Dood

Hi Chris, Yes, I have done this many-a-time with more gear than common sense! I've also owned an Epifani UL-610 and a good few 'D-Class' amplifiers too so I have an idea what you are after. One thing to mention that I think is sometimes misunderstood, is that you don't *have* to buy a valve preamp to 'warm up' the tone a bit. I think a lot of it is in our crazy GAS filled minds that the valve has mysterious magical properties, when in actual fact it's possible to get the same tonal results from non-valve gear. To what extent you chase tonal nirvana is totally up to you and I am certainly not poo-pooing the other benefits (or indeed disadvantages included) of using valves. I have to say, I really like the sound of the preamp in the Hartke LH heads. It's said to be an Alembic / Fender tonestack clone. It's dead simple and brilliant. Though it's not designed to 'do dirty' and has tones of headroom and no need for a gain control. So there's preamps that *will* do valve dirt and ones that will remain cleaner and warmer. You also have the option of 'tube rolling', where you'll be able to swap valves out of whatever preamp you get to change the tone and gain structure. (It could get fun and expensive in the search for that rare Mullard Box valve, or an original Telefunken!!) ok, here's a brief list of all the valve loaded preamps I have owned (I can recall right now) - All are tonally different and I have to say, I liked pretty much all of them! Trace Elliot V-Type - another based on the Alembic / Fender design. I have to say, this one was awesome. Stupidly sold it. Hats off to Trace, built with the very best components and a great tone. Ampeg SVP-Pro - 90's black face. Upgrade the stock valves straight away! - It has been documented that these models were a bit on the noisey side, but really good quality valves help no end. Ampeg SVP-Pro - Hammerite face. Yup, loved this one! Upgraded the valves to Harma Diamond STR drive tested. Again, great improvement and both SVPs allow you to drive the signal hard and make it grind! Ampeh SVP-BSP - Billy Sheehan's signature preamp - has a seperate distortion channel that can be mixed with the clean channel. The valve supplies the signal to both halves of the preamp, but does NOT provide the distortion aspect. The clean channel is great - though the controls are more subtle than say the SVP-Pro Warwick Quadruplet - bit of a rare preamp now. Actually contains a power amp valve to enable you to simulate driving a full valve amp hard, but the output is still at line level. I thnk this could possibly interest you! Tonally, there's tons of options on this beast. The additional power amp section did make the 'feel' of the amp different. - I say different becasue some will love it, some won't. - but it's all about valve compression! I've also played through the BBE T-Max (includes the Alembic / Fender topology) which is a great preamp. OBBM posted a message in the past to say that he'd had his preamp modified because 'hot output' basses drive the input section a little too hard. Looking at your rig, I can understand why you might fancy a bit more warmth (which I will read as 'low mids'). The Epi cabs are said to have more upper mids in their inherent tone. The 502 is clean clean clean clean! - Just like a channel strip and I feel that the stingray pickup is giving you lots of upper mid and treble bite, but they have less 'pronounced' bottom, in comparison to say a P bass pickup with the same output level. You could possible have a go at winding down the UL's tweeter a bit and if you can, boost some of the lower mids in your tone, say between 100hz and 400hz. That will make things sound a bit more 'buttery' and 'warmer'. Do you notice a big difference in perceived 'warmth' between the P Bass and Stingray? Finally, if you decide not to go for a rack, there's a few - well , quite a few valve preamp pedals out there - and a few 'simulator' type pedals too that could be worth checking out. EBS Valvedrive, EBS MicroBass, Hartke Attack, Sansamp BDDI, Sansamp ParaDriver (I like!), DHA valve pedals just a few off the top of my head! I hope this helps - I've rambled for a bit, so feel free to dissect my post!

I fitted a thumb rest to a P bass once, where a bridge pickup *would* have been, so I had something to anchor on to with my thumb. If you don't mind two screw holes in the body - then it's a really cheap option, because they are only a couple of quid from most outlets. I've seen some different shaped ones too. You could even make your own one out of a piece of wood and colour it to match the bass?

[quote name='Anthony Joseph Waczek III' post='993432' date='Oct 19 2010, 12:49 PM']Finally adding some mods to the squier jazz, im going for all black hardware but I just need a little advice on machine head selection. Can anyone throw some good suggestions my way? Cheers![/quote] Hi Anthony. I fitted a set of Wilkinson keys to my CIJ P bass. They are a 'standard fit' so I'd guess they drop straight on a Squier, though I expect the screw holes may be in a different position if the plate is a different shape. Here's a google pic and a link to my own custom jobbie [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=87360&hl=deacon"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...0&hl=deacon[/url] They are defintely available in black - I bought my gold ones from the 'bay.

Musicians are just running out of chords.... (includes Under The Bridge, funnily!)

[quote name='jonthebass' post='991285' date='Oct 17 2010, 04:48 PM']Loads of info here: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=248"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=248[/url] Cheers, Jon[/quote] Yes! I think we need a flashing light on that sticky - I'm really surprised to see it not mentioned earlier. Hmmm, I wonder if there's anything BassChat could do to improve visibility of useful sticky posts?

and a *whispers* winmob app. I'm added and if anyone wants to add me I'm (unimaginatively) /DoodOnBass or @doodonbass or www.twitter.com/DoodOnBass .

Stag has an SVT 5 pro, bridged in to an SVT 610. Hopefully he will be along soon to tell us how structural engineers have banned him from turning it up about 3 on the dial.

Bloomin' luverllee mate!

[quote name='Rich' post='520699' date='Jun 22 2009, 01:02 PM']Rather than ordinary purple, how about that colour-changing flip flop type purple stuff? Actually no, that's a really awful idea too. You'd have to be several bricks short to even consider putting such stuff on a bass [s]called Sally[/s].[/quote] really... no..errr..answer to that! I'm surprised no one came over at Bass Day to ask how Sally was lolz

[quote name='Rich' post='520165' date='Jun 21 2009, 06:57 PM']Purple? Actually no, that's a bad idea. A terrible one even. Nobody in their right mind would have a purple bass. In fact, you'd have to be an utterly barking hatstand johnny-no-mates to even contemplate a purple [s]7-string[/s] errm, [s]headless 6-string[/s] bass.[/quote] Ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!! Witty retort? Well, being flip paint, I just move 90 degrees and it turns to green, or blue!

[quote name='ped' post='991459' date='Oct 17 2010, 07:06 PM']Camera was made in 2006 son [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epson_R-D1"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epson_R-D1[/url][/quote] Well there ya go then, shows how much I know lol! (or not as the case may be!) - I have a Nikon D50.. it's alreet!

[quote name='Nickytwister' post='991422' date='Oct 17 2010, 06:39 PM']Hi Dan, I remember mate! Hope all's well with you? N[/quote] Hey Nick, yes indeed, very well thank you! To join in th econversation - I owned a GS112 for a while and agree, it's a very capable cab, that's for sure! The MarkBass LM2/3 + 2xGS112's is a really stonking rig that I have fond memories of hearing at one of the first BassChat Bashs. (Homer', it was your rig!! You da man!!) As a Hartke'r I'm eyeing up the Hydrive 112 as a quiet rehearsal / jamming cab.

Hey Ped! Love the pics mate! - There was something rather cool about watching you wander around Bass Day with a vintage camera!

[quote name='Bucket Head' post='991142' date='Oct 17 2010, 02:37 PM']hi guys, thinking about buying a 4 pro and was wondering what u lot recon the 2nd hand value of one of these is? also iveheard that you cant replace that speakon cable if u loose it and that its the oneway to bridge it to full power? is that true? cheers guys[/quote] They've sold for varying prices here on BassChat. I'd have a lil search through of the For Sale threads for a guide. IIRC (without looking) I;d say somewhere between 650 - 800 notes? As for the bridge cable - yes, as Rasta says, they are dead easy to make / have made.

[quote name='Nickytwister' post='991086' date='Oct 17 2010, 01:40 PM']Hi guys and girls, I've copied this to 'amps for sale' too, since people selling Aggy cabs might well have a valid opinion too. Nick Owen here - I've never really said hello. I used to work in the Wapping Bass Centre back in the day and I mostly play for a living nowadays although I'm still embroiled in the MI industry part-time. I need a few opinions please; I've had pretty much all the best known gear over the years; Trace SMX, Hartke, SWR, Boogie, Eden and for the last 15 years have been well into my Ashdown. I still get it supplied for tours with an 810 but for my own band I've most recently been using an Aguilar AG500 with a Bag End S-15B and an Ashdown 4x8, both reconed with Neo drivers. The thing is, it's time to upgrade my cabs and I'd like to go Aguilar. I'm quite into compact, I do like a 15", I'm not a massive fan of tweeters but I'm open to suggestions. It's gotta be Chocolate Thunder!! I was thinking DB410, a 212 or 112&112NT or even just getting a single 15. I used to love my old Henry 8x8", I thought the old Hartke 410XLs we're killer too. My Bag End's beautifully voiced but it's a shade quiet. I don't mind a single cab; it's just gotta be clean and round sounding. Anyone got a strong feeling about the Aggys? Thanks in advance. Nick[/quote] Well 'ello Nick! Dan 'ere, We've met a cuppla times. I'm good friends with Deano. (Although I must admit I haven't dropped him a line for a while! bad me!!) - I play the 7 string Shuker and we had a good natter about cabs in the past, down at The Bass Centre over at the new(er) place. Anyway, good to see you hear! Dan

[quote name='bubinga5' post='990361' date='Oct 16 2010, 05:00 PM']...get a f***ing guitar...[/quote] I'm actually really in to musicians 'interchanging' techniques. If Tony Levin wants to attach drum sticks to his fingers, then go for it mate! - I'm totally up for Bass Players using 'tap' techniques as well as chords and finger picking etc etc - so it often surprises me when people say 'get a f**ing guitar'! - I have to ask, why? To flip it around, nobody gets upset when Andy McKee goes percussive! ;o)

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='990390' date='Oct 16 2010, 05:21 PM']Other than the Muse 'riffing' that was virtually note for note direct from the BS/Talas album - Sink your teeth into that![/quote] Ahhh Love that album! I have it on Vinyl! - I have to agree that the video content was derivative, but no, did not feel that 1) the chap was taking it seriously or 2) was put any effort in to what he was playing. Other than the Muse 'riff' I think the timing if the other 'stuff' made it sound a bit poorly executed. Gotta be careful with tapping I think. It's all too easy to start and end on the beat, but everything in between is a bit loose, whilst contending with fat ole strings! Going with 1) I think!

I stupidly sold a beautiful P- Bass. What a tone it had! - Poor thing had been previously refinished in 'natural' with a questionable varnish, but had the 70's black pickguard - 90% sure it was a dimarzio pickup, reverse Kluson keys.. quite a heavy beast. I sold it to a guy in Bury St Edmunds. I often wonder where it has gotten to - it had two distinctive screw holes where a thumb rest had been placed above the E string near the bridge. I think I have some pics somewhere, I'll have to get them scanned in!

I second that! I think I learn something new nearly every day on BC and I've been here since..well.. the dawn of the internet itself! lolz

Cheers fretmeister - I also saw a convo on TalkBass where he hinted at a thought for D-Class head, obviously to rival the 'lightweight' market. Whether or not it will happen, I don't know - but I'd love to give the Kilo a whirl, especially if they can keep the weight in check.

Hullo! My immediate thought wth running a fuzz straight in to the PA, is that it will sound harsh and could lack definition due to the PA's Tweeters. I'd be inclined to buy a loop pedal (or similar) that will allow you to plop the pedal in the usual place, and then blend the fuzz in with your normal bass tone. I use an MXR M80 exactly for this reason, it is designed so that you can EQ and mix dry bass with filthy dirt. You *could* try to tame it by running an EQ after the fuzz then in to the PA to round off the top end a bit and maybe boost the lower mids to simulate a speaker cabinet EQ curve. That should make it sound a bit more realistic. Though I would be inclined to go with a loop plan. It's completely normal to disappear in the mix with a guitar distortion pedal, as it removes all of your bottom end when you switch it in.

Ok, all done here then - Move along, there's nothing to see!

I've deleted the duplicate thread.

[quote name='4 candles' post='988515' date='Oct 14 2010, 10:09 PM']Bet he's sh*t then and doesnt know any popular song!!!![/quote] Careful, 4 Candles.