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[quote name='PaulGibsonBass' timestamp='1487983400' post='3244897'] I'm an intelligent, educated man. However I find this whole impedance / ohms thing utterly baffling. I'm new to the whole head / cab thing, surely there's a way I can get my head round it? I can't be that complicated? [/quote] Ohms go down, not up. If you put 2 8 ohm speakers on an amp, it makes a 4 ohm load. Two 4 ohm speakers make a 2 ohm load. If you put an 8 & a 4 ohm speaker on an amp, you then are adding a 4 ohm and putting @ another load on of 8 ohm, which brings the load to 2.66. Most bass amps will go down to a 4 ohm load , but some go to 2 ohm. The more load you put on the amp, the more power, the more power, the more watts at full volume, the more stress you're putting on the amp's electrical circuit. Using more watts doesn't necessarily mean things are going to be louder, that part is down to the cab(s).

I didn't know they did a 500w head.

[quote name='Danuman' timestamp='1487883000' post='3243931'] Yes, of course the neck pickup sounds a little fuller, however, that extra sonic information only makes the amp start clipping earlier. Besides, I don't really want to limit myself to playing only with the neck pickup. The addition of a bridge pickup is the best thing about a Jazz in the first place! [/quote] Set the bass to get the best sound for you whilst the band's playing (that might already be what you've done). If it involves having more neck & a little less bridge pickup & the amp is clipping, turn the preamp gain down & the output up (that's what they're there for).

[quote name='Handwired' timestamp='1487853285' post='3243530'] Ah, so your using both pickups on the Jazz, that explains a lot. When it's just you and the Jazz , both pickups sounds the best, but with the band, the neck pickup on it's own is way louder and has stronger low mids. [/quote] My bass isn't a Jazz, but has a PJ config. I always find the neck pickup has a much better low end. I blend the bridge pickup in very slightly if I want a touch more honk.

If I joined a band & they didn't like my bass on how it looks, I'd have to leave unless there was funds to buy a bass that suits. I play an Ibanez SR1000. I started out playing it in a metal band back in the 90s, played it in various rock & blues bands, went on to play it in a folk band (with synth bass fx on it) & now play in a funk rock band as well as the church worship team. Always gets complimented on tone too!

Mine's probably Billy Sheehan. Amazing bassist, but I've never been keen on his bass tone. It was from watching him & reading Talas transcripts that I learned a lot of techniques. The bassist that got me into bass is everyone's fave, Adam Clayton. I just loved being able to play something cool on bass after just a couple of weeks from purchase when I was 13 (that was 33 years ago).

There's also the Presonus iOne & iTwo, which comes with Presonus One DAW. I tried Protools express before getting Logic. Fine for recording actual instruments, but if VSTis are your thing as well, it's a pain in the stench trench. Deleting Protools is a bit of a process too. Reaper is probably the best of the free/budget DAWs. I was in the same position as you. I ended up getting a NI Komplete Audio 6 as it was on offer & then treated myself to Logic (which has possibly been the best £150 investment ever).

[quote name='Bigwan' timestamp='1487687191' post='3241828'] 80% of degree educated electronic engineers can't spell in my experience (18 years in the industry). Don't even get me started on their grammar! The younger they are, the worse it gets. [/quote] I'm hoping you did mean "grammar" if you yourself fall in that 80%!

If it's a covers band that stick to the same formula as the original, then you can get all the practice you need at home. I'm in 2 bands. The first is an originals band. We practice 1-2 times per month & are soon to do our first gigs (songs are finished). I practice my parts at home as well. The 2nd band is a church worship band, where I play about 1-2 times a month (there's 4 bassists that rotate & with me being 45 miles away, they don't call on me for every 4th bassist). There's a team night once a month where they spend the whole night running over a new song & talking about the arrangement. The only practice I get is at home & often he songs are in a different key from the original (so in to Logic the song goes & I pitch shift). 2-3 days before the service we find out what songs we're playing & what key they're in (1/2 of which I've probably never heard) & every now & again I'll get a text during service to say something like "let's play xxxxx in Bm to close the service". Last time it was a song I'd never heard before, but they WhatsApp'd me a chord chart & they played just the chords on keys whilst the Pastor was closing (let me hear the tempo & feel). Playing in the worship team is a lot of fun. They're all great musicians & the challenge of learning songs very quickly is awesome.

I had the previous version, the LMII & loved it. Plenty loud enough for my loud blues rock band at the time & it was in 2x10 arrangement.

If you were using an active bass or higher output pickups, then you might find you don't need to have the master as high. On the other hand, if you use a different passive bass, you might find you need to turn it up further. The amplifier just amplifies the signal that it gets. So if it's not an overly powerful signal to start with. You could increase the input gain to clipping. Just use your ears (well, one ear for your IEM & one for your rig).

If it sounds bad, you can always do a bit of reverse engineering & get drivers to suit the cab dimensions & then build another 2x10 cab that suits the spec of your eminence drivers. Then sell one of the cabs at a good price to cover the cost of both builds.

I wasn't suggesting that the idea of porting or working with the cab was a bad idea. I was just doing one of my car analogies. I had one of those Rovers. 3.6 V8 that went like stink.

I think what Bill is saying is that it's like sticking a Ferrari engine in a Rover. The Rover might hold the engine, but you're not gonna get close to it's full potential. Yes you can then modify the Rover, but it's still not gonna go like the Ferrari.

[quote name='markstuk' timestamp='1487026234' post='3236449'] But it is damn loud which sort of plays to your first point [/quote] I wouldn't say no to a RH750 as my amp, though I'd rather have the Thunderfunk. Both (even stacked on top one another) are a damn sight lighter than the valve amp I have.

Seems strange that your map isn't giving you enough volume, but it goes to show that watts don't really give any indication of how loud it can go. I used to play in a really loud band with just a 2x10 Markbass combo & never struggled to be heard (though most of the venues never held much more than 300 people). [quote name='markstuk' timestamp='1487025173' post='3236432'] The newer generation D classes are worth a look at - the ones in the 800w range. I love my thunderfunk 750 which has edged out my rh750.. [/quote] As you probably know, the RH750 isn't able to put out 750 watts.

Indeed. But it can be sooo satisfying to get that awesome sound that you never thought was possible.

You'll find plenty of information in these pages. Another good place to read is Barefaced bass cabs' website. Alex has put a lot of good info on there. Also go to Bill Fitzmaurice (BFM) website. The forums there are a vault of info too.

I used to have a Markbass 2x10 combo. One handed carry. Now I have a non neo EBS 4x10 and a stonking big Radiovox valve amp which has a casing made out of used battleships & weighs the same as a tanker full of dark matter.

[quote name='Powertripper' timestamp='1486945574' post='3235833'] I've since totally changed and elaborated on my problem but thank you for responding to the original post, much appreciated. [/quote] Oddly enough, I was editing mine at the same time. The answer is still the same as my original edit. Use your cabs with the amp. Use your ears. Bill the fandango for the repairs & don't let anyone use your rig again unless you're there & have some trust in them.

Yes. Forget watts. Check ohms if using more than 1 cab & use your ears. Your watts theory is incorrect. If your cab is 8 ohm & the amp's min load is 4 ohm, then your amp will put about 350 watts out at most. You're more likely to be averaging about 100 from the amp.

Well underrated bassist. She's where I get a lot of inspiration from. Her synth basslines are superb too!

I used to have the 102P combo, which was basically a 102 STD with an LMII popped into it. It never lacked lows or decibels. I'd opt for the 8 ohm if you can, as it would allow you to add a 2nd if you ever felt you needed to. 4 ohm doesn't give much of an increase in decibels & only puts a bit more wear on your amp's components.

Why do you want a 4x10?

I was using the "Big Stack" preset with a wee twiddle of the settings tonight to play along with some tunes. Try popping an EQ on the channel & tidy the sound up. Maybe add a touch of subtle reverb too.