JTUK

Even though you always knew it was a pick...recall learning that with fingers

Newtone Diamond custom winds for me. Very clean looking string, feels great and not too bright out of the pack which means they last a very long time...ie any dull-off is not really noticable so far. I've had a set on since xmas..which is eons for me... and they stil perform. In the same time my La Bella Super steps which is also a great string for me and probably a brighter string out the box.. have dulled significantly and I HAVE to change them this week. I am convinced that some makers have downgraded the metal content which is why I've spent the last two years trying all sorts.. Admittedly it is still a theory, but ..????

Quite happy to dismiss certain numbers but I play very quietly and need headroom on my amps. everyone I know gets faaar more volume out of my set-up than I do... as they simply bash the strings harder. With both my amps... for decent sized stages, I have to drive between 12-and 2 o'clcock with the Parametrics flat. That is more than enough volume into 4 ohms and the sound stays focused on the TF-550 more than the SWR which has a tube pre. I'll have to borrow and demo one of these Reidmars if I was going to consider buying one as I just don't know if it would work for me. Quite happy to accept it works for others, tho.

Depends on the P.A... if you have a decent full range rig, then the re-inforcement is there..if you just have vox... the band mix will not project or stay together very well..some instruments will carry better or worse than the other. If you are in a small Pub garden then ok... More upper registered instruments carry better through open air and bass is more affected tone-wise. You will likely loose the botom end over an in-door gig so need to compensate. If you work of the basis that you can all hear each other [u]well[/u] on the stage area, then 40-50 feet back will also be not too bad. Any further and it becomes a trickier.

[quote name='Ghost_Bass' timestamp='1332943153' post='1595219'] Sorry to be the one telling you this but i have the Shuttle 9.0 (same B&O power stage than the TH500) and the Reidmar is louder wilst retaining definition. If i push the 9.0 too much things start to compress and dissapear... [/quote] hmm ok, I have two amps 400w and 550w at 4 ohms and weigh 20lbs max so if I need something smaller and compact will keep the Reidmar in mind. Will see how their history pans out as in no rush, atm

Should the drummer keep time..? absolutely, as most of the time he is best place to do this. That is not to say it is his and his alone, responsibility, but he has to drive and he has to take a lead. A drummer who sits back and follows is not a whole lot of good to anyone. The time, temp and groove should start with the drums. If they haven't got that, you can't really rescue the song, IMO. If I had many gigs where I was bailing out the drums, then that gig wouldn't last long. I had a recent nightmare where I had to be the bass and the drums... and that was a mess I would not want to repeat. Ok, it was for a mate as a throw-together-favour, but even so...!!

Yep..not sure I can use a 250w amp, tbh. I think I should be able to but doubt I could. And I have very good single 12's anyway so maybe I just want a small amp like a TH500

IMO, IEM needs at least 4 mixes off the desk if you all go this route. If less, then very hard to control and make work as the band may well be playing to no bass on stage and that is no fun for anyone. The stage sound is poor, then the performance can suffer as no one feels it. You need to be very disciplined to get past this state of affairs, IMO.

Don't expect the sound to any good but I doubt you'll be the worst affected. Most drummers don't hit well enough to project outside so the other instruments will be loud enough. The gtrs could likely blow it all, of course.

Thanks, guys. Had it while now and it is my go-to rig as it always delivers. I like it has the the old iconic Ampeg style thing going on..

[size=5][sub]hmmm am tempted... such a good looking little mini-rig.[/sub][/size]

My best choice atm. [attachment=103540:2011-12-03 16.50.11.jpg]

Rig 1 [attachment=103538:2012-03-10 19.53.27.jpg] and Rig 2 and 3 [attachment=103539:2012-03-19 17.23.08.jpg]

If that is the shop attitude then I doubt you'll be too keen to go back and buy one...they might want to think that one over, but then you are dealing with some shops paying some assistants not a lot and who may not be swicthed onto 'business'. They may be basically baby-sitting the shop so what you get back from them is what you get, I'm afraid. Having recently been in a large chain to try a cab..which they didn't actually have after all, I tried to put some time into an amp.. The basses...of which there were MANY..were not well set up at all..and just a few minutes with a tuner and an allen key would have made them infintely more playable and therefore more condusive to selling something. I'll do it myself next time...but wasn't after a bass and assumed with 50 plus of the things in stock, there'd be something worth playing and spending time with.. Now... that experience has put me off even going back there. I am sure I'll pop in if I am passing and need to waste some time, but I doubt I'd be interested in checking out anything they advertise...which rather seems to be a classic own goal type thing on their part, if this is a typical experience repeated by others. I am not talking about truss-rod tweaks just saddles and intonation in about 5 minutes....surely, there must be someone there who could do that..!!!

I'd cut my losses and sell as is...or put the P-bass bridge back and sell the Badass seperately. If the bass isn't working, I think you'll be throwing good money after bad...on a guessimate that you might be able to buy something to enhance the bass..be it, pups or a set-up..

I'd like to see Pete's Nearly Dan, any of Chris_b's outfits and maybe Beedster's if he lets me know where they are playing. Ditto for Harry's bands. Saw Policesquads band a few weeks ago...

How many mixes do you get to use them with..?

[quote name='Low End Bee' timestamp='1332843022' post='1593735'] I've been using DR Black Beauties for a few years now. I've noticed since they 'improved' the coating they've been losing their zing much quicker and the G string is like a rubber band in a week or so. Very disappointed. Particularly as they look great on a bass. I got myself a couple of sets of D'Addario Pro Steels (for less than half the price of DRs) and I'm liking them a lot. Sound like brighter RS66s and still have top end after three weeks of hard playing. I'll trade off the looks and smoothness for the improved sound. Any other good stainless strings I should consider? [/quote] After using DR for nigh on 20 years, I have binned them for Newtone. I feel Newtone are now making strings that DR used to. I have posted about this problem more than a couple of times and for me, Newtone make far superior strings. Admittedly, I have had custom winds made but I have no reason to think their normal Diamond series straight out of the pack will not be of the same excellence. Plus for a set of 5 customs. they are at least £10 cheaper. The money would matter less that the product had DR been on par, but I honestly don't think that they are these days. Too many dud strings, and little problems that were not there a few years ago, IME.

Good luck with it.

[quote name='LawrenceH' timestamp='1332795505' post='1593345'] Interesting, not being fussed either way about Muse I've not heard of that - sounds painful/amusing. [/quote] It was funny but also you felt for them... and I am no Muse fan, It was featured here as part of the click track thread, IIRC. I must say that I am a stickler for my sound..and have spent enough money chasing it one way or another..as I guess others here have, so I don't know why anyone would accept any sound as long as they could hear it.. Of course, there are certain problems at times, but maybe it is because I am too old to put up with it. If I can't do it properly from my POV, and that means as good a stage sound as poss then I'd pretty soon not bother. don't talk to me about my last gig ha ha !!!

I'd be thinking 2xDB210's if you weren't going to hammer the sound...which I doubt you would do on your gig. I use them with a TF-550-B and the sound is great..and am glad I went that route instead of a DB115 plus DB210 in which the DB115 is heavier. The sound with 2x210 is big and very punchy with a full but focused low B The DB210's aren't light at 60lbs but are easily manageable. and I use a smaller 2x112 rig for smaller stages. If the gig wanted more than I have atm, I'd run a 610 or DB810...and feel that Aguilar miss a trick not running a 610 option

[quote name='Mog' timestamp='1332776393' post='1592951'] I used to get fairly pissed off at it but came to the conclusion that once the sound out front is good and the drummer can hear the bass then its ok. I know my lines well enough to be able to get through a show without hearing the bass all the time. [/quote] Ever wondered how Muse fell apart at that gig...you can't say they didn't know their parts well enough. If you can't hear another instrument...and you rely on him being in the right place all the time ..which granted he should be, but stuff happens and a queue might be missed. If you can't hear him..then you have no idea where he is musically... so couldn't correct a mistake if you wanted to.. you probably wouldn't be too aware of it.. if you can't hear. That is why the Muse train wreck went on for as long as it did.. So, if you can't hear your bass but know where you are in the track that is one thing..but that will not help anyone else, should they forget a cue. And if they can't hear you either, they will not know if you have caught the error or are oblivious..??? Hearing and good monitoring is everything, IMO. and once you have got to that stage..you might as well insist that the stage sound is good and representative. Anything else is just way too slack in standards. Why should you expect the sound to be great out front if he can't get the monitor sound any good. there may be excuses and circumstance, but assuming isn't a good place to start, IMO.

I would still say that a good 410 is still the cab to beat... altho I am a fan of 2x210's for the carry aspect. For a 212 to get near that..or 2x112 you will have your work cut out, IMO...but then you also need to factor in other compromises...which most of us have to accomodate so it comes down to the individual, as always.

Messin' with the kid... can't even get any further than the title..!!! So that is quite a few blues bands sets ripped to shreds