mcnach

I have recently contacted a local band that I like who needed a bass player, and today I met the band, and over the period of an hour we went through a couple of their songs and jammed a bit. That was our "audition". Now, I gig regularly, with more than one band. I'm quite comfortable playing and meeting other people... but the truth is I haven't "auditioned" in 3 years, when I got my SBK gig. Most other things I have been involved in, either I was a founder or the founders knew me and asked me to join directly. So I went to the audition and felt extremely nervous! I was annoyed at myself at being so nervous, when I knew I could play just fine. Of course, I did not play that well. The two songs I was asked to have a look at, well, I only had time to do anything about them this morning, so about an hour is all I dedicated to them. I remembered them and played them, but not very confidently and with a bunch of mistakes. Then at the jams, I was not all that much better... on the plus side, on the funkier jams, I managed to resist slapping entirely. I'm proud of that Auditions: meeting a bunch of strangers, playing the songs they've been playing together for ages, performing well under par. I very much doubt I'll get the gig, and I think in the future I'm just going to assemble bands and be the one auditioning other members! Still, it's exciting to be put somewhere outside your comfort zone for a bit.

Well, being unable to find the time to visit the shop today... I decided to be ridiculous and simply buy online from my local shop (the girl on the phone found it amusing too). This way I get a 14 day money back return option, so I will be able to try it properly. I should have the Markbass CMD121 combo in my hands on Tuesday. Also succumbed to temptation and emailed Alex at Barefaced. It looks like I am going to get a Compact cab too...

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1367693026' post='2068532'] The Stingray is hands down the best bass guitar. [/quote] Oh yes. After playing mostly Jazz basses for the past few months, I have just gone back to the Stingray, and he first rehearsal I took it it was like falling in love all over again

I don't like bursts... but even I am drooling! Nice one!

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1367619605' post='2067764'] All of them! I'll even wear my Nacho McNacho costume on the night [/quote] Now I'm worried...

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1367598791' post='2067463'] And there's more good news! I should be having my surgery soon, so I may well be able to have a bash on the relay bass! I just need to find a gig that people will let me play at [/quote] if you fancy playing some RHCP, RATM or... SBK! I am sure that could be arranged

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1367591198' post='2067356'] Stick a SansAmp through one of these...? [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Bergantino,_Active_bass_speakers.html"]http://www.bassdirec...s_speakers.html[/url] [/quote] That's an interesting kind of monster. I'm discovering so many alternatives! Not the lightest, but it seems powerful and pretty small.

[quote name='tonyquipment' timestamp='1367569851' post='2066932'] Cuanto rather haha how do I do the funny a's and upside down question marks? I'm drunk. [/quote] Ah, you mean "cuanto cuesta?"!!! I supposed I should have guessed from the context I only know how to do the ñ and Ñ... I don't bother with accented vowels unless in a word processor..

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1367568629' post='2066907'] Google translate says "What? Fifth this???". Well I suppose £300 is one fifth of £1500. [/quote] yeah, that's what it literally means!

[quote name='tonyquipment' timestamp='1366754034' post='2057037'] Que? Quinta esta??? [/quote] Huh? What's that supposed to mean?

Very very good. When I was going to buy my first one (yes, "first" ) I exchanged a few emails with John. He told me he based the preamp in his own '76 Stingray and sent me some pictures of his rig to measure and compare both... Very nice guy to deal with and an awesome preamp. Personally, I'd add the midsweep module to the 2-band and you get a truly amazing preamp (that's what you get in his "3-band" MMSR: a standard 2-band plus midsweep, winning combination)

[quote name='pete.young' timestamp='1367532365' post='2066713'] 2 blue lights - there's another one for the mute switch. It doesn't get any better :-) [/quote] ooooooh!

[quote name='cloudburst' timestamp='1367435681' post='2065684'] If you have trouble getting to try the Markbass CMD 121p, you are more than welcome to come and try mine. I'm in the West End of Glasgow. CB [/quote] Thanks for the offer, but Red Dog in Edinburgh seems to have that one in stock, so I plan to go there and check it out. Of course, figuring out what I really think about an amp/cab at the shop is nearly impossible. But I can sometimes figure out that I definitely don't like it. When I bought the RH450 + RS210 rig they agreed to let me take it to rehearsal and return it if I wasn't sure. That was much more useful than the shop test. I actually liked it a lot better at rehearsal than at the shop! If they don't have the amp, and nowhere else seems to have it, I might take you up on your offer. It's been a while I haven't been to Glasgow!

Leaning heavily towards a Markbass CMD121, will get to try one this weekend... and I'm thinking a Barefaced Midget or Compact to give him company if I like it, as I am not 100% satisfied with my existing rig anyway (cabs, the RH450 head I like). We'll see. Maybe I will try the CMD121 and hate it, who knows?

[quote name='pete.young' timestamp='1367345282' post='2064522'] To get you back on topic, I have been using a TecAmp Puma 110 as a personal monitor, with DI to the PA, for about 6 months now and it works very well. I put it on a combo stand to get it a bit closer to the ear, but it can also be angled back using the rod support that comes with it for that purpose. It is smaller, lighter, easier to carry and very very much louder than the A100 that it replaced. It will also drive another 8 Ohm cab for a bit more volume. [/quote] oooh, and this one has a blue light! I love blue lights! seriously, thanks for the suggestion, I was not aware of this one either, so many to choose from!

You are right. The problem is that the more I look, the more I find things I'd love to try!!! I'm thinking the Barefaced Compact and Midget cabs looks very promising in specs and reviews, and I would love to try one of those with my RH450 and the RS210... and could be an amazing "go louder" partner for a Markbass CMD121 too... see? I only wanted a small light combo that would work as a personal monitor and maybe a bit more... and before I realised I have a whole list of shiny thunder making boxes in my list! Internet is a double edged sword for sure!

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1367268082' post='2063562'] Looks like a bargain has been had! [/quote] unfortunately not by me, I was not fast enough!

[quote name='richardcoughlan' timestamp='1367238732' post='2062939'] I have a Markbass Mini 121P combo for sale £350 here [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/206416-fs-markbass-mini-cmd-121p-combo-l350/"]http://basschat.co.u...21p-combo-l350/[/url] Best, Rich [/quote] oooh, must check that out

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1367239827' post='2062963'] What about an Ashdown MiBass[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] 550 and Mi12 cab. Very light and Doddy uses his for every gig he does. I really like the head (I have one) and the Mi12 looks light and is loud too according to doddy.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]There's a thread on the here [/font][/color][url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/185964-nad-ashdown-mi12/page__hl__mibass"]http://basschat.co.u...age__hl__mibass[/url] [/quote] That looks like an interesting rig I must say. But it's not much lighter than my RH450 and a RS210 cab... I think so far the AER Amp One and the MarkBass CMD121 are the ones that really tempt me, for size/weight reasons. I might not go for it as being my only amp, but as a second amp I think I really want to try something noticeable smaller than my normal set up. But thanks, I was not aware of these... and they look quite interesting. They do a 15" one too!

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1366887409' post='2058498'] Remember guys, come back at 6pm on saturday 27th April to find out what is going on! [/quote] but... I may be busy tomorrow evening!!! Noooo!!!

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1367007482' post='2060311'] I'VE BUILT A HOUSE! Lol, no, not really. [/quote] Yeah, but you are God... not that impressive, is it? [url="http://youtu.be/CfcVTuhk5jI"]http://youtu.be/CfcVTuhk5jI[/url]

Phew! All sorted, CDs arrived yesterday... and album launch is tomorrow... tight! BUt they look good

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1367009594' post='2060330'] Good luck on the album launch, we had ours last weekend, was a long day but very worthwhile. Re the Markbass amps - I bought my first MB set-up as whenever I saw a band play in a pub/club etc and liked the bassists sound, invariably they were using Markbass. So I got a Little Mark Tube and 410HR. Fantastic - but my back is at the point where even a Markbass 410 is too much. So I read up on the 121P, and thought I`d give it a go, and probably have to settle for a set-up I wasn`t overkeen on, but that I could lift, my back being more important than my ears. But I was wrong, I`ve not compromised on sound at all. For the gigs I do - pubs, or clubs where I go through the PA - the 121P on its own, is plenty. For my punk covers band I drag out the ext spkr, but in reality I don`t need it. Until I tried it, I really thought the reviews were another Emperors New Clothes, but I was wrong. The only set-up I`d buy now would be exactly the same if I were playing bigger stages, and just have two of them. [/quote] Very encouraging, and as it's the only one I have found near me, all the better. Album launch... I was getting sick of it recently, to be honest. All the preparations, the stress... we only got the CDs yesterday!!! But now that it's all pretty much done, and all we have left is... to show up and play, I'm getting excited again. I was a bit worried we would not sell many tickets, but sales look good, so it should be a good crowd.

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1367009568' post='2060328'] The CMD102 (the 2x10 combo) isn't the smallest of things, it's about the same size as a standard 2x10 cab with front ports. But it doesn't weigh much (can be carried with one hand), has a tilt back option if you use it horizontally & has plenty of loudness (& sounds quality too). So it might be bigger than one of your current 2x10 cabs. I think something like the 121 that Lozz has may suit you better though. [/quote] Yes, that's exactly the one I had in mind. The 2x10 I'm sure it's a great amp, but not too different in size from what I already have.