LawrenceH

I had a perfect ten thrown in with a secondhand bass once...thought it was dreadful. And I actually like the sound of the relatively cheap Ashdown Electric Blue, which is a bit dirty but conveys tone well enough. The perfect 10 was boomy, indistinct and slow no matter what settings I had on the bass. I'mn sure the Yamaha BB414 would be a great choice to start with - or the RBX370, a seriously versatile and convincing-sounding cheap bass

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='852926' date='May 31 2010, 08:33 PM']Remember that when you arrive in bass heaven, the player who plays the most number of notes in a bar is the one who will rule over all mankind & be supplied with an infinite number of nubile virgins...[/quote] Be careful asking for help on this forum, or you might get the bass equivalent of Katie Price offering relationship advice... But it sounds to me like you are going through a typical mid-band-crisis, characterised by an unwarranted desire for frequencies above 2k. It will pass, but to ease you through the difficult months ahead try switching to a P bass strung with flats, using in-ear monitoring off the DI and playing through a 1980s Carlsbro 1x15" as a stage amp. This will allow you to satisfy your need for speed in a safe, controlled manner that no-one else will hear, much less care about.

The few other demos of his that I've actually heard I thought were useless - far too much waffling on and on, and the sound not good enough to assess the instruments properly, but that one's actually pretty good with much clearer sound. Maybe my previous sample of his videos wasn't representative! Naff-looking basses though! (gets coat...)

Thanks for the advice guys! Sounds like it'll be worth taking it down a bit, added to my 'to do' list.

[quote name='BassBod' post='851271' date='May 29 2010, 05:41 PM']The general guide is - hold the string down at the third fret, and look at the gap between string and first fret - should be just a hair from touching the first fret.[/quote] Thank you very much for the reply - doing that it is a pretty small gap, but more than a hair - maybe 2/3 of a mm on the E? I don't have a gauge to measure accurately unfotunately. Would there be any disadvantage to taking it down further, i.e. til just a shade above first fret to avoid buzzing?

Hi all, I have a Jap 75 reissue jazz which I'm learning to really love despite being initially a little underawed (new bridge helped!). One thing that I noticed though is that when playing in F my hands fatigue very quickly. I think part of the problem is the nut height relative to the first fret which is forcing me to press quite hard when using the lower frets. What is usual, and what can you take it down to? I'm wondering if these necks, which have the smaller vintage frets on, still use standard nuts. Surely it needs to only just clear the first fret? I've got a good couple of mm, which even if standard seems a bit unnecessary - or am I missing something? Strings are 45-105 black beauties

[quote name='Stylon Pilson' post='850287' date='May 28 2010, 01:18 PM']It's calculated by taking one speaker from a batch, putting power through it until the voice coil melts, and then labelling the remaining speakers with that power rating. So if you're willing to sacrifice one of your 6" speakers, you could discover the power handling of the other one. S.P.[/quote] You could maybe fire it up in an arbitrary box with a measurement system, successively doubling the power and letting it equilibrate for a few mins, and look for when thermal compression starts to kick in noticeably - this'd give you a rough and ready idea?

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='848870' date='May 26 2010, 08:12 PM']As for amplification, I'd be looking not only for a practise amp, but something you can also get out and gig with. For the price of a decent Roland Bass cube (30 or 100w) you can get a new Ashdown Electric Blue 180 15" combo. These are ample for many until the volume gets out of hand! Rich [/quote] I would point out as a long-time Ashdown EB owner that, while mine has put in sterling (geddit?) service as a small gig amp, for practicing I find the tone is thin and dull until you crank it a bit - the Roland Cube really scores here, if I was JUST looking for a bedroom practice-type amp I'd definitely choose the Roland. I'd also definitely buy secondhand

[quote name='umph' post='846602' date='May 24 2010, 04:03 PM']electro music is the one your thinking of. People don't seem to impressed on the whole with markbass cabs, they do light very well but they don't do tone.[/quote] Well, I think they sound great. Horses for courses. Not heard them powered by Ashdown though, sorry.

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='845894' date='May 23 2010, 05:28 PM']To echo what's been said already... what approach is best for the song? Do that one. If it's the latter and they won't budge... look for another band. If it's the former but you want to be more melodic for the sake of it, prepare to have you gig nicked by someone else.[/quote] Just get a really deep dark fat P-bass tone going and you can do what you like...worked for John Deacon anyway, he zooms around all over the place on some Queen tracks but no-one except other bass players notice! Of course, he's always on the money where it counts. It's fine to keep it simple if it's what the music demands, but it sounds like for some of your stuff the lines you're being asked to play aren't actually that good even in context. Maybe try keeping to their ideas to start with on a track then when they've stopped paying attention embellish things a little bit? Or subtly switch to simple lines that work better?

[quote name='JTUK' post='845732' date='May 23 2010, 01:44 PM']If you find you need that extra, you'll be using PA support as well,...I would hope.[/quote] This is correct. Beyond a certain volume it's far more sensible to rely on decent tri- or quad-amped PA systems, that someone else supplies for you. Mic the cab or make sure your DI sound is good.

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='844935' date='May 22 2010, 10:53 AM']Dodgy soundclip video with the bass plugged straight into the pc's mic socket - You don't realise until you do one of these how difficult it is to play when you can't hear yourself! [/quote] That sound is wickedly 'j-bass in yer face'. Want one! Bank balance says...no

Haven't got an answer for you (but could potentially plug it into WinISD and give one), but for 2000 watts into 2x15", twin 3" ports are nowhere near big enough to get the most out of your speakers regardless of tuning. What kind of power are you actually putting through the cab?

For some reason all I can think of looking at that is Bill and Ted.

That would be a pretty sweet instrument - and I say that despite not being into Metal. [Shameless Plug] I'm selling a pair of big singles on here [/ Shameless Plug]

[quote name='Rachel' post='841434' date='May 18 2010, 09:46 PM']Hmmm... can't find any second hand Mark Bass amps at the mo tho...I did have a look, but all out of my budget by the time I've bought a cab as well...[/quote] The Markbass don't come up that often given how many units they must have shipped, and when they do they tend to get snapped up quick - an indication of just how well-regarded they are in the bass-playing community. I still think the Warwick will be the most powerful and versatile rig...but personally I really rate portability. It all depends how much louder you need your new rig compared to your current set-up! I'd guess that the Genz would be a tad louder but a lot clearer, whereas the Warwick would be a monster, with the Eden somewhere in between. To be honest I don't think you're going to know for sure until you've experienced a few different rigs, which means begging, borrowing, stealing or buying! At least secondhand if you buy wisely you won't lose much if you decide it's not for you.

Your back, or your husband's, will thank you - but it won't get anything like as loud as the full Warwick rig. Course, you could always add a 2x10" at a later date.

I don't really know why anyone would object to an extra pickup - it's not like you HAVE to use it, but it'd make the bass more versatile. I suppose you might worry about the aesthetic, but then a custom build won't look identical to a real Fender anyway. Now, jazz or MM? and if jazz, 60s or 70s position? Matching headstock fo' sure. Do people use Audere pre amps on P basses? That magical Z switch ought to be pretty cool, and I remember that thread where the OP was thinking of modding his vintage P with a pre to make it more versatile.

Mmm, LM3 plus Eden. Lush. But my head says Warwick if your back can stand it.

[quote name='rmshaw37' post='840251' date='May 17 2010, 09:49 PM']hi there, i LOVE my rig its a gene simmons punisher (no hating please, i just thought the active emgs might have an affect on cab selection) sansamp rpm genz benz shuttle 6 (only use the power section, sansamp is the pre and DI) ampeg 115e i absolutely adore the 115 tone, it has all the lows that the big 410hlf and 810 DO NOT HAVE TO MY EARS!! plus the slight click to distinguish notes, plus the gorgeous 2k boost that i love and defines my sound! when i play the smaller gigs, i cant hear myself without turning WAY up (much the the disapproval of the guitar player) i think this may be due to standing close to the cab, and theres not always the ability to stick the cab next to my ear. ideally i want another cab to stick on top of it, so i can hear myself as evenly as possibly wherever i stand on the non monitor gigs![/quote] It may be that you've got too much boom going on low down for the smaller gigs which means when you turn up enough to hear the mids (where the definition is) you get waaay too much low end for the space you're in. In which case I'd say a tight, punchy little 2x10". Think about whether the tone you love sounds best in the mix or in isolation, pay particular attention to the bottom end. If it's great in the mix, then get an identical cab to what you've got already as Mr Foxen has said.

[quote name='Rachel' post='839520' date='May 17 2010, 09:31 AM']It's lighter than what I'm using at the moment, so that's good! ... unless that Dr BAss one has a major plus point that I haven't considered (apart from the price, obv!)...[/quote] It is over 20lb lighter thanks to the neodymium speakers, and the 8" should give it a beautiful clear mid-range that projects well (caveat - I've not actually heard it! They're more common in the states, but I believe they're well-designed), and the attenuators on the crossover add versatility. Plus it's 8 ohms which gives the option of an extension cab at a later date, whereas the Eden gives you 400w max power handling and that's 4 ohms so you're stuck with it unless you get a 2ohm-capable amp. Having said that, the Eden will sound nice and do a decent job - well-respected brand as you say, so will be easier to shift in future, and that's also up at a good price. I've heard of a few dying when pushed hard with lots of low-end though, but that's not unique to Eden even among higher-end manufacturers! (Don't trust watts ratings over what your ears tell you)

Two separate smaller cabs would definitely be my preference, perhaps ideally a 1x15" and a 2X10", a very standard set-up. Don't get too worried about individual driver sizes, except to note that whichever configuration you go for you want a decent overall driver surface area, and you want it to fit in your car. Of course, a 4x10 will do the same job as two separate 2x10s that took up the same amount of room overall and used the equivalent drivers - but you don't have to use both for every gig, it's easier to move two small boxes than one big one, and you can stack them in a tall thin line on stage which does have performance advantages (a square is a rubbish way of arranging speaker drivers). Secondhand is definitely the way to get more for your money. I'd say those SWR would give you a good, full, versatile rock tone. But go and try some kit out - maybe some people on here who're near you would be willing to help out in that regard, I've found basschat a helpful place. Perhaps buy a single 8ohm cab to start with (say, 1x15" Barefaced Compact. About as loud and deep a 15" cab as you'll find on the market, and light weight too), with the intention of adding to it if you find it necessary and funds allow. Be wary of trying cabs at low volume. They may sound nice when they're quiet but totally run out of extension at gig volume. Compacts pop up in the used section on here. Or this: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=85827"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=85827[/url] Which is a steal of a price because the brand isn't that well known...but it will be a LOT better than anything new close to that price.

[quote name='Musicman20' post='838806' date='May 16 2010, 12:58 PM']I wouldnt worry about the specs so much. I used to own a Peavey 4x10 and they do push some air, but they arent that great IMO.[/quote] This. There are meaningful specs, but most cabs don't come with them. Frequency response quoted from manufacturers is usually useless, and watts power handling is also of very limited use in bass applications. Hearing the cabs at volume is the way forward. If that's not possible, then researching the actual loudspeaker drivers loaded into cabs is much more informative but requires a rather geeky mindset and is time-consuming. Fortunately for you, there are plenty of people here who've done the work for you and the more experienced people's suggestions will all be competent performers rather than mutton dressed as lamb. The issue then is what kind of sound you're after - what genre(s) of music do you play and are there any famous players/records whose sound is close to what you're after from your musicman? EDIT: Plus, how are you sorted for roadies and vans? Is weight/size an issue?