M@23

[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1405815707' post='2505565'] How many times have we heard this on BC? *sigh* [/quote] Many. But does that make it necessary to question me for suggesting this is the case here? As someone who has sold dozens of guitars and basses, the most recent being a super rare PRS which cost more than my car, that I spent a long time in finding and is worth a good deal sentimentally as well as in a monetary sense, you can take my word for it. *sigh*

Try a few. I played LOADS of precision basses and bought the best. Which was a 2012 US Standard. It's an incredible instrument. I'll never sell it. Also, I have since bought a really nice 1996 Japanese P. Which is great, plays and sounds immense and I gig it more than the US, but build quality isn't the same and I spent a bit upgrading components to make it better.

That's cool. I want to rack my LMIII and hadn't considered these. Will have to check it out.

[quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1405017102' post='2498003'] sorry to all the kiss fans for being harsh but watching his left hand looks like he only picked up the bass for the first time 70 minutes ago rather than been playing since the 70s - whilst not expecting berlin or pattitucci levels of technique is it not reasonable to expect that after 40 plus years of playing his left hand would demonstrate at least some finesse regardless of the complexity of the lines he is playing? [/quote] Not if that's the way he has played for 40 years. Without meaning state the obvious, perfect technique doesn't develop if you are reinforcing bad habits constantly. But hey, Gene has done alright for himself!

Looks fantastic. I want one!

Get well soon Howard.

Im loving it. Its a really, really great compressor. It is very smooth and warm. Much like the LMIII, transparent, in a good way. At that price I'd say give it a go. Send it back maybe if it's not for you?

It's your choice, ultimately. I have christian friends and band members who wouldn't dream of giving up their instruments (they do also play in their church band). I dont get it personally, why not then say it is time to give up TV or sport any other thing people profess to be false idols. But that just an opinion and you should do whatever makes you happy.

Thats an amzing list of gear. Have you tried compressors and EQs too? Ive not used EBS, but I thought they were the epitome of clarity amd punch?

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1401547701' post='2464629'] Put them both up for sale, and see which one sells first [/quote] Good idea. Someone must be in the market for one of the two.

I'd spend more time looking at that than I would playing it!! Beautiful.

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1401106454' post='2460056'] You missed a bit. It came directly from Fender to the distributors UK warehouse and then it was couriered to me. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. By doing so I have taken possession of it in the same condition it left the USA without anyone else tinkering about with it, which could be anything from a quick noodle around, to messing with the factory setup. Granted the neck, I believe, moved slightly in transit, but I don't believe that is wholly avoidable given the journey it made. As far as the set-up is concerned, I think that would be something that would have to be done with me being present and I wouldn't have been able to get to the supplier. Talking of which, I would like to reiterate the suppliers have been fantastic from the first moment I raised the issue. [/quote] Fair enough - I thought I had probably missed something! Glad its all sorted for you. I have a 2012 US Fender that I love, but still want a 59 Heavy Relic, there is just something special about them.

Why didn't the retailer check it out before passing it on, or have I missed that bit after skim reading the thread? Surely if you're spending that sort of money they ask you how you like your set up, or at least give it the once over?

Agreed with all. Great shop and staff.

Cheers Kev. Thats gaood of you to post. I settled on a similar setting tonight, just a little longer release and a bit less gain. Those Joe Meek pedals look the business. I have a rack one laying about somewhere!

So my Compressore arrived. First impressions are, it isn't as big as I was expecting! It's very solidly built but not too heavy. It's a bit of a pain that it uses a 12v power supply, but not the be all and end all as I always run my rig off my own RCD, then power surge extension lead anyway, so socket space isn't the issue. Sound wise, it is vey clean and transparent. Practically no hiss too. I have a studio session tonight and a gig tomorrow so will see how it fares in both situations. For what I wanted, which was subtle, always on compression, I think the Compressore is ideal. I actually found myself using more extreme settings than I expected. I don't know if it is my light touch or my P bass having low output pickups. It works very well and I'm really pleased with it so far!

The MXR was the one I was leading towards, I've got quite a few gigs scheduled for the next few weeks - so if the Markbass doesn't do it for me in practice I'll send it back and get an MXR. I'm sure I'll love the Compressore though.

Here is my 1996 Japanese Precision in Shell Pink. Since i last posted it's photo in this thread it has had: a Bass Doc pickguard, a Fender CS pickup, CTS pots, US control knobs fitted and a bridge cover. It also has 55-100 Fender flats. [attachment=162923:pinky1.jpg] [attachment=162924:pinky2.jpg] [attachment=162925:pinky3.jpg]

[quote name='Kevsy71' timestamp='1400248248' post='2452263'] I've been a MB Compressore user for about one year now, including five pub gigs. I play a Sandberg California VS (P bass) through a Genz Benz Shuttlemax 12.2 and two Baer ML112 cabs to cut through vocals, two guitars, sax, harmonica and piano. The music is blues/upbeat rhythm & blues (Gary Moore, Nine Below Zero, etc.) and I just use the Compressore to take some mud out of fast lines and to tame the E string and hence avoid overpowering low frequency boom. Lots of tweakability, and very quiet, only minor downer is that it runs on an 18V PSU only (which is provided). PS before anyone reading this thread gets a compressor they should read the Ovnilab site, contains the most detailed reviews I've seen for both the Markbass and MXR (and loads others!!!): [url="http://www.ovnilab.com/reviews/markbass.shtml"]http://www.ovnilab.com/reviews/markbass.shtml[/url] [url="http://www.ovnilab.com/reviews/mxrbass.shtml"]http://www.ovnilab.com/reviews/mxrbass.shtml[/url] [/quote] Thanks everyone for your input. I hadn't planned on pulling the trigger yet, but by chance saw a Markbass Compressore with an online retailer for £139 this morning - so ordered it there and then. It's been returned as unwanted during the 14 day returns period, unmarked and as new with a years warranty. Too good to pass up! Any recommendations on settings, Kev? Your main use for it seems very similar to mine.

I love that colour.

There are some very good deals on a certain German music retailers website at the moment. Not too sure if these new lower prices for the Indonesian products, or just a blow out. A good bit cheaper than UK prices though, especially the 8ohm 4x10s. I'm thinking of grabbing a 1x12 for smaller gigs. Edit, on checking the photos on said website - there do appear to be the new Indonesian models.

[quote name='hamfist' timestamp='1400068273' post='2450371'] I use my MXR M87 bass compressor in a very similar way to the way you are hoping to use compression. I want it there in the background, but not-noticeable (until you turn it off, that is, and realise that it is actually doing nice things). The MXR is very transparent, very clean, and very quiet at those levels of compression. It is also less than half the size and weight of a COmpressore (which is also a very fine compressor I have to add). The MXR is capable of all sorts of different compression, including extreme effects, hard-limiting and very subtle too. My experience with it is that it definitely has a compressing effect before the LEDS start to light up (the more LED's lit indicating the level of compression being applied). So if you try it out, I would advise adjusting the "input" (which is basically the threshold) until you are only getting a few green LED's lit on your heaviest low notes. You don't want it to be going near or into the amber, or you will be over-compressing for my tastes. My advice is Release and Attack at noon. Ratio at 3:1. Input adjusted as above, and output adjusted to whatever output level you need to drive your other pedals and/or preamp. There are some great pedal compressors out there these days. My experience is that none of the really good ones is particularly cheap though. [/quote] Cheers guys! Thanks for this hamfist. That sounds ace. I hadn't seen the MXR before but that sounds perfect actually. Going to read up about it now.

Hi, I'm after an always on compression pedal, I've read all the reviews on Ovnilab, amd am leaning toward the MB Compressore, but would appreciate some tried and tested opinions. I really want it to be a clean as possible, no harmonic distortion and as quiet as possible too! Not asking for much, then... I'd mostly use a low ratio as I don't want it to dip and swell and sound squishy, just want it to even things out and sound nice and clean. I have a LM3 and 2x12 and play 4 string Precisions. Cheers!

[quote name='stevie' timestamp='1399999456' post='2449779'] I found an interesting copy of the Markbass Magazine from 2009 online today. The front page reads: [font=sans-serif][size=7] "100% Made in Italy[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] The only way to maintain and grow the worldwide success of[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] Markbass is to keep manufacturing our products in Italy, where we[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] have full control over the entire process, from the quality of our[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] materials to our rigorous testing procedures. We stand firm on this,[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] despite the fact that so many other companies have moved their[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] production to Asia, seduced by the short-term economic benefits of[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] lower production costs.[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] Manufacturing in Italy not only keeps us on top of our quality control,[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] it also allows us to continuously—and quickly—innovate and refine[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] our products.[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] We couldn’t work this way with an offshore factory, because we’d be[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] locked into inflexible long-term production schedules. Our products[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] cannot afford this type of inflexibility! We’re a company with vision,[/size][/font] passion, and blah blah blah." (Don't shoot the messenger. I'm a Markbass user and I like their stuff.) [/quote] Maybe that was the case in 2009. Quite a bit of time has passed since then and they are a much more stable and established company now, perhaps.