nick

oh just remembered some old indie stuff, anyone remember a band called Sensless things? they had some really good bass lines in there, Bassist was Morgan Nicholls.... I do. Some years ago band I was in got a few support slots with band formed by Miles Hunt, Billy Duffy & Morgan called Vent, so got to know him a bit. Amazing bass player, & a lovely, gentle bloke...used a H/H V-S Bassmachine. He's now in Damon Albarn's Gorillaz band. Jamie Hewlett loosely modeled character Murdoc Nicalls on Morgan (he was also a Senseless Things fan).

"This Charming Man" - The Smiths "Theme for Great Cities" - Simple Minds?

As mentioned before, you can't really go wrong with; Lee Scratch Perry, King Tubby, Augustus Pablo or some of On-U-Sound (Adrian Sherwood)...There's loads of really good dub out there. I would also recommend any of the dub albums by Black Uhuru, again Sly & Robbie. I particularly like "Brutal Dub" If you fancy something a bit more 'left-field' :wacko: , give anything by Scientist (Greensleeves label) a listen! Also, UK's own Jah Wobble... Chill... Oh yeah, & a nice big 18" cab!

[quote name='Lfalex v1.1' post='23936' date='Jun 27 2007, 11:38 AM']Excellent idea... with one caveat; Do they do them in black?![/quote] I've seen them in brown, black, & I think even red! Chrome & gold even available (for the posh), as bathroom mirror screw cap covers. Most hardware stores sell them, not only B & Q. Cheers Nick

Had an active bass (Thunder 1A) years ago, but never tried it with fuzz back then - so don't really know. Nowadays, change in tastes etc.....love fuzz! You could always try building your own fuzz(?) Loads of relatively easy circuits on net, cost little to make. One here (Deluxe Bass Fuzz) with buffer for active bass using 42TM018 transformer: [url="http://www.home-wrecker.com/bazz.html"]http://www.home-wrecker.com/bazz.html[/url] More cool one's here [i]'proper fuzzes'[/i], built a few myself on veroboard: [url="http://aronnelson.com/gallery/album18"]http://aronnelson.com/gallery/album18[/url] [url="http://aronnelson.com/gallery/album17"]http://aronnelson.com/gallery/album17[/url] I first built Jen FZ-III after selling the one I paid £5 for, on Ebay for £80! Loved the sound, but at the time needed the cash. Why not have a go? Something to do on a rainy Sunday afternoon!

Maya Rickenfaker was starting to p*ss me off: Had a problem with springs on bridge pickup mounting screws, in that pickup itself kept coming loose due to lack of tension, probably down to removal of pickup cover. After searching garage for whatever I had, found screw cap covers. Modified these as spacers, which fixed the problem. This also gave me the idea of trying one as thumbrest on small pickup mounting ring screw as shown: [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9336149@N08/633038533/"]http://www.flickr.com/photos/9336149@N08/633038533/[/url] It works a treat! Just the right area for me too. It's also low enough not too obstruct a pick when using one. I no longer have tendency to put thumb inside the hole(?!), on pickup, or keep slipping off small screw head, etc - Sorted! Conversely, I never seem to have this problem when playing P-Bass, in that my thumb seems to comfortably naturally float most of the time mid-air, when not on E string(?) May look a bit naff, but makes playing bass a lot easier at the cost of only pennies! Top-tip or bonkers?!

[quote name='Oxblood' post='23004' date='Jun 25 2007, 02:37 PM']So your dad's a Radio Ham of some vintage, eh? Well blow me down! What's his call-sign? Next time you see him, ask if he ever got any QSL cards back in the 50s and 60s from a fellow ham called Ron Cumberlidge (call-sign G3CK): That was my dad. This picture was taken when he was in the Signals Corps during WW2. If your dad is still active on the air today, he might also have come across my brother Steve (call-sign G7BBF). [b][i]RADIO AMATEURS - THE ORIGINAL WORLD-WIDE WEB ![/i][/b] Anyhow.. back to the amp: If the speaker lead looks fit for its purpose, I'd leave it alone. After all, it only has to transfer 17 Watts. Only replace it if it looks in any way perished, or appears to have been bodged by someone who didn't know what they were doing, Your dad will know when he looks at it. Same goes for the mains cable. If it just enters the chassis directly through a rubber grommet and has adequate strain relief inside the chassis, you've no problems. If it plugs into the amp via one of those old round 3-pin Bulgin plugs, you should replace it with a modern IEC ("kettle plug") mains connector. Don't worry: this will not be regarded as vandalism of a classic! Bulgin plugs/sockets are not legal any more, on account of being fundamentally unsafe. All the best to you, Nick - and 73s to your dad.[/quote] Hi again Oxblood, My dad's call sign is G8 [b]AMP[/b], though I'm not sure which wavelength he's on these days (in both senses!) Will ask him about QSL cards, you never know. My son's just past his test too... Anyway back to the amp.. Don't think I'm going to bother changing mains/speaker lead's etc, it's not a deathtrap Bulgin, & [i]if it's not broken, don't fix it... Not sure how old it is, 70's(?) - but if it's managed all this time with what it's got, who am I to start messing with it? All the best to you mate as well, & ta for the advise & info. Here's to 17watts of pure vintage bass tone - Rock'n'Roll!!!

[quote name='Oxblood' post='22821' date='Jun 25 2007, 01:16 AM']Anyhow, the easiest way to make this amp really shake the floor will be to hook it up to a seriously efficient speaker+cab combination (hence my earlier suggestion of the Omni 10). That WEM bass cab I PM'd you about will probably be a pretty efficient creature too. If you want those lovely old Mullards tested, you know where to send them. I bet you they've still got plenty of life left in them yet. Re. the hum problem: you say it goes away when you touch the metalwork of the bass? That sounds pretty normal to me. The bass is picking up hum from the world around it - especially your body, which is acting like a big moist hum antenna. When you touch the metal of the bass, your body is commoned up to the chassis of the amp, so it can't act as an antenna any more. The hum pickup was there with your previous amp too, but that amp was less sensitive to it. It's more noticable with this amp because valves have a higher input impedance than solid state circuitry, and high impedance inputs are more sensitive to hum and cable noise. If it worries you, though, there's no harm in having the amp's earth continuity checked. Better safe than sorry.[/quote] Thanks again Oxblood. Not too worried now about the hum, adds to the 'Mojo'. My old man's a radio ham/electronics boffin from the days of valve, so he's going to give it once over before I gig it, when I next see him. He couldn't understand what I was worried about! Hopefully, through some of his contacts he may also be able to source Mullards for me too. Had a one hour anorakesque phone call yesterday extolling the virtues of Mullards, Brimars, Svetlanas.....etc! Going to think about cab. Quite fancied an "18, but due to the size will probably go for 2x12 or 1x15 -has to fit in boot of a car. Like a quite a lot of bottom end, would I still get that with 12" speakers(?) Do you think it's a good idea to replace attached speaker lead & mains cable, or should I keep it original? Not doing any harm as it is I suppose(?) I would be grateful to hear your learned opinion. Cheers

[quote name='obbm' post='22782' date='Jun 24 2007, 10:19 PM']Nice bit of history. Those output valves look like EL84s not EL34s. That would give the amp an output of around 15-17 watts.[/quote] If it is 15watts - it's a loud 15watts! Easily enough for rehearsal level (for my band at least). I will take the back off again & recheck valves, just out of interest - got to work out why it is humming anyway! Thanks Nick

Finally got my amp. Some photos (not the best I'm afraid) here: [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9336149@N08/614729274/"]http://www.flickr.com/photos/9336149@N08/614729274/[/url] [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9336149@N08/614729326/"]http://www.flickr.com/photos/9336149@N08/614729326/[/url] [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9336149@N08/614729780/"]http://www.flickr.com/photos/9336149@N08/614729780/[/url] [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9336149@N08/614729610/"]http://www.flickr.com/photos/9336149@N08/614729610/[/url] Cosmetically, it's not as bad as I expected. Just really needs a good clean, some sticky residue on front fascia, scuffed corners,..but nothing too major. I haven't yet got a cab, but I wired it up to 15" inside my Trace Elliot 150w combo to test. Crikey, it seems incredibly loud! Lovely warm growl to it, just the sound I've been after, & trying to get with various driver pedals. The bass & treble controls on both channels do actually alter sound quite a bit - variety of different tones possible, from 'dubby' to 'clanky'. However treble boost switch doesn't actually seem to do anything, at least to my ears - no problem. Valves inside are old (dusty) Mullards: 2 x EL34's & 3 x ECC83'S Only thing...is that it has some kind of earth problem. Whereby, hum goes when bridge or anything else earthed on guitar is touched, etc...(?) Also, mains lead & speaker cable are fixed. Was considering putting IEC connector & jack socket on back, along with corner protectors. Though on the other hand; I quite like keeping things original, especially if it is a rarity - not sure yet(?) Thanks Oxblood for all the info - you're a star! Very happy with this find. ^_^

Probably a bit late for reply, but I take my basses to Frank Aust in St. George (960 3589) for anything that needs doing. Nice bloke, reasonable price & a [b]top job[/b]. No waiting for ages , makes an excellent cup of tea... Forgot to say, he also does Hugh Cornwall's lovely black tele - which is good enough for me....

I like Tortex .60mm (orange ones). Used .73 yellow before, but I prefer the tone from lighter orange picks. I think it's great discussing & comparing picks - isn't this what forums are all about?!

I had one of these, then sold it. Couldn't really get on with shortscale neck, nice retro sound. & (to me) very cool looking.

[quote name='bassaussie' post='13995' date='Jun 8 2007, 07:57 AM']I owned one a few years back. I thought it was rubbish. Crap sound, to say the least. If you want to try a short scale bass, have a look round for a Cort Action Jr. I tried one last weekend, and thought it was quite good.[/quote] My first bass was a nice black 70's Musicmaster, at the time I thought it was crap; playability & soundwise. I traded it for a Westone Thunder 1A. Like a lot of people, was heavily into slapping (with a dodgy mullet) in the early eighties. Everyone back then seemed to want to be Mark King. Westone got nicked shortly afterwards... Now as my tastes & style have changed, wish I still had the Musicmaster (along with the Westone!). In hindsight, a cracking little bass, really punchy & now quite cool looking. Worth buying, if you can find one at reasonable price, & get on with shortscale basses. Didn't Tina Weymouth (Talking Heads) use one?

[quote name='Oxblood' post='19682' date='Jun 18 2007, 03:36 PM'][i][b]FOUR[/b][/i] EL34s? That's 100 Watts, mate. Doesn't sound like it's a Dominator (I'm pretty sure they never did a 100Watt valve one), but you never know. You could be on a winner, here.[/quote] Apologies, it only has [b]two[/b] EL34's. Guess in all my excitement...... Sorry about that, feel a bit of a dick now!

[quote name='Oxblood' post='19558' date='Jun 18 2007, 12:27 PM']This is exciting! If it's got a couple of EL34s in it, then it's the 50 Watt version and will kick a reasonable bit of ass. Otherwise, you may have just bagged yourself the world's nicest practice amp. Deep retro cred, though, whatever it is.[/quote] According to description it had (I think) 4 x EL34's, & 3 x ECC83's - or that could be the other way round! Should get it before end of the week, will let you know. Can't wait, make a nice change from my Trace. Just hope it's going to be loud enough for rehearsal. Thanks again for the info Oxblood, much appreciated Nick

[quote name='Oxblood' post='19374' date='Jun 17 2007, 11:09 PM']Oh cripes, I've become an expert! Anyhoo, here's what I know, FWIW. If it's definitely a Dominator Mk 1, you're looking at (now don't die of shock) a stonking FIFTEEN WATTS of earth-shaking bass!! However, there were many models of the Dominator, so who knows, maybe it isn't a Mk 1. I think the most powerful valve version was 50 Watts. They did a 100 Watt solid state one as well. Can you post some pics showing the insides? I love a good bit of valve porn. [/quote] Many thanks for the info Oxblood, much appreciated. Was advertised as MK1 on Ebay. I'll have to see if 15w will be loud enough! Having said that, I'm not in a heavy metal band, or anything similar, & AC30's are considerably louder than what you'd expect for a 30w amp. Guess I will find out. Paid £66 for it, which seems cheap to me(?), condition described as not perfect cosmetically, but working OK. Will post some photos of guts, as soon as I receive it. Now all I've got to find is a suitable cab, was thinking of 1x15, or something that will fit in a car boot. Cheers Nick

[quote name='Hamster' post='19338' date='Jun 17 2007, 10:06 PM']No personal knowledge, but a buddy of mine had one and quite liked it. He used this shop [url="http://www.amps-n-bits.com/"]http://www.amps-n-bits.com/[/url] for spares/repairs and advice. Hamster[/quote] Thanks for the link Nick

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='19308' date='Jun 17 2007, 09:16 PM']Well [i]that[/i] didn't last long! Pulled within an hour of being identified here ... I'm sure the ricky Police are monitoring this thread. [/quote] Think you're right. Ever felt like you're being watched? Even though this is probably my favourite topic on this site. Starting to think that any ebay posting, is more than likely helping the Ricken-Gestapo acheive their aim in ridding the World (or at least ebay)of these evil nasty counterfeit instruments! Having said that, above seller didn't help themselves by referring to Rickenb*cker in item description. Final thought; didn't Bruce Foxton use an Ibanez copy? Don't suppose it harmed the sales of 4001 in the UK? I'll probably receive a 'blitzkreig' after this post!

[quote name='markytbass' post='19265' date='Jun 17 2007, 08:13 PM']Ive been listening to a fair bit of SKA Tony Tribe, Harry J & the All Stars. Also been listening to some big band jazz The National Youth Orchestra doing some old 60s/70s film sound tracks, Lalo Schifrin etc.[/quote] Good call - Lalo Schifrinn. Some killer bass lines on 'Dirty Harry' soundtrack. Wish I knew who the bass player was(?)

Hello All, Just purchased a Dominator MK1 bass amp top off ebay. Don't really know anything about these amps, so it's a bit of a gamble! I love valve sound, & fancied a change from my usual Trace. Does anybody know anything about this amp, or had any experience of it? Would be grateful for any info at all. Hope I haven't bought a lemon Many thanks

May be of interest to somebody who likes to 'tinker'! [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rickenbacker-bass-guitar-project_W0QQitemZ140129890043QQihZ004QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rickenbacker-bass-gu...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url]

ESG - Deborah Scroggins They were years ahead of their time, underrated & quite influential on lot of dance & post-punk music.

[quote name='elom' post='14870' date='Jun 10 2007, 12:28 AM']Cool name and nice web site. Best of luck with your first gig.[/quote] Many thanks Elom, much appreciated.

[quote name='jihemt' post='14585' date='Jun 9 2007, 12:43 PM']hi all.. talking about this selling, i tried to bid on it and did'nt got the auction at the end. end price is quite high and there's a big problem with the seller. i asked him few times some détails and never received any answer. now that auction is over, i received a second chance offer which came from UK (!!!), and he ask to pay via Western Union ! of course, its a true swindling. i just wonder from where come the problem : the seller or another person who picked my email...[/quote] I sent the seller two emails regarding possibility of local collection & questioning neck/action/playability, in French. Didn't receive a reply. To be honest, I wouldn't bother - can't be bothered with hassle. If I had have won it & seller wasn't prepared to let me inspect it in person & collect it personally, could end up as a headache. I think this was accurately summed up in an earlier post - 'bargepole...'