xgsjx

I played in a 4 piece rock band (singer/guitarist, noodle guitarist, shed builder & me on bass) & had no trouble being heard & that's from a Markbass 2x10 combo. They're rather loud & quite a few venues said that we was one of the loudest bands they've ever had. If you're up this way you're welcome to try it out.

Here's what you want...

[quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1338915694' post='1681052'] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiCRZLr9oRw&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/media] [/quote] Classic 80s synths. I believe it's a Yamaha CS80 & a SCI Prophet 5. & Tony Levin on bass.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1338911967' post='1680958'] Second hand Nord Lead 1 or 2. One control per parameter. Built like a tank. Pretty much all the analogue synth sounds you could want. If I only had one hardware synth this is the one I'd keep. I got the rack version of the Lead 1 to use live as an alternative to lugging my vintage (and very heavy) Roland Jupiter 6 out to gigs. I ended up selling the Jupiter as the Nord did all the same sounds and was far more versatile. [/quote] I was looking at the Clavia stuff. Always liked them for look & sound. I'm thinking of heading down the "workstation" route, but I suppose I could do all the multitracking on the Mac easy enough. I would like a 73 or 88 keybed.

The main synth manufacturers from back in the 80's appear to still be the ones to look at. Roland, Korg & Yamaha with Dave Smith taking up SCI's position. Akai, Waldorf & a few others seem to have bailed from the hardware synth market with some just making one or two small things (no big workstations).

If I can afford to keep just the bass & get a decent synth, then that'd be great. But I think I'll probably need to sell it too. I don't want to go down the Remote keyboard/laptop route as I want the hands on twiddle knobs/push buttons stuff that half of the playing with synths is about. Quite fancy a Roland Jupiter 50, but it might be a touch out of my price range.

[quote name='bigbottomend' timestamp='1338907869' post='1680883'] Incidently most other muso's there at the gig commented that my bass does sound really good through it. [b]Sound / tone is subjective and a personal preference[/b]. [/quote] That's a very true point.

[quote name='bigbottomend' timestamp='1338906261' post='1680862'] Well take it that i do know how to use EQ because that's how it was ment to portray. I must need English lessons. [/quote] You might know how to EQ your Ampeg, but it doesn't sound like you know how to set up the F1. Having heard an F1 through a Markbass 2x10 I can confirm it didn't sound "horrible, flat and lifeless". Although you didn't say what kind of 2x10 it was, so I could be wrong there. I also know some basses do sound crap through Markbass gear, but will sound good through things like Ampegs (& vice versa of course).

[quote name='bigbottomend' timestamp='1338904864' post='1680843'] I love it when the fridge comes with me to a gig, regarless of venue size, it just sounds so right. If you know how to set up your gear right you would never sound bad. I have been playing through a markbass F1 and 2x10" tho at jam gigs and it sounds horrible, flat and lifeless, nothing touches a real 70's SVT and 8x10". [/quote] That statement only tells us that you don't know how to use an EQ.

I'd like to keep the gear & just get a keyboard to add to my instrument collection, but there's no spare cash. It would be a case of whatever I get for my gear gets spent on keys stuff. So probably selling my guitar & maracas too!

I started as a keys player (got a Bontempi when I was about 5 & progressed over the years through better & more keyboards/synths/drum machines/sequencers). Had a few keyboards for the 1st 5 or so years of my bass playing & then got rid of them all in 1990 (to fund better bass gear). Now I'm tempted back. I enjoy programming sounds. Whether that be pushing buttons & looking at a small screen or turning dials & knobs until I get the sounds I want. My bass playing has taken a back seat. I'm in a position just now where I get NO time with the band, had to turn down a few gigs & just don't enjoy playing bass alone & it's getting to me. At least with keys I can make entire songs. At present (or the near future) I couldn't even start a new band closer to home due to personal circumstances. I don't know why I'm posting this really, as I can't be talked out of it (unless personal circumstances change dramatically). I suppose I just wanted to let you guys know my plans.

[quote name='bigsmokebass' timestamp='1338856114' post='1680217'] Fleetwood Mac - the chain [/quote] That was the very first thing I played when I first picked up a bass (the 2nd 1/2 of it). That was 28 years ago!

In the for sale section there's a GK 700RB II 1x15 combo for £390 (you could add another 15" cab if you find you need more at a later date, a Hartke HA3500 amp & VX 4x10 cab for £300 & if you can stretch your funds, there's a Markbass 2x10 combo like mine for £600 (probably one of the loudest 2x10 combos on the market) & there's a GK MB 2x10 combo with a 1x15 cab for £580. You have a couple of nice basses there & it would be a sin to put them through something that isn't gonna make them sound any better than a budget bass (it's a bit like sticking budget tyres on a decent car).

It would make more sense to get 2 210 MBX cabs if that's the cab you want (in your budget). I'd be looking in the 2nd hand stuff as you'll get more bang for the buck.

[quote name='Lfalex v1.1' timestamp='1338834828' post='1679856'] Very true. And the precise reason that I've remained a non-fx-user. Finances simply don't permit me to splash out on [b]unit X[/b] only to find that it doesn't / can't do what I want it to. Then comes the "sell it on, take a big hit" part before I splash out on [b]unit Y[/b].... rinse... repeat! Bearing in mind that boutique fx can cost a [i]lot[/i] of money, it's understandable that some people shy away from them, especially as there's not some epic "FX emporium" where we can all try them out to our heart's content. Online videos and soundclips aren't enough to demonstrate how a given fx unit will work with all the variables that a player/technique/bass/amp combination can generate. Does anyone want to start an "FX emporium"? That'd be ++Awesome++ [/quote] One of the reasons I ALWAYS suggest getting a multi FX unit to folk whom are new to effects is to get to know what different effects do & to find out what you're likely to use in a band setting. Saves a fortune on "bling bricks". Buying 2nd hand is a good thing to do if you're not 100% if the pedal is gonna get used, that way you can sell it on at minimal/no loss.

I've got a Talkbass membership & an UglyBass membership & a Moving Air membership & the only bass forum I'm ever on is Basschat. I'll go & have a look at Bass2Bass though.

I'll have a look & see if I have (most likely as I'm on FB & Google quite often). Cheers.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1338717641' post='1678284'] Are you running Incognito for Safari? [/quote] Not that I'm aware of. Would it sort that issue?

Only time I get that is when I'm at work & it's due to certain hosts being blocked (places where pics are linked to). What I get is unable to view pics posted by waynepunkdude, but that's only in Safari & it's fine in Chrome (it did bug me for ages).

I had one of those Zoom 708 multi fx chats that you've got. Dig out the manual & learn how to use it, it's not hard when you get past the technophobia. It's a good way to work out what YOU want. What I use might not suit your style of music (then again, it might be bang on the money). I would suggest clearing a handful of the patches so there's just one effect on each & play about with it. Then work out what effects you think you're gonna use in your band from there & buy the boxes you need. Also read Shep's blog on effects (there's 8 parts so far)... http://www.sheponbass.co.uk/blog/2012/2/11/signal-chain-bassics-part-i-where-to-start.html

If the combo is the same size as the amp and cab combined, then there's probably no difference. as for if you want the 2x10 or 1x15, go & try them & see what you prefer.

Loving your blogs & interviews. Not had a chance to actually read this one yet, but really looking forward to it! You lucky man! I hope you said Nerve need to do a UK tour (and come up this way).

Pretty much Bright Onion make what you need.

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1338552032' post='1676190'] It sounds to me you need to go on a testing spree before you shell out for anything [/quote] +1 Don't worry too much about the wattage, it means little in regards to volume. If you get a 500 watt amp & a 200 watt cab, it'll blow it just as a 200 watt amp would. Turn down if it sounds bad, simple as that.

I've recently found out that the old "active is louder than passive" myth is a myth. What you want is an A/B box like dannybuoy says & make sure that both inputs have level controls on them so you can match them for volume. It's an easy DIY build if you're handy with a soldering iron.