martinbass7750

[quote name='Musicman20' post='841987' date='May 19 2010, 01:10 PM']Thats me out. Backstabbing set of t**ts. Not nice at all, ive spent loads of money rehearsing. Guess they wont be ready for their next two gigs again then. I will make sure they know I know....and make sure I leave them in the sh**. To conclude, I didnt even get chance to ask them about this. All I did was explain I had 3 sets of family visiting over the next few weeks so I could only do one session a week. I am also very busy job hunting! Bit shocked at their appalling lack of honesty. That makes me look like an idiot.[/quote] no, it makes them look like cowardly tw*ts, as they haven't talked to you about it before advertising. you're best off out of there. I think twice a week is way too often to rehearse on a regular basis - my twopence worth

I use AKG IEM4 with Shure phones - it took a while to get used to it but I love it. You can feel isolated, so I often have an ambient mic mixed into my foldback so I can hear general background. Make sure your mixing desk has enough foldback channels so that you can have your own mix. At rehearsal I take a DI straight into one channel of the IEM4 transmitted, and a mic into the other channel so I can hear the band. I set the unit to mono with some 'room' ambience effect on. It is really great to finish a rehearsal or come off stage with no ringing in my ears! The Shure phone come with different ear adapters - someone on here said they use the yellow foam ones as you get more sound bleeding through from the band and feel less isolated - I haven't tried that yet.

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='812506' date='Apr 20 2010, 01:19 PM']Just picked up a cheap old desk, an Alesis 1622, for faffing about in the rehearsal room. In order to get any useable volume from the XLR mic inputs, I have to turn the gain WAY up high on each channel. DI'd instruments have no such problem, so presumably this is a mic level / line level issue? I didn't realise there were ANY more-or-less modern desks (i.e. 1990's or later) without pre-amps for the mic level inputs. Am I missing something really obvious?[/quote] I just checkd out the manual, and the XLR input is lowish impedance with a reasonable sensitivity, so should be fine for mic input. Are you connecting the instruments to the jacks on the rear? These are much higher impedance which is correct. Looks pretty normal to me.

[quote name='Delberthot' post='807958' date='Apr 16 2010, 06:55 AM']I'm about to take delivery of some nice old Trace items but there's one thing I've never been able to work out or find an answer to- If I am running an amp that is designed to go down to 4 ohms with either 2 8 ohm speakers or 1 4ohm one, how is it possible then to be able to add a Trace Bright Box or 4052h without melting the amp? I know that you can but I don't understand the technicallities of it. It took me long enough to get to grips with ohms so can't work out why I am able to add another speaker box without doing harm to my amp.[/quote] I haven't been able to find a spec for the bright box, but I suspect it has a built in AC coupled high pass filter which presents a high impedance at all frequencies except those that the bright box shoves out (i.e. high frequencies), and infinity at DC. It's impendace for most of the frequency range is then much higher than the speaker cab so can be ignored. That's my guess anyway!

I had a highway 1 jazz and it played really nicely. I decided it needed a pickup upgrade though. I think you need to try the actual bass you are thinking of buying as they do seem to vary a lot.

[quote name='Gunsfreddy2003' post='806519' date='Apr 14 2010, 09:03 PM']Guys, Had a good chat with Mark at Bass Direct today ref an F1 head and he really believes that a GS112 by itself will not work well with an F1 head. Apparently 2 x Bergantino 1x12's would work much better. Anyone have any thoughts on this?[/quote] I can confirm that 2 x 1 x 12 bergs work really well with the F1, but don't know the aggies. Mark is usually spot on with his advice, but it's always worth taking your cabs to try with an F1 at his shop. Cheers Martin

[quote name='dood' post='801859' date='Apr 10 2010, 03:24 PM']Because I don't know how to stop this G.A.S affliction that makes me sell stuff ridiculously! Let's take a look at the evidence: 1x Ampeg SVT 2 Pro 2x Hartke cabs 2 x Ampeg SVPs 1x Ampeg BSP 2x Tech Soundsystem cabinets 1x Powersoft power amplifier 2x Tobias basses 1x Epifani UL 610 1x F1 1x TC GForce 1x BDDI 1x M80 (yeah I bought another) 1 x Multicomp (yup - bought the new version) 1x Warwick Quadruplet 1x Status Fretless 6 and there's plenty more I am ashamed to say! The F1 was defintely a favourite and should have been a keeper - it's so small, it wouldn't have gotten in the way if it stayed as a back up![/quote] Tried to reply with my phone last week but it didn't work! That's quite an array of gear, and it's not everything! I keep getting a yearning to try out different gear, but then I put my logical head on, remember how much it cost me every time I changed, then play through my current rig and the GAS seems to fizzle out! It's definitely a toy thing for me. Just for the record, here's my gear list: Peavey MAX450 Peavey 410 cab (sold because it was doing my back in) Peavey MAX700 EBS NEO210 Ashdown MAG410T EBS NEO212 Eden WT405 And the current rig F1 2 x Berg AE112 cabs Basses: Ibanez GSR200 Ibanez SR505 Lakland Skyline 55-01 Fender Highway One Jazz Clover Apeiron H4 Overwater Perception Still have the SR505 (because it looks nice on the wall), Clover and Overwater. Not too bad in just over 5 years I guess! Slight hijack of the F1 thread, but I just LOVE the F1. Nearly bought an F500 as it had a mute switch and looked cool, but in the end i got the F1 limited edition in red. Cheers Martin

[quote name='dood' post='801859' date='Apr 10 2010, 03:24 PM']Because I don't know how to stop this G.A.S affliction that makes me sell stuff ridiculously! Let's take a look at the evidence: 1x Ampeg SVT 2 Pro 2x Hartke cabs 2 x Ampeg SVPs 1x Ampeg BSP 2x Tech Soundsystem cabinets 1x Powersoft power amplifier 2x Tobias basses 1x Epifani UL 610 1x F1 1x TC GForce 1x BDDI 1x M80 (yeah I bought another) 1 x Multicomp (yup - bought the new version) 1x Warwick Quadruplet 1x Status Fretless 6 and there's plenty more I am ashamed to say! The F1 was defintely a favourite and should have been a keeper - it's so small, it wouldn't have gotten in the way if it stayed as a back up![/quote]

[quote name='Gunsfreddy2003' post='802398' date='Apr 11 2010, 10:27 AM']That is what I feared - GAS attack coming on!!! Subjective question this but do you think that running at 4ohms it would be a more poweful/louder amp than the AG500?[/quote] Can't answer that, but I run mine either into a 1x12 or 2 1x12 bergs, and when I add the second one it really opens up the sound. How about an a/b test at bass direct? I tried the F1 with various cabs at bass direct, for me it gelled with a pair of bergs. Cheers martin

[quote name='dood' post='801824' date='Apr 10 2010, 02:45 PM']Yes, it can do deep, dub, middley old skool tones and motown with those lovely controls, as well as ultra flat & hifi - but don't expect it to do 'dirty' - as it is a very clean amp. That said - drop an M80 pedal or similar in front of it and it will rattle ya jaw bone [/quote] so WHY did you sell yours? I bought mine partly because of what you'd said about it. It just sounds so big - it's free-breathing if that makes sense. Don't think I'll ever get rid of mine, I might by another as a spare though!

[quote name='gdavis27' post='799776' date='Apr 8 2010, 01:28 PM']Since a lot of the Markbass heads are all 500W, how loud is the F1 in comparison? Is it a 'loud' 500W?[/quote] it's the loudest amp I've ever had, just seems to keep on going. I had a peavey max700 a while ago, this is louder. re the height of the feet, I put the front feet of the F1 onto the handle on the top of my berg cab, it angles the amp up slightly.

[quote name='Sarah5string' post='792111' date='Mar 31 2010, 04:28 PM']Had a mooch round a local guitar shop today for further research and was told that I should be looking at bigger speakers rather than 4x10s etc and promptly got pointed in the direction of a 2x15 £1000 job by peavey it was nearly as tall as me [/quote] I suggest you try another shop! generally 4x10 make a great sound - plenty of low end but good punch too. Tend to be heavy to move around, I hurt my back lifting a peavey cab out of my car. loads of people like 15" cabs, but from what I've heard they tend to have less mid range punch than a 4x10. Peavey are good value, but not the best around. I've gone 2 seperate 12" cabs just for portability

[quote name='4-string-thing' post='790008' date='Mar 29 2010, 09:54 PM']Does anybody make 4 ohm cabs nowdays? I only ever seem to see 8 ohm cabs for sale.[/quote] EBS make 4 ohm cabs!

[quote name='alanbass1' post='770112' date='Mar 10 2010, 09:50 AM']+1[/quote] +2 - I went to see Mark twice to play and choose my gear, and tried pretty much all amp/cab combinations he had at the time. For me the MB F1 ticked all the right boxes - very small and light and a big 'free' sound coupled with a pair of 12" bergs. Can't recommend Bass Direct enough, loads of superb gear, pretty good pricing and great advice from Mark. Cheers Martin

Just thought I'd rake this old thread up again. Any updates on IEM from users out there? Interested in how you set up on stage etc. Our singer is complaining he can't hear himself. We're using about 800 watts on the monitoring, so I suspect really we need to turn the back line down However I said I'd investigate IEM for him. Cheers Martin

[quote name='JJTee' post='739948' date='Feb 9 2010, 01:27 PM']I'd like to get two of the Great Gramma, so I can put my electric drum kit and stool on there. I'm worried that the footpedal noise will go through the floor when I move into my new flat, so this could be just the ticket.[/quote] when I bought mine there was a catalogue (which I've thrown away) showing the whole range of sound insualtion they make - I'm sure there would be something suitable for your electronic drum kit. try speaking to Mark at bass direct.

[quote name='redstriper' post='746360' date='Feb 15 2010, 07:35 PM']Don't buy a jazz or precision bass either - have you seen how many come up for sale on here ? I bought an LM11 after trying a LOT of other amps to replace my old Trace Elliot and I love it, but the best advice in all honesty is to try one for yourself.[/quote] +1 for that - I thought I'd never sell my us jazz, but I found another bass I wanted so something had to go. I love my MarkBass F1 - small, light and plenty loud enough

[quote name='Gunsfreddy2003' post='745831' date='Feb 15 2010, 01:37 PM']Hi Martin, I personally have not been in there yet but I hear good things from people about it and the set up. Would agree that it is probably the hardest gig that I have ever had to book because they are never there and also never reply to messages!! Would be great to see you down there is you can make it. Mark[/quote] Hi Mark, You get 100% for perseverance! I'm told the sound engineers aren't up to much, apparently it's the guys who run the disco. Still, at least they have a decent PA. May see you there. Cheers Martin

[quote name='Gunsfreddy2003' post='745784' date='Feb 15 2010, 01:00 PM']Playing at The Front Rooms this coming Friday with my band Zang Tang: www.myspace.com/zangtangband www.zangtang.com Would be great to see any fellow basschatters down there! I know there are a few in and around Cheltenham and Gloucester![/quote] great venue, we've been trying to get in there but the guys who handle the booking never seem to be in! hope the gig goes well for you, might try to get there with a few of the band, Cheers Martin

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='709679' date='Jan 12 2010, 07:19 AM']We had the same dilemma/views. Ended up getting nearly new RCF powered tops and a single RCF bin; unfortunately, out of the OP budget! [/quote] +1 Best pa decision we made was to buy a pair of active RCF Art 310A's. 350 watts rms per side. Superb sound. About £800 new including covers, not much cheaper used on ebay. I driver those with either a mackie desk or an allen and heath desk depending on space at the venue. Also now have a pair of 400 watt warfdale bass bins - not as good as rcf, but do the job ok and only about £300 each. Out of your budget, but well worth considering. We used to use a pair of mackie srm 450 active cabs - they were fine, but much heavier than the RCF. Cheers Martin

[quote name='BB2000' post='709688' date='Jan 12 2010, 07:47 AM']That assumes they operate at a fixed switching frequency, most modern class-D amps are self oscillating (although I've no idea if the flightcase is).[/quote] Ok that's interesting, I didn't know they were self oscillating. That mean the frequency changes in use. What would cause it to change, changes in psu voltage? I guess there must be somthing in the design that would make the amp osciallate within a known range of frequencies during normal use.

[quote name='Bill Fitzmaurice' post='708809' date='Jan 11 2010, 01:45 PM']Odd that it doesn't say so in their ad copy. [/quote]

[quote name='Beedster' post='708741' date='Jan 11 2010, 12:50 PM']Thanks MIJ, could you put that in words a non-tech dude will understand In short, is that a better thing or a worse thing? Cheers Chris[/quote] Hi Chris, Class D (for digital) is small, lighweight and power efficient. The output transistors (FET's) are being switched at a high frequency, way above audible. The signal from your bass is modulated onto the high frequency signal, then a low pass filter is used to remove the high frequency and leave you with just the bass sound. The advantage is size/weight. Class A/B is older analogue technology, which is neither better or worse than class D (IMO). It will be heavier, larger and less power efficient, but it will still work well. It's easier to design a class A/B amp that sounds good. Class D is a maturing technology, and maybe PJ haven't quite got it right yet - I'm sure they will. I use a mark bass F1 with either 1 or 2 Berg 1x12 cabs (the neo type which many don't like, but I love them). The F1 will fit in my guitar gig bag. It's a great rig, and goes pretty loud with both berg cabs. The only noise I get is the normal hiss you would expect when I turn the gain and volume up high. In my opinion, if you're not happy with the PJ solution you should insist on a replacement that works to your satisfaction, either PJ or something else. Cheers Martin

[quote name='Beedster' post='708518' date='Jan 11 2010, 08:47 AM']Cheers Michael Yes, it's odd, but some amp noise deson't bother me at all (e.g., fans and hiss), but the noise from this PJB bugs the hell out of me. The closest I can get is that it's like having a mosquito in the room when you're trying to sleep; it's not loud, but it's constant and, well kinda insistent. In terms of identifying the cause, when I turn off the power, the pitch of the noise rises fro about a second until the power dies. Anyone got any ideas? C[/quote] I doubt it's the switching power supply, although it could be. The class D amp and the poswer supply are both switching types. It might be a beat between the two frequencies that you can hear. Or it could be that the filtering on the class D low pass filter is not quite right. When you switch off, as the voltage drops the switching frequency of the ampm and psu will shift, so the audible effect will change. Switching power supplies generally operate way above normal audible frequency, as do class D amps, so the most likely culprit is a beat between the two. For example, if the PSU is running at 42KHz, and the class D amp is running at 40 KHz, there will potentially be a beat of 2 KHz.

I have an MB F1 which is class D and has a switching power supply - no noticeable noise other than the normal light hiss if you turn volume and gain up high. If it's normal for this PJ amp and you don't like it, sounds like a refund is required. Cheers Martin