sime17

[quote name='Musicman20' post='1249586' date='May 29 2011, 08:11 PM']Thanks guys. Yeah, I was just having a look at them, but If I ever went down that route it would be the HR for the smaller size.[/quote] I have a 104HR -absolutely love it. Very light and compact, nice punchy sound, doesn't seem lacking in bass, can't fault it. I think the side mounted tweeter dial is a genius idea that others should follow - tho TC's take on it (on the amp's controls instead) is clever too. It seemed all the rage a couple of years ago to have a Markbass head with Bergie or other cabs - dunno why. To me their cabs are as innovative and attractive as their heads and not lacking in performance any way to my (uneducated) ears. Maybe it's the yellow speakers that aren't for everyone?

[quote name='Pbass1' post='1229897' date='May 13 2011, 01:27 PM']Hi hope this the right section, just wondering if anyone knows the route for getting markbass speakers and amps repaired if not purchased new ? have just got a second hand traveller 210 and not sure how to get it serviced etc also would prefer to buy a second hand F1 or LM3 but again worried about servicing? would be grateful for your comments, if anyone has any knowledge of this cheers Paul[/quote] Dude, I needed to get my MB TA503 head fixed out of warranty and I went through PROEL the distributor. It weren't cheap but they were pretty quick, easy to communicate with by phone and email and it came back warrantied and as good as new - no worries there. Independent repairers can be great but IMHO a lot of this lightweight stuff (I mean as in weight not as in robustness) is going to be a bit more complex to fix when it goes wrong- particularly power amps etc - for a head (and you can remove the combo head easily). I'd just send it to Proel. Maybe complexity is the downside of this new lightweight stuff but I for one don't want to go back to simple but heavy stuff that doesn't always sound as good or that needs valves fettling every 10 minutes (unless one day I have somebody to fix and move it in and out of gigs for me ). On the other hand with cabs it's going to get more pricey to send either side of the service/repair- I'd be tempted to try replacing speakers or tweeters myself with proprietory spares like Eminence - it's probably all spade connectors in there so how hard can it be? - I did this ok with both drivers and tweeter in an SWR cab I had once an I'm not a techie type (I may have just lost some OCD sufferers who'll be concerned with cabinet 'tuning' etc).

[quote name='skej21' post='1211872' date='Apr 26 2011, 06:17 PM']Measured my Contemporary J 5 and it's 34" scale.[/quote] Cheers dude - now I know!

[quote name='skej21' post='1209050' date='Apr 23 2011, 11:36 AM']Yup. I have the 5er version of this. Truly brilliant. Looks a lot less blue in reality than in the pics.[/quote] Has anybody confirmed if these are 34" or 35" scale yet - listings and specs seem to disagree?

[quote name='Rich' post='1205013' date='Apr 19 2011, 05:58 PM']And I will be right behind you [/quote] Likewise but Sunburst... And 35" scale.

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' post='1205612' date='Apr 20 2011, 10:52 AM']My opinion.... [b]wouldn't touch them with a barge pole[/b] dubious far eastern provenance, rebadged with a name (Bass Collection) which is confusing to the public, if you recall Bass Collection in the late 80's early 90's used to make some very good Japanese basses that looked like Ibanez, made by the excellent factory SGC Nanyo Japan, these were built and played very well see pic below: However the ones that The Bass Centre is selling now with the same name have nothing to do with the Nanyo factory, they are from Indonesia, they are built as copies of Rickenbackers, Fender etc and I have found them to be poo, and very tacky too.[/quote] ****WARNING - EXCUSE THE FOLLOWING SWEEPING GENERALISATIONS **** I've not seen one of these noo Bass Collections in the flesh but I'm sure the reviews I've seen for the J and P say they're Korean built (and go on to praise them). Maybe they've gone the way of Lakland Skylines and have moved production to Indonesia but if Korean I wouldn't have any qualms about qualideee after the two Korean Laklands I've owned: Defo better finished than mass-produced US built gear I've owned so far. Not seen a new Indonesian Skyline in the flesh either tho so wtf do I kno. But we'd have been saying this about Japanese basses in the early seventies and nobody's saying [i]that[/i] now. 'Dubious far eastern provenance' applies to the new cheapy Overwood/Tanglewaters too tho, which seem to hail from different countries in the region every time I read about them. Yet mostly good things being said about them too. I dunno. I do know that the logo is nasty-in-an-offensive-80s-font kind of way. The sort of font they'd have used for the Benny Hill title sequence... Actually, I'm warming to it now...

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='1200941' date='Apr 15 2011, 04:45 PM']And if you turn it up quite high isnt that supposed to give a more old skool tone by attenuating the top end to simulate an old cab.[/quote] I may be being dense - but that's the VLE filter isn't it? I'm being dense aren't I? Never had a MB combo, but on my MB 410 cab the horn knob is on the side where you can usually get at it in a gig. Genius.

[quote name='Randy_Marsh' post='1196366' date='Apr 11 2011, 11:14 PM'] Teh Metulz! \m/ No offence, but I find nearly all the Dean stuff a bit lame.[/quote] Tho I agree, I find it mildly ironic that your avatar looks like Jeff Berlin On the international irony scale that's Alannis-Morrissette, fairly low and exponentially less severe than a Morrissey. The subtle similarity of those names is more ironic, for instance.

I don't necessarily think all the MIA's are up to much. I live a long way from sensibly priced dealers and so I've had to buy blind more than once. It's worked out ok so far with Korean Laklands and MIJ Fenders but the one brand new MIA Jazz I have owned had some real shoddy elements to it - it was black and the body wings were clearly visible across the surface - big obvious lines particularly from the front:(. It needed a damn good set up too despite being brand new. I've looked at MIMs locally which (tho too expensive at local prices) seemed better finished than my MIA.

[quote name='BottomEndian' date='Mar 30 2011, 10:01 PM' post='1182773'] Sorry, I should have been a bit less poetic. As of 1st April 2011, it'll only be available for those aged 18-25... which I'm very much not. Me either, oh well there goes another boat I've missed. Still, for 530 squids finance might not be a problem anyways... I'd love to go and try one for size but I doubt there's anybody within 100 miles of me stocking them, but then if I do insist on staying down here in the wild west.

[quote name='BottomEndian' date='Mar 30 2011, 03:31 PM' post='1182355'] "on the dying breaths of the Take It Away scheme" Is it ending then? Dammit I bought my Markbass gear on that! That's a fact to concentrate the mind (in particular the GAS receptors on the frontal lobe). Thanks for the review mr- the quality issues you saw on some of the 'pointy' ones are a shame, hope it doesn't translate to the J's but at least it seems it didn't in your experience. And thanks for the scale confirmation guys, but it's particularly the Contemporary Jazz 5 I was keen to clarify - I don't go anywhere that's not Fender-shape with big tuners

A few of the spec details seem a bit vague on these - I have yet to find out whether the fives are 35" or not - the BGM test explicitly said they were -it said something to the effect of '35" scale is a consistent point for 5 strings throughout the range' - yet I've seen listings for them saying 34". I know whether that matters is a debate in itself but to me there's something intangibly better about my Laklands than the other fivers I've owned and I'm sticking to 35 cos it might just be down the scale (and clearly I'm a vague and instinctive twat). I care a bit less about this bit but the whereabouts of the factory still seems to change depending on which listing or article you see - I've seen Korea, China, 'Korean border'... I'd also love to know if colour choice will open up for further production runs - I'd love a contemporary J in 3 tone sunburst. For that matter I'd love a classic j in a 5 string and 3 tone sunburst... I've just let out a bit of sex wee even thinking about it. BTW bassdirect in Coventry has a blue Contemp J5 going for £530. It's almost rude not to.

[quote name='Rich' post='1160881' date='Mar 13 2011, 07:16 PM']Oh god, that is gusset-dampeningly lovely. I want a 5 string just like that one please.[/quote] Me too - in sunburst. Make one and I WILL buy one Mr Tanglewater.

[quote name='martin lee' post='1157684' date='Mar 11 2011, 09:21 AM']Well here is a sneaky peak, the first 22(2 of each model) have gone out and will be at the london show, and as stu was saying a selection of our custom shop are on the way as well, now here at Overwater we are going to spend the next couple of weeks getting through the rest. [attachment=74513:DSC00559.JPG] [attachment=74512:DSC00558.jpg][/quote] That's not a sneak peak - those are just frikkin boxes you tease. I had a girlfriend like you once. Post a pic of an actual bass! - pref a five string j of some description - there are no pics about of those yet that I've seen. Er... please or something.

[quote name='Phil-osopher10' post='1145172' date='Feb 28 2011, 10:45 PM']How possible is it to get a white lakland DJ 4 preferably (as I have my 5 and want variety, although they say laklands B's are killer) with a maple neck and white inlays and scratch plate? Also should I just get the 5'er for the B? Is it really that good?[/quote] I have a dj5 and I adore it. It's my go-to live bass and has been gigged to death and has never let me down. I also have a 55-02 Lakland (the MM/J with Bartolinis on) and the B is brilliant on both - strong and clear - but the passive dj sounds more even across the strings than the 55 for some reason - it's rw neck where the 55 is maple so maybe notes on the higher strings get more warmth+ depth in them with rosewood? Anyway, wot I'm trying to say like a vague twat is - get the DJ5 as it's awesome but IME particularly with a rosewood neck.

[quote name='sime17' post='1133852' date='Feb 19 2011, 10:20 PM']I've yet to see a five string J or find out what finishes are available- they do look good don't they! It's just a shame Overwater aren't more proactive on the info - or maybe as a small custom builder that's the point of the tie-up in which case... it's a shame Tanglewood aren't more proactive on the info!!! [b]Gotta go now, I think me mrs' waters just broke :0 - no seriously!!![/b][/quote] It was a girl btw!!!

[quote name='neilb' post='1133101' date='Feb 19 2011, 09:52 AM']Darren and Chris at the Bass Merchant in Essex will be taking stock of this range. Chris May himself will be attending the shop and setting each one up personally! Great service. Got my beady on the trans blue contemp Jazz!! [/quote] I've yet to see a five string J or find out what finishes are available- they do look good don't they! It's just a shame Overwater aren't more proactive on the info - or maybe as a small custom builder that's the point of the tie-up in which case... it's a shame Tanglewood aren't more proactive on the info!!! Gotta go now, I think me mrs' waters just broke :0 - no seriously!!!

This me baby. The only bass so far that I'd cry like a big girl if it got nicked (no offence big girls)

[quote name='Gust0o' post='1131973' date='Feb 18 2011, 10:57 AM']Wow, that fretless is very lovely![/quote] Proper tuners! It needs proper bloody tuners! Aaagh. It's like running yer car on four spacesaver wheels! >

[quote name='owen_87' post='1132309' date='Feb 18 2011, 03:03 PM']I'm interested to see how the Classic J will stack up compared to a Fender. Considering that has an RRP of £399 it is a hundred or so cheaper that a Mexican Precision or Jazz at the moment.[/quote] The Bass Collection P and J basses are getting good reviews too - they're made in S Korea and are about the same price as these Overwaters (if not a bit cheaper) for a more straightforward Fender Jazz or Precision copy. If I'm not mistaken they look a lot like the Lakland Skyline Osborne/Glaub basses that were made in Korea until a couple of years back - I wonder if it's the same factory using the same tooling? If so you can't go far wrong- I use two Korean Skylines and I can't fault the build quality - they live in a van all year and are never far out of tune when I get them out the case even in these quiet months when I might not have seen them for a few weeks. My Skyline DJ5 is a keeper - absolutely nails it every time I plug it in. I still want to see someone stocking these Tanglewaters/Overwoods to see what they're like in the hand. I think a nice 35" classic J 5 string would be hard to resist... but they don't seem to make one

[quote name='CHRISDABASS' post='1126981' date='Feb 14 2011, 01:12 PM']Im glad you mentioned 'Aint nobody' ive tried to it learn on a 4 and it just aint working!! Hence the search for a decent 5 string for the new function band! A lot of the songs ive been asked to learn go lower than a 4, if i want the job i need the right tools, can anyone recommend good 5's below £1000??? [/quote] If you can find a Lakland 55-01 they're a great price for what you get - promenade had one for about 600 squid new - Laklands string spacing feels nice after a four. Overwater just launched some nice basses (including some nice contemporary Jazz style) made for them by Tanglewood which are sposed to be well put together, and priced around the 500 squids mark. There's lots of cheaper stuff too but I'm kind of sold on the 35" scale argument now (rightly or wrongly) and therefore rule myself out of the Squier/Fender MIM/OLP/Sterlings etc etc.

[quote name='Phil-osopher10' post='1124740' date='Feb 12 2011, 10:39 AM']Just seeing if people think it is vital to have a 5'er in your arsenal, 6's, 7's and and aboves are not considered real instruments (jealous) and thus don't count! oj[/quote] A semi-reluctant yes. I wouldn't have used 5's unless I had to but now I'm stuck. Most people on here playing covers in function bands will probably have fives (or more but dunno why) just because probably half of any dancy set dictates it. The band I'm in tend to segue everything too (keeps em dancing) but that then means you don't have time to swp between 4/5 between the numbers. You also kind of get stuck because they're so easy to play, I don't move position much unless for effect. Love to play blues or picked rock now and again with a four but even then I miss the (very occassional) low b/c/d. Octave pedals and detuners = kludge, why fanny about? I'd get so confused by the end of a set I'd forget my name. I love fours, the vast majority of the best lines ever played were on those (I'm thinking more Jamerson and Dunn than Jaco natch) - the purism argument is SO persuasive to a simple twat like me but hey ho. I spose if like me you must play one then the least you can do is play a five that LOOKS like Leo designed it

[quote name='woodster' post='1118951' date='Feb 7 2011, 02:42 PM'][url="http://www.overwaterbasses.com/ow_tanglewood.html"]http://www.overwaterbasses.com/ow_tanglewood.html[/url][/quote] Finally! Seeing them in the high res pics they look very nice indeed. Still a bit limited on info tho (doesn't say scale length of 5's - must be 35" like his others surely?) and haven't seen the choice of colours there yet. Don't seem to be any of the listed dealers stocking any yet either. I'm keeping them peeled.

[quote name='hubrad' post='1112609' date='Feb 2 2011, 04:36 PM']A taster..[attachment=70901:Overwater1.JPG][attachment=70902:Overwater2.JPG] [/quote] Hmmm, I like em... but.... at risk of sounding hard to please - I'd luv a classic j 5 string. Still, 3 tone sunburst contemporary j would look nice, and perhaps some semi- custom options like scratchplates would be possible for a modest fee?