The Combo Club

[GwenOnBass]

NCD! After much deliberation, and suggestions from some of my friends here, I decided to jump into the Phil Jones amplification pool. Presenting my new practice amp, a Phil Jones Double Four. Purchased used off of Reverb. (Sorry for the lint circles in the pictures, it's between the inner and outer lenses.)

Echo, also known as Inspector 1, got busy right away.
View attachment 3935804

Scale comparison:
View attachment 3935808

Lexi (Inspector 2) making sure it is secure on top of the little GK.
View attachment 3935809

And a photo of my P-copy Shorty plugged into the diminutive new amp.
View attachment 3935816

So far, the tone is very good. I've only run it with the pictured short scale P-copy strung with Pyramid Gold flats. It sounds very tight, and certainly fills the room. Have not done much tone shaping yet, but so far just the knob on the bass gives me a pretty good range to run with. It is very clear-sounding and transparent in a similar way to my GK. Can't wait to see how the other basses sound through it.

My concern about it not being able to keep up with a guitar seems to be unfounded. It's plenty loud for an acoustic jam, as long as no one else is also amplified.

Time to practice!

Super-grats! The Double Four is just kewl in spades, IMO.

 

[GonePlaid]

Looked to me (going by memory) you were tearing up in sub-7th fret territory in We Got To Get Out of This Place?

On relatively rare occasions when we(used to)play some "Great American Song Book" and I had to solo for a chorus, I'd take a trip up around 12th fret, G string, but the high altitude would get to me. Back where I belong.

 

[GwenOnBass]

On relatively rare occasions when we(used to)play some "Great American Song Book" and I had to solo for a chorus, I'd take a trip up around 12th fret, G string, but the high altitude would get to me. Back where I belong.

Here in the future as I practice I'm giving as much time to 12th fretland+ technique as I am 3th fretland technique ...

 

[Passinwind]

I use the 7th fret position as my default home. First push up, then push down.

 

[RodRy]

I use the 7th fret position as my default home. First push up, then push down.

As a rock/metal player, I spent most of my time down around the 3rd fret for almost everything. After many years away from playing bass, now I find that I'm most often playing between frets 5 and 7.

Dunno why. Can't say I've learned that much in the meanwhile.

 

[GwenOnBass]

The bulk of my 12th fretland practice is technical for technical's sake. The fun part is improvising on chord tones through some changes with the octave pedal boppin'. For me it's also learning the ins and outs of the octaver because it is its own thing going on. Not saying I'm any good at it but it's fun.

All my Real Life (tm) band experience is nothing higher than the 7th fret and yep.

 

[SoulReflection]

The bulk of my 12th fretland practice is technical for technical's sake. The fun part is improvising on chord tones through some changes with the octave pedal boppin'. For me it's also learning the ins and outs of the octaver because it is its own thing going on. Not saying I'm any good at it but it's fun.

All my Real Life (tm) band experience is nothing higher than the 7th fret and yep.

There is gold/money in them thar hills...so they say...

 

[GwenOnBass]

There is gold/money in them thar hills...so they say...

Can't say the coin I earned in music then kept a roof over my head but we did have a piano in the house.

 

[SoulReflection]

Can't say the coin I earned in music then kept a roof over my head but we did have a piano in the house.

A piano, some who knew how to play it and the joy it could bring, makes up for the lack of coin.

 

[iagtrplyr]

NCD! After much deliberation, and suggestions from some of my friends here, I decided to jump into the Phil Jones amplification pool. Presenting my new practice amp, a Phil Jones Double Four. Purchased used off of Reverb. (Sorry for the lint circles in the pictures, it's between the inner and outer lenses.)

Echo, also known as Inspector 1, got busy right away.
View attachment 3935804

Scale comparison:
View attachment 3935808

Lexi (Inspector 2) making sure it is secure on top of the little GK.
View attachment 3935809

And a photo of my P-copy Shorty plugged into the diminutive new amp.
View attachment 3935816

So far, the tone is very good. I've only run it with the pictured short scale P-copy strung with Pyramid Gold flats. It sounds very tight, and certainly fills the room. Have not done much tone shaping yet, but so far just the knob on the bass gives me a pretty good range to run with. It is very clear-sounding and transparent in a similar way to my GK. Can't wait to see how the other basses sound through it.

My concern about it not being able to keep up with a guitar seems to be unfounded. It's plenty loud for an acoustic jam, as long as no one else is also amplified.

Time to practice!

Wow, RR, when you give something serious thought you're not just kidding! Congratulations on your impressive purchase. I trust you listened to those who gave you keen insight and the confidence to make such a bold (and wise) move. From the first pic alone I'd say you're gonna have to call it "Black Cat." That is one nice piece of kit, my friend. What's nice is all three colors are proudly represented here at the club. anyone else ever wanna jump in, the water's fine. Yep, go through all your basses and guitars, but the one I would like to hear about most is your Mouse bass. I've had visions of those two playing together and I want to know how the movie ends. Again, nice call. I hope you'll be very happy with your PJB.

 

[Recon1342]

And a big +1000 for your love of the Donnybrook! Don’t change who ya are, Recon, though I admit I’ve learned on this forum to know when it’s time to button thy lip. Actually, my comrades here have helped me with that!

Hang in there and wait until you can add the moniker of Grandpa. There’s nothing like it. Think of doing all the fun things you do with yours now but without all the responsibilities. It’s like stealing candy from Willy Wonka!

Thanks, FL.

 

[RodRy]

There is gold/money in them thar hills...so they say...

All the money I ever earned playing out amounted to about enough to by my cords. Of course, they are old Monster gold cords, but still...

 

[iagtrplyr]

All the money I ever earned playing out amounted to about enough to by my cords. Of course, they are old Monster gold cords, but still...

Ain’t that the truth. When I was a weekend warrior back in the 80s, I’d regularly spend cash on drumsticks, maintenance stuff, etc, and then make after a two-show weekend bar gig to feed my face early Sunday morning. Boy, was it fun though!

 

[GwenOnBass]

All the money I ever earned playing out amounted to about enough to by my cords. Of course, they are old Monster gold cords, but still...

Add a battery and busk ... except all [alleged] perks of busking went down the loo four and a half months ago ... But yeah the Double Four is a serious piece of kit. I would have no problem recording with one. Sweet.

 

[GwenOnBass]

I find music sustains us when we are in the horse latitudes of life.

 

[RodRy]

Wow, RR, when you give something serious thought you're not just kidding! Congratulations on your impressive purchase. I trust you listened to those who gave you keen insight and the confidence to make such a bold (and wise) move. From the first pic alone I'd say you're gonna have to call it "Black Cat." That is one nice piece of kit, my friend. What's nice is all three colors are proudly represented here at the club. anyone else ever wanna jump in, the water's fine. Yep, go through all your basses and guitars, but the one I would like to hear about most is your Mouse bass. I've had visions of those two playing together and I want to know how the movie ends. Again, nice call. I hope you'll be very happy with your PJB.

Thanks! It was indeed from wise council of my friends who own PJB amps/cabs and particularly the Double Four that nudged me in the direction of this amp. I do think it is everything I've heard it was, and I have no reservations suggesting to others that this is a great little practice amp. The solid deal I got for a pretty much mint used model sealed it, and I pounced. BTW, if anyone else is interested, a used model is on Reverb for only 350+30 shipping.

Last night, I pulled out Silver, my Jazz bass (Squier Affinity model) with Fender 45 stainless flats (tuned DGCF) and plugged it in. It certainly sounds just like a Jazz should. Even with the detuned set-up, it comes through clean and defined, and I can tell just listening which instrument I'm playing on. Spent so much time on that, I didn't pull out any other basses. I got word on the PJB Club that this is also a great guitar practice amp, so I may plug in my Carvin Bolt guitar and see how it sounds.

Mouse is in the case at the moment. I'm sure I'll get to it before long, but I've got something really special on order for it, and I'll probably wait until that arrives to pull the little guy out.

 

[RodRy]

Add a battery and busk ... except all [alleged] perks of busking went down the loo four and a half months ago ... But yeah the Double Four is a serious piece of kit. I would have no problem recording with one. Sweet.

I'll be asking questions about recording equipment in the next few months. Sounds like you and @iagtrplyr have been working through some bugs on similar equipment, so I'll probably reach out through im to learn what I may want to purchase. I owe some recorded music to a few friends already, so it's time I get serious about putting it down on digital.

 

[GwenOnBass]

I expect (but don't know as a fact) that the Bass Summit that begins Monday will touch on rehearsals and jams on the Interwebz. Latency is a big problem, but not the only problem. In an optimal situation, it is possible we may see combinations of players who would otherwise never have met.

A Real Concert (tm) is something we don't have at the moment.

From what I see here in this setup, I'm good to go when / if I decide to cast my fate to the winds and find virtual players. For now, my priority is continuing the course I'm on, and maybe working up one nice clean demo.

 

[iagtrplyr]

I expect (but don't know as a fact) that the Bass Summit that begins Monday will touch on rehearsals and jams on the Interwebz. Latency is a big problem, but not the only problem. In an optimal situation, it is possible we may see combinations of players who would otherwise never have met.

A Real Concert (tm) is something we don't have at the moment.

From what I see here in this setup, I'm good to go when / if I decide to cast my fate to the winds and find virtual players. For now, my priority is continuing the course I'm on, and maybe working up one nice clean demo.

Great conversation, you two. I’m supposedly doing what you’re talking about, M, this afternoon. My buddy, thr Rev, sent me music two days ago to a traditional worship piece that he wants to use tomorrow! Luckily, I’m still sorta on vacation.

So the song is done and I can layer a nice piece of low to what I believe will accompany two acoustic guitars and a violin. They do this song on Wednesday and it needs a little bass to give it more movement.

I believe he, his mates, and I are gonna try playing it live while our wives (the recording crew) gets it down on their phones. It’s just an experiment and I know it’ll be compromised, but we just want to see how bad there’s a problem of latency.

What I’m thinking of offering is an mp3 if my playing sent to him and for the group to follow along. It’s simple enough that I think it might work. I’m calling it, Plan B.

Regardless, it was fun to get excited about doing it, fun working up the tune so quickly, and hopefully fun playing with his trio. This is not the band I’d gone out to play with the past few summers, it’s a new bunch. John moved onto a new church in the Columbus suburbs and we get to start all over again.

Hey, it beats watching the Covid-19 numbers go up and having to think about spraying every square-inch of my classroom down five times a day!

 

[iagtrplyr]

Sunday @ 4:31 CDT. Boy, did this place pack up and move to Kentucky. Just sayin'...