guyl

Wow - you're really spoilt for choice!

I just put the 2-band Aguilar preamp into my Warwick Streamer 6 and kept the original Bartolini pickups.

Keeps the original Warwick sound ..... but better! And I don't miss the mid-eq!

Apart from getting married, it's probably the best thing I ever did!

Guy

PS - only said that last bit cos the missus walked in!

Sometimes it's unavoidable!

Even then, it shouldn't be a barrier between muso and audience. Set it to one side - and step around it whenever you can!

I've got serious (Basschat-fuelled) GAS - have spent a fortune so far this year!

The spend that has best motivated/inspired and improved my playing has been watching other gigs and meeting other great bass players.

Your gear sounds great already. I suggest blowing £150 on seeing some great gigs and sharing a beer with some inspirational players. And if there's anything left when you've finished - donate it to Basschat!

I have used a B-Band Statement for about 6 or 7 years.

It has piezos under the bridge wings (that get all the toppiness) and one under the bridge foot (for the bassiness). The outboard pre-amp allows you to find the perfect blend between the two - with a two-channel footswitch that is perfect if you swap between arco and pizz.

It wasn't cheap, but if I ever lost it, I would buy another.

Up until fairly recently, I would have told you it was amazing! It actually flattered my bass (and poor technique!) with a warm, accurate, plummy-but-clear, deep sound - even with the amp eq set flat.

Earlier this year, I messed with the bass - moved the bridge and soundpost and the pickup was uninstalled and reinstalled a few times. Since then I have felt a bit of "nasel honk" creeping in and am now tending to use my parametric eq to iron it out. Reckon it needs some ongoing tweaking to rediscover that "sweet" set-up again!

I agree with Bass Bod's suggestion - start with the set up. It all happens through the bridge - is it a really good fit against the bass body and pickup? How about that bass bar and soundpost on the inside? Have you knocked them recently?

Also like Bass Bod, I have found speakers and amps make a huge difference. My SWR head with Ampeg cab sounds brilliant with electric bass, but absolutely shocking with upright. I have a Euphonic Audio iAmp head which sounds pretty good to me (with small EA cabs or Markbass cab).

You're on a real difficult mission - if you find an upright player that's happy with his amplified sound, be sure to introduce him! Good luck!

Don't worry if you don't gig your 6-fretless - it will be great for ironing on. Just be careful with the fret filler - might make a mess of your iron!

For those of us unlucky enough not to see the masterclass - or who can't get down to London on 13th - what else will Mr Jackson be doing whilst he's here in Blighty?

[quote name='bassbloke' post='8450' date='May 29 2007, 07:16 AM'][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=627"]OBP-1[/url]

There's an Aguilar obp-1 for sale on this board for £40. I reckon you could find a decent enough tech to fit it for the same. £80 to fit a quality 18V preamp in your bass.

I reckon that'd solve any oomph problems [/quote]

Hi

Don't want to labour an old thread, but I was so grateful for all the advice that I just wanted to give you some feedback!

Bought the abovementioned Aguilar OBP-1. Wimped out of fitting it myself, so paid someone else to do it. (Turned out to be money well spent, because he managed to extract all the original bits without any butchery.)

It certainly sounds different - after half a dozen gigs I'm still getting used to it and finding the best sounds. The bass somehow sounds cleaner - without loosing warmth ...... and louder! (No need to turn the amp anywhere near as loud as before!)

Most importantly it has cut through in each live situation - exactly what we set out to achieve!

The only feature that is missing (IMHO) is a mid-range eq. The 3-eq aguilar will be on my shopping list soon. (Need to check dimensions first - this 2-eq was a tight fit with the two 9v batteries)

Also had a great chat with John East - a lovely and helpful chap. Ended up a bit skint so didn't fork out for his preamp. Definately on the wish list though!

Got lots of other great ideas - GAS is going to be bad for new pickups and onboard preamps for a while.

Thanks for all your help guys - and I urge you, if you're ever unhappy with your sound - check out the replacement electronics before ebaying the bass! There's a world of great stuff out there - all of it far cheaper than a new bass!

Guy

PS - reason I'm skint is that I also gave into the GAS and bought a Stingray5 too! (Now that IS loud!)

Don't forget Alain Caron

[quote name='DHA' post='16267' date='Jun 12 2007, 02:50 PM']Hi,

I am trying to keep as much as possible to the valve/tube route as this is what poeple know us for. So, unless I see a demand for a valve mixer and EQ then it may not be something I would want to do.

But, maybe the idea of having a valve mixer on the front of one of my pre-amps is an option?

Why does it have to be a mixer and not a switcher as you will only be playing 1 bass at a time?

A 3 or 4 way input switch is much simpler and hence much cheaper.

Dave[/quote]


Sorry Dave - we're clogging your thread with general "wishlist" stuff.

My upright has a piezo pickup (to sound like an upright) and a magnetic pickup (when it starts to get loud). I blend the two on the hoof depending on the circumstances of the gig.

My electric is a whole different level of output again.

All I really need is a 1U mixer - but as I've never seen one off the shelf that is quite right, may end up get one custom made.

Probably something for a new thread.

Good luck with your preamp!

[quote name='dood' post='16181' date='Jun 12 2007, 01:00 PM']awww.. i have seen one. but for the life of me cant remember where. maybe a company like Raven labs made a rack mountable box. I have seen 1u 'mixers' too. much like the soundcraft, just in a rack as oppoed to a desktop module.[/quote]

If you remember .......

Hang on - an idea ......

Dave - how much to knock together a 1U mixer, with 3 channels in (1/4" jack on the front please), and one channel out into your (unbuilt) preamp or our bass amps?

A bit of eq, volume and a mute for each channel would be handy.

Oh yeah .... I've a thing for flashing lights so a couple of LEDs too please.

Quote: "Definitely at least two inputs/channels as well. I do use three basses in certain situations (fretted 5, fretless 5 and a 4 for slapping or thumpy retro sounds).

In an ideal world it would be nice to cater for three basses somehow but I don't know how feasible this might be."


Kiwi

Have you ever seen a decent bass head or preamp that has 3 inputs?

I use 2 upright and one electric and end up using little soundcraft notepad on top of my rig. Would love to get home quicker by reducing leads etc, but can't find a simple 1U rackmounted mixer (or pre/amp), with jack inputs and basic controls all on the front.

Great player - and a lovely guy!

A DI with a level control/mute and earth lift for me please! On the front if possible.

A decent eq would be handy too.

An LED meter would be useful, but more importantly flashing lights make any piece of rackmount gear look cool IMHO.

Sennheiser HD201's

Bought them after seeing them recommended in old Bassworld threads. They're great - really good value.

Hey - Thanks for the advice guys.

I'm off to check out the options that you suggested. On reflection, (and after a dozen years together,)I'm a bit emotionally attached to this old lump of wood and metal and would rather make it sound better (and more gigable) than just sell it off for a younger model!

Interesting to hear that Bassaussie doesn't rate MEC electronics. I think this bass was manufactured just before the Streamer 6's were sold with stock MEC inards.

Guy

This has probably already been covered in Bassworld/talk .... but I'd be really grateful for some advice!

I have owned a Warwick Streamer 6 from new (it is now about 12 years old). The Bartolini soapbars are warm and sound great in a small group situation, but the bass just doesn't have enough oomph to cut through a noisy drummer/guitarist mix.

This week, I went over to Sound Control Manchester - resigned to forking out for a Musicman, TRB (or anything that has punch and volume) for noisy gigs.

Got talking to the repair guy who is based at but independant from Sound Control. He reckoned that although the p'ups are Bartolini, the rest of the electrics are Warwicks own. His advice was to keep the p'ups and change the rest of the electronics for either MEC or Bartolini. This would give loads more output and general oomph.

Am a bit nervous of forking out (at least) a couple of hundred quid for something I've never heard or am not even certain would be an improvement. I'd be grateful for any advice - is this worth doing or is the money better put towards a new bass.

If it is worth doing - Bartolini's or MECs (or someone elses electronics?)