Question, not really Rumble-related:
What purpose did the "ashtrays" serve over the bridge and pickup(s)?
What purpose did the "ashtrays" serve over the bridge and pickup(s)?
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Seems their use as actual ashtrays, hence the name, was the most functional. The rest was cosmetic. I've bought and installed a few for the looks. Picture my avatar with a big one with the Fender ''F''.
At least that's my non-technical understanding. Now, if the shielding affects the tone at all, I dunno.
Originally the covers over the single coil pickups served the purpose of shielding. It also provided protection for the four pole single coil pickup of the 1951-55 Precisions. Resting a thumb on these could result in the pickup coming apart as there was no plastic pickup cover.
The cover over the bridge was just a dress up cover that was also useful as it held the piece of Sears weatherstripping that Leo used as a mute. And now you know.
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If you had mutes glued to the undersides as the original Fender basses did, you'd notice a tonal difference.
Ah, very true! But that's what the edge of my hand is for, not really a ''palm mute''.
Besides, ''ashtray'' sounds so much cooler than ''mute holder''.
Oh, yeah, they are used to make changing strings more, uh, interesting, or a PITA, depending on your point of view.
A few non-Fender bridge covers I've encountered facilitated string changing with bottom cutouts!
Anyone ever seen Fender bridge covers with bottom cutouts? I'm surprised if Leo, the consummate engineer, never tried that. Anyone . . . Anyone . . .
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Even though the pickup and bridge covers did serve a very real purpose, you have to keep things in the proper historical context. The Korean War was going on, and The Jet Age was brand new. Detroit took their futuristic styling ques from the slick aerodynamic shapes of the jet fighters. There was lots of 'Bling' in the form of chrome plated everything with fancy wheel covers and fender skirts. New automotive colors too, which Fender used to their advantage.
Don Randall was uncommonly prescient of the coming Space Age when he astutely named the latest Fender electric guitar the Stratocaster in 1954.
Don Randall was uncommonly prescient of the coming Space Age when he astutely named the latest Fender electric guitar the Stratocaster in 1954.
True! I also find Scott Truesdale's post really interesting and helpful
A tremendous amount of history would happen from the introduction of the Fender Stratocaster in 1954 until the British Invasion of 1964.
The Soviet Union would usher in the Space Age with it's launch of Sputnik 1 in October of 1957. The Space Race had begun and nuclear warhead tipped Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles a real threat making the new Cold War a bit colder. The Soviets would throw up the Berlin Wall in 1961, and in 1962 the Cuban Missile Crisis looked like a nuclear World War III was at hand as Mutually Assured Destruction was the battle plan of the day.
I take it everyone here knows their rock and roll history from 1951 forward.
The Soviet Union would usher in the Space Age with it's launch of Sputnik 1 in October of 1957. The Space Race had begun and nuclear warhead tipped Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles a real threat making the new Cold War a bit colder. The Soviets would throw up the Berlin Wall in 1961, and in 1962 the Cuban Missile Crisis looked like a nuclear World War III was at hand as Mutually Assured Destruction was the battle plan of the day.
I take it everyone here knows their rock and roll history from 1951 forward.
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Donald 'Duck' Dunn was the first one I know of to facilitate string changes by taking off the covers and throwing them away in 1957. Back in those days all bass strings were flatwound, and only changed when a string broke or failed to intonate properly (gone wonky). He took his covers off to get rid of the mute and to play directly over the pickups for better recordings at Stax Studios in Memphis. Soulsville USA.
Long term commitments are like, "What's for lunch?"The two may not be all that different.
I mean, I don't know of any impending doom, either to my own health or to civilization as a whole, but at my age and in these Invalid Link Removed, it's pretty hard to make any long-term commitments.
Hello, Names Dare and im a new talkbass memeber, Been lurking and using this site for years though lol
So I have a question from you rumble guys. Im thinking about getting a set of rumble cabs to accompany
new head. The head is the Peavey VB-3 all tube, 300 watt head. It weighs 37 pounds. Im currently using a
Mark III head and avatar 410 cab. I play mostly rock and heavy rock and have always wanted an all tube head
and got this peavey for a steal. But now i want to cut cab weight as Im wanting a light weight and easily portable rig.
So what cab configurations would you guys recommend for a 300w tube head? I was thinking 2x115s but would like
some advice?? Thanks
So I have a question from you rumble guys. Im thinking about getting a set of rumble cabs to accompany
new head. The head is the Peavey VB-3 all tube, 300 watt head. It weighs 37 pounds. Im currently using a
Mark III head and avatar 410 cab. I play mostly rock and heavy rock and have always wanted an all tube head
and got this peavey for a steal. But now i want to cut cab weight as Im wanting a light weight and easily portable rig.
So what cab configurations would you guys recommend for a 300w tube head? I was thinking 2x115s but would like
some advice?? Thanks
I think that you on the right track with the 15s. That is what I primarily used.
My well considered advice is to buy a pair of Fender Rumble 115 cabinets. You can pay more if you'd like, but you won't find a better vintage voiced 115 at any price.
And welcome to TalkBass.
37 lbs for 300w tube? That's pretty light.
I sometimes have regrets selling my peavey classic 120/120 dual mono power amp when I switched to bass. It weighed about 40 lbs. It probably would have been no slouch as a bass amp.
I sometimes have regrets selling my peavey classic 120/120 dual mono power amp when I switched to bass. It weighed about 40 lbs. It probably would have been no slouch as a bass amp.
