mcnach

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1450355716' post='2931943'] Yep - my own fault. I thought a maple board would be nice alternative, but it turns out I'm dyed-in-the-wool rosewood. Adrian won't send me a neck 'cos they're carefully matched to the bodies, so... here I am. As soon as it sells, my order is going in for another. [/quote] Ah, I see. I'm the opposite, I prefer maple and slowly I've been removing all rosewood from my collection. Except guitars, I now only own three and all rosewood. I'm going to install an MMSR preamp in my red one, and I think that's going to be me for some time. That list of basses below is going to be reduced drastically in the next few months.

[quote name='Fisheth' timestamp='1450316486' post='2931711'] WOT's maple bass has gone up for sale on one of the Local musicians marts over on FB if anyones interested. I'm tempted but I don't have the cash atm [/quote] really?

[quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1450254666' post='2930884'] It didn't and wasn't intended to, my partner and female kids might object [/quote] male kids would not object?

[quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1448704017' post='2917492'] a nice redhead said I "[i]sounded f&*(ing fantastic[/i]" - they don't get [s]many[/s] any loud precision basses there, I got roped in to play Johnny B Goode with an acoustic (but amped) guitarist and apart from a moment of memory loss in the second verse it went pretty well for something I've only ever heard on the radio. The host jumped in to play lead too. nice tone apparently (but likley helped a bit by my Zoom B2 on the ampeg setting). Quietly pleased. [/quote] watch out with that red head! Last one who approached me like that ended up turning my world upside down... and we're very happy together now

Indeed, slap with the 1126 sounded very very very nice. I really must try those S112s, everything seems to indicate that I'd like them a lot and would suit me more than the 1126s. I generally end up turning the bass knob down somewhat to get the clarity and definition I like, so the fact that they do not have the big bottom 1126s have might suit me just fine. Sizewise they seem just about perfect for me too. I might just sell the 1126 cabs and get a pair of S112 to see how I get along with them, while keeping the Barefaced cabs for now. That won't do much to my aim of downsizing but it sounds like fun

You're right about the dimensions of the 1126. Their volume may be slightly larger, but being more "cube-like" they fit well in my boot. I only ever got to try two BB2 together once, but it was with a Jazz bass with flats in a very large and empty rehearsal room, and my old LM3... I could not directly compare it to what I was used to but the one thing that was striking is how loud they could get, and how much bottom end there was. However the room was not great and it didn't give me a good feel for what the two cabs could sound like together. Perhaps talking about the character of the BB2 appears to imply it adds a certain colour. I just mean that it sounds different from most other similar cabs, and we know most others tend to be a little scooped. The BB2 never sounded very inspiring at low volume in my apartment unless I EQ'd it heavily. But turn it up in a band situation and it works very well.

What you say makes a lot of sense to me! The Schroeders tend to be 'accused' of being too mid-rich, perhaps much like BFs do, perhaps because they're less coloured... The Streamliner needs tamed a bit, a scooped cab can make it sound horrible for my taste. The Compact+BB2 sounded better with the LM3 I used to have... and which I'll probably buy again at some point. I thought the Shuttle would do the same job and be a bit more versatile, but I do miss that LM3. Never tried an F1. It's certainly a 1st world problem

The BF will go louder, that is definitely correct. I can use different EQ to make either work reasonably well, absolutely, and if I were going to get all scientific about it and analyse the frequency content etc I'm sure there would be a way to make either of them sound pretty much the way I like. Having said that, my tone shaping controls are somewhat limited (limited EQ on the amp, and different between amps, plus teh same with onboard preamps, and then passive basses too)... so I want something that makes it easy to get there, whatever I use. Again, let me repeat that: both sound really good!!!!!!!! I'll be happy with either set, which is why I haven't decided yet which ones to keep. My initial plan was to just use the TKS because their dimensions suited my car perfectly... just like that And they were red and beautiful But if I have to keep just one set, I'll have to balance all these little factors, as there is no clear winner both being pretty awesome. The TKS generally sound 'prettier', but under some conditions they can be a bit indistinct and too 'airy' for my liking. Some people LOVE that sound and think my BF set is clearly worse... so bear in mind this is just about opinion about a certain je ne sais quoi that separates both sets, with both being quite good at what they do. The BF set up is louder, but I honestly can't imagine needing to push them that hard for the sort of gigs I play (when more is needed there's ALWAYS a hefty PA to take care of the deep bass). The BF set is a bit bulkier, and awkward to fit in my current car (it wastes space and can't fit both in the boot at the same time), but they're noticeably lighter and easier to handle, and people love to help me because they're light In addition, the BF gets me close to the sound I want more easily than the TKS 1126... but whether this is because of their inherent character suiting my 'sound' or because I've used them for longer so I understand them better... I'm not sure. I'm leaning towards keeping the BF at this stage... while I try to work out a situation where it makes sense to keep both sets and can justify it

You're probably right about the BF being flat compared to TKS. I personally don't care about cabs being flat or coloured, as long as I like the sound. I colour the signal of the bass at every possible step, and the speaker is yet another link in the chain. You're right 'though that this part then gets lost if I DI, which happens most times... but then it will rarely sound the same when I'm right next to the speaker on stage than what it will sound like from the audience's perspective, so I'm not precious about having a faithfun reproduction of "my tone" (whatever that is). If I get a good sound onstage and the sound engineer can use the signal from my amp (post effects when I use them) to get a good sound at the front, then I'm happy.

Ha! pretty much! and I love chocolate so I'd say... have both! Both are delicious! That's what I've done for the past year

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1450177341' post='2930213'] Was looking at a Warmoth J build to treat myself in 2016. Having seen the spec of these now, I'm not sure whether it's worth it - these guys seem to be on the money. Just need to have a good look through their website. [/quote] I wouldn't go the Warmoth route after I have seen what you can get from Maruszczyk. UNless part of the joy is teh actual build, finishing it etc, of course. Just make sure you measure everything you think matters to you and specify it exactly the way you want it. Beautifully made instruments.

Not sure it's a mismatch, other than visually (which does bother my mild OCD but...). I had the single Compact first and I asked Alex before getting the BB2, then I went and tried the Compact with a BB2 that someone local had and kindly allowed me to test. They're quite different, but work reasonably well together. If I were going to have two of the same I'd probably have two BB2 indeed. The Compact is huge and loud, two of them would be awesome, but I do miss a bit of the high midrange which the BB2 provides so easily. I did not compare directly the 1126 against the BB2 the other day, but I have had enough experience with either separately to know the 1126 has the most pleasant voice of the two, and sounds bigger and fuller (for the volumes I've needed). However the BB2 has a midrange presence that I like a lot in a band context. I think it's something that people either love or hate. Whether it is that most other cabs are slightly mid scooped or the BB2 is a bit more mids-rich, it's got a character that makes it distinct. You can still get a lot of different sounds from it, and EQ it to taste, but it lends itself more to a bass tone that cuts through and doesn't necessarily have to have a lot of bottom end (not saying the BB2 is poor in lows, it isn't, it just doesn't sound as big as other cabs given an identical input signal). The 1126 can sound much bigger and fuller more easily... but for the sound I want it needs the midrange bumped up, and I don't get it just right like I can on the BB2... yet it sounds more... "refined and beautiful" (so hard to describe!!!)

Indeed, both sets do the job... that's why I find it so hard to let one go, as both are nice but each have something I like best about them The final decision is likely to be made largely on the basis of weight/bulk/shape... which tells you there isn't anything wrong with either I wish I could keep them all, but change in living arrangements mean I need to downsize.

For a few demo tracks SoundCloud is perfect. Bandcamp is also very useful. It allows you to sell electronic and/or physical CDs very easily. You may also offer things for free or as a 'name your price' option. So this is quite convenient and easy to set up, a very easy way to put your music out there and perhaps sell some if that's what you're after. It's free, kind of. They take a cut of 10% of your sales, but you don't pay anything upfront. Once you have an album and you want to sell it, companies like 'emubands' are invaluable. We've used them for our two albums. They do charge, I think it was £50. But they deal with all the hassle and get your music on amazon, spotify, itunes, google play and more places... We haven't made much money from any of those (Bandcamp is best in that respect) but it allows people to find our music more easily, and frankly that's what we're more interested in not the actual cash.

Not a fan of relics... but this one I like. Very nice!

Those USA SUBs are fantastic.

I used to own an old style SR300 (PJ configuration). Very good bass. I just didn't get along with the very thin neck (which many others love)... otherwise I'd still have it.

[quote name='SaxyBassist' timestamp='1450118461' post='2929798'] I wrote a great long reply with each post quoted and it wouldn't let me post it for some reason!! Anyway thanks for all the advice - I am now coming to the conclusion reading everyone's responses that the real problem (which I have been denying to myself) is actually is my cabs are too heavy for me, I dread coming home from a gig if my son is not home to unload them as I won't leave them in the car, that's when I use the sack barrow but lifting them is an effort for me I think if I was to spend money I would look at the barefaced range, I haven't got a clue which one/s would give a similar power and sound to what I have now though! [/quote] Similar power should be easy. Similar sound... not so much, as they all vary so much. If you want light and powerful... A generation 2 Barefaced Compact (115) is loud and such an easy lift. I used to own an RS210 and RH450 but I don't recall how the head sounded with the Compact alone... probably "bigger" but not so prominent on the midrange. However, you can add more midrange from your amp to compensate. The Compact doesn't go beyond 4 KHz, but I rarely found that to be a limitation, however it depends entirely of the sound you're after: if you like lots of treble, this might be lacking. There's also the TKS S112 cabs that I haven't yet tried myself but I'm looking into right now. Very light, at about 10Kg each, half the RS210. Even if you used two of those, two 10Kg lifts is easier than one 20Kg, and the way the RS210 balances makes it awkward too. Something else to look into. And you can get them in many colours. I want mine purple

Excuse the poor quality phone picture. I hate this phone... Aaaanyway. In November 2014 I ordered a pair of TKS 1126 cabs, one with a tweeter, without having heard them before, purely on reviews and on dimensions: they seemed designed for the boot of my car Plus I could get them in red The idea was to then let go off the Barefaced cabs (a 2nd generation Compact and a 3rd generation Big Baby 2). These speaker cabs were nice, and light, but I was never really in love with them and were a bit bigger than ideal. The TKS seemed enough for my requirements. A year later I still have both sets of cabs and could not make my mind up. Over the past year I've used those cabs in various situations and combinations (with various heads, and also as extension for the little MarkBass combo on the right). There are things I like on both, and things I dislike in both... and I decided to book a rehearsal room last Sunday, bring in a couple of bandmates (drummer and guitarist) plus another guitarist friend and someone else who wanted to attempt to sing who shall remain nameless , and try all cabs side by side. It's a largeish rehearsal room but still not huge, can't really compare to what it'll sound like in a venue without PA support, however that's a limitation I will have to live with. So... I used my trusty Stingray with a Genz Benz Streamliner 900 powering the TKS set or the Barefaced set, switching from time to time, playing some fingerstyle and slap, clean and with an EHX Bass Soul Food pedal providing a bit of grit, and mostly playing funk/ska stuff with some rockier heavier things thrown in to make the second guitarist smile a bit... The conclusion is... I want them all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But I have to make a decision. If I had to choose on sound alone... The TKS 1126 would get my thumbs up. They just sounded really really nice. They have tons of low end, and the treble is there in spades if you want it. The tweeter is really not required at all on these cabs, in my opinion and for my taste. These speakers sound a bit 'mid scooped' to me. They always felt that way and it's something I didn't like. You can dial in more mids and they really sound nice, but I was not always getting the character I was really looking for. Perhaps I was not using the right amp for my taste... I have mostly been using the Streamliner 900 because it sounded big and I liked that, but perhaps another amp would work better with the 1126 cabs. The Barefaced, using the same bass/amp settings sounded quite different. They sounded big, and authoritative, but the tone wasn't as round and pretty. However, I found it a lot easier to get a well defined yet fat sound using the Barefaced. I have to watch the mids with this combination as what sounded good with the TKS was too much on the Barefaced. Dispersion seemed better with the Barefaced too, filling the room retaining definition regardless of where I was. Standing at about 5m it sounded very good. Side by side, the Barefaced were a little lacklustre compared to the TKS, but they weren't bad and once I concentrated on just playing I enjoyed the Barefaced cabs a lot. I then tried the MarkBass combo. On its own it clearly didn't move nearly as much air, unsurprisingly. Then I added a 1126 cab. This is a combination I have been liking a lot because it's portable yet powerful. The bottom end was nowhere near as deep as with the Streamliner and either set of cabs... how much of that is due to the different amp and how much is due to the much smaller cab, I do not know. But I could turn up the bass control a bit and that actually resulted in a very very nice tone. I have the feeling that the TKS 1126 would suit the MarkBass LM3 or the Genz Benz Shuttle better than the Streamliner. The MarkBass combo with the Compact or Big Baby 2 sounded also good, but I think I preferred the TKS in that case. The Compact seemed to produce a lot of volume and big lows but it didn't sound as pleasing as the TKS. The Big Baby 2 seemed to be lacking a bit in the low end by comparison... but again, once playing for a bit the ear accepts the change and it's actually a good sound that retains a lot of definition and clarity but still has enough low end. The Barefaced were the loudest. I could turn up and they just sounded louder. The TKS would also get very loud but I felt that they didn't like being pushed as hard. For sheer volume... Barefaced wins. For 'big' bottom end, TKS had the edge slightly, and their tone was more pleasing... but it was easier to get a well defined cut-through tone with the Barefaced although the bottom end could get a bit muddy at times (the Streamliner certainly would not help there). Size-wise, the TKS are slightly more compact, which in my case means they can fit in the boot of my car and I don't need to take up space on the back seat and I can leave them in the car without being on display. They're also heavier, 'though. Not terribly heavy, they're still considered 'light'... and they have very good comfortable handles, but the Barefaced are a lot lighter and when having to negotiate stairs and people in a busy bar... it's very welcome. So... all this is making me think, again, that a pair of TKS S112 would be my ideal cabs at the moment. They seem to be of a nice compact size, with less lows than either BF or 1126 but with a well defined midrange, and very light whilst powerful enough... I would like to get two S112s while I still have the 1126 and the Barefaced speakers so that I can make sure I make the right decision... but I'm not sure I'll manage to free enough cash without selling other stuff. At the moment I'm tempted to let the TKS 1126 cabs go, and keep a 'loud and light' set: the Barefaced, which perhaps I'm more used to and I can get a good definition out of more easily. Then I can try the TKS S112s and see whether they can turn into a single solution, if they sound better than the Barefaced ones, for me. But the 1126 cabs sound soooo nice too. Hmmm. There'll be a Barefaced or TKS for sale thread soon, but I cannot decide just yet I might end up advertising both and whichever sells first is the one that goes... Why is life so complicated???

[quote name='Bassman Steve' timestamp='1449946821' post='2928320'] Zoom H2 with the limiter set to Live 2 and you can't go wrong (at least I haven't. Never had any problems and can get very decent results out of it. [b]I believe there are some limitations if you rely on the battery - I recall some functions don't operate when it's being powered by the battery.[/b] [/quote] Not in my experience. I run it on batteries most of the time.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1449825450' post='2927129'] Zoom devices are great for sticking in a corner and pressing play and forgetting all else bar the level. If the band mix is ok... Zoom will deal with it well enough. They have a very generous sweet spot for recording and the mic compresses well enough. If you have a screwed mix on these..your rehearsal mix would have been very poor anyway For a plug n play device at their price point, I'd say they are pretty unbeatable. [/quote] what he said. A bit of experimentation will allow you to find the best place to place the recorder, but you'll get a decent recording anywhere, really. I use a Zoom H2. So many of our songs have come out of jams that were recorded in this little thing.

[quote name='fleabag' timestamp='1449657393' post='2925569'] Dont call me surely No it wasn't a misprint [/quote]

Looks like a very good choice to me