Dan Dare

Just now, Al Krow said:

And when you're 93?

Or brown bread?

15 hours ago, Twanger said:

That's sensible. On the other hand, an investment in something new would boost the sticking with it-ness of it all.

Maybe. In my experience, if I find I don't like something, I don't like it.

5 hours ago, CameronJ said:

Since you’re looking at Phil Jones anyway, how about this...

http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/PJB_Flightcase_150w_combo.html

You wouldn’t make much (if any) of a loss if selling it on around these parts.

Have to disagree. I sold a mint Flightcase and got a lot less than that for it.

5 minutes ago, gs_triumph said:

Standard insurance practice really.  You claim off your own insurance first in a car accident.  It's your insurance company who claims from 'their' insurance company. 

Rather different. You, as the insured, are driving your car. You won't be using the kit that gets wrecked. A total stranger will (your car insurance won't cover that). If you want to chance it, let us know how you get on.

You say you don't know whether you will stick with it, so I'd avoid buying new. You always lose money on new stuff when you sell it. I'd go for a something modest like a secondhand Rumble and see how things pan out.

Just now, Grangur said:

Fat Lama has an insurance policy and they, supposedly, check out hirers. Don't ask me how. 

I just had a look. It appears very ropey. Says you have to claim on your own insurance first and then use theirs if you don't have any joy. Sounds like a scam to me.

Hard to choose when there are so many, especially rock albums. Good to see Kind of Blue getting so many votes. It's just timeless. Giant Steps is similarly wonderful, imho.

20 minutes ago, White Cloud said:

Hmmm, that's akin to standing in your local street and walking up to a parked Ford Mondeo and announcing, " I never thought i'd see one of them in my street!!!!" 

...and that's coming from a Fender Precision player (before the Fender rent-a-mob dig out their pitchforks and light their flaming torches) 

I think the key is the fact that the chap was an "older gentleman". I'm 64 and I can remember when I was in my teens/early twenties, a "real" Fender was a pretty rare beast in Blighty, unless you were a pro'. Now, they're everywhere and you can choose between US, Mexican, Korean, Japanese, etc instruments, all Fender branded, at varying price points. The guitar hero at the school I went to was the only bloke for miles around with a genuine Strat' and the copies hadn't started appearing yet. When I finally got my first "proper" Fender ('72 jazz, which I still have), it cost me several months wages and was a real red letter day.

Unless the "hirer" leaves the full asking price as a deposit, what guarantee do you have that you'll ever see it again?

You may all know about this already, but just joined a FB group called "Give Norman Watt Roy a Knighthood". Especially well deserved in light of the undeserving nobodies (with the odd honourable exception) who appeared on the list that was published the other day. It's at https://www.facebook.com/groups/244620952217769/about/.

Are they tapewounds?

5 minutes ago, Dad3353 said:

Indeed, but 2800 W for an acoustic duo with a budget..? Excellent stuff, certainly, but overkill for the needs specified (unless rich as Crésus, of course...).

That's peak. In reality, a lot less. The headroom will be useful for acoustic stuff, where you need clarity above all else. If the OP has a £1k budget, saving another £500 and getting a pair of 735s looks an excellent option to me and much better than buying budget kit that is no improvement on what he has.

Dad's right. I'd use what you have until you're in a position to upgrade your whole PA, rather than buy things piecemeal. You may well decide to go for active cabs (once you get into the realms of better kit, many PA speakers are active), which would mean you'd be wasting your money buying powered mixer. Mixers, especially analogue ones now many are going over to digital, tend not to hold their value and you don't get a good resale price if you buy new (I have just sold a large Soundcraft, in mint condition, for a fraction of what it cost me). As a stopgap to provide extra power for larger jobs, I'd look at picking up a used power amplifier to drive the other speaker. If you really want a powered mixer, they often turn up used on the 'Bay. Stick with reputable makes such as Yamaha, Allen & Heath, Soundcraft, etc and you'll be fine.

Heavy cabs? Check. Jazz bass? Check (got one). Pedal steel guitar? Check (drove me mad and I sold it).

3 hours ago, EssentialTension said:

Agreed ... and anyway more sustain equals more muting becomes necessary.

Hence the bit of foam we put under the strings.

The answer is both. Some vintage instruments are wonderful, some less so and some, I've no doubt, are dogs. Same applies to modern instruments - some that are being made today will become sought after classics, others won't. The high prices of vintage instruments are due to scarcity value and because people invest in them. It's the way of the world. No point in straining at it.

14 hours ago, AlexDelores said:

That’s great thanks for the info on the Alto stuff. 

Yeah I didn’t think I’d have much joy with the cab.

we currently use a Yamaha emx312sc powered mixer and x2 wharfedale evp x-15 passive speakers. I also use an Ashdown Abm 500 head and abm210 cab. 

As far as budget it really needs to be all in under £1k. We’re thinking we’ll probably end up with 1 active speaker (for now) a mixer, a set of the gear 4 music in ear monitors and probably an alto powered Sub, although we might end up with x2 speakers in a bundle and then look at the sub a later date and carry on with my seperate amp.

im wondering whether I could DI my bass amp into the mixer but keep the volume low on the front of house sound (assuming it has a seperate level control for the monitors) 

hmm lots to think about, all though I’m most definately over thinking it all 😂

really appreciate the feedback from here though 👍

Have a look in the market place under other musical items. Someone is selling a couple of Mackie active subs (says he will sell one or both). I don't know or have any connection with the seller, but one or both of those combined with your existing PA ought to do the job.

There's a limit to what a tiny valve guitar combo can do, no matter what you do to it. Preamps/eq are complex topic. Unless you know what you are doing, I wouldn't DIY mod a valve amp. Apart from anything else, the internal voltages are usually very high, so bodging things can be dangerous. I'd be inclined to get something like an eq pedal - Boss graphic or similar - and run the bass through that into the combo. It still won't be great, but it will be better than nothing and a lot safer.

Have a look at Orchid DI boxes. Very well reviewed in Sound on Sound, made in deepest Devon and not at all expensive.

21 minutes ago, casapete said:

Agreed, but surely it's easier with some rough idea ( eg County ) to save everybody's time?

I'm with Prowla, if it's within say 40 miles then I'm far more likely to be seriously interested, and PM ing every advert 

I like the look of is too much of a wild goose chase for me, given the wide location of our BC brethren.

Fair enough, but how many items do you spot in the average day that you are interested in? For me, it will be one, maybe two a week at most, so the time spent sending "where are you" messages is minimal (I've just sent someone that very question). Those who deal and buy a lot of stuff to sell on should accept that a small amount of effort may be needed to find something they can turn a profit on.

Just now, Donnyboy said:

On the sideboard? 

Spot on. Next to the fruit bowl.

Just now, prowla said:

I like to see whether it's nearby, for collection.

If I see something I like, I'd want to try it, but finding it's in Aberdeen (I'm in Berks) means it's a no-go.

Same with wanteds - someone might be after something and I might have one I'm not sure about selling, so I could say pop around and have a look-see.

A quick PM does the trick.

Why not build a Bitsa P? Mine cost me around £250 - bought a used Squier cheap and upgraded pickups, tuners, bridge and wiring. I agree with others that nothing does P bass like a P bass.

Agreed. Dave's a great musician and an all round sound chap. Where's his gong?

On ‎29‎/‎12‎/‎2017 at 13:15, chris_b said:

If they are start recommending them.

Confirmation bias, anyone? I'll tell you what I use if you ask, but I won't recommend gear (have a look at my other posts if you don't believe me) because what suits me won't be for everyone and because drinking/buying by the label is a sure-fire recipe for disappointment. If you don't accept that, have a look in the market place, on eBay, etc and see how much expensive and highly regarded kit is for sale. A lot of that will have been bought by people on the strength of reviews, rather than a proper trial. After a short while, they find it's not giving them what they wanted and sell it on.