Paul S

I've got one and I love it. Plays like a dream - beautiful slim neck. Passive there are a huge range of sounds as you can have the pups singly or together in series or parallel. Have to be honest and say I'm not sure exactly what this means but the sound is very different - the blurb says Jazz bass /P-bass sounds? Switching on the active circuit gives a huge boost - it isn't very complicated - just the on/off swicth then two rollers to add bass or treble but is really adds some oomph to the sound. This is controlled by the 'master' tone control, too, so you really can get enormous variation. I've found active/passive are difficult to switch between in real time due to the change in output - probably best to find one you are happy with a leave it be rather than keep fiddling with settings. But, it is available so you can if you want. I tend to keep it active and switch from series to parallel for a change in tone, together with assorted knob twiddling. Small glitch with mine is that there is a soft but annoying buzz when you switch on the active circuit that disappears when you touch anything metal on the guitar - I've just taken it in today for it's 'warranty service' so hope it will be history when I get it back. Looks are always subjective but I think it is cool as anything - that retro styling really hits the button for me and, with 'similar' build quality and playability, is what swung it for me over a MIA Jazz when it came to handing over my credit card. Mine is black and I've just got a replacement 3-ply gloss black/white/black scratchplate through the post today - no bass to put it on yet but I reckon it will look even cooler.

Might be worth asking on here [url="http://www.shergold.co.uk/forum/"]Shergold Forum[/url] There are some pretty avid collectors on there. The condition is the main issue but ball park I'd reckon £250 for one with the usual Shergold laquer problems to £450 with a good but original finish.

I missed out mine - A fender Jaguar! I should add I have never even seen a MM Sterling in the flesh but was chatting with Rowbee about them.

No pics from Beerdragon?

Having discovered the joys of skinny Jazz necks I like the sound of the MM Sterling - gonna give one of those a try as soon as I see one.

Somewhere on here in the archives is the advice that you should go and get a lesson, using the bass they have got, before actually shelling out your hard earned on an intrument of your own. One lesson should tell you whether you'd get on with it on not. Struck me as very sensible and is exactly what I would do if the day came I fancied trying an upright.

When I was trying out stuff in PMT in Southend mid December they wheeled out an Ashdown combo that they were calling a MAG115 EVO III 300. It was an advance tester for a new range - or some other such thing - styled in the same vein as the ABM range with vinyl covering (ie not carpet), chrome corners, cream piping round the front grille. But the main thing was that it was lightweight and smaller compared to the EVOII - it had a handle in the centre of the top, rather than side handles. I think it was around £330 though. It was nice but, in the end, I preferred the sound of the 210.

You didn't see me spit in it then? Thank you sir!

Had the pleasure of doing business with Rob today - after he patiently weathered by barrage of pestering PMs and a last minute wavering between two of the items he was selling. A gentleman. And I am now the proud owner of an Ashdown ABM 210T cab that is a darn site nicer that he made it out to be. I am a happy chap - thanks Rob.

The guy on this Gary Moore set does here - is he famous? (and I don't mean the fat git in the flashy coat) Wow! i got the embedded sceeeny thing to work!

[quote name='Dr.Dave' post='373020' date='Jan 7 2009, 01:10 PM']I can't see this thread even as a debate. You use whatever technique you're comfortable with to make the sound you want to make - the more techniques the merrier.[/quote] I think that is my view on it, though I am at a bit of a disadvantage. Having migrated from guitar to bass I use a pick for most stuff but, increasingly, trying to use my fingers for the more mellow stuff. Also been practising for some of the funky stuff that seems to want finger not pick but struggling to get an accurate speed going. For example, I can play this with a pick but no way with just fingers - Edit - still not got the hang of embedding links either! [url="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=dxaczoeNtgE&feature=related"]I shoulda loved ya[/url] does this just take time and practise, same as everything else?

What a totally fantastic getsure and great idea. I would love to join the party and will send a PM as soon as I have finished typing this. Next question - what sticker? All we need is someone to do the same with a fretless .....

+1 Mentioned it on here somewhere but I saw them during the Live and Dangerous tour - totally awesome. The most charismatic front man I have EVER seen. Frist time I saw a laser as well, wrote the words 'Thin Lizzy' in mid air then spun it round. Real Star Wars effects in those days! No slouch with the bass, either. 'Anyone out here tonight got any Irish in them? Any of the girls want a bit more Irish in them?' (from memory, maybe not word perfect...)

From one Essex boy to another - PMT Music in Southend stock a Stagg-a-like called EastCoast or something - it was under £200 when I last looked! And in a range of colours. Of course, if you don't like Staggs, you won't like this, but at least it is £100-odd cheaper.

As a relative newcomer to the exciting world of bass guitars, the advice that was given to me was 'play the guitars and let your hands, ears and heart make the decision' Forget everything else. Is it worth the money? If, for you, it feels like everything you wanted in a bass, then - yes it is. Every single penny. Nothing else is really important. It is only money, after all, and you will easily get more of that eventually. Pass on the old Ray and you'll always dwell on it as a lost opportunity. If eventually it doesn't work out then, well, at least you had a go. Sell it, save up some more dosh, then get another one. But it may just be your life partner here! If you don't get it you will never know! There's nothing worse than regret over a missed chance 'cos there's no-one to blame but yourself!

I am learning the bassline in Narada Michael Walden's 'I Shoulda Loved Ya'. Just because I like it.

So it is. Oops. Ta.

Roger Glover has to be up there for me - he has such a marvellously intellectual side to his playing as well as the 'direct for the bollocks' stuff. Uriah Heep's original, the late Gary Thain, also?

Thanks everyone - the usual sound advice. Literally, it seems. I'll pester those good folk in PMT in the new year and come back with my thoughts. If not a new cab. I also emailed Ashdown and I'll see what their reply is regarding the 'official' position of mixing the ranges. In my ignorance my main concern was that the amp wouldn't be powerful enough to drive the bigger ABM cab but it seems this isn't an issue. Chris b you make a very good point I hadn't considered at all but, yes, it would be a first step towards and upgrade, if ever the day came for one of those! Thanks all. Great here, innit!

I have an Ashdown MAG 210T 300 EVO II combo and, at some point, would like to add an extension cab. As I am not much of a risk taker it seems sensible to me to get an Ashdown cab to ensure compatability - I intend to get myself down to PMT in Southend to try the MAG 115 and MAG 210 and see which I prefer. As someone pointed out in one of my previous, seemingly endless posts about cabs, it is most likely I would prefer the sound of the 210 cab as I chose that in the first place but, I guess, my ears will judge it. However, to finally get the the point, occasionally - and currently in the for sale forum - the ABM series cabs turn up secondhand for about the same cash, maybe a little more, than a new MAG cab would be. These are rated at 350W, I think, which is a good deal higher than I need - would my combo drive it sufficiently? Are there any other differences - better build quality etc? Are there any advantages/disadvantages in getting an ABM cab as opposed to a MAG cab? There is a value for money/peice of mind pay off perhaps. Any thoughts and wisdom gratefully accepted!

Ah, I see - thanks. Basschat Wiki - didn't know that existed - looks like something to lose an hour or so browsing through. Can't see a link to it anywhere, or am I going blind?

My daily idiot question - can someone please explain what this 'biamp' thing is, please? In words of one syllable or less, and from the beginning. Ta.