Gibson, Fender or Other

rayc · Groupie Joined: 23 May 2005 Posts: 32

I would probably buy a PRS custom 22 if I had that kind of cash to spend on an electric. I doubt that I would buy a Fender because I just never got the hang of them, although I love the sound of the strat when the switch is in the 4th position. There is a chance that I would revert to the Gibson LP because, after 30 years, the setup is just second nature.

Rocklogicxxxxx · Groupie Joined: 14 Jun 2005 Posts: 43

lee_UK wrote:

Rocklogicxxxxx i had no idea you are a 'Bass expert' how about some advice??
im a 6 string player for many many years and im in a original material band playing guitar, im now thinking of getting a Bass and Amp and starting a band with a friend of mine playing classic rock covers, but i need the initial setup, i have £1,200 for a bass and gigging (small venues) amp, ive been leaning toward a Ricky 4003 bass and an Ashdown EVO 2 head and 15" bass cab (blue speaker, and all used values) as recomended by Bassleft, do you have any advice??
Thanks
Lee.

Two things here Lee..

1. When I worked at the Bass Centre in 1987 every one wanted Trace Elliot. A few years ago it was known as "Try Selling It" because you couldnt give the stuff away. Similarly, whilst at the Bass Centre. The Ricky basses were so cheap that Barry (the proprietor) would throw in a holiday to The Gambia with each one... I jest.. but they were very cheap.

2. I don't really know much about the amplification side of things today but I have to say that I prefer a 4X10 cabinet to say a 2X15. I was once made to use an 18" cab which was just awful as the speaker takes so long to move back and forth. Actually one of the best "bass" sounds I ever got was with the Stick through a 4X8 Trace Elliot combo.

3. (o.k. three things.. )

If you are starting out on the bass equipment road then take your time and do the research. What do your idols use? Also, what sort of sound do you want to produce? try the set up that bass1left sugested and trust your ears. But play lots of diferent amps.

4. (oh bugger..!)

What sort of classic rock are you refering to? Are we talking Crim/Yes/Genesis type stuff?

lee_UK · Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2005 9:07 pm Post subject:

1. Bass didnt like TE stuff, he hsays it was too muddy for him, he recomends the Ashdown stuff, i'll take a look at that.
2. i'll check out the 4x10, they also do a 1x15 but i dont suppose that will have much in the midrange, and i can always add to it later.
3. havent got many bass idols, i dont like the Mark King style, i lose the will to live after any extended 'bass break' its like water torture.
4.Classic rock not Prog Rock!! i mean 70's Stones, Who, Free, you know the ususal 20 set song spread you get down the local on a saturday night.
Thanks for the advice..

Rocklogicxxxxx · Groupie Joined: 14 Jun 2005 Posts: 43

lee_UK wrote:

1. Bass didnt like TE stuff, he hsays it was too muddy for him, he recomends the Ashdown stuff, i'll take a look at that.
2. i'll check out the 4x10, they also do a 1x15 but i dont suppose that will have much in the midrange, and i can always add to it later.
3. havent got many bass idols, i dont like the Mark King style, i lose the will to live after any extended 'bass break' its like water torture.
4.Classic rock not Prog Rock!! i mean 70's Stones, Who, Free, you know the ususal 20 set song spread you get down the local on a saturday night.
Thanks for the advice..

Yeah, I hated the TE stuff too. My guitarist was working for them at the time of us being in a band and he blagged two stacks for me with an ultra-violet lit, flightcased rack of amps... looked really flash and was eventually bought by that guy named Charlie who played with Robert Plant. It was on these gigs that I has the 1X18 cab (i.e. half of one of the stacks) and it sucked big-time. I could never get a decent sound out of any of it.

Years later, after not playing bass or Stick for ages, I was invited to do a gig at the Royal Festival Hall with the LPO... (A Saturday Morning thing where all the pieces were called Jupiter), so I blagged the TE 4X8 from a drummer friend of mine (you couldn't make it up, could you), and it was fantastic. I'd rehearsed with the orchestra using a 2X12 thing that just sounded wrong... but my heart sang when I heard the Trace Elliot. Now, it was a valve amp combo and very difficult to lift but real punch and power exhuded from its every portal.

lee_UK · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2005 1:09 pm Post subject:

Spoke to our old Bassman Mick today, and he advises a MM Stingray 4 string 3 band EQ guitar, i think thats in the budget, he says they are lot mote versatile than a Ricky, and he would only consider having a Ricky as a 2nd guitar, so im leaning toward a Stingray now, i suppose thats the more sensible choice.
Have my eye on a EVO 2 head (300 watt) and a 4x10 (blueline) cab too.

Rocklogicxxxxx · Groupie Joined: 14 Jun 2005 Posts: 43

lee_UK wrote:

Spoke to our old Bassman Mick today, and he advises a MM Stingray 4 string 3 band EQ guitar, i think thats in the budget, he says they are lot mote versatile than a Ricky, and he would only consider having a Ricky as a 2nd guitar, so im leaning toward a Stingray now, i suppose thats the more sensible choice.
Have my eye on a EVO 2 head (300 watt) and a 4x10 (blueline) cab too.

It was the mention of a Ricky that made me question the Prog/Classic rock thing. Proggers (sans Crimson) tended to use Ricky's. (as did The Bee Gees............ Hmmm, disco on a Ricky..wierd!!)

I agree with the MusicMan idea as they are one of the best basses around. However. As a guitarist going over to bass you may prefer the neck dimesions of a Jass bass. At the nut, the strings are closer together than any other bass and makes it so much easier to play. Try one out and see how it feels. It depends what you want to do in the future. the Stingray is a beautiful way forward (and a better instrument than a Jazz).

I know absolutely nothing about amplification but I'm assuming that the 300w head is a valve amp. The Trace Elliot 300w valve head was a direct copy of the Ampeg. TE alledgedly took apart an Ampeg and copied it. But valve is always the best!

Sounds like you're going for a great set-up!

Dave

lee_UK · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2005 11:28 pm Post subject:

The EVO II has a valve preamp, think its a 12ax7, i agree with the jazz, ive played one and they are very easy to play, but im not too keen on the sound or the looks, i think if im going to learn to play bass then its best to use a 'real' size neck, my old bassman Mick has a Stingray and a jazz too, im going over to his place tommorow for a test drive on the 2, incidently he also has the EVO II but the 500 watt version and a ABM 4X10 cab too, i'll let you know on the outcome.

1bassleft · Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 12:18 am Post subject:

Continuing the hijack (sorry), Dave's suggestions pretty much mirror my private yak, Lee. Must clear up; I didn't find the TE too muddy, but the SS amps used to clip like anything with my playing. It used to bug me noe end. I noticed a "Chili Peppers" style band with the BP digging in, and the Trace's clip LED was on pretty much throughout the set.

In my exp, Dave, the good hybrids make perfectly good bass heads. I'm a valve man myself, but Marshall's DBS and the Ashdown Evo were excellent with just the preamp containing glassware. In some ways, the ability to blend valve with SS preamp is even better. It really does change the sound and suits different types of music.

Much as I would rank the Stingray (why does the 4-string not have the series/parallel/single coil switch?) and Rickenbacker highly on my list, there's a budget problem here. £1200, large wad though it is, is not going to get a Ric or EB plus an Evo plus a good 4x10". Sorry, I just can't see even late-night cigarettes and sniping pulling it off. Supposing the Evo comes in around £400, most 4001/3 and Stingrays swallow up the rest. A US Jazz around £550 is much easier to get than the other two.

Any joy with that 15" driver? Although I prefer 10"s, I'd make a cab around that 15 seeing as it went for £30-odd and get a 2x10" to go with it. Incidentally, this bass is the opposite of "versatile" but I have to flag it:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33039&item=7332956238&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

A Jap RI Telecaster bass (early P single coil, not the humbucker) in pink paisley. With a BIN of £275, I'd say that's a grab. If only I were right-handed.

bulsara · Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 9:52 am Post subject:

Love the "Highjack". The point of a forum is to generate discussion between like minded people. If a discussion about Fender V Gibson ends up as a bass discussion, let it be. They are the instruments we love, let us pay them homage!!!

1bassleft · Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 11:10 pm Post subject:

Good of you to be cool with it, Buls, but I usually apol if I'm dragging things off-centre. Back to your topic, my "other" is a (lefty) Lakland 55-94. Rip out the MM-style pup and put my genuine 5-er in, and put some Graphtech piezo saddles + gubbins on with the spare change. That'll cover me!

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