tonyf

NOW SOLD!!

Hi all,

For sale is my Sire V7 5 String Swamp Ash/Maple in Sunburst. The pickups have been upgraded with Nordstrand NJ5FS noiseless ones as I found the originals a little buzzy in some of the dodgy places I gigged in.

Had it for about 18 months now, brought brand new from Thomann.

Nothing wrong with it, it's a fabulous bass, but it just doesn't get a look in with my other Jazz-type 4 string. It sounds and plays brilliantly, and looks a million dollars.

Preferred pickup/meet from the Midlands.

Cheers
Tony

The HD350 + Proline 410 I had was a thing of wonder. Always keep promising myself another 410 but would struggle to justify buying yet another one due to the size and weight of it. However...... *checks Amps & Cabs for sale section*

Having gone fully IEM with the function band a couple of years ago, my EBS tone comes via a MicroBass II but I still pull my HD350 paired with a Bergantino CN212 for the bigger gigs where a PA is supplied. For me, the Berg gets pretty ballpark to the hifi tone of the Proline but a fraction of the weight.

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1500033132' post='3335251']
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8j7XJxew7s&feature=youtu.be[/media]

The guy can play, the guy can sing... man, I'd so dig playing bass on one of his gigs... mind you, with Sharay Reed and Mononeon as first calls, I can't see me getting the shout any time soon.

Man, I can only imagine what a collaboration between Cory and Prince would have come up with...
[/quote]

Was blown away by this last night when we all shared it via our mutual mates on FB.

Just stunning. WHAT a player.

There's a couple of moments for me. At 4:30 when he looks up and he's totally immersed. Totally feeling it. Then at 6:00 where the MD just drops his head with that "this it it, it's NEVER going to get better than this ever" gesture.

[quote name='dood' timestamp='1498646863' post='3326065']
*ok, I made that bit up. The song was at number one when I was born.
[/quote]

When I "popped out", Louis Armstrong was at #1 with "A wonderful world". And it was from that point forward for you all, you lucky people ;-)

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1498545908' post='3325322']
Question for you all... I got a set of UE 900s for christmas - they are amazing. I'm currently using the foam tips, and while not perfect they are pretty good.

I currently play at church - My problem is that having a few practice sessions, then a few sets in a meeting... that one ear at least is going in and out a lot. Last weekend I played at a wedding on the sat then morning and evening meetings - by the end of sunday the foam tip had been destroyed.

Question: what foam tips would folk recommend. How long should I expect them to last?

(and just so I can do my sums, how much does custom moulds and shelling cost?)
[/quote]

The reshells for the 900s are about two hundred quid. Not cheap but if you have this done, you'll have a killer pair of IEMs for not a huge amount of money.
[url="http://www.custom-inearmonitors.co.uk/reshells-remoulds/reshelling-remoulding-service-for-in-ear-monitors.html"]http://www.custom-inearmonitors.co.uk/reshells-remoulds/reshelling-remoulding-service-for-in-ear-monitors.html[/url]

It looks as though they do custom sleeves too. I had a pair of these done for my Shure SE535s before I got the V8s. Worked REALLY well. Our singer also has a pair for her Shures and she loves them. They look as though they're £115 but I'm not sure they're available in for the 900s. Have a look in the list or speak to Paul at the Custom IEM company. He's a top bloke and will walk you through the options.
[url="http://www.custom-inearmonitors.co.uk/iems/custom-fit-earphone-sleeves.php"]http://www.custom-inearmonitors.co.uk/iems/custom-fit-earphone-sleeves.php[/url]

I've got the BQC system in my Spector. Works a treat and fits just fine.

I've also had a OBP-3 in a Modulus Flea and that fitted fine in what was essentially the same sized cavity.

T

I found a similar problem with my Euro 4. Just lacked a bit in the midrange.

I replaced the Tonepump with an EMG BQC System which gave me the 3 band eq with a variable midrange. Sounds awesome now, especially as the BQC integrates really well with the EMGs in the bass.

I've also modded the bass to run at 24v so there's loads of headroom now.

http://www.emgpickups.com/bqcsystem.html

[quote name='Mcgiver69' timestamp='1496748402' post='3313578']
I think I have one of those black boxes (potted in red wax if I'm not mistaken) kicking around. I could look in my spare parts box if you are interested. I don't think I'll use it as I sold my pickups.
I'm sure I even have the pots too.
[/quote]

Oh wow, yeah, if you've still got it, I'd be interested in it. PM me.

I've got a couple of jazz reflex reds kicking around. I've unfortunately lost the "black box" for them which is annoying as I've had a couple of basses over the years that I probably would have stuck them in.

The Aria Pro II that I had them in sounded fantastic. They were very similar to EMGs from what I remember but a bit more organic and, dare I say, warm. Very punchy but VERY quiet, no noise.

In terms of wiring, I've found this:

[url="https://i1.wp.com/chinariffs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Official-Reflex-Reds-Wiring-Diagram1.jpg"]https://i1.wp.com/chinariffs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Official-Reflex-Reds-Wiring-Diagram1.jpg[/url]

There's also some reviews etc:

[url="http://planetbotch.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/reflex-reds-guitar-pickups-in-retrospect.html"]http://planetbotch.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/reflex-reds-guitar-pickups-in-retrospect.html[/url]

[url="http://chinariffs.com/2013/06/a-legend-and-reflex-reds/"]http://chinariffs.com/2013/06/a-legend-and-reflex-reds/[/url]

Hope this helps.
Tony

I reckon I've had my Yamaha Nathan East (Mk1) since about 1995. Maybe 1996, can only remember based on the time I was working at Q Music in Brum.

Brought brand new, a ridiculous staff deal. Best business I ever did lol.

It's done hundreds of gigs over the years, every little dent and ding tells a story. Don't use it much now, only because it's doesn't suit the gig I've got and the volume control has become a bit noisy as it's worn. Play it lots at home as it's my go to practice guitar.

Has been times when I've thought about moving it on but I'm too attached to it emotionally and know they'll be a time when I get a gig where it'll shine.

You mention you loved your old Thumb. Noticed that Bass Direct have an early nineties Thumb NT 5 for about your budget.

I've been IEM with direct from a MicroBass preamp for the past couple of years to get that EBS sound. However, the gigs where we're using external companies for PA and need backline, I take my EBS HD350 and a Bergantino HD212. Sounds absolutely awesome. The Proline 410 was a wonderful cab, loved it. But the Bergie sounds great too, loud as foo and can handle all the 350 throws at it. A great combination and a small foot print.

In fact, got a big corporate tomorrow where we're using a big stage and big PA so having to go with said combination. Really looking forward to hearing an amp behind me again.

I walked past the Yamaha Store in Soho recently on my lunch break. I popped in and ended up trying the BB2024x. Nice bass but the pickup hum was atrocious with the bridge pickup soloed. I Also tried the 5 string which was much the same. Are they all like that? Seems a bit of an oversight considering they're nearly £3k..

EXACTLY what I found.

Had the chance to try a 2025 out with the opportunity of a stupidly good price on it from friends in the retail trade. Was a truly wonderful instrument but the immoveable show stopper was the solo'd back pickup. Unusable for me in the store which meant that it would have been unusable at a gig with paying punters.

Considering the otherwise world class construction and attention to detail, just couldn't get my hat on why anyone at Yamaha saw this as acceptable.

Lordy, that's in mint condition. A whole lot of bass for that kinda money.

"We are family" by Chic.

Stabs on the main chords for the vocalists to engage the audience for a few bars. Works great, especially when we all pile into the main song.

[quote name='nash' timestamp='1485528491' post='3224677']
Nordstrand.
[/quote]

^^^^^ This

Installed a Nordstrand 4.3 in a Sterling I used to have. Not that the stock pickup was bad but the Nordstrand was recommended to me.

Wow. It was fantastic. Gave the bass SOOOOOO much Pre-EB vibe.

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1484324023' post='3214729']
Promised a weekend with the other half... but we should meet up at some point for just general bass geekery anyway.
[/quote]

Absolutely homie. Shout when you're free! ;-)

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1484318244' post='3214653']
These are the ones that are references on talkbass right?

Yeah - it would be from Thomann anyway. I could do with making a trek over to tonyf really - as what I could do with is seeing if my basses track well... my GB basses didn't play that nice with the MarkBass Super Synth... (my Yamaha did).

I'm procrastinating really. I'll get it one day for sure... Although a Kemper is calling my name more at the moment (guitar playing side of me needs some more toys)
[/quote]

Shall I put the kettle on? Biscuits?

PS. We're at Akamba tomorrow night. Come on over and have a fiddle if you want.

;-)

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1484313771' post='3214588']
I'm still dithering over whether I get on or not.
[/quote]

DO ITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!

;-)

Nick Seymour is a genius. Love his work in Crowded House. Some of his lines are just sublime. Always serving the song.

Agency gig at a Masonic lodge in Moseley in Birmingham.

We don't do much agency work being pretty blessed in having enough work through our own efforts. This one was a new agency and it was painfully obvious that they'd just taken the booking and not done any client requirements. We'd had an email a couple of days prior to the gig telling us that we needed to turn up at 6pm but wouldn't have access to the room until 8:45pm at the earliest and had to be ready to play for 9:15pm. This meant that there was a load of hanging about. To be fair, we were really well treated and it was really interesting being in such a usually closed off place like a masonic hall. However, a tight setup and soundcheck.

The gig was amazing. Took us totally by surprise. Expected a relatively conservative reserved audience. Experienced the total opposite. The floor was packed from the word go and it was obvious that they were up for a serious night out.

Got the IEM and front of house mix spot on given such a tight setup. The traditional dance hall was surprisingly easy to mix for, some amazing slap back from the back made the kick, snare and my bass sound absolutely massive.

Huge compliments afterwards, loads of "you're the best band we've ever seen here" comments and have walked away with 2 firm bookings for next year with several other interested parties.

Result.

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1476795783' post='3157288']
I still haven't tried the LD systems but from all the other budget systems that I have tried, I would say save your money and go wired unless you can plump for either the Sennheiser EW300 or Shure 300/900 - but appreciate that is a much higher investment over what you have already. Having said this, do drop the LD users a line to see what they think - I know Tonyf has been happy with his - but conversely he hasn't heard my EW300s or PSM900s to compare with.
[/quote]

Simon, I've just PM'd you re: the MEI1000s we run.

Russ, true dat. My experience of IEMs is limited because we've not been able to compare the MEI1000s with anything else. For us, the budget dictated the gear although when we started our journey, we weren't exactly aware of the technical aspects of putting together a good IEM solution. I'd love to A/B the Shure/Sennheiser alternatives against the MEI1000 at some point, if only to try and justify an "upgrade path" for the band.

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1476713272' post='3156540']
I've actually used one of those on a dep gig. That'll do the job nicely.
[/quote]

Pilfered. These will do nicely for the drummist and guitar player who are always wired.

Or the Behringer PM1? That'll work with the XR18 won't it?

If you're looking for a real good upgrade on the SE215, the Ultimate Ears UE900s are fantastic apparently. Our keyboard player has gone that route and absolutely loves his.

[url="http://pro.ultimateears.com/products/custom-monitors/for-stage/ue-900s"]http://pro.ultimateears.com/products/custom-monitors/for-stage/ue-900s[/url]

If you're still looking at custom moulds, the Custom IEM Company offer a re-shell service for the UE900s which will give you a great upgrade.

[url="http://www.custom-inearmonitors.co.uk/reshells-remoulds/reshelling-remoulding-service-for-in-ear-monitors.html"]http://www.custom-inearmonitors.co.uk/reshells-remoulds/reshelling-remoulding-service-for-in-ear-monitors.html[/url]

These form a tiny part of the "flight deck" (in-joke).

Russ is a top fella and these are great pedals.