Spartacus

[quote name='DanOwens' post='545178' date='Jul 20 2009, 11:05 AM']Punch Factory and an Expander? I bet that sounds immense!! Dan[/quote] The Xpander doesnt get a lot of use as it can make everything sound very samey. Punch factory and DHA is a great mixture but i want to try the DHA compressor next. The punch factory is so simple to use and almost impossible to get a bad sound out of. I prefer 'subtle' and dont do 'boutique' but if the xpander goes id put a Digitech X-BSW in there

[quote name='iamapirate' post='545919' date='Jul 21 2009, 12:37 AM']i've got an american Standard Fender 2008 Jaaaazz bass with the brightest XLs there are (prosteels?) and a decent amp (not that it really matters much for my problem) - ashdown MAG*ducks*-300 with 4x10s as i've said many times. And I'm getting a nice tone out of it, but what with everyone saying that all the standard stuff is good, but can be 'upgraded' I was wondering what/if to change hardware-wise on my bass. I like a deep, but bright tone - nothing too muddy. Err, thats about it - just wondering what/how I can upgrade a pretty nice bass anyway. i've got a nice tone from it, but I'm not in love with it. just wondering if it's 'that bridge' or the stock pups[/quote] IMO theres nothing wrong with the USA bridge and thru-stringing. its far batter than the standard piece of bent tin on the mex and squier models. Unless you want really long sustatining notes for reggae or dub or something i wouldnt bother with upgrades. I think there are better pickups out there and you could look at Nordstrands or Wizards for a deeper tone. Or you could look at an eq system like Audere or East JRetro for more flexibility. Not sure about EMGs as your bass could sound like any other bass with EMGs then. if I were you (and Im not) id hold off on any bass upgrades and see how much better your bass could sound through a better amp.

[quote name='mrcrow' post='545685' date='Jul 20 2009, 08:06 PM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ARIA-GT-SERIES-ACTIVE-BASS-GUITAR-WITH-FLAME-MAPLE-TOP_W0QQitemZ330344942961QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item4cea17cd71&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12|66%3A2|39%3A1|72%3A1688|293%3A1|294%3A50"]link to ebay[/url] whats the verdict on this one...i cant get a lot of info so far from dealer sites[/quote] Ask the seller on this forum in [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=54442"]this thread?[/url]

If you go for a decent bridge then the mahogany might make through body stringing redundant. Like steve-soar said it can cause breakage problems too and increase tension past what you like. Id look for a bridge that can accommodate though body string as well as 'top loading' like BadAss III or Hipshot Type A, then you can drill for through-stringing but dont have to use it if you dont want to.

[quote name='fingerz' post='545610' date='Jul 20 2009, 06:57 PM']The key is you can't chop between the two whilst playing without effecting your level.[/quote] True but with a good preamp set flat there shouldnt be any real change in level except more dynamic range and better top end, like Aguilar preamps which give almost totally flat unity gain when the controls arent cut or boosted. its only when you start boosting frequency bands that you should notice a real difference. A lot of basses use cheap actives singly to make theor weak pickups sound louder and punchier. I like basses with the choice of active/passive but some basses like classic Jazz and Precisions dont sound 'right' when active, they lose something so its nice to have the passive option available but you often have to live with the difference in output.

Looks like a lamp not an LED? Could just have failed early in its life or could have come loose from its socket.

[quote name='SisterAbdullahX' post='545148' date='Jul 20 2009, 10:09 AM']Cheers for that, Sparticus. Just one more thing, the 4.5 has the 5" speaker in it, so obviously there'll be a crossover in there, so I'll need the 4 pole, right?[/quote] No, youd only need to wire the 4 pole to feed the tweeter and woofers seprately if you were using a biamp head like a GK. The internal crossover splits the signal for you so you only need a 2 pole. but id recommend using a 4 pole just in case you ever end up using a lead with 4 pole connectors.

Aphex Punch Factory DHA VT1 Purist Aphex Bass Expander

[quote name='SisterAbdullahX' post='545045' date='Jul 20 2009, 12:25 AM']I hope to be getting a nice new Genz Benz amp soon, and since I don't have the cash for a new cab as well I was wondering how easy it would be to convert the jack input on my Hartke 4.5xl to Speakon, as I've heard it much improves the performance of the amp/cab. Any ideas/diagrams?[/quote] Its easy to do. Rarther than enlarge the holes in the Hartkes input plate its easier to get a new one with the right size cutout for a speakon socket as theyre larger than a jack. Try [url="http://www.cpc.co.uk"]CPC Farnell[/url] or [url="http://www.bluearan.co.uk"]BlueAran[/url] or a Maplin near you. You can also get speakon sockets and readymade combined sockets and plates from CPC and BlueAran. You need to decide if you want a 2 pole or 4 pole socket. 2 pole is usually for mono cabs or 4 pole for stereo or biamping. Helps to remember that 4 pole plugs will only fit 4 pole sockets, but 2 pole sockets will fit 2 pole or 4 pole plugs, so id fit a 4 pole socket in case you ever need to use a 4 pole lead. The cabs internal connetions need soldering to the +1 and -1 terminals on the speakon socket, usualy white or hot to +1 and black or ground to -1.

[quote name='simon1964' post='544269' date='Jul 18 2009, 07:58 PM']The Nordstrand didn't actually seem to add much. It does have a bit more kick in the bottom end to my ears, but as the john East is so versatile, I decided on balance to leave the Stock pickup in. So I've actually got a spare Nordstrand if anyone's after one? Virtually new as it was only in my 'ray for one day![/quote] PMd

[quote name='Al Heeley' post='544196' date='Jul 18 2009, 06:34 PM']I'll give marshall spares a call on Monday. There's no moarkings on the inductor. I don't use the horm anyway; the 2 x 10 combo has a horn, so if I just reconnect the pcb holes with wire instead of having the inductor in place, it will run ok?[/quote] best to just sever all connections to the crossover and horn IMO.

[quote name='BarnacleBob' post='544168' date='Jul 18 2009, 05:42 PM']Is there anything recession proof?[/quote] Membership of the Bush family. Jack Daniels. Jaffa cakes. MIchael Jacksons will. guitar_outlet_seller ebay auctions.

[quote name='two1frets' post='544124' date='Jul 18 2009, 04:54 PM']Thanks so much for your input! What if you couldn't get the GK Neo 410, which cab and amp would you get then?[/quote] Havent tried the Hartke cab so cant comment. You need to get out there and try teh stuff yourself and see what works for you. YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary). You may not even need a 410 for your venues. Personally i like the MArkBass and GK heads but the MB might be a bit low powered. The Warwick one sounds a bit mid scooped so could be good for slap.

[quote name='two1frets' post='544116' date='Jul 18 2009, 04:44 PM']I play in a high school band, that plays in a theater that can can hold about 200-300 people, approximately. Although, I would want this rig to be sufficient for playing in small-medium sized clubs, if we ever get there. Also, I plan on keeping this rig for a while (hoping that nothing will happen to it!) Size and weight for shipping will not be an issue. As for weight and size for regular transport from my house to the gig, I am hoping that the cab isn't oddly shaped or extremely heavy. The cab shouldn't be above 90 pounds. EDIT *** Yes this will be a gigging rig" *** EDIT[/quote] Id forget the Ampeg cab if you want a slap rig. GK Neo 410/4 (the 4 ohms version) and Markbass LM250 would be my choice for a slap rig within your budget, from the stuff you listed above.

[quote name='Al Heeley' post='544113' date='Jul 18 2009, 04:38 PM']Is this device the filter choke? To act like a big capacitor and pass the bass freqs to the main speaker cone and divert the high ones to the tweeter unit?[/quote] Yeh its the inductor that forms part of the crossover LC network except it works the opposite way to capacitors. Is there anything marked on the inductor? You can take it out of circuit and disconnecet the horn, the cab will still work just with less top end but sounds like a warranty job.

[quote name='BassBod' post='544107' date='Jul 18 2009, 04:33 PM']Was that the blue fronted stuff?? No pics..no amps. There must a few examples still around?[/quote] You should have about 84 days left to see them here [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/delta-bass-300-2x8-combo_W0QQitemZ170354074778QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_MusicalInstr_Amplifiers_RL?hash=item27a9e4e49a&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A13%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50"]2x8 Delta Bass Combo[/url] and [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Excellent-Delta-300-extension-cabinet-for-bass-amps_W0QQitemZ260436834215QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_MusicalInstr_Amplifiers_RL?hash=item3ca33eb7a7&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A13%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50"]matching extension cab[/url] on eBay recently.

Is this going to be a gigging rig? If so then what sort of venues will you be playing? Or is it for home use? And if youre connected to something diplomatic then do you want something easy to ship back when and if you leave Austria?

Right. Youre in Europe (Austria) and want to buy in $s but are asking on a Brit forum where we deal in £s. This could get confusing for you as since the credit crunch weve seen everything go up whether imported from the US or Europe. If you have something in mind and its in your budget then why not run it past us or you could get lots of recommendations for stuff thats out of your budget. That said the www.thomann.de site is very close to UK prices in most cases so its a good yardstick to use.

[quote name='GreeneKing' post='543836' date='Jul 18 2009, 10:24 AM']I've had a 'Comfort Strap' fail in this way but 'Comfort Strapps' (there is a difference) seem much better constructed. I just wonder if yours was the former, similar copy type or the original? Peter[/quote] Mine was a Comfort Strapp with two Ps Ppeter

[quote name='munkonthehill' post='543837' date='Jul 18 2009, 10:26 AM']any input regarding seymour duncan pups, everyone i speak with raves about them!!!![/quote] Have a look at [url="http://www.wizardpickups.co.uk/"]Wizard Pickups[/url]. Cheaper and better than seymours and British as well

Comfort Straps are good but ive had one where the plastic bracket holding the web part to the neoprene pad snapped and my bass nearly hit the floor Had to repair it with cable ties for the night then binned it.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='543786' date='Jul 18 2009, 09:18 AM']Check the batteries with you tongue or lower lip before you leave the shop.[/quote] Even better get the shop owner to check them. Like Russian roulette with PP3s

2 volume, 1 tone, probbaly the same as a [url="http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?schematic=std_jazz_bass"]standard jazz bass.[/url]