Muzz

I think IKB's main issue was that he was a terrific shortarse - he was only 5'7" to the top of his hat in that photo... Anyway, I'd like a Torero for that Nonchalant Mouseketeer look...

So's mine: Mighty Mite maple Jazz neck, Wizard Big P/J set (Thumper and 84), Schaller 3D bridge, CTS pots and Serial switch fitted. Done.

Where do you find these venue staff who can tell/give a crap about basses? I could turn up with a 9-string solid gold Alembic with 27 LEDs and all I'd get would be "The bass is a bit shiny, mate..."

The 202... Basses really need to be played to be appreciated: they're the ultimate stealth bass. The blurb does tend to read like techno-twaddle, but the reality is they're very, very good indeed.

[quote name='Muzz' timestamp='1400881841' post='2457969'] I've just had a cable made up by OBBM on here, which pairs a mono instrument cable with a stereo headphone feed, I'm going to use a headphone mixer/amp on my amp to control the mix of PA feed/direct bass signal. [/quote] This is I think what you're asking about - the cable is a single piece (kinda figure-eight in section), one side has the normal two 1/4" jack plugs for the instrument either end, the other side has a 3.5mm stereo socket at one end so you can plug you in-ears in, and at the other end a 3.5mm (or 1/4") plug to plug into your headphone mixer/amp sitting on top of your amp. I used mine on Saturday night, and it worked well (there's another thread - the iOS for Gigging Bassist one) where I go into more detail, but overall it's a good solution.

Ok, sooooo, following a catastrophic gig last weekend when two wireless units went bang (one receiver, one transmitter), resulting in me not using my in-ears and ending up deaf, I decided to get a backup wired system sorted out. I got OBBM of this parish to make me up a combination instrument/headphones lead, and bought an ART MyMonitor headphone amp/mixer. The gig was the worst possible situation to try it out for the first time: we played a holiday park, so no sound check or even noise to be made during setup, but it worked really well. Bass into Sonic Port/iPad, Sonic Port into FX Return of the Streamliner, DI out from Streamliner into the Art mixer, out to PA. Feed from PA into Art mixer, headphones into Art mixer. I got the whole band on one volume control, and me on another. Result. The only downsides were a middy tone to the bass, and a mono feed from the PA meant it could have sounded better and more balanced, but we can work on it when we get more than ten minutes. I'm sure I can get it right, but at least I could hear everything everyone was doing, especially me. About £85, too, so until I can afford a really good wireless IEM, I'm gonna work with this.

OK, I'll clarify that one: there isn't an ACG shape I like at all...the nearest would be the J-type, but that one's too Jazz-y for me. They're beautifully made, though.

Yep, I wanted a bass (in luthier terms) REALLY quickly, after the new-4003W fiasco (birthday present) and Jon had a Stock bass part-built which I liked. I wasn't keen on the neck, though, so he made me one to my spec from scratch, added the pups and all my choice of hardware and finished it in three weeks. Result... Everyone else was struggling to get one to me in any sort of timescale I could live with.

I've just had Jon Shuker build me a sublime bass, the easiest design process via email I've encountered. Alan's ACGs are also fantastic, his lead times are why I didn't pick one of them, and also his shapes are all too Jazz-y for me, but might suit you. I will say, though, that nearer you are to definite and settled on your design requirements, the happier you'll be with the finished results. I knew EXACTLY what I wanted, and when I got it, executed by Jon with what I can only describe as artistry, I was very happy indeed. If you go down the luthier route with any vagueness, you run the risk of disappointing yourself, and then you'll be left with an instrument with a terrifying residual value.

I've just had a cable made up by OBBM on here, which pairs a mono instrument cable with a stereo headphone feed, I'm going to use a headphone mixer/amp on my amp to control the mix of PA feed/direct bass signal. Will be using it at a gig on Sunday, I'll feedback the results. I've gone for the wired solution because we lost two wireless units to simultaneous failure (one receiver, one transmitter) at the last gig, and I ended up with no in-ears at all. Pain in the arse/ears...

[quote name='goblin' timestamp='1400007528' post='2449888'] Fair enough they're readily available so something to consider for the future. The plugs are more vital to me (especially after a dickhead sound engineer actually made our keys players ears bleed!). Cheers for the advice [/quote] Dave, I've got ACS moulds and T15s, and I had some 215s (before I lost them ) - when you get your moulds, give me a shout.

Your horse'll never manage two SVTs with 8x10s...

Last time I broke a string, Thatcher was in power...but if I don't take a backup, can you guess what'll happen? I take 2 basses, and like JTUK, I'll choose on the night/at the venue which I'll use. Sometimes, if the wedding/function sets have a dance/rock split between them, I'll use one bass for one set and one for the other. It's good to have stuff...

And I was using 'fascinating' in the context of the way the article's written, rather than any assertions made or accepted...you seem to have taken that word personally, which wasn't my intention. I'm taking it on face value from the title of the site, which is "A Scientific Approach". Which that page isn't, it's a table of figures he could have made up on the spot for all you and I know. Still, it looks scientific, it might get him some business. 'Other values based on literature'?. My O Level science teacher would have had a fit... I'd love to research his references (because as you spotted, that's the bit I have some trouble accepting), but as you point out, that's not possible. My cynicism with the Density figures springs from conversations with, amongst others, Warmoth, in which I've discussed blank weights for the same wood. I was quoted weights from 4 1/2lb to nearly 6lb, all for the same size blank, the same wood. That's a large variation in density. Still, that's only anecdotal, so you may have to take that at face value, too.

Do they put the neck on straight for £3500?

That's a lovely Bicentennial...I like that a lot...

Love Bobby Vega...the bass? Not so much...

Glad you've now got a bass with the neck at the right angle, result! Without wanting to be too much of a dampener, though, that'd play on my mind, especially given the cost of the bass. Is it likely to move again? I'd have sent it back anyway. . But then I might be too picky...

I feel your pain on this one - the brand new 4003W I bought and sent back recently was a wrench, but it just wasn't good enough as a bass for the money: it was such a let-down it put me off even trying another (I did try another one in PMT later - that wasn't very good either). It did look lovely, though... The Shuker I bought instead was and is sublime.

I've got the older ER15s, which are great, and I also have the T15s, which fit in them really well, and for a single driver (and considering my ears) are good monitors.

The Warmoth stuff is fantastic, tho it can get very pricey - once you've paid import duty and shipping, you can end up paying as much for the neck as the bass is worth. It's a great site to kill time on, though... I've had several MightyMite necks, and they've all been good. For the price, they're even better...

There's a For Sale thread on here for it...goes back six weeks or so.

I'll never own one (can't get over the 'bog seat' syndrome ), but I've played two, and they were both remarkably good basses - better than Stingrays, I'd say, and massively more versatile. That finish is just gorgeous, the headstock in particular (probably because I can't see the body ) looks fantastic.

I use one of these when I need to hear better on a small stage - great for the money: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stand-Stagg-GAS-3-2-Monitor-Amplifier-Amp-Speaker-Floor-Stand-Folding-00693-/191154473577?pt=UK_MusicalInstr_Access_RL&hash=item2c81b1ca69