mcnach

[quote name='Hobbayne' timestamp='1462920296' post='3047051'] Thats the problem. Even with the gain really low, hardly even moved above the off position, it still clips. [/quote] really? that's some hot bass you've got! Or you're boosting the signal a LOt. Or both. I typically had mine at around 12 o'clock to 2 o'clock, depending on the bass. There's so much talk about the preamps on those new SUB basses... I'd really consider replacing it. The Stinger from Retrovibe is probably a good solution. I'd prefer the John East, but it's about 3x more expensive (totally worth it, in my opinion, 'though). If you do that, you'll have no more trouble of that kind.

[quote name='Hobbayne' timestamp='1462919444' post='3047042'] Took my Sterling SUB Ray to rehearsal tonight and I noticed that whenever I boosted the tone controls on the bass, the input gain blue light was constantly flashing with a nasty distorted digital sound. When they were moved back to the centre flat position it was not as bad. I never had this my passive Fender P. I suppose my Markbass is not active friendly. [/quote] Nothing like that. But the preamp in your bass is notoriously hot (lots of threads about it) and you're just pushing it further by boosting the lows. You may need to turn the gain input control down a bit, that's what it is for. A passive Precision cannot boost anything so it's fine regardless. I used that combo for years with various active basses, and it's a very capable combo. Just set the input gain appropriately for each bass: your SUB gives a very hot signal. A Stingray is a lot closer in signal output to a Precision... but even then you can still give a high output if you start boosting everything. Your bass is already very high output so... turn the input gain down. Just play some slap to give strong peaks, and set the input gain so that it barely lights up blue when you slap. Then it'll sound ok.

[quote name='PaulFenderJazz' timestamp='1462882537' post='3046561'] Hi, the age old problem of an ageing back means I need to look for a light amp/rig but I need to compete against a drummer and 2 enthusiastic guitars! I have a budget of around £600-750. I like the idea of the size and weight of the Markbass CMD121P but wouldn't be able to afford an extra cab: could an amp of this size hold its own playing punk, mod and rock? I also wondered about the Ashdown RM heads and associated cabs: does anyone have a view on these? Or alternative ideas? Thanks! [/quote] That combo alone... you'll be pushing it. I had one and it's great but it would be a bit short for what you want without another cab. I'd go separates: I particularly like the MarkBass LM3 (same head as in that combo) and a capable single speaker. I love the TKS S112, it sounds great, it's light and it'll sound bigger than the combo, but one will not be enough, probably, for what you want. However they're not very expensive and they're so light and compact that carrying two is not an issue. Otherwise, a Barefaced BigBaby2 or SuperCompact might be a good solution. Especially if you get a higher power head, as those cabs can take advantage of some extra power.

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1462963972' post='3047288'] Hmm, I'd been thinking about trying these. My Sadowsky flatwounds are good in an old-school way, but I'll be doing some stuff this summer with a guitarist who likes to be loud, and a bit more brightness might not go amiss. Shame they cost a larger number of pounds than they do dollars! [/quote] I can't remember what I paid for them but I guess it couldn't have been much different from my usuals or I wouldn't have felt inclined to try them when I really don't have a *need*. I suspect they'll last a long time at this level of brightness, 'though... If you want to give the ATK a try, just let me know.

Do you like the feel of flatwound strings but you want the zing of roundwounds? Cobalt Flats! I bought them a few months ago to try them but stayed in my drawer until the weekend. I have just bought a nice Ibanez ATK300 which needed new strings... it had DR High Beams but they had lost a lot of their brightness and I like a bit of top end, especially as I get to slap a bit. The ATK300 has a Bassculture pickup that is more like a Stingray one than the original... but as I haven't heard this bass with the original I can't say how close it is to one. The preamp is very different though and it does not sound much like a Stingray, to me... but it sounds very good. The preamp is nice. The midrange is in the right spot to add a bit of 'nasality' to give extra presence to the bass, or to cut it and blend in more in the background. The bass is phat city, yet not boomy, and the treble is not shrill and allows you to tame extra clang... The cobalt flats seem a bit lower tension than I'd expect for the gauge, which is not bad. They have a nice bounce in them. They feel smooth, as you'd imagine. But the sound is nothing like any other flatwound I've ever tried. I've often tried half-rounds etc to compromise... nah. I never liked any of those. These ones sound like rounds after they've been on a bit on the bass, and retain a LOT of treble. Finger funk type basslines are a joy to play, and you can move quickly from low to high positions in the neck without sliding noises, so it sounds like your technique is a lot better than it is :-p I am really liking them. I still want to try this bass with my usual steel strings for comparison, but I already know these strings are *the* flats for me. If you want a more traditional flatwound sound, it's easy to roll off treble and a bit of the mids (it may be the bass, but I feel these strings have a prominent midrange output regardless)... I used the bass last night at rehearsal with my ska(ish) band and it fitted right in. There are a couple of songs where I have a bit of slap going on, and it sounded glorious.

[quote name='owen' timestamp='1462878830' post='3046477'] I was not suggesting that the BF One10 would be moving at all. The DOD was making the cone move in truly alarming ways. [/quote] A high pass filter may be a good thing to use then. I use an SFX Thumpinator but there are others, some adjustable (mine is fixed). They work subtly most times, but when you really need them they're great to have. They generally reduce a LOT the amount of cone movement that you see, yet the sound you hear is unchanged, or sometimes I even feel it sounds a bit tighter and 'better;' (subjective, I know)... and no, you don't get a weaker low end. I noticed that I end up pushing my amp less when I have the HPF in the chain, without reducing volume.

Just played a bit with mine yesterday, simply going through the presets... uffff, soooo many possibilities! It sounds great, I'm going to have to spend some serious time on this, editing and figuring out what the different parameters do... really cool!

The Artec parametric pedal is pretty good for this. And cheap.

They do have a bit of bottom end, eh? I played at a largeish bar once with the 1126s, and there was a reggae band before us who would used our equipment. The amount of bass that box can pump out was remarkable.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1462529098' post='3043759'] Another thing is, given how loud an amp is at 500 watts, your ears will probably give out long before the cab. [/quote] Dunno. That cab isn't the most powerful... So I can see easily situations where you might be tempted to push it harder in order to get that little bit more oomph. The cab won't get a lot louder but you can stress it. As others say... just don't go crazy boosting huge lows, and listen to it. If it starts sounding like it's struggling, then back down. I have used a (putative) 900W amp into 2x S112 (500W together)... no problem at all. It has the ability of causing trouble, but if you're sensible it'll be ok.

... not missing the 1126 cabs. They were beautiful and sounded very sweet... but a pair of S112 is much more my kind of thing. I've been singing praises elsewhere about them. I ended up with 4 of them in fact! but I only need 2. For 'bigger guns'... a pair of BF BB2 are pretty cool. And they do fit in the boot of my car after all!

I don't, normally. But sometimes I want that sound that you get with a pick so... I'd use a pick. It's just another way to get other sounds. No better, no worse.

I like it but... kind of bland. Where's the grunt? I'd have chosen something more 'in your face' as the first single... so I don't have great expectations for the rest of the album, sadly

... another 2x BB2 user here. Just to add that... they even fit in the boot of my little A3! This is just tonight packing the car ready for tomorrow... 2x BB2, LM3 and Streamliner 900 heads (I'll use the LM3 but I like to have a backup just in case), and a small pedalboard. Between the cabs and the back of the seat there's a small space where I can fit a small bag with clothes etc... The bass will travel in the footwell of the rear seats, covered with a black cloth. Between that and the tinted windows, nobody would even know I have a full bass rig on board. Can still take three passengers with me if I need to.

[quote name='keefbaker' timestamp='1462444619' post='3043022'] Yeah, I'd pretty much eat my hat if he wouldn't build that for you. [/quote] Oh, I already know he would... it would not be my first M-bass

I want a Jake/Jazz. Jake body but two J pickups spaced as in a Jazz and wired as in a Jazz. With a suitably wider/meatier neck. Purple (metallic?) body and maple fingerboard. I had this idea in mind for a while, but then I saw a picture of Prince playing a Jazz in that colour combination and it kind of said to me 'this is what you HAVE to do'. Then I can sell all my Jazzes. I love the sound but not the neck or the body. Hmmm.

[quote name='mikebass84' timestamp='1462391622' post='3042716'] My very first bass. (Tanglewood Warrior IIIFH with entwistles) Doesn't play the best. Doesn't sound the best but is beautiful! [/quote] I had one of those basses!!! What a beast, I wish I had kept it. I installed a 3-band Glockenklang preamp on it and it was just... beautiful indeed.

[quote name='ped' timestamp='1462383177' post='3042594'] Better send it to me then [/quote]

[quote name='Roger2611' timestamp='1462372871' post='3042478'] I agree with the above, with pretty much every bass I have sold the first question has always been "is the neck straight?" When I have replied "no it has a little bit of relief so as to make it playable" most buyers lose interest immediately, I guess most potential buyers especially on Ebay are not experienced in the physics of a set up so run a mile fearing being left with an unplayable bass. [/quote] that's odd

I'm currently waiting for mine. Any day now. I never played with the original so I'd be no use regarding how it compares to the older one.

great story