BassManGraham

As Spike once said "it's a sign" 

12 hours ago, hooky_lowdown said:

The other way round.

Yes I was curious about all but I had to start somewhere the PBXN is now on the way. The Geezer sounds interesting, Many thanks for your tips which I will try! 

12 hours ago, TheGhostofJaco said:

I thought he ordered them and then was curious about our opinions on others?

Yes you are quite right. I have ordered the PXBN to give it a try, before possibly venturing into more costly options. I will give feedback when I've fitted it., so I can't say that I definitively prefer it at this stage. But at £30 Inc postage to Ireland, it was worth a punt as a first option. Hoping it does the job.

I am sure the other suggestions are great too, including the mods suggested which I will also experiment with.

Finding the perfect pickup is like searching for The Holy Grail, which probably means something different to everyone.

Choices choices! So many pickups, so little time! This forum is such a helpful source of wisdom and education, even for an old fart like me, who likes to think he knows it all! 

Being as this is a fun/low budget project I have just ordered an Entwistle PBXN, to give it a try, which at £27 is marginally less than the bass, and a fraction of the big brand names. I am also a big fan of the late great OX, which I do realise is purely coincidental. 

I was going to go Seymour Duncan, 1/4 pounder, but had a very poor experience with a 3 coil alnico MM retrofit that never worked properly, and I haven't forgiven them yet!

In fuller time I will in investigate the wonderful array of all the fine Basschatters suggestions. The various Fenders, particularly the Custom shop 62s,EMG Geezers, Dimarzio etc.

Many thanks to all your valued and appreciated contributions.

11 hours ago, gjones said:

All these P bass pickups sound pretty good and pretty similar. You could buy a whole Harley Benton P bass for the price of a custom shop P bass pickup.

The point being, there's not much difference in the sound of P bass pickups. So don't spend silly money.

 

That's a great video, thanks for sharing.

I owned a Marcus Miller P7, but traded it in for an M7, which sounded far nicer IMHO. Love Sandbergs but to be honest blind sound tests always leave me rather confounded.

I have a few Fender Jazzes, but after listening to this my bass brand snobbery has been shaken. Should I sell my collection and buy a Harley and ride off into the sunset?  

Thanks for all your feedback, very much appreciated.

I should have said the bass only cost me £30! The body has a few dings, pickguard was damaged with a loose/wobbly jack socket , tone control not working, knob missing for volume control, with a very high action. 

This is a fun project, but I want to create a gig worthy bass. I have an SX jazz which I upgraded and players are initially convinced that it's an American Fender. SX make some cracking basses.

Sound:I always use round wound steels and tend towards mid scoop, with a tight punchy thump I like bass to cut thru mix and to avoid too much low end boom and low mid mud etc. .So Chris (Ezbass) seems to be on the money.

To date I have fitted a new loaded pickguard.( but kept SX pick-up). New Fender Hi Mass Bridge, and Fender chrome knobs . I have shimmed neck and adjusted truss rod to get a fairly low action which I prefer. So I have spent about £50 and a bit of time so far. So for about £80 it I think it compares well with a Squier or Mex Fender. I am happy to spend say £75 on a decent pickup  but I would go to as much as £120. Which would get me a very decent P bass for between £125 to £200.

Footnote: I have always favoured Jazz basses, but have recently rekindled my interest in P basses. In my early days of playing I bought a new bottle green 70s Precision new, but I sold it  on mainly due to preferring slimmer necks of Ricky's and Jazzes etc. The bridge was also poor and grub screws kept falling out of saddles. Probably be worth a fair bit now though! Hey Ho!

Hi All, I have recently acquired an old SX Precision style bass for a song that needs some serious TLC. Looking for a decent probably noiseless split coil retrofit pickup.  The on board pickup is not bad, but seems a bit too honky for my taste.  I like a fairly tight, punchy sound with a bit of thump. Welcome advice please.  

Still AVAILABLE???

Thanks Pete,  I am thinking the same, best stick to 8 ohm speaker to play it safe.

Here are pics. Have removed from combo case and built cabinet. Saves weight and the ten inch integral speaker falls far short of my Vanderkley and Barefaced Cabs.

That's right, there is only one jack output which was originally connected to internal speaker so to use an alternative speaker one had to unplug the internal speaker, so using an extension speaker was not facilitied.

Have run for a little while at 4 ohms, and it sounds huge, but not sure if it safe to do so for a 2-3 hour gig, without over heating and overloading power amp section?

Hi Fellow Basschatters, I have just acquired a BLX 80 Combo. I plan to remove amp to use separately and save my back, plus not overly impressed with integral 10" speaker.Howver It sounds massive thru my Barefaced or Vanderkley cabs.

Stupid question, I cannot find specs or manual on power amp section. The single speaker output jack says 8 ohm, I am assuming this relates to the internal speaker and not minimum load. I would like confirmation that I can run this amp safely into 4 ohm load. Most Trace Elliot amps state minimum 4 ohm load, but this doesn't. 

Are there any Trace Elliot aficionados out there who can advise? 

Its mine! Trace GASes in later life are dangerous thing! Can't wait to give it a blast!

PM Sent 

Nice bass for a very reasonable price. GLWS

19 hours ago, solo4652 said:

£173 for BQ500 from Bax.

 

https://www.bax-shop.co.uk/bass-guitar-amp-head/tc-electronic-thrust-bq500-bass-guitar-amplifier-head

That is a crazy price, I thought I paid rock bottom price of €205, but Bax are around €190. Wonder if it is 1st or 2nd production batch and if the reversed passive/active switch has been resolved. Thomann have just dispatched my replacement. Either way it's a good little amp with compressor for around the price of a decent compressor pedal!

50 minutes ago, Bigwan said:

Series and parallel. These cabs can be 4 or 8 ohm loads each. Run each cab at 4 ohms, a pair in series then parallel with the other pair in series. 4 ohm load total.

Switchable impedance is brilliant, shame all cabs don't have this.

These HD112 cabs don't seem to be available any longer?

Eden EX112, 300 Watt, Compact, punchy, solid and portable great value, great sound.Ferrite magnets, Not lightweight neodynium. Only minor niggle is their single jack input.

Great cab, probably best I've ever owned. I use it far more than other rigs including PJB, Eden, Markbass and even Vanderkley which I really love too. The Barefaced Super 12T wins due to its portability, power and sound! Would buy this one  but really don't need two of these even at festival gigs. GLWS

That is utter sacrilege. These hectics should be taken straight to the village ducking stool! The Aria SB is such an iconic design! Just proves there's no accounting for taste or complete lack thereof 

I have a Gen 2 Super Twelve  (2 x12 with tweeter), forerunner to the Gen 3 Super Twin. Bought on this forum, and used in many gigs since from clubs to theatres and festivals. Delighted with it never let me down, plenty of power and punch. Has been great with a variety of heads. I tried out the SuperTwin in the Barefaced workshop great sound and I would have bought it had the Super Twelve not appeared on here at a great price.

14 hours ago, mikhay77 said:

Did the bass sell??

Yes indeed it did!

3 hours ago, AndyTravis said:

Cort GB 74 I think

Not sure it's a GB74? I think the 74s had two switches an active switch and a coil tap switch for the MM pick-up. I have a GB94 with a spalted top, but otherwise the controls are similar. Definitely a G series though.  

15 hours ago, gazzatriumph said:

Real Electronics in Sheffield deal with warranty issues for TC maybe you could send there rather than back to Thomann. http://www.realelectronics.co.uk/

Thanks, but I am based in Ireland. Thomann have offered to pay return postage and send me a new replacement. Can't say fairer than that.

I have used real electronics for a fault on an out of warranty Markbass cab crossover, they were excellent..

On 12/12/2018 at 08:36, Woodinblack said:

Sounds a bit like someone with one should ask TC what is going on with it!

TC Support have apologised and confirmed that due to a manufacturing error the active/passive switch is the wrong way round on the first batch of amps. This fault has now been rectified for future production. They are looking into remedial action for their first production batch. TBH I was sure that is what it was. It is a bit irritating but not a major issue. But being a bit OCD so am pondering wnether or not I should return it to Thomann.

I have giggled the amp now and it is a nice punchy sound with a very hot and clean DI out.

13 minutes ago, FinnDave said:

And then there were two!

Hi Dave, yes loved it so much had to have another, sadly your Epic is still in UK until I can get ferry over in the New Year!