GreeneKing

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='547670' date='Jul 22 2009, 03:07 PM']You've given up on the 'T' sound in the middle, then? [/quote] It's a polish pronunciation

[quote name='Stan_da_man' post='547653' date='Jul 22 2009, 02:59 PM']No. What I am saying is a custom bass could play well but also be a good looking bass. If the buyer wants the bass to "look" nicer (better woods, hardware, LED's etc.), then you'll have to pay more. This is not to say cheaper custom basses are horrible to look at - beauty is in the eye of the beholder.[/quote] And this isn't a Custom bass but a hand built bass with a limited number of options, built by a luthier who's main business is building custom basses. Whether any individual likes Alan's shapes or not is irrelevant, many do and the ascetics certainly differ from the usual Jazz/Precision et. al. fare. I know from expereience that this bass will be extremely well made, comfortable, playable and balance well. It is most impressive in terms of tone (I have that from the 'Horses mouth'). The hardware is the same as you will find on many top priced custom instruments and if you happen not to like the styling then I don't suspect you'll be in the market for one but it doesn't make it ugly

Indeed they are amazing. I'm more than pleased with mine and I've owned a Sadowsky Metro and a US Lakland to compare them with. Mine is passive and I've plans afoot to put a Sadowsky pre in too. These are serious contenders for a great price. 'Marooshchick'

Possible solution? [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=51702&hl=warmoth"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...&hl=warmoth[/url] Warmoth quality is great too.

[quote name='cheddatom' post='546705' date='Jul 21 2009, 04:48 PM']Heh, I read the OP and did not follow the link so wasn't aware that this was about ACG. I didn't even know they did guitars, I thought it was just pre-amps.[/quote] That brown thing in my Avatar, it's an ACG Harlot bass geetar

[quote name='cheddatom' post='546620' date='Jul 21 2009, 03:49 PM']It's a bit crap that the story hasn't featured on here at all. I have no idea who this guy is or what his products are. You'd think he would have made a thread on the english bass message board.[/quote] Threads have been on BC and pretty much sunk down the pages like a stone in a pond

[quote name='silddx' post='546616' date='Jul 21 2009, 03:47 PM']It's not odd really though, mate. A bass pre-amp has limited interest even on a bass forum, but a kid determined to get his tongue pierced, and all the social connotations and opportunities for humour that provides, is relevent to the masses.[/quote] And the launch of the 1st line of price accessable British built basses in many years? I hear what you say but still find it odd. The mad thing is I think that if Alan doubled his prices (he'd be justified imo) he'd probably double the interest. The pre does have a limited interest I agree but it seems to be greater in the US where the exchange rate made it a very expensive option. It's also not 'just' a pre-amp but a very different approach to manipulating your frequencies. Oh well, what is, is.

I've just had a very interesting ( read quiet day at work ) read through all 11 pages of this talkbass thread on a British innovatory pre-amp that gets barely a mention in the UK [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=429951"]http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=429951[/url] The man behind this idea also chooses to bravely launch a new line of personally hand built high quality UK basses at a price of about half that of a mass produced MM Stingray and yet barely a comment is made while a pierced tongue (no offence to the piercee) gets several pages. It sometimes seems to me a bit odd

The most 'trebly' tone that I think I've heard is the one available from one of Alan's ACG01 equipped ACGs with the low pass filters opened wide and the high pass closed and all the peaks set to max. Passive pups too, hmm..... Any other ACG owners care to comment?

[quote name='iamapirate' post='546428' date='Jul 21 2009, 01:50 PM']Well, maybe but as far as I can see it's really just a very nice EQ that has been tweaked to make a bass sound at it's best, so I'd set it and leave it. I can understand taking up 2 boss-sized pedal spaces with something like a EHX BMS, but for something that's 'set and leave' like the tone-hammer it is rather large.[/quote] The Tonehammer is more than just an EQ though with DI, pre amp, sweepable mids and an overdrive circuit.

[quote name='bubinga5' post='546386' date='Jul 21 2009, 01:19 PM']Well some have put preamps in there basses but this means routing...But no an external preamp i mean...Is the tone hammer that big?? Does it matter, its no bigger than an effects pedal or unit....[/quote] I'd describe the Tone Hammer as quite small. I agree re the rig comments entirely. Leave the bass be until you are certain you need to modify it methinks. I've put BasAss's on basses and can't honestly say I've noticed a great amount of difference. My 62 AV RI P has a bit of bent tin and sound really rather special to my ears.

[quote name='Bassassin' post='546271' date='Jul 21 2009, 12:15 PM']Historically Geddy Lee fooled most Rush fans into thinking his 70s Jazz was a 4001, particularly on [i]Moving Pictures[/i] but allegedly on a good few other Rush albums too. Alternatively there's this approach: Jon.[/quote] You know, on 2nd viewing I'm really liking that.

[quote name='iamapirate' post='546233' date='Jul 21 2009, 11:46 AM']Don't shoot me down too quickly - I know almost nothing about this kind of thing. COuld you fit active pickups onto it, and make a custom lead to go from your bass into a home-made pedal on the floor, which would house the preamp circuit? Or would the cable lose too much signal?[/quote] You still need to find a space to put the battery for the active pups among the passive electrics. Maybe rout a battery box?

Merton is your man and I'm sure he'll be along. Mine has been brilliant albeit as a backup £185 head.

Hiya Mario Maybe the quest to make your Jazz sound like a Ric isn't the way to go? Given that they are very different basses each with their own strengths would it make sense to just improve the tone of the Jazz to something you like more and have that variety? The J-Retro is great or for a very different yet tonally comprehensive approach you could try the ACG02 that slots straight in.

As Alex said, active EMGs are just different. I'd say try some Villex pups for the nearest passive equivolent. Otherwise outboard and things like Aguilar Tone Hammer, MXR M-80 D.I.+ or Bassbones may help. My P sounds great passive and I'm loath to put flats on it as I originally intended as I don't want to change the existing tone. My MXR M-80 gives me a chance to apply some active EQ and that is mostly mids to be honest, that and the passive tone on the bass gives me all I need.

Excellent stuff, an update on all the builds would be interesting, blow by blow. Any photos?

If you get a slightly oversize allen key and file a gentle taper on it until it taps in it should remake it's own hexagonal socket. I've done this a couple of times with various square and hex sockets.

I actually expected something more extreme like loadsa colour and some pink fur Nice one.