JTUK

yep..it is not like you haven't got spare watts...

The EQ config is great for notching out unwanted frequencies but other than that I don't use it. If a really old one, then don't use the bass beyond 12...as some models had unusable sub which is a power drain.. They remedied this on later amps and not sure if it applies to 220's. The EQ is very powerful and you can screw the sound out of sight..later variants of these amps..like the Eden WT series and Thunderfunk uses the enhances and timbres to map general useable sounds but SWR predated all this. Once you get to grips with the 4 band para you'll not want anything else EQ wise... but you can taker a while to suss it out. I just match my bass to the general sound and turn up... if you have to go hunting for the sound, then it can get trickier...but that also applies to other amps anyway.

Don't care... I just look to see where everything will fit and I'll go next to the keys. But... I wont tolerate a squeeze in anywhere... we need about 5-6 mtrs and as deep as we can get,

No, it doesn't work that way... you'll get out at 4 ohms what the map will produce..likely around 500-ish. The amp will split that between the 2 cabs resistance..which should be 4 ohms..so 250 each. if the amp was rated at 500m in 4 ohms. I don't know those cabs..but I would be sceptical about them handling 400watts of bass. The price doesn't suggest the most robust units.. BUt...all this talk about watts... nobody really knows what it sounds like... and whether your amp can produce that clean or in its dreams.. Same goes for cabs as well... So on paper, the 2x210 idea should work. I never think 1x210 will work if you have to push it..but it does depend of the units a lot, IMO.

if he gets paid a small fee by the venue..and nobody turns up, then that will not last long at all, so from that POV, I wouldn't worry about him.. but the thing that bands get most nervous about these days is not getting enough people in. Bands themselves will not survive in pubs on that basis so homeowrk is required, doubly so when tickets are involved. But sure, you are going to have to determine what agent/promoter is worth working with. Our rule is not work for anyone doing anything we can do ourselves... as we rather keep the fee but that does mean the bands taking a lot of responsibility.

In this regard, I always want more cab power than amp... and if you are running effects, this makes it more sensible, IMO. Another 15 will get your combined cab power to around 600...and I think that will be more that loud enough...but at very loud gig levels, you could still easy blow a speaker esp if you can't hear the speaker break-up because of effects..?? Plus TE cabs are likely to have had a hard life...ie having been used lots, so not the freshest of units..? But yes..anothe TE option is probably the cheapest option... I'd go for a decent 212 myself...for carry and volume ,,, but the cab will still not have enough watts, ..... but you need to accept that one cab will always come up short,,,unless you are talking 610 upwards..

I wouldn't either... I used a LMII today in a 12" combo...as it happens ..and left my TF in the car. What a mistake that was...!!! I was able to get the LM working ok after a while but the volume was low..and the LM works well there. Where the TF will put considerable distance between a lot of other amps, IMO,,,, is when you push it harder. The sound stays very focused but dynamic whereas the LM is flat and dry...and not to my liking at all. Most of my experience with MB has been with their combos.... so maybe I should try a LM with anothers cabs..?? BTW... I know where there is a WT800 for sale...

Can't see your current cab is going to be much use.... it is way underpowered. That is not to say it isn't usable but it is only a stop-gap. Nothing in the cab that will suggest replacing the units is a good idea, either, IMO. To use anything near 900, you will be looking at two cabs, generally, anyway. I'd prefer something more modern..as opposed to modern sounding, but you could look an Eden or SWR 410 from their pro range... or Ampeg. They seem to be available for decent money...

If the gig is poorly attended, how is he raking it in..?

[quote name='RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE' timestamp='1353503520' post='1875265'] I used to play only headless, so that wasn't an issue. I was worried about the way the string wraps around the machine head . Cheers [/quote] You should always be concerned about how a string winds... and if you are careful, you should be able to swap out quite a few times. If you clean up strings you'll probably have come across this issue... and have had a few strings give way on you thru fatigue. I normally find strings are past their useful life after 4-5 cleans and rewinds... Fatigue and gunk gets deep into them and the thicker strings can't/don't clean up to be useable..so I bin them

SWR built them to run HOT..as they used very good componets. My amp tech says this is a poor design... but I disagree as my SM400 hasn't missed a beat in 20 odd years. Thunderfunk copied the amp, IIRC..and they aren't bad amps either. It was likely brought as a studio pre amp... and the tone shaping is very powerful. By todays standards it may seem underpowered but I still have my SM400 and can't bare to sell it even tho I never get to take it out these days, it is worth more to me than the sum I would likely get for it. If doesn't get a look in against a TF550-B or DB750 but they were very well made and spanking amps back in the day. The EQ is quirky and you need to know your way around it....but a great piece of kit.for that price

Since you are too tight to go and check out that bass, I'd think about a foam pick, or palm muting and playing with the thumb

[quote name='Low End Bee' timestamp='1354876622' post='1891442'] Help! I'm going to have to do a few of these next year and I need advice. The guitarist is sorted with his acoustic. The drummer has got one of those box thngs with the snare in it that sounds great. We had a stab at it at rehearsal last night and it all sounded pretty good apart from the bass. The Precision with super zingy steels through a TC Classic wasn't working. I EQ'd the top end off which helped but it was still too dominating unless I backed off the volume so much you could hardly hear me. I'm guessing flats. Maybe a different bass and amp too. Is fretless the thing to do? Short scale for some thump? I'm not going down the upright bass road and I don't want a huge acoustic bass either. Any suggestions? This is right out of my comfort zone but I'm looking forward to the challenge. [/quote] ohh...don't get me started... If I had a gig that made the outlay worthwhile... I would go straight out and buy this Overwater 5st Fretless I tried in BassGear. F****** amazing bass. Not my thing aesthetically, but the playability and sound were the DB's.... I would get into being a fretless god if I had that at home to use... I advise you don't go down there to try it...

[quote name='crez5150' timestamp='1354875939' post='1891428'] Depends on the band...... I'd say 70% of my gigs and practice is slap [/quote] Really...???? I'd say waaay less than 1% of the parts I play require slap in most bands..and that I'll slide in a fill in a song..but that is just me making it interesting for myself...or....tbh.. showboating. For practicing..it is whatever interests me at the time.. so maybe much more. I was asked to do a funk gig..and the lady/singer said she didn't know if I was a 'funk' player. I asked her what was her definition of funk...and who would she say was a funk player..??? Suffice to say..we were miles apart... but it did make me laugh. Not sure if I have got the gig... or if I want it but I find this type of thing very typical..!!

Funny how the slap parts get the attention and replays...? How much of anyones gig is slap..?? How much of anyones practice regime is dedicated to slap..?

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1354840632' post='1891249'] who says youtube vids are bad? [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOJzRxlBRhI&list=FLzVUqeF1SLjxa78y2gd03dQ&index=348[/media] [/quote] See...that is just as wrong, IMO. The bass lines work in itself...but if you were to play it like that... you'd change the rest of it.

[quote name='Doddy' timestamp='1354835687' post='1891188'] The thing is,Bobby Watson's line on 'Rock With You' is already pretty busy. This guy is just taking it that bit too far and not really grooving with it. To be honest,I just don't see the point in what he's doing. [/quote] I'd go with this.. Doesn't work for me...and some of the fuills are too clumsy anyway. If the track was produced, a lot of that would be left on the floor or buried a bit more. But then again, they would direct him and tell him to try again.. Watson's track has such a lanquid feel but who knows how many takes it took.. So, for the point of the OP, yep, doesn't work..but maybe being a bit harsh on the guy.... but then again he did PUT it out there.. whereas you'd leave the failed takes in the bin..??

Don't know how the amp stacks up, but an Eden 212 from their pro range...or old SWR would be the best bang for buck, IMO. SWR's Goliath types and Eden are way too cheap...and the only trade-off is the weight but I'd be betting the SWR410 ll/lll or Eden 212/410 XLT type outclass anything else mentioned here...and even more so, when you can pick them up for pennies. IMO. Can't say whether it would match your amp tho..

And no..Eden is not cheap kit..altho they do a cheaper range which I haven't really used. But their XLT and alter models were pretty much standard Tour rigs. Even now, I think you'll struggle to put much distance, AT ALL, between top range gear now and Eden back then.

I know where there are Eden 210XLT and 212XLT cabs. plus a WT800, as well I will probably put them up on here for sale.. They aren't owned by me.. I've used them tho... BOLLOCKING sound.. and it is a long story, but PM me for details. Otherwise expect to see a FS thread soon-ish.

Not fussed about the core as such... but I don't like clumsy winds thru the posts either, so tapering there is good as far as I am concerned. Bare to the core over the bridge makes the string quite flexible, so you might be able to cope with a thicker gauge by 5 thou or so.. but then that might not suit your style... I also don't much like the silk/cotton winds.. Tried pro steels and they are ok... My second and third choice of late had been Smiths @ no 2, and Pro steels at no 3.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1354722521' post='1889595'] Thanks for the recommendations. I've never tried Elixier bass strings but I did try their guitar strings and they felt absolutely disgusting - IIRC they lasted a day before I took them off and chucked them out. Also the bass that I want to put them on is mostly played with a pick which I've heard isn't good for coated strings. Several years ago I bought a whole load of different DR strings after reading good things about them here. Unfortunately I didn't like any of them. They felt floppy and sounded dull. [b]Super Steps are bare core over the bridge on all strings?[/b] I think I'll give the Ken Smiths a go and if they don't do the job and the La Bellas are still providing impossible to get, I'll be back in Touch with Newtone. They've made me excellent (although not to these specifications) strings in the past. [/quote] Super Steps are single core over thr bridge and I got Netwone to do the same... but I guess you could ask them to taper the core instead on the thicker gauges. As they wound mine to order, I think they were up to doing whatever I asked for. The 1st order was for 2 sets just to see if I liked the strings..which I did...so now I put in orders of 3 at a time. As far as I can see... the wind process is the same as I adopt the Diamond series steel and gauges..but they fine-tune the end of the string near the bridge business. I just rang them up and asked them what they did..and they suggested a few things and we ended up with a mini custom order. Special to me...but probably a doddle to them.

[quote name='thisnameistaken' timestamp='1354708940' post='1889348'] I think the people who get angry at what they call 'low-ball' offers are the people who've over-valued their items and as such have received more than one such 'low-ball' offer. If someone offers me a price too low I'll just politely refuse. It's part of the game and I've got enough stress in my life without getting offended at the slightest provocation. [/quote] Probably this....... You are always going to get different valuations and people have their own 'style' in dealing... and think all is fair . I try not to get too worried about... I can always say no if I am selling...and I only want to pay what it is worth to me. But then I and not a dealer so I don't look for the best price just so I can make out of it. I generally decide what I think about a sale on the 'relationship's I have with the other party... and if I don't like way the deal is going, I am not going to be a party to it.. Sometiems that might cost..

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1354714372' post='1889457'] They seem to have most of the LaBella range except for Hard Rockin' Steels? [/quote] Super Steps are all tapered and I like them as well. I used to get mine from Thomann but find Newtone better all round. Clean strings, UK wound, nice funky little local company and cheaper. I buy them direct from Malcom at Newtone and that suits me. K smith are decent. I believe DR do a semi taper on the E..but you should ask to check.. It is a long time since I bought DR's now tho..

Sounds like a happy situation all round