Al Krow

Yes you did get it wrong, so rest easy Andy. Just read the words in brackets in my post which explains my point. I was being completely ironic (and not trying to be funny) ie I TOTALLY rate the work of the Indonesian workers which is why I am so happy with my BB 1025.

Thanks Pete. Are there any differences in the preamp other than 3 band vs 2 band? Ebony and Rosewood are both quality woods. Single coil will give a more Jazz feel to the 2005 than the dual-stacked humbuckers (but the noise cancelling of nature the humbuckers is something that I appreciate). Not convinced the Yammy MIJ quality from their 'standard' Japanese workshop is going to be significantly worse than their Custom shop boys. So in terms of final product it seems to me that a fair comparison to think about would be a Yammy BB1025 vs BBP35. If I was buying new on value for money grounds I would go for the 1025 every time and even then my used 1025 is so much more than "good enough" despite being made by one-eyed Indonesian workers (frankly I don't buy all this prejudice against not-made-in expensive territories. Anyone spotted where Apple assemble their iPhones? Clue: it's not the USA or Japan), that the 1025 was the bass I held onto, not my P35. If the 2005 had a 3 band EQ I would have definitely gone for that over the NE2 for the same reasons. But it doesn't and 2005s are as rare as hen's teeth so the point is otiose.

But even with external mics you're coming up against the limitations of the phone's internal sound card which, unless I'm mistaken, you don't get to bypass. And the low light recording ability on a phone is still not great => greater likelihood of poor quality video too for non daylight gigs. So I'm not sure there will be any answer in your drummer's phone price range that is going to deliver anything other than, at best, an "ok" result and if he's dead keen on the phone route then he should go in with his eyes open on that.

Thanks for that. @Tubster, I guess I was expecting you to say that the RCF had greater clarity and punch and was less muddy than the Alto, based on the quality of the speakers etc used in the RCF - just based on similar improvements in the sound my cabs have delivered as I've worked up through the gears over the past 5 years to higher end cabs. I suspect that more 'sonic authority' broadly = greater clarity and punch, although it doesn't sound like the Alto was 'muddy' at all from what you were saying? For the money, the Alto clearly is a LOT of kit. But I know at 39lbs (RCF) vs 55lbs (Alto) my back is going to love me forever and that between the lighter weight and the additional sonic authority, the RCF (with the benefit of the 10% eBay discount!) should be well worth the extra coin. My thanks to @jrixn1 for bringing the particular 702 AS II model to my attention! A health warning to fellow BC'ers: starting gear threads can damage your wealth 😁. It invariably seems to do so for me! And I note from the poll that there are 6 other bands, besides our own, thinking about subs too...

Be interesting if the audience hears any difference in tone?

Seems to me that the BB NE2 is pretty much the BB 2005 with a different label. I think the NE2 has a 3 band EQ vs a 2 band on 2005, but that's pretty much it in terms of key differences. So if you want a 2005 with a bit more on top then the NE2 will tick all the boxes. Not sure why there's such a big price differential between used NE2 and used 2004s though (no idea what a used 2005 would go for).

Well there's one in the FS right now. Just has different label on it...

I've only just got shot of a high end Yammy BB which I originally got from someone who, unlike me, could properly play the thing and it's now back in the hands of another very capable bass player where it deserves to be! Besides, I'm very fortunate to have the modern day variant of the BB 5000A already in my herd

You're clearly taking the P 😂

You a little bit tempted dB?

True. And your bass has got a string missing.

Your lawn needs a trim.

Haha - no different to someone getting cosmetic surgery...

A short happy tale for the weekend and a BIG-up to the DG team. As mentioned in my OP there was no footswitch with the used DG amp I bought. Looked online and couldn't find any retailers selling the AO900 footswitch as a stand-alone item (although the M900 silver ones are available for around £40 posted). Contacted DG to see whether I could buy one of them and mentioned I was on my second DG amp having been a fan of their first one. Very responsive and helpful client service - emailed me back within a couple of hours on a Sunday. Not only did they offer to provide one, but they couriered the footswitch across to me without charge for the pedal or delivery (despite my making it clear that my AO900 was used and not new). Well I'm even more of a fan of this amp now than I previously was!

Talk me through that? Thought the whole point of a sub was to get some oomph into the chest thumping 50Hz to 65Hz bass thud range for the audience.

Yup it was more to get a feel for the bass to augment whatever relatively small amount of bass coming through the monitor, which would likely be minimal with ear plugs in.

Haha. Just need to see if I can get away with not taking my amp and cab to gigs, whilst having just a single Alto TS 208 as a monitor. (I'm hoping we won't need to make the monitor vocal only but can bleed in some bass and kick drum). I'm guessing no possibility of having the sub as back line in terms of feedback. But would this all mean I've gone FRFR in which case your comment stands: Nooooooooo! 😁 PS and I forgot to mention, both drummers have given the idea a big thumbs up - they're clearly keener on getting a sub to mic the kick drum than they had let on!

Not been able to find any RCF 702 AS II for sale used anywhere. Best price online seems to be £696 (Andertons). Ebay have got a 10% off (up to £75) voucher deal going on right now and one store had it listed for £699 so with the 10% off deal that comes to £629. Not sure I'm going to get a 702 for too much better than this, in terms of pricing, anytime soon and pulled the trigger...

Yes. Chris - still yes! One of these days, you may even believe me 😁

Check out the TC Spark Boost currently being sold for a discounted £39 at guitar guitar Provides up to 26dB of clean boost and is also popular with several other BC'ers (I don't have one, so I can't vouch) for warming up their tone / providing a valvey dirt.

That's exactly the comparison I'm needing, thanks! Grateful if you could elaborate on what the difference was that you heard?

Great review, thanks!

Excellent - look forward to it! DG amp + BF cab does seem to be a pairing that just works. The un-coloured clean tone of the amp and cab really allows the tone from your bass & pups to be heard.