Wayne Firefly

One (1997) Sterling I had was definitely quatersawn whereas this one (2002) is definitely flatsawn. No idea why. Yes, its a one piece neck (with rosewood board). Of the 7 MM basses Ive owned, this is the only one that been so bad. I read an interview with Flea about 1991 or something in Bass Player when he said Musicman basses were his favourite, BUT he reckons he took about 6 Stingrays out on the road with him and wanted to stop using them 'Because the necks always warp' is the line I distinctly remember. I daresay they probably did under those conditions, hence why the Modulus (GRAPHITE !!) Flea bass has a similar layout to a Stingray but hot rodded. God I wish a Status neck was an option.....

Hmmmm I know Kubickis have very laminated necks for such a purpose apparently. Its usually stored indoors at room temperature unless its out being used. Its as you say, the unavoidable changes in temperature going from a frozen van into a sweaty / hot venue or vice versa. I think its just unstable to be honest, Ive had 7 other MM basses and all others were fine. This one HAS had a very hard life too so its not much of a suprise although its always the same. Sods law I think applies here when you find one you keep coming back to like a faithful pet, tends to get ill !! Cant just be a healthy specimen !! Ithink its going to be a replacement and Tru-oil it before fitting so seal it from moisture etc. Lucky its a bolt on in a small way, otherwise it'd just be a strictly at home bass otherwise !!

Had a look, almost every person who posted reckons they are a little rough on the quality side so without actually seeing a couple Im loath to throw that much at one.... although saying that, I have never played a Zon either !!!

Right then... I tour a lot with my favourite old stick which is a 2002 Musicman Sterling... its had a hard life and looks 'road worn' if thats the trendy term... looks hammered by my estimation !! Anyway, its not the first Sterling Ive had but its the first Musicman Ive had where the neck moves and it moves A LOT. Hot gigs, strings rattle around the frets, colder gigs, the action is nice and high... Now, I know all the usual bumph about moisture, temperature, how wood and necks move etc but this needs resetting around every 3 gigs or so... Its gotten to the point when I spoke to the MM rep at a local music shop he recommended I get another (new) neck, Tru-oil it which should minimise the problems Im having. I dropped Mr Green at Status a line as he does SR necks, no luck.... wont do Sterling necks... I can guess in real world terms why, tooling and costs etc so fair point. Apart from the replacement neck option (which is fine really) has anyone got any thoughts on sending the current neck to a decent luthier and removing the fingerboard, routing the neck for graphite rods and reattaching the board, Tru-oil it and see what happens ?? Or should I just get a Stingray and Status neck or buy a Zon or something ?? The replacement neck is the seemingly cheapest option AND I love the bass already as it goes like billyo otherwise and Im not too precious about it being too posh either. Any opinions ? [attachment=155699:577076_4541457978354_789967342_n.jpg]

No, not a typo, TNT 150. Well, thats what it said on the face !!!!

Oh gawd, total can of worms thing, thrown open..........if anything, Im even more confused now about it all !!! Had to laugh fair do's !!

That sounds like hardly anything !!!!! I was expecting a big jump !!!!!

Hi, just got a cheap Peavey 1x15 cab and it works ok at the mo with a Gallien MB200 but eventually Im after changing the driver when the one in it inevitably pops its clogs. I was having a chat with a guitarist friend who dabbles in amp building / repairs and while discussing speakers I asked about ratings etc. I understand ohmage and power handling etc but he seemed to go on about decibel ratings as being one of the most important ratings for a speaker as efficiency is paramount. Ive been looking at the usual suspects like Eminence, Fane and Celestion and checking out everything at Lean Business too. Whats really the difference between a 96db speaker rating and a 99db ?? Is it that much different ? Tone isnt the issue here. If so, who does 99db or higher, 15'' speakers ?? Id ideally be looking at a 15 inch, ferrite magnet, 300 watt, 8 ohm speaker, but with the most efficiency possible.... Not too assed about neo lightweight stuff, the cab is a cheapo old thing anyway, just want POWER !!!!!!!! (sorry...bit Clarkson there... ahem)

Ha ha thats quite funny !! The only amp I had that killed ANY guitarist in a volume war was a VBA head with a Mesa Powerhouse 15 + 4x10 cab... anything over 5 and EVERYTHING disappeared, which was hilarious !! We are usually in the P.A. anyway, anywhere small enough to just run off backline and a vocal P.A. are very rare and sort of novelty. Ill probably run the cab raised up a bit on whatever is available to hand. Ive had numerous 150 and 200 watt-ish SS heads in years past, I just cant get my head around something so small being 'loud'

Nice one !!!!!

Hi, Im still on the lookout for a cheap but workable gig rig (after failing with a combo option). I may have uncovered a cheap Peavey 1x15 which will live in the van but the amp head is still out there yet..... There is a possibility of a 1U version of an Ampeg B1 head (if they are any good / loud enough) Failing that, it looks like its going to be a Gallien MB200. Practical, all the features I need, light and small enough to go in the rucksack / gigbag while the cab is in storage or the van. Has anyone got any real life info or experiences about output and reliability etc ?? Not interested in marketing hype, just real opinions from anyone who has used one properly where it matters !!! What I mean by that is, the real world at varying size gigs with a loud drummer !!!

Well, managed to find a Peavey TNT 150 to try and it was a total fail............ pretty disappointed really........looks like its going to be a head and cab set up.......

Top stuff so far, what about a Laney BC250 ???

Aha !!! This is the type of info I need !!! Nice one everybody !!!! An RB8 to look out for then... by the way, Ill only be looking at used / tatty gear with my budget !!

Looks like its probably going to be a Peavey then !! Not too assed about weight to be honest, cant be any worse than the Diesel 4x10 I already have !!! Thats like a bloody washing machine !!!!.. Thanks for the info !! Even with a lighter, more efficient driver fitted later, it sounds like what Im after !!!!! cheers !!!

Of course Ashdown !! But everyone I seem to know whos ever had one has bust it somehow... blown up, killed, or however its put, broken it....all bar one exception of a Mag 300 4x10 combo that seemed to last but other than that, are they not considered very unreliable ?

Right, Ive come to a bit of a conclusion that I might need a cheapo 1x15 combo for mimimal risk usage. You know what I mean, the type of situations where you wouldnt want your expensive amp left or used.... Anyone got any ideas or real life / real world info on Peavey or Laney 165 to 300 watt, 1x15 combos ??? Now, budget is the main constraint as I want to try ans spend as little as possible... up to £100, no more, ideally less of course !!! Ive tried a Peavey 165 watt thing in a reahearsal that worked well, quite loud and rude. Im not assed about nuances of tone in the mids or whatever, just meat and potatoes volume really, a VT or Sansamp will take care of tone. Anyone got any info / whatever they can impart ??? cheers !!!!!

I seem to remember being able to find them at the £550-ish point around 2009 so if they have more than doubled in such a short time then Im in the wrong game !!!!

That my friends is Simon Quinlank, the king of hobbies and it looks like that week, his hobby was playing bass....... [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1xjcyyuDM0[/media]

Well, black ones are louder arnt they.... red ones are faster......