Nostromo

Thanx for all the replies to this question so far. Bill Fitzmaurice's input is useful as I'd not previously understood the importance of the EBP parameter. Ive just been looking on the RCF website - an enlightened mate down here near Bristol told me they made very good speakers, and, that I wouldn't be able to go wrong if I chose something from their range. Interestingly, they make literally dozens of different model Bass/Mid 12" speakers, many with impressive power handling and efficiency ratings. However, not a single one of them has a EBP of less than 155 and most are in the 200 / 300 range. ie miles away from Bill's recommended range of an EBP of less than 75 ? . . . I therefore conclude that RCF don't make anything suitable for use in a 2 by 12" closed box design ? . . . which is a bit odd as I know RCF make closed box PA speakers and I'd assumed they would use their own drivers in them ? . . . any thoughts Bill ? Anyway, I will be looking elsewhere as time permits - starting with Monz's advice re Eminence Delta's & skankdelvar's advice re Fane's ! ! Any further advice on best replacement speakers for a vintage 2 x 12" bass cab restoration very very much appreciated.

Thanks for your thoughts . . . . as for closed baffle/infinite baffle ? . . . you may well be right . . . . ! I'll remove that bit !

Hi, Not sure if this is in the right forum stream ? . . . maybe this should have gone in repairs and technical . . but its very much a "speaker" question and maybe more general knowledge than technical - so here goes :- I've got a vintage 1970's Hiwatt 2 x 12" cab - minus speakers. As a cab its in very good condition for its age - so good that I'd never get rid of it - and so its been hanging around for ages as a project in waiting. Its speaker baffle (ie the front board with speaker cloth over) is already cut out for 2 x 12" speakers - so that's obviously what it was previously / originally loaded with. Its 25" wide, 15" deep and 30" tall, very heavily constructed, obviously has plenty of internal volume so would make a good bass cab I should think. Though I would have to say I don't know if it was a bass cab or a guitar cab originally ? It's a closed back design ie not open or ported - just a closed box. There is hardly any legible information left on the data plate on the rear - everything has faded away. Question is simple . . . Im thinking of running it with a vintage style all valve head (yet to be purchased - but obviously a HIWATT valve bass head comes to mind ? indeed, a HIWATT 400watt valve head would do the trick I think - Ive just been looking at one on eBay !!! . . . . perhaps a silverface bassman might be more in my price range though ??) So that question . . . yes . . . [b]what replacement speakers should I put into it ?[/b] . . . . . I'm hoping to recreate a vintage Bass Cab tone and have plenty of power handling ? Will be running Fenders Jazz and Precision through it - playing Blues and 70's rock. Any advice much appreciated.

I only use one effect with my Bass rig . . . an old Dynacord CLS222 1U rack unit . . . designed as a Leslie Cabinet simulator originally I believe . . . . it offers some amazing Chorus like effects and will run either mono or stereo . . . . I use it with my SWR 500 . . . . wicked . . . . does some very interesting things in the bass registers.

Hi Bilbo, This has been a really interesting debate to follow. I was drawn to it as I recently ordered and then bought a custom bass . . . and indeed . . . . reaction to that move from fellow musicians I know has been mixed to say the least and generally negative. So, I thought I'd chip in and just share my experiences - Ive experienced various different reactions from players . . . but by far the most common reaction has been from (what appears to have been the largest like minded group of musicians) who think the only instruments that are any good at all are vintage instruments (pre CBS fenders etc etc !) . . . so I've had retorts like . . . "you must be mad, you could have bought a really decent 60's Jazz Bass for that money" ? The second biggest group of comments were from those who advocate that a well set up Squire or other cheap copy is just as good a USA bass and thus by definition I've just wasted my money ! . . . irrespective of the fact that I had particular reasons for going the route I did ! Very few musicians have bothered to say - that's a nice guitar, or inquired as to why I went down that route - almost all have had a preconceived view on the subject . . and this thread seems to bear out that observation I think ? For me, I went the custom shop route for purely ergonomic reasons. I like the Jazz Bass and specifically the narrower neck of a Jazz Bass. I believe I'm quite a decent player, but I really struggle with wide necked instruments. (I just don't find them comfortable to play at all and I end up focusing on fret board technique rather than performance when I'm not playing a Jazz Bass. With a Jazz neck, I'm comfortable, and I just get on with the music and the gig and don't even think about the neck at all). I learned to play on a Jazz width Neck - an early Japanese Jazz Bass Special - which I still gig regularly - and now, many years later, that's definitely the neck shape I'm most comfortable with. So, when I wanted a nice precision bass, which I do believe sounds fundamentally different to a Jazz, i was a bit stuck, because I didn't want a precision neck. I've heard that you can swap the necks over between Jazz's and Precision's as, apparently, the neck pockets are all the same, but I just didn't know enough about the subject to risk buying two donor guitars and taking them to bits ? . . So . . . I decided to order what I actually wanted ? I'm really happy with the outcome . . . a nice custom USA bass with a precision pick up and a fine Jazz neck - just as I like it ! . . . . Whilst I was at it, I asked for a nice birds eye maple neck as well - I simply thought, I'm ordering a custom instrument and paying extra, so it may as well have some feature that showcases it as compared to a standard instrument ? So, there you have it . . .thats my contribution. I think custom is fine if that's what you want. If Fender made a nice precision base with a Jazz profile neck I'm certain thats the route I would have gone. But they dont (or didn't then) so that why I've got my custom ! Long live interesting debate and different points of view ! ! . . . . both of which are, of course, so very well facilitated by Basschat !

Welcome Stefan, I'm sure you'll be glad you joined up here at Basschat. Its a real good discussion forum. Lots or helpful and knowledgeable people looking in. Cheers, Nostromo

Greetings to all in Basschat land, Thought I'd resurrect this thread again ? . . . I'm still thinking about this Carvin Bass, which is still for sale . . . but I still know precious little about the quality of these ? Anyone out there got a Carvin ? . . . or any experience of Carvin's in general ? Any info or experience with this marque very much appreciated ? . . . I know Timothy Schmitt's got one . . . but thats literally all I know ! I've never played one or even seen one in the flesh ?

Greetings Bass Doc, Thank you very very much for your kind offer. What a fantastic site Basschat is. So many friendly and helpful people out there. I hope I'm able to help a fellow member some time in the future. Thanx Nostromo

Hi. Ive lost one of the tiny little barrel screws off the top string saddle of the bridge of my Fender Mexican Jazz Bass . . . I'm not exactly sure what these tiny little screws are actually known as in the trade ? ? . . but, just to clarify, its one of those pair of little screws that adjusts the height of each barrel on the bridge. Would anyone know where I could order a replacement one ? Ive been googling . . . but haven't found anything, because, as I say, I don't exactly know what these little screws are called ? . . so am not hitting the right sites in my searches ? Also, I dont know if, or how often, Fender have changed the specs of bridges fitted to Mex Jazz Basses ? . . I guess their may be umpteen different lengths, diameters and even threads ? . . So even if I find a supplier will it be easy to order one that will be the right one for my Mexican Jazz Bass (The serial number of my bass starts MZ217.... so I'm wondering if that means maybe its a 2002 bass ? . . if it is, maybe that might help me get the right part ? ? ) Any help or advice very very much appreciated as the bass is unplayable till I sort this out ? Thanks

Hi, Ive got a first refusal opportunity to buy a secondhand mint Carvin LB70A Anniversary Series 4 string Bass. (Owned by a collector and occasional unplugged bedroom use only) I've got some photographs of the actual bass, which is finished in a very very attractive looking natural flame maple top with what looks like an ebony neck. Electrics and controls I'm told are as standard for this model. Thing is . . I'm not going to be able to try before I buy ! . . the price is good but Im in the position of having to buy it on the strength of the photos if I want it. So, has anyone out there got one of these ?. . .and if so any advice on how you get on with it much appreciated ? . . . particularly . whats it like to use live . . good bad points ? . . and particulaly, of course, what does it sound like and how does the neck feel (is it wider or narrow / deep or shallow) . . .any of this stuff much appreciated ? . . I've never bought a guitar without trying it before - but will have to if I want this one ! ! Cheers All.

Thanks everyone . . . advise and experience much appreciated . . . I'm about to take the plunge . . . will let you know how I get on ! Cheers Nostromohttp://basschat.co.uk/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif

Hi, Not quite sure where to post this ? . . so - if anyone thinks I've posted in the wrong section then please let me know ? Have been wondering about a fretless bass - some of the more budget models seem to be offered with Ebonol fingerboards ? . .about which I know very little ! The squier vintage modified fretless bass is an example that comes to mind ? I've done a bit of surfing and know that Ebonol is some sort of paper & resin concoction ? . . . . but . . . Does anyone know if these necks are any good ? . . . I'm speculating, for example, that they may just be cheap fretboards . . which, inevitably, means they are probably going to be bonded over equally cheap low quality necks ? . . but . . maybe the whole Ebonol thing is ok ? . . . and maybe they didn't ought to be dismissed as some cheap avoidable substitute ? Any advice welcome ?

Wow . . I knew they were expensive . . but not that expensive ! I got my example from an eBay auction on eBay.de so it came from Germany. It says 220v on the back rather than 230v but it seems to work fine - so I dont think that is a problem ? It cost me 200 Euros plus postage. Great sounds to be had. Cheers

Thanks Dave, I will click the link . . . still not sure why I'm so taken by this bass . . . but I am ! Best regards [url="http://basschat.co.uk/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif"]http://basschat.co.uk/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif[/url]

Could anyone offer any advice on how to get hold of a Guild M85 in good condition ? I have no idea how rare they might be, no real understanding of what the market values are and even less of an idea of how to actually find one ? My various ebay and other internet searches over recent months have not picked up even a single sniff of a "for sale" example ? Are they as rare as hens teeth or am I just looking in the wrong places ? Any advice on rarity, values or chance of finding one very much appreciated. Nothing worse than wasting a load of time and effort looking for something that is not realistically out there in the marketplace to buy ? Cheers All

[quote name='LeftyJ' post='505249' date='Jun 4 2009, 08:35 AM']Both share the same set neck construction, the difference is in the hardware: the Contemporary has the same pickups and hardware as a German-made 500/1 whereas the Icon has Chinese-made hardware and electronics. Interestingly, the Contemporary also has a solid maple sustainblock, whereas the Icon is a full hollowbody.[/quote] Thanks . . . I think its the contemporary that I should be contemplating ! . . . sounds like the better option ?

Hi, EXH have a site: [url="http://www.ehx.com/forums/viewforum/8/P50/"]http://www.ehx.com/forums/viewforum/8/P50/[/url] you may find some help on it ? Cheers

Hi all, I've just picked up a Dynacord CLS222 and have been experimenting with it as a bass effect. I understand its original design intent was as a keyboard players Leslie rotary speaker cabinet simulator as much used with Hammond organs. Anyway I can report that when rigged up on the fx send and returns on my SWR amp it delivers some very sweet and usable results. I'm still at the experimenting stage with it at the moment but I do like it especially when only a small amount of signal is dialed into the mix. When its full on obviously its er "a bit overpowering" ! it's also very quiet electrically ie no unwanted background noise . . . anyone else out there ever used one in their bass rig ?

Hi all, My question is, is there any physical difference between the Hofner Contemporary (CT) Violin Bass and the Icon Series Violin Bass ? . . as I understand it, both are made in China, both get good reviews. The CT seems to be mainly for sale in the UK whilst the Icon seems to be mainly sold in the US. Are there any other physical differences or is it just different labellings for different markets ? Any info appreciated. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif"]http://basschat.co.uk/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif[/url]

Hi All, I’m a new joiner . . totally new to forums as well, so just finding my way around the site to see how it all works ? I’m in a band playing around the Frome/Bath area, in the south west, and whilst I'm old ! . . I haven’t been playing bass that long, only a couple of years, so still very much a beginner really, but I played a bit of guitar over the years before I took up bass so my learning curve maybe not so steep due to that background. I’m into the gear thing (aren’t we all to a greater or lesser degree ! !) . . . I have a couple of nice early 80’s Japanese Jazz Bass Specials, one is the ‘Power’ model which is active, the other one is the standard passive one, and I got into those because having been lucky enough to try one, I really liked the neck profile and neck shape together with the idea of getting Jazz and Precision pickups (and hopefully sounds) all out of one guitar. I guess I prefer the passive example sound wise, I use that one the most anyway – the power is definitely different, louder and brighter but surprisingly not seeming to have quite such a wide tonal range ? . . . One thing I’ve found about playing bass guitar, maybe due my 6 string guitar background or smallish hands, is that I get on very much better with a narrower neck, so I like a jazz width neck in preference to a precision neck. Backline wise - I’ve got a SWR SM500 head and the choice of using my David Eden 4x10 for bigger gigs or my recently acquired epifany 3x10, (really light) for smaller gigs. All my gear is second hand, never bought any of it new, and Im very happy with it all . . I also have an old Hiwatt bass cab from the mid/late 70’s I think, but that hasn’t got any speakers in it – that’s a project for the future . . ie maybe putting together a vintage backline rig ? Finally, and the reason I joined the site really . . Im thinking of picking up a hofner Violin Bass, one of the budget ones that are getting such good reviews. My question is, is there any difference between the Contemporary (CT) Violin Bass and the Icon Series Violin Bass ? . . as I understand it, both are made in China, both get good reviews and the CT seems to be for sale in the UK whilst the Icon seems to be mainly sold in the US. Are there any other physical differences or is it just different labellings for different countries ? Cheers all. looking forward to any info on the Violin Bass question ? [url="http://basschat.co.uk/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif"]http://basschat.co.uk/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif[/url]