Mudpup

It's a wonderful time to be a bass player. There's so much choice, the technology is incredible, things have got smaller and lighter and it's actually pretty difficult to buy something that isn't very good. You'll get a million different suggestions on this thread based on peoples own bass journey and most will be valid and reasonable - they're a good mob on this website. To cut the options down a bit just ask yourself a few key questions.... Where am I going to use it? (You've already mentioned this - everywhere and you're out gigging) In my experience somewhere between 500 and 1000 watts will cover most eventualities with room to spare as long as you have more than 1 speaker to run it through. You may find that a 500w head through a single 8 ohm 1x12 cab will only be putting out 300w and in the wrong band you'll get lost. More speakers naturally make most amps sound bigger and louder and you won't be pushing harder than you need to. If you find this isn't enough you should be going through a PA in which case you'll just need a DI output on the amp. How big does it need to be? A modular system gives you a load more flexibility and a couple of medium sized 8 ohm cabs along with an amp head will cover everything off. Speakers are very good nowadays so any combination of 10", 12" or 15" will do the job depending on the type of sound you're looking for. Some say that you shouldn't mix types of speaker and others have spent years using a 2x10 and a 1x15 cab with no problem. You're a bit more limited with a combo and you'll probably need an extra cab anyway to get the full output. And if you find that the sound isn't quite working for you it's easier to change an amp or a few cabs rather than a combo. Can i carry/transport it? Depends on how fit you are and what sort of state your back is in. Modular stuff goes in a car easily and is easy to carry about. If you absolutely must have an 8x10 cab and valve head remember you'll have to move it at 2am in the morning when all the other band guys are dodging helping you. And most people that you are playing to wouldn't be able to tell the difference anyway.... You can carry a modern class D head with one finger and lightweight 1 x 12 cabs with 2 fingers now (back to the opening statement here!) After a long buying journey and the opportunity to try out most of the usual recommendations my own personal preferences are a couple of lightweight good quality 12" cabs and I have a few different amps - a couple of non class D but still relatively easy to carry ones at between 400 and 750 watts that I prefer and a backup class D 800w amp that lives in my gigbag as a spare. I've come to the conclusion that I prefer non class D amps but that's not to say they're bad as they're perfectly useable - they're just a bit different in feel to an older class A/B design with a heavier power amp inside. I'm playing medium to larger pubs/clubs and outdoor gigs and I never run out of steam with my gear - I rarely need to go through the PA. You can see what it is in my signature below...

Could have cleaned the pawprints off before you took the picture..tsk tsk ☺️ (Tis a thing of beauty - i'll have to have a noodle on it)

I miss Mick Mason..... it's been kind of quiet since he got put away disappeared from all the threads

That's the way to look at it. A modular setup is easier to cart about. Although the 2 individual cabs are a touch bigger than a single Big Twin as you have the extra waveguide. Or pick up a Super Compact (they pop up in the classifieds fairly regularly) instead of a 2nd Big Baby and you pretty much have a modular Big Twin.... And regarding your dispersion question - you shouldn't have an issue at all. Even a single cab seems to be able to fill a room. I went through a phase a few years ago of trying some alternatives to my BB2's (a pair of Bergantino 12" cabs, a pair of Berg 10" and also a Berg CN212) and none of them could be heard as well across the stage as the BF ones. All the band guys noticed the difference. The build quality was better on the Bergs but the sound didn't suit what i was doing as much as my regular stuff does.

If you're using the PA then a Big Baby 2 will be perfect. I use 2 of them for most gigs but its mainly for headroom on the amps and have happily done medium sized pub gigs with a Quilter BB800 with a single cab. Easy to cart about, useable at home and sounds fab - go for it.....

Depends on what bass you're after really doesn't it? Basic Fender stuff is in most shops but if you're after a specific type of thing you're going to have to do some research yourself and track them down. Bass Gallery, GuitarGuitar, Wunjos and PMT amongst others are all in range around London. But i don't think any of them will let you loose with an allen key on a bass. Although having said that most of those places will check the bass out first if you think there is an issue with the set up.

Another Basschatter spotted this for £50 the other day. Its almost a full on Pro Go (which i use and think is an excellent bag) but only half the price https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Gator-Pro-Go-X-Series-Gig-Bag-for-Bass-Guitars/2SSL?origin=product-ads&gclid=Cj0KCQiAt8WOBhDbARIsANQLp96JQle4M3JV2_E8NNp2jHcH3_56THj06JxOwUJ6aJDUoS1G9jUoXvgaAkBwEALw_wcB

I knew I wanted a fuzz of some sort for a few songs that we are planning on doing but figured that I would probably go through at least 3 types before I settled on the one. Budgeting on about £50-80 a time it seemed to make more sense to buy this and have shed loads of them already built in to it. Along with all the other stuff you can do with it of course.

My new power supply arrived a few days back so I've rejigged the board to accommodate it. The Sony wireless is now hidden under the top tier. And I reckon there's just enough room for a bass synth pedal to complete it when something pops up in the classifieds.

Did you mean the GR ones? Can't find any GL ones on their site.....

A bass preamp isn’t based around a distortion circuit generally. Some have it but it’s more about having suitable eq points. Have a look at something like a Sansamp Bass Driver or VT Bass Di

I reckon I’m in good shape to stay on the wagon this year. Mainly because I failed so spectacularly last year 😂

Zombie thread alert!!!!!

I had a B1xon and it was fine - perfectly usable

Not unless its under £500, I've given up on expensive basses. Cheap ones are much more satisfying. And you never lose much on them if you sell them. Ask me how I know 😂

I think the Zoom stuff is generally better regarded on these pages. You really can't go wrong with their B1 and B3 stuff. Great value for money gear.

A Musicman is always on the horizon 😂. My old 2 band Stingray had a fabulous neck. But a G+L L2000 with a wider flat neck would be the only real bait and they don't exist generally. And the only potential amp would be a second Mesa BB750 as a backup. But again, pretty rare stuff - there's a couple around but they're crazy expensive. And my other amps are fine tbh.

What like this one???? 😂

I think I've peaked in 2021 🙄😭 Ampwise I picked up the best one I've ever played and really can't see me finding anything better. I've figured out that I don't like any class D ones enough to keep them apart from my Quilter and the 2 bigger other amps I have are brilliant. So no more amps on the horizon. Cabs have been settled for years now with a couple of Barefaced Big Baby's. Easy to haul around and can take anything that I do with them. Basses - I'm settled with 3 now and I've learned what it is I like about necks. The main reason I've flipped any over the last few years is because of the neck profile. My Zon and Cort main basses both have flattish radius necks and that's the key for me. The build quality, sound and finish on both is exceptional. And my 50's Classic Lacquer P Bass is going nowhere - the neck is wide but slimmish and tricks my hands into thinking its flat as a result. (There's a lovely Sandberg Ken Taylor in the classifieds that I know has a flat neck profile and is an absolute steal but I mustn't keep looking at it....) Accessories - I changed my straps over the year and settled on a few Richters. I was surprised how much better I got on with them than my Monos which I had used for years. The biggest change has been getting rid of multieffects and menus and going back to knobs and individual pedals. Santa has just dropped off a few bits to complete that journey and the only potential thing for the future is a synth pedal maybe. I don't know know whether to feel happy that I'm sorted or sad that there's limited scope for lust on the horizon...

A couple of pedals to facilitate me losing patience with menu's and going back to knobs. And a new pedalboard and power supply to hang them on arrived a bit early :-) Source Audio Aftershock Source Audio Programmable Graphic EQ Harley Benton ISO10 AC power supply Nux Bumblebee pedal board I'm now doing penance and having to set up my wifes 1st ever iPhone from her existing Android phone. She doesn't understand the importance of remembering passwords apparently........Grrrr......it's a nightmare......

Nice spot It’s a great case

I switched out my Mono straps recently to a couple of Richter Springbreaks which are quite a bit narrower (2.75”) but are actually much more comfy. The leather is really soft and the padding is good but I think the narrower width just sits better on my shoulder. I tried a wider one but it didn’t work as well for me.

Father Christmas has delivered a bit early. A couple more pedals (an Aftershock and a Programmable Graphic) to help complete my transition from menus to knobs...

Having had a few posh basses over the last few years (Spector Euros, USA Musicpersons in many flavours, USA G+L's, Sandberg California and suchlike) I'm now pretty settled on 2 that I paid less than £500 each for. A Zon Sonus Standard (the Korean import version) that i picked up used and I love it to bits. Can't ever see me selling this one as they're super rare. Real modern zingy sound but with proper depth to it. A Cort A4 Plus that I picked up used recently for way less than half the £800 RRP. Its a stunning bass and feels worth twice the full money. Easily on par with my old Spector and much more comfy to play. The neck is probably the most comfy neck I've ever had on a bass.