Clarky

I can't answer your question but I am very glad to see your post as I have just ordered an MB200 this very afternoon for the princely sum of £206 (SoundsLive)

Update: keeping the Acoustic Image and have bought, on Keith's advice, the little GK MB200 amp for backup/practice/rehearsals/small gigs - there was a deal for £206 shipped at SoundsLive which really is peanuts if this head is as good as people say.

Very DB-friendly - phase switch etc - and easy slider EQ. Its the industry standard preamp for DB for good reason. There are other good ones - Headway, LR Baggs etc but depends on how much you want to pay and what functionality you need. I like having a mute-able tuner in my preamp so I use the LR Baggs Venue DI but its quite a bit more pricey than the Fishman. http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product~name~L.R.-Baggs-Venue-DI~ID~13224.asp

[size=4][sup]The colour is fab (I'm a big fan of antigua) but it does seem mighty pricey, as Jack pointed out[/sup][/size] [size=4][sup]As for pure unadulterated sex, I wouldn't know. I'm married [/sup][/size]

[quote name='essexbasscat' timestamp='1327052767' post='1505591'] That lisp not sorted yet Clarky ?? Thufferingthukatash !! [/quote] At latht! Wath waiting for you to thpeak up Tom

[quote name='ShergoldSnickers' timestamp='1327001928' post='1505117'] December 30th at the Adelphi Club Hull. [/quote]Hey SS, your RIM bass (need to type that carefully!) looks very cool on stage. Very nice

Thinking this through further - and trying to eliminate the GAS effect - I have a perfectly good amp in the AI Clarus which has bells and whistles I don't need but which I will have to sell at a loss for another amp which will not be better (at least not for DB) but which will be simpler and a bit cheaper. I think I will take Geoff's advice and stick with the AI head, at least for now.

Maybe we should ask BC'er, Ethicsbasscat?

I just sold a fretless to James, meeting at a dodgy service station! Very charming and honest. Thoroughly recommended. Hope your entry into the word of fretless is fun, James!

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1326988645' post='1504799'] Maybe you shouldn't have sold your F1 last year Clarky ;-) Let me know if you want to borrow it for a few gigs. [/quote] Thanks for the offer Dave. Annoyingly I didn't try the F1 on a double bass gig so I don't know if it works well in this setting - its great for electric

It seems logical (to me anyway) that the combination of the unnatural angle that the left wrist assumes in the lower positions plus the sheer distance to the Thumb's nut (due to its unusual body vs neck gemoetry) must be exacerbating matters and that to find a playing position or bass which brings your left wrist closer to your body can only be beneficial. I doubt anything you do with the Thumb (eg, strap button placement, different strap) could change that fact in any meaningful way, sadly. Probably does mean a new bass if you are keen to go electric in a serious way. A bass where the body sits easily across you and where - contrary to some suggestions - there is a thicker neck may mean an easier grip. I still get pains from my broken left hand and find I get less cramp with a thicker neck than a skinnier neck, I assume because there is less tension in the hands as you curl your fingers into the ball shape. You might consider it a dull bass by comparison but have you thought of borrowing a good old Fender P from someone (as opposed to skinnier necked Jazz)? The body hangs very naturally, can be moved a little laterally to your right so you can pluck nearer the neck with a straight-ish right wrist and in so doing brings the nut towards you? Just a thought. And then there is also a short scale, not all of which look like kid's learner basses! Warwick are going to be making some short scale basses according to a post by Throwoff today, which might be your ideal half-way house? Good luck mate in getting this sorted

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1326986863' post='1504767'] It seems that not getting a new LM3 was perhaps a good idea. Check [url="http://www.markbass.it"]www.markbass.it[/url] and download their 2012 brochure! A very small 500W digital amp, with aux/headphone in and a MUTE! My word...a MUTE!!!! It's good to see them catch back up. Interested to know the price! [/quote] The little 500W amp is very cute indeed. Wonder when that will become available?

Interesting that you favour the GK so much Keith. As Geoff said, there's a fan club too on Talkbass. My problem is that the MB200 would no way cut it against the 14 piece full-blown Rattlin Bone and i really only want one amp. Maybe its larger brother, MB500, is the answer (specs below): MB 500 • 500 watts @ 4 ohms, 350 watts @ 8 ohms • 10dB pad • Four-band active EQ w/variable contour • Effects loop and tuner output with mute • Headphone/line output • XLR out, pre/post EQ & ground lift switch • Boost footswitch • Two speakon outputs MB 200 • 200 watts @ 4 ohms, 140 watts @ 8 ohms • 10dB pad • Four-band active EQ w/contour • Headphone/line output • XLR out, pre/post EQ • Speakon output

An eclectic mix this morning on way to work Nick Cave's utterly wonderful 'Let the bells ring' [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ffhNWxh41I"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ffhNWxh41I[/url] And the melancholy but enticing 'Goodbye Old Porkpie hat' by Charlie Mingus [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sfe_8RAaJ0"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sfe_8RAaJ0[/url]

Thanks Gareth, I did think about that - thats a great deal! Also the Markbass LMTube 800 which has a ton of power and the option to dial in or out the tube preamp

Mike just bought a box of 50-odd jazz CDs off me despite not knowing what most of them were, very trusting! But seriously, he paid super-fast, was consistently friendly in communications and I am delighted to start a feedback thread for him. Enjoy your next few months jazz crash-course, Mike!

[quote name='Monckyman' timestamp='1326977382' post='1504552'] I`ve been getting good results with my LM II for both leccy and Upright, by using the amp eq fairly flat for electric and using a pre-amp into the FX return socket for the upright. It`s powerful and clean and suits both jobs depending on what cab you use. [/quote] Thanks Monckyman, thats the head that was in my old Markbass CMD121P combo which did indeed work really well for both. I wonder whether the F1, which I know when launched was described by many as cleaner and less than warm than a LMII, is better or worse suited to DB????

I just met Kev who handed over his lovely Ibanez Affirma bass to me. Very good buying experience. Lots of info upfront and a friendly and interesting guy to chat to as well. Many thanks Kev, it was a pleasure! Look forward to listening to the CDs of yuour music that you popped into the case, too