Twincam

Trace Elliot watts are definitely louder. Just sold a 300w combo and it was the loudest 200w at 8 ohms I've ever heard, so much so I've heard apparent plus 500w modern amps that It would laugh at. Didn't like the tone so it went.

[quote name='Si600' timestamp='1460043299' post='3022052'] From where Twincam and I are it looks like riffs aren't popular this month [/quote] Haha indeed maybe I went to simple this month in response to the first month. Next month I'm still going for an "bass line" not as simple as this one and I'm recording direct as this month the quality was terrible!. Still going to record as simple as possible (direct to garage band via iPad) in the spirt of saying you can record super easy kinda thing to anyone new thinking of joining in. Anyhow it's all a good laugh and I do find listening too the isolated bass very interesting and you pick up little things. So not bothered about votes but I do hope anything I do sounds somewhat interesting even if it's simple stuff. I have really liked all the entries and it is hard to pick even three.

[quote name='warwickhunt' timestamp='1460040461' post='3022007'] I think 'watts' are cheaper! We could easily manage with less amp power and/or speaker sensitivity but tech advances means we don't need to make do. 30 years ago I played with drummers as loud as now and I got by with 100-250w... all be it cranked 90% of the time; our 1000w (pub) PA was also always near the limit which isn't as likely these days. [/quote] Yes that's cool In theory say could someone save money by going for less watts still in today's world? As there can be some good savings to be made going for say a 250 - 350w head rather than there larger counterpart?

Seems we have a good battle of the noodles in kingbollock and camdenrob. If it ends in a draw there should be a freestyle noodle off. Because there can only be one!

This is a serious honest question, no hidden agenda in my post. This question is born out of me trying to figure out what to buy. While looking for a new amp and cab the question of watts and cab config etc always comes up. And inevitably you start looking at reviews and various posts on forums and you get into your head you need such and such amount of power and such and a certain amount of cone area so to say. It's very true you do need a certain amount of power and a cab that can deliver. However in the past it seems very common people used much less watts as the tech was not available and probably a less efficient cabs. But it must of got the job done in some manner. We know valve watts can be overdriven and loud but not everyone was using valve amps. Seems many were usin ss power much less than say 250w. I'm wondering were bands quieter. Drums have certainly not got quieter. Because reading threads makes you think that with less than so many watts etc there's no way you would be heard over a drummer. So to me it seems something must have changed, either gigs were quieter, drummers didn't play as hard or the amount of power you need now is being over estimated? I do know there's the headroom argument to me this still doesn't cover the fact so many watts were good enough yesteryear to the same watts now. Could it be that cabs are shrinking and don't deliver what they claim? I've heard it be said that not many watts through say an 8x10 is much louder.

Ah old Merle. Been my friend many a lonely drunken night. This year has been terrible for some fantastic talent leaving us.

[quote name='Moos3h' timestamp='1459792476' post='3019700'] Hi all, Post a depressing visit to Bass Direct, I was spending the 1hr 30 in the car on the way back wondering...if you could ONLY have a bass that played like heaven OR sounded like it, which would you choose? I think it's playability for me, I mean, even the worst of basses sounds roughly like a bass, right? As long as it plays well, I could see me coping with it but so many basses that I tried today sounded INCREDIBLE but played in a way I disliked. It's all personal preference, so I don't expect us to be able to define what's good tone and bad tone and/or what defines 'plays well' (the forum would implode if we all agreed) but I'm curious to know. Cheers, James [/quote] You didn't say how bad the tone and playability were? That's a big part of the question. At the extremes there's No point in having an instrument that sounds good but you can't play right else it won't get played and no tone at all. The same can be said about playability but even if the bass had very bad tone. But let's just say both tone and playability are very average not great not poor then playability for sure or would I??? I'm confused now.

Wow I see we have had a deluge of votes! Haha

Very nice!

[quote name='LewisK1975' timestamp='1459521882' post='3017396'] Don't think you're missing anything, that's obviously what he thinks they are worth. [/quote] I understand but they look to me to be worth maybe £100 quid each so I was just checking in case I had missed something special about these.

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1459524742' post='3017420'] Shouldn't this sort of caper stop at midday? [/quote] What do you mean. I've been out since midday comparing my fingers to various sized sausages so he can get the string spacing exactly where I want it! That's correct procedure right?

So I got chatting to this guy who says is a top luthier and improver of instruments. He sounded legit and said he could improve and set up my bass like no one else ever could! So I sent him a custom bass by the respected luthier Jim Fleeting. I'm really excited to see how he will approach this, he said he has improved thousands of instruments with no negative feedback!. And then asked about my finger size and seemed enthusiastic and kept saying do I have the sausage fingers, as he knows some "tricks" to help me. He told me all about his parts bin and how has a unique relationship with artec pickups. He promised to have pics taken of himself or his "new" wife holding the bass as it progresses. He goes under cleartone guitar conversations anyone heard of it? Anyone had there bass improved by him. I guess I taken a chance but with no negative feedback what's the worst that can happen.

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1459414267' post='3016239'] Don't like the wet sponge. Prefer to vigorously dip the tip into some of this stuff: [/quote] Haha at vigorous dipping of your tip

I've had some success using the pre on both ss and valve amp for overdrive. What I hate is amps where the pre doesn't give much if and overdrive then you have to use a pedal but I'm not much of a pedal guy at the min.

Considering it changes as you walk round the room it would suggest a bass shielding issue. Also check the bass ground wiring.

So I'm wondering why these two basses from the same seller are priced that high. Are they something special am I missing something? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Handbuilt-Gibson-Eb-Style-Bass-Shortscale-30-Years-old-/252337780979?hash=item3ac080f8f3:g:65UAAOSwdU1W-8tH http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/50-s-Style-P-Telecaster-Bass-/252337751867?hash=item3ac080873b:g:cG4AAOSwAvJW-8HU

Had a listen again my votes are in. As last months I liked all of them, so it was hard to pick just three. I think it's interesting to hear people's styles again and I think after a few more noodles I would be able to say who is playing, but don't hold me to that. I will say my fav was Roland Rock for a few reasons. First is it was a bit different, I like to see playing and it was what I call an honest recording. I thought it was cool.

[quote name='GOM' timestamp='1459434249' post='3016557'] Those "thuds" are definitely something wrong with the amp ... it used to be called "motor boating" - no idea why - as Icastle said the most likely cause is the power supply coming up, overloading, going down and then repeating ad nausiam. Get it looked at by a tech. [/quote] Motor boating is a term used for valve amps and describes a type of feedback that manifest as oscillations that sound like a old slow boat engine.

Went with this temp controlled station http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/48w-mains-solder-station-n34fb?cmpid=ppc&gclid=COLNovvZ6csCFTUW0wodl_EIeg Had a quick go and seems really decent hopefully it will hold up as long as my old weller did.

I think I have two new contenders for the worst amp ive used. Peavey microbass (far east made one). Sounded like a glorified alarm clock and within ten mins farted and blew up! Ampeg b2r only just bought (cheaply thankfully). Decent sound I think but pitiful power output, if I was gigging think I would be in trouble

I do have serious amp and cab gas still though. More than ever in fact now I've found my bass. I've still yet to try a rik I love the looks but no gas for one.

The babicz bridge sometimes helps if you have any string rattling at the bridge or funny overtones coming from that area. But it will sound pretty much the same I'm of the thought that there only very very minor or no gains to be had with a new bridge, if the old bridge was in good working order. I also think the same for string through. Why because there so much pressure and tension on the string at the string through break point any vibration past the saddle is non existent.

A real legend and his music brings back a lot of fond memories for me. Think I might have to have a listen later on.