Conan

[quote name='GuyR' timestamp='1384383807' post='2276168'] If you customise your Fender bass by less than10% you don't need planning permission, but you will need a Building Regulations certificate, issued once it has been inspected by your local Council. This does not apply if you modify it in a conservation area, in which case you will need the permission of the Conservation Officer. Pre-CBS basses are usually listed Grade II, and protected by English Heritage, which means it is a criminal offence to modify them [/quote] Excellent!! And even more hilarious if you've ever had to deal with these kind of issues...

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1384363008' post='2275731'] folk buy a Fender whilst thinking as they pay over their money that they will change loads of things on it to try to get it to sound in some way different. If it's not what you want why not buy something that's nearer to what you want? [/quote] Because in some cases, that "ideal" bass might not exist, or might be impossible to source (due to availability, cost, etc). For example, Bobby Vega (to the best of my knowledge) has EMG pickups in all his (Fender) Jazzes. If he likes the way a Fender J plays, but prefers the sound of an EMG J set to the stock pickups, what's the issue? I think he is qualified to make such a judgement and entitled to act on it... Some people seem to go out of their way to look for things to worry about!

[quote name='jimbobothy' timestamp='1384390645' post='2276268'] The date of manufacture on mine is Nov'12, yup a year ago...tbh I don't think I would have bitten so quickly if I knew it would have been MIM! [/quote] Same here. So it is a year old. No big deal really. Had Fender bought GB a year ago? I just kind of assumed that GB gear was US made. Again, not a dealbreaker, but it would have been nice if they'd advertised that fact. The "screws-protruding" thing is just odd. OK, you have to actually [i][b]look[/b][/i] to see it (i.e. shine a torch into the port), but it's a simple lazy error of using screws that are twice as long as the plywood is thick! Why would they do that? Anyway, I used it at rehearsal last night. It is certainly a solidly constructed box! Not the easiest to man-handle up a twisty set of stairs! I thought I would like the top-mounted handles, but I actually don't. Makes it impossible to hug the cab to my chest when carrying it up and down stairs. Not sure what the advantages are meant to be? I guess it is a bit easier to move short distances on the flat, but then again the wheels make that operation a doddle. Maybe the handles are positioned there to make use of the wheels easier? Sound-wise? Well, there is no shortage of volume! But you would expact that. Tone-wise I found it rather scooped - especially after my Compact which has a beautiful, full midrange. To be fair, using a J bass with both pickups full-on makes it's job more difficult - as does using the BDI21 pedal - but the Compact managed to still have a full midrange under these conditions. I had a play about with my graphic pedal, which helped, but this will take a bit more research... I did find that I kind of disappeared in the mix last night Again, I think it is just something that I am going to have to play around with until I get the tone I like, but it is something that I hadn't anticipated. Just shows that impulse buys aren't always sound investments!! Overall I am pleased with it. At £379. If I had paid nearly £800 for a Mexican-made cab with QC issues (admittedly minor) I think I would have been somewhat disgruntled! But it is my first brand new cab since 1986, so that in itself was fun!

[quote name='Marvin' timestamp='1384358221' post='2275664'] ...because no one takes any notice of a bass player for a start [/quote] Who said that?

[quote name='6v6' timestamp='1384355327' post='2275618'] Huh? Didn't the OP say "[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]pair of 8 ohm cabs", in which case two in parallel is 4ohms?[/font][/color] [/quote] I'm not sure the OP was as clear as that...

[quote name='The Bass Doc' timestamp='1384350660' post='2275546'] How much do you pay as an entrance fee? [/quote] I don't pay anything mate - I'm in the band! If you mean audience members... it's free to get in! But we charge £2.50 to get out

[quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1384081208' post='2272462'] maybe a bit like this ? [media]http://youtu.be/AI2k6aseNqg[/media] [/quote] I've always thought that sounded a bit like Herbie Flowers' playing. Although he (obviously) plays a J, sometimes it sounds a bit 'Ray-like to my ears... [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMzxkQs5mog"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMzxkQs5mog[/url]

[quote name='Count Bassy' timestamp='1384276181' post='2274742'] What I found curious was that the perpetrator went on the roof and "Shot himself to death". It makes me wonder how many shots it took. [/quote] Well, being a drummer he probably..... er, no. I won't. Probably bad taste.

[quote name='AntLockyer' timestamp='1384352266' post='2275571'] "people don't realise that to play a bass properly is a lot more demanding than winging it on a guitar.. [/quote] True, but it is easier to wing it on bass than on guitar.

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1383337544' post='2263441'] The VM feels lighter, and i do equate that to cheapness,[/quote] Hmmm... you might want to avoid a Mike Lull bass then... Most of them are under 8lbs! They should be [b][i]really[/i][/b] cheap!

Anyone coming along this saturday then?

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1384346995' post='2275479'] Are you busy on saturday evening? [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/221974-the-sour-dogs-bridge-hotel-newcastle-16-november/"]http://basschat.co.u...le-16-november/[/url] [/quote] The "leader" of my band is the lead guitarist/songwriter. Even though he originally recorded his material with him playing all of the instruments, he really values the input of the bassist (me) and the drummer. In many cases, we have changed the structure of the songs (for the better, in the opinions of us all) to suit the individual styles of the musicians. I wouldn't say it was a true "democracy" as such, but it is very co-operative and works extremely well in this scenario. His material is (IMO) very good and has real potential. However, the fact that all the band members have full-time day jobs mean that the potential is unlikely to ever be realised. Such is life. There is hope!

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1384263063' post='2274570'] The North East is flooded with crap covers bands. We do however seem to be lacking something in terms of new undiscovered original bands up here.[/quote] Are you busy on saturday evening? [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/221974-the-sour-dogs-bridge-hotel-newcastle-16-november/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/221974-the-sour-dogs-bridge-hotel-newcastle-16-november/[/url]

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1384266310' post='2274625'] Bergs have a certain class about their tone though... [/quote] I'm sure you're right... but I just can't help wondering if a lot of that is due to the general quality of the fit and finish? A classy package that delivers a "classy" tone? In the same way that some people refer to a certain "rawness" in the tone of a lot of BareFaced cabs, maybe?

Got my e-mail too

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1384261360' post='2274535'] The Berg CN is voiced with quite a forward mid tone, which does make everything seem louder. [/quote] Is that deliberate, or is the cab just less mid-scooped than other cabs (including other Bergs)?

[quote name='BassBunny' timestamp='1384175789' post='2273519'] If they get all they have asked for, result, if not some of us could be disappointed.[/quote] Oh bugger - don't say that! I've already sold my Compact and have a gig on Saturday...

It makes much more sense doing it this way than the other way - using a lightweight head and a big, heavy, old-school cab! As RandonBass said, many of the modern Neo cabs have high quality drivers that really reveal the sound of your gear - whether it be your bass, effects or amp. So if you like the Trace sound, what better way to hear it! To be honest, even the heaviest amps tend to be a one-handed carry. especially if they have great handles like the Trace amps. It's the cabs that do you in...

My originals band finally get round to playing our THIRD gig (in four years!) [url="http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmk5O67gMWgZM_h12QTByxA"]http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmk5O67gMWgZM_h12QTByxA[/url] Would be great to see any off-duty Basschatters there.

[quote name='Pinball' timestamp='1384022022' post='2272070'] Your looking very dastardly in that profile pic...never noticed that until now [/quote] Drat, and double drat!!

[quote name='Pinball' timestamp='1384014749' post='2271939'] Got one thanks [/quote]

[quote name='Jamesemt' timestamp='1382559066' post='2253760']Best sounding previous setup was Genz Benz Shuttle 312 with a 2x10 extension cab but I feel I was missing something and would possibly like to try 15s.[/quote] Not sure what you thought you were missing, but if it was bottom end there is no guarantee that 15s will give it. That is more down to the design of the cab, not the diameter of the speaker(s) in it. More bass usually involves a bigger box to house the speaker, which also makes it heavier - making your goal of a light cab even more difficult to achieve! Sorry to be the bearer of bad news...

[quote name='Jamesemt' timestamp='1382559066' post='2253760'] I've a dodgy back so Peavey stuff is out. [/quote] [quote name='thunderider' timestamp='1384004712' post='2271779']ebay.....80s peaveys...very cheap very loud...[/quote] In terms of "bang for your buck", amp-wise- a second-hand Hartke LH500 would fit the bill perfectly. Even new they are around £250 Very loud but also very clear. Getting a loud cab that is light? That is a real problem. What do you call "light"? Neodymium drivers do not come cheap (although some are cheaper than others). As Hamfist said, try to sell some of your other gear (or maybe look for trades - your bass for someone else's neo cab) and get your budget up closer to £400 for a cab. That will (almost) bring you into used Barefaced territory (if you are lucky!). Or if GAK have any of those 212s left (at £379). But you don't have a lot of options at your price point - not if you genuinely want a cab that is loud but light.

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1383931639' post='2271021'] I'm interested in your reasons for replacing your compact with a GB neo 212 (other than the fact that their going cheap at the moment)? I hear great things about compacts. [/quote] To be honest, the main reason is the demon GAS (helped by the excellent offer at GAK). I love the Compact but just fancy a change. It is going to a good home! I was used to a BF Vintage, but traded it for a Compact as I was finding the size (not the weight) of the Vintage a bit much for what I was doing. I guess I considered the Compact a bit of a downward trade as I [b][i]really[/i][/b] liked the Vintage. Not that the Compact is in any way substandard (it isn't!) but I kind of missed the larger size of the Vintage. Silly, I know. At some point in the future I may well get another BF cab as I think they are great. But the grass always seems greener on the other side doesn't it? Sometimes, after playing the same gear for a while, I just fancy a change (I think I already said that!). I may well regret it, but such is life.