bremen

[quote name='Jamesemt' post='149709' date='Mar 2 2008, 08:39 AM']You get £32 tax free if its a gift...just mark accordingly. Customs opened my SX basses thinking I'd pulled a fast one... there are loads of scams - lower declared value, labelling as a commercial sample, prototype product...not that I've used any of these. I know of people that have bought £300 lenses from Hong Kong and not paid any duty by declaring as a prototype.[/quote] You should also (legitimately) declare the wholesale value, not retail. So that's it halved again.

[quote name='BigBeatNut' post='149194' date='Feb 29 2008, 09:41 PM'][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_u35sHICjE"]TAKE A LOOK[/url] Unbelievable. (Thanks to [url="http://www.myspace.com/solobassstevelawson"]Steve Lawson[/url] for the tip-off)[/quote] That's up there with the 'shreds' series on Youtube!

[quote name='mike257' post='148425' date='Feb 28 2008, 02:45 PM']Not a bad idea mate.... he's making my pickups today, I'm almost too excited. Any suggestions where to source one? Oh, and I just looked at your pic properly for the first time... made me chuckle [/quote] [url="http://uk.farnell.com/140518/electrical/product.us0?sku=ELMA-01-1231"]http://uk.farnell.com/140518/electrical/pr...ku=ELMA-01-1231[/url]. Not cheap...and will need some bodging to fit a 'normal' knob, it's a 4mm spindle.

[quote name='mike257' post='148378' date='Feb 28 2008, 01:10 PM']Loads of great advice here, thanks a lot guys!! Hmmm.... the switch sounds a nice idea actually. I'm pretty fond of having a master volume on my basses, but I don't like the idea of losing the tone with a blend like that, I want to make the most of my shiny new pickups!! The only drawback with the switch might be if there's a jump in volume between the P and J. Anyone know if there'd be much of a difference in output level between a Wizard Thumper and an 84?[/quote] I used a switch for a while but it became crackly. I think this is probably because it was a Maplin cheapy and the signal from pups is low. A switch with gold plated contacts wouldn't crackle.

[quote name='BOD2' post='148314' date='Feb 28 2008, 11:28 AM']I hadn't tried this ! In that case the easiest way to go might be to get a small mixer. Put the V-Amp into one channel, the iPod into another channel and then the mixer output into your amp or headphones. Gives you complete control over levels etc. and it's always handy to have a mixer kicking around. This would do the job [url="http://www.bluearan.com/sales/behringer/2nd_HAND_-_Behringer_UB502_Mixer.htm"]Behringer UB502[/url] or you could search eBay for something similar.[/quote] Or you could take the 'send' output from the Vamp into one mixer channel, the ipod into another and then feed the mixer output into the Vamp 'return'. You'd then get a mixed signal from the Vamp headphone output.

[quote name='mike257' post='148305' date='Feb 28 2008, 11:10 AM']Well, I've finally made some moves for renovating the old Squier, the scratchplate is here, the Wizards are on order, and I'm splashing on a Badass II tomorrow when I get paid The question is..... do I wire up with a blend pot and a master volume, or do I put individual volume controls in? I'm swaying towards the blend pot, but i'm open to suggestion. Pros and cons??[/quote] If you use a blend pot and set it central for 'both pups max' you'll actually be getting both pups half volume. So unless you use a very short lead or an onboard preamp you'll lose top end. Which might not be a problem but personally I prefer the both-pickups-straight-to-jack sound.

[quote name='BOD2' post='148244' date='Feb 28 2008, 09:25 AM']The V-Amp Pro doesn't have a dedicated "aux in" socket. It does have stereo "Post DSP Insert Return IN" jacks, though. These are the returns for an FX send/return loop for connecting an external FX processor. The arey "post DSP" which means any signal insert there will not be altered by the signal processing of the V-Amp. There's no relative control of the volume - that has to be controlled by the device being inserted at this point. You should be able to connect an iPod there (using a suitable stereo mini-jack to dual mono jack adaptor) although, as always, keep the volume of the iPod very low initially and bring it up slowly to make sure it doesn't overload anythng. I've got the manual on PDF - there's a 2.5 MByte manual and a 6 MByte diagram page. PM me with your email address if you want and I can email them to you.[/quote] No, you can't do this - the insert returns cut the bass signal. I wanted to do the same with mine. Why won't Vista let you download Behringer manuals? XP loves 'em.

[quote name='Jamesemt' post='147908' date='Feb 27 2008, 03:49 PM']I decided a couple of weeks ago to start a band. Got a few members together last night for our first rehearsal. Problem is, I can't hear myself with a loud drummer... Where does everyone place their gear in relation to where they stand? I had my amp on the other side of the room and moved over to stand next to the drummer. The drummer said he could hear me fine?? I seem to really like a traditional thumpy bass sound, but play rock...should I just bite the bullet and thin out the sound with the tone? I did try that in desperation, but it just sounded thin and honky. BTW the rig is way up to the job - maybe I should have turned it up above 4...but without the drums it sounds really loud - it's just when you add a guitar to the noise that I can't hear myself.[/quote] Hell yeah, it goes up to 11 doesn't it? [quote]This is my first real attempt at playing bass to a higher standard in a band - played guitars for years in different bands, and never had this problem [/quote] Poacher turned gamekeeper ;-) [quote]The cab was quite low on the floor - would lifting it up to my ear level help?[/quote] Yes, and put its back against the wall.

[quote name='sk8' post='147769' date='Feb 27 2008, 01:15 PM']I'm going to do an S1 type mod to my hohner jazz with a push/pull pot but don't know which value to get. Whats the differences/benefits of either Thanks in advance[/quote] Single-coil pickups like the Jazz use 250k pots. Humbuckers have a higher impedance so need 500k pots so they don't load them. You can use 500k with single-coil, but you'll lose more treble at low volume settings due to the capacitance of the cable.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='147681' date='Feb 27 2008, 10:43 AM']I was passing a charity shop, and there was an old valve radio in there. Had a look in the back and it had what looked roughly like a 12AX7 with Mullard written on it. What are the chances of that being a useable valve for my DHA pedal? Will the fact its been used in a radio for ages mean it probably won't be very good, or is the low power use in there going to mean its a good score? Being a charity shop the whole thing was cheaper than a NOS Mullard. Oh, and might it not have actually been an ECC85/12AX7?[/quote] Low power valves last forever(ish)...though I've never heard of Mullard calling it a 12AX7, they used the name ECC83.

[quote name='nash' post='147491' date='Feb 26 2008, 10:55 PM']right my final specs i think. have i missed anything ... musicman style battery box ...[/quote] 18V supply? My EMG works ok at 9V but they recommend using two PP3s for greater headroom.

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='146336' date='Feb 25 2008, 08:14 AM']That is a fabulous piece of work. Thanks Alex. Just to confirm, do the descriptions 'guitar' and 'bass' in that chart apply equally to acoustic and to electric?[/quote] I'd have thought electric guitar harmonics go higher than an acoustic...but then again the 12" speakers that most guitarists use would limit anything above 5-6kHz.

[quote name='Dillsfretless' post='145903' date='Feb 24 2008, 10:53 AM']Hmmmn, I can't view the video right now but I'm pretty sure that I know what it will be. For me the jury is still out on this stuff, they can be funny but ultimately it's a laugh purely at someone else's expense, which I guess is a fairly low brand of comedy. Having seen a few now I don't feel the need to keep revisiting the same old joke. Having said that, I saw a brilliant Santana one once, every little nuance of the different musicians movements were timed into the thing and it was VERY funny. Some idiots who left comments seemed to think that it was real![/quote] The Santana one is probably the best. I played it to at least two people who thought it was for real. There's a much cleverer Steely Dan 'remix' somewhere, starts well and gradually deteriorates til the bassist is playing 'smoke on the water' while the band collapses around him.

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='145071' date='Feb 22 2008, 02:20 PM']I had one keep coming loose on my Jazz. One gig i got a splinter from my drummers broken stick, forced it in the hole (the bass, not the drummers ;-) put the screw back in and its been perfect ever since. At last, a use for a drummer.[/quote] And that's why they like to play so loud - they are only thinking of how best to serve their bass brothers!

[quote name='dood' post='144950' date='Feb 22 2008, 12:17 PM']Knowing that you have a good knowledge of winisd (and I dont have a copy nearby to check) are the dimensions set in stone for best response / least distortion etc? for example, would it hurt lopping off height and adding it to depth instead?[/quote] Cabinet shape (within reasonable limits) makes no difference to bass response or distortion. For high mid frequencies you do have to consider ratios so you don't end up with one big fat standing wave (eg a cube), but using bracing as Alex intends will help break these up anyway.

[quote name='Mr Cougar' post='143847' date='Feb 20 2008, 05:09 PM']cheers guys I'm starting to get the idea here, is a similar option available on the Musicman HH configurations or do they just have one setting??[/quote] You can wire MM pickups single/parallel/series. I've seen a diagram somewhere online, can't remember whether it's the Seymour Duncan or Musicman site.

[quote name='Mr Cougar' post='143709' date='Feb 20 2008, 02:37 PM']Hi chaps, can someone please explain in terms I can understand the difference between Single Coil, Parallel and Series? What is the difference in sound? Can you wire up a bass so that you can flick a switch between the settings. For example if I had two humbuckers (like MMs) what would the options be regarding wiring them up, putting in switches and what would the effect be on the sound or hum? I'm researching getting a bass made and my preffered config would be a pair of MMs (I'm thinking two Delano MC4 HEs) but I'm unsure how to approach the wiring/configuration side to get the most versatile set up.[/quote] I have a Seymour Duncan MM and have wired it for parallel/one coil only. In parallel it's amazingly quiet (as in doesn't buzz near the amp) but I prefer the single-coil sound. It's hard to describe, it's just a bit more 'musical' somehow. I haven't tried series wiring but I'd expect it to give a huge boost to the low end at the expense of treble. I could draw you a diagram for a switch to select single/parallel/series - it needs a 2 pole 3 way switch (do these exist in any shape other than rotary?)

[quote name='Bernmeister' post='141052' date='Feb 15 2008, 02:02 PM']I've been lucky enough to have done a few deals & met with daf in the past & not only has he done me great deals, i have gained a great friend too. Cheers Daf I think its my turn for the drinks when we next meet. [/quote] I'll get the second round.

[quote name='mboursnell' post='139922' date='Feb 13 2008, 10:34 PM']Hi everyone, Does anyone know of a good lightweight bass guitar, with weight info. I have been recommended several, such as the Cort GB74, Aerodyne Jazz Bass, Ibanez SR500, but I don't have the weight of any of these. Does anyone have one of these that they can weigh for me? Thanks, Mike[/quote] My Warmoth Dinky PJ is 3.4kg; big fat Precision neck, swamp ash body.

[quote name='BossHog' post='140408' date='Feb 14 2008, 03:58 PM']They offer a ten year warranty on this amp[/quote] I'm impressed.

[quote name='GreeneKing' post='140283' date='Feb 14 2008, 01:33 PM']My 54P body in Korina and birdseye maple neck arrived today, 1 day late after 3 crossings of the Atlantic. Now to find the tung oil [/quote] Do you have the patience to do plenty coats and leave four hours between each application? I was sorely tempted to slap on a couple and bolt it together the same day. Worth it in the end though. Beautiful instruments.