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Beer of the Bass

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Everything posted by Beer of the Bass

  1. Beer of the Bass
    That does look nice. I'm a big fan of natural finished ash and maple together!
  2. Beer of the Bass
    [quote name='randythoades' timestamp='1386954200' post='2306808'] That is a good point. I have checked and it isn't lined. What would I use to line it? Just the thin wadding that you would use for upholstery and hobbies? My wife has probably got a load of that and a staple gun! Might give this a go over the Christmas break. Can't hurt anyway, it is defnitiely not a top of the line cab but I like the look. [/quote] That's the stuff, but ideally quite thick. Still, If you've got loads of thinner stuff you could use multiple layers.
  3. Beer of the Bass
    I'm having a clearout of some bits and pieces I don't think I'll use. I have an unused Thomastik Dominant A string, still with its envelope. This has been stored for a few years but never installed. These are a synthetic core string which make a good hybrid string for arco work and jazz pizz. It would be worth reading up on Dominants on Talkbass, as they have a reputation for being fragile if not installed in a specific way. They do sound great though! This single string might be useful in a mixed set, or just to knock a few pounds off the price when buying the rest of a set new. £20 posted in the UK. [b] NOW SOLD. [/b] I also have three Thomastik Superflexible strings, the E,A and G. The D-string is missing. These are a steel core string and quite high tension, bright and growly though slightly mellower than Spirocores. These have been used for around six months, albeit during a period when I was playing a lot. The bass I had them installed on had a short tailpiece, so I had to cut the silks back slightly at the scroll end to avoid them fouling the nut. Consequently you can see some uneven (but not broken) windings for the first inch or so at this end on the E and A, but this section will be behind the nut on almost all basses. I have tried to photograph this as clearly as I can. Because of this, I've priced them very cheaply. You can buy a new D string easily enough to complete the set. £15 posted in the UK. [b]STILL AVAILABLE[/b]
  4. Beer of the Bass
    I won't be gigging them until tomorrow, but here are my initial impressions of the Status Half Wounds. They are just a touch less smooth feeling than flats, but they seem well made. They feel a little more flexible than a 45-130 set of Dunlop nickel roundwounds, and quite a bit more flexible than a set of Chromes in the same gauge. The sound does indeed have some elements of rounds and flats - the top strings have a touch more zing than the bottom strings, but the transition is quite gradual from string to string - no sudden jumps in brightness. They have that a bit of that punchy, flatwound-ish envelope that I like, but not too thumpy. So far I'm enjoying them. Edit; After another half an hours playing this evening, I'm wondering if the E and B are in fact too thumpy for my needs. I'll have to try them with the band before I can be sure. I really want to like these strings, since it took Status ages to get them back in stock!
  5. Beer of the Bass
    Just a though, but if the VS112 is muddy in the mids have you looked to see if the cab is lined with wadding? This is a corner that's often cut on cheaper cabs, and reportedly it does make a difference to the clarity in the mids. It would also be cheap-as-chips to try lining the cab...
  6. Beer of the Bass
    I suspect the infamous "Unleash the fookin' fury" tape didn't help his PR either!
  7. Beer of the Bass
    [quote name='stevie' timestamp='1386795333' post='2304775'] Just what it says. [/quote] You've been quite critical of BFMs older designs at times, so the statement "up to his usual standards" coming from you looks like a barely disguised dig. If you [i]do [/i]have reservations about the designs, it might be more useful to bring them up for discussion than to leave veiled remarks. Of course, I could be reading too much into your comment but either way, some clarification wouldn't be a bad idea.
  8. Beer of the Bass
    [quote name='stevie' timestamp='1386692485' post='2303155'] I see that these are up to his usual standard. [/quote] Dare I ask?
  9. Beer of the Bass
    I'm not sure, but is that seller Henry Norton on here? He was certainly working on some Bi-Sonic type pickups, and using the name NuSonic.
  10. Beer of the Bass
    I'm around and not very busy between Christmas and Hogmanay, so I'm sure we could arrange some sort of handover before McNach's gig on the 30th, mine on the 3rd, then onwards...
  11. Beer of the Bass
    [quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1386671806' post='2302787'] Wow... I'm usually a custom man but that looks fantastic... [/quote] Yes, I'm not usually a fan of Wals in the cosmetic sense (though I can think of at least half a dozen players who sound great with them) but this green one I am rather covetous of...
  12. Beer of the Bass
    I had one of the EY80EH archtops in the late 90's. The guitar itself was OK for the price and sounded quite good, but the humbucker was kind of dull and unexciting. Certainly, it was a night and day difference when I got hold of a used Seymour Duncan Jazz humbucker and swapped it over.
  13. Beer of the Bass
    Thuya burr does get used as a top wood on some "coffee table" basses. I'm sure I've seen it used by Sei...
  14. Beer of the Bass
    I'm in Edinburgh but I'm not gigging with Jen and the Gents until the 3rd of January. If that fits then I'd be up for it.
  15. Beer of the Bass
    I've always rather fancied one, but fortunately I don't have to go through the same thought process as the OP as I can't afford one anyway! Although at some point if I have space to do woodworking, I like the idea of building a Ric-style five string, copying the bits I like and leaving the rest out...
  16. Beer of the Bass
    A few years ago I had one of the early MAG combos, the 1x12" tiltback version. Being a small un-ported box, the deep switch helped to counter the lean bass response of the cab, so I used to use it all the time. This turned out to be a problem, as the DI out was post EQ, and I didn't realise I was sending something to the FOH which sounded like a dub record, when the sound I actually wanted was much more neutral. I did this for ages until I heard recordings straight from the board from a couple of gigs and realised what was going on...
  17. Beer of the Bass
    [quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1386442997' post='2300262'] I have had the thought more than once that there would be money to be made from a Peace Camp-themed holiday park , where disgruntled liberals of various persuasions could go ( for a fee, of course) for a week or two to get whatever injustices are currently making their blood boil off their chests. The evening entertainment put on by the staff of the camp would be like a period-correct benefit concert, with out-of -work actors playing the part of Paul Weller , UB40 and Bronski Beat. Instead of bringing spending money , holidaymakers would be given a Giro when they arrived at the beggining of the week that they could cash at a fake post office, and then they would have to make that money last the whole two weeks of the holiday. We would then sell them lentils and Findus Crispy Pancakes at exhorbitant prices. The possibilities are almost endless. [/quote] Do we get a bottle of Merrydown and a dog on a string? In that case count me in!
  18. Beer of the Bass
    [quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1386429339' post='2300016'] This one is great, she plays fantastically well for a chick. [/quote] Did you put that bit at the end just to see if anyone noticed?
  19. Beer of the Bass
    I've never broken a bass string at a gig and only once broke a guitar string. I was making noises with a beer bottle against the strings at the time (I couldn't find my slide), so that one was probably my fault.
  20. Beer of the Bass
    I'd agree that a lot of this sound is about the amplification. I'd guess that they're setting the amp quite bright but using old school cabs with no tweeter, so you end up with a big peak somewere around 2KHz before it starts rolling off, which is still bright but nothing like a "hi-fi" bass sound. Also, I remember seeing an interview with Graham Maby where he mentioned using black nylon tapewounds, not for their mellower sound but because the reduced finger noise meant he could turn the treble knob all the way up on his Fender Bassman without the string squeaks. Having tried them myself, tapewounds with a pick and heftily boosted treble does get you quite close to his sound.
  21. Beer of the Bass
    [quote name='Dr.Dave' timestamp='1386338412' post='2298984'] Given the news and given my high levels of cynicism I think anything mentioning Nelson that could be rushed out quick would shoot to No 1 this year. I expect Bono's planning it as I type , it can only be a matter of time before he does something shockingly embarrassing. [/quote] Oh dear, I think you may well be right there! That will be one to avoid listening to... Though if the Specials reformed to put something out, I could live with that.
  22. Beer of the Bass
    At least the seller's name is refreshingly honest. Would you expect good workmanship from a guy called badworker1?
  23. Beer of the Bass
    I have had reasonable results using non-matched valves (mine were two matched pairs) on a four-valve power stage. I just used one of each pair on each side to keep things roughly symmetrical, then checked the bias using a bias probe to check that none of them were exceeding 70% dissipation at idle. If you have a bias probe or a friend with one there would be no harm in going for this approach with some new 6L6s, and if the bias checks out OK you wouldn't need to do anything else. You might well get away with just sticking in new 6l6s and checking visually that non of them are red-plating, but this would be a little more risk-taking that I would go for personally. If any of them turned out to be running too hot you may need to tweak the bias supply. I would think the R9/R14 network would be the area to look at if the bias turns out to need adjusting.
  24. Beer of the Bass
    Fine, but in your first reply you also said these things: [quote name='Skybone' timestamp='1386089716' post='2295590'] Fixed bias means that the bias is fixed, and therefore won't need to be adjusted when you change the valves. In other words, you can change the valves yourself without having to take it to a Valve Amp Technician. [/quote] [quote name='Skybone' timestamp='1386089716' post='2295590'] Beacuse of this, you should also be able to use pretty much any octal base (8 pin) power valves (6L6, EL34, KT66, KT77, 6550, etc). [/quote] This gives exactly the opposite impression to the last quote about taking it to a tech. I'm a bit concerned that you have a basic misconception about the meaning of the term "fixed bias" and that you could be passing on this misconception. There is a good explanation of the different types of bias here; [url="http://www.aikenamps.com/WhatIsBiasing.htm"]http://www.aikenamps.com/WhatIsBiasing.htm[/url]
  25. Beer of the Bass
    [quote name='Skybone' timestamp='1386171911' post='2296719'] But as I understand it, and one of the reasons that I bought this particular amp in the first place (as well as it being incredibly versatile, sounding superb, and being built in the UK), was the fact that because it is a fixed bias design, it enables the end user to change the power valves themselves, without having to take the amp to a tech. This particular amp works in both Class A and Class AB(1), and can be switched between classes and valve configurations to acheive a range of tones and outputs, from family friendly single ended operation to pummeling your eardrums at gigs. But, one of the great features of this amp, is that you can use pretty much any octal valve (still have to be in matched pairs), and it'll still sound superb. And I have tried it a few times, with no detriment to the amp or the volume, through this experimentation though, I found that it sounded best with the stock EL34's. [/quote] What sort of amp are we talking about here? I still think it sounds like you're talking about a cathode-biased amp, which can be considered "self adjusting" to some extent. I wouldn't like to suggest to the OP that he could swap any octal valve into his Alphabass with impunity (without adjusting anything), as that may not be the case.
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