thodrik

I don't mind it. At least it brings another aspect to the usual Precision bass discussions: 1) Do you like Precisions? 2) How much does it weigh? 3) Do you want slanty frets with that? I think complaining about another Fender clone is a bit strange, as so many of the boutique makers base their designs on Fenders. I would love it if Dingwall did a take on the Gibson EB3.

Whole rig and half rig pictures of my rig for the last 3 years. Bought before I knew of the 'dangers' of mixing speaker sizes. It works fairly well though. I would really like to get an EBS or Bergantino cabinet, but the last few times I have actually had the money I ended up buying another bass/paying uni fees/buying a fridge. Also ignore the mic placement in the first picture, I had just moved it in the process of packing up! [attachment=94165:Fafner.jpg][attachment=94164:Squier 1 018.JPG]

[quote name='ped' timestamp='1322519910' post='1452163'] Lovely bass. I need to try a series 4 at some point. The pre-amp is meant to be pretty sweet. [/quote] Well it is really quite a 'polite' or and transparent eq system compared to the Excess I have. Running the all the eq knobs on full on the Arpege still gives a decent tone. The eq on the Excess was almost well, excessive if boosted beyond 50%. There is a huge range of tones available in the Arpege, though the natural tone of the bass is such that I don't really make use of the middle eq at all. The idea for separate 3 band eqs for each pickup is brilliant though. Has anyone tried the new Excess five string? It looks great.

[quote name='ped' timestamp='1321568272' post='1440886'] There needs to be a Vigier porn thread - I wonder how many owners there are now? [/quote] I have an Excess II in urban grey and the one of the new Arpege fives in the deep red colour. I love them, but I'm hopeless with photos, the only one I have is of the Arpege taken by its last owner (Captain Bassman). Better than nothing though![attachment=94118:Vigier Arpege V (2).jpg]

I really don't understand at what point a bass becomes a 'high end bass'. I class anything beyond a US Standard to be high end. I suppose we are comparing 'high end' to 'higher high end' when we compare Roscoe, Vigier, Spector etc to Ritter, Alembic and Fodera. At that point what is 'good' depends on the person playing it and what they want from the instrument. I have no need for a Ritter, Alembic or Fodera, but if somebody wants to buy one, then good for them.

[quote name='Merton' timestamp='1322244515' post='1448616'] Not at all. Totally in your face and aggressive if you want it to be and they both have Boost "channels" for grit. [/quote] I agree. I played through an rb1001 a couple of times and it had plenty of grit. Sounded great.

I went for 'likes' only. I nearly went with deactivate, but with facebook 'like' type stuff seems to be in fashion these days. I think that the existence of negative points could get very messy and personal so I wouldn't mind seeing it go.

You probably can't go wrong with either really. I suppose if weight is a factor then Markbass would probably have an edge. I don't care that much about weight and play with EBS head. No other reason than I played one and liked it. EBS stuff has a reputation for being good for a clean hifi sound, though its not really what I use mine for.

I have not played one, but they look really pretty. If they had been released when I bought my Sadowsky Metro I would have really considered them.

[quote name='Alec' timestamp='1321363380' post='1438203'] Ah, to be fair, it was the heads and combos which I'd noticed as having the scary prices - £1,530 for a 2 x 10 combo! And still £40kg... The heads are still "reassuringly heavy". On lifting the head on Sat the whole Trace experience came back to me, only to be shattered on handling the cabs! [/quote] Yeah, when I discovered that the EBS heads were cheaper than the 12 band Trace Elliots, I just went for one of those. The new heads don't really have many new features compared to any of the SMX/Series 6 amps, which you can pick up for a few hundred quid (which I have also done). I haven't actually tried the new amps though, so I don't want to be overly critical. I'm just not sure how the new stuff could be 'better' than the earlier stuff.

[quote name='Mike' timestamp='1321316432' post='1437868'] Thanks - good advice. I am looking at EBS heads. Interesting thought re. the 1x15 and 2x10 not having as much oomph. Why do you think this is? What about a 1x15 and 4x10? [/quote] To be honest I'm not sure it would be much better. A lot of people just generally advise to stay away from mixing speaker sizes, as it potentially leads phase cancellation. I'm not much for the finer points of technology and audio engineering but to my mind the danger of phase cancellation would be even worse with a 4x10 and a 1x15 than a 1x15 and a 2x10. I used to be of the logic that 'big speakers do the low notes and small speakers do high notes'. While this has small level of logic, without running a crossover, what you are getting is a full signal going through both cabs. Apparently the results can vary massively (ie it can sound great or not very good at all). There are many people on this forum that have a better idea than I do on what I am trying to say. In general the advice seems to be 'if you like the sound of a cabinet, the best thing is just to another one of the same'. So instead of a 1x15 and 2x10, you would be looking at a 2 1x15s or 2 2x10s. Having said that I'm pretty sure that either an EBS 2x10/1x15 or 4x10/1x15 would still sound great. I will say though that there is nothing wrong with using a 2x10 and a 1x15. I am perfectly happy with the set-up and it is more than capable of being so loud that it hurts.

Have you thought about getting an EBS amp? It would be a good match for the cabs. Most of their heads go down to 2 ohms. Or maybe even a stereo amp that can do 4 ohm a side? I think that Hartke LH1000 can do this and from my experience they work well with EBS cabs. Also in value for money terms I think they are best thing on the market. Though, really if you are really happy with an amp that you just got, I wouldn't necessarily get rid of it on the basis that you 'need' EBS cabs. There are many great cab makers out there that would allow you to use the Markbass head. A Bergantino 4x12/6x10 would be pretty close to the top of my list. Also I have been playing a 2x10 and 1x15 set up the last 3 years or so. It is really good, but I don't think it delivers as much volume as other set ups that have a similar stage footprint (ie a really good 6x10/4x12). Hardly lacking either though!

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1321297399' post='1437510'] I remember most Trace gear, including the little 115 combos, being incredibly heavy. True rivals for Peavey in that respect. [/quote] Funny that when Peavey acquired Trace the gear got lighter. Two negatives equals one positive? I have been playing with the new Trace cabs for a few years. Decent kit, though I don't think that they have the same bomb-proof nature of the older cabs. Poplar ply with a small mixture of MDF (I have the brochure somewhere). I was also pretty shocked at first with how light they were. The 2x10 is almost a one-hander over short distances. Still, the Celestion speakers do they job with most heads. To OP, I don't actually think that the cabinets are really that overpriced. They are about in same ballpark as Ashdown, Ampeg Eden etc. The heads though, are really expensive, one of the main reasons I didn't go for one when I bought the cabs

I have heard a few of the American/Electric amps, though only the guitar amps. I like them, capable of a lot of dirt as said before.. I wouldn't say no but its not the top of my shopping list. I have tried to read stuff on plantoftheamps before, but the mix of bad layout/bad grammar/my lack of technical knowledge generally left me more confused than I was before. Also I find the Electric/Green/White/Black website thing to be bloody confusing.

The first one goes a bit mad scientist with the loops, near the end. Very cool, I think I prefer his work with the loops than the double thumb-tastic stuff, though that is something to behold too.

I always think 3 is a good number, two nice ones and a cheap but decent back up. Bring one nice bass and the back up to each gig. If something goes wrong with nice bass number 1 at a gig, cheap one fills in. Whilst nice bass number 1 is getting fixed, nice bass number 2 takes its place. There is nothing wrong with owning loads of basses. If somebody has the money to buy them and wants to buy a bass rather than a TV/car etc, that is up to them. Future 'logic' when I have money: 1. Since I am I based in two locations, I need a nice bass at each location. 2. Since I am so creative, I need a really nice bass in every room so that I am able to play whenever an idea enters my head.

I would take any of the ones you have listed! Sunn 300T is great has iconic status, but finding one could be a bit of a pain, as would any attempt to find a Trace V-series, or even a Mesa 400+ nowadays. Not sure if you really 'need' an all valve head if you are going to use a pedal for overdrive rather than the amp itself. But if you want one then go for it. I wouldn't discount an Ampeg SVT Classic/VR if you can find one second hand either, or a hybrid type amp like an Aguilar/EBS/new Mesa stuff. Personally though, I would get a custom Matamp if I had the money to burn.

[quote name='Stinky' timestamp='1320067594' post='1421785'] the original Clover brand was founded by German luthier Reinhard Jedanzik in the Eighties and built high end modern basses centered around SKC manufactured graphite necks. The same necks as used by Shack and Slapper basses btw. the modern Clover company was started by an ex-employee of Reinhard and has dropped the graphite necks all together and concentrates on Jazz clones and a couple of proprietary designs. all wood, no graphite. i recently sold a Clover Basstard 5 string with graphite neck that i'd played for a couple of years because it became redundant since i bought my Fbass BN5 and that was a really good solid bass with all the characteristics you'd expect from a graphite bass. i've also tried a couple of the modern Apeirons and the quality is still top notch and if had to chose between a Sandberg or a Clover i'd have a hard time choosing. [/quote] Thanks for the information. I thought that there had to be some kind of change of designers for there to be such a change.

My 4U rack case has one space free, the first three being taken up by the Fafner. I have always been tempted to get something to fill the space. It would probably have to be an overdrive circuit or valve preamp of some kind since I have no need for an additional compressor or tuner. Mind you almost three years on and its still empty.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1319667377' post='1417171'] Lower cab is a BFM Omni 15 tallboy. I don't use them together as the Omni 15 gets on better with SS stuff, not very sensitive an goes much lower than valve amps will really do (although reckon my Matamp Slave will do it, is designed for such shenanigans). Here's the actual rig I use, except with a SC150 instead of a 120 now: The directional nature of side by side speakers means I can escape feedback by going off axis, giving me a degree more dynamic control. [/quote] Sweet. I'm jealous as hell.

Please tell me that there is a big heavy valve amp that goes on top as well! Great stuff.

[quote name='retroman' timestamp='1319581039' post='1416143'] Not really a totally original tone, as he does sound a little bit like Geezer Butler in the early Sabbath days, But Scott Reeder of Kyuss fame. Very under rated player, with a very distinctive tone. [/quote] I second that

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1319477848' post='1414680'] After 20 years I started on a five less than a year ago, It wasn't really by my own choice either as it was to play someone elses basslines (I still do) since then the fours get used very little now [/quote] Pretty much the same here. After twelve years I finally bought a five string. Now it is the main bass and everything else is sitting there unused. Not sure I would buy a four string again now outside of a classic Fender/Rickenbacker/Gibson/Musicman, which given my funds is not going to happen very soon.

[quote name='Lfalex v1.1' timestamp='1318795010' post='1406317'] It's fair to say that there's nowhere to hide when playing an instrument of this nature. The Vigier has always worked well with every signal chain component it's been plugged into, so it's perfectly tolerant of a wide variety of partnering equipment. Ergonomically, it's excellent, and it's eminently playable. Which can only leave the sound/tone, which is great. If "unforgiving" means that its clarity shines a bright light into oft hidden corners of player technique, then perhaps it is. I think I prefer the term "revealing" Similarly, if oddly EQ'd and suitably played, it could be described as sounding quite relentless. That said, a quick tweak and a softer technique and it'll simply sing. In a nutshell, precise and transparent. [/quote] I would love to try a Passion. I have an Arpege (current series) and out of all the basses I have I think that it is the most forgiving in terms of technique. I find that the EQ is more sophisticated than I need, but it is really smart and pretty subtle. The necks on the Passion/Arpege line are also pretty much the only 5 string neck I have played and felt 'at home ' on (okay I have only played Fender/Lakland/Sadowsky/Ibanez/Musicman fivers but still!).

Well the Walkabout has a really nice valve warmth to it and is very portable though not really in the class d stupidly lightweight range. I have had one for about 2 1/2 years and love it. Limited headroom compared to some of the class D digital power amp heads, but the valve overdrive is part of the character of the head. I have never felt that the head lacked volume in any setting though. It is bloody expensive now for the head on its own, more expensive that when I bought mine as a 1x15 combo. Cheaper alternatives? Not sure I have heard anything that comes close to it in terms of tone and portability, if you want an actual valve pre amp rather than an emulated valve preamp. For tone I would honestly say that the Harke LH500 is pretty damn great. Maybe the Orange Bass Terror for something really portable. Someone else here will probably say Markbass but I'm not that familar with them myself. Also Mesa do an M3 Carbine which I think is a fair bit cheaper than the Walkabout.