mytilini

Hi - would like some information, please, on the differences between types of strings for acoustic basses.  They seem to be available in (at least!) three separate manufactured types: copper (like gear4music inhouse), bronze (Warwick) and phosphor-bronze.  Can you peops please tell me what the differences are...?  Cheers. 

Hi - thanx, I had tried both spellings and finally clarified that they are stainless steel.... still lousy 'orrible bailing wire tho'....

Hi all - would appreciate some technical help please!  I've just bought some Superwound 'Six-O-Six' brand FFB strings.  They're Brand New Old Stock, being made by Rotosound's then-parent company James Howe Industries, eons ago!  Roundwound, long scale, I'd like to know whether they were nickel or stainless steel, please?  Any knowledge out there, as my Google searches are running no positive results.  Thanks for all help you can give!☺️

29 minutes ago, Jack said:

Those preamps have the cardinal sin of a tube that was installed by the marketing department and not the engineering one, but if you can get past that they're actually decent units. Loads of gain, choice of inputs, balanced out on both trs and xlr. It'll be great for this application. 

Cheers for that Jack... I hope to use this as a permanent solution to up-volume my on-stage sound in the very rare occasions that I need to connect to both desk AND a stage stack!  Tube warmth is new to me, as an ex-TE, GK, Hartke & current TC solid-state user.  I do find the BG250-210 is normally a perfect, non back-breaking way to get a decent on-stage quality & volume of sound.  Sometimes, circumstances just need you to uprate tho.  But, this is a cheap way to experiment the theory 😊.

17 hours ago, agedhorse said:

The balanced output clips at +2dB peak (-1dBu RMS) maximum, not enough for driving a power amp to rated output in the real world. You will need +4dBu (minimum) plus at least 6dB of headroom to make up for losses relative to real world implementation. 

Happy Xmas to you and thanks for your much-appreciated input (no pun intended!).  Yes, my further research clarified this - so between the D120 D.I.'s output and the input of the power amp, I'm planning to install a Behringer Ultragain MIC100 preamp.  I believe that with it's variable controls, this should allow me to overcome those signal losses?  Many thanks, Mark.

1 hour ago, Jack said:

Just preamps, man. The Behringer ones are about as small and cheap as you'll get. One of my all-time favorite 'amps' was a nice Presonus Studio Channel preamp into a QSC PLX1602 power amp, all in a 3-space rack. You could plug anything into it. Bass, guitar, keys, mp3 player, pedal boards, anything and it would just make it really, really, extremely loud. My pedal board, into that rack, into a Dr Bass 2460 was my frfr rig before I knew what an frfr rig was.

 

It makes sense but it doesn't really matter how you split the signal. If you already have the DI you might as well use that, if not then use what you've got. Gear is great for gear's sake but if this is going to be a one-off then it's best to just use what you've got.

 

Personally I'd be asking exactly what the combo is bringing to this situation. It's not like you'll hear it if it's next to the stack, so you're probably only really using the preamp and tone controls. Do you have any other way of getting those? Preamp pedal? A little mixer? Another amp with an effects loop?

 

Agree, but the entire reason I bought the BG250 was that it had no effects loops, no line outs, an inbuilt tuner, no extension cabinet i.e. all I wanted in just one box.  Having done a bit more reading, I'm almost certainly gonna get the D120 to allow post-fade export of the tone-shaped signal to both the desk and that power amp at the same time.  LIght, quick simple and it'll cost me less than £20 from Amazon to do this - I already have top-grade mic leads from when I used to do the P.A. for my old band too.  Am gonna skip the TR3M altogether.

2 hours ago, Jack said:

Hi! Generally speaking, it's considered good practice to start a separate thread. But hey, it's Christmas!

 

How annoying that that combo doesn't have an effects loop, which is really what you need to do this. I think that your DI plan will technically work. But technically is the worst kind of work. I think that, as you have mentioned, you'll run into a problem whereby the DI will output a mic-level signal and the power amp will be expecting a line-level signal. Now, 1200W into 2 large cabs will undoubtedly be pretty loud regardless, but I don't think that you'll be able to drive the amp anywhere near hard enough to achieve full output. You might find you brought all that gear and it's not actually that loud.

 

Some suggestions:

1. Try it before hand, it might be fine.
2. If not, can you DI into the PA as normal, then have the power amp being fed by an aux on the desk? This way you'd essentially be using the amp and cabs as a dedicated, bass-only monitor.
3. If you HAVE to buy something new, several cheap preamps can lift mic level to line level. I've used a Behringer MIC100 (£35 new, less used) and a Rolls MP13 to do just this. Then you'd put the preamp between your DI and power amp.

@Jack- thanks so much for your reply - sorry, didn't mean to ride in on the coat tails, but it did seem a similar issue - apologies to all; no offence intended!  Thanks for your suggestions:

1). yep, 1st. thing is to try the combo's D.I. out straight in the power amp's input - if that works, I can split the D.I. out using something as inexpensive as a Behringer Ultra-DI D120 to feed mic level to both desk & power amp simultaneously.

2). sadly, that aux input option doesn't fly at the venue I'll be playing; I have to sort this out locally on the stage.

3). never knew that such mic level-line level units existed - I'll check out your suggestions, thank you!

Finally, a thought.  I have an old (1993), but fully-working DOD TR3M effects pedal, which has stereo TS jack outputs on it.  I could plug the bass into that, then send the link-through branch into the combo, feeding the other directly into the power amp.  That way, I could firstly add one of these MIC100 units to that branch.  Sensible or hogwash...?!

Related question (if I may) to the many, many minds greater than mine!  I've a TC Electronic BG250-210 combo, with a pre/post switchable D.I. output built-in.  Normally, that feeds the FOH mixer only, with me using the combo's speakers as my onstage backline.  Big gig next year, in which I need much more on-stage volume (TWO drummers!).  I've no other preamp signal output or extension cab options within that combo.

My thought is to feed the combo's inbuilt D.I. output, as the single input to a Behringer Ultra-DI D120 active 1 in-to-2 out D.I. box.  Effectively, to use the tonal set-up from the BG250, to input into a power amp.  I plan to connect one channel of the D120 via an output mic lead into the mixer.  The other channel's output would link a mic lead into the parallel-mode input of a spare Cerwin-Vega! CV-2800 P.A. power amp that I have.  That power amp puts out 600W. continuous, per channel @ 8 Ohms.   I'm going to hook up two 8 Ohm bass guitar cabs, one per channel.  The cab's are:

1). a JBL 1x15" loaded with a 600W. continuous Eminence Kappa speaker.

2). an Ashdown 4x10", giving a total continuous power handling capacity of 600W.

Question please - is this feasible?  Will a D.I. box's output have sufficient sensitivity to "drive" the input of this typical stereo P.A. power amp, or would I need to insert some other form of preamp into the signal chain?

Thanks in advance for any advice or help you can give and may I wish you all as happy a Christmas as possible in the current circumstances! 

Hi - they are (all about to be put For Sale too!):

Peavey 410 TX (350W.)

Ashdown ABM 410H & an unknown JBL "deep" cab fitted with an Eminence Kappa-15LFA.

P.S. - my mistake as the latter two are each 600 Watts continuous!  I've downsized to a TC Electronic BG250-210 for all my gigging work, but feel I should look at a light amp for the Peavey 410 TX, as a back up.  I put castors on that cab so it is more manageable.  I remember now I used to use a Cerwin-Vega CV-2800 to drive the Ashdown + JBL as a ridiculous 1200 Watt @ 4 Ohm stack.  Various tonal preamps used.  Am getting old, love the new technology and simply can't lift those big boxes any more LOL!

Hi - I'm seeking your help and suggestions for a lightweight-type amp head please.  I'm looking for something kicking out between 500-800 Watts continuous (R.M.S.) power rating at specifically 8 Ohms impedance. Just to drive any one  of my three cabs at a time; each of those is 8 Ohm and has a continuous power rating of between 350-400 Watts.  Small size light weight and portability is everything here - can you help?  Thanks.

1 hour ago, AndyTravis said:

If it’s any use at all, I’m 99% sure Barnes and Mullins was the UK distributor in the early 2000’s.

Thanks forthat Andy - I'll go ask them!

Hi all - I'm looking for some help on the Gould brand of budget-price basses please - any help much appreciated!  I can't find a website for them; closest was the other end of the spectrum G. Gould masterpieces.  I called Chase Direct in Manchester, enquiring with them but some gormless shop assistant didn't even know that the shop he works in was selling them...

I turn to my far more knowledgable fellow Basschatters for your guidance please...

Thanks, Mark.

FYI - bought the 4-string RBN Neo.  AWESOME volume from those passive PUPS, best customer service & support from any importer ever (Sutherland).  Action was slinky when I got it with roundwounds on it; now restrung with flats and this is now the lowest, fastest bass I own, as well as the prettiest.  N.B. - the PUPS were so loud & clear (no electrical noise / problems here) I had to lower them into the body a wee bit.  The pole pieces are the most magnetic I've seen and they easily bend the string if too close.  £299 very well spent - never been tempted by any Fender / Squier "original"....all I've tried have been...erm....somewhat unpleasant.

P.S. - the tirelessly helpful product manager, Kev Lee, did confirm that their website is somewhat out-of-date; the RBN 4-string now ships exactly as the image of the RBN 5, namely painted-as-per-body headstock, block fingerboard inlays & the gorgeous paint job on the body.  BTW, the neck joint is 4-bolted on.

On 12/12/2018 at 09:45, ChrisJaxon said:

Surprised nobody has mentioned Picato yet. I have a 5-string long scale set and they were really thumpy, but the B string was not really tonefull. On a 4-string they worked well, lovely feel to them, quite high tension, and a real thump. But where Picato have excelled for me is their short scale flats. I put a set on my Squier Jaguar SS and they are excellent. Lovely tone, good feel, and the E string (which can sometimes be tonally odd on a short scale) works very well. Quite high tension. They make a fun-to-play bass feel even more fun to play, and at gigs playing blues type stuff it sat well in the mix. I suppose they do not come into the cheap category at £35 https://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/strings-c1/sets-c865/bass-guitar-c34/picato-flatwound-bass-strings-45-100-stainless-steel-short-scale-p789 but I really like these SS strings. Plus, the black silks are good on the black Jaguar SS headstock!

Interesting you mentioned Picato flatwounds Chris.  First thing I did when I got the Ibanez SR fretless was slap a set of the 40-95 Picato stainless steel flatwounds on.  Was done because as I use Picato 40-95 roundwound nickels as my standard on most of my other basses.  Sad to say, I HATED them, hence trying something else (namely Adagios & Olympia).  The Picatos sounded particularly dull, felt tacky and were taken off promptly...probably too quickly as I didn't bother giving them a chance to break in.  So, current flatwound experiments are Adagio 45-100 on the fretless Ibanez SR & Olympia 45-100 on a fretted Revelation RBN j-bass...hope these work better!

Hello - any help here much appreciated please!  Looking for recommendations for a lightweight hard bass case, to snugly fit my G&L L-2000 4-string P-bass style bodied fave.  I was shocked to find that my Hiscox EBS-STD Liteflite case fits J-bass bodied basses a treat, but NOT either the G&L, or my similar-bodied Hohner Rockwood Pro RP150B.  There;s quite a gap around the lower bout top & bottom edges.  So, any thoughts please?

P.S. - am not looking for gigbags, thank you.  Also, any piccies of your Precision-bodied axe sitting in its hard case would be very welcome please... 

3 hours ago, clunkie66 said:

I've just put La Bella Low Tension flats on my Precision and first impressions are very nice feel and they sound ace. Be interesting to see how much they loosen up as they settle in...

I'd be interested to know how you get on with these, as I fancy those for my fretless Ibanez SR...

2 minutes ago, Sibob said:

D’Addario Chromes or Ernie Ball Cobalts?

Si

Yeah sorry...Ernie Ball Cobalts is what I meant - I'd previously used their Group IVs with pleasing results.  YouTube a shootout vs. other flats and you'll hear the difference.

8 hours ago, blisters on my fingers said:

Bought two sets of Adagios for £26 quid put one set on a Precision, they are  super smooth, thumpy and with next to no left hand finger noise.

Never tried flats before now feel like I've been missing out for far too long. Next step - put the other set on my Jazz bass, good move?  Hmmn not sure ?

Well I'm trying those Adagios / Olympias  flats on a fretted Revelation RBN J-style but for my fretless Ibanez, I plan to go D'Addario cobalt flatwound slinkys....they are nice and loud!

LOL - no you're quite right mate.  What's the point in these people being employed there if they don't have the product knowledge, or can't be bothered to accurately find out in advance - I'd be cheesed off too!

Hey King Tut...sorry to hear your bad experience with PMT at their Northampton branch.  I just wanted to let you know that my opinion of PMT is diametrically opposite, but that's 'cos it's their Oxford branch I deal with.  Tim is the manager there, but I found all the team totally helpful, knowledgable & considerate.  They must've done something right, as after an impulse buy of an Ibanez SR370EF-BBT, I went back to them to order my TC Helicon BG250-210 and then my Yamaha BB425.  Even after I'd agreed to pay the shop sticker price for the Yamaha, at the checkout, Tim lowered the price I'd pay as it was advertised cheaper on their website!  I live near Aylesbury; so thanks for the feedback that the Northampton shop is a waste of time, but can I thoroughly recommend you check out the Oxford store.  A great in-stock range of basses, amps, combos, cabs, strings & accessories...

Just picked up a set of those 45-100 Olympias, bnib, on eBay "Best Offer" for £11.04 delivered...well worth a punt I think. But I'll know once they're on my Revelation RBN J-bass...

A huge thanks to Mick, whom I'd fully intended to buy the Hiscox STD.EBP "teardrop"-shaped bass.  You may recall, earlier contributions stating that a jazz bass fits with no wiggling or gaps anywhere.  Of course neither of us stated scale lengths: the Revelation RBN Neo is a standard 34". So, it deffo "shook" in the teardrop, despite length of neck+headstock being A.O.K.  But it was too long for the "standard" Hiscox.  BTW, this was exactly as Hiscox's Sales Manager said...!

The problem seems to be an additional decorative milled edge on the upper edge of the headstock.  This adds a good 20mm. seeming to make it too long for a STD.EBS case....grrrrr.  Ironically, Mick & I had discussed the option of this axe fitting only a Revelation branded bag or case....only trouble is, there are NO such things...! Sutherland Trading (U.K. importers) referred me to their own imported range.

Nett result: my otherwise-superb Revelation RBN Neo 4-string will live out its life in a perfectly-fitting RockCase by Warwick RC 20805 B, even though it's not what I'd intended...

Hey Cuzzie - love that case & that bass in it! 

Hi again,

Thanks for your further ideas peops...!:

@Cuzzie - cheers, cos I'd never even heard of Fusion gig bags before.  They do look to have some innovative ideas don't they?

@bobthedog - thank you; so that's a +1 for the Gator?!

@lemmywinks - thanks for the photos, MUCH appreciated.  Yep I can see how snugly that (BTW, lovely-looking!) SIre J-bass body fits into the lower part - because of that, I guess you don't miss any hold-in-place neck bracing and the cushion alone supports it firmly?  Certainly looks well protected enough doesn't it?

@fretmeister - thanks again for another new idea!

All-in-all and on the The59Sound's say-so that a J-bass does fit snugly, I've opted for the Hiscox STD-EBP.  The smooth teardrop shape, no external pockets and very positive experience I've had with my earlier Hiscox case for my Yamaha 5-string, makes this my best bet.  I also reckon they're pretty good value for money; some of the prices of those U.S.-imported gig bags are astronomical...

Thanks again to all who's suggestions helped me make up my mind.

Thanks for your replies, all!

@lemmywinks - agreed, the Gator looks good, but one of my concerns with gig bags IS, all those extra pockets & stuff.  I carry all my accessories in a separate toolcase and really just want a gig bag to be very well padded & clasp the instrument tightly.  So they ARE Jazz basses you put into these, yes?  If so, again is the inner part of the bag a good, tight fit on the upper & lower bouts please?

@sifi2112 - yeah, this sure looks good.  On Thomann's site, the interior looks like it's got a nice tight-fitting cushion, shaped specifically for J-basses, i.e. an offset body style.  If it's not too cheeky, is there ANY chance of asking you to post a piccie of your Jazz lying within the opened case please?  Thanks in advance if you can !

@The59Sound - I must say, I do tend to agree with you.  But as my J-bass doesn't fit into a STD-EBS, am I correct in presuming that you must have the teardrop-shaped STD-EBP...again, IF I'm correct, is there any chance of a piccie, pretty please...?!

@Mudpup - as earlier, the Gator has a nice narrow shape; I'm guessing it is quite snug around a J-bass then?  But the Blake Bravo advertised on eBay has an image of a J-bass lying in an open example with a LOAD of space around the body...yes price is good, but for me, I'd rather hold the bass' body more tightly within the bag.

Thanks for ALL your suggestions to-date - very much appreciated and most informative.  So, hard case options look to be narrowing toward the SKB or (ideally) the Hiscox STD-EBP - any other contenders, if you please...?!