basshead56

Hi All, A late engagement present for myself has finally arrived - I figured I'd done the hard part paying for a big diamond ring for her indoors, so why not treat myself Got a bargain of a deal on an unsold shop-stock Fender Jaguar ( Hot Rod Red of course!) She's sitting here by my desk at work and I'm counting down till home time... Stunning finish, lovely weight and a great feeling neck! Problem is it's like mission control with all them knobs and switches and I'd like to know what I'm doing before I plug it in My question is: What's what in terms of the controls? Cheers Colin

Hi Guys, Looking to sort a second amp for mostly EUB purposes. Recently, I managed to get a great deal on a (4ohm) Mesa Scout Radiator 15 cab and when paired with my M-Pulse 600 it sounds mighty!!! Plenty of click and clack for my remedial rockabilly-slap stuff too. The problem is I don't wanna keep taking the M-Pulse out cause I find with the EUB I use here (a Baby clone), I find that I have to be careful with EQ and volume-don't wanna overdrive the cab and it's also a pain having to reset the EQ to the right settings everytime for my P or J basses (into the MP600 and through a Powerhouse 8x10) vs EUB. So... I already have a VT Bass Deluxe on my board that comes everywhere with me anyway. I am wondering if running the EUB into the VT (which I tend to do anyway, as I have saved the EUB sounds I like on the second set of presets) into either an EHX 22 or 44 Caliber amp pedal, then into the Mesa cab. Would this be loud enough for small gigs and rehearsal (drummer, electric gat and vocals there too)?? Or am I dreaming? Any thoughts on this would be really appreciated, as always

That's all great advice. Thank you very much indeed I reckon I might price taking it to an auto shop that I took a P Bass to last year-they were great and not very expensive. What do you think about the neck though- anything different need to be done there?

Hi All, Have recently been thinking about having my Baby bass clone repainted, as the old white finish (which i suspect is not original) is flaking and coming away in places on one side. While I do like the mojo'd look, I would also love something a little more rockabilly-since it's mainly a slappin' machine anyway. (Red Wheedwhackers on it). I'm thinking of having it done Candy Apple Red with white Pinstripes around the edges and inside at the front. My questions are: Will this effect the sound in any way? What are the steps involved- prep, paint, finish etc or would I be best in having it done in an auto shop that can do it? What about the finish on the neck? Any help at all would be greatly appreciated guys and gals Colin

I used a six string set on my Thunderbird Studio V. Just didn't use the low B and moved everything down one. Bit of tinkering with the bridge and she was away.

That cab looks like sex!! Except I'll definitely be having it soon...well, once the price comes down anyway

I'm definite;y in for a Coronado - I'll have mine CAR with matching heatsock and pref a Coronado II model. Passed on an original in Wildwood a few months back-would've been a bad trade at my end, but I was VERY tempted. Hopefully the new ones will be Japanese and won't cost the earth... Like the look of the Starcaster too, but definitely far more into the Coronado!!!

Some of the contenders I've played/owned Marshall VBA400 w 2 x 4x12's Ampeg SVT Skunkworks-played one once for a 2 hour gig nd now it's what I compare evrything to in my head! Ampeg SVT CL- still waiting to own one! If only I could stop buying basses!!! Mesa MPulse 600 - my baby down here in NZ at the moment-love the EQ section and compressor! and sounds mean thru the Powerhouse 810! Ampeg SVT4 PRO- sooo much power!!! Ampeg Micro VR- serious piece of kit, especially with two cabs! Mesa 400+: owned one for a very brief period-far to big and heavy for lil' old me but ALL THOSE TUBES!!!! Fender Bassman (135 I think)- played one a couple of times at a rehearsal studio- beautiful. it was on top of an Aguilar cab too. My VT Bass Deluxe - turns every crappy backline combo into a beast and leaves all the other bass players for dead-well, tone-wise anyways !!!

Black if it's a maple board! Tort if it's rosewood! Simples!

My Mesa rig before Saturday, when i swapped the 210 for my new Jazz Bass What a beast of a rig. Mind you, the 8x10 was overkill by itself!!!

My 90's reissue DC Bass Fat Mike for the win...

Whoops, I forgot, without pics it never happened!

Hi all, Well after another cool trade I have fallen in love with the Fender Jazz again-well this one anyway. Traded a bloke my Mesa 210,a small bit of cash and a box of beer for his sunburst/maple 2011 Am. Std. Jazz complete with case, case candy, hang tags, Lindy Fralin pups (he included the stock ones too) and a spare black pickguard! I couldn't believe my luck. He had 11 other basses (including a mean blood-red Ricky from 84) and wanted rid of it. Never gigged and not a single mark or scratch on it. Needless to say I jumped at the chance. It also happens to be the single nicest jazz I have ever played-it just feels so well put together! As I've mentioned before, when I started playing I was all about the Jazz but then discovered the simple joy of the Precision- I ditched all but two of my J's (my 1st ever Fender a white mex J and my black jap Jazz) and replaced them wih lots or awesome P basses. I honestly never thought I'd pick up another Jazz but this one has blown me away! Loving it. It sounds so bright and clear with a hint of growl. It's also nice and light. Don't think I'll be letting this one go!!! Just thought I'd share my joy

They were made early to mid 2000's I think, for about two years? Yip, played one for a couple of gigs-bass player in a support band had it as his spare which he kindly let me use when I broke a couple of strings on tour. Sounded a bit like my SUB, maybe a tad brighter. I liked the neck more than I liked the neck on my SUB I liked the all-black look and the chrome control plate. The one I used had a micro switch on it (don't know what it did or if it was stock) A decent bass

Any love for the Marshall VBA400? A demon-bast**d in terms of weight but what a sound!!! And she sounds even better atop 2 matching VBC412 cabs! Nowt more Rock n'roll (and likely to s**t up your guitarist!) That's coming from a non-Brit who's been flung to the furthest corner of the old Empire mind you

[quote name='Cosmo Valdemar' timestamp='1369921783' post='2094487'] The standard Epiphone Thunderbird with the bolt-on neck is very different to the Gibson, but the new-ish Epiphone Classic IV is almost identical. [/quote] I hadn't heard about these till the other day. If that's the case, I'd certainly try one-as I said, I'm an Epiphone fan Just remebered, my mate Brian used to have an "Elitist" model around the same time I got my white epi TBird (?-I think that's what he said it was called-chrome pickups and all that). That was an amazing bit of kit. It sounded great-waaayyy better than my Epiphone!

I own both Gibson Thunderbird (Studio models- IV and V) and Epi TBird (a limited ed. White) I found them to be entirely different beasts. I started with the Gibson 5 string because I wanted a 5er and owned only Fenders at the time. The Thunderbird was always on the GAS list, so made sense to kill two 'birds' with one stone-a Studio V. Got the Studio V and LOVED IT. Then ended up with the IV version in a trade later on-slimmest Gibson neck ever and gorgeous body lines-trimmer, faster-going places!!!. I picked up the white Epi for less than 100quid in another moment of madness. I found the Gibson's to be far superior in build quality. The necks are nicer and the the pickups have 'that thunderbird sound' whereas the Epi feels lightweight but still has serious neck dive and the pickups sounded gutless at times (especially on open E) - looks badass though!!! Disappointed, considering that every other Epi I've ever owned was great (maybe mine is more of a quality control failure?)! I tried the Pro IV in a store a last year and thought it sounded cool, but a tad to bright for my tastes-it's a T'bird - it's meant to make your bones rattle! Have you considered a second-hand Gibson Studio TBird? - I would get another one in a heartbeat! Or the shortscale one they did...

Hi All, Have come across this: [url="http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=597180181"]http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=597180181[/url] and am intrigued. I want to get a decent valve amp for recording and also to play my Baby clone upright through. Since it will be the best part of a year before I get all of my gear back in Ireland (including my beloved VBA400 full stack) shipped out here, and I cannot afford to buy (thank you engagement ring!!!) the second-hand Mesa Bass Buster 200 listed locally (it would go with the rest of my rig! ) My question(s) then is: Can anyone help identify this model? Power, grunt etc and what impedance will these go down to? Would it handle my 4ohm Mesa Powerhouse 8x10? Cheers Colin

FILTH!!! Nasty, horrible, vile FILTH!!! I want all 3!!! Anyone know what the cost is?

Hey all, Just thought I'd share my discovery here after a day working in the studio with a bluegrass/rockabilly band. I bought a set from fleabay last week after I found the ancient set on my baby clone weren't up to doing a studio session. They arrived from the States 5 days later. Stuck em on and... haven't put the bass down since. I thought they'd just be good for slap but they actually sound great for light piz also. They add much needed 'darker' sound to the tinny transducer pickup - the baby now sounds like an actual db, no bull. Guys in the studio were gushing about the tone all day! Chuffed! If anyone hasn't tried them, even for fun/something different-seriously, do it! They are the best 20 quid investment!!! And they're much softer on the fingers too! Haha

BC RICH Widow WMD 5

Cheers gents. I figured it was a MIM body alright. The USA neck looks fine but as a few of you suggested, the body raises questions. Cheers Shall stick to my 70's P's then (until a good deal for an ACTUAL Am Std comes along!) haha Maybe I should go for the 51 RI (CIJ) I got offered... Or mortgage payments... decisions decisions... As always, thanks all

Guy selling what he says is a 2011 Am Std. P Bass. Was LPB a factory colour then? Also, weren't the bodies string-through? There doesn't seem to be anywhere to string through. What u guys think? http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=577921718 Cheers Colin

I wasn't a fan-alway's used Ampeg or Marshall, for the most part. (Though i did have a 400+ that was too big and scary for a young me, so sold it on quick) Then I moved to the other side of the world-far away from my beloved monster rigs! Then a wonderous thing happened-I got lucky and got an old Ampeg SVT III and 410HE for about 400quid-bargain i thought. Great set up-perfect for what I needed. Well it had barely been in the house three days when i saw an ad from online auction site, from a chap wanting to downsize from his Mesa rig. sounded good so I arranged to go have a look and shortly afterwards I left his place with a Mesa MPulse 600 and Powerhouse 8x10 in (fetching silver)- a straight swap too! chuffed!!! Now the even better bit-I LOVE MESA!!!!!! I am a total convert! Have since got the matching 2x10 and 4x10 cabs and watching a deal on a 6x10 (though not mad about the cream tolex). I have never tried the 15 but I have heard one at a gig- sounded like a 15 should-fat! I am counting down to the day when i can get an all-valve Mesa head down here (for recording) to sit on top of my awesome cabs! The Powerhouse cabs sound effin' big and very punchy. Really tight and focused. The 8x10 is the most muscular-sounding cab I've ever heard. They sound even better when the amp is EQ'd perfectly. Only downside is the weight. The 8x10 is easily a two man lift (hence why the guy got rid of it) and the 2x10 is an awkward lump of cab, given it's size. Also the handles are in a funny location on the sides IMO. That said, I hope Mesa never change anything about the series (except maybe the weight) -they rule! simples! I hope this influences your decision for the better

My 73 has the gasket, as do all of my later ones (mostly 76-79) if that's any use... I have one (77) with an A/ 'jazz' profile neck, it cost me a lot less than most of my other ones from the same period, but this only goes to show that there is no real consistency with pricing for 70's Fenders. Take two black/black maple P's from say, 77, and watch them go for two totally different figures! It really does come down to the buyer and seller at the end of the day.