mybass

Graphite dust may help you along, used on my double bass tuning pegs by my repairer.

https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/lubricants/7031086?cm_mmc=UK-PLA-DS3A-_-google-_-CSS_UK_EN_Facilities_Cleaning_%26_Maintenance_Whoop-_-Lubricants_Whoop+(2)-_-7031086&matchtype=&pla-339706278395&gclid=CjwKCAiA6Y2QBhAtEiwAGHybPQUfLCoENK-QBfVahy121oFvKcJCHrK9c5KRFrUjpFEZS4tCmyataxoCR5oQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

All double bass to cello etc instrument players learn to play ‘in position’. That is they learn where all the notes are in each area of the instrument without shifting their hand from each area, no frets, no lines of course. Attempt to sing along to scales as you play them on fretted then on fretless, notice the difference when you try for the first time on fretless! Yes, it’s all down to ear training. My fretless basses have 3mm side dots.

Speaker design and tech has probably moved forward in some areas quite a bit. I have MB cabs and chopped and changed them for years, 10s 12s and 15s eventually getting the Ninja 2x12 which is 8ohms, the NY 2x12 cab I think is the 4 ohm. I’ve looked at other cabs and now have two Barefaced 12” cabs, very light, take a lot of power and take a bit of getting used to sound wise and like many cabs now, very expensive. MB still seem to have a decent enough price on their cabs so cost may come into it your choice as well. Unfortunately the newer companies are expensive and where can you try them all, in the corner of a shop isn’t the best place, especially if the cab is £600 odd…difficult eh!

ps….I’m told the Barefaced 10” cab are v good too.

Pmd

On 31/05/2021 at 16:58, philparker said:

I have this version, but won't be buying the next one for a while as it is quite a challenge and keeping me busy, in between all my other projects, despite having more time to practise this year. Definitely a good technical exercise and a good left-hand workout. I am playing these arco, but I imagine it would be more difficult to play them all pizz?

I’m just revisiting this after a year so apologies but my timing is usually much better (sic)…Er….I find them easier played pizz! Only because my tutors in the day couldn’t get my arch up to a decent standard, my problem not theirs.

Excellent dealing with Rob for a set of Bartolini jazz pickups….good comms and he posted as soon as I’d paid….Cheers Rob.

I got this one as a spare from https://realelectronics.co.uk as a direct replacement.

4 hours ago, Jakester said:

Well, they said they power soaked it through a number of cycles and it didn’t show any problems. I had said the power stage seemed fine as I’d played via the effects loop in with no problems so I don’t know exactly what tests they carried out. I presume they don’t have someone playing constantly in the workshop!

 

In fairness to them, I have dug the invoice out and I had actually overstated the cost of repair - it was £124, rather than £180 (I think in my irritation I overinflated the cost!) but I did have to pay for tracked insured courier to them so that was another £20.

 

They did contact me and discuss what they proposed to do might s well have been speaking Swahili so I just said “carry on!”  TBH had they suggested a full replacement I probably would have said yes.

 

Frustrating as when it works, it’s a great amp which does everything I need. However, if it can’t be relied upon, then it’s going to have to go. 

Yes these costs are more bearable to read about…check your invoice next time 😃 . However your problem has me remembering a Walter Woods USA I bought many years ago at huge cost and it had a problem. Finding a repair shop here was difficult and I had to get Walter to send me a schematic for the amp. It was repaired okay. I do wonder about repairs ever being needed for Bergantino or Aguilar and who does those at what cost. 

There is another post about MB and their U.K. repairers Real Electronics ( as MB’s U.K. repair ‘centre’) and a place in Essex was mentioned as an alternative repairer. Repairing pots for that price seems excessive unless we know if all the pots were replaced and if they are hardwired to an internal board. (Did they return all the old pots?)

Has anyone got / tried the latest of the (2x12) Genzler cabs….I’ve seen them on Bass Direct’s site but already out of stock…interested in the 2x12 cabs …..?

Amazes me to think I first collected a load of grolsch bottle top rubbers about 1990 and basically used them since as my locking buttons failed on a European tour. I lost several sets of locking straps over the years and wondered what was a better system until I discovered these. Also the earlier strap locks never seemed to cope with thick leather straps.

pm'd

What a shame MB have this repair ‘problem ongoing. When Proel U.K. were distributing them they had their own in house repair unit whereas MSL don’t (as they appear to be more a software sales than hardwire electronics outfit). I know the boss of Proel was pretty upset about all the hard work he had put in to establish MB in the U.K. Regarding ‘new age’ electronics and repairs of…I had a Yamaha PA amp/mixer that needed repairs. The repair tech had a look £30…. and advised one of two or three boards could be in need of replacement but if one was replaced and it was still a faulty amp, then he would have had to replace another until the fault was ‘repaired’…..the cost of the boards was more than buying another s/h PA amp, which is what I did and sold the unfit one off as spares.

8 minutes ago, kwmlondon said:

Taken from Bernie Goodfellow bass, surplus to requirements. Happy to post by Royal Mail - will get a quote buyer pays. Happy to answer questions, just ask

https://imgur.com/a6ORIZ5

Are you selling a bridge or a neck….the link goes to a neck.

Pm’d

1 hour ago, AndyTravis said:

 

Thanks for the link....interesting though I'm not quite convinced it would be the right peddle...hmmmm.

I’ve been looking for a sort of all in one pedal and saw this one on line, looks more of a guitarists use but thinking as it’s digital would it suit bass guitar…anyone tried or using this?

13 hours ago, Thunderbird said:

Might be worth a pre amp upgrade

Yes, I’ve thought about that though the Ibanez one is pretty good on the working bass and treble sides, the bass is a little too much but that’s when full on….cheers

On 18/12/2021 at 08:31, Thunderbird said:

Maybe the pot is shot I hope you can sort it out mate 

I wondered if the ‘pot was shot’ but as the signal got through whether the pot was central, full on or full off, I think it’s more a case of checking if the ‘send’ wire is not connected off the board. There is sooo much wiring in there it could be a few things wrong! 

…..and I suspect most business websites actually use existing templates from a company, place their own banners/names into it and then have their own issues with inherent running problems within that template. I have seen similar website setups to our own Basschat. I can’t imagine the complex setup for Bass Direct advertising and updating hundreds if not thousands of products every week.

Thanks Woodinblack and Tbird……I’ve yet to get around to opening up the wiring but hopefully it will be repairable on the main board….

Also, the mid doesn’t sound flat or boosted and there is no difference in mid, turned to full mid or full ‘off’ so perhaps the mid signal isn’t getting routed to that pot.

If you ask this question in Google you will open up quite a few discussions or pointers about this. It was once followed as a ‘general’ rule as having 500k pots for humbuckers but Delano has 250k pots for all their pickup schematics. Go by the pickup manufacturers recommendations….using 250 or 500k pots can affect treble or even volume, including which value capacitor is recommended.

1 hour ago, Thunderbird said:

Not very helpful but I wouldn't go poking about without a wiring diagram might be worth checking the solder joints on the main board they can be a problem 

Thanks and yes, I’m not looking forward to even pulling the main board out as it appears to be all one lump of connections. I must say ‘we are not amused’ by Ibanez’s wiring!

On 06/12/2021 at 14:31, Hammer_ said:

Yes bro it is. 

I may have missed something here but…….Dual channel or stereo amplifier? A dual channel runs as mixing two inputs into a mono output signal whether using (one 8 ohm)or both speaker (16th ohms) outs to your two cabs…. A stereo amp will allow two separate load outputs for two separate speakers….8 ohm load per cab.

I’m not getting any response from the mid control on this bass, either boost or cut but the bass and treble work okay. A new battery was installed. Taking off the cover plate revealed more wiring than I’ve ever seen in any bass and I’ve wired a few active circuits over the years. When I pressed down on the wiring the signal was interrupted but before ‘getting in there’ I’m wondering if anyone has had similar problems that they’ve been able to rectify. I’ve messaged Ibanez/ Headstock U.K. but no response yet. Thanks.