SH73

It what my first build is likely to turn out

If you have a spare plank or two going I'll have some. Pm sent.

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1490709483' post='3267250'] The purpose of my posts have been to get people to think about alternative sources of wood. For instance, [i]when I were a lad[/i], school desk tops were solid wood as were park benches (Mahogany). The benches in our Science dept where also made of Mahogany. Jezz (Jabba the Gut) blew our minds last year with his two basses which are apparently an old door and a shelf ([i]and he thinks we believe that) [/i] Reclamation Yards must be full of old timbers but they know what it's worth..the trick is finding somewhere that doesn't. Know of any old buildings being pulled down? Schools and hospitals are a prime target, old churches and church halls might turn out to be a treasure trove of old timber. Alternatively just type in "real/reclaimed wood" on ebay but follow Grangur's advice about checking the end grain. My point is, there's probably some really nice timber sitting under your nose which will come to your attention the day after you've paid out so try a bit of lateral thinking and possibly save yourself a few bob which you can spend on parts instead. Happy hunting fellas.. [/quote] I'm looking perhaps not as hard as I should. Unfortunately some bargains on e bay are miles away.Good post, Thanks.

[quote name='timhiggins' timestamp='1490720719' post='3267391'] I finished it for the op Dad, the op asked where exotic wood comes from well it comes from exotic trees if i'm not mistaken [/quote] Read the title again....

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1490705188' post='3267189'] we grew up with a beautiful mid Victorian piano in the house - wasn't ever in tune and nobody could play it- but that was all walnut vaneers - so I don't think you can use age as a guide [/quote] Thanks for your advice. I thought old pianos were built from solid wood.

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1490676906' post='3266891'] When looking at old furniture and pianos to salvage them for a good, solid body, look out for funding end-grain. For example, on a table look at the ends of the table top to see if you see end grain, or does the grain go sideways unexpectedly. I say this because you don't want to find yourself cutting into a £90 "walnut" table only to find it's veneered ply or chip-board. For example, I've never seen end grain on a piano. I don't know about old pianos, but modern one's aren't likely to be solid wood unless they're made by some of the big names and cost accordingly. [/quote] I've found some free pianos on internet Some 90 years old. I presume these are solid wood. Lots of furniture advertised as walnut or mahogany but they always turn out to be veneer.

[quote name='ben4343' timestamp='1490648672' post='3266803'] So, after a couple of years of being consistently being impressed by the Matt Freeman signature Squier, a couple of years of wanting to be like Chris Steele from Alexisonfire, and a few months of panicking after I realised they had been discountinued... ...I got one. A black one popped up locally, and I managed to negotiate a good price. It has been well used; quite a large number of body dings, and the headstock looks like it's been bashed on something repeatedly, but this is all cosmetic and doesn't bother me. The neck is true, and a beauty at 41 mm; nice and chunky for a Jazz basser, but not too much. The neck pocket was super tight, and I was impressed to see the scratch plate has bee foil-backed and the pup cavities graphite painted. The plan was to fit a MM style coil tappable humbucker, use the existing split coil, and rig the lot to a KiOgon loom. However, irritatingly the stock pups don't work, and I have not yet worked out why not. So, for 15 quid I am getting a cheap and cheerful Wilkinson split coil for peace of mind, to go with the bridge humbucker (http://www.jhs.co.uk/brands/wilkinson/wilkinson-platinum-series-bass-pickup-single-double-coil; anyone got any experience with this?). A tort guard will replace the black one to break up the body slightly, and I fancy flats for a change! Pictures will come when I have something interesting to show; it is currently just in parts at the moment after a good clean. To Be Continued... [/quote] These are superb basses.

[quote name='dmccombe7' timestamp='1490623765' post='3266542'] Not sure why you think that ? Geddy Lee, Glenn Hughes and Steve Harris can't be wrong ??? Dave [/quote] If you get a free gear, why not

[quote name='BluRay' timestamp='1490555480' post='3265955'] Based on what? [/quote] Not a popular bass amp brand. Thought they're mostly guitar amps..

Watched it for 2 mins.....

Fender rumble 100w.

[quote name='sk8' timestamp='1490554057' post='3265935'] He's endorsing the four stroke Apparently...... [/quote] So he does.Times change.I thought orange was the least popular bass gear? https://m.facebook.com/OrangeAmps/photos/a.402464620245.369672.14717465245/10158248099060246/?type=3

[quote name='BluRay' timestamp='1482235859' post='3198655'] New acquisition! Had my head turned by Orange amps when I borrowed a Terror 500 at a gig recently. Loved the core tone (nice fit with my band), although I felt the EQ was a tad limited and could have done with more top. Anyhow it set me thinking and we all know that's a slippery slope! So here we have a 4 Stroke 500. Purchased blind with a good returns policy, I’ll be giving it a few band workouts before deciding if it’s a keeper. [attachment=234373:IMG_0217.JPG] I thought I’d share some initial thoughts (too early for a proper review!) as here’s not much about these online yet – all I could really find was a rather flouncy official demo vid. I suspect that Orange shift more units of its slightly cheaper sibling, the OB1 (Kenobi?) – which has a more conventional gain control – plus the single unit “bi-amp” feature for blending-in distortion. The 4 Stroke has a different feature set. I’m yet to try this out with my band but first impressions (at home) are definitely promising. To be clear, this is not a dainty little micro amp. It’s a big, 2 unit, hefty, old-school beast. The white finish is lovely and the casing has nicely engineered vents. The front face, has to be said, does look a bit like a Fisher Price cooker. Two massive controls for Volume and Compression – and 8 knobs for the parametric control. NO GAIN (don’t worry – reasons will become clear). Slight gripe is that the knobs – especially the white EQ ones – are rather cheap-feeling plastic, and at this price-point they let the side down a bit. Everything else is very sturdy and reassuring. Looking at the connectivity, at the back, it has two Speakon (not combi) speaker outs, and (post-EQ only) DI and line out. To the front there’s one input (with cut switch for instruments with loud output) and a footswitch input. [attachment=234375:IMG_0221.JPG] The basic concept here (as alluded to in the name) is like a stripped down hotrod. If it was a car being reviewed on Top Gear, it would be the “ferocious retro sports bastard” one with no home comforts, but the one the presenters love for being so stripped-down and feral. Orange make a feature of this in the blurb “everything you need and nothing you don’t”. Hmm. Well, ok I don’t NEED a mute switch, but it is bloody useful to have. That is probably my only real niggle tho, and it turned out wasn’t a deal breaker. In the (likely) event that it’s a keeper – I’ll be getting a sleeve or case for it – why don’t orange provide one as an option?? To be fair they very helpfully answered my question about a suitable case for it. Sound wise, everything set flat, gently nudge the volume from zero. The knobs are the calibrated, clicky sort that feel like there’s a clockwork mechanism behind them (which is sort of nice, but does mean noticeable increments with each click rather than completely smooth), and the first nudge of the volume and the amp is ON and already loud. I’ll be needing to use the volume control on my bass for home practice. It feels like this is going to be a frighteningly loud amp – although I can’t test that properly until I’m in rehearsal. The tone, with all EQ at noon, is full and fat – with a slightly metallic zing underlying (similar perhaps to the Terror 500, although I don’t know that amp well enough to be sure). It feels like it will slice through anything – I’m sure that this is going to be very assertive when cranked up. Definitely feels like something for those who play hard and want to cut through. The parametric EQ has four frequency knobs (possibly the origin of the “4 stroke” name?), each with a separate control for the cut or boost of your selected frequency. This is my first time with (what I understand to be) a fully parametric EQ so it’s a bit trial and error for me. Some tentative experiments show that this can give a huge amount of EQ control and can create massive variance to the tone (although the underlying/ “baked in” sizzle remains fairly consistent). It’s going to take some getting to know, but any concerns about “EQ capability” can be allayed completely – there’s as much control here as I’m likely to need. Then the elephant in the room – at least judging from the size of its knob (fnaar) – the over-emphasised compression control. And why no gain? Well I didn’t know either, so it was a step into the unknown. It turns out that, with this amp, when compression is added, it is (sort of) like bumping the gain on a valve amp, and you get a combination of added girth to the tone with extra snarl/grunt which increases the more you add it. Using it for a while it becomes more apparent that a separate gain control (in this context) wouldn’t be especially useful. Seriously, you don't need it. The compression here doesn't have much in common with the compressor on (say) an Ashdown ABM which doesn’t flatter the tone much IMO. With the Four Stroke the compressor is the jewel in the crown and (considering this is a fully solid state amp), is clearly intended to say “up yours” to anything that has glass in it. I’m certainly not saying it’s better than a hybrid or valve amp in this regard (I have both and love them to bits) but it certainly has something special – and different - going on. Roll on next band practice :-) [url="https://orangeamps.com/4-stroke/"]https://orangeamps.com/4-stroke/[/url] [/quote] Looks good. But why is there a picture of Steve Harris? I don't believe he uses Orange.

When I was a teen

Cheers guys!

I found plenty on e bay, but where do you guys get exotic wood from for building a bass. I am after ash.

B because A is always guaranteed after

https://soundcloud.com/user-527099495/tecknot-1-mix-basschat

It's a Hartke pedal and it goes straight in box after use. Definitely needs a psu as it let me down middle of recording.

Put a new 9v battery in my di pedal last week.After about 1 hour or so playing the amp sounded distorted today.Dead battery again.Sure it should last longer.Looks like I need a psu.

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1489773736' post='3259789'] Some people just shouldn't be allowed near a tool box. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/travel-Bass-guitar-/152467488322?hash=item237fc53e42:g:SssAAOSwNnRYk4we [/quote] It's a road worn bass. It has been played so much that the body worned off. The neck has obviously been replaced.