skbcases.com/industrial/products/prod-detail.php?id=122"]SKB[/url]

You will get woods to choose from via e-mail and he will send updates of the build via e-mail bit for initial conversations on your requirements and proper updates you will need to speak to him on the phone I am afraid. The good news for you is that Bernie regularly works very late and getting him in the office after 8pm is not difficult at all. I am sure that when building my bass he even called me at 9pm the day or two before xmas!! Stick with it because what you get in then end is definitely worth it. [quote name='funkybassman' post='1149969' date='Mar 4 2011, 09:24 PM']Hi Gunsfreddy2003, Thanks for the information. I would have thought that since he has a nicely set up website, email address and a MySpace page that he would approach email as a business tool rather than ignore it. Funny since he offered to take photos of the build to make a build diary and also send pics of woods etc.. for me to select from. It's a bit tough a a shift worker 7 hours behind the UK to just pick up the phone and call unless Bernie is in the shop after 8PM. Guess I'll just wait for Bernie to answer when he wants to. Ciao, John[/quote]

In a few words, Bernie don't do e-mail!!! Bottom line is that he is a craftsman with no interest or desire for the use of e-mail and computers even though the rest of us expect that he should do as it is the 21st century! Pick up the phone and tel Bernie what you want and then send him a cheque as a deposit - easy as that. [quote name='funkybassman' post='1149767' date='Mar 4 2011, 06:43 PM']Hi All, I am in a serious state of GAS at the moment and have decided to pursue my dream GB bass. I did receive a general quote from Bernie on Feb.23rd but I am unable to get an email response regarding sending a deposit. Bernie is replying from a different email address but wants me to use the info address on the GB Guitars website for all matters regarding the order. After a week of trying to get the deposit information without a reply makes me wonder if this is the way GB normally communicates with their customers? Calling Bernie on the phone for every question or build confirmation would give me a prohibitive long distance phone bill. I would think that in this day and age the use of email would streamline the process but it doesn't appear to be this way at GB. Any insights from those of you who have ordered from Bernie in the past would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, John[/quote]

I have a set of the moulded plugs but find that I very rarely use them - when I put them in they seem to take out all of the top end frequencies and massively boost all of the bass frequencies so all that I can really here is myself which is not a good thing if you are really trying to get into the music that you are making! Not sure where I am going wrong as others really rate moulded plugs??

Yep good idea and much cheaper than a wireless system too! Last night I was using the 74 Fender Jazz with the Sadowsky outboard pre-amp. [quote name='mep' post='1133673' date='Feb 19 2011, 06:38 PM']Extend your lead. I use a extension piece that has two female ends so you plug 2 leads together. Then walk right out into the audiance area to hear what you sound like, not your drummer who plays a bit of bass. It would be like you playing his drums for him to listen to - it won't work. You should get a suprise as to how you sound. You have not said what your bass is while you are GASing for a Ray. Ok, I have one it and it's the nuts and always sounds good out front with me playing it. Only then can you make an informed decision.[/quote]

Very kind thought/offer and much appreciated if I was only near enough. I did used to have a fretless stingray a couple of years ago and old it because I could not play as well as I had hoped on a fretless! In hindsight I should have kept it and just got a fretted neck. Changing direction of the thread here but in terms of looking for a Stingray would you advise on pre EB (missed out on one this week on the forum) or the other I would like would be a 5 string either old or the new Classic Ray 5 but I hear there are some QC issues with these? [quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='1133654' date='Feb 19 2011, 06:11 PM']If you werent so far away from me Gunsfreddy I would of lent you my 2002 for a week or two to see how you got on but its a long way from here.[/quote]

No - I have not managed to do that yet and wonder if I should get my drummer (who plays bass a bit) to have a blast so I can hear it at the same distance that I was listening to others at last night that would then be a fair comparison. I am sure that we all do this but was just curious to hear other peoples comments on the subject. Still would fancy a Stingray though!!! [quote name='essexbasscat' post='1133381' date='Feb 19 2011, 02:14 PM']To the OP; Just a thought - have you heard your own bass from the distance the audience hear it ? is it possible that sound may be different to the sound experienced up close to the rig ?[/quote]

Last night I played a club gig with 2 other bands and to save time and hassle I left my rig on stage for the other two bands bass players to use. Not sure what one of the bass players was using some 5 string thing which just sounded muddy and did not really do much for me but the other guy was using a Stingray and I have to say it sounded awesome!! I guess it was a modern Stingray as it had a 3 band EQ but through my rig it just sang and was exactly the sound that I hope I omit when playing my basses through the rig. Has this every happened to anyone else and do you think that it is human nature to always think that someone else's bass always sounds better through our rigs? Or did my ears tell me everything and a Stingray is really what I need to nail "my sound" through my rig?

Yes that appears to be the only solution me thinks as I too need the Preamp in front of my effects as the boost in signal really works wonders with my envelope filters. [quote name='Doddy' post='1131714' date='Feb 17 2011, 11:49 PM']The DI on the Sadowsky is really good,but as I want the Preamp in front if my effects I use another DI box at the end of the pedal chain.[/quote]

I recently bought a Sadowsky pre-amp/DI box and having not used one before I just wondered how I should use it live as I have a gig in a club with an in-house PA tomorrow night. The pre-amp sits at the front of my pedalboard so takes the signal straight from the bass and then passes through to the first pedal on my board. I presume that if I take the DI from the Sadowsky rather than my amp then none of my effects will be heard out front as the signal is taken before the first pedal? If that is correct then is there any smart way around this?

That is what is appealing about the BEF is that from the demo's on the web it seems to do everything from MuTron to Synth with everything in between which is really good but without user presets I think there could be a great deal of time spent knob fiddling! I think that is how I ended up with so many filters I just like to have a sound set up and then click it on when needed. Not sure that I could cope with the O.S. and all those settings!! Beginning to think that I might just have to buy a Pedaltrain Mini to go alongside the PT-2 or just live with exchanging pedals off the board for different gigs. [quote name='phil.i.stein' post='1130258' date='Feb 16 2011, 09:04 PM']i really like it for the sheer number of different sounds you can get from one pedal. granted, it is digital, and doesn't have the fx loop of the gr., but for versatility it is fantastic, and can do a bigger range of sounds than the g.r. it seems to go much more squelchy/wet. i do hope they end up doing a 'pro' version, like the mwbs, with presets and a blend. the phaser setting is a major bonus too. try it, i doubt you'd be disappointed. edit : the O.S. is the best synth pedal i've tried (out of syb-5, akai sb-1,and korg g-5), but demands a great deal of patience !!!! you will not find it as easy to use as the 00 and bd. the manual is extensive and at first a total headf***. perseverence does pay off though.[/quote]

Is the Bass Envelope Filter from Source Audio really that good? [quote name='phil.i.stein' post='1128678' date='Feb 15 2011, 06:17 PM']as above. i'm still experimenting, but basically, octaver first>hartke vxl. this signal goes into the LS-2. the LS-2 splits the signal, one side to the fuzz and envelope filter, the other side to the octavius squeezer (which i'm using as a synth most of the time) the two channels can then be mixed at whatever volume is required. p.s. although he was viewed as a contentious character, i wish Kev (TNIT) would still post in this forum, his advice has been invaluable. edit : the source audio was from thomann.de my groove regulator is up for sale because of this beast.[/quote]

Hi Higgie, Will let you know if I go for the Octavius for sure - BTW my Brown Dog was bought brand new so not sure where yours went!! [quote name='Higgie' post='1129131' date='Feb 16 2011, 12:56 AM']Actually I didn't! I had it sent to the GigRig who modded the Power input to take a standard 9v so it can be daisy chained, using 2 Virtual Batteries and some clever wiring! Yes I do remember selling you the Catalinbread. I miss it! The Octavius is basically the Brown Dog and 00Funk with some octave and LFO features IIRC, making it a one pedal Synth Station. I really want a Brown Dog again! Let me know if you go for the Octavius...I'd love to have the BD off you. PS, The LS-2 is awesome. It's the pedal world's Swiss Army Knife. Although beware. Your setup will end up getting a whole lot more complicated! Edit: Was it you I sold my Brown Dog to as well?! I can't remember where that one went.[/quote]

Can you explain how your signal chain looks? Did you buy the Source Audio pedal in the UK? [quote name='phil.i.stein' post='1128655' date='Feb 15 2011, 06:00 PM']that's where i am at the moment (cheers for the ls-2 tayste). squelch city. the vxl could be replaced, as it takes up a lot of space, but i haven't yet found anything that sounds as good for its pre-shape. [attachment=72289:P1000755.JPG] bass>oct>vxl>ls-2 loop a. mxr>s.a. env filt loop b. octavius squeezer sorry about the dark photo.[/quote]