RichardH

In the next couple of years it looks like we might be relocating to somewhere near Lewes. Anyone know what the gig scene is like round there? Any active jam nights? I realise that Brighton isn't too far away, but I would imagine we will end up East of Lewes, so a bit far for regular evening jollies to Brighton.

Yes, that shows in those graphs doesn't it..... but it looks like the the PR300 has more above 2K than the Beyma - though it drops off at 2K and below at the 45 degree angle, so there might end up being a dip if the xover was above 2K.

[quote name='Phil Starr' timestamp='1495437641' post='3303615'] Having two horns widely spaced is going to do things to the dispersion of a speaker with some 'interesting' comb filter effects. I have however in the past used a couple of PA cabs with the Beyma and some P-Audio Horns as my bass speakers and they did sound very good, both for me and the audience. More recently at the SW Bass Bash we tried the Mk2 tweetered speaker on top of the MK1 and it did sound very impressive, although the listening conditions weren't ideal. If I wanted to design a modular 2x12 I think that's the path I'd go down. You'd have plenty of power handling/output low down and a single horn raised up dealing with the top end with the possibility of using either cab on it's own. [/quote] That's kind of why I was thinking that the bottom cab could be used upside down - so the two 12" drivers were in closer proximity. Good idea re the mk1 + mk2 combo. [quote name='Phil Starr' timestamp='1495437641' post='3303615'] As to using the Faital neo units, well that becomes a different design. The Beyma is fairly light and the Basschat Mk1 is an easy one hand lift. The design spec for that cab was for something cheap and simple to build that would compete with mid range commercial units. Saving an extra 3kg or whatever it works out at would be a worthwhile exercise but Stevie and I are amateurs so we have to think about which projects we are going to pay for next. If you decide to go ahead with a lightweight design I'll happily contribute ideas and I'm pretty sure everyone else will contribute too. [/quote] Yes, you're right, it does move away from the intial brief - don't want to distract the thread. It was the comment earlier on that the cab as specified would take other drivers, including the Faital that got me wondering. I am tempted to try the lightweight route using a cab of this sort of dimensions, as WinISD seems to show it looking happy enough in that volume. It's the crossover that I have no experience of working with. [quote name='Phil Starr' timestamp='1495437761' post='3303617'] If I get time this evening I'll have a look. Still struggling with a Whitesnake bass line though. [/quote] Tricksy little things, aren't they....

[quote name='stevie' timestamp='1488720793' post='3251242'] A system with the Faital Pro PR300 and P-Audio PHT-407N (both neo drivers) would reduce the weight of the cab noticably. I've not worked with the Faital Pro driver, but I would expect it to sound a bit more refined than the Beyma in the upper mids. However, it won't go as loud as the Beyma because its excursion is not as great. That's could be why a lot of people use two Bergantino CN112s. ...... You can fit a Beta 12a or virtually any other "full-range" bass guitar speaker to this cabinet without any problem. They will all work. What you can't do is use the tweeter without first redesigning the crossover. [/quote] Been having a good old read through this thread. Out of interest I overlaid the published frequency responses of the Beyma and Faital drivers over each other. A lot of similarities, though the Faital seems to have a bit more further up the frequency range. ...and here is the 407 vs the 407N Not sure how much interest there is out there for the lightweight option of the neo drivers mentioned above, as there's no point in people putting the time into crossover design if there's no takers, but it's certainly tickled my interest.... At the risk of derailing the thread, I'm currently using a Genz Neox 212T, and find it a bit of a big old beast to lug around sometimes - hence the interest in a 2 cab solution. I know what has been said earlier in the thread about not stacking a pair of these 1x12s, but I wonder if as a second cab one where to use a non tweeter version upside down (so the 12" drivers are in close proximity) might work better than "just" plonking them on top of each other.

...and a new fretboard to replace the one you knackered using their wonky jig?

Very Mucha.... only yesterday I was recommending the Mucha museum in Prague to a friend who's gone over there for a few days.

Result!

[quote name='Al Krow' timestamp='1489139095' post='3254615'] Just pulled the trigger on a B3n from Gear4music! They're a bit more expensive than from Thomann UK but G4m currently have in stock, unlike Thomann. Looking forward to spending some time familiarising myself with the pedal when it arrives next week. Al [/quote] Hmmm - they are now showing it as "available for order" - so I suspect it is not actually in stock. I don't think anyone has it yet - not shipping til later in the month. Happy to be proved wrong though - I see it is showing estimated delivery 15th March - I had the 24th in my head for some reason. Sounds like they are starting to land...

There was a similar sort of thing that someone made for the G&L ASAT [URL="https://www.talkbass.com/threads/replacement-body-for-3-bolt-g-l-bass-help.1010540/#post-14791968"]see here for 3 and 6 bolt versions[/URL]

Yes, I had thought it a bit of a shame to cover the grain, but now it's painted I think it looks great - I think without the grain to catch the eye, the curves of the body shape somehow look better.

Bought Tony's BG250 1x15. Lovely chap, quick to respond to my initial PMs, very welcoming and friendly. The BG250 was in great condition and a great price. Hope to see you around Hertford some time Tony!

Looking great!

Look forward to seeing some pics soon! Sorry if I caused inadvertent Zoot GAS!

Some more photos This photo is a bit odd - makes the action look high - just a trick of the light, as it's nice and low - once things have settled in I may tweak things a bit. Also managed a final weigh in - it ended up as just over 3kg

[quote name='MacDaddy' timestamp='1454075011' post='2966158']What's the weight?[/quote] At the moment it has been calibrated as "oo that's light" from the guitarist - certainly feels a heck of a lot lighter than my G&L. Will dig out some scales and see if I can get an accurate weight. I gigged it last night - just a few songs at a new jam night in Harlow with the new band. The light weight was lovely, and it played really nicely. The rig was an all TC jobbie (Stacatto head, not sure which cabs they were), and it certainly sounded good through that, and the drop D saw use when playing Royal Blood's Little Monster. I will try and get some decent photos done of it over the weekend, and write a bit more about it.

It arrived with me an hour or so ago..... Looks even better in the "flesh"... more later.

This just popped up on the new [url=https://www.facebook.com/zootbass]Zoot Bass Facebook[/url] page.... ...all being well, I take delivery tomorrow.

Bit of a rethink on the finish - Mike wasn't happy with any of the stains, so he stripped it back to natural, and it's now going to be a burst to natural..... [quote name='alittlebitrobot' timestamp='1451037741' post='2937932'] Yeah, it'd be good if they could give the website a proper update whenever the workshop is fixed up. I remember, when I was trying to find out who made Tom Jenkinsons bass, I found that website and I didn't know if the company was Zoot, Iceni or Purple Chili. Anyway, I assumed the company was finished or something because there's been no activity on the site for years and the shop button doesn't work. No need to jump feet-first into the whole social media thing, but a more up-to-date site would let people know that the company is alive and well. Such nice-looking (and sounding) basses. I'd love to play one someday. [/quote] Looks like your [url="http://www.zootbass.com/"]hopes have been answered[/url]....

The original intention has been to keep it natural wood, but to stain it down a bit to get the grain to pop. Mike's been experimenting with various stains, and a lot of them have made the wood look too yellow, and have brought out some funny pale bits in the wood that didn't take the stain. I've told him to use his judgement, but not to faff around forever with it - we can always go for a gloss black if it comes to it, which would look pretty good with the chrome and tort. Remember this build is a "quick and dirty" from an existing body he's had knocking around the workshop for years - the main attraction of it is the fact that it's super lightweight. We're not even sure what timber it is - all we know is that it's an oriental hardwood of some type!

Fascinating stuff - look forward to the updates on this one!

Well, a nice update from Mike to see in the New Year - pictures say it all really....

Yes, Mike is still producing basses and cabs. He's currently redoing his main workshop though, so the CNC machine and his "big boy" tools are in storage while that happens. As I understand it, once that is up and running, there will be more in the way of stock instruments. However, he is still building basses and cabs in the meantime - he just sent out a lovely pair of Zoots to a customer, and is also completing work on an interesting custom Zoot specced to be very similar to the Squarepusher bass that is mentioned further up in this thread. He's been doing a fair bit of repair/upgrade/refin work on basses for people as well.

I've not witnessed it in use, but I suspect Mike uses protection and safety equipment when it is being used in anger! Tuners and pickups should be with him tomorrow, so hopefully more progress to report soon!

Time for some neck carving... Mike has a neck carving jig that means a lot of the donkeywork gets done with the router. All sorts of clever angles and stuff involved....