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markorbit

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Everything posted by markorbit

  1. markorbit
    I have owned two Wals. I bought a used but great condition red ProIIE from the bass center in 1987 for £300. I found the receipt last month. That one was real nice, lovely low action and sounded very electric and growly like Lee Gormans from Bow Wow Wow. I had a Wal Custom in recent years that I didn't like it as much. Still a Wal but these days my tastes have changed and I find them very electric sounding, very active sounding instruments with little natural 'warmth'. It's a different animal to what I like now. I loved that sound in the 80s. Do I think they are worth £3200 plus for a new one? No. I think the new price is a reflection on the used prices we have been seeing in the last 10 years. If I can get say, a new Status S2 for £2200 or whatever from Rob Green I would expect a Wal to be no more than £500 more.
  2. markorbit
    That's a beauty! Yes, perhaps a rosewood board would be even better. Strung with flats.
  3. markorbit
    *bump - still available* Forgot to say I've owned it for maybe two years but it's only been used at home probably no more than a dozen times. I'll now include the rack with the deal - this can mount one or two Summit devices. A single unit is mounted in the centre. Warmth and compression in one box.
  4. markorbit
    [quote name='Spoombung' post='972164' date='Sep 29 2010, 10:32 PM']I tried one of these out at the weekend. I was really disappointed in it. It was far too distorted for bass (it wasn't mild distortion it was a LOT of distortion).[/quote] That's what I found too. However, flipping one of the switches made things a lot more pleasing as the distortion wasn't so much upfront. I agree though, it's too dirty. I guess that is why it's a Little Bastard.
  5. markorbit
    ** TLA-50 for sale only ** Up for sale is the Summit TLA-50 Tube Levelling Amp (Compressor). It's another device that can help warm up a sterile sound whilst compressing. It's in superb condition and comes with box/documentation. The manual is still in the plastic bag, unread. These retail for about £585 now. I'm looking for £335 plus postage. Here's the official blurb: [url="http://www.summitaudio.com/tla50.html"]http://www.summitaudio.com/tla50.html[/url] Pictured is the Summit TLA-50 plus the TD-100 with the Summit rack adapter so that both (or one) units can be rack-mounted in a single 1U. The TLA-50 will ship with the original top panel attached as it would arrive from new. The rack adapter isn't included (but is available for £25).
  6. markorbit
    The TD-100 has now sold. Just the TLA-50 left now.
  7. markorbit
    VT Bass now sold subject to usual. Thanks.
  8. markorbit
    [quote name='thomastesselaar' post='970765' date='Sep 28 2010, 03:14 PM']Hi Mark, I would like to bid 85 pounds if you will ship it to the netherlands, which i will pay for! Regards, Thomas[/quote] Hi Thomas, No problem shipping to the Netherlands but there was one tentative enquiry prior to yours for the same offer. I'll keep you posted over PM. Thanks - Mark
  9. markorbit
    I have a soft spot of Trace's. They usually sound good! These days I avoid the preshape (as I also do on Ashdowns) as it sucks the mid and things can get cold and clacky. I think all the amps are fine right up to the SMX 12 band with dual compressors. Sure there is a certain signature sound to them but it works for rock/funk very well. I think the pre-Gibson talk is more relevant when talking about the guitar side of things more than the bass. I haven't experienced the newer stuff but I'm not excited by my perception of the build quality or design.
  10. markorbit
    Hardly used (home only). Comes with cool tin box and papers. Unmarked spic and span example. SVT on tap. £95 posted in UK. **Sorry this is now sold pending the usual. Thanks for your interest.**
  11. markorbit
    ** EDIT: JUST THE TLA-50 left now as the TD-100 is SOLD ** I've pretty much decided that my fav tube preamp is an Ampeg. If I need a tube DI I have a Reddi. So I'm going to be selling a few more bits and bobs including this pair from Summit Audio. I bought the TD-100 around the time I bought my Berg IP and it does a great job of warming the tone whilst retaining a pure sound. I recently used it for recording into a DAW and was very pleased with the 'studio sound' it produced. The unit comes with original box/documentation and is in very good condition. I'm looking for £250 plus postage. Here's the official blurb: [url="http://www.summitaudio.com/td100.html"]http://www.summitaudio.com/td100.html[/url] Also up for sale is the Summit TLA-50 Tube Levelling Amp (Compressor). It's another device that can help warm up a sterile sound whilst compressing. It's in great condition and comes with box/documentation. These retail for about £585. I'm looking for £330 plus postage. Here's the official blurb: [url="http://www.summitaudio.com/tla50.html"]http://www.summitaudio.com/tla50.html[/url] If anybody wishes to buy both I will include the Summit rack option (not exactly cheap) which links these two together (as pictured) for a total of £530 plus postage.
  12. markorbit
    I'm currently rediscovering the joys of the Ampeg SVTIIP at the moment. I have the others too (Pro/CL) but this one is delivering the goods right now through my Berg IP stack. Mine's carrying a couple of Telefunkens and a Mullard. I set the bass control at 3 o clock and with fingerstyle I get a big round Motown-style sound that is VERY warm. The tone is very similar to a lot of 70s disco records when played nearer the bridge - Thelma Houston, Baccara etc. I use an alder/rosewood P bass with flats and a DBX160A after the SVTIIP. It's the closest I've got to an all-valve sound without having an all-valve amp. It's not dirty by any means but the combination is deep, pillowy and beautiful, especially with the Barker mute at the bridge. How good are mutes... Today I would choose the SVTIIP over ANY other bass preamp. When I switch it out for something else and then switch it back the warmth returns. That bass control is just right.
  13. markorbit
    At the risk of sounding like a JJ gear nerd I can add that JJ used Gibson Heavy picks and did indeed switch to flatwound strings for a period around Feline/Aural Sculpture. Prior to the Trace gear and after the valve amps he was using a rack set up with an Ashly SC40 preamp, MXR (I think) 31 band graphic EQ and Yamaha power amps. I remember this rig sounding particularly good live. Snarly but full-bodied with nice mids. He sounds like Burnel whatever rig he's had.
  14. markorbit
    [quote name='Simon.' post='943362' date='Sep 2 2010, 01:40 PM']However, I have to confess to being left utterly despondent on chatting to Guy after the show. I mean, for christ sake, if a player like Guy Pratt is out of work and can't get a gig at the moment, what chance have I got?!! [/quote] You probably have the advantage of being much cheaper Another great session player, Phil Spalding, seems to be branching out into production now. Perhaps the opportunities for real session bassists is diminishing?
  15. markorbit
    A 72 Precision isn't from the 'golden age' of pre-CBS so although desirable, it isn't the holy grail. I've come to the conclusion that - for me anyway - I won't pay sky-high prices for a Precision unless it has clay dots. Keep the better bass.
  16. markorbit
    Definately flats. I'd recommend La Bella 760M for the ultimate fat and furry tone but these are big, thick strings so you may wish to consider La Bella 760FL instead. La Bella's give you that authentic vintage sound like no ther in my book. I'm not sure that I'd agree that the Motown bass sound is all mids... certainly Bob Babbit on Standing In The Shadows of Motown has some deep bottom going on and it sounds great. Playing lightly with fingers over or in front of the pickup will help get you the round, warm tone. A well setup mute system can work wonders increasing the depth and roundness whilst taking out all the things you don't want.
  17. markorbit
    I just found an interview with Guy, and I quote "Pino Palladino told me that as you get older your tone knob creeps down and your right hand goes further up the neck!". LOL. I was wryly beginning to realise that myself recently much to my amusement so that comment really hit home. Guy, did you use Flatwounds with the Floyd?
  18. markorbit
    Yikes! £795? That seems expensive. Luckily, I've gone off graphite anyway - although I could be tempted back if I come across a nice Steinberger L2...
  19. markorbit
    A bonus with the new ones are adjustable pole pieces so that you can get your string volume balance perfect. A crap thing is the bridge as you cannot adjust the height of each string individually without filing the saddles! I find the necks a treat to play. Sound-wise, it's marmite. Sometimes it's the ticket, sometimes not.
  20. markorbit
    Hi Guy - you pop up in some strange places not least with Chris & JC at the 100 Club! Anyway my question is... I didn't think you were a gear smasher... what caused you to destroy the aforementioned bass on the last night of the Roxy tour? Oh and I did love the youtube clips of your disco basslines spoof even though I quite like Maurice Gibb's work!
  21. markorbit
    Herbie hasn't had a manufacturer make a Signature bass (which is a shame, can you imagine a Fender Custom Shop model with the quality of the Pino?) so I got one built. It's Lake Placid Blue but not as dark as that 59. 7.5 inch radius Rio Rosewood fingerboard. It's strung with Trubass 88s. Pickups are Fralins. The custom switch is a series/parallel switcher. I've since removed the thumbrest.
  22. markorbit
    I want to know more about how the bass plays and sounds from someone else's perspective. I wouldn't be too surprised if it was hugely underwhelming considering it's heritage. I also get the impression that Herbie is not the type of guy who would be overly finicky about set ups and stuff. He just plays the things and prefers the upright anyway! What I am noticing though is that there are a few famous recording basses that are set with particularly high action. Maybe the purity of sound wins against the ease of playing for these guys. If you have seen Herbie's playing on 'Show Me How To Play'.com you can isolate the blue Jazz and listen and watch Herbie solo at close quarters. It's really excellent to see him play stuff like Space Oddity. Very pure tone with the 88s. I highly recommend the £1.99 it costs to download that.
  23. markorbit

    Lakland Skyline 55-2

    markorbit replied to Moo's topic in Basses

    Yes, I've just ordered a 55-02 and enjoyed the review. Cheers.
  24. markorbit
    Wow that is a real scoop. I would love a go on that. So it had high action and the black strings yes? I have a 'Herbie tribute' Jazz bass that I like to get as close to his as possible. In particular I do have an issue with those Trubass 88 strings which do tend to creak a lot no matter where the action seems to be. So the action was noticeably high... hmmm. Herbie's one of the greats.
  25. markorbit
    My experience with these is that at any volume it had an attitude! It wasn't clean. I thought it was [i]too[/i] distorted. I tried a couple of Ps. I discovered that you can tame this by flipping up 1 (or 2 can't remember) of the toggles which suddenly gives a bigger, rounder and bassier sound which wasn't as snarly. I much preferred this.
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