Musicman20

Ive just realised that ONE tiny 1x12 Mesa Boogie Walkabout Scout costs the same as a Matamp custom made head. Thats mental. Great gear dude.

Well guys....here is a lowdown on what happened today. I am disappointed yet again. I do not like picking fault with stores, but this wound me up a lot. I don’t want a fellow bassist spending his hard earned cash and getting ripped off. Short story version is, GuitarGuitar have these advertised on their site for £1085. Cheaper than normal? Yes. A pretty alright price for a retailer to expect a potential buyer to pay considering it’s a shop floor highly expensive boutique amp that’s been sat around a bit? Yes! So, the Newcastle branch say they are in via email. I email and ask if it’s the newer version with one input. They call me, and say they checked, and that they ASSURE me it is the latest model. The amp is based in the Glasgow. So, they put me onto them, telling me its NO MORE than 6 months old. Glasgow store say its new stock, not ex-demo, and definitely a brilliant amp that isn’t just an old shop floor one. Guess what; I ask for photos, it’s the OLD model….with two inputs. It’s dusty as hell, and the corners have all kinds of scrapes on them. Still looks awesome as Mesa’s do, but I am NOT paying that kind of money for something that isn’t the latest model. £1085? No thanks. Ill be wary of them from now on. This is why I hate ‘general’ music store. Ive never had these problems with the Bass Merchant. This is just the same as my problems with PMT in Leeds when they sold me a ‘new’ Jazz bass that was actually a demo, marked to hell, dodgy paint, etc. I took that back as well. I reported them to Fender and Orange, as they tried to sell me a battered OBC115, and said they were not allowed to order a new one in. Guess what, I ask Orange, and they will always supply fresh stock to customers at the same price. The lesson? Don’t trust certain stores without checking the items! The only exception ive found so far is my small local Orange dealer, Bass Merchant, and Bass Direct. So, let this be a warning to you. They did just email to apologise and then said their best price is now £1450! Nope thanks, not after all that! Rant over. Sorry to bring the thread down, but it needed saying. Glad no-one went for this particular combo on a GAS attack.

So...Im still asking about this WA on offer. Its apparently still brand new as its with the guitar stock downstairs and virtually no guitarist knows what it is. I might ask for a few photos. Hmm...more Berg 112 cabs, or the awesome little WA 12? Its the latest model with one input, just bought before the price rise. And, they have the 15 version same ish price, obviously bit higher, BUT thats still much cheaper than the new prices. They say its new, not a demo, just been on shop floor as a lot of stuff is I guess. Same guarantee and all the bits, plus 7 days money back if I dont like it...

Thanks guys! Gareth

[quote name='Linus27' post='598343' date='Sep 14 2009, 04:09 PM']I have some things planned when I get to the stage of not being in a band or want to be in a band anymore. I plan to do the following, a. Spend a large percentage of time, focusing 100% on double bass. At least a year or two, to get to a standard I am happy with. The plan at the moment though is maybe in around 10 years time or wait until retirement as I just don't have the time right now to fully focus on it. b. Spend a large percentage of time playing fretless bass. I am actually doing it now a little bit and loving it. However, I would like to sit down with proper training material/instructions etc and focus on getting good at it rather than dabbling in it. c. Learn to read music. Not sure any of those interest you.[/quote] +1 I like this idea. I am also going to be bandless when I move to London. I DO NOT want a similar type of band now. Im getting a little tired of DIY hardcore punk. It may well be really fun, but it is disorganised, full of rip of promoters, and no one appreciates a good musician of their instruments / setup. Eg small hardcore band bassist asks me 'mate can I use your amp setup?' To which I reply, 'what the Bergantino HS410 and Orange AD200b Mk3?' 'Yeah'. 'You do realise its worth about £2300 in total?' 'Is it, can I use it?' I usually just alow them to use the cab...but to be fair, they usually just take the piss. If I dont take an amp/cab, I take sansamp and DI. Its different with more pro bands and good musicians, they usually offer to pay if a tube goes, etc etc, or we organise to bring a part of the setup each. So....Im outta this now as of December. I also need a new project.

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='597633' date='Sep 13 2009, 08:14 PM']What's the position with your PA? If you've (possibly) wrecked your back at 19, the LAST thing you want is a huge bass cab to move about. Give your spine a break and focus on DI-ing through the PA until you get some recovery going. With a Sansamp or a Pod plus IEM, and your bass being fed through the monitors so the rest of the band can hear you on-stage, you should be fine. Unless you're part of a successful band that's just about to break through and which absolutely requires you to have a big stack behind you, then your priority has got to be to recover your health. If that means moving bands to one which is built around a big PA, then that's what you need to do. Sorry to lecture, and it's none of my damned business, but I can't believe that your response to wrecking your back is to buy another 4x? cab! [/quote] Actually, this is perfect. I agree, keep the cab IF you like it, but buy a good quality DI that can do a rock bass tone, like Sansamp BDDI or Aguilar Tonehammer. Then you have no cabs or amp to take. Granted, it doesnt feel right all the time, but I did it on tour and most the audience dont really know.

I'd like to go down again soon and test some new gear. Nice lads...most relaxed atmosphere ever...which is what you want! No pressure, no time limits, just good customer service.

As if....they better have something in replacement! I wanted one of those!

[quote name='JTUK' post='597379' date='Sep 13 2009, 02:39 PM']You are going to have to do your own research after you have picked up a few pointers from here.. whatever anyone touts as the best around or whatever, you'll find just as many that don't like them at all... There are a whole load of cabs with good pedigree and RnD behind them out there ... and if you suffer from a bad back then lifting properly counts for a whole lot... Small and light should be quite easy to get...I'd concentrate on 12" cabs and see where they sit with your idea of the sound you like.. You'll need 2, I would think..and that should cover upto a 500 watts amp Or spend you money on getting your back fixed... Get a MRI scan and a very decent physio...[/quote] +1

Schroeder do lightweight 4x12s and 4x10s....and they really are light. Not too expensive really.

Ive heard the VBA is great. I dont like their guitar amps...apart from the JCM 800. They all sound the same...boring.

C'mon guys Ive searched on here and talkbass. I dont want to use my DIY 'skills' id rather buy a nice board and power supply. Its as I said only for 3-4 pedals MAX....so if you lot think its pointless, please say. Ill never had loads of effects, im just more into the straight sound of my basses.

Hey Ive been a Rotosound Swing Bass 66 Stainless user for years. I fancy something different now. I would like to try something a little more expensive in the stainless/nickel roundwound territory. I do not like high tension strings, so that has to be taken into account. They would be used on either my USA Fenders or Stingrays. I do not want to fiddle with the setup/truss rod. Im thinking maybe DR Highbeams? Any other ideas? I would also like to try some flats, and after reading some posts, it seems the TI flats are very popular and are not too tense. Suggestions? I want to set myself up with everything I want before I move to London and become very poor, (temporarily I hope). Thanks as always!

I think a Genz Shuttlemax is probably much better than the original Shuttle. I favour Markbass amps purely because they are totally different to my other rig, and they are also much warmer than the Shuttle. I thought the Shuttle was a very good bit of kit, but sterile, and I just don't dig its aesthetics. Weirdly, I like the Markbass aesthetics! Shuttlemax apparently has more bottom to it cf to the Shuttle, and a better tube driven sound, but, its a BIG amp compared to the Shuttle. Still light mind. I don't think the UK has picked up much on the GB compared to Markbass. Maybe the trend will kick in hahah.

So...after reading that, the high beams are best for a lower tension?