Chris2112

[quote name='eude' timestamp='1335859714' post='1636910'] +1,000,000! The ACG preamp offers a fair bit more than the Wal preamp in terms of it's versatility, can't comment on the Alembic one though. Oh, and the new ACG EQ03 has low and high mid boost options and active/passive switching on top of all that. I can also vouch for the fit an finish on ACG's too, I've not seen any better :-) Eude [/quote] Indeed, the ACG preamp is a happy medium between the directness of the Wal controls and the complexity of the Alembic controls. The ACG is very easy to get to grips with, as the different controls are 'stacked' so that they make sense (IE. each filter and resonant peak control are stacked, volume and pan are stacked and the dual band treble controls are stacked). On some Alembic basses, they can be a bit of a scattered array, before you even consider adjusting the internal trim pots! Indeed, ACG basses are as fine as any made today. I have been recently thinking about selling mine but every time I get it out and have a play I think 'No, I'm not selling this'. I'm moving house and I worry that any cash I made off the ACG will be quickly forgotten about (and spent on a new kitchen) and in years to come I'll stink look back and think "I had the very first singlecut ACG Harlot..."

[quote name='Teobass88' timestamp='1335859714' post='1636909'] I've made a change with a "botique pickup" so I know that it's quite different between an industrial one, but I can affirm that my Thumb is reborn! Before the change the potential of this instrument was at 60%. And it's a real pity! But, obviously, we're talking about feelings and likings...and [i]De gustibus non desputandumm est [/i][i] [/i] [/quote] Ultimately, whats important is that you are happy with your bass and it does indeed sound very good with the new pickups in it. Personally, I've tried some Warwicks with Seymour Duncans and some I have enjoyed, some not so much. As Warwickhunt has said, you'd be hard pressed to tell MEC's from EMG's especially with less than new strings. But ultimately it all depends on what you're happy with.

A stunning performance there. His talent on the bass is incredible when you consider that he is primarily a guitarist.

They are essentially very different. Wals feel quite uniform, whereas every Alembic feels different. Both are noticeably hand crafted instruments, though generally Alembic's fit and finish is far better than Wals. The electrics are quite different too, with Alembic often using a far more intricate setup on their basses. Really, they are very, very different instruments.

[quote name='leftyhook' timestamp='1330640033' post='1560993'] He only uses his one one song in the set live apparently. A token gesture methinks. [/quote] Indeed he did on the last tour, though it should be noted that the Vintage sounded as good as his Fender.

[quote name='Teobass88' timestamp='1335823917' post='1636739'] I can tell you this....When I talked about PUps change on a Warwick bass EVERYONE who has did it, in every place, on computer or real life, on every warwick model, has said just three words: "so much better!!" [/quote] Changing the pickups in a Warwick seemed to be a bit of a trend about ten years ago. For some reason, people got the idea that MEC's were 'cheap', being Warwick's in-house pickups. I'm not sure where this idea came from, as Warwick don't seem to cut costs elsewhere so I can't see why they would make crap pickups. Rather, some people prefer changing the preamps on their basses but the MEC pickups (and preamps) are generally very good. That said, the best sounding Warwicks I've heard have had Bartolini pickups, YMMV.

They sound quite nice!

Yes, it should be noted that the Warwick custom shop is extremely pricey. What I find crazy is that they will build you say, a Thumb. Ask them for a Bolt on Thumb, built with the same materials in the same way as the standard, off the rack Thumb and you'll get the same bass but at a monster mark up!

[quote name='warwickhunt' timestamp='1335596744' post='1633480'] The clip in post #7 sounds fine to me played through decent speakers! I'd be happy enough with a tone like that from an acoustic bass (even amplified)... I've heard a lot worse. [/quote] I've heard worse too (good grief, I've heard some bad ABG's over the years) but to me it still sounds pump, and definitely not befitting of the Alien's price tag!

[quote name='Nibody' timestamp='1328597419' post='1529600'] Been asked to join a "Nu Metal" type band by a mate. They play in "C" tuning. Rubber band strings anyone ? [/quote] Nu Metal? Are they a serious band, or has the nostalgia scene for nu metal started already?

I didn't mind Vapor Trails ('How It Is' is amazing, for instance) but S&A struck me as a pretty strong record. Much stronger and more consistent than say, Test for Echo or Counterparts. There were a couple of plodding moments but it overall it was very good. I do think though that they need to get away from just thinking as a guitar/bass/drum rock trio and get back to either some great proggy arranging like The Camera Eye or even better, get some synths out and start thinking about big, catchy melodies again. I've said it before though, and this will not be the last time I say it, but Rush turning out an average effort (by their standards) is better than most bands could even dream of.

I would assume yes to both questions. Email them to find out!

That 'Headlong Flight' tune is pretty good! Nice riff, some great bass playing stuff too. Very enjoyable.

Hmm, these sound rubbish in these videos! I'm sure I've heard them elsewhere sounding better than that.

With this one: [IMG]http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv52/Baryonyx2112/Streamer1.jpg[/IMG] I sometimes wonder about it's history. It's a 1990 Limited Edition Warwick Streamer. There is so much I don't know about it. I was discussing it with Warwickhunt when I got it off him. Is it a stage 1? A Stage 2? Or is it just a 'Limited Edition'? I wonder how it got to the country, being German made, and I wonder if it spent some time in Germany before coming here. I like that it is in such fabulous condition. It could easily pass for a new instrument, yet it feels 'played in'. I have been a Warwick fan for over a decade now and I must have played hundreds of them, yet this one strikes me as being very special indeed. It sounds fantastic, it plays beautifully. The Bartolini pickups really add some magic to it, and the body woods lend the bass a tone that is distinct and articulate yet very musical. I suppose the bass is quite similar in some respects to a Streamer Stage I (in terms of wood choice, NT construction) yet I feel that sitting down with a Stage I and this bass you would be hard pressed not to pick this bass as the better of the two. I also like the fact that it was part of Warwickhunt's collection. He's been through a few Warwicks, so to get one from the 'private stock' is a privilege. IIRC, he let this one go as it's a bit heavy for his sore shoulder though he made it quite clear to me when I got it that he considered it one of the 'good ones'.

[quote name='Kiwi' timestamp='1332321296' post='1586463'] And the gap around the 12th fret? Problem with the cutlass necks was that the phenolic resin on the fingerboard wasn't stiff enough to resist string tension. All 5 I've either owned or played so far have had the same issue. I've never found one that wasn't from 1983 or 84 either. [/quote] Funny, the last Cutlass I played had pretty low action and was generally a nice player. Sounded better than a wooden Stingray too, if only the marque had been brave enough to continue and expand on this range.

Howard's Bass Place was the best. Everyone who has been there would attest to it. Good old Howard and Surly Pete behind the desk, always something interest in stock and playing something for as long as you liked was never an issue. It was a social venue as much as a shop and I met many great players there (Mark Palmer being one, fantastic playing). I remember going there with a mate from down South, and he was amazed by the place as they had nothing like that where he was from. I was at the height of an obsession with Stanley Clarke and he was madly into Jaco at the time. We just grabbed a couple of basses and ended up jamming for ages, trading licks and solos. He had this awesome phrasing going on, so I was countering with light, percussive Stan' style slap and pop and fast fingerstyle soloing with big intervallic gaps! Good times.

Nice, but they'll have to work hard to compete with Bass Direct. Bass Direct for me, is what we've needed in this country for so long but something the Americans have enjoyed for ages, a bass shop with a great stock and a great site. Mind you, this Streamer: http://www.bassmerchant.com/bass-guitars/4-string/h14622308.html looks very nice indeed. Owning a limited edition Streamer myself, I can quite safely assume this one will be great, even if it is a bolt on!