Musicman20

[b]If [/b]I have to work this Weds, and I take my holiday on Saturday (all of this is out of my hands with final decisions) then I wont be able to take any deliveries for a good 2-3 weeks, as Im busy with work, gigs, and a possible holiday. This was why deliveries last week and Saturday were the last option for me...and I knew I would struggle this week onwards. I can't wait that long for an outcome, so ill see what happens in the next 12 hours and make a decision. I am disappointed. It has taken the fun out of it, completely, and to be honest, as much as ill track down a HH Ray at some point, I might look at a Sadowsky Metro for my next bass. We shall see.

The Streamliner description: "With its solid extruded aluminum panels, CNC machined solid billet aluminum faceplate and smooth-radius edges the STREAMLINER™ 900 chassis emanates the ruggedness and strength of a world-class touring machine. This brushed aluminum chassis is finished in an anodized Tungsten finish. " The knobs have been fine for me. The input on the first one I had was dodgy (kettle lead input), but this second one is brilliant. They are smooth, whereas the Shuttle amps are incremented as you mentioned. Definitely not a lack of 'solid' build with the Streamliner. I owned a Shuttle 9.0 briefly and I felt due to the very low weight, it didnt feel as solid. The Streamliner is built more like the Markbass LM amps, IMO.

It is indeed! Everything has gone wrong, Definitely starting to think its time to call it a day and start again once Ive got a refund. Its becoming too much hassle chasing everything.

No idea what to do. Not heard a peep from EBMM or S&T in nearly three weeks. All I know is that it's been almost 8 months and I haven't got anything apart from less money!

All good advice. Just realised I'm unavailable for deliveries for a while. May well be out of the country next week. I'm giving myself an hour on the Wii to calm down then I'm making a decision. Bear in mind although I got the Bongo for a very good price, essentially I've had faith and bought another bass instead of accepting my money back or a non matching HH ray plus a £175 or so refund. I've ran out of patience. Agreed that someone should have driven them down, regardless of cost. The two basses are worth over £3000.

Fuming! Got up early to listen for courier... Sat in front room waiting at the moment. Basses weren't picked up from S&T due to van problems. I wish I hadnt bothered. Next day I'm available is Weds. I know it's only 5 days but I've had enough.

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1319273592' post='1412028'] Where did you hear that?[/quote] Local store and the thread Clarky mentioned....I'm hoping it happens!

Clarky - yep I read that thread. I asked the local guitar shop who really like the Classic Vibes, and he said he has heard new colours might be due soon on the Jazz. Fender have other surf green guitars, at a low price point, so you never know

I've heard that they may be releasing the Classic Vibe Jazz in Surf Green.... I really hope its true!

Tomorrow should hopefully bring a positive end to this thread. Ive just been informed that my new HH Ray (non-matching this time) and Bongo 5 HH are due to arrive with me tomorrow. Thankfully, S&T have put them on Saturday delivery. Im REALLY hoping this is the end of it.

The HS single sounds alright, but the other options just sound really bland. They don't smack you in the face...even in the sweetspot setting. Cool idea, very Sabre, but tone ain't right for me.

I haven't kept any of my older basses. Wish I had the money to have kept: Mid 90s MIJ P Bass 1999 ish Natural Stingray 3EQ Both are not so much missed, but have been replaced. I am certain 2 or 3 of my current basses are staying with me for a LONG time, (hopefully).

Roll back the bass, ignore any '12 o'clock' preconceptions, (it took me a while to get over this haha!). Bump the mids a little, treble to taste.

[quote name='markorbit' timestamp='1319068547' post='1409655'] Just got mine today so I've only had chance to play it in the home at living room volume. I was going to wait a while before posting my thoughts as I'm still finding my feet with it but initial impressions are:- I don't hear the warm and fluffy thing. With everything flat I find the sound doesn't by default have the bottom and heft that I like - it would probably suit a fingerstyle funk player that likes clarity without going too deep. Adding bass and enabling bass boost with compression is more my type of sound and I found great improvement with that. I suppose the sound I'm after is more Motown than Chilli-Peppers. I'm not getting the 'valve' thing at all though. Sounds sold state to me (which funnily enough it is). From memory, the sound reminds me a little of the Markbass F1 - a sort of warm, dulled but with [i]something [/i]missing type of sound. I was hoping to replace a Walkabout Scout but that decision is going to need more looking into. Still, it's very early days yet. Just a little disappointed as I expected to be wowed beyond doubt and that didn't happen as I'd hoped. I am still experimenting with the controls at this stage. The balance and intensity controls have yet to reveal their charms. Unfortunately my other rig is a Berg IP so everything gets compared to that. Got a gig tomorrow so may take it. Everything could sound different again tomorrow. [/quote] Hmm, have you had a look at the specs of the Genz Benz Streamliner 900? From going from your descriptions above, eg disappointed with the lack of 'tube' character, relatively solid state tone from the AER, wanting a more Walkabout-esque tone, the Streamliner 600/900 is exactly in that ballpark. At first, I was literally stunned with the amount of pure warm 'thud' coming out from such a small amp. It seriously has a very warm, complex, and tube-like character. Apparently it gets close to the huge heft of tone from the Aguilar DB750. I started to have a few doubts, mainly because I hadn't played it enough, and comments about it only really working its best with 'P Basses'. It does indeed sound fantastic with P basses, but it also sounds good with anything I've put through it. There is a very slight mid 'dip' with all the controls at noon, although I don't think its within the low mid area. This has caused some players, who are used to the more 'flat' nature, of a Markbass amp to worry about mids. I was one of them, until I simply realised 'noon' means nothing on an amp like this...as the bass is so strong, it just takes a small bass cut to 10, and mid boost at any setting to around 1/2, and you are almost 'flat'. There are plenty of strong mids built in, and the treble is very sweet. It seems so far you cannot get a bad setting from the tone controls; it never has that problem even when using extreme settings. It has a lot of clean headroom,. and will, if pushed, allow more 'tube-like' compression and breakup if required. It weighs hardly anything, has a great 'feel' to the build, and has a lot of features we all wish tube amps had. The amount of kick from this little amp is quite extraordinary, hence I really enjoy it! I would not sell it unless they upgraded it.

To conclude, I like the look of Dingwalls, but Im not convinced the Fanned Fret system is for me. Im quite happy with 34" 4 and 5s. Thunderous low B's are not really what I look for, I prefer a balanced B that sounds like an extension of the bass, not a 'wow Im a B string' type effect.

[quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1319016554' post='1408835'] How do those painted necks on the Bongos wear? I know the painted neck on my SUB developed a shiny patch which made the formally very smooth neck a thing of the past (I subsequently stripped it, much better now). When I've played Bongos at trade shows I've liked the feel of the necks and the body shape seemed to work ergonomically, but I wasn't keen on the preamp, just a bit too 'modern' (for want of a better term) sounding for me. I also prefer the 2 band on the SUB over the 3 on my old Ray, so it's probably no surprise that the Bongo's one wasn't for me. I have been following this thread with interest and, despite the digressions into a bit of handbags at dawn, it has been very interesting and somewhat disappointing as to the service Gareth has received. I agree that when spending that sort of money the instrument has to be spot on. When I think of the quality of my Sandberg at half of the cost of the Ray in question and the great service I have had from Sandberg when asking technical questions, it beggars belief that EBMM and their distributors have dropped the ball so badly (IMO they are all one and it is down to the OEM to make sure everyone in its chain of supply delivers what they deem as their level of quality and service). I hope that your new bass proves to be just what you want and erases what must be the somewhat sour experience from your memory. As ever of course no pics and none of this ever happened [/quote] Thanks. Apparently the satin finish on the neck becomes smoother, something like that. Those who seem to have owned one for years have never had proper 'wear' on the paint.

[quote name='swanbrook' timestamp='1319013771' post='1408785'] Gareth you should buy my 25th HSS well someone should anyway !!! I liked the bongo alot but I never got comfy with the body shape ( btw anyone who wants to or has the time to can go to the ebmm forum and quote me on that) Fran (Gw) was kind enough to bring me his dingwals fenders and a mad prs thing. 5 mins into play on his abz I was sold, for me they really are that good. Chords where no problem ,no weak g string fanned where a diddle to work out. I also had his bongo for a few months and that was a nice bass too but it did look like a toilet seat. Gareth hope the bongo works out for you at least with a painted neck they can't Swap it from another bass. [/quote] Thanks! I would have liked a 25th but to be honest my preference is the HH w/rosewood. I might get a Reflex one day, but Im very much 'done' for a good year or more when this arrives.

Just had the pleasure of dealing with Peter. Fast payment, great friendly communication, and overall nice chap! Cheers!

Looks good in Sunburst, but I prefer the plain old Jazz. Fender are going mad with loads of new gear lately.

Oh heck! Hopefully bass picked up tomorrow and replacement (s) here Saturday.

Interesting quote from the TC literature: "[i][size="2"]The difference between the raw power module of RH450 with no APM and and APM active: 60V vs. 46V or 450W vs. 236W.The difference is sound is drastically different as the ‘No APM’ setting is prone to hard clip, while the APM active sound will guarantee no hardclipping due to its ‘tube’ nature, while pushing out the higher long term energy density. "[/size][/i]