dave_bass5

Yeah, i agree, they dont always seem to do a lot. I do like the tone i get with it right off on the the Bass. Im not sure i could get the same tone using just one knob on the amp. On my HW-one i have the grease bucket tone circuit and that more like turning the treble off on the amp but with my other basses i like the slight increase in low end you seem to get with the tone off. There are also people that say backing off the volume knob a bit gives a nicer tone. This is one ive tried and it does seem to work but ive not compared it with just backing the input gain off the amp.

[quote name='PaulWarning' post='1016514' date='Nov 8 2010, 04:11 PM']There's a school of thought that says you should bypass the pots on the bass, because they degrade the signal, and use your amp to make any adjustments, I believe Mike Dirnt does this[/quote] Thanks but i think there would be more downsides than benefits to doing this. Its all baloney IME. it might make a very slight difference in a studio setting but i doubt it would make much difference in the real world. If it did people wouldnt pay £1000's for basses that had knobs. When i got my old DJ5 modded to a PJ i did a lot of reading and it seemed that taking the Jazz pup out of circuit would improve the P tone. I got a switch put in the bass to do just this. Not once did i ever hear any difference between having the pup off using the switch and just turning it to zero.

[quote name='mart' post='1016470' date='Nov 8 2010, 03:36 PM']That sounds like one of the leads isn't properly soldered to the tag on the pot - it doesn't sound like the pot itself is faulty. I'd try re-soldering everything and see if that sorts it.[/quote] Thanks. there are two wires going to the lug and i did re wire both. If i exert slight pressure on the lug it cuts out. I cant see anything shorting outside the casing but maybe there is a crack in the track inside. Either way, its quite a small, fiddly pot so putting something larger in will help with the soldering.

[quote name='skej21' post='1015616' date='Nov 7 2010, 07:52 PM']I'd guess that the Fender neck and the Fender body will fit together perfectly, as they will have been cut to very specific measurements specific to Fender factories because Fender designed their parts to be interchangable in case of one part breaking etc.[/quote] Oh my word. Do Fender know about this new change of direction?

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='1016085' date='Nov 8 2010, 10:08 AM']I listen to the song a fair few times first, to let the melody, changes, format etc sink in. Then I learn the basic chord changes and put in the twiddly bits afterwards. Works for me.[/quote] Same here. Once i get the song in my head its pretty easy to work out the basics. If its a song with a lot of chord changes ill try and get hold of a tab or midi file if i can find one thats close enough to help. None of them are 100% but i find a lot do help save a bit of time. The one thing i dont do is use notes at a gig. I find if i write the part out it helps get it in to my head but i learn the songs well enough to not take sheets of paper on stage. I find i can get lost easier if im trying to follow the song from something that written down. And i feel if its not in my head i havent put enough effort in to learning it. I don't go for note perfect, just enough to get from the beginning to the end with the right feel, and a few bits of my own if there is room.

Im not sure if this has already been posted but i only just came across it. Two videos shot at the same time but from different angles. I like the bass although not the colour. No GAS here.

Good luck with the gig Gareth. Personally (and i know where your coming from) i think you should just feel that your doing your best, and dont worry too much about the others. Im always being hard on my lot, as i feel i have a more experience and a more professional attitude towards the whole thing but when we get on stage, i do my best and am happy that if we do get any poor comments (we never have AFAIK) it wont be directed at me and i can turn around to the others and say "i told you". Just enjoy the gig and worry about it afterwards. Maybe record it if your worried so you can point out a few things your not happy with. I know its a very old cliché but unless something major goes wrong most people wont notice and will have a good time.

[quote name='lemmywinks' post='1000422' date='Oct 25 2010, 07:09 PM']The "ON" switch on an Ashdown......[/quote] LOL. Best laugh ive had for ages Also agree with the Octave thing. Never used it on all 3 of my Ashdowns. Separate inputs for Active basses. Why cant one do it all like some other makes. That XLR input on Markbass heads (for me anyway).

Resurrecting the thread with an update (and because im bored). Ive since changed the neck over on my CV's so i have the Jazz neck on the P now. While i liked the tone fo the stock pup i wanted a bit more growl so ive put a Thumper in. Ive had to file the PG as the cut outs weren't big enough. It sounds bit closer to my Jazz now, its lost soem of that vintage muffled tone and im happier with it like this. I thought that was it but i think i somehow managed to damage the volume pot, or more likely it just went on its own. If i wiggle any of the leads attached to the hot lug the sound cuts out. its working fine but i dont want to risk it cutting out at a gig so ive got a couple of CTS pot on its way this week. I also thought i might as well see what a Cap change will do so ive also got a couple of 0.047mf coming although i may not change them until ive gigged the bass with the stock cap in it this week. Im thinking ill leave the tone section alone as its all working fine. Overall im very happy with this bass and its going to be my main gigging bass for a while.

I used to love the Tube, especially the first couple of series. Hmmm, there's a connection here somewhere ;-)

I also like both 7150's and 8250's (i believe the same as 7250s but with a taper wound E string) Ive not used 7150's for years though. No real reason, i just keep forgetting about them. They are nice warm, cheap strings and i think ill get a set next string change. I first used 8250's a few years ago when they came stock on my Fender P5. I did find them a bit bright but got used to them and went through 3 sets beofre going over to Chromes. Earlier this year i had a few MIA Jazz basses and these too come with 8250s. I have a unused extra long set at home that wont fit any of my current basses as none of them are strung through the body but one day they will get used. I like Fender strings as they are cheap but work well. They are now made by D'Addario and they now have the same coloured ball ends. A lot of people thought that were XL's when Fender first changed manufacturer IIR. They come standard on the Squier CV basses as well as others.

I also love the smaller frets. As already mentioned, Lakland use banjo wire and this give their necks a really fast action IME. Funny enough both my Squier CV bass also have vintage (low) frets and these too are pretty fast necks.

I ran in to the reverse last weekend. I tried to put a Wizard (standard Fender fit) in to my Squier CV P and found the pup was too large. I must admit im not one to do thing properly so i got the files out and just kept going until it did fit. The whole time the pup was screwed in and the PG was still attached to some wires. I got here in the end though. it looks a bit rough close up but its not too bad. As i plan on getting a better PG i wasnt too worried about it getting damaged but i think it looks fine.

Thanks Crez. Its sounding like maybe the MB500 is closer to what im after than my old GK head. Thats good to know. Gareth. I do agree the RH450 ticks all the right boxes, and more. I really like the idea of the on board tuner. Not that i need one but the more flashing lights the better ill sound ;-) Its a shame the Gallery dont sell this as i would be tempted to take both MB heads in and pay the remaining for the RH450 once ive have tested it. The cab i plan on using is my 1212L and that has quite a character of its own so i think maybe a mail order is in order so i can try the head out at a gig.

[quote name='Musicman20' post='1013253' date='Nov 5 2010, 01:15 PM']GAS! Give the Shuttle 9.0 a whirl, let me know what you think.[/quote] Ive just seen the price on that and it does look temping if i go for getting rid of both MB heads. That or the RH450.

[quote name='JTUK' post='1013232' date='Nov 5 2010, 01:04 PM']understand the questioning and reasoning, Dave, makes total sense to consider it all. Personally, I only take out one amp with a DI/pre box, but I think the market that GK are aiming at isn't the same as the MB stuff these days. If it was for the emergency angle...have you got a spare side to use on your PA..? and plug your DI box into that..?[/quote] Although we olny use a fairly modest PA i do DI from my amp at most gigs. As im also using my BDDI at every gig im sorted as far as the amp packing up goes (touch wood etc) so i dont take a back up. I dont really need two amps but if i get any gigs with the other band it would involve public transport to my pick up point. They have my 1210R cab but i would need to get the amp there. While the LMII does fit in my suit bag i really like the look of these micro amps. And the GK seems to be a bit cheaper than a lot of the other in the 500watt@4ohm bracket. I guess another trip to the Gallery is in order. If i could raise around £600 for the two MB heads i could afford to get a F500....hmm.

Cheers John. I pretty much agree with all that. The reason i started this thread was to see if anyone had any opinions on the tone from the MB's, as my only experience with GK is the 1001RBII. If the MB does sound similar then maybe its not for me. As ive already said, i took my GK1001RBII and SA450 to a gig once and swapped heads over for the second set. It was like chalk and cheese and i sold the GK the following week. The thing is, while i love my LMII i dont use use it. And on the very rare occasions next year that ill need it its still bigger than i care to carry. So a smaller head is needed. But, as it wont be used much im not going to pay £700+ for one, unless it also replaces my SA450 as well and i use it every week. At the moment i dont really want to get shot of the SA450 as its always done the job, with pretty much flat EQ so it would be pointless getting rid of it. I think maybe ill put the LMII up for sale as i definitely wont need it this side of the new year, then see what happens next year. Once i get a gig in that ill need an amp then i can have a look around.

Yeah, ken knows everything about all these amps. He has done various comparisons with his MB heads, as well as others and i have had a few PMs with him about these over the years. I know what you mean about living in the USA. Lucky buggers. A si use a radio system im ok with the lightweight heads. I have found in the past my whole rig used ot move around on some stages but since i got my Gramma pad it seems to stay put.

Cheers. I did get the hang of it but it felt like it was a bit more than i needed knob wise lol. I do like the warmth i get from the MB heads and i guess for the older stuff we play it suites it better but as long as i still have a nice low end i can always EQ the rest.

[quote name='ThomBassmonkey' post='1012823' date='Nov 5 2010, 01:03 AM']GKs are a bit complex with the gain structure. Remember there's the MB Fusion coming out soon with the valve pre that should add another option to your list. [/quote] Yeah, i didnt like the idea of the two levels knobs and how easy it was to get a dirty sound if your not careful. This original idea was about getting something smaller than my LMII, just as powerful but cheapish as it might not be used much. But it could go the other way and become my main amp and i might sell both MB heads. If that was the case then maybe a TC RH450 would be ideal but for now i really dont have any issues with my SA450 so i dont think i want to part with that, plus the RH450 costs quite a bit more. The heads with tubes in are a bit out of my price range and to be honest tubes dont really have any attraction. I have the BDDI and even on that i keep the drive almost off. I guess the cheapest option would be one of those little Ashdown digital heads, and while i think that would be fine for the occasional gig i wouldn't want to use it regularly. I would love a MB F500 but i think the MB heads are a bit expensive these days. So many decisions, so little money and Christmas coming up. Not a good time to get GAS. At least its not urgent.

[quote name='thinman' post='1012638' date='Nov 4 2010, 09:57 PM']I'll be interested in how you find the thumper in that bass - I've got a CV P too and the stock pickups seem to be hotter than the 84s I've got in my Jazz but maybe that's comparing apples and pears. You obviously find the standard ones wanting - be interested to know why.[/quote] After a false start (couldn't get it to fit the pick guard, and then when i did it was faulty) im back on track and will be fitting it over the weekend. Im not sure what i dont like about the stock pup, it sounds fine at home but a bit muddy at the gig last week. I think i just wanted to get away from the more vintage/traditionl P tone and the Thumper seemed like a good idea. MY idela pup is a Fralin but i cant afford one and fancy a change anyeaway. I dont know what it is about my CV's but to my ears they are a mellower than other Jazz and P's ive owend. Not a bad thing but i prefer more modern tones. For what its worth ive also got a Fender Vintage bridge on the bass now, and my CV Jazz neck.