TeatroLirico

On 21/04/2023 at 11:50, Lw. said:

What did you go for in the end? 

 

I'm currently using one of the 1x12's from my main rig with a lower power small class-D head, pretty good for practice volumes and saves the space of having two different set-ups. 

I'm considering going smaller & getting some active studio monitors for my office and just practicing through my laptop instead so would be interested to hear if you did that when you were considering it. 

still haven’t taken the plunge on anything new - I’m incredibly slow to make decisions that involve spending money 😂 

17 minutes ago, Obrienp said:

I started a thread on the EHB1000s here: 

Like a few others, I changed the pickups for Aguilars in the end. Otherwise great bass IMO. Light, ergonomic, comfortable and you get a lot of kit with it. Plus you can use standard length strings giving more choice and keeping the price down. 
 

I am sure there is a thread on the EHB1005 as well.

cheers - I did read through some of the posts in your thread previously. Seems to be less said about the multiscale - maybe a bit too unusual

I’ve never played a multiscale and only really play short scales. But if I’m going to play 5-string, only 32” or multiscale makes sense to me.

Also opinions sought on two Ibanez’s that have caught my interest a fair bit, just because they’re a bit odd:

EHB1000S (short scale headless)

EHB1005SMS (short multiscale headless)

I’ve been in the mood for something… modern

25 minutes ago, Phil Starr said:

The trouble is that most small 'practice amps' are just small cheap amps. Really they should be called starter amps. Your Rumble is one of the better ones so shopping around for something better is problematic the only suggestion I can make is that PJB make small nice sounding combos that are designed for producing a great sound at middling volumes so looking there might be good. At a high price AER make great sounding small combos too. There are some fairly compact giggable combos around too. Some nice 2x8's and some 1x12's are quite compact.

 

If you want something really compact and designed to be neighbour friendly I've designed a cab you can build here  It is designed to be crystal clear over most bass frequencies but the deepest bass that goes through the house is rolled off. It's really revealing for home practice which is what you want to improve your playing. Coupled with a cheapish pocket sized amp like the Gnome, Elf or BAM it is a formidable practice machine.

 

The other option is to go for a couple of active studio monitors. The Genelec has been recommended but there are loads of good ones https://www.thomann.de/gb/active_nearfield_monitors.html?oa=pra I went for a couple of RCF Lyras  but I'd happily have gone with Tannoy, Yamaha or KRK. As studio monitors they do bass really well at household volumes and a pair of 5" studio monitors are hard to beat for sound.  they are room friendly too and will double as hi-fi speakers. You'll need a pre amp. I use a small mixer for this as i also put guitar and vocals through mine but something like a Zoom B1-Four would do the job. There's loads of used stuff available too as people upgrade. I'm still amazed at how loud they go and how good they sound and it's not a purchase I regret.

Thanks for the advice.

I’m increasingly tempted by a pair of studio monitors as being a solution.

I suppose part of me feels like there’s a more… recorded sound I could be getting. Not sure if that’s the way to put it. But with a practice amp at low volumes it sounds neither like a bass in a live setting nor a bass in a recorded setting.

It’s fine for practice, obviously, but my practice setting is, for now, my main setting.

A pair of active speakers + a preamp (I’ve been recently looking at the new Ampeg one) might sounds great.

Plus, I’ve been wanting to try recording my playing as a practice tool (and for fun, of course)

Anyone played a Chowny SWB-1 Scott Whitley Signature Fretless?

I was looking around for a short scale fretless and this one popped up. Pretty decent price too.

https://chownybass.com/product/swb-1-scott-whitley-signature-fretless/

5 minutes ago, nordygrrl said:

yep its 4.  and it takes some practice to engage.  It's a lighter touch than you might think. I love how the forum jumps in and helps answer the questions posted.  You guys are awesome.

 

yeah, sorry for summoning you for nothing!

4 minutes ago, warwickhunt said:

I asked about the 3 / 4 buttons in, over on TB and it was totally inconclusive as to which is what setting but you get 2 different sounds... at least on my bass you do!    

 
Well indeed - I always thought 3 buttons was lacking, but I thought “well this must be it, otherwise… what is *this* setting”

36 minutes ago, warwickhunt said:

All in 3 buttons or all in 4 buttons?  

Well aren’t I the total fool. How did I not know that it was all 4 buttons? That just makes no sense 😅

24 minutes ago, Dan Dare said:

 

Fwiw, I'd be looking at upgrading to something that could form the basis of a gigging set-up - something you could augment if/when the need arises that would be satisfying to use at home. I'm assuming, as you have spent good money on your instruments, that your budget allows you to go for something nice.

 

Many of the modern class D heads and compact cabs are very acceptable in a domestic environment, so you wouldn't end up with a monstrosity sitting in your lounge. At the same time, they would out-perform virtually any practice combo. A 500 or even 700w head from one of the usual suspects plus something like a Barefaced 1x10 or even a 1x12 (other cabs are available) would be a great sounding set-up that you could easily add a cab or two to.

 

It would also be easier to sell on for a decent price than a practice combo should you need to.

thanks - really sound thinking. I’ll definitely keep that in mind if I do start shopping around.

1 hour ago, BigRedX said:

 

"Better" when it comes to the sound of an amplified instrument can be very subjective. Also not matter what rig you have home practice volumes will never have the same level of "excitement" as at a gig. Without more information about how you think the current amp is lacking it is difficult to make effective suggestions.

It’s one of those cases where you don’t know what you don’t know. I say I “suspect” I could get something that offers better low volume sound because this was a rather cheap amp.
 

Perhaps for low volume playing there really isn’t much better, but this is why I’m exploring. I haven’t owned any other amp to know better.

An example is with hifi gear. Unless you’ve listened to music through a better system, you often don’t know what you’re missing and don’t consider there being anything wrong with what you have. I’ve seen this plenty of times in the past.

Just wanted to tag @nordygrrlto weigh in!

A question for you cat bass owners…

I have always been puzzled reading about the all-in series mode on this bass. When I go all-in, my bass is definitely not louder than just using the first button pressed (parallel mode).

Anyone else?

Is it possible my bass is wired up differently?

3 hours ago, Dan Dare said:

The trouble with spending large sums on a practice amp is that you could spend the money on improving your main rig. Of course, if money is not an issue, that won't apply,

 

Many practice amps are low powered, with small drivers and cabs, which does limit their ability at lower frequencies in most cases. There are exceptions. The baby PJB combos are excellent, for example, but be prepared to shell out for one, even used.

 

As for what to look for, I'd suggest seeking something that performs similarly to your gigging amp, but on a smaller scale. The boundary between practice and gigging amps is pretty blurred in reality. At what point does something cease to be purely for practice and start being capable of being taken out on jobs? Probably at about 100w, I guess.

 

I'd stick with the Rumble if there's nothing wrong with it, but that's just me. If you switch to something like a larger Rumble, it won't really be much of an improvement, save for being a bit louder. And when you get to that point, you may just as well use your main rig at low volume for practice.

 
thanks for the suggestions.

I currently don’t gig - maybe in the future, but for now I play purely for my own pleasure. 
 

so for me, the more pleasure I can derive out of my practice set up, the better.

As for other gear, I play an Acinonyx (and less often, a Sterling Stingray). I love the Acinonyx enough to be ordering a V2 - Stingray less so.

13 hours ago, BigRedX said:

What don't you like about your current amp?

I simply suspect that I could have something that sounds much better. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with my amp per se. 

22 minutes ago, Elfrasho said:

I don't have first hand experience but I wouldn't expect there to be  many small combos out there that would be a significant improvement over you Rumble.

 

I'd be tempted to get a multiFX rather than changing the amp. Could get a 2nd hand HX stomp for around 350, but the zoom stuff is much cheaper and excellent too. That will cover your distortion and much more. Plus the amp models will give you a bit of variety!

adding a pedal’s a nice idea!

its significantly more limited, but I’ve been watching some reviews of the new Ampeg SGT-DI which has interested me because it very much has the sounds I’m after, and thought it would be a nice addition to add some new tones and sounds to my existing mix (+ distortion)

10 minutes ago, itu said:

How about an active speaker? Buy a Genelec. Low vol, wide response...

thanks for the suggestion. Forgive my ignorance, but what would the connection chain be there? Bass > preamp > active speaker? 

Hey folks,

I’ve owned a Fender Rumble 40 now for about 8 years and I’ve been considering buying an upgrade.

The aim is strictly practice, and I know there are plenty of good practice amps on the market, but I was wondering if anyone had any input on:

- what to look for in an amp which I want to sound good at low volumes

- whether I’m likely to find noticeable upgrades in a practice amp

- any specific suggestions

whats made me think of upgrading is that 1) the amp’s overdrive no longer functions and I wonder how much else is not working to its fullest and 2) I just suspect I could get a better sounding amp for low volume playing.

p.s. I very much dislike headphone playing so I’m not really considering that…

cheers

4 hours ago, Frank Blank said:

Well, I have made three queries on the Nordstrand website, one about the bridge on the original and two about the fretless V2, the first of these was weeks ago, perhaps they don't want my money?

I once contacted them about something and never heard back either. I guess they’re just bad at getting back to people. One of their team is very active in the US bass forum.

I’m still waiting to hear back from Bass Direct re: fretless. But he did say that he can order in the V2s now.

2 minutes ago, BreadBin said:

I play in the classical position, always have. I never really thought about it until fairly recently. I do have long arms though so have no problem with reach.

I think my main concern is learning “bad” technique.

I’m at a relatively early stage in establishing technique and I’ve retrained myself in other ways, such as using (one variant or another of) floating thumb.

But again, I think there’s an extent to which we’re all just built a bit different, so what works for one won’t for another.

18 minutes ago, velvetkevorkian said:

I started using classical position relatively recently, to help combat my poor posture that was leading to back/knee pain -- it lets me keep my back straighter (when I'm mindful of it). For me it's actually closer to how my basses hang on a strap, as you say it's  definitely easier to play in the higher registers.

I’m actually thinking that I ought to put the strap on and see how far or close my “rest on the left leg” posture is to standing. I only play and practice at home so I’m never stood up - however, I don’t want to get used to a position that’s alien for a live setting.

14 minutes ago, bassalbert said:

it is normal. we are playing a guitar, and guitarists have had much more time in history to find ways to play the instrument we tend to overlook because we want to legitimize the bass guitar as a singular one. of course it has its peculiarities, but we are more close than far from our 6 stringed older brother

I just see folks online saying that when they do try this alternative position, they find themselves in an uncomfortable twisting position, which makes me think that my experience is somewhat unique due to my size/make-up and the size of my short-scale bass.

@Kateplaysbasshaha, happy to help!

You’re coming from the position of what sounds best in a band context, so I can see why versatility would be so important to you.

Right now, I’m playing to an audience of one (unless my cat is with me), so I’m mostly concerned with comfort and what sounds good solo.

I have the Acinonyx strung with flats so it also feels pretty amazing.

I play a short scale bass and I often find myself most comfortable, when playing higher up the fingerboard particularly, holding the bass between my legs in what I gather is a classical guitar posture.

Because I’m playing short scale, I don’t find it hinders my ability on lower frets too much.

Anyone else here play this way? I do see some professionals do the same - Hadrien Feraud comes to mind.

When I play higher up the fingerboard in a conventional position, I struggle getting my (small!) hand to be fluid enough, to the extent that I feel I’m just built a certain way.

@KateplaysbassThanks for the impressions!

My two basses are the Acinonyx and a short scale Sterling Stingray. I don’t get on with the latter so think I’ll probably sell.

Though I’m tempted by, particularly, Maruszczyk and Mensinger short scales I’ve seen, I’m reluctant to buy another bass while I’m still very much in those early stages of building up my technique. Want to learn my way around one bass very well.

Do you have a favourite out of your bunch?

Sorry for the noob question.

On my Nordstrand Acinonyx, as of a few days ago, the nut on the jack keeps coming loose while I’m playing, and then cuts out and crackles.

From what I’ve seen, buying a spring/locking washer is the way to go and use it on the underside of the pickguard?

Cheers

@Frank Blankah, hope you enjoy! I’ve asked Bass Direct to see if they’re able to help order in the V2 fretless for me.