philw

Really like the headstock detail on the fretless. Bit of a shame the rest of the aesthetic is so conventional though. P

OK, post gig (with NS EUB and Wal) thoughts about the Basscube 2. First, if you're after something compact and light the Basscube is bigger than I imagined and bloody heavy. Where my Amp One is tiny and built like a brick-outhouse, the Basscube is built like an entire Victorian toilet block. The Basscube 2 just fits in the back of my Mini Clubman with one back seat down, but there's no way I'd be able to get the double bass in as well, as I can with the Amp One. Once you've heaved it out of the car, plugged it in and stood it on something, the Basscube sounds, well it sounds exactly as it should depending on the instrument you're playing. AER stuff seems to me to have an uncanny transparency with very little of its own character. The Wal sounds just as it should and the NS also. If you want an amp that's full of character and that imprints its own sound on everything you do, then the Basscube probably doesn't have your name on it. If you want something however that just sits there and does the job, and leaves the sound entirely up to you, then it's much more likely to be your thing. Needless to say the Basscube goes very loud without any sign on strain or getting dirty. Being AER the Basscube has a few idiosyncrasies. First its mains cable is terminated in a Speakon plug rather than an IEC. The advantage of Speakon is that its a locking socket/plug arrangement so its never going to fall out. The disadvantage is however that if you ever forget the mains cable you're stuffed. Having two completely independent channels and having a vast number of control options for each means the Basscube is not a simple plug-in and play amp. There's an awful lot of parameters that you'll probably want to work with to optimise your setup, and you probably will have to read the manual (not least because AER's input/control panel labelling is not as clear as it might be). There's also a comprehensive range of signal routing and output options. The Basscube input options mean that all basses are well covered (Ha! A pun!). There's even 48V phantom power available if you're using a condensor mic on your double bass. A high Z piezo input means you can plug-in a double bass pickup without an external preamp, however there's no phase reverse switch and in my experience that's one of the most worthwhile anti-feedback options when you're playing a DB. Rather frustratingly, if I were to have a Basscube, I'd still have to take my Fishman preamp just for the phase reverse switch. Seems to me with amps you pretty much get what you pay for. The Basscube isn't inexpensive, but there's no question that you can't see where the money was spent. If you can afford it, can accept the idiosyncrasies, don't mind the weight and you want an amp that's transparent rather than "colourful", then I wouldn't hesitate in getting one. P

Now that's a coincidence. My AER Amp One appears to have developed a problem and the nice people at Westside Distribution are lending me a Basscube 2 while the Amp One is fixed. The Basscube should be with me on Thursday and I have a gig that evening. I'll report back. Phil

Presumably it's an exclusive "special" that Sandberg have done for Thomman. Sandberg wouldn't be the first "consumer goods" manufacturer to make a product specifically for one of its most important dealers. Happens all the time in white goods and consumer audio/video. P PS. NIce looking bass. If it were in Lake Placid Blue and plain fretless I'd be smitten.

Just took delivery of Tom's Sue Ryder P-Bass. Ridiculously nice bass for the money. Madness. Thanks Tom.

[quote name='Kiwi' timestamp='1339414374' post='1688011'] Mahogany/wenge would be a seriously interesting wood combo - am really interested in knowing what it sounds like [/quote] My '83 fretless Wal is mahogany body with wenge top and back. Pete Stevens advised strongly against the combination at the time I ordered it. He thought the tone would be far too pushy in the mid-range (Pete favoured walnut facings on fretless). But hey, I was young and knew best back then, so went ahead anyway. I just loved the look of wenge (still do) and a Wal that's "too pushy in the mid-range" just didn't make sense for me - surely that's (partly) what the Wal tone is all about, especially on a fretless. Anyway, I never regretted the choice. Mine is about the most Wal sounding Wal I've ever heard. Even Pete I think came around to liking my bass. When I took the Wal up to Paul Herman for its 25 year service a couple of years ago he thought it must have been converted from fretted 'cause, "Pete would never have built a wenge/mahogany fretless". Phil

All, For one reason or another (partly to "impress" a local promoter and partly 'cause we like doing gigs in towns we've not played before) my "alt-folk" band , The Galleons would like to do a gig in Canterbury (the one in Kent). Ideally, something a step or two above a dodgy pub gig where there's a decent house PS and a more than half decent chance of sounding good. Canterbury's equivalent of The Bedford in Balham or The Brunswick in Hove would be ideal. So can anybody suggest some venues that we can approach? Thanks Phil PS. You can hear The Galleons here: http://soundcloud.com/the-galleons

Oh that's a rare beast. Lovely. Always been on my list of basses to own one day. P

I've actually used Graham before on a simple repair job, but I'm not sure he's the right guy for a complete fingerboard removal and replacement. I'll give him a call though. Aguilera Guitars has closed down recently. I think Paul must have given-up the unequal struggle. Phil

Probably not too far no. What are you having done to your bass? Will you let me know how it is when it comes back? Thanks Phil

Can anybody suggest a good luthier in or around Brighton to put a fretless fingerboard on one of my Yamaha BEX4s? I was going to have Bernie Goodfellow do the job but having been waiting for him to get around to it for a good six months now I think it's time to look elsewhere. Phil

Mick saw my post asking for recommendations for a "cost effective" gig bag the other day and simply put a spare one in the post. You can't really get more generous than that. Thanks Mick. P

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1327866594' post='1517973'] Hi Phil what are the dimensions?? I've got a couple of not bad quality soft cases which don't get used..you can have one for the price of postage (assuming one fits!!) [/quote] That's a very kind offer Mick. I'll email you. Phil

[quote name='Clarky' timestamp='1327865471' post='1517941'] If it has to be cheap-ish gigbag (ruling out a Mono, which is my preferred one) then the Madarozzo bags that BassDirect ships some of its basses in are OK at about £30 [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Madarozzo.html"]http://www.bassdirec.../Madarozzo.html[/url] [/quote] Ahh, now that's the sort of post I was looking for. Thanks Clarky.

No, I keep it in a cupboard with the chocolate teapot.

[quote name='rubis' timestamp='1327841189' post='1517439'] I also used to have a Wal..... I worried about it even when it was in it's hard case [/quote] Probably best you don't have any kids then. You'll worry yourself into an early grave (apart from which, if social services find out about you keeping the kids in a hard case they'll be taken away). Think I'll give up on this thread and go talk to the cat :-) P

Awww come on guys, if I wanted a lecture I'd go back to college! P :-)