Have to play bass then!

[alwoodcock]

I'm getting frustrated at there being so few (if any) bassists around the Southampton area that I've decided to start playing bass (should never be short of work!)

I like the Squier vintage modified Jaguar bass (the black one with the tortoiseshell pickguard) and I am reckoning on Ashdown for an amp.

http://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and...Bass-Black/DNP

Perhaps here:

http://www.thomann.de/gb/ashdown_mag_300h.htm


I'll need a cab of course.

Anyone got any thoughts about a set up other than this, around the same price (£500 odd quid?)

Thanks

Al

[funkyfraz]

Those amps sound great, but reliabillity is an issue. I've ot the older version, and just recently given up on it after having it fixed a few times. Someone will know better than me though, whether this version is better! I think fretmeister will be along to recommend the hartke range. I've just recently got a hartke lh500 (£160 second hand), still not received it but I think for the price, thats as good a sound and reliablity your going to get.

Cant really help on the bass guitar though. Once again, someone will be along who knows much more than I do!

[fretmeister]

Fraz - you got your lh500 for £160?

Bloody hell that's cheap! Never seen them go under £200 before.

But to the OP - the Hartke lh500 is the best 'cheap' amp anywhere at the moment. It works well with a wide variety of cabs.

So I'd suggest heading over to basschat.co.uk and seaching the classifieds. a LH500 and a used 4x10 cab would suit you for ages.

As for basses - the Squire CV range of P basses are very good for the money. But also have a look at the Yamaha BB series and the lower end Ibanez stuff. All great for the money.

[alwoodcock]

Cheers a lot!


Reckon I'll probably go for the CV Jazz bass. I didn't realise Squier did a CV range of basses. I know their 6-strings are well regarded! (nearly bought a Tele')

[fretmeister]

If you get a Jazz - do a little wiring mod that allows you to run both pickups in series as well as the stock parallel. You'll need a push/pull pot to activate it.

You'll get very very close to P bass sounds too then. Should cover everything you need then

[alwoodcock]

Ahhh. OK Fret'. Will do. Thanks!

[alwoodcock]

I see Hartke do a 250 watt head too. Is that enough wattage (As a guitarist, I'm a bit iffy on bass amp watt requirements and 500 seems excessive, or is it??)

[fretmeister]

I see Hartke do a 250 watt head too. Is that enough wattage (As a guitarist, I'm a bit iffy on bass amp watt requirements and 500 seems excessive, or is it??)

The older 250W head isn't tht great. Different series too.

Of the older (still made) HA series the one to go for is the HA3500.

There is an awful lot of marketing bollocks in bass amp power outputs.

The TC Electronic RH450 is marketed as being 450W at 4ohms. A Bench test shows it only puts out 236W. However it is loud enough to wake the dead so there's no drama.

I would say - you need 300W minimum. Not for volume, but because bass needs a load more headroom that guitar does.

There is 1 general exception to this rule - the EBS Reidmar. That is 250W (genuine, not marketing dept!!) and it is louder than many amps advertised at 500W.

Bass cabs are funny beasts too - some are very sensitive indeed and are very loud for a given input, others are not. Hartke cabs have always been loud and clear. The XL series are very good, but heavy (cheap used though) and the new Hydrive cabs are loud and lightweight, but you'll need about £350 to find a used one.


There is a TC 2x12 on basschat for £260 at the mo - that's a nice cab too http://basschat.co.uk/topic/184839-f...bass-cab-l260/



And as it happens there is a Hartke Hydrive 4x10 on bass chat at a very cheap £300 http://basschat.co.uk/topic/178660-h...-410-cab-l300/

Very nice cab indeed - I ran one of them for a while.

[alwoodcock]

Just seen a Marshall MBC410 for sale at £130. 600 watts! That should do for a cab to go with the Hartke LH500.

....Or a Marshall JCM800 bass cab for £200. Are Marshall bass cabs any good though?

[fretmeister]

You might find a Hartke 410XL for that money, and it's a much better cab. If you can lift it!!

The Marshall VBC 4x12 bass cab is a bit of a beast but they can be found for £225 or less used. Make sure it will fit in the car though!

There are some mental deals on Ampeg 8x10 cabs - but this is usually because they've been thrashed AND depending on the version they weigh from 150 to 215lb. You do not want a 13 stone bass cab!

Of course if you are handy with a bandsaw you can build a good cab. Bill Fitzmaurice does plans to build cabs - never tried it myself but I know a few that have, with great results. You buy the wood and speakers from anywhere you like.