dave_bass5

Ive been using MB heads since they became available over here. My current (of about 3 years) is my F1 head and ive never really had any negative thoughts about it....until recently. During the past 9 years with my covers bands ive had MB heads, but have also dabbled with a few others. I had a GK1001RB-II which although was nice i found i didnt like the idea of having to have a slightly dirty tone to get the volumes my MB SA450 could reach cleanly. I had a GB Streamliner which again, was really nice but i felt was again a bit under powered for getting a loud clean tone. Maybe the 900 would have been better. Also had a Ashdown AMB 300. Wont talk about that one. These were all put through a Schroeder 1210 or 1212L, so the playing field was pretty even and all heads were used on repeat gigs (GK and SA450 on the same gig once). Ive also tried a few different cabs along the way but always came back to the Schroeders. Anyway, over the past few years ive found i cant gig without my BDDI, just to liven things up a bit. Drive knob at "0" though. To me i have a nice tone, but its a bit bland. When i use my Zoom 60B at home i can cycle through different heads, and the MB head really stands out as being just that, bland and dull. I know this is not a true indication but i now want to try something new. Ive seen quite a few mentions of the GK 500 Fusion head, and it does seem to tick all the right boxes, but as ive not brought a new head for a few years ive not kept up with whats available, so i need some other suggestions for something in the same area before i decided. Small and light (laptop bag sized if possible), at least 500watts in to 4 ohms, not more than £600 and, well thats it really. Im not too keen on tubes, as i would worry about them failing, but im not against them, and do appreciate what they bring to the tone, so this isnt a stumbling block. What im not interested in is a Shuttle, or TC450, as i looked in to them before and wasn't too keen. Thanks for any advice and tips etc, and sorry this is so long winded. I wanted to paint a picture of what ive already gone through over the past few years.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1403212450' post='2480906'] The GK MB500 Fusion with a Schroeder 1212L is just a killer rig. I'm beginning to regret selling my 1212L. [/quote] And im regretting reading your posts recently. Talk about GAS inducing :-(. Going to start a new thread explain this.

Dont forget you dont even have to come on here to read PMS, so there is no easy way to tell if someone has read the message or not. If you get email alerts its all in those so some people might forget or not bother reading them again on here.

Had a strange one last night. I decided I needed a change so I took my jazz (haven't used a jazz for a few years), with flats (not really keen on them, although it have used them before) and my old Ashdown MAG 300 1x15 combo (not used that for about 7 years), plus no Gramma pad (not gigged without it since getting it a good few years ago). Sound check was not a good experience, it was a bit too muffled and lacked the punch I was used to. Funny thing is though I enjoyed the experience much more than any recent gig. The tone seemed to be a lot closer to what I've been looking for all these years, and although I won't keep the flats on long even they sounded the best they ever have for me. Only issue I had was the neck felt very sticky, and I got major cramp in my fretting hand during Valerie. Luckily I could just play the open strings. Back to the main rig for the next gig but it's given me something to think about. Oh, and the gig. It was a social club, and they asked us to start early so we could finish before the football. This was fine for us but it was a bit off putting not seeing a lot of people dancing. The manager told us at the end that a lot of people wouldn't get up for fear of them loosing their chairs, as they were showing the match right after we finish.

No it doesn't. Now I'm really intrigued.

Wow, seeing that rig in a band context really does show how small it is.

Definitely. I'd need to sell it raise the money. No idea when thought, it wont be any time soon. There is one up for sale on here at the moment though.

Thanks again guys. This weekend im gigging my old Ashdown MAG combo. This will be the first gig in years that ive not used my 1212L.If this works ok ill gwet a better idea if i can get by without the 1212L, and then seriously look around. Merton. Thanks very much for the kind offer. Ill hold off for now, as i dont want to get GAS too soon, but will keep it in mind.

Hmmm, thanks guys. I was worried this might be the case. I'm stuck with using only one cab, and can't afford one of the bigger cabs. We don't do loud gigs, and I'm normally the loudest anyway, and no where near pushing my rig, but I have had other, larger cabs that couldn't beat the 1212L, so maybe I'm hoping for too much expecting a single driver cab to replace this. I'll keep investigating though.

Can anyone comment on how this cabs compares to a Schroeder 1212L? Ive had my 1212 for a few years but want something a bit more traditional sounding, without loosing too much in the way of volume/presence. To me the 1212 is like a sledge hammer, it just punches through everything, but i dont find the tone quite as faithful as id like. If i was to replace it this BF seems like the perfect choice. I play in a 4 piece covers band, doing social clubs and small scale wedding venues. I have never needed to turn my Markbass head up past 11 o'clock, and quite often not past 9-10 o clock. I dont have PA support, but dont need it. I did look in to a BF a couple of years ago but the buld wait time put me off. This time i can wait if i have to. Appreciate any replies.

Just found a thread on Talkbass http://www.talkbass.com/threads/new-mxr-preamp.1029475/

I must admit i was very underwhelmed with the Sadowsky DI when i had it. I felt it was nothing more than a subtle tone boost. I know others rate it but i wouldn't put it in the same list as the others. IMO of course.

They are very easy to fit, so if you get a new pick guard you can install most of it without disturbing the old wiring. Very easy to go back to the old set up then.

Placed a wanted add for a tone knob and Gerry was right in there offering me one for free. Turned up today and my bass in now complete, all because of the generosity of this lovely man.. Cheers Gerry.

[quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1401883712' post='2467790'] I keep trying P basses off and on, but always come back to a Jazz. [/quote] Tone wise I prefer a Jazz bass, but find a P works better in my band. whatever i play it has my Squier CV Jazz neck or Lakland JO neck on it. Cant get on with medium jumbo frets or P necks these days.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1401879342' post='2467715'] Well, I care. I've spend £££££ and hours and hours for many many years honing things and it isn't really much of a concern if most people have cloth ears.. If I feel I am sounding good and the band can feed off that, then that takes us up a level. Sounding and feeling great on stage is what I want to do it for... [/quote] This is the most important thing to me. No matter how i sound out front if im not enjoying my tone then i wont play as well. My rig has two tones. Close up on stage its quite poky and i never have any issues with hearing myself (nor do the band). Out front, say 20ft and further the lows seems to bloom, or the mids die off, and its a fuller, warmer tone. Since this thread started ive gone from a long time P bass user to Jazz bass. Haha, there is no hope for some of us. for me there is no "my tone", its what i want at the time and how i feel. By the end of the year ill be back to P.

This thread is really not doing my GAS any favours :-(

[quote name='BigGuyAtTheBack' timestamp='1401376678' post='2462991'] Spent 20 years looking for the 'right' tone, discovered a plectrum was all I needed! [/quote] Completely the opposite for me. I'd love to be able to play fluently without a pick, and I can at home, but once at a gig I resort back to a pick. I much prefer the tone of fingers over pick.

Wonder why so many people have multiple basses if its not worth spending more than a few mins getting a good tone. Maybe its not worth spending the time, but worth sending them money ;-)