The Big Fat South-West Bass Bash 2025

[neepheid]

4 minutes ago, rwillett said:

 

Mmmm.....breakfast.... I suspect we'll be there for that and to help setup.

 

Rob

 

Plus it'll take me about an hour to set up my plethora/smorgasbord/I can stop anytime I want.

[rwillett]

1 hour ago, neepheid said:

I can stop anytime I want.

 

Really?

[neepheid]

1 minute ago, rwillett said:

 

Really?

 

Joke killer

 

[Rich]

1 hour ago, neepheid said:

 

Plus it'll take me about an hour to set up my plethora/smorgasbord/I can stop anytime I want.

Stopping is easy. I've done it loads of times.

[Stub Mandrel]

2 hours ago, neepheid said:

 

Plus it'll take me about an hour to set up my plethora/smorgasbord/I can stop anytime I want.

 

Oh yeah. Smorgasbord Addict.

[Richard R]

Looking promising I'll be there. 

Brawley 5 string neck-thru, Brawley 4 string with flats. Ashdown ABM300/10 series 1 combo (maybe the 15" extension cab but that would be stupidly loud 😉). Raffle prizes.

[TRBboy]

Really hoping I can make it this year! Diary is clear at present, but will have to confirm closer to the time. May bring eldest son too, as he is now also a bass player!

[Geek99]

I’ll have to withdraw on medical grounds unless my neurologist pulls his finger out and gives me an appointment 

 

unmedicated I am not allowed to drive too far. He’s isn’t quite sure but suspects a form of narcolepsy and has put it all off “until the next appointment” which is yet to be booked 

Edited August 3 by Geek99

[Phil Starr]

On 03/08/2025 at 18:59, Geek99 said:

I’ll have to withdraw on medical grounds unless my neurologist pulls his finger out

 

Glad it's not the proctologist

[Phil Starr]

OK I've decided on a little demo/shootout for the SW Bash. We've never done a proper blind test before, because we've never managed to totally hide the speakers This time I've realised my band's banner is big enough to hide a good number of speakers so I can re-purpose it and do a properly blind test. I won't say more because then it wouldn't be a fair test

Edited 23 hours ago by Phil Starr

[Richard R]

3 hours ago, Phil Starr said:

OK I've decided on a little demo/shootout for the SW Bash. We've never done a proper blind test before, because we've never managed to totally hide the speakers This time I've realised my band's banner is big enough to hide a good number of speakers so I can re-purpose it and do a properly blind test. I won't say more because then it wouldn't be a fair test

 

Ideally it should be a randomised double blind test, where you don't know which is which either. Not sure how you do that with cabs though. 🤔

[stevie]

It might be a bit hard to blind the operator.😀

[Stub Mandrel]

The cabs could be chosen by a third person who has no communication with phil or audience except to say when a change is completed. 

[Geek99]

21 minutes ago, stevie said:

It might be a bit hard to blind the operator.😀

They have to be in on the joke …. Sorry I mis-typed… I meant “adjudicating on the fairness of the evaluation process” 👍

[rwillett]

8 hours ago, Richard R said:

 

Ideally it should be a randomised double blind test, where you don't know which is which either. Not sure how you do that with cabs though. 🤔

 

This is the best and only way to check and remove all biases. Easy enough to do in principle, though there may be issues with speaker connections and impedence. 

 

Very happy to help but once we have 4 amps and 4 cabs there are 16 combinations to connect and disconnect and play through. So it could take some time. 

 

Also will you simply put a looper pedal to play something through or will some poor sod have to play the same pieces exactly the same way. They would have to played at the same volume as well, as a louder or softer output would be perceived differently.  I would also expect some people to say that their amp plays slap better than non slap and no this 12" speaker is designed specifically for this amp and that's why it's not a fair comparison. 

 

I've just participated in a double blind medical test so decided to understand a bit more about it so read a lot on how biases creep in.

 

After saying all this, excellent idea and happy to help. 

 

 

[Chienmortbb]

1 hour ago, rwillett said:

Also will you simply put a looper pedal to play something through or will some poor sod have to play the same pieces exactly the same way.

I think this is key, no matter how good any of us are at playing consistently, I for one are crap at that, so a looper will take the variable out of the mix. 
 

Of course the size of @Phil Starr’s banner is limited so it would be hard to hide an Ampeg fridge stack. It is also 

difficult to compareFRFR cabs against this with the “Olde Skool” sound of older cabinets of the BF110. 
 

We must also keep in mind that the this will be as impartial as possible but it is not going to be definitive, it should be thought of as informative. Not to belittle the tests but it also needs to be fun. It will give you pointers and expand your knowledge, maybe helping your future  purchasing decisions as part of a process. 

[rwillett]

This needs to be fun and informative.

 

My interest is smallish speakers, much as I would love a double American sized fridge of Ampeg speakers, let's be realistic (for me).

 

Small, powerful enough and cost effective. I have not used the word cheap. Small to fit into a sensible car, powerful enough for a small club and drummer, cost effective so I only blink once at the price. 

[Wolverinebass]

I remember we did a bass shootout at the SE Bash a few years ago and @Lozz196 got the job of playing the same phrase with fingers then a pick on about 15 different basses. He did it really well actually, so it can be done without a looper pedal. Well, if you have someone who plays as consistently and even as he does.

[Geek99]

You could just take up the excellent suggestion of a looper and leave he/she who would otherwise be The Chosen One to eat cake …  just a thought 

[rwillett]

I can certainly be the Chosen One to eat cake. I am being very specific here. I shall rise to the occasion and be the very best person who eats cake in a controlled and repeatable manner. 

[neepheid]

1 minute ago, rwillett said:

I can certainly be the Chosen One to eat cake. I am being very specific here. I shall rise to the occasion and be the very best person who eats cake in a controlled and repeatable manner. 

 

Eat cake in a controlled manner?  That's not like you, you trying some new approach?

 

[Geek99]

1 minute ago, neepheid said:

 

Eat cake in a controlled manner?  That's not like you, you trying some new approach?

 

Yes, limiting himself to one cake at a time, just two hands, no funnel, no sink plunger 

Edited 9 hours ago by Geek99

[rwillett]

2 minutes ago, neepheid said:

 

Eat cake in a controlled manner?  That's not like you, you trying some new approach?

 

When I think of a snappy reply you are in so much trouble 

[Geek99]

19 minutes ago, rwillett said:

When I think of a snappy reply you are in so much trouble 

You’ve probably got time to squeeze in a cruise @neepheid or two … or teaching a guitard to read

 

😛

[Stub Mandrel]

I'd prefer a loop or ideally a recording at a clean instrument level covering a few styles.

 

Probably should be a p or j.

 

Music isn't a good test, as FRFR cabs will probably sound best for that, but not a good indicator of what flatters an instrument. Also, much difference in taste.