DirkThrust

[quote name='mikeselfinflicted' post='785412' date='Mar 25 2010, 02:28 AM']i'm thinking of changing my whole rig to an ashdown ABM 8x10 and a AMB 500 evoIII[/quote] I've always liked the Ashdown sound in a fairly sparse mix but the way the ABM heads are voiced isn't ideal for cutting through a wall of bass heavy guitar noise and changing from 2 4x10s to an 8x10 is a sideways move.

[quote name='bumnote' post='785074' date='Mar 24 2010, 08:07 PM']While I agree with your sentiments, it will only work if we are prepared to pay the additional costs of an instrument made in the UK or the USA. We already have the situation where a CIJ fender is highly regarded in terms of value for money versus a US made fender. What about the lakland skylines, G&L tributes, and the new music man[men] range. I would like a Bob Glaub but I cant afford £2K plus for a us one, but I could probably be tempted by a skyline. Its not just instruments, how about Dyson, Hoover, Computers, Cars etc, the consumer is always going to buy on choice, quality, and price, and if we dont tick all the boxes the consumer will buy elsewhere. Im sure if we all wrote to Ashdown and said we will buy your products, pay more for them, but only if you make them in the UK, they would do it. But we both know inthe real world they will loose out on sales to competition, not enough people will pay the premium, and the market will determine the price. i remember the Im backing britain campagn in the 60s, started at colt international at Havant. Under EU law we are not even allows to do that anymore. Bah Humbug.[/quote] I wouldn't for a moment suggest that someone should buy something solely because of where it's made. I said consumers should take an interest in where it's made. All else being equal then make a decision based on country of manufacture. This isn't just about basses or amps but everything we buy. When I'm in the supermarket I buy British produce that's in season. I recently had to buy a baby bottle steriliser. There were 2 brands on the shelf. One Chinese made, one British made and they were exactly the same price. Consumers have enormous power and if they changed just 10% of their buying habits it would make a huge difference to our economy. The argument about price is a whole other subject. If getting something for the lowest price is the sole criteria for buying it then we will usually lose out to the Chinese or eastern Europeans because we can't compete on labour costs, but people will always pay up for quality or perceived quality. Your example of MIJ Fenders is an interesting one because Japan is not a low wage economy, and yet they produce a high quality product at a lower price than the USA. How many people buy BMWs at a premium price when they are not better cars than Fords. We manufacture a lot of stuff in this country, and the only way we keep doing it is by having a competitive edge whether it's quality or inovation or image. Clearly if a product is inferior or more expensive then people won't buy it. The car industry is a good example. Until the credit crunch hit we were one of the largest car producers in Europe yet our roads are full of BMWs, Renaults, Citroens and Volkwagons. The motor industry led Germany and France out of recession because Germans buy German cars and Frenchmen buy French cars yet we've got factories turning out perfectly good Hondas, Toyotas, Nissans, Vauxhalls and Jaguars that no one is buying. To say it's all a lost cause and not bother to take an interest is a self fulfilling prophecy. There is a significant trickle of offshored manufacturing coming back to the UK and that will probably increase as wage inflation happens in China and eastern Europe. There is no law against being patriotic although European law prohibits taxpayer subsidies giving a competitive advantage to industry.

Reliable guy to do business with. I didn't actually meet him but my wife said he was a very nice man

[quote name='Merton' post='782031' date='Mar 21 2010, 08:11 PM']Re. your 2nd point, no, but I sensed it coming Re. your fitst point - absolutely. But if the amp I want happens to be "Designed in the US" and "Made in China" then what choice do I have? [/quote] Fair enough, but the thought that within a generation the major economic superpower in the world will be China scares me enough that I won't buy any high value item made there.

[quote name='Merton' post='781984' date='Mar 21 2010, 07:37 PM']Doesn't matter where it was made as long as it makes the sounds you want and doesn't fall apart. Made in China/Taiwan/Thaliand/Korea/HK etc doesn't mean it'll fall apart quicker than anything "Made in the UK" - think British Leyland I use a "Made in China" bass amp with a "Made in the UK" cab and all is lovely in the world.[/quote] It matters a very great deal where it is made. The only way we will stop the slide towards having a third world economy is if consumers take an interest in where stuff is made. I don't know what the OP's reasons are for asking but he hasn't suggested that anything made in Chine/Korea etc. is crap.

[quote name='xgsjx' post='772202' date='Mar 11 2010, 10:27 PM']I think it's probably a lot easier for bands to play good rock music than it is to play funk or jazz well as a band. That's not a bad thing, just getting a good funk or jazz sound is a difficult thing to do in a pub.[/quote] You beat me to it. One of my greatest frustrations is playing with musicians who don't even understand basics like bars and beats in a bar. Trying to communicate something to our drummer who can't think much beyond basic 4/4 is like trying to teach a pig to yodel, yet he does a surprisingly good job of not too complicated rock and pop music.

I've tried to get together a band to do it many times but I just can't get the musicians around here, even just a basic drums/bass/guitar/keyboards/vocals setup. What I want to do is 1970s funk/disco like Chic, Sister Sledge, Rose Royce etc. but I've found that drummers and guitarists in particular who are up to it are virtually impossible to find. Rock and Indie is so popular because it's relatively easy to play.

I owned 3 Stingrays and always had that problem, which is a pity because I think Rays are great basses. The weak G string syndrome been discussed at length on Talkbass and the most likely explanation seems to be that it's the way the preamp is voiced. IIRC I read that Sterling Ball stated that that's the way players like it. Some people have a problem with it and some don't so maybe it depends on the individuals' expectations or the sound of the band. I could never get on with the way the G and to a lesser extent the D string would just disappear in the mix and in spite of much tinkering I could never cure it and always ended selling my Stingrays. I would be very interested if someone came up with a fix. I would buy another Stingray like a flash because I love them in every other respect.

[quote name='Musicman20' post='752834' date='Feb 21 2010, 02:45 PM']Hahhaa, they discussed this on talkbass, and the normal argument of 'dont mix drivers' came up. I dont really think Tecamp would make a cab that doesnt work...they make fantastic gear.[/quote] The "Don't mix drivers" argument is about using different size drivers for the same frequency range. I would think that thing would have some sort of crossover in it. Still pointless though. It looks like a promotional gimmick to me.

[quote name='tom1946' post='750739' date='Feb 19 2010, 12:04 PM']What's better in the same price range?[/quote] Nothing IME. They are as good as anything else in their price bracket which means not as good as most of the "boutique" cabs that are so common nowadays Umph's point was that they're not particularly efficient.

I agree with Moos, neither of these amps are really man enough for gigging. If that's what you want it for you may be better looking for used. Having said that, I used to go to an open mic noght where the supplied bass amp was a Laney RB3 and it sounded surprisingly good. It didn't produce any earth shaking lows but it held it's own against the drummers and up to about 5 additional musicians.

I think you're confusing the two output jacks for two seperate channels. AFAIAA the HA3500 is a single channel amp so both those outs are common which is why Paul gave the above answer.

If I recall correctly the string through models came out in about 1996

I played a 50th birthday party a couple of weeks ago for our guitarist's brother and the bass player in the brother's band had a Traynor amp and an old Peavey 4x12. It sounded absolutely monster - loud, fat and grindy. I looked for some pics of the YBA-1 on the t'net and it looks like that was what it was. It had 4 inputs anyway.

I didn't think much of Townshend's singing but the rest sounded pretty good to me. Nice Ashdown rig Pino was using I counted about 3 shots of Pino in the entire thing. Such is the bass player's lot. Don't know what the bass was. I wonder what's happened to his '64(?) Precision

[quote name='PauBass' post='733388' date='Feb 2 2010, 08:00 PM']Well, I still want that kind of warm tone so I'm also considering an Ashdown ABM head, I'm not really into Hi-Fi sounding amps. Any idea if Ashdown heads go well with Bergantino cabs?[/quote] IME Ashdown heads sound pretty good with any cabs if you like their voicing. There are a small number of people on this forum who jump at the chance to slag off anything Ashdown though. I had an ABM500 which I sold to buy a LM3 just for the sake of portability and I've regretted it ever since. The LM3 is just too hi-fi and I find myself EQing it quite heavily to get a tone I like. When I've got the dosh I'll be looking for another EVOII. They do that fat valve tone better than any other tranny amp I've used.

[quote name='thunderbird13' post='732636' date='Feb 2 2010, 10:25 AM']I have enquired about 2 more bands that have advertised for a bass player recently but after 2 or 3 emails both of them have gone quiet, which is similar to the experience I have this time last year.[/quote] That's absolutely normal. Don't take it personally. Lots of people think starting a band is a good idea and start advertising. Then after the initial enthusism wears off or they discover that it'll be too much hard work or they just can't organise a piss up in a brewery they lose interest.

I'm amazed you're still sticking it out. It seems that as far as the guitarist is concerned it you are not a band member but a hired hand. I've been in that situation myself in only one band out of all the bands I've been in and it was completely soul destroying. Being told to play this or that bassline and if I deviate from it it's "why are you playing that" pissed me off more than anything else I've experienced in a band ever. Above all else band members should have a degree of mutual respect for each other and it sounds like that is completely lacking. If you are a hired hand then you should be asking the "band leader" how much he is going to pay you for your time. It also sounds like one of your main reasons for staying in this band is that you lack confidence in your own ability. That's something most musicians go through at some time or another, I know I did for many years. It's the fear of not being able to find another band so you stay unhappy in the one you're in. It's easy for someone to say you should tell them to stick it but once you are not in a band it feels like a much bigger hill to climb to get back in one. Unfortunately only experience will build your confidence but in a few years you will look back and think "Why the hell did I stay with that twat for so long". The only way to overcome that is to just get out and look. Put ads or answer ads in Partysounds, Gumtree, Musofinder, Adtrader, Bandmix and JoinMyBand and just communicate with other musicians. You will usually be talking by email so you're not under any pressure or obligation to go along with anything. Just remember there are more bands and people looking for bassists than there are bassists available. In no time at all you will find other people with a better attitude who you will get along with socially just as well, and if it doesn't work out there is always another band around the corner and you will have more experience on your playing CV.

I always feel a bit uncomfortable about owning lots of stuff so I've got one bass, one amp, one cab and one sound and that does it all for me. I still get GAS but I can usually reason it away and be happy with what I've got.

So it's not just a weight issue but size as well?

[quote name='chris_b' post='730245' date='Jan 31 2010, 01:32 AM']But, if there is any way of pointing you towards a non 410 cab then the Compact is the very best non Bergantino cab out there. IMO IME of course.[/quote] I'll second that. They don't come much better that The Compact or even The Big One, which is still a hell of a lot lighter than your Ashdown. I love 4x10s. For all their flaws nothing is quite like that punch in the back they give but age and laziness have forced me to compromise for an easier life. Depends where your priorities lie I guess. Those Ashdown 4x10s are great cabs and bettering them is not going to be cheap.