dave_bass5

I prefer red, even when its MarkBass [url="https://davepearce.smugmug.com/Gear/Music-gear/i-pHdPVSP/A"][/url]

As long as the speakers aren't blue. That's seems to be a dark, woolly colour ;-)

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1464371143' post='3059007'] I can well believe it! [/quote] Market it right and they will buy in to the idea.

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1464362718' post='3058875'] The red paint? :-p [/quote] Oh yes, I do believe the red paint makes a difference to certain freq's. A lot of R&D went in to getting the shade just right...apparently.

[quote name='sunburstjazz1967' timestamp='1464359057' post='3058841'] If a player has a specific tone they want then that's great, that's why Alex requires all your info up front but for me I'd rather have a cab that does lots of things fairly well than one designed and supplied for a specific setup. I don't know If I'll be rocking out with a pick or playing some blues finger style from one gig to the next, I use a variety of heads too, I haven't got time to adjust my pickup height between songs to suit the cab! [/quote] Totally agree. The only thing i will add is ive never been looking for a definitive tone, only a tone that appeals to me. Every cab ive used has had this to some extent, but none quite as complete as the one i have now. As far as different drivers not mattering, i have no idea, but there is certainly something going on that makes the Vanderkley sound different, and better for me.

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1464353570' post='3058772'] Maybe - but for those of us who play smaller venues (with only vocals through the PA) and rely on backline, the sound of the rig is important. If I can hear myself properly and like the sound I hear, I tend to play better and enjoy the performance more. Audiences feed off that and the whole gig is better. The bands that get to the point where we are paying to see them tour have probably been through that stage too but have moved on to bigger (but not necessarily better) things. Their sound is totally at the mercy of the(ir) sound man... All IMO of course [/quote] This is how my bands work. We dont need to invest heavily in a big PA, and pay the extra expense if upgrading cars etc to transport it. A vocal PA has worked fine for the past 14 years. My rig has to cover the room without support most of the time. Im happy it admit ive never had canyon say my tone is bad, but if im not enjoying it then im in a position to fix that. sometimes the room will play havoc with the low end. Thats to be expected, but in a controlled, familiar environment if its not working then time to move on. There are major claims on the BF website that had me believing this was going to be the last cab i ever needed. Well it wasn't. How could it, they dont know what i like. If thats a neutral, almost flat cab then its not for me. I have no regrets about buying it. Im glad i got to try these great cabs, but its also taught me a valuable lesson.

[quote name='sunburstjazz1967' timestamp='1464342828' post='3058580'] So we need different basses for different cabs now, no wonder people say going light weight is expensive! [/quote] Well ive never had to do any of that in the past, didnt need to do that with the studio cabs and didnt need to do it for the new cab so......... Of course many people love the BB2, I did at first, but i think the correct answer would have been its just not for me, not that i am doing soemthnig wrong. There is nothing wrong with the BB2, nor my set up. I feel a few answers have been a bit condescending, although presented in a polite way. Actually, come to think of it i wasnt asking for advice about the BB2 in this thread.

[quote name='Passinwind' timestamp='1464022535' post='3055836'] There's no real way of knowing or comparing without rigorous measurement, since what you get out depends so greatly on both what you put in and how you set all the other controls. [/quote] Yes i know, but my point is that when someone says amp A is louder than amp B, the standard response seems to be the knob position has no relevance. Without testing both amp how do these people know this? Why is it dismissed without any back up data? How do they know amp A is different to amp B? Im just wondering as i started to read this thread and saw this quoted a few times.

Ive often seen claims that abs amps master is not an indication of how much its putting out compared to another amp, but surely every single amp is not different? Its almost like a standard reply that stem people give. I understand what its meant to be saying but its almost just given without actually knowing the two amps are different.

Great news Kev. Had my first gig with my MB800 and new Vanderkley 115MN6 last night and I pretty much had the same experience. I can get enough of this cab at the moment, and it too works very well with my Darkglass VMT.

Ah yes, of course. Just on my way home from the first gig with the new cab. Very happy. Crappy stage with a low false ceiling above it. The on stage sound was nice but off stage the low end was very thin. This happened last time I played there with the 1212L so I know it's not the cab. I made the right choice. I hope your gig with the BB2 went well.

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' timestamp='1463815567' post='3054213'] Nice cab Dave as beta tested by yours truly [/quote] Cheers. Shame you never got to play the BB2.

Ive had nothing but good experiences with Mark and the BD crew. They are always my first port of call when looking for bass gear. Ive never met Mark but have spoken to him on the phone and he has never been anything but outstandingly helpful.

Yeah, i cant imagine what it used to be like in the "old" days. The last non Neo cab i had was a Schroeder 1210R. wehn i first got it the weight never bothered me. Wehn i also got a 1212L i realised just how heavy the 1210R was. Even in the band up to last year both the guitarists combos weighed more than my bass rig.

You do realise you have just singed your death warrant lol. I must admit i have the choice of a few cabs at the studio we use but prefer to stick with my own gear, more so because i know they are nothing like mine. i use rehearsals more to hone my tone rather than playing. Its lucky that the cab also lives in the car boot, i wouldn't want to carry mine up and down the3 floors at home, no matter how light it is.

Thanks Steve. I didnt realise you already had one. I bet 2 will sound dangerous. its certainty a good time for bassist with money to burn lol.

Cheers Guys. Yes, the change has been the right thing to do, and its a lovely cab. Very well put together. Its got its first gig this Sat but unfortunately its just a small local club with a small hollow stage. Saying that, i do believe it will again work better as it lacks the low end the BB2 has. Gareth. im pretty much in 100% agreement with your comments. I too thought i would just need to get used to hearing real low end, but after so many months things haven't improved, to the point that the cab was in some ways dictating how and what i play. now i can play confidently on the E string again. We have had other bass players sit around at rehearsal over the months, and some have loved the tone, others we rent too keen. So yes, its great that we have a choice.

Yes, that's what I think. My Markbass F1 seemed to pair up a bit better, but I got bored with the MB tone. It still wasn't ideal though. The GK does seem to be more pokey and has a bigger low end, so I can see it's not all the cab, but after using various cabs with this head I knew it wasn't a set up issue. I'm sure I read somewhere that Barefaced used to recommend the GK MB heads to pair with their cabs. Could be wrong though.

Glad that worked out for you. Personally thats not something i would ever entertain. All other cabs haven't needed me to change strings or my way of playing, a cab at this level shouldn't either.

Gareth. It's says 20kg on the box. Can't confirm this to be the correct weight of the cab though. Seems close enough though. A quick phone pic. [url=https://davepearce.smugmug.com/Gear/Music-gear/i-G5JPJCj/A][/url]

Cheers Gary. Yeah, very happy.....so far. I hope you will be as well. Gareth. Im not sure what the weight is, i presume its what they state on the website. It certainly looks heavier than it is. I carried up 3 floors last night with my bass on my back and didnt break out in a sweat. Even our shopping bags are heavier. I do like the side handles. I understand why the BB2 has just the one on the top, but i found i tended to swing it about a bit when carrying it, and that made it a bit more cumbersome (for me) getting it through narrow door ways. Again, its just a preference thing and not a negative against the BB2 as such. The 6" does have a control knob. To be honest i didnt find the 6" anywhere near as effective as on the BB2. It seemed to effect the very top end only. For what im using the cab it for i dont think its going to make a huge difference if its on or off. I could hear it when i did a bit of slap and pop, and it does allow the attack from my pick to come through a bit clearer, but overall the tone is warmer than the BB2. and for me that works well. Its been years since i had a 1x15. I know people say the size shouldn't make a difference these days, but the overall package suits me better.

Ok, just got back from a rehearsal with my new Vanderkley 15MN6. To answer the question I posted at the start of this thread, very favourably and is a winner in my book. Same room, same bass, same head, same everything as it is every week. Tonight was very different though. Every note had a body to it that I've not heard in a long time. Standing in my usual place I was getting leg punishing punch. Never over the top, just right. I had none of the issues I've been speaking about, although there is less low end from this cab. I think this is the key. From low E up to the top, none of the notes really stood out. They were all even and to my ears, had that finger style punch, warm and round, and this was with a pick. Switching to finger style on a few numbers and I didn't find I had to adjust the amp at all. I can't say the same about the BB2. Ok, so all the above is subjective, and only based on 2 hours in a rehearsal room, but considering I've been struggling in this room for months I know I've made the right choice. My BB2 has gone, and I will miss it, but it just wasn't for me.

Oh yes, im not suggesting we shouldn't take extra precaution. My thinking is a big and heavy bag will be more lilly to get knocked on a crowded trait or bus. to me thats adding to the danger rather than helping to avoid it.

Well in the 13 years ive been playing, and i do use public transport for every gig, ive not had any damage. Most of the time ive used an old Fender unpadded bag. Im not saying things cant happen, but i dont agree that just because you use public transport something will, and that you need to spend £150 to ensure damage doenst happen. My point was more why pay £150 when cheaper bags will do just as well, and maybe easier to use.

Ive never used a hard case, nor an expensive gig bag. No real need to buy in to the Mono gear for good protection IMO. As stated, you can spend an awfully lot less for more than adequate protection. They do look nice but just how much protection does one need if you look after your gear?