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retroman

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Posts posted by retroman

    Which Valves??

    in Amps and Cabs

    Posted

    [quote name='Grand Wazoo' post='1074906' date='Jan 2 2011, 12:00 AM']I agree 100'000% to this,[b] J/J Valves [/b]are the best around and it's what Ashdown fits to their high quality amps

    See link here: [url="http://www.jj-electronic.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=10"]http://www.jj-electronic.com/index.php?opt...5&Itemid=10[/url][/quote]

    Thanks for the link, I'll have a look :)

    I have heard good things about JJ's. To be honest, I wish that I could have a huge box of valves, and spend the day swapping about, and finding something that I really like, but that would cost a kings ransom!! :)

    Which Valves??

    in Amps and Cabs

    Posted

    Cheers for the Talkbass tip.

    I will be ringing a friend of mine, as he used to repair TV's in the 60's, and 70's, and he still has boxes full of NOS valves, such as Mullard, etc, so I'm definately going to be picking his brains!!


    Just had a look at the Watford Valves site, the Svetlana winged C's, and the Tung-Sol are looking good at the moment.


    Thanks Chaps :-)

    Which Valves??

    in Amps and Cabs

    Posted

    Hi Peeps,

    I'm getting my SVT CL revalved in the new year, and wondered what opinions, and advice any of you could offer as to which tubes to go for. At the moment, it's got the stock Sovtec 6550WE valves on the power section, which I understand to be a fairly cheap and cheerful run of the mill valve.

    There are quite a few choices, such as Tung-Sol, Winged "C", etc. Although the amp sounds great as it is, I can't help feeling that some really nice glowing bottles of goodness will get more from it.

    I play heavy rock/ metal in the two bands I am in, and really dig that warm, vintage, growly classic rock tone, so any pointers greatly recieved.


    Thanks in advance,
    Rich :-)

    Alembic

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Good point, the side markers on my Orion are tiny, and really difficult to see in a darkened room.

    I really love my Orion 5, and it is definately a keeper. The build quality is sublime, and it really is lovely to play. Everything about it oozes quality.

    Tone wise, it is very clear, even with dead strings on, and the low B is very good too. Has quite a nice growl to it, and cuts through the mix very well. It has become my main gigging bass, and gets used every rehearsal. It is a little weighty, but not excessive though.

    I know the OP was mainly asking about the SC, and MK type basses, but I have noticed that the Orion, and Elan models can be seious bargains on the second hand market.

    If I had some spare cash kicking about, I would have a hard time passing up another Alembic :)

    4 string is enough for you??

    in Bass Guitars

    Posted

    Having a 5 string has opened up a whole new world to me. I have mine tuned to low A, and having those extra low notes has added another dimension to some of the songs in our set list, and one particularly slow paced moody song we do has now been shifting from drop D, to low A, and it sounds awesome for it too!

    For me, the whole 5 string thing is proving to be very useful, but I do still find 4's to be a lot more comfy to play, and a lot easier to play too. I find that I am on auto pilot a lot more on a 4, where as I have to think about what I am doing a lot more on a 5. But then again, I have been playing 4 string bass for around 20 years, and I haven't even had my 5 string a year yet, so this is probably why I find it a little unnatural.

    Years ago, I did have a mex Fender Jazz 5, and I really didn't get on with it to be honest, barely played it, and I don't think I even kept it a year. I am finding the Alembic 5er so much easier to get on with though, and I am definately going to stick at it :)

    Watching other bass players

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    When I go and watch other bands play, I always try and treat it as a night out, and enjoy it, rather than stand there, trying to be critical. Sometimes it might not be my type of music, but I always try and enjoy bands that play well.

    When playing a gig, with other bands on the bill, the main thing that gets my back up to be honest is the lack of support other bands show each other.......We make an effort to listen to the other bands sets, clap and chear, and always stay to the end. Don't know why we bother though. We have had bands carry their gear out in front of us, vanish before we even play our set, and even had one band use the stage as a short cut to the back stage area to collect their gear while we were playing.......... :)

    Bands that treat us right, we always make a real effort to network with, as we would much rather work with bands who help each other out, and support each other on the night, and the bands that do have a good attitude towards other bands, and us, tend to have a much higher chance of success if they need to borrow gear :lol:

    When we're on a bill with other bands, I always just try and enjoy them. I've got enough to think about!! :)

    Love the bass but its not perfect?

    in Bass Guitars

    Posted

    I guess the best workhorse bass I have is my Alembic Orion 5 string. Not too keen on the shape of the headstock, but as a player, its great. Lovely low action, slim profile neck, although the fret board is like an aircraft carrier landing deck, it's really easy to play. Lovely tone too, and very versatile. Looks wise, the Zebra wood body top and headstock facing, and the gold hard ware look really nice. Can be a little awkward on the balance front, thanks to the wide 5 string neck, but mostly very comfy to play

    My old Rickenbacker 4001 is a very different animal to play to most basses out there. The neck is really skinny, and the outer strings are very close to the edge of the fret board, so it is very easy to push a string off the edge. Right hand positioning can be a little awkward if I haven't played it for a while, thanks the the massive bridge, and chrome pick up surround. Seems to manage to do the Ric clank thing with ease, but can produce some fat tones with the neck pickup tone control wound back. It's a heavy beast, and long rehearsals do result in back ache, and an aching shoulder.

    My Squier Jazz is probably the most comfortable bass I have. Balances perfectly, action is quite low, and with the EMG pickups I fitted it does sound pretty good. Looks good with the CAR finish as well. Thinking of modding it further to make it look like a 60's Jazz

    The 1976 Thunderbird I have is probably my favourite bass to look at. Just love the looks of the vintage 'birds, with the huge chrome pick up covers, the big old headstock with the reverse winding tuners. Tone wise it really only does the Tbird sound, and it's not as uncomfortable to play as a lot of people make out. Never gigged it, but use it quite regularly, and really enjoy playing it.

    Gibson EB2 is no more than a toy hanging on the wall........It gives me a good laugh when I do play it, and to be fair, it's really nice to play. The super skinny short scale neck is a joy, but that huge mudbucker is only really good for raising a smile! :) Love the looks of it, with the crazed cherry nitro finish.

    Gibson Les Paul bass is a good tool, and well built for a Gibbo. Comfy to play, and balances quite well, although it is rather heavy. Tone wise it can take a while to find a good tone, as it does seem to favour boomy low mids, but a bit of patience and it sounds cool. Certainly an interesting alternative to a P bass

    4 string is enough for you??

    in Bass Guitars

    Posted

    I much prefer playing 4's, but the one 5'er I have has been a really good experience so far. One band I am in tunes to low A, and the other band does a cover that needs the Low B. Took me a little while to get my head round it, as all of a sudden the normal bottom string is where the A string is, so a few times I fretted a few bum notes on the B string! :)

    Given half a chance, I would go back to playing a 4 though. Just feels much more natural to me. I did a little work on one of my 4's to tune it BEAD, and tried using that, but the lack of G string made some song parts much harder to play, so I took the plunge into 5 string land :)

    Fender Jazz v's Musicman Sterling

    in Bass Guitars

    Posted

    I'm sure you guys can answer this one for me :)

    I know that the Sterling is supposed to have a much skinnier neck profile than the Stingray, but have often wondered how the neck of a Sterling compares to a Fender Jazz??

    I love the skinny neck of the Jazz, and really enjoyed the Musicman thing when I had a Stingray, but the chunky neck of the 'ray used to give my left wrist some grief.


    Would a Sterling give me the best of both worlds??? What are Sterlings like weight wise??

    Thanks in advance,
    Rich :)

    FAO Gibson Thunderbird owners/past owners

    in Bass Guitars

    Posted

    [quote name='farmer61' post='1061585' date='Dec 17 2010, 02:14 PM']Yeah been looking at them, bit out of my price range tbh. I found a black 76 in the US, but I'm too afraid to enquire about the price....! :lol:[/quote]

    OOH, a Black '76?? NICE :) :)

    Have to admit, I've got the '64 Thunderbird II in my watch list at the moment, really fancy a very early 'bird.

    BIG UP YERSELF !!

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I'll have a go, but I have self asteem issues.... :)

    Got into recording stuff this year, and generally nail stuff in one take. Laid down a bass track for the new band I am in a few weeks back, one take, and was told I can come back and record anytime!

    Being in Derbyshire's current "Band Of The Year", which is organised by Derbyshire Times. Was well chuffed with that one!

    Sometimes get asked to help people work tracks out, or get asked "how do you play that"? I have an excellent ear for being able to work stuff out quickly. Most average songs, I can play after three listens.

    Once had admiring looks for playing Cliff Burton's Anesthesia.....Still can't quite play it all the way through though :lol:

    Had quite a few people compliment me recently on being a good bass player, which is nice, but I find taking compliments quite hard.

    I'm very good at being able to play for the song, and know when to really dig in, and when to hold back, and play gently. Good solid player, not much technical flash, don't do slap, but rock solid, and in the groove.

    Got gear that a lot of people would give up their wedding veg for!! :)



    Does that count as a big up yerself??

    i want valves !!!!

    in Amps and Cabs

    Posted

    A fellow BC'er visited me a while back, and let me try his Orange Terror Bass out, which I plugged into my Ampeg 610HLF cab. We also had my Ampeg SVT CL out as well. The Orange did sound very good, didn't really get the opportunity to crank it up though, as I live in a semi, and think my neighbour may have objected! :) :)

    Sound wise, I thought that it didn't have the clarity, punch, and low end of the all valve SVT CL, but they are pitched at way different price brackets, so perhaps A/Bing them is a little unfair. I did like being able to pick a bass amp up easily with one hand, rather than having to use a spine shattering heave though! :lol: Cranking the gain on the little Orange did produce some nice over driven grit to the sound.

    I have been considering having the little Orange bass amp as a back up though :P

    Really liking the look of the Ashdown 427 at the moment, but that is one serious price tag.......

    I'm a big lover of the glowing bottles of goodness, but as mentioned above, there are a couple of crosses to bare.....The serious weight of a valve amp, and also, if you gig regularly, you will have to have the amp serviced from time to time, and replacing valves gets costly. Valve amps also occassionally need the bias between the valves checking and adjusting. Some amps it is possible to do DIY...The SVT CL has two little LED lights, and trim pots on the back, so you can bias the valves yourself.

    (I'm now ducking for cover, having mentioned Ampeg, and SVT more than once....... :D )

    I used to have a Trace Elliot V Type AH600 many a moon ago, which had a valve pre amp. With the matching 4X12, and 2X15 cabs, that was plenty loud!

    NBD Alert!!!

    in Bass Guitars

    Posted

    Nice!! :)

    The one trick pony thing is right.....But what a trick :)

    Ref: the high gloss finish, and finger prints, Autoglym Super Resin car polish will be your best friend. Works wonders with nitro cellulose finishes.

    Hope you have many happy hours rockin' out with her :lol:

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