action_panzer

How can you have crap sounding fingers?!

Right, I'm sure this is going to make me sound dumb but here goes... As you all know I'm thinking of changing my rig at the moment to make it a bit more lightweight and portable, so have been trying a few amps out at shops in the last 6 weeks or so and none of it sounds like 'my' tone. Some heads come close, others nowhere near. So I was at my practice session with the band last week and I suddenly understood what all that greats say: [b]tone is in your fingers.[/b] I had wondered why I struggle to recapture my aggressive, growly mid cut-through sound in stores, and its because in stores I play a hell of a lot more softly than I do when with the band, where I'm going at the strings like the clappers! In store I'm shy and don't want to be antisocial (Although Wembley Drum Centre's sound proofed cubicle is awesome), and also don't want to look like a prat as my technical playing isn't that great. So there you have it...and all of a sudden I'm back in love with my current (but still annoyingly heavy) amp and thinking all of a sudden I don't need to sp**k loads of dosh on a new set up because, at the end of the day, it's not the gear that gives you your sound but your playing. I think...

Interested to hear opinions on this. I have very limited experience of the 4001/3, but I wouldn't necessarily put it down as a one trick pony, certainly with the modern push-pull pot on the eq. Yet its a common accusation...

Right-o Hartke fans, HA or LH series? LH sounds monster and is great value, HA is unbelievably versatile...which one do we prefer....there's only one way to find out! FIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT!

I think a P is a classic 'plug and play' bass...whatever you do to the eq, it will still sound like a P. Of course a Stingray has its own sound but is a bit more flexible in its tone, and to non-bassists I think it probably just sounds like a bass (albeit a chunky, growly monster) whereas perhaps, dare I say it, a P has a more characterful sound? Character doesn't necessarily = better! Christ, I've read enough on here about people's feelings towards Rickenbackers...

You're probably right - when I hear a bass in my head I hear a Precision, if you get my meaning. I have to say, I really enjoyed playing the P last night, its the first time I've looked at it for ages.

Did I mention my Sansamp Bass Driver GAS? I did now!

So tonight at my band's practice I brought my battered Squier Affinity P-Bass as my Stingray is out of action (doing some work to it) at the moment. Its the first time they have commented on my tone, saying "that bass sounds awesome!"....Really?! I do love the sound of a Precision, and the neck is nice but I was surprised! I find the 'Ray naturally a lot more punchy but I suppose the Precision always has the P character. On a side it was interesting to note that I really had to give my amp the beans to get the same level of noise from the P!

The TC does look great, but I've heard concerns about how far you can push it - that really its a 200w amp with clever circuitry that momentarily boosts output (I don't really know what I'm talking about here...!)...I guess what I'm saying is I'm concerned about headroom and clarity at higher volumes with the bh. Annoyingly Hartke don't do a 2x10/12 neo cab, and the only other 2x10 they do will only handle 200w. Otherwise its the HyDrive 410 which bumps the price up considerably, and I am sort of trying to downsize a bit from my bulky Ampeg BA115 HP, which barely fits in my car. I hear what you're saying with the Orange, and it is for that reason that it is my heart's choice, but not my head's... The Barefaced sounds good, but will it have that aluminium-cone snappiness of a Hartke cab? It also pushes my budget right to the limit!

Right, I'm giving in to my GAS and I think I'm going to get a OTB 500. I just love its distortion. Question is, which cab do I pair it with? As shallow as it sounds, I can't stand how the SP210 cab looks, and I've also heard it isn't that great anyway, so any ideas? Failing that scenario (as it is a bit pricey) I was also thinking of Hartke LH500 and HyDrive 112...chalk and cheese I know, but the Hartke sound would probably suit my band (grungey metal) better...plus, with the money saved over the Orange setup, I could buy a Darkglass b3k....right?! Third option is a TC BH500 but I haven't played ANY of the gear, nor do I have the opportunity because nobody local has any stock and I can't make the next Bass Bash because of work. So 3 very different scenarios, mostly driven by the fact that I can't demo most of these before buying so I'm just gonna have to take the plunge and rely on distance selling regs for a 7 day moneyback.... Thoughts on perhaps the most unfocused post in a while?! Thanks, Kev

Random, I suspect we all want more talent! I haven't played a Vintage bass but i've heard nothing but good things about them.

I have serious GAS for a ricky and otb 500. Sadly dont have £2k to hand. Also got strange GAS for a Warwick...always hated them...

Sorry, new phone doing silly things (plus a wally on the end of it). What I meant to say was that link was a great read, cheers.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1378299492' post='2198301'] This thread may interest you. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/215223-new-light-weight-vs-heavy-cabs/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/215223-new-light-weight-vs-heavy-cabs/[/url] [/quote]

Do they sound much different to normal cabs? The weight saving is crazy...

The Terror Bass does sound good from what I've heard. I think I will go down the higher powered route; makes no sense to buy a 200w rig now and need to replace it in 6 months. I am near London, how do I find out about this Bass Bash? Nevet heard of them! I do prefer a more trad sound.with low end and an oportunity to get dirty...

OK so here is my situation: I currently use an Ampeg BA115HP, and it is GREAT for everything I need it to do (small gigs, rehearsals, odd bit of recording - XLR out is noisy as heck but we'll gloss over it). But I need to change my amp, as it weighs a ton, and I live at the top of a block of flats and have struggled with back problems for a year or so. This amp isn't helping, so even though I love how it sounds it has to go. I'd really like a head and cab for flexibility down the line, and I need something light but not necessarily hugelypowerful - certainly at the moment 500w seems like overkill. I'm in a metal band that is just starting out really, so only small gigs on the horizon. Any suggestions? Today I tried an Ampeg Micro VR and Hartke 2500, both through an Ampeg PF115 speaker. Neither of them seemed to have the guts and low-end of my BA115HP, although in a shop, where you can't crank it too much and don't have time to play too much with the settings to get your sound isn't ideal. Until this point I really thought the Micro VR would suit me... So now I'm a bit stuck. Budget can go up to £1200 I would say, and I'm open to any suggestions at all. Fire away! (and thanks for the help!)