basshead56

This is Heidi, my 77 Precision. I bought her sight-unseen online from the other side of the planet before I moved to NZ for what was then going to be a one year working holiday. She was waiting for me when I got off the plane. 13 years later, she is still my absolute favourite. Professionally refinished by the original owner some time in the early 90's in Sparkling Lake Placid Blue (maybe a shade lighter than LPB) and the pickup was also swapped out for a SD SPB3. I'm told this had nothing to do with Mr 'arris... She is quite heavy but definitely not the heaviest 70's P I've ever owned or played.

Too many!!! Ampeg SVT CL w 8x10 SVT 4PRO w 6x10 PF80O w pf210 and 115 B100R Others Marshall VBA 400 and 2VBC 412s Recently just added a Darkglass AO900. I love it so far.

Well I finally got round to picking mine up from the shop... Straight out of the box, the finish and set up were superb. Action was pretty much exactly how I like it anyway, intonation was spot on and very little adjustment required. The Sherwood Green is stunning. Easily one of the nicest finishes I've ever seen on a bass. ever. not a mark or blemish anywhere. Lovely pickguqrd too. Frets are smooth, no sharp edges or anything untoward anywhere. However, it weighs a ton! let's get that bit out of the way! Easily on par with some of my 70's Precisions. Brought an empty SKB case to the store to bring it home but alas, its a wonky shaped beggar too. Will NOT fit in anything P/J/MM shaped as the body is quite a bit wider. Doesn't fit any of my Coffin Cases either. Only thing i have to fit it is an older G&G Fender case that my Jag currently occupies. So off to go case shopping in the next few weeks, though no rush as this will be my couch bass for a bit anyway lol. Got it back to the office in it's box. Very well packed too. Not long home with it but already been through the SVT, the VBA400 and the PF rigs. Wow, what a unique sounding bass. Puts me in mind of my Thunderbird Studio IV. Quite versatile, tone control seems to be nice and sensitive. The pickup selector switch as the faintest click noise but nothing I can't live with. And i suspect I may have to touch up the solder on the input jack as it has the finest crackle as the jack plug moves about with the cable. May swap out the switch for something higher quality later on and add some more shielding (I do that with lots of my instruments anyway) But yes, very impressed. Definitely a bargain. Don't think I'll be parting with this one for a while, if ever.

Hi All, Been keen on the DG stuff for a long time now and been hovering on what exactly to go for to meet my grindy, fuzzy needs. While I like the pedals (and ADORE my Darkray), I liked the idea of an amp that kinda does it all (and doesn't need two blokes to lift it), even more. I was tempted by the Tech21 VT500 amp for that very reason (still have a VT Bass Deluxe) but kept missing out on them when they came up for not silly money. The DG options just seemed to tick a couple of more boxes for me so when an AO900 came uo for sale I couldn't resist. Previous owner hadn't used it much and has a couple of other DG heads he preferred and it was a good price. So it arrived yesterday morning. Couldn't pump it through any of my big cabs at home and thrash it after work as we have a 1yr old, so took it round to our rehearsal room where I've got a Behringer 810 stashed, hooked it up and plugged the Aria CB1000 straight in. WOW!!!!! There's a lot going on here. A lot of tweaking can be done and it takes a bit of getting used too. Once I'd got the clean sounding the way I like it, I jumped into the Distortion channel and gave that a good run. Again, just wow!!! So many different tones on tap and they seem to give me exactly what I want. Lots more adjustability and that growl switch really adds some low end girrrrrth! Just waiting to give it a solid run with the band on Wednesday night and see how it cuts through. Will bring dUg with me too, just in case 😛

Frets are bang on, just have to re-do the side markers. but it plays lovely.

What is the red Precision between the Ashdown and the Ampeg? Also, that SVT AV is my dream amp!!!

A couple of updates in the last couple of years A 73 Precision (converted from fretless) An Aria CB1000 and an EBMM Darkray

Been absent for a little bit but have been playing a lot more. Added another SUB a couple of years ago I picked up super cheap and that was my main gigging bass for a good while. About two weeks ago I had the opportunity to grab one of the only 2 Darkrays in NZ. It has not disappointed!!

Mine arrived at my local music shop here in NZ about 2 weeks ago, just haven't got round to picking it up. Had a quick noodle on it last week while I was picking up another bass I had in for some work. I pre-ordered mine back in late June after they were leaked online. Got told the Fender distributor for NZ was bringing in 6 (3 green, 3 black) and that's all they could get their hands on as they were immediately available from the Fender site in the US with free shipping (and originally had the pink as a limited edition, US-only option) and were already on back-order. Apparently they dont ship direct from China, they all ship to US and then on to other regions from there. Was told originally it would be late November for arrival but turned up 7 weeks early. I wanted Sherwood Green anyway, so put my name on the first one of them that was due to come in. It looks amazing up close. Lovely finish. Although I must say, I do have a soft spot for the Shell Pink. Have a Mark Hoppus bass in that finish and it looks great. Hoping to pop in on Saturday and bring it home, then give it a good run through. Will post a vid if I get time.

Interesting thread. I'm about to add an AO900 to my metal/grind setup, as I need something small, lightweight and capable of clean but with some drive options too. Currently using an Aria CB1000 and (very, very recently) an EBMM DarkRay (though might not use it in this band), going to the mini board with both a Tech21 dUg pedal and an Ampeg SCR-DI on it, going to whatever backline is on offer (I rarely cart my SVT and 8x10 about and the PF rig is a little harder to dial in). I have an old Behringer 8x10 that i was given, so just keep that at the rehearsal room with an old Peavey MKVI head on top. The sound I go for is generally more clank than anything else, (one of the guitarists fills out all of the bottom end by himself lol) so the dUg goes great for the clank (mostly always on) and the SCR covers the cleaner side when required. I don't really rate the dUg running clean, controls are far too sensitive to dial in anything I like tone-wise and even when close, still not quite the Ampeg SVT tone i like. I figure the AO900 will just give me a bit more headroom and some extra fuzz OD/fuzz options if needed So I might take the Ampeg SCR off the mini board and move it over to the big noise board and replace the VT Bass Deluxe as the pre there. Then maybe add the 4 button intelligent fs for the AO to the mini board To me it seems between dUg and AO, there isn't much you cant get when it comes to heavy.

Yeah pretty much my thoughts.

Hi all, Looking at potentially dropping some of my tax refund on something new and shiny. Spotted this for sale up the road and looks interesting, but the more I look at it, the more I have my doubts. Modded to hell - far more than I'd be happy with ordinarily. I have a 97 version of the exact same model, all stock and it's my number one for gigs. I've asked about the original parts so waiting to see what the seller says. What are your thoughts on this - does it look a bit suspect? https://www.trademe.co.nz/music-instruments/instruments/guitar-bass/bass-guitars/listing-2158400245.htm

A Japanese-built Fender Jaguar Bass may be of interest Capable of covering all of the above (for the most part) and option of running active or passive and clear, warm tone which can be endlessly EQ'd on the bass itself. Granted it has more of a Jazz neck profile but still not paper thin.

I wouldn't be swapping an SVT 2 PRO for this sort of set up myself. To be fair, I probably would never swap an Ampeg SVT 2 or CL for anything. Even less inclined to consider it given the poweramp isn't working correctly. I'd move past this option and look elsewhere if 'twer me.

SOLVED - Apparently the first two runs from very late 2002 - mid 03 just had SUB on the headstock, regardless of electronic choices and from late 03 onwards they were all branded SUB Bass.

There was definitely a passive one. Don't know if they were as common as the active ones but they are out there haha

Hi all, I had one of these back in the old country years ago. It was a red one with the active EQ. Great bass but I wasn't really into the ray sound back then, so I moved it on as I hardly played it. Picked one up down here last week for a stupidly low price (I think the seller thought it may have been one of the newer SBMM SUB series, hence the crazy low price of 200 pounds) It is also an active one, this time in teal and in minty condition. My question is regarding the wording SUB on the headstock. I watched a video suggesting that that the passive ones read "S.U.B." on the headstock and the active ones read as "S.U.B. Bass", which fits with the two I have owned. However in looking around online I have spotted several that say "S.U.B" but have the active electronics also. Anyone know why there were two logos/identifiers?

I like the few I have tried. I would sell my soul for an Eastwood Rocket Bass

Hmm, surely another synth will be the answer to my troubles Always room for one more. Maybe I'll just get rid of the tuner.. Seriously though, I really like the look of that video. Looks like a very usable pedal indeed. Can't wait to try one!

Hi All, In the (very limited local) market for a decent shortscale and both of these options are currently available to me 2nd hand. I've had a chance to go and play the Squier at the seller's place. It is a lovely bass. He has put some rather nice new strings on it (he couldn't remember which ones) and a new white pearloid pickguard too (original black one included) also. The Gretsch is further afield and I probably wont get a chance to try it out first (essentially an eBay type situation). I have heard nothing but good things about these instruments. Difference in price: Squier equivalent to 200 pounds and can be collected locally The Gretsch about 175 pounds plus shipping (about 20 quid) Which would you go with, and why?

There is something so simple and yet brilliant about the SVT and 8x10 Here is my cat, Andrew, checking the standby on mine Nothing simple about transporting either of the heavy sods, but then, where would be the fun in that? I have found the 6x10 to be a little bit more forgiving in terms of transport. But both do fit comfortably on the deck of most pickup trucks. I use a Holden (Vauxhall I guess) Colorado I have managed to get the 610 into my Golf before.

Final version of the Bad MuthaBoard Now includes a Future Impact and a system of vital organs

I love Schatten stuff. Currently using an RB2 passive pickup and I absolutely adore it. Everything about it is great. Simple to use and sounds amazingly clear. The thumbwheels for volume attached to the back of the fingerborad are really handy too.

Always lusted after the Titan. Had the MPulse 600 and Powerhouse 8x10 and it was the most HiFi, clearest tone I've ever had. Got stupid loud with volumes too. loved it to bits. The Titan seemed like the next logical step but decided to swap back to an SVT in the end. But i do sometimes lay awake at night wondering what might have been...

Looks like a late 70's (76 onwars) - early eighties (83) based on the logo