waldemar

Someone I recently met is hoping to put together a tight Rocksteady/Soul gigging outfit. Very early days, but it sounds like it could be fun - I'm hoping to be hitting the bass, he's on guitar. Give us a shout if you or anyone you know might be interested and I'll pass on your particulars for him to give you a call. Wal.

>I think I remember the Bass Place , just up the road from Musical Exchanges, maybe in the railway arches? Nah, it was in a different part of town - here's a [url="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/10+Suffolk+Street+Queensway,+Birmingham+B1+1LT/@52.4759031,-1.9012388,3a,66.8y,62.45h,97.03t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s4l6Ttim5rdwaclwP1N04_Q!2e0!4m2!3m1!1s0x4870bc8a48ca03bf:0x795201437574cc95"]streetview[/url] (the 'Fair Well' shop IIRC) Heh, far enough away from Snow Hill station to rag having to carry my new Aria Pro SLB2A along with a little 30W Laney a mate helped me with...

>I think it became the bass centre. Ah yes... That rings a distant, bell...

Recently found an old t-shirt I was given when I bought a bass from this shop back in the late eighties. It was a pretty decent little shop where even as a spoddy teen you weren't made to feel like, err - a spoddy teen. I think it eventually folded (it was a bit out of the way) and I understand the guy who ran it - I forget the dudes name - took over the bass department at Musical Exchanges - it was years ago so I could be talking rubbish. Anyway, here's the illustration on the front of the tee - across the back was emblazoned "Don't ask me - I'm only the bass player." Might be a trip down memory lane for someone. [attachment=236354:bass_place.jpg]

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1468855614' post='3093798'] I'd be tempted by a 2x12. It is a shame the Genz Benz NX2 212T cabs aren't made now, but 'Genzler' now make a similar but more expensive version.[/quote] But wait..! There's always pre-owned http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Genz_Benz_Neox_212T_2.html Wal.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1470127703' post='3103368'] That's why my next bass will be [url="http://s1128.photobucket.com/user/h4ppyjack/media/Other%20music%20related/Great%20Guitars/11379_736550003100145_1890228984563342328_n%20Jack-PCs%20conflicted%20copy%202016-03-18_zps9xxthlek.jpg.html"][/url] [/quote] Mmm. The action looks about perfect, but how much does it weigh...? Wal.

Solid. Looks like you guys had a time and have come away with something really quite excellent. Well done sir. Wal.

>but be ultra sure he has seen the bass in the flesh and is confident that he has the experience to to it properly. ..if the instrument mattered to me then herein lies the issue that would keep me from taking a job like this it to anyone other than a re-finisher that can show me examples of their work. >I am confused as to why people feel a car repairer won't do a great job Finishing guitars and finishing vehicle bodies are two entirely different things. Both require meticulous skill, for sure - but have a watch of this clip: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpeWQ1taxaY&t=4m33s[/media] The narrator appears to refer to 'automotive' finish, so yeah - the car guy will certainly know what he's doing paint wise - but for 130 notes do you really think he's going to rub down 5 clear coats...? Hmm, I'm not so sure. >£130.00 to paint a guitar body is certainly not cheap It's certainly not money to be sniffed at, but in terms of pro guitar re-fins you'd be lucky to get a couple of coats of creosote (especially now that it's banned). Wal.

That's what I'm sayin'. £130 is peanuts for a re-fin (and there's probably a good reason for it...)

You may have seen this thread already: http://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/is-there-any-reason-an-auto-body-shop-couldnt-also-paint-guitars.1241755/ Food for thought. Without getting into the technicalities, I'd say that there's a good reason why a pro instrument finisher's going to cost you several orders over your car finishers £130... how much do you value the instrument?

Pfff. Naah... I think I'll just get me one of these and put it up on the stage...

All the intended humour... [b][size=6]GONE.[/size][/b]

>a switchable volume control And there's the problem. This one's permanently on and requires no battery...

I passive/aggressively modelled this last night. Now I want a real one to give him... [attachment=224483:quieter-wrbl.jpg] Wal.

[quote name='Bill Fitzmaurice' timestamp='1469479128' post='3098718'] He's bought into it. Drank the kool-aid, we'd say here.[/quote] I can see why you'd say so, I really can - but he's a highly qualified electronic engineer. Hehe, I guess it's a case of 'never the twain' and all that... BTW, love your site Bill - some nice looking (and no doubt sounding) cabs on there. Wal.

Hmm, interesting stuff. I emailed a friend of mine earlier regarding some of this stuff - he's pretty seriously into his hi-fi, not just listening to, but building hi-end valve amps, collecting exotic paired valves etc. - even going as far as temporary structural modifications to his house to get his WE16A horns in... In short, a knowledgeable guy with a keen ear for detail who's not shy of spending a bob or two on his passion. He had this to say: [quote] Ah, damping factor. It starts to get complicated. It depends on the drivers you're using. Some drivers are mechanically well damped and need less electrical damping. Driving them with too low an output impedance and you will actually lose bass as it will roll off early because the driver cannot move freely enough. For example, if using a valve amp, which will have higher output impedance than a solid-state amp, different drivers would be preferred with more mechanical and requiring less electrical damping. However, most modern drivers are designed to be driven by a voltage source (low output impedance) i.e. solid-state amps. Ideally output impedance is 0, giving infinite damping factor. This is not possible in practice and most solid-state amps are fractions of an Ohm. Do bear in mind that many drivers are 8 Ohm or so, which also adds to the source impedance as seen by the speaker, so lowering the damping factor below about 20 (0.4 Ohms into an 8 Ohm speaker) becomes an exercise in diminishing returns. Cables can make a difference here, especially in long runs - cable resistance is added to the amplifier's output impedance, i.e. the speaker driver 'sees' the output impedance of the amp + cable. In this case, adding significant resistance (think wires) could lead to woolly bass, as the driver will not be very well controlled and will flap about more. This can give that loose, uncontrolled, boomy sound. [/quote] Heh. It's a funny old world. Which reminds me - I wonder what my valve-collecting mate would make of this: [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3TtyaJnCmQ&feature=youtu.be&t=8m22s"]https://www.youtube....outu.be&t=8m22s[/url] It's a short film about a local amp tech (Roland Lumby) - well worth a watch in it's entirety. Wal.

Hi Mark, yeah all good thanks. Been very busy this past year, but the dust has settled and I've a bit more time to myself nowadays. I have a vague recollection of you wanting me to have another look at those Hayman trees, sorry for slipping off the radar on that one..! Thanks for the advice re: cables - I thought I'd ask after noticing how prevalent the fat cables seem to be amongst fellow bassists. Thinking about it, if 1.5mm gauge wire used in cables for domestic appliances rated at 13A is good enough, then as Bill says, 1.5mm should be plenty to run a speaker off. Being an electronics dunce, I feel compelled to double check..! Wal.

Hello all, I've recently purchased a couple of 1metre 2-pole Speakon cables, basically these: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Speakon-to-Speakon-1-5mm-Van-Damme-Cable-NL2FX-2-Pole-Neutrik-Speakon-connectors-/281296660518?var=580340548555 My current set-up is a 600W Genz Benz Streamliner going into a pair of 8Ω FocusLT cabs (115 and a 210) - these are wired in parallel so that the amp is running at 4Ω What do ya reckon..? Is the 1.5mm gauge of the cable I've bought too thin? Should I have gone for the 2.5mm gauge..? Thanks for all/any advice..! Wal.

I learned this the other day as we're using it as part of our set. I say 'learned' - in reality I have four different versions and all sound okay to me. Out of interest, anyone have an idea about which is the 'correct' version? https://youtu.be/eElCtfwM1Fg Wal.

>Don't suppose I can interest you in collaborating on a show some time? You totally can. We'd be well happy to do an opening slot for you guys. We're essentially a versions band but we've a couple of originals in the pipeline, if you think that we'd suit as a warm up for you then drop us a PM. We're just about gig ready... Thanks for having a listen man. Wal.

The Blues band I'm in have recently started to put some demo tracks together in the hope of getting a few pub gigs over summer: [url="https://soundcloud.com/thenewblackandblue/what-kinda-woman-is-this"]https://soundcloud.c...a-woman-is-this[/url] [url="https://soundcloud.com/thenewblackandblue/bring-it-on-home"]https://soundcloud.c...ring-it-on-home[/url] Each track was recorded in an evening (midi kit helps!) so it's still a bit rough and ready, but not too shabby. As always, any feedback appreciated. Oh, we're looking for a bit of brass in the Manchester area that fancies getting aboard - if you know anyone that may be interested give 'em a nudge for us! Wal.

What? No black Schaller bridge? No black barrel knobs..? Aww... I hear ya though, Jon. Wal.