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Guys! I need advice on my next purchase!

#41
Actually play with other people on a regular basis and gig sometimes - a plywood upright bass from the Czech Republic (Lidl) which is borrowed. Also a trombone, as you might suspect from my username here.

Electric, which I've played out about twice despite having it for 3-4 times as long as the upright, Yamaha RBX270 (alder, P/J, maple/rosewood), mist purple, slightly dented, under $100 - but then I put $28 worth of decent strings on it. Amp is a Peavey TNT130, $80. Approximately one more electric bass & amp than I actually need at the moment, but I hang onto it in case things change. I remain undecided on leaving it alone or stripping the RBX to the wood, so I leave it alone for the time being. Specifically chosen as one of a few that are typically built well but undervalued used, and it's met that mark.
 
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#42
T_Bone_TL said:
Actually play with other people on a regular basis and gig sometimes - a plywood upright bass from the Czech Republic (Lidl) which is borrowed. Also a trombone, as you might suspect from my username here.

Electric, which I've played out about twice despite having it for 3-4 times as long as the upright, Yamaha RBX270 (alder, P/J, maple/rosewood), mist purple, slightly dented, under $100 - but then I put $28 worth of decent strings on it. Amp is a Peavey TNT130, $80. Approximately one more electric bass & amp than I actually need at the moment, but I hang onto it in case things change. I remain undecided on leaving it alone or stripping the RBX to the wood, so I leave it alone for the time being. Specifically chosen as one of a few that are typically built well but undervalued used, and it's met that mark.
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Lidl? Are you on about the shop?? :laugh: I was unfamiliar with German grocery store would be selling budget upright basses.
 
#43
TheIndieKid said:
I’m a little way from Bristol and London. That is the only trouble. I’m from Birmingham. I just wish there was a tube combo that was cheaper or what not. Guy at the music academy has an original Fender Bassman with the original Jensens in it. Oh I wish.

Doesn’t help that I’m really sold on the idea of a combo. Portability and all, but it also greatly restricts my range of purchase. I mean, I’d love something like an Ampeg PF-50T but even they’re topping 800 bucks.

Would you go bass or amp? Or stick it out with my current stuff? I just feel my bass isn’t that versatile.
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Be careful about that Fender Bassman with 212's in it. The blackface amps came with those up until 1966. Then they still came with the Jensen 212's but put them in a Dual-Showman sized cab. They decided to use the larger cab because everyone was turning the cab vertical and putting the head on top of it, which looked like a big "T" with the head hanging over a couple of inches or so on each side. So they made the cab bigger to look better and kept the same speakers. I blew 4 speakers out of that cab before I was done with it.

I bought mine new in 1966 and ended up touring with that 50-watt tube amp amp for about a year until the guitar and keys both bought Vox Super Beatle amps. Then they buried me. It would distort badly when I turned the volume up to 7 (about 2 o'clock). I blew 4 speakers out of that larger enclosure and replaced them each time with identical Jensen speakers - just wouldn't live in there. In '67 Fender wised up and put 2x15 speakers in it and then the speakers lived just fine. I would be careful to stay away from the Bassman amp with the two 12's in the large speaker enclosure ('66). All the earlier ones in the smaller cabs were fine and the later ones with the two 15's were better yet, but stay away from the large cab with the two 12's.
 
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#44
TheIndieKid said:
Lidl? Are you on about the shop?? :laugh: I was unfamiliar with German grocery store would be selling budget upright basses.
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They don't. The same factory in (what is now) the C.R. has been making and selling acoustic instruments since the Soviet era (at least) under several different names. I believe Strunal is the current one in active use. Mine was exported to the USA in the "Lidl" era.
 
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#45
johnson79 said:
It views the vibration of the string and converts to a signal. It's a pretty interesting concept, and from what I've heard, these basses sound very good. Take a look at the link.

LightWave Optical Pickup System - Willcox Guitars
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When you gig, your tone is subject to the venue acoustics, needs of the band and needs if the music.

You can get there from here simply and economically.
 
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#47
TheIndieKid said:
Hello guys,

I’ll give you a bit of backstory first. This idea toying with my brain is probably a result of Aspergers Syndrome I have, and me being a very impulsive buyer who has to be told no to see common sense when purchasing things. Of course, when it comes to bass gear and the ever lasting quest for tone :smug:, it’s not a good position to be in.

Anyhow, for absolute ages I’ve been sold on the idea of a Lightwave bass. The theory behind how it is kind of the successor to magnetic pickup-equipped basses really appeals to me. I had my heart set on it. Five string strung with TI Jazz Flats was gonna be perfect, and would probably be the perfect accompaniment to my lil’ Fender MIJ Mustang strung with LaBella 760-MUS flatwounds.

Now, here’s the kicker...and I’ll add the fact I’m very easily swung in opinion if the idea is convincing enough, but I had my heart set on a Mesa Walkabout 1x15 combi at one stage. I don’t know why, but I jumped on the transparent gear thing and forgot about it, but I’ve been reading some things on amps these past few days, and how nothing apart from FRFR monitors and DI’s are flat response and they can be too sterile for pleasurable listening. I also read that most basses need some EQ added anyway to play in different rooms (which I knew anyway, but just didn’t really give me eureka moment till now :laugh:), and tubes stress the even order harmonic thing and sound a lot more three dimensional, full and sometimes, more pleasing in a mix. I’m now in limbo with whether I should go down the original path of the Lightwave Bass or see if I could get this Mess Boogie combo (which has an all tube preamp). About 3 months after purchasing a PJB Double Four for practice in my room. I also figured what’s the point in getting an ultra transparent bass, if the amp doesn’t reflect it.

I’ve asked this question to my tutor and he mentioned that I should get the bass (this was before I bought the Double Four. I didn’t mention about the Mesa Combo) , because there’s no point letting 300 watts/£1,600 sit around just for bedroom practice, sometimes through headphones. My grandmother, who I live with has also said the same. I’m not gigging yet, but I’ve just joined the music academy band, and ultimately, we’ve been told we are going to do a gig. Who knows what could evolved from there? 300 Watts is more than enough longevity for an amp with an added 10” port too. It’ll handle gigs good.

Anyway, I think you’ve heard me waffle on enough, but this is a bit of backstory just to help you give me some advice based on my scenario, but I was wondering if you could advise me on what I should do? I know if I say I’m going to buy the amp, my grandmother will say no and disagree till the worlds end, but what would you guys say/or do?
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Honestly and even at the risk of being bashed, I think you are over-complicating things. Audiences don’t give a rat’s ass on all the fancy stuff you are equipped with as long as the low end is coming across decently, and if you want something really transparent, there are cheaper ways to achieve this: Presonus BlueTube preamp plus an active speaker like an EV ZLX15P or a QSC K12 will do the trick. With the Presonus you will also be able to add some nice tube grit, and I can tell you, it does not sound sterile. If you dig the Lightwave concept, fine so but I don’t get the point of getting a neutral sound source and later adding artificial beef to it.
 
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#48
TheIndieKid said:
Maple body too? Isn’t that thing super heavy? I heard Bergantino are a great company and their B AMP is definitely something to behold.
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Haven't weighed it but I'd say its about average. It has a recessed back and material taken off the wings, so maybe that helped. And I don't think the neck is a real heavy cut of wood.
The 2 berg cabs I've had have been game changers. I played through the B AMP for a few minutes and it didn't necessarily sound any better than the other class D amps I've play, but that was only a first impression - very short session.
IMG_1552.JPG
 
#49
TheIndieKid said:
Yes. Apparently very transparent, to the point that you hear the sound of the string and not the pickup, much like an upright bass. They’re also very quiet too, because light doesn’t attract any electromagnetic interference. @kirkdickinson shouod be able to educate you more. He’s the man to go to.
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This sounds to me like a bass synthesizer that is controlled by string vibration.
 
#51
Guys, a little question. I’ve come to the conclusion to that my bass doesn’t seem versatile because of the flatwounds. However, the rounds seem to die quickly in my hands and there’s only one set I know that’s made for string through short scales? Any tips on whether I should keep the flatwounds or swap to roundwounds?
 
#52
TheIndieKid said:
Any tips on whether I should keep the flatwounds or swap to roundwounds?
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Could half-rounds be the answer ? I'll admit to not being a fan of half-rounds,neither D'Addario nor Ernie Ball,I don't like the tension. That's not to say they wont work for yourself. I had a look at bassstringsonline and they show GHS Brites and D'Addario in short scales. Since there's an £8 handling fee for imports I looked at Bassdirect in Warwick, a easy train journey away from Birmingham. They have a huge stock of strings so will be able to advise you the correct length.

Added bonus if you visit. They sell Lightwave basses !!! You could get lucky and there's one in stock. First hand experience would let you know if it's really what you want.

Home
 
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#53
kodiakblair said:
Could half-rounds be the answer ? I'll admit to not being a fan of half-rounds,neither D'Addario nor Ernie Ball,I don't like the tension. That's not to say they wont work for yourself. I had a look at bassstringsonline and they show GHS Brites and D'Addario in short scales. Since there's an £8 handling fee for imports I looked at Bassdirect in Warwick, a easy train journey away from Birmingham. They have a huge stock of strings so will be able to advise you the correct length.

Added bonus if you visit. They sell Lightwave basses !!! You could get lucky and there's one in stock. First hand experience would let you know if it's really what you want.

Home
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BassDirect is my go to place for anything related to gear, ironically! They’re the only place in the UK to sell LaBella FL-MUS Flats, so you guessed it...that’s where I get them from! I know they sell Lightwaves...as a matter of fact, they’re the only store I know that sell those in the UK too. Before you guys convinced me on not buying a bass, i was patiently waiting for a 5 string fretless to come in...anyone who lives in the UK, or is willing to pay shipping costs, they are having a shipment due very soon as I was told, so keep your eyes out! ;)

Half rounds are one string I’ve never tried. Had my eyes set on the GHS Balanced Nickels, which are also in stock at Bass Direct, but I found out their short scale set is too short for a Mustang apparently.

The good thing about the flatwounds is that since they are made for the Mustang, you don’t have to do any modifications to them.
 
#55
@T_Bone_TL
Good shout on the nylons :thumbsup: As a stony broke Punk player in the early 80's I got a set of Roto Tru Bass for £5 ( strings were in the £12 to £15 range back then). Was a game changer for me,added bonus was nobody else was using them so I stood out.

These days I keep La Bella tapes and Status Hot Wire tapes on at least 2 basses. A Peavey G-bass strung with tapes is a joy.
 

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