GreeneKing

[quote name='Spoombung' timestamp='1332502628' post='1589164'] Here's mine: and a track made with it: [url="http://soundcloud.com/spoombung/mr-moffat"]http://soundcloud.co...mbung/mr-moffat[/url] [/quote] A fitting tribute to the bass's maker

Well done Pete, have fun with that new bass. I could see it happening I think that if Alan stopped making his own designs customised by buyers then it would indeed be a very sad day. But if his skills are directed at improving an existing design whilst being financially more able to work with 'real wood' then it's cause for celebration surely? Oh and I can understand a preference for a radiused board but I love the asymmetric neck profile. Lukes comment above about Jazzes and P basses being suited to certain styles of playing also makes a lot of sense to me.

I've starting with a new band (punk/metal covers - at my age!) and at our 1st practice I noticed a tendency for the amp to distort on the clean channel. I wondered what experience others have with these heads. I was using a Jazz with Wizard 84/Thumper reversed P/J combination and a U Retro. The bass output is heavily mid focused anyway and I favour flat treble, slightly boosted bass and a large touch of lower mid boost to give me a penetrating but non too harsh rock tone. The U Retro is modified by John to give me a 3 way switching pickup selection and I use both pickups most of the time and the P p'up for some of the more punk numbers (it has a blend too). With the gain set well below the clipping light level and any setting on the master volume I'm getting distortion coming through the cabinet and it's most definitely the amp (I've done some comprehensive checks on the cab which is totally awesome). If I back right off on the gain on the amp or the mids on the bass he distortion goes away. I'm going to try doing all my EQing on the amp at our next session and see if that makes a difference. I'll also try this with the bass in passive. I've always done my tonal shaping on the bass but maybe I need to switch to doing it on the amp with the Aggie? I've heard that the Aguilars used at the London Bass Show were distorting in a similar way too so I suspect it's not an issue with this particular head which is new and otherwise great. Has anyone else noticed a tendency for their Aggie head to distort below the clipping level possibly when a big signal or heavy low mids are thrown into it? The guys in the band were totally awed by the rig once I'd managed to dial out the distortion that I mistakenly thought was a cab issue. But, Teenage Kicks into your late 50's shouldn't be allowed, however 'cool' a Dad you may be [b]Edited to add[/b], I've had a play at home with low master volumes but high mid bass output and amp gain and the issue clearly is clipping that starts before the lamp flickers. If I reduce the bass mids or switch it to passive and use the amp lower mids it's fine, if not quite as 'strong' as I like it. A twin channel 500W Markbass coped admirably with these bass settings. Peter

I live pretty far North. Never, ever heard something as fishy as that??

Hiya Terri and welcome to BC I'll explore your links later, very interesting initial look see. Peter

[quote name='Faithless' timestamp='1331640715' post='1576282'] I was gonna say the same thing then, if we're so 'dedicated' about having the right 'timbre' and the right swing', then we'd refuse to play with guitards that don't play hollow-bodies, piano players who don't play the 'real' piano (how about bringing one to the gig? ), and drummers that don't own one of these sweet kits: [url="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bd/Jazzing_orchestra_1921.png"]http://upload.wikime...hestra_1921.png[/url] The [i]right [/i]timbre, oh yeah.. [/quote] Sorry but I wasn't trying to be pretentious In my own personal opinion, an electric bass can't substitute for a double bass in some musical forms because it's a very different sounding instrument. The notes may be the same but the timbre (the correct musical term btw) is quite different. It's not down to how well an electric bass is played either, it could as well be a bloody harpsichord as it doesn't fit the musical form, in my opinion of course. One of the video's above demonstrated this perfectly. The same of course applies the other way. It's not pretentious to suggest that a db wouldn't sound right in 'London's Burning' for example? Peter

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1331620265' post='1575848'] Onr od those electrical ones.... I'm not really of the view that you can't swing on eb, just that you can swing a lot [i]more[/i] on db. Playing fast tunes, like 'Match', it is easier to pull it off but, playing a slow blues or a ballad is massively more convincing on db. Its not tha you can't do it on eb, just that its a lot less satisfying to listen to and play over. I used to think that jazz musicians preference for db was prejudice and tradition but, as I have got older, I have realised it is about the music and, for a lot of jazz, eb will always compromise the intentions of the composer or MD. You can play a form os swing on eb but, it you want the real deal, its db all they way. I think there is a similar argument with pianists. They all have an electric pianno for gigs but every one of them would drop it for a real piano every time because it is better suited to the genre. [/quote] Substitute the word timbre (and the way it's crafted) for swing and there you have it, at least to my ears.

Was Paul MCCartney in Wings then....... Beatles for me, no contest

Speaking as someone who loves listening to this genre I don't think that the electric bass can always substitute effectively, not to my ears anyway.

It seems to me that if they weren't going to pay you they should have told you at the time the punters left and not used your services before letting you know they weren't paying. I sympathise. I'm no expert but take the advice of someone who is and if it's favourable go for the small claims court.

I think it's fair to say that the pre amp output will in some way reflect the input signal. As to whether it can remove an aspect of the pup that you don't like I'd say try it with the Barts that are there and if you feel the need need change the pickups later. I've played a few basses with active pickups and while I'm not a particular fan I didn't find the tone a problem. Euro Spectors come to mind where the fitting of the ACG pre gave it a huge well rounded sound with the original pickups. Such subjective stuff though, tone. I'm certain that the ACG has a pot to attenuate the input signal too. I'm sure Alan will be along some time to confirm/deny Peter

Hiya Sam? Where in South Cumbria are you (I'm in Kendal)? I've fitted a fair few ACG filter pre's with a variety of pickups including active EMGs. They thrive with all in my experience. Sadly I haven't got one at the moment. I say at the moment because I need to start saving for my next ACG methinks The pre-amp are really easy to fit too, typically John East, well thought out with good instructions. Peter

Brilliant. There are some fine instrument building traditions in the far east too btw.

Nordy Pup, East pre - way to go

I'm really taken by the way the woods contrast. Lovely indeed.

[quote name='skelf' timestamp='1330087972' post='1552485'] Wait until you see the next version which I got from John today. He has upped the bar again and as far as I am concerned he had all ready set it pretty high. This is the pre-production version so I need to get it into a bass for real world testing which I hope to be able to do next week. The bass it is going in a 6 string Recurve S Type is still drying from spraying. I hope to have the bass and the new pre-amp down at the London show next weekend. [/quote] It all sounds a bit exciting Alan, heck even you sound excited The London show bodes well methinks with your new pre and Dave's cab too. Here's wishing you a great show then. Peter

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1330077945' post='1552265'] Yeah that was a great demo. Thanks for sharing. Actually Luke you aren't too far away from chez Cringean. Why don't you give him a bell and see if he can spare some time to give you a guided tour and explain the filter in more depth. He's a top bloke and is usually always up for a natter of the bass variety. If you don't end up ordering something on the spot, the very least you'll come away with are few more tidbits on real basses than you did when you arrived... I always do. [/quote] Yes, noticing that you are in Edinburgh Luke it would seem to be total madness not to. And yes, a great demo

I did a fairly amateur thread on here many years ago. Hopefully it's lost in the mists of time

In the 2nd hand market there are loads of Stingrays up for grabs but it seems to me that Bongos barely surface for air. Is it because they are actually so good ? (I think they are seriously underrated) Peter