Musicman20

I thought this might attract some interest! I'm definitely willing to try more, but at £1900....there should be 0 'dud' basses. It seems they have gone into fairly large production now since the Metro was introduced. Fender have had really bad days with QC; I have been a customer with Fender Jazz bass problems on the series before the S1 switch came in. It juat wasnt right at all, I got my money back and bought a MM Stingray instead, (the black one in my signature....thats how i ended up with two!). But, I definitely think thats behind them. They lost control of 'their' design to the high end Fender clone companies, so now they have stepped up their own instruments to be as good as they can at their price range. I harp on about it, but wow, my new Fenders are really good. Miles above any other USA Fender's I tried, (please note, not any true vintage Fender's, I have never been lucky enough to even touch one!). The Jazz has such a sweetspot to it, and the P is like a thumping tank of a bass....such a powerful tone for such a simple design. One of the bass magazines noticed this and said the wood/new bridge help with this.

Just to add...Im going to check out the Sadowsky's at the Gallery this weekend on my holiday in the London area, to see if I get on any better. I'm also testing some Laklands @ Bass Merchant....maybe they will be more suited to my tonal goals, (Skyline).

Like I said, I didnt want anyone to be offended. I have been testing high end instruments for years, but always missed out on Sadowsky due to my location. They always seemed to me, in my mind, as the ultimate modern Jazz. Style, craftsmanship, etc. I think its odd that they don't sound so good alone. For that price, I would expect it to sound good even when its going through the cheapest practice amp around. The P/J test WOT did made that bass sound absolutely stunning....! This is why Im shocked at this one I tested. I dont know, I probably expected too much. I think the new American Series Fenders were a lot better than I hoped for, and so that definitely changed the way I view things. What Im saying is, overall, sound wise the 75 RI was much nicer, and fuller, and aggressive. There may be a number of factors for this, like strings, setup etc. Maybe a NYC instrument would really show me what they are capable of. I've heard soundtests of this bass, and it was great! I dont expect it to be a Fender Passive tone, but a VERY VERY good Jazz tone....in fact the best ive ever heard! Expecting to much me thinks!

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='578489' date='Aug 23 2009, 08:01 PM']Hmm.. maybe it was an active / passive thing? Just out of interest, was that aged 'burst Sandberg PM4 in there?[/quote] I THINK it was still in. I did also visit Soundslive so I may be mixing them up. But Im sure I saw one aged Sandburg in GuitarGuitar. I think I agree on the passive/active thing...I only really get on with the active eq on Stingrays for some reason. Lots more to test, but I was shocked at this Sadowsky.

[quote name='Toasted' post='578503' date='Aug 23 2009, 08:14 PM']I think my Sadowsky sounds decidedly dodgy by itself.[/quote] In what way?

Hey I went to GuitarGuitar in Newcastle this weekend. Great shop, helpful guys, and lots of Fender/Aguilar/Sadowsky/Phil Jones/TC Electronics gear in stock. I tested a Sadowsky, hoping for endless tone and basically the ultimate Jazz bass. It was an Ultra Vintage Metro with maple neck, natural finish, 4 string. My thoughts? Disappointed The tone wasnt setup pefectly on the TC head and cabs, but still, this bass should shine through. What did I like? Neck, construction, the binding and inlays, the overall aesthestics. What didn't I like? No Fender-Jazz huge growl....more sweet, but no aggression. I fiddled for ages, tried with fingers and a pick, changed the head settings. I also thought the plain black plastic cover on the back looked....wrong. I don't know...it just wasn't right. I didn't like the control knobs, I didnt like the plain hardware, and it weighed more than I thought. I was desperate to get the ultimate Jazz tone...but it couldnt nail it like I thought it would. Surely this could not have been a 'dud'? For £1900.....Im shocked. I then tried the Fender 75 USA RI. THAT gave ultimate tone, especially on the bridge pickup alone. Lots of bite. The weight of the bass was also much better, MUCH lighter! I also liked the traditional stamped hardware etc. Im shocked....but I suppose it will save me money. Im glad I tested one out. But I was not massively impressed. The neck was INCREDIBLE on the Sadowsky though. I am by no means slating anyones instruments. I know thousands love these basses. What went wrong?!

Hey Check this out...the DIST 1x12 looks awesome. They have basically copied the Berg spray covering and the side inlay. [url="http://www.epifani.com"]http://www.epifani.com[/url]

I think everyone knows I am a huge Aguilar fan. I have yet to hear cabs that use 12s that I prefer over Aguilar. Maybe the Berg AE112s would be a very good match, but for the excellent style, price, and tone, the Aguilar DB cabs are amazing. I went for Chocolate Thunder for my two DB212s. And yes, I like them that much that I am more than likely getting a DB112 in Classic Black (then adding another to complete the set later in the year). [attachment=31439:DSC00262.JPG]

[quote name='BigAlonBass' post='577378' date='Aug 22 2009, 09:41 AM']I depped with a Rock Band a couple of weeks ago, and after setting my old Trace (AH350X) to it's normal "4" was asked to turn it up during the soundcheck, because it wan't quite cutting through. (No P.A. support) I flipped it up to "7" and the Vocalist bent double, clapped his hands to his ears, and said (quote) "Jesus F*ckin'Christ, I nearly sh*t myself, Turn it back down, man!" For the rest of the Gig, I settled on "5" and everyone was happy, so on personal experience, it doesn't run out of steam after "4". (Edit to say that I'm using a 1x15" cab and a 2x12" cab with it.) [/quote] Agreed!

I must admit...your band must be very loud! How are you setting the input gain? And the Sansamp? Cheers

The Bergantino HS cabs are very highly sensitive, hence the name. If you wanted a 4x10, 4 ohm, that matches a LM2, the Berg HS410 is incredible. I didnt believe how good it was til I tried one and bought it.

[quote name='Merton' post='577085' date='Aug 21 2009, 08:20 PM']Why do you "need" the full 500W from the Markbass heads?[/quote] Sometimes its nice to get the full power from the head into one cab....depends on space/needs I guess. I have some 8 ohm cabs and 1 4x10 Berg 4 ohm cab.

[quote name='goingdownslow' post='576939' date='Aug 21 2009, 06:07 PM']From the TE SMX series manual:- "The OUTPUT LEVEL control is used to set the stage volume of the amplifier, this will normally end up being set at between [b]3 and 4[/b] on the scale with a TRACE ELLIOT output stage or power amplifier. This leaves plenty of available rotation of the output control in hand for when the unit is used to run non standard power amps that require a higher level signal input to drive them. However if you are using a TRACE ELLIOT output stage or power amp then please note that beyond about [b]4[/b] on this scale your amplifier will almost certainly be running into clipping." Did this apply to all TE series amplifiers? If so, was because it was almost flat out.[/quote] Im pretty sure my SMX400 had lots of steam left after 3-4 on the output volume control.

[quote name='alexclaber' post='576743' date='Aug 21 2009, 02:59 PM']In this thread the only mention of my own cabs has been: "You can have tons of bottom and tons of clarity - that's what the Big One does, that's what my Acmes did (less midrange punch but a bit more air on top) and that's what any good PA system does." The reason I stuck my oar in is that I regularly rehearse through an old TE 4x10" combo and I know what it sounds like and what it can do. And I like what it does - possibly the best old school 16th note fingerfunk sound I've had - but to claim it has big bottom is deluded (and probably an honest mistake because people simply do not listen - like they perceive a lack of highs as more bottom - you can't trust your ears until you understand your ears). I was just googling to see if I could find an old TE catalogue I'd seen recently, which illustrated their various suggested rigs, including things like the 18"+10"+tweeter cab, and monster stadium rigs like 2x15"s+4x10"s, dual 18"s plus 10"s and the 4x5" bright box, etc. To wrap any brand up as "sounding like X" is inaccurate when it runs the full gamut from punchy but bottomless monsters like the sealed 4x10" combo, through honky but amazingly loud bandpass 10" combos, through enormously thick and deep valve powered 2x15" rigs to the hi-fi rigs of the day like their biamped stadium gear or even their BFC swansong. What TE did do is advance the art of the bass AMP. They never really dug into the cab designs, lots of bright ideas but not the soundest acoustic thinking behind them, but still much better than most other bass gear in their prime era. Comments like this are just ill informed: "even though my Little Mark 3 has got serious low end....you cannot beat the sound of those full weight amps/cabs. Sometimes, they are just NECESSARY!" If that is implying that this old gear has something special about it in producing deep weighty lows, then it's plain wrong. I know it's not easy describing tone in words - most bassists couldn't even tell the difference between a 40Hz and 80Hz tone, so once you get into talking about fat bottom, punchy mids, etc, what hope is there? Alex[/quote] We are only stating from our opinions. I have little experience with the highly technical side of how an amp/cab works I'm afraid. Bass playing is a massive part of my life, but I leave the technical side to the designers....as im not being paid to look into it; that side of my life is already hugely complex as I am training in my legal profession. I don't think my comment was ill informed in the slightest, maybe just not qualified. Some of these old design amps/cabs do just sound right to me, even if that might be a psychological effect. And, as much as specs are specs, we all know the LM3 has serious arse kicking low end compared to most lightweight amps....there are tons of threads on Tbass about this. Thats why I bought it. This old gear, to me, especially Trace, does sound right, hence why thousands of people love what they do. I will still buy heavy amps and cabs no matter what light gear I buy, whcih I will buy! And, to quote a few experts on talkbass, you do lose something, every so slighty, with neo speakers. Thats why Ive seen a few guys buy neo cabs like the AE410 and then switch to the HS410.Whether you do or you dont on a scientific level, its what the listener/player thinks. I'd prefer to keep it to a test of my ears....I have A/B'd a few neo and ceramic cabs, and the ceramic edged it....but we will all have some sort of opinion. That Trace 4x10 might not have huge bottom end, but it does have a fair whack. I don't like 'huge' bottom end from my cab setup, I like a 'normal' amount. Whether this is down to the fact all my favourite players tend to have an aggressive cutting sound I just don't know. When I did hammer the lows up with the Orange 1x15, it sounded very very special....but I wouldnt use that much low for gigging, unless Metallica asked me to join. LOL. Its all just tastes I guess

I agree we all want bottom end, but I really don't want a muffled reggae/dub type low end. Some players love it, and it 'feels' great when you hear it live, but I love that sound of a cutting bass. Again, sometimes this changes....P bass with tone down, little more bass on amp = lovely. The only graphic I got on with was Trace. Sometimes it did feel sterile though...but once you messed around a little it suddenly felt right. I must admit I am not of fan of pre-shapes, lots of buttons, loads of options. Hence why my amps sounded good as soon as I plugged in, (with the Orange I barely ever move the EQ...simple and awesome). So yeah, the only thing with Trace was sometimes its amount of options! And, the amp heads weighed SO much. Never had a Trace cab, but I always enjoyed borrowing and testing them. I hope they stick around and make more of an impression with their next line.

Wow.... I want a custom shop I think I want one more than a Sadowsky...!

Nice colour. What P is it? Matches the amp.....not only that...but good photos!

Just thought 'lets be different and play bass....and do it properly'. I was a young grunge kid at the time. The I learnt to play punk 'well'....and not just follow the guitar. Bass to me always just seemed right. I do like guitar, but it never feels as good as bass.

I think it makes me realise that as much as I do like some fat low end, I also like to concentrate on having a nice cut through crisp sound.....sometimes anyway...not always.

even though my Little Mark 3 has got serious low end....you cannot beat the sound of those full weight amps/cabs. Sometimes, they are just NECESSARY!

Glad to see there is some love for them. To be fair, I dont know how anyone can worry about volume with a 4x10...ever. Unless its a stadium.

[quote name='Clarky' post='573999' date='Aug 19 2009, 12:32 PM']FYI, that is the exact same colour scheme of Beedsters' 09 Jazz (formerly mine). Looks great in the flesh.[/quote] Also the same as mine. Very good colour...looks even nicer in the flesh.