Jolltax

Love it, no issues in Vivaldi here, so much better on the eyes Thank you!

I am looking for a bit of advice on solving a problem with the output of my Harley Benton Jazz Bass when playing via my Focusrite audio interface into my computer. Been learning for a few months now, I have two basses - A Sire Marcus Miller M2 and a Harley Benton JB-75, I tend to alternate between them on a daily basis when practicing and enjoy them both. I practice almost exclusively wearing headphones and using my audio interface as it minimises the disturbance to others in the house. I cable straight from the bass into the audio interface input. I find that my Sire, which has is active and presumably has plenty of output has no issue playing this way and I can boost the volume relative to my other sources on my PC without distortion using the gain on my Audio Interface. My HB jazz bass is a different story, what ever my Focusrite audio interface has under the bonnet seems unable to boost the signal enough and starts to distort in a horrible way when I turn up the gain and with the volume on the bass at max. My 'out-loud' setup with a Warwick Gnome i Pro amp and homemade speaker has no issues with either, the amp doesn't appear to have a pre-amp out unfortunately. The Jazz bass also seem noisy compared to my Sire, but I have read this is not unexpected with a passive bass. Would I be correct in assuming that the Audio Interface just doesn't have enough juice to lift the signal from the passive bass without distortion? As a potential solution I have been looking at bass pre-amps like the Aguilar Tone Hammer and wondering whether they would be a good potential solution, although very cool it seems expensive (for someone at my stage anyway!)- maybe something second hand would be an option? Has anyone else encountered this issue and what would people recommend as solutions? I got the input switched to 'Inst' and I usually use a DAW on the PC (to add effects or whatever) and listen via the headphones, it works out really well for playing along with YouTube etc Cheers! J

Just for completeness I thought I would post a picture of mine finished ... ish. I have never actually been able to play out loud since I started learning in February and have always used headphones and my audio interface, I completed most of the build a while ago but wasn't able to try it out until my amplifier arrived a few days ago (I ordered a Warwick head unit which took 4 weeks to arrive). The build quality / finish of my cabinet is not that fantastic as I am not really a 'detail' guy but its certainly sturdy, e.g. I just bought a can of black paint and went mental on it and there's a few sharp bits. Obviously I don't have any reference for comparison but for my small room it is very loud and I had to turn everything down a lot (I think I am on the lowest volume the amp will turn down to) , my left ear is still recovering from the test, lol. Its also interesting, playing through a speaker seems a lot more forgiving, I sound better out loud than I do through headphones! Overall I am pretty happy, I don't know how it would compare with an off-the-shelf unit but I enjoyed the build process and learnt some stuff. Thank you to the peeps in this thread who provided the design and the guidance, much appreciated. 😎 J

PLease could I just clarify a couple of things on wiring the crossover and the speaker internals : Is it correct to wire the speakers in parallel from the input connector with the crossover just to to the HF speaker, as they are both 8 Ohms in parallel will the speaker then be 4 Ohms? The connector thing I got for the back panel has two sets of connectors 1+ 1- and 2+ 2-, does it matter which ones I connect to or does the amp drive both? Thanks in advance J

More dumb questions! Went to my carpet place to get underfelt and they say they don't really use felt any more but have this stuff they use when they are installing underfloor insulation? Do I need to extend the length of my tubey port thing, what does a baffle brace look like? Its sunny today so I'm off outside to start cutting holes and stuff! J

The sun came out for long enough for me to get a bit done, so I built a boxy type thing, still need to put in the braces which are cut but not yet installed, I am just letting it dry overnight with the front and back bits in. Its not as straight as I would like because some of the plywood I bought was a bit warped but it will work OK, I ploughed on regardless, I also didn't use quite the right baton, mine is slightly bigger and I couldn't wait for it to be in stock.. I am planning to line it with some carpet I got left over unless I can find some underlay. Did I mention I am somewhat of a bodger? I also got an order of bits and pieces to fit to it from Aran, I am such a dumbass I didn't realise that the ME10 thing wasn't actually the tweeter (although it did seem quite cheap), Celestion CDX1-1070 added to the parts list I haven't bought the drivers yet because I will need to wait for next month, especially now I know I need 2. I also won't be able to actually hear it until I buy a head amp, I like the look of Warwick gnome. Enjoying myself, if it works it will be a bonus .... 😎

OK, I got the wood, I am working on a parts list for the other stuff so I can place orders, looking back in the thread I wasn't exactly clear on the tweeter is it right? : Celestion PULSE 10 10" 200 watt 8ohm Bass Guitar Speaker B&C ME10 1inch Throat Horn 90 x 60 Dispersion Monacor MBR-100 100mm Bass Reflex Tuning Port Tube Case/Speaker Cabinet Feet 38mm x 15mm Connector Dish with 2 x NL4MP Speakons and Terminal Block Plastic case/speaker/cabinet stacking corner Convair Air Cored Inductor 0.13mH 38mm OD 0.9mm wire Crossover Capacitor Metallised Polypropylene 2.2uF 250V (Narrow) Cement Resistor SQZ 10W 4.7 Ohm (PCB Mount) Some questions : Electrical components : couldn't find an exact inductor so got one close - will this be OK? I've got some chocolate block I can use for the 'solderless' version or I might solder it onto a board, haven't decided yet Could someone explain in a little bit more detail how each speaker is connected to the crossover, it looks like the 10" is directly connected to the amplifier and the crossover circuit is connected only to the tweeter is that right? Also the wiring diagram show a 1W (2.8V rms) power amp, which I was a bit confused about - do I need to worry about this? Could I use carpet instead to muffle the enclosure? I already have some I could use, I could line the enclosure with it As long as its sturdy I am not really worried about the cosmetics so I might not paint it but will try and find a speaker grill to protect the driver at some point. Cheers! J

Thanks so much for your reply @Phil Starr, I have a load more questions about the build but first I think I will bang together the box before asking about the speakery stuff. I'm gonna head down to my local wood store and get some stuff cut. I will have loads more dumb questions once its done and before I order the bits. I don't have anywhere to build / wood work inside so in my case progress is at least somewhat dependant on having some better weather! J

I am a beginner (bass player!) and want to get an amp / cab (currently I just play to headphones through an audio interface), I happen to be able to solder and am fairly comfortable banging bits of wood together so want to give this a try as it seems like a fun project. Have downloaded the drawings and have some noob questions : Can you confirm the crossover and tweeter are optional? i.e. I can just build with a 10" driver and add the tweeter and crossover later if I want. I have also been reading the thread and watching the video about the 1 x 12" cab which seems very similar, would this one be more suitable for home use / practice? What would I need to drive this, I don't have any kind of amplifier, is there cheapo option? Harley Benton do the Block -300B, would that do it? Carpentry question : do you predrill holes before screwing, I always tend to do this with other stuff as it tends to stop the wood splintering / cracking. It kind of looked like in the video Phil Starr had pre-drilled because of the way he inserted the screws but wanted to check I'm a bit unclear on whether its a good idea to put wool or other padding inside the enclosure Cheers J

Quick update and thank you, I got my HB JB-75 yesterday : Very exciting, I used it for my online lesson last night, needs a few tweaks (bit buzzy) but in general plays very nicely and importantly seems very sturdy and well made (considering the price) so should be good to travel with and stand up to a bit of rough treatment. I am also sort-of relieved that it is not as nicely made or to play as my Sire, which is a relief as it was quite a bit more expensive. I think its an absolute bargain and it seems to sound pretty good, its churlish to complain for the price. I also ordered the Sustaiin neck bolts from Amazon which I will fit, after measuring the screws currently in position based on your advice I think it will be a good way of taking the neck on and off for travel ! EDIT : One thing people people say which I would observe appears to be true is that it seems HEAVY. Obviously I don't have a lot of experience of other basses but its waaay heavier than my Sire I also bought an audio interface to use with it while I am away : Jolltax

As a newbie this is very useful advice, I am getting the strong impression to go with a small collection of selected proper tools, I was a bit naïve thinking things might have been standardised! Appreciate the comments J

Hi, Ideally I need a small tool I can keep while travelling that will enable me to do basic maintenance like truss rod adjustment, tuner nuts, neck removal etc I see this one on Amazon but I don't trust Amazon reviews, what would people recommend as a 'throw in a travel bag' option?

Pushed the button on a Harley Benton JB 75 SB (the sunburst one with the black inlays), I am quite excited, I will definitely get some Neck bolts and the plan will be to remove the neck for transportation and hopefully fit it in a suitcase for travel. I also like the idea that it has potential for future upgrades as well but for the time being I'll just be practicing with it. Thanks very much to everyone who offered advice in this thread, everyones time was much appreciated.

@PaulWarning Seems logical, but in reality even if they can delivery to Africa the chances of it ever arriving at its destination are almost zero tbh and certainly not in one piece 😀 @Geek99 @41Hz I think that could be the answer, I am pretty sure i could get the whole thing in a large case and it might have a better chance of surviving the journey I only need to disassemble / reassemble it once to get out there and then once again to get it back in a few years so probably could just use the normal bolts? Good tip to remember the right tool Great advice here, so happy I asked the question!

@itu I live in Tenbury Wells WR15 8TB, I did look around a bit, my local guitar shop sells Cort beginner basses that are OK, but I doubt they are any better than HB online. I think I would need to go into Birmingham to find something and I am kinda worried they would see me coming, I have literally been playing a few weeks. @Geek99I might do this, it would probably fit in a large suitcase and is less likely to get damaged @Ricky RioliIt does look good, but I know nothing at all about basses, is it a good choice for a beginner? Thanks @Jus Lukin it would be perfect except I am struggling to learn the notes on a 4 string at the moment, I think it might be a leap too far for me at this stage! Thanks all for your replies, much appreciated.

I work on rotation abroad - backwards and forwards to Africa every 4 weeks, I am a beginner and don't want to take my 'good' bass to work and back every 4 weeks on a plane. My plan is to get a cheapy that I can practice on whilst away and (provided it survives the journey) leave it there, so I have been looking at Harley Benton basses, trying to decide whether I should get the JB-20 or push the boat out for the JB-75 (they seem to have stopped making the 4 string MB-4 stingray copy which I also fancied). I like the other HB cheap basses (PB, PJ) but am worried about the thicker necks making them more difficult to play. I had originally thought I could pick up something beaten-up but still functional second hand, but to honest locally they are all more expensive than a new HB! Additionally I am a noob so I don't really know what I am doing and am quite likely to buy something horrible. Currently working from home but might get remobilised in May / June so need something by then. Only criteria is : Good learner instrument Will have a chance of surviving the journey Style isn't super important I am a competent(ish) solderer and have some electronics / DIY experience but would prefer to buy rather than build. What do you guys think I should get, any recommendations?

I use an audio interface connected to my PC so I can play along with pretty much anything (Youtube, spotify, mp3's, netflix, TV?), it actually works particularly well as I am doing online lessons, so I play along with the teacher whilst it streams. I can also record a mike at the same time should I want to speak or sing (never gonna happen) and I can mix on the PC or adjust gain on the interface. I am sure a lot of guys on here must use them to record themselves digitally without the need for a microphone. You are right about portability though , I have actually been surprised at how well it has been working but would need at least a laptop, technically I believe it is also possible to plug in and power my interface from a phone and use in the same way - haven't tried this yet? The good news is that audio interfaces are pretty cheap, you can get a functional one for £50 here in the UK, I already owned mine as I use it to record voice for another project I mess around with. I'll save up for an amp in the mean time ... Er just just noticed the dog hair, sorry! Filthy me....

@Lfalex v1.1 exactly, I have been hammering away at it silently whilst my kids are asleep. Using headphones through my PC is working pretty well, I think I will leave buying an amp as a reward for when I achieve some level of competency and I feel confident enough for someone else to hear me play!

My tuner works, and its super easy to use! The app I was using on my mobile phone was not very good and seemed to be unable to tune the E string, this is sooo much quicker and easier, and it was only £12!

I got my bass, very happy, here is my NBD thread - I have completed module one of my course and can happily report I have now played notes on all the strings ! J

@PaulThePlug I know what you mean, its a little odd as I am not exactly a 'rock' person, although I do like rock ... I think it looks pretty decent anyway and it seems slim and light so good to learn on so I am happy

OK, guitar Bass it is! Message received loud and clear, the good news is that you got me on day 2 so no damage done ... I realise after tuning my bass a couple of times with the free Fender app on my phone that I would probably be better off with a clip on tuner, so I ordered a Snark one today after 2 minutes research Thanks for the warm welcome, by the way J

I have never even picked up a bass before but finally plucked up the courage to fulfil a lifelong ambition (I'm 54) and bought a Sire Marcus Miller M2 from Andertons, and it arrived ..... v exciting. I also bought a guitar stand, strap and cable from Amazon. I was encouraged to post this by the nice people in the 'Introductions' group. I wanted something relatively 'budget' to learn on, I guess if I make progress I can upgrade later. Today I subscribed to the Bassbuzz online lesson programme, successfully tuned my bass and then completed my first lesson! It definitely makes bass-like noises and I am very proud of myself! I don't have an amp, my plan is to play through my Focusrite audio interface into my computer, which seems to be working OK so far. I use headphones which seem to cope quite well and sound great but unsurprisingly my 'high power' computer speakers completely crap themselves if I try and play through them, I hate the way they sound anyway so I kind of enjoy torturing them to be honest but its not an issue, I'll just use the headphones. Here are some photos of my guitar (is it OK to call it that or is it strictly a bass?), hope I haven't gone over the top. It seems sturdy and seems to work well, I am very happy with it - but if I was being hyper critical I would probably say some of the details/ finish look a bit basic - bear in mind this is the only bass I have ever held (heh) : I am a complete beginner, watching too many videos of people adjusting their guitars on YouTube has freaked me out a bit, the 'action' on my bass at the 12th fret appears to be about 3 mm - which from what I read is OK? I have also twiddled all the knobs vigorously on my er ... bass... and can definitely hear the passive / active switch, but the tone ones not so much. Anyway, I am really enjoying the whole experience so far, on Day 2, heh Hi etc! Jolltax

Will do! I am super excited about it tbh

Oops! No, I bought the 4 string, not sure why the default on the website I linked is the 5 string, sorry that was a bit misleading! 🙄 (I had a quick panic and checked my order and its deffo 4 strings - I was super paranoid about not ordering a left handed instrument by accident but forgot about the number of strings) When I get a bit of time I will try the trial for scotts bass lessons, have read a lot of good things but feel like a real human being might be a better way to start for an oldy like me. J