Danuman

I have to say I’m a bit sceptical of those comparison videos when all you hear is a single DI’ed signal. It all seems pretty similar until you feel it under your fingers in a live situation. That said, I recently bought a Tonerider TRP-1, and I must admit — I’m really impressed. It lacks the finer qualities of the Curtis Novak pickup that is in my favourite bass, but then that is a. really subjective, and b. about three times as expensive!

If a guitar speaks to you, I think it makes a lot of sense to go quite far in adjusting it to your preferences. When I started out I used to get terribly cramped shoulders, because I didn’t realise I pulled on the neck too hard with my fretting hand - which meant I had to compensate by pushing the body down with my other arm... a completely pointless and even harmful effort. So, don’t rule out slightly adjusting your technique or picking up some good habits. It’s tough going at first, but a little goes a long way!

I thought as much. I was hoping there might be some sort of material available for such purposes... But you’re right; if it means weeks of spraying and curing and sanding and buffing... I’d rather spend the time playing it! 😅

Promising start indeed!

Hey all, I’m looking into making decals for a bitsa. I might like one of those shiny chrome ones that are on some Fender models, but I have no idea if that’s feasible. I’m guessing it’s some sort of adhesive covered with a few layers of lacquer. Are there any businesses out there that might be able help out with a custom order? Also, I’m based in the Amsterdam area, which could be important. Thanks for reading! Dan

Sonic blue, mint green and rosewood... Fine work and excellent taste, sir!

I don’t quite remember how it happened, but I bought a used Curtis Novak PB-V. It’s a lovely and buttery P-bass pickup with just the right bounce. It feels like it allows what’s coming from my fingers to flow through the amp. Not a clue if it is in any way period-accurate, but it does come highly recommended!

Years ago a luthier told me something that came as a bit of an epiphany at the time... He was mainly talking about Fender guitars, but I suppose it goes for most mass-produced bolt-on models: these guitars were designed to be put together easily. I would say make it nice and tight, but don’t overdo it. If you’re not careful, an electric screwdriver can really wedge in a screw, so I prefer to do it by hand. (I’ve seen a few bent bridges and neck plates) However, if you apply some common sense it’s really quite difficult to break a bolt-on.

Such a good looking bass... G&L tributes are amazing value for money. Nice to have it pre-dinged as well.

The P is definitely best, but so is the J.

I briefly owned a TH500 and felt exactly the same way... I loved the form factor and weight, I liked the sound (and it has ample volume) but I just couldn’t get the right sort of energy from it. I gather that the DB line of cabs have a pronounced mid-bump so perhaps the amp was designed to go with them - although I suppose that kind of defeats the portability aspect... Anyway, I know some excellent players who love this amp, so IME, IMO, etc. Edit: Another thread reminded me, the DI out on the TH500 is really nice. I recorded some great sounds with it. Might make a difference, or it might not.

I’d really want to try it out first, but thanks for the offer!

Very true. I'd be interested in the difference in sound with the EX112. I tried to order one before I got my current cabs, but they weren't available at the time. Cheers, thanks for confirming. Here's a clumsy analogy: If my 112's sound like a well-trained athlete, the Eden cabs sound like a big, burly bodybuilder. (You have to be one to shift them too!) I'd like to have left one of them at one of my regular rehearsal spaces, but the difference in sound just does my head in. I have gained a new appreciation for my 112's though, and at 35 lbs, I guess lugging them around is really not that bad. I'm really happy with all of this quality equipment.

Cheers! I would give that one a go, but it’s a bit of a swim from Amsterdam. 😅

Ooh, now we’re talking. I’m not at all keen on headstocks with opaque colours on them - and I was thinking of a maple neck - but that coffee-burst BB reeeeeally hits the spot... I’ll go and see if I can try one!

Cheers all! I had checked the online retailers, but most of what they offer is either too expensive, or too cheap! The Sire stuff seems like it would fit somewhere in the middle, but I’m just not fond of the way they look. The Sandberg looks like a nice riff on the old Fender design, but I’ve never played one. The BB’s seem nice too!

Hi all, I’ve been thinking about getting a five-string PJ, but I’ve not come across very many. Is there any reason for that? Budget would be less than 1000 (even better if used) and generally I’d prefer it to look like a P. Any good suggestions? Thanks! Dan

Hi all, After trying a whole bunch of different amps and never quite getting on with them, I finally managed to get my hands on another Eden WT-550. The seller didn't want to split up his items, but he did cut me a pretty good deal, so I'm now the proud owner of a rather monstrous stack consisting of a US made D15XL and a later Chinese 210XST. I have a pair of really nice high-end 112's so I'm debating whether or not to keep them. They don't sound nearly as good to my ears, but I'm really not used to this kind of setup. On their own they have their strengths I suppose, but together they don't seem to make much sense to me. Am I doing something wrong? Maybe I'm just spoiled. Anyway, here they are: Cheers!

Well, I suppose it was inevitable. After briefly owning a Glockenklang Soul II - which sounded marvellous, but didn’t work for me at all - I got my hands on this little setup. The good thing is I now remember why I liked it so much in the first place; through my fancy-schmancy 112 VDK’s it just sounds so brilliantly tactile. I love it. I have been really rather spoilt with those cabs I’m afraid, so I think the Eden cabs are probably going to go. They look mighty impressive though. Here’s hoping this amp was built to last!

Funny - that's not far off, except I hadn't heard of Ringworld before, haha. It's in reference to me likening myself to a talking monkey and my dad calling me Daneman (similar to danny boy, I suppose). Unfortunately, I recently found out the old music shops around Amsterdam are not doing at all well, (must suppress urge to rant about ice cream shops, waffle and pancake houses and criminally priced cheeses) and I now refuse to go to Bax. Horrible place. As a result there isn't a great deal of quality bass gear around to try out. The AG700 is not a bad shout, but my experience with the TH500 has severely cooled my interest in Aguilar. Not that it was a bad amp, mind. It just wasn't for me.

No - I suppose it could have been a Discworld reference - unfortunately it’s a bit of a weird one that no one will ever get that I decided on in a moment of whimsy, and one I’ve since come to regret slightly, haha... I’m interested in why you might think that, though. In the meantime I’m thinking about getting a compressor to help out a bit with the Genz Benz. Does that make sense?

Oof. If that were to pop up near enough, I’d jump right on it. Heehee, I should probably clarify; that’s a smidge above my station. It’s so easy to get carried away.

Cheers! I noticed it, but it’s a bit far away, unfortunately. 😅

Interesting, that’s quite similar to the WT-550.

Cheers guys. Those look very good indeed, although it seems availability might be an issue... (the Handbox doesn’t seem to be available at all?) The Orange seems rather tempting for the money, but I feel slightly apprehensive about the lack of a gain knob. And I know it’s really shallow, but I’m getting slightly nauseous picturing it on top of the red baffles of my cabs. 😝