Dood

I'm liking where this thread is going! Thank you Geoff for the links, I've loaded them up now and will have a good read! I'd like to get my grubby little mits on a Sylvania Black Plate Gold Brand 5751 that one seems to stir the loins of the audiophile doesn't it! - I think that's the probable equivalent to Mullard/Telefunken ECC83/12AX7 nirvana!

Hey Dave! I was looking forward to having you chime in as I recalled that you had been fettling with the BBE and tried some different valves too - I've gotten my eye on maybe a few different pre valves just to play with and see how I get on. Interestingly, I think the article made some good points in conjunction with some other online resources that is pushing me towards certain types - mainly NOS. @Voxpop funny you should say that! - I've been a huge fan of the TC Electronic Nova Dynamics compressor that give me the option of 'upward/parallel' compression - but everytime I have used the LH, the TC wasn't needed. One less box to carry, Dood is a happy man! - I guess I may still use it for boosting the volume of tap style stuff.

I'm encouraged by the replies so far! Thank you guys, keep them coming. You have picked out a point that I purposely left out of the discussion in order to see where the responses went without influencing you! - overdrive/distortion. Nope, I don't want to use the valve to provide distortion. Both preamp designs that I fancy rolling valves with are the "Fender/Alembic" design with the passive tone stack. Infact, I've been setting the controls to the typical 2-10-2 setting for 'flat-ish' response and using the EQ on my bass to boost and cut where needed. - It'd be just as well to have a bypass switch on the preamp for the tone stack! But I have to say I REALLY love my Hartke LH1000. The more I use it, the less I faff around with effects and EQ! - So I thought it'd be fun to see what effect different valves had on such a clean and simple design. Whilst searching the net for information I'd found the above article but nothing really to support the chap's opinions (so far, until now!) One notable valve 'character' that I'd love to find out more about is the 'upward compression' or parallel compression effect. In simple terms, quiet sounds - i.e. light playing appears to be a lot louder through my preamp in ratio to loud sounds than if I bypass the preamp and plug directly in to the head's power amplifier. I also found this with my other valve preamp - the effect being even more pronounced when I took a DI feed post valve pre passive EQ. I like it - I like it alot! It's like compression - well - I it IS compression, but there is very little limiting of loud sounds, hence the 'upward/parallel' description. I feel this is what people refer to when they describe valve pre amplifiers as bringing out detail in music - because they are amplifying quieter passages in music much more and in a pleasing way Vs the more linear gain of a device such as a transistor/Op Amp. So descriptions of a sweet tone and bring out detail in music certainly is what I am interested in - it'd be interesting to hear which valves have a more pronounced character to them that I describe above.

Two of my videos on my YouTube Channel were recorded using the top of the range Logitech webcam! [url="http://www.youtube.com/doodonbass"]http://www.youtube.com/doodonbass[/url] bit of sweep tapping and other 'tasteful nonsense'!! And this video was taken with a DV camera!! I think I know which I prefer!! my other vide was actually done professionally, but it has suffered the woes of heavy compression making it look..well.. grainy. Incidently, all the recording and editing was done with very minimal outlay. There's quite a lot to explain and maybe if I pull my finger out, I'll get round to showing you how I got my results with a proper walk through.

Oh cool - I never really looked at their site as I didn't know they had started international shipping, which is great news. [quote]Certain manufacturers do not permit us to ship new products outside the USA. We encourage our international customers to shop our extensive offering of quality used gear, on which we have no shipping restrictions. All electronic items are built to USA electronics specifications and may need additional modifications or converters to be used in countries other than the USA and Canada. All DVDs are encoded for USA and Canadian use.[/quote]

Ok, so it's a long and informative article by a chap called 'Joe S'. The main point of interest to me is that he goes out on a limb to say that for the Hifi gear he is using - he finds that the 5751 preamplifier valve is generally speaking a superior valve in terms of sound quality than a like for like (price -wise I guess) 12AX7. The 7025 isn't mentioned in the discussion - I suspect this is because the 7025 was meant to be a ruggedised and higher quality version of the 'standard' 12AX7 - then a..errr.. 'ruggedised and higher quality version' 12AX7 was brought in to manufacture.Thus making the differences less important. Anyway, I digress.. Here's the link : [url="http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/faq/joes-tubes.html#12AX7"]http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/faq/joes-tubes.html#12AX7[/url] What I'd like to put out for discussion is whether or not those of you who enjoy a bit of tube rolling have anything to add as an opinion or advice. - I realise that this is an opinion of one guy, but do others share the same thoughts? I've not really seen much of a mention of the 5751 when it comes to bass gear to be honest - and it's gain isn't that much below a 12AX7. IIRC 12AX7 = 100, 5751 =70 and the 12AU7 is about 30? So would it be a worthy valve to roll with? Anyway, read, digest, discuss!

Actually, on second thoughts, the second pic' is fine - no need to shrink the body!

I like it! especially with the higher fret access. I know it wouldn't be part of your current idea, but I think i'd probably everso slightly downsize the body just to make it look a lil more even to my eye - but that aside, the outline reminds me of some sort of military equipment. Brilliant! Go for it, I'll be watching to see how this one takes shape!

[quote name='Paul S' post='1119090' date='Feb 7 2011, 04:52 PM']Gotta be worth £400 of anyone's money, I reckon - be interesting to see how it goes. There's a red one on the bay somewhere too, but I think the white ones are better. Not just because I've got one, either....[/quote] I have a red one hanging on my wall - I own the active version of the Jazz Bass Special and I adore it! - As I have posted on here before - it was the first Bass I ever 'GAS'd over when I was a mere 13 years old - took me over 17 years to get one and boy are they worth it!

Not that I've been able to try them, but on paper at least it sounds like the 'digital' units that are coming on to the market appear to be promising a wider frequency and dynamic range than the analogue (VHF UHF) counterparts. Anyone care to comment?

Blimey! I'd be lucky if mine stayed on for a whole month! I could kill a set of strings in a single gig when it was a particularly sweaty show!

I'm happy to help too!

Okie dokie, as suggested -The discussion can carry on in the 'other' thread here: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=120281&hl="]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=120281&hl=[/url]

[quote name='3below' post='1116032' date='Feb 4 2011, 11:37 PM'][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf3jRG414cA"]Anastacia[/url] Great bass tone, what effects are being used, anyone got the tab to make it quicker to sort out? Nice glasses and vocal range from the singer. I want to get my singer up to this [/quote] The bass on the video is a synth for sure - but I'd say to emulate it - an octaver on a fretless bass with lots of the sexy slides. Only the 'guitar' has a 'wah' type effect on it.

I'll be there - Ummm.. I guess I'll wear a BassChat top or something!

[quote name='MacDaddy' post='1112763' date='Feb 2 2011, 06:24 PM']not sure why I haven't put my custom up: [attachment=70923:Shuker6.jpg] [attachment=70924:Shuker1.jpg] [attachment=70925:Shuker5.jpg] [attachment=70926:Shuker3.jpg] [attachment=70927:Shuker4.jpg][/quote] Love this Bass! One of these days I gotta see it in the flesh mate!

[quote name='Lfalex v1.1' post='1112742' date='Feb 2 2011, 06:10 PM']If you want something that matches the HA3500, try a 4.5XL (4x10). It's the [i]expensive[/i] one, rather than the transporter series. As they're old school heavy and have been superceded by the Hydrive models, you might score a good second-hand one for sensible money....[/quote] plus the one!

Unfortunately I'll be unable to come down to the gig, but I will most definitely be having a moment of reflection with a glass of something strong on the 19th. Here's to you Si! x

[quote name='tinyviking' post='1112396' date='Feb 2 2011, 01:48 PM']Shame on you sir. I would have thought you would have considered the Hartke cabs!? Not that I've tried it at all but the HX112 has that switchable horn for super high frequency response. It don't weigh much and looks very nice. Also has Speakon connectors if you want secure hook up to the PA/mixer/amp thingy. But I see you have turned your back on "uncle Larry". [/quote] Not at all sir! - As per my opening post, I was looking for a cabinet that I could mainly for PA and HiFi. Hartke is still very much my choice for everything else, but they aren't designed to be flat response for CD's, backing tracks and the like (PA). I am a stickler for how things sound and I'd rather run my bass through bass gear and my PA through PA gear not confuse the two, if you see what I mean

For anyone wondering (yeah right) how I got on with a search for a PA cab that could handle bass duties, I've taken delivery of an as new ACME B2 from another BCer. I've been playing CDs and bass in to it for the last few days and it's really good! I was definitely after a cab that had less of it's own 'signature' so that CD's and MP3's sounded as good as possible. I think a second cab would make an excellent little PA system for workshops and clinics too!

Enjoyed that, yeah nice!

Interesting reading guys! - It looks like I own a MIJ and a CIJ then! Nice

[quote name='paulwillson' post='1091060' date='Jan 16 2011, 03:09 AM']the tone mixer thing takes practice getting right though, LOTS, especialy mixing distorted tones with cleaner tones. but yeah the other extras are cool. can you not record vocals on the xt then? im certan ive done that before. or maybe it depends on the model. awesome gear, so easy to get started. the tuner isnt great on it though ^^[/quote] Ahh, sorry I missed this post - yep you *can* use the XT to record vocals with, though it's not specifically designed to do it - but the X3 has a dedicated XLR input and a whole set of studio preamps and effects for vocals/acoustic instruments.