4 Strings

[quote name='eddiehoffmann' timestamp='1327251195' post='1508344'] I'm sold! One of these babies is gonna be away for a month with me in March. I think one month of gigging everyday (sometimes twice a day) will be a good test for the little mofo. Let's see... [/quote] You've talked yourself into a little review of intense use. Would be very interested in your views. What cab(s)?

[quote name='Jazzneck' timestamp='1327172999' post='1507480'] "NEVER NEVER NEVER switch on an amp without speakers or a dummy load connected." A drummer bloke who built amps in Hanwell told me that. [/quote] Thing is, my HA5000 is two separate power amps. If I only use one cab, one power amp is running with no load on it. This is the case for the majority of its life.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1327164267' post='1507308'] This is OK with SS amps, isn't it? [/quote] If anything's glowing inside an SS amp I tend to unplug it.

What have you got to lose? Go for it, a final effort! If it turns out difficult go for the blues.

[quote name='rednose200' timestamp='1325286359' post='1481900'] Fitting after market bridges is fine and usually improves the sound. However if this is a genuine original Fender - do not throw away the original bridge. If you want to sell it later,it is better to have the original equipment on it. Oh yeah and never fit anything that means you drill extra holes in the body - Disaster if you do that. [/quote] Disaster? Are they sacred? Are the only people allowed to make a hole a bit of wood with a fender transfer on the end those who operate the machines in a mass produced guitar factory? Guitars are personal, I would encourage anyone to make them more so, even if its irreversible. Fenders aren't rare, tens of thousands of them come rolling into the world every year, a bit of work improving them might (or might not) lose (or gain) £50 on a selling-on price, but who cares?

Ok, here goes: [b]late 70s -[/b] Borrowed Peavey TNT100 - hated it Electronics shop 50W tranny amp into 2x12 homemade cab. Blew the speakers, but in a Celestion G15 Hiwatt 100 (Sound City version - what I would give for it now!) + WEM 4x12 Added a Hiwatt 4x12 [b]Early 80s -[/b] Swapped the lot (Hiwatt went for £70!) for Frunt 200B and a Peavey 2x15 Added another 2x15 - mega stack [b]Mid 80s [/b]- Things changed, Carlsboro Cobra 90 combo. No idea what happened there. Discovered that basses can go deep - Trace Elliot 150GP7 and a 2x10 Trace wedge shaped thing Added Trace 1518 cab. Massive sound. This cab got nicked. Sold the Trace stuff and bought Trace 200GP11 and a Trace 4x10 with tweeter for a song. This really sang. Still got the 4x10, gigging rig for years [b]1995ish - [/b]Trace amp got nicked, replaced with SWR Workingman 350 - original California built. Never got on with it, still have it. [b]2010 -[/b] All change, Hartke HA350 and 2.5XL. Amazing sound. Still have the 2.5, outstanding cabs. Added 115XL, still have. No point, used it once, 2.5 will do almost everything. This goes out on loan sometimes. [b]2011 -[/b] Added Hartke 1800 monster. Earthquake sound. Still have, only had the pleasure of using a few times, huge. Swapped HA3500 with an HA5500. Remarkable amp, with 2x250W and cross over, great with the 1800 but when can you do that? [b]2012 [/b]- Barefaced Midget T and Compact. Both could fit inside the 1800. Used in various combinations depending on gig etc. Would like to sell everything bar the Barefaced cabs and buy a powerful microamp.

[quote name='tremblap' timestamp='1326980002' post='1504611'] I can't wait to go there! Thanks for the words [/quote] While you're there, see if you can try one of the new micro amps. Would be interested in your views

[quote name='deanovw' timestamp='1326819530' post='1502389'] Sometimes I lean it against things and don't use its stand. It doesn't worry me. [/quote] This is a definite bonus, I love to have a bass that 'doesn't matter'. While I'll look after all my gear, none of it is sacred.

It is very convincing but, for me, I would know its not been round the block with a fascinating history of gigs and music from years ago and so wouldn't work. Now you have a dilemma. Do you take off the 'CE' stickers which show that its brand new?

[quote name='Machines' timestamp='1326281259' post='1494794'] It seems to suggest the cabinet design is less much important than the quality of the speaker and an interesting potential for upgrading 'cheap' cabs. [/quote] Or that the cabinets we good designs in the first place but their market position didn't allow use of such expensive drivers. I suppose one solution would be well designed cabinets that use expensive (Eminence, for example) drivers. The barefaced cheek of it!

I've spoken to Matamp about the micro amp too (ah, so its the B500?). They said it should be ready for Feb. Apparently its pretty basic with an XLR DI out and jacks for an effects send/return loop. I'm hoping Speakons. They asked if I'd try it, but located in London it seemed a bit of a trek to Huddersfield! Oddly, when I asked about the hybrid he said they'd tried it but were having issues with mismatching operating voltages between the pre and power sections and so had stopped. Could someone in a better position than I ask if the power section on the B500 (both?) is the same, apparently B&O, unit as the Ashdown Mibass? Very much looking forward to the B500, it should be just what I'm looking for.

[quote name='Johnston' timestamp='1326302113' post='1495187'] How come no one argues the difference a P over a J shape makes to the tone?? [/quote] Erm, why do you think? (or was this ironic?)

[quote name='stevie' timestamp='1326299438' post='1495148'] And what did your measurements reveal? [/quote] That he could hear a difference? I'd like to know if I could. I know the whooping, merry women at the various dos we play at would struggle to tell.

Actually, more seriously, I found this piece of Fender history: [i]"When first announced in June of 1950 (but available a bit earlier) as Fender's first electric solidbody, the Esquire was a available with either one or two pickups (actually the "single Esquire" with one pickup was available first), [b]a black pine laminated body[/b], a white pickguard, steel bridge saddles. Body shape was the standard "Telecaster" body shape, but only 1.5" thick (instead of the normal 1.75" thick)."[/i] An inch and a half thick pine plywood tele body. The jap copiers really knew their stuff! (source http://home.provide.net/~cfh/fender2.html )

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1326291837' post='1494995'] Just goes to show it's all in the fingers! And GAS is a mental illness! [/quote] I've seen these, want them so bad except I can't afford them nor will I ever use them...! [attachment=97106:bush-robot-fingers.jpg] They don't just do natural finish either.

[quote name='cytania' timestamp='1326290199' post='1494962'] The lumber bass would be perfect for playing with Seasick Stevie! Wouldn't want to show up with too flashy a bass for that gig. [/quote] So def not an historic instrument like this which would be worth as much as my house? [attachment=97087:Cropredy-11-223.jpg] Actually love the bits and pieces Steve plays, cigar boxes, hub-caps, biscuit tins, all good and all prove that, even more important than the pickups, its the player.

[quote name='benebass' timestamp='1326017096' post='1490941'] Leo Fender's test bed bass was a plank & it worked OK for him! [/quote] In that respect all our guitars are just planks, Leo's test bed was just not shaped, but no doubt he used the intended material (ie ash or alder). The point about the lumber experiment was that it was just a lump of cheap, soft, pine type wood. I know lots of people have pointed out various non-scientific parts of the experiment but it certainly points to how little, if any, effect the 'tonewood' of a solid body bass has (let alone whether it's been painted in cellulose finish or not!) I'd like to see one on the fingerboard material too, to show how a maple fingerboard, despite looking nice and bright is likely to darken the sound (as its softer than traditional materials) but actually will have even less of an effect as the body.

Post up a pic, might be useful

All that will happen is the continuance of the reduction of range of valves available. Even in music there is enough of a market to keep them going (Hartke 2500 are still among the best selling bass amps and they're punched out in the thousands). Seems hard to buy an amp without at least one valve nowadays. May end up being one of only 3-4 types available though.

There was a (now rather well known) experiment on Talkbass where someone recorded their jazz copy then put the strings, pups etc on a lump of wood from their basement. Can anyone point me to the link, please, just spent ages trying to find it unsuccessfully. Many thanks

So, has it arrived, have I missed something? Really interested in this.

Birmingham at 7:18, probably well North of Leeds by now. Driver having a quick cuppa on the A1. Hope nobody breaks in while he's not looking. We'll never find out then!

[quote name='AttitudeCastle' timestamp='1325627013' post='1485498'] Ah so it is! Knew he looked familiar, that would be his Adler 12 string then! Thank you very much [/quote] Looks like its just 11 strings to me. Huh, lightweight.

I'm busy road wearing mine right now. Well, in between typing I'm practicing today. I must admit I thought this was all dying a death but then saw how many (albeit low) bids this chap gets for his 'enhancements' http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Squire-Jazz-Bass-Vintage-road-worn-Squier-custom-shop-heavy-relic-squire-/270884618149?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3f11fb3fa5#ht_915wt_1070

Always use the passive regardless - Except...! I have just put a new battery (first one) in my US Jazz Deluxe and it overdrives the passive unput on my Hartke. Dead worried, I tried the active hole and all ok. First guitar I've used which actually needs the pad on the active input.