Dan Dare

Vox - Luciano Pavarotti Keys - Mrs Mills Drums - Doesn't matter Guitar - Steve Hillage Bass - Sid Vicious

The best value strings are the ones you like. The cost of strings is tiny compared with the cost of a decent instrument or amp, so why penny pinch?

Ask Jack's Instrument Services (google will find them). They make scratchplates in a wide range of materials.

Seems that for your budget, you will struggle unless you can find used (which may well be possible - plenty of people seem to go through pickups like I go through Golden Virginia). Rather than swapping pickups, which may not do what you are looking for (see dannybuoy's comments above), try a pedal or two and see if that gives you the result you're after.

That's normally what happens if the problem is the ground wire. Assuming it happens with every amp (if it doesn't, that would suggest an issue with yours) I'd look at the screening in the instrument.

+ a lot. The point (for me at any rate) of using a valve amp for bass is that sweet, fruity tone. I'm not a bluddy guitard, so why would I want to know how dirty it can get?

The tone pot is almost certainly a log pot, which means most of its effect is in the final part of its sweep, as you've found. Volume pots are usually log pots and the effect is similar. Try swapping it for a linear pot - their effect is steady (hence linear)over the entire sweep. CTS make them and you can find them from plenty of online suppliers. Just make sure you get the same value as the one in the instrument.

As a PJB owner, I'd suggest the Cub and Double 4 are only really suitable for home use. They're lovely little amps - clean, excellent tone. I compared and tried both recently as I fancied something compact for low volume practice, but decided to stick with using a lightweight head and one of my PJB cabs, which is only a twelve inch cube, for the purpose. Yes, there are reviews saying you can gig with Bass Cubs, but you would be limited to very quiet wine bar jazz combo type gigs without a drummer. Both it and the Double 4 are very limited in output. Given that the Session 77 is cheaper than both of them, I'd go for that. It has the same preamp, is a bit more gig-worthy (although still not for anything that needs any serious volume), you can add extra power amps/cabs to it if you do need more power and it's still very compact/portable. Hope this helps.

I guess as I don't have one of those, I must be Gorm-less...

Either that or he wishes to make us think his start price is a mahoosive bargain...

Elfs (Elves?) win in the cuteness stakes and they sound nice. And Ashdown is a nice company - great after sales/backup. The Elf does show up used from time to time, so you may be able to score one for not much more than a new BAM.

I've used the BN15S - the 400w model, rather than the 300 - which I also bought cheap from Watford Valves (they are discontinued and WV and others have been selling the last of their stock). It's not a bad driver, but be aware it only has about 3mm excursion, so the amount of wallop it can produce will be limited. It doesn't appear you will be looking for sustained high volume, so it should be fine for a typical pub gig with a lower volume amp. I bought mine to put in a used Ashdown 15" cab that I bought cheaply because it had a blown driver. I used it as a stopgap whilst I was looking for new cabs. If you do decide to go this route, don't buy a new cab for £130. Get a used one. Several on eBay at present for much less than £130. Re. keeping the Vox, I agree it's a lovely old beast and it's your choice, but do get it looked over before using it in anger (as I said in an earlier post).

Beavertown? They should open a branch or two across the pond. Potential for some hilarity (guess what "beaver" is slang for in the 'States).

Christ, he's terrible. Look at the awful left hand technique. Doesn't his fourth finger work? A shame I can't unhear or unsee that. I do envy him his nerve for thinking that garbage is worth posting, though.

Pearl on sunburst is a crime against nature.

If you do use Mr Sheen and other silicone based cleaners, don't spray them direct onto things. Silicone is a great insulator and can play havoc with electronics. Spray onto a cloth and wipe with that.

SKB and Gator are much the same as far as quality/strength goes (as are all the ABS type cases). I prefer Gators because they cost less. Boschma are supposed to be strong as far as plastic cases go. I wouldn't think a shock mount type will be necessary unless you are going to be slinging it in the back of a truck. If you go for full ply flight cases, with metal hardware, etc, they aren't going to be light, or cheap. Up to you, really

As others suggest, drive unit technology has changed considerably since you got your rig and good quality modern 10 and 12 inch drivers can easily handle 200w. Modern bass amps are much more powerful than those of yore - power is cheap these days, due to the development of the class D amp modules that so many manufacturers use. If you are using a 50w amp, you do need efficient speakers to get the best out of it. A lot of modern high power drive units are not particularly efficient, compared with older designs, so you need to try some with your amp to see if it will drive them adequately. I wouldn't buy anything without doing that first. You might also think about selling your amp (you may be surprised how much it is worth if in good shape - decent vintage valve amps are quite sought after) and getting something newer. It will be a lot lighter and easier to carry around. If you like a vintage sound (your rig suggests you do), I agree Markbass is worth investigating, but there are a number of other brands that are equally good. A trip to a decent shop to audition alternatives looks to be in order. If you intend to keep the Vox, I would certainly suggest you have a tech' look it over before using it in anger if it hasn't been used for several decades. Older capacitors can deteriorate and the valves may not be giving of their best by now.

8

Which is why I don't use them. It goes in the case when I'm not playing it.

I must shop there. Although I'm 65, so maybe it'll be a bit young for me...

Agreed. The best answer I've heard to the tone wood debate is "pickups aren't microphones". Seems to sum it up pretty succinctly.