warwickhunt

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1397936785' post='2428879'] I'm sure the same discussion has been held every decade. Things are never 'what they used to be' and it really all depends on how well you are able to ride those changes should you decide to try to. [/quote] I'm in my 4th decade of being a paid gigging musician (part-time) and I can't ever recall the gig scene to be as disheartening as it is at present; pubs have taken a nose-dive in punter attendances and I have to agree that by and large there are more instances of idiots around at gigs (generally not there for the music).

Wise words from all but I'll keep a little acoustic band going to keep my hand in (1 gig every other month but only those we WANT to do), it does raise the dilemma of equipment as it has taken me a long time to settle on the gear that I have (amp/cab) but I reached the decision today that I'll move the hardware on but keep most of my basses... IF I decide to get back into it I can always look back on BC for used quality gear! I do think that the music scene has changed and unless you have a very strong USP or a long established fan base then even a good covers band doesn't get the recognition and support that it used to get some years ago.

I've never picked up an EB/MM bass that didn't feel well put together. I've known various manufacturers where the tolerances or general fit and finish was just far too inconsistent from bass to bass... and that is taking into account that if you produce a 1000 basses as opposed to 100,000 basses you will have a higher ratio of 'potential' for a bass not to be perfect.

I reached the decision a month or so back that I didn't have time to play live with my various bands/deps and took the decision to resign/stand down from my band; it has taken about that length of time to completely untangle my reasons. The main one was always that work (day job) commitments had increased such that I didn't have the time/energy/effort/emotion to put my all into the band. However, I also now realise that the local/pub music scene, which I have been part of for close on 35 years has changed in the last 5-10 years and there just isn't the desire for folks to get out and support local music scenes; this has probably had as much of a 'subliminal' impact on me and my taking the decision... or is it just that I have (dare I say it), 'grown up'? Any other seasoned players (or possibly new players) finding the same?

Yes it's the cheaper one in the Hamer range. Not sure I can help you price that one as I've tended to look at the top end ones, though there are a couple of 12 string players/owners on here who can likely help.

I'm assuming it is this model... http://www.12stringbass.net/master.htm?http://www.12stringbass.net/b12l.htm

Another 'P' [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/warwickhunt/media/DSC05678.jpg.html][IMG]http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g119/warwickhunt/DSC05678.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1397598745' post='2425622'] from business sellers it will be once the new EU distance selling legislation kicks in... [/quote] As and when/if... but I bet if it doesn't sit well with their needs, there'll be loop holes!

[quote name='Evil Undead' timestamp='1397591321' post='2425523'] ...they should pay return postage. [/quote] Not the way that ebay works unfortunately!

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1397589586' post='2425509'] I think EU voltage is the same all across. [/quote] It is, I played in Holland and Germany with my UK rated amp and no problems at all. There is a slight variation between countries but amps have a built in tolerance for what we call 240v... obviously that doesn't extent to USA 110v. [size=4] [/size]

I've owned Metro and NYC basses and aside from the beautiful figured wood on the NYC, I'm not 100% sure that I would order a 'new' one over a new Metro! I'd most certainly take a used NYC over a used Metro... probably! [size=4] [/size] [size=4]Sorry if that doesn't help. One thing is that the NYC was the lightest Jazz [/size]derivative[size=4] bass that I have ever experienced (almost to the point it was too light and the headstock 'might' just have been dipping when on certain straps) but the Metro basses weren't boat anchors by any means. [/size]

IMHO if your 350w isn't enough to be heard over the band then 'everyone' is likely playing too loud, which in turn means that if you want to continue playing at those volumes then you may need to look at upgrading your PA so that it can handle the job of amplifying the band and your combo can go back to its job of being a monitor for the bass. Just an outsiders view of the 'likely' issues.

Parker P38 owner and former owner of a Parker Fly bass... the guitar is way better than the bass yet the guitar cost about 1/10th of the bass! LOL The guitar is light, resonant and just simply a joy to play. The bass was a fine instrument but the proportions just weren't right in my mind (the neck was one of the skinniest).

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1396908074' post='2418742'] theres a balanced DI output there as well I spy. what more would you have on a preamp? I don't think the hellborg has more does it? [/quote] Doh! Thought it was an 'amp' as opposed to a pre! [size=4] [/size]

Has it really only got a 1/4" output connection?

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1396878606' post='2418251'] I also wouldn't be at all surprised if the Czech -made Spectors sounded almost identical to the USA -made basses. [/quote] Having owned several Euro models (Mk I & II versions) and a full blown USA NS2, there isn't a massive amount in it... if anything! Common sense will dictate that if both are made by the same process, using the same woods/hardware etc then the actual country the work is done in can have no affect on the tone. Differences in preamp can account for some variation... though they can easily be swapped out and 'hand-finishing' by a luthier as opposed to a factory worker might make for a better finished instrument but I'd not be staking my mortgage payments in a blind-fold test! [size=4] [/size]

[quote name='paul j h' timestamp='1396878421' post='2418248'] Is that right though 500 watts is only twice as loud as 50? [/quote] In pure mathematical terms, yes; you need to x10 to get x2 volume. However, in real terms it will sound way louder than twice your existing 50w. The other thing to take into consideration is speaker numbers and their sensitivity.

I'd not worry at all; you can get as good a sound at house volume as you can cranked. TBH you are better off having all of that extra headroom in case you get to a situation where you are playing with a loud drummer and you have no PA support.

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1396708696' post='2416644'] Never played a Warwick I liked, Never played a Spector I did't like. [/quote] Having owned multiples of both manufacturers, I feel the exact opposite... we can't both be right! Oh I forgot of course we can as it is only 'opinion'!