D0gS0litud3

On 14/09/2022 at 08:55, Bassybert said:

Tartke 😂

Looks fantastic, just goes to show if you love a piece of gear there's plenty of ways to keep it looking fresh.

Thanks Bert. It sounds better too... because as I was giving it a bit of care I paid attention to other niggles I might have ignored otherwise.

Handles:

I started out thinking about getting some bicycle bar wrap but I thought that might actually look a bit ugly. So I started looking at tool and knife handle wrapping videos and I bought some paracord so I could try it.

I really didn't think this would work, especially as the handle is constrained on both sides but I was wrong. 3.5 metres of paracord per handle and about 10 minutes each side and this simple method has produced something quite stylish and comfortable. I'll be interested to see how it holds up. 

If the simple spiral wrap gets loose I may even try a bi-colour wrap with some more complex knots in it.

Really pleased with this (although not with the scratch I managed to put in the paint  ). 

Almost there!

Logo is printed and on. Looking pretty good but needs fixing from the rear of the grille.

Just waiting on some wraps for the bars now.

Couldn't find a thread on these strings on a search so I thought I'd share my experience with them.

If you want cheap and cheerful then these aren't the strings for you. But as a short scale player I do find that overtones can be a bit more pronounced with standard sets than on longer scale basses. Until I tried these I'd settled for TI flats which were very nice but darkened my tone a bit too much for live work.

So these are lumped strings ie: they have extra wrapping just after the saddles, carefully positioned to reduce overtoning. I've found that they work well compared to standard roundwound sets. Overtoning is reduced generally and where it does occur the overtones are more harmonious with the fundamental so I feel happy recommending these to anyone wants to explore reducing overtones by changing strings.

Link here to the sales page with some videos explaining the science behind them. Cheers!

https://kempstrings.com/product/lumped-45s/

So, here's the fix to the buzzing panel. I counter-sunk 7 black drywall screws into the midline of the speaker plate. This was overkill as a couple seemed to firm things up nicely but I'm damned if I want to be buggering about with this again.

When I've got some time I'll bury these under some tuff cab.

Bit of foam gym matting going under that amp as well (and think there's a plectrum that's snuck in there- I'll fish that out later) and we'll be good for a buzz-free rehearsal tomorrow I reckon.

Almost there!

»

On 11/08/2022 at 08:48, RandomBass said:

That looks really smart - very nice job!  I have been toying with the idea of attempting something similar with rat fur covered Ashdown Mag 15 cab I have.  How easy did your fur covering come off?

 

Geoff

Thanks!

You should be able to tell if the fur has given up the ghost or not. Both this and a previous Behringer cab had areas bagging and peeling with dry, dusty glue in the pockets. Sounds like I got lucky though. If I had to attack glued on stuff, I'd go for destruction and reach for the scotchbrite type discs on an angle grinder.

On 16/08/2022 at 18:28, Jean-Luc Pickguard said:

The transformation of the Hartke looks fantastic. I want to be rid of the fuzzy rat rur from my Schroeder 1212L, but I'm not sure I will have the patience to see the project through and will end up with a half stripped cab and loads of bits & pieces of hardware scattered about the place which the missus will attempt to tidy up and several bits will go missing.

Thanks very much JLP  Once you've started you've got to continue. It's a consideration though. Believe me, I dithered.

On 20/08/2022 at 11:22, Hacksawbob said:

We need pics with the badge on!

This is all going to happen. Sadly, I've discovered that the rattle I thought was down to the handles is the right side of the speaker plate rubbing on the cab box so I've had to stop whilst I fix this. It is really, really bad without the handle in.

I think I'm just going to counter-sink wood screws through the upright sides of the cab into the thickness of the plate to draw the plate and cab sides together, then paint over the screw heads with the tuff. Looks like someone has epoxied the left side, presumably to fix the same problem over there at some point.

Once you start, it never ends. Fml 

On 03/08/2022 at 15:50, PaulThePlug said:

Nah... black handles, otherwise it takes the 'effect' away from the grill...

I went for it anyway in the end. I think If I wrap the handles in black this is going to look even better.

On 01/08/2022 at 13:19, PaulThePlug said:

Chameleon Flip... aka TVR Cars and CCM bikes... Nice!

Yeah, that's the one.

Should I do the handles in the same? This is the question. It's not like I'm short of paint...

Well, here we are after a few weeks of buggering around in my spare time

Cab is Tuff Cabbed, corners are on and castors refitted. I replaced all the knackered black screws with stainless and I think it looks great.

The grille is actually painted with chameleon metallic flip paint- so it's black gloss on the metal with the flip over the top. You can't really capture this on camera but on this grille you kind of get a purple-to-royal blue metallic which is actually much less garish than it sounds. I really like it: It looks stylish and eye catching.

I'm not going to change much from here- I'll be repainting the handles in gloss black and wrapping the handle bars in blue grip.

Then I'll attach the logo that's been 3D printed for this once it's painted and sanded.

I got a tiny gouge taken out of the tuff cab transporting to rehearsal a couple of weeks ago. I just glued it down and dabbed a bit off tuff cab over it. Good as new.

I expect I would have been really annoyed had this been 150 quids worth of tolex with a tear in it. As it is, I couldn't care less.

Result!

1 hour ago, Downunderwonder said:

Is Mammoth Wool something different to Rat Fur? Reason I ask is nobody made light work of de-Rat Furring that ever I saw.

I think it is. I'm no expert in furry amp coverings of the 80s & 90s or anything though

I checked this before I even considered taking this job on as I'd removed the backplate to mount a Speakon. I could see it bagging around the edges and I could get a hand in behind it. Glue was dry and dusty. 

On 10/06/2022 at 09:16, casapete said:

I admire your wanting to cover the cab, but must admit I’d go for an easier / cheaper option - paint it 

with Tuff Cab using a roller for the best finish. Hardwearing and easy to keep it looking tidy.

Well, it's funny you should say this Casapete. Today is the first day I got just too bored and annoyed with the lack of choice in UK tolex and the sheer expense to continue down that road.

So I called Blue Aran this afternoon to get the coverage data (just under 2kg for 2 coats on a 4x10) and other bits of advice. I am completely confident this is going to go on in one afternoon and come out looking great. Sadly they're short of colours at the moment but I plan to scratch that itch with some detailing.

I have a brother who's also on Basschat who will probably split a 5kg can with me and he's 3D printed a logo for the grille as well.

So, cheers for the suggestions guys. I'll obviously whack some pics up as I go along.

6 hours ago, Crusoe said:

I'd sand and lacquer it, then stick the corner guards back on. 😃

Also not a bad shout tbh Crusoe and something I've also considered.

I mean, it looks hugely better with the fur off.

I am in a place of safety with a working cab that looks better than it did so I should just go with that. But I just know I'm going to do it, no matter how stupid and annoying it's going to be. 

On 08/06/2022 at 11:51, BassBunny said:

Sort of.

There used to be an Abakhan branch locally and I went there first, hi but they didn't have any colours I wanted so I made a note of the type of vinyl I wanted and ordered online in the shade I wanted. When it came it was actually better quality than they had in the shop.

Have you got a pic of how it turned out? I'd be interested to see this. Cheers!

55 minutes ago, BassBunny said:

Try fabric sellers like Abakhan.

I got some beautiful burgundy vinyl from them to cover a cab.

Very reasonable as well and great quality.

Thanks!

I did look at Abakhan online but I've heard stories of leatherette that stretches or splits as you're covering and without going there and actually getting a feel for it I didn't feel I'd know.

Did you just buy it blind? 

8 minutes ago, AndyTravis said:

Zilla Cabs?

Also a good idea but they don't supply it turns out. They just make cabs and have a page of tolex styes available.

4 hours ago, AndyTravis said:

A nice navy blue tolex to match the head?

Not a bad shout at all Andy- and one I have had myself.

I was thinking maybe a very light blue (Mojotone do a nice one) as this would pop onstage, wouldn't clash with the cab exactly and look kind of different on a massive cab. Allparts UK are out of this colour though so maybe I'll just be sensible and go for matchy-matchy. Thanks for your input 

Edit: I'm hugely limited to what Allparts or Solsound eBay in the UK can supply and they don't have any navy blue at the moment either.

Step 1 complete. I guess I'm committed now (or ought to be)

Planning to wrap this old cab. Mammoth wool is almost falling off on its own so I'd like to source some materials and get it looking nice for the gigging season.

Any recommendations for UK materials for this out there?

It's only an old Hartke but it is plywood and it sounds great. 

Any and all advice greatly appreciated.

9 hours ago, Geek99 said:

Welcome to The Light 

And the heavy, right?

15 minutes ago, paul_5 said:

Welcome on board chief, your gear will cost more and be heard less. ☹️

Man- tell me about it... Having said that, this HX Stomp gives you some options to do both which I'm enjoying a lot.

Sorry I've been off forum dealing with life and infections. Thanks for the lovely remarks. As a beginner it makes a huge difference. Here's a recent rough (very rough) studio take of an arrangement... minus a guitarist at the moment so I'm delving into effects on intro and outro parts with some crossover into drive, octave and Leslie speaker sim. Getting the baseline tone just so is so difficult... Massive respect to people who have this down.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ipe5k4b8uro3g29/Once Bitten.mp3?dl=0

On 19/10/2021 at 08:37, MysticGuitar said:

Nice to meet you. The songs sound good. Enjoyed them!

 

Thanks @MysticGuitar I appreciate it

3 hours ago, steve-bbb said:

Oh hai… 

Hai oh...

3 hours ago, Rich said:

Good morning Mr Dog (or is it Mr SOlitud? or Mr 3?  )

Welcome to our humble abode. Pull up a chair, grab yourself a cup/pint/dram/schooner* of summat and enjoy yourself. Don't forget to check out Guitarchat too. https://www.basschat.co.uk/forum/96-guitarchat/

*other beverage measurements are available

 

"Mr Dog (or is it Mr SOlitud? or Mr 3?"... I have no idea. The name is some dimly-remembered location from a sci-fi novel I read 20 years ago 

Thank you- I will have a go on the auld guitarchat section and hang out with the other heretics. Cheers!

3 hours ago, Bassybert said:

Welcome to the forum @D0gS0litud3

 

Really enjoyed those songs too ☺️

Thanks very much!  This is pretty light, lounge indie. We are a lot grungier these days. Me and the drummer have clicked on a much heavier groove now. We're minus a guitar player at the moment and I have an HX Stomp so...

1 hour ago, police squad said:

you're a natural. Nice one

Thanks very much. That means a lot actually. The fingerstyle stuff I played for years makes me quite a weird player really but it was damn useful when I dropped myself in the deep end for this EP- I could just concentrate on the left hand/ melodic stuff kind of thing.

On 05/10/2021 at 10:03, police squad said:

welcome sir, do we get to hear the recordings? What bass did you play?

Thank you Mr. Police. I'm currently cohabiting with a Reverend Sentinel shortie strung with TI flats. 

However, in studio I was on a borrowed LaBella loaded Mex P Bass. I did ok on maybe 3 months playing and a bit of comping I reckon. 

On 05/10/2021 at 16:25, ezbass said:

Plenty of folk here who dabble (or have done on the past) on the skinny stringed beast.

I must admit I sneak off for a bit of a crafty session from time to time and it takes a while for my fingers to stop feeling like bananas 😂

New to the forum and found this thread. Just picked up an HX Stomp but have been using a Peavey 15 via a Laney Nexus for the last year or so.

As it happens I have a 700W Line 6 StageSource L2t 2x10 I used for PA for a long while. I'm wondering if anyone has used these for this application?

I'm going to give it a go but I'll struggle to get up to level at home. Has some useful features in this direction such as flip out wedge feet and onboard EQ.