Dood

They are fast!!! Looking forward to seeing the cabs in all their glory!

Just reading about the amp, it appears to have a parallel compressor circuit on board! Wow!! That's a great add and if it works like the kit I use, it's sure to be a winner! Great idea finally seen on a bass amp!

In the grand scheme of things the DC resistance value of one pickup against the next is not indicative of how it sounds or it's apparent volume output. There are so many factors involved in pickup design and DC resistance frankly is of little use. It makes me chuckle when this value is used to rate a pickup - it's as useful as rating speakers in the same way Trust your ears - if it sounds good, it is good

The Ampeg SVT5 Pro - not the normal SVT dirt and can mix a clean sound with an all out assault of distortion. Or in preamp form to use with another amp, look for an Ampeg SVP-BSP

This is very interesting! Keep the updates coming!!

Anyone mentioned being sent to stores to get some 'door gaps'? I recall that one being tried on me when I worked in a factory. The foreman, thinking he was clever was flummoxed for a reply when I said I'd get him 'ajar'.

[quote name='KiOgon' timestamp='1418322825' post='2629206'] Hey dood, I don't know if you do your own soldering/wiring etc but if not & you need a hand - switches - soldering - connectors etc. give me a shout. Cheerz, John [/quote] Thanks for the offer John! Very kind! - Yes, I am a 'solderer' so I should be ok - but actually yes, I'd be looking at getting a high quality rotary switch. I've not looked online yet but I assume a Switchcraft or similar from the likes of StewMac / All parts etc would be a good place to start. Schematically I think I'm going to need a 4 x 4 type giving me four poles and four useable positions. I don't think I can configure with less. It's late and my brain stopped working an hour past curry. That said, I could well end up going the whole hog and I do like the idea of having a loom made up as I am impatient and also very busy! Cheers! Dooood

[quote name='Chiliwailer' timestamp='1418317911' post='2629146'] A long while back I added a neck pickup to a stingray and had a coil tap added to each pickup. These were wired in parallel and were thinner and very clean sounding, though quite noisy which was annoying. I guess that's why the Ray 5 and Sterling have an added ghost coil under the pickup. To cancel the annoying hum. Why did I ever sell that bass? It had a P Bass pickup in it too and an active bypass. Oh yeah, I sold it to get an original 64 P Bass, which I later sold, darn it!!! [/quote] I was just wondering last night why I sold an amp recently! I should have kept it!! oh damn you G.A.S!!!!!!! ha ha ha!!

If you haven't already, circulate these details round to the local Crack, sorry, CASH Converters shops as there's a great chance they'll turn up at one of those shortly after theft. (Along with other secondhand gear outlets)

Issue 30 added to the list!

I guess the next step is to select a really good quality rotary switch so that I can work out a schematic to get a bunch of coil configs together. I'm thinking for starters I have to try 1+2 1+3 2+3 but I think I need to prototype them just in case there is little tonal difference. I'm thinking 1+2 (Neck and Middle) will be the fattest sounding.

[quote name='Chiliwailer' timestamp='1418215422' post='2628009'] Even though they are wired in parallel, when I tried the HH Stingrays I found that the tonal difference wasn't worth the agro of messing around with the switches for my tastes. You can see the schematics on the EBMM website in the Stingray page. [url="http://www.music-man.com/instruments/basses/stingray.html"]http://www.music-man...s/stingray.html[/url] But no, I haven't tried it on my bass and may not have been of any help at all to you and perhaps even ticked off some Stingray HH players (apologies if so). Does that make sense? [/quote] Thank you, definitely some food for thought there as I may end up testing out some different configurations including a parallel coil mix. [quote name='ikay' timestamp='1418218170' post='2628054'] Here's another schematic for the Enfield Super 8 pickup - [url="http://www.enfieldguitars.com/Enfield%20instructions%20page1.pdf"]http://www.enfieldgu...ons%20page1.pdf[/url] Not tried one myself so can't comment but I'm sure there's a pretty wide spectrum of sounds on tap with all those different coil combinations. All the switching options shown here are also parallel. I'm not sure why they don't offer series switching options as well. I've tried Stingray HH and HS models but actually much prefer the single H config. The other coil combinations sounded different but, to my ears, the single H setting still sounded best. More direct and punchy than the other coil combinations, some of which were a bit too scooped and polite for my liking. Who wants a 'polite' Stingray? Enough people to carry on making them I guess! What do I know [/quote] I think you've edged toward my thinking - I kinda like the idea of something less polite and fatter sounding. The bass in question has a naturally bright sound with a very clear pristine 3 band EQ. I've tested a middle and bridge pickup configuration is series and have found it is rather pleasing! It's not muddy at all and the EQ helps to tidy things a little. The abss still sounds very modern but with a huge output boost and some really tasty low mids apparent. [quote name='HowieBass' timestamp='1418218366' post='2628058'] I'm guessing there would be the difference due to potential phase reinforcement or cancellation of the harmonic partials in just the same way you get with conventional parallel wiring. Am I right in assuming that pickups in series present the combined impedance of both so in effect you have the equivalent of an overwound coil and the reason for the thicker (muddy?) sound is that you have something like a 250K pot connected where you really ought to have perhaps a 500K? I suppose you could try to engineer something like a 250K resistor which gets connected with the pot when you go into series mode? [/quote] Certainly yes this one setting I'm messing with sounds like a big overwounder but thanks to the EQ (and I guess taking care of any impedance issues) the tone is still very clear despite the hike in mids. Top end and lows are superb.

I thought I'd posted a pic of mine! Here it is anyway!

Has anyone (with an instrument with more than two pickup elements) configured their pickup switch for multiples of series wiring selections? So for example, using three or four coils you could on a four way rotary switch do: 1+2 2+3 1+3 1+4 in series with each other. Those coils could be part of a dual coil humbucker or better still very separate coils further apart between bridge and neck positions. Did it make a huge amount of difference to the instrument sound between those settings? I know that verses single coil and parallel settings the series sound is louder and fuller in the mids due to a rounding off of the top end in a passive set up. But I'm keen to find out if there's a big difference created by pickup position. Does that all make sense?

The Hartke Kilo head has two 500W power amplifiers in it that can be split to run in true stereo, dual mono or bridge mono. You'd also be able to use the valve front end to run your signal through before splitting off to stereo. It's a beast of an amp and I think this will do the job nicely. Keeping dry bass mixed in to both output channels will help to ensure your bass tone is firmly rooted when you start mixing in stereo width.

The new Ibanez Portamento fretboard goes all the way up as far as the neck pickup giving 30 'fret' positions.

[quote name='philw' timestamp='1417879366' post='2624808'] Some Shuker Uberhorn models do: [url="http://www.shukerguitars.co.uk/uberhorngallery.html"]http://www.shukergui...orngallery.html[/url] Phil [/quote] Yup I was gonna say Shuker!

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1417466913' post='2620711'] What about Dingwall P and J basses then? Lol [/quote] I feel that these *are* a substantial difference from just copying a bass exactly right down to the last detail. The Super models are a proper evolution. I do prefer the AB and Z models though. That's just what I like

[quote name='kodiakblair' timestamp='1417466844' post='2620708'] dood Dingwall don't pay Novak anything anymore. The patent expired so no-one pays to use the fan-fret idea. That's how patents work, you develop an idea and the patent makes sure you are paid by anyone using your idea For a Set Time. It's different from copyright or trademark. How do you feel about the Super P & J models ? [/quote] Thank you, I know how patents work ;o) I wasn't aware that the patent *had* lapsed though. On the back of my (newish) Dingwall bass the patent number for the Novax fan fret system and 'Used Under License' is printed on the compartment cover. Even the new NG-2 has the patent number stamped on. I guess if they don't have to pay anymore, then it's Dingwall just being a good company honouring where the design came from right?

I don't think it has upset me too much as a Dingwall owner because someone else is doing a fan-fret design. Novak is the patent owner and yes Dingwall do pay a license fee to use the 'technology', which I think is brilliant. So as long as Brice are also paying to use Novak's design then cool too. I guess I've never liked any company that 'copies' other people's kit like for like*. Maybe it could be said that the body design does remind you of the Dingwall? Brice could have been a bit less obvious in that respect. * yup even all those basses that look exactly like P,J and MM basses!

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1417352143' post='2619388'] He plays with a single glove on the left hand. He has a skin problem caused by contact with the strings, I believe. [/quote] Here's what he has to say on the subject: https://www.scottsbasslessons.com/odds-and-sods/the-gloves

[quote name='M@23' timestamp='1417085725' post='2616872'] Saw that picture somewhere on Facebook yesterday - it looks fantastic doesn't it. [/quote] Rather fetching for sure!! I think a matching amp facia would be cool too. Maybe invert the colours of the script and background then make the black red instead.

[attachment=177273:SL112-REd.jpg] (Clickable picture) I just got word of this tasty looking little set up! Here's the press release to go with it: I've always liked the look of the dark green DB cabinets and it's nice to see companies getting away from 'black boxes on the stage' look. Maybe it's just me and a new found love for brightly coloured basses!! [size=5]"[b]NEW YORK, NY — Aguilar Amplification[/b][font=Times] is proud to announce a new SL 112 in “Bass Cabernet”, a limited addition color for 2015. Only 250 units of the SL 112 will be built using this striking color and finish. Each “Bass Cabernet’ will feature a custom “Limited Edition” label on the crossover.[/font][/size] [font=Times][size=3][size=5]Known the world over, the SL 112 features neodymium drivers and custom crossovers. These cabinets are an inspiring blend of modern technology with a classic vibe.[color=#FF2500] [/color][/size][/size][/font] [font=Times][size=3][size=5]The SL 112 in “Bass Cabernet” will be released in January 2015, with UK stock available from Barnes & Mullins shortly afterward. [/size][/size][/font] [font=Times][size=3][size=5][i]Aguilar Amplification is a manufacturer of high quality bass amplification, pickups, preamps and effects pedals located in NYC. Many of the world's greatest musicians have chosen to use Aguilar. Our list of endorsers includes James Cook (Luke Bryan), Jimmy Haslip (Jeff Lorber), Tully Kennedy (Jason Aldean), Tony Grey (Hiromi), Alex Webster (Cannibal Corpse) and Felix Pastorius (The Yellowjackets). For more information, please visit: [/i][url="http://www.aguilaramp.com/"][color=#0433FF]www.aguilaramp.com[/color][/url][i].[/i][/size][/size][/font] [size=5]"[/size]

I might be wrong for the TH, but amplifiers with a serial effects loop will actually disconnect anything plugged in to the input if you place a new signal lead in to the effects return. It breaks the signal chain from the preamplifier section. Think of it lke this: Input>Preamplifier and EQ controls>Effects loop send Effects loop return>Power amplifier>Speaker. The reason the signal sounds quieter when you inject in to the effects loop is that they are generally level set for 'line level' and there is no gain or input level control to boost that signal up. The input of the amplifier is designed to accept signals that are much much quieter 'instrument level' as it is often called. You are safe to send a signal in to the effects return but as you have spotted, you may need to boost it up a little. Of course all of this will need editing if the TH has a parallel loop which I don't think it does!