dave_bass5

I'd say a MB head will work wonders as they do have a bit of vintage vibe going on, but still clean and solid, but im not sure the LM250 (in fact most of the listed heads) will be powerful enough, based on the "loud drummer" bit, although i guess with PA support and a efficient cab things might sound ok. As lemmywinks suggested, maybe save up just that little bit more and get a 500watt head. There is a MB SA450 going for £350 but im sure the seller would cut you a deal ;-). This isnt quite as small as the micro heads but still very light and very powerful. You might also consider a Behrigner BDI21 (Sansamp BDDI copy) for around £25. This will give you more of an Ampeg tone to any head. Many of us use this DI box and they are quite well thought of. Considering the real thing cost almost 6 times the price you cant go wrong. Ive actually got both and happy to use either if needed, although i do use the BDDI on all the time these days.

I found my Ashdown ABM to sound a bit woolly and under powered, even compared to the MAG 307 it was replacing. I sold the head and got a Markbass SA450 and until very recently never looked back ( other than a failed brief spell with a GK head). IME you can get a really nice, warm rock tone or a nice bright clanky tone, the options are there. There are some sound clips in my sig if your interested, especially the Wellah link. Oh yeah, my SA450 is up for sale on here ;-)

Yeah, good luck. I would jump at the chance to do this if you were in London as i was doing something similar a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it.

[quote name='Stewart' post='1241719' date='May 23 2011, 03:18 PM']Small Clone is a pretty nice chorus for bass, I reckon Allegedly, the nano version sounds identical - if so, it's a more friendly shape and size...[/quote] Not quite. The NEO version is but the NANO version is rubbish.

[quote name='waltsdog' post='1241183' date='May 23 2011, 08:46 AM']Quick update, I used the Lm3 with just the midget on a mid sized pub gig on saturday and it was plenty loud enough now I know what I'm ding with the gain. Thanks again for the help.[/quote] Nice one. These heads are very loud but i do think the right cab also helps to get the best out of them. The first time i ever played a LMII was when the Bass Gallery leant me one as my SA450 hadn't arrived (yes, really, it didn't arrive on the day they said it would lol). I had never played a MB head at a gig, as i had been using a Ashdown ABM 300 up to that point :-( so it was pick the head up and go directly to the gig, no sound check either. We were doing a smallish pub, playing Paul Weller covers. I kid you not, with the LMII on around 3 on the master (using flat EQ through my 1210R) i could see the beer in the glasses on the front tables vibrating, just like the glass scene in Jurassic Park. Some of that gig recording is in the Wellah link in my sig if anyone is interested. @Gareth and Chris. the wheels are in motion regarding the F1 :-)

what do you mean by "poor mute"? The worst ive seen was on my Ashdown ABM, that didn't mute at all but was more a pad. Do you mean the fact that you have to pull the knob out? if so i agree, pretty silly idea. Having owned a LMII and SA450 i can see the benefit of the Para mids and the line level/pre post XLR but i also know i normally run my MB heads pretty flat, and use the filters to shape the tone so im not sure i really need the F500. I still dont see the Streamliner/LMII/III as micro amps. They are small but the F series is really small and would fit in a gig bag front pocket. This makes a huge difference if your using public transport with a bass and suit carrier etc. The other heads are nice and small but still require a separate bag/case. I can understand why the F series, along with the SD series cost more than their analogue powerstage equivalents, but i agree, they are a bit overpriced compared to the competition, especially the F500. I cant see why thats almost £300 more than the F1. Its not like the power stage is any different. The Genz Shuttle 9.0 does look good but im not sure its in my price range, im probably looking at second hand now anyway. There is a F1 for sale on here for £380, to me thats worth a shot. After trying the SL600 out in a few different venues now im thinking maybe i do want to keep with the MB tone, although i do still want something a bit different, i guess a F series might give me that. Since i posted the above i did have it pointed out to me that as i still have my SA450 why bother with another MB head. This makes sense so im going to give the SL one more chance with two gigs next weekend and then ill decide what goes. I do miss the MB filters. Im also goin to give the Jazz a go, maybe its the P/SL600 combo thats not working for me.

Just a quick update. I thin im going to get rid of my Streamliner and get a F series head. I heard a F500 yesterday at a lunchtime gig in a local pub and it sounded very nice. Ive not been 100% with the SL and last night was when i realised i dont think i ever will be. Hopefully i can sell it and put the money towards a F500, or probably more likely a F1 as that closer to the cost of the SL.

[quote name='chris_b' post='1237931' date='May 20 2011, 11:12 AM']I believe the F1 and F500 have digital power amps and the SA450 and LM3 have an analog power amp. I have owned an LM2 and an F1 and their sound was like chalk and cheese to me. I preferred the LM2.[/quote] I meant as far as controls/EQ knobs go rather than tone. Ive had a few chats with KJung in the past about the actual tonal differences.

I had a VT Bass for a short while last year but never really got on with it. It seemed to change my tone in the wrong way, i also didn't want or need any distortion so I sold it and got the BDDI.

[quote name='fatboyslimfast' post='1237799' date='May 20 2011, 09:52 AM']Oooh, camera GAS. That's far more wallet-denting...[/quote] Funny thing is i dont tend to change my camera gear as frequently as i do with my basses so its not so bad. This year is the first time in about 4 years ive brought any new gear, and i sold off some old gear to help pay for it. Saying that, my CV Jazz is a year old next month so im doing well.

Thats the thing with GAS, you get it when you least expect it. Who's to say when it will next hit. Luckily (lol) all my money has recently gone on camera gear so now im skint. No way GAS can attack me at he moment.

[quote name='bassfunk' post='1237452' date='May 19 2011, 09:28 PM']Yet more good advice, thanks guys I really appreciate you all taking the time out to reply to this thread. I'm gonna try Alive and Function Central agencies. Get some videos made perhaps, and contact local bars/pubs about doing gigs and treat it like free advertising, as long as we cover costs we're not losing anything. Thanks Pete[/quote] Another very good agency is Function Junction. The other band i sometimes play with are on there and they get a lot of work, in fact most of their gigs are through FJ ad they are all good payers. Not quite as easy to get on though as FJ are quite small compared to Alive.

Ive had a BDI21 for about 4 years. Admittedly its not been used every week throughout that time so i cant say how it would up to regular gigging. I tended to just have it sitting on the top of my amp, on all the time so i think it would last quite a while. As it happens i do now have a BDDI and tone wise the two are very close, if anything i prefer the BDI21 for at home but the BDDI seems a bit more meatier at gigs.

[quote name='bubinga5' post='1222576' date='May 6 2011, 08:46 PM']im thinking i wont even notice the difference between maybe alder or ash..[/quote] Ive also got a CV Jazz and P and while i haven't compared the P to a different P i have noticed my CV Jazz sounds quite warm and not at all like my old HW0one Jazz, even though both have had the same pups in them. In fact i felt the CV Jazz was warmer than 3 MIA's i had last year. No idea if tis the wood or finish though. Im quite happy to use a Basswodd bass though, i had a Lakland DJ5 a year or so ago, i cant remember what thats made of but it sounded horrible to my ears, even with a complete pup change.

My band is on the Alive network and we get quite a few gigs from them. Once we submitted a demo and some photos they then get us gigs. It doesn't cost anything but yes, we do pay commission. Seeing as my band are to tight and lazy to do any self promotion or pay to get our name around it works for us. We do have a website and do get work from it but we dont really push the band. In fact i would say 95%of our gigs come in through just a couple of agents (one doesn't even have a website) We dont do it full time as such, although we are out almost every weekend but i guess most of those doing it for a living wouldn't be this laid back about it. As Bottom E said, depending on the line up and how many members you can get away with charging less, and i know some people will be putting a contract out on me for saying this but it does open doors that a large unit wouldn't get through. The amount of weddings that only have a DJ shows (IMO) that a lot of people still cant afford £2000+ for a band, and we are happy to step in to the gap between DJ and full on Function unit. £200 minimum each per night is a nice figure for us, more would be nicer of course and does happen.

[quote name='Musicman20' post='1236847' date='May 19 2011, 12:35 PM']I think Markbass needs to have a shuffle and create some new models. The SA450 mid control on a 'Littlemark 4' with the new limiter, headphone socket, aux in, and the same or slightly higher wattage. That shot is a nice setup.[/quote] I would love a F500 as it seems more like a SA450, only smaller. If only it wasnt so expensive. In fact, i think all the MB heads are a bit over priced now. That shot was taken at a Holiday camp, the biggest we have played. No real PA support and very high stage. The amps were fantastic but the cab was rubbish. I sold it just after that gig. We have been back there twice and using my 1212L ive had the master on about 1/3 lower than with the UL212 and that was too loud.

[quote name='only4' post='1232847' date='May 16 2011, 11:19 AM']Here are my experiences with the MarkBass input gain. I have an SA450 head and i recently aquired a CMD121H combo. When using the SA450 I have the gain set to about 12 o'clock to make sure that it doesn't clip, but when i plugged in to the combo for the first time i was suprised that i could wind the gain up to around 5 o'clock before there was any sign of the clip light coming on. I presume that the two amps just have different input sensitivity?[/quote] That is strange. Was the combo using a LMIII head or the older LMII. Im not sure that would make a difference anyway. The SA450 and LMII do have slightly different input sensitivities but i wouldn't have thought it would make that much difference In fact when i was trying out my new LMII a few years ago i used this rig for one gig. One amp per set and both sounded almost identical. A bit off topic but ive just noticed the SA450 is now discontinued. Shame. Two great amps no longer available.

Well i must admit i would love another 3TSB/maple MIA Jazz but as thats way out of my price range im happy to go with what i have. Its a "would like" rather than "cant live without" Amp's have never really interested me as far as changing them every now and then goes. I dont use amps at home so its only maybe 2 hours a week that i need one, and even at gigs i set and forget most of the time. I dont feel that amps are as personal as basses. Its always nice to have a good, reliable one though, and i would think your set for life now Gareth (or at least until Aug lol) Hows it all going with the new gear?

[quote name='mcgraham' post='1236665' date='May 19 2011, 09:34 AM']Yea I was tempted by a new amp, but only for a change rather than out of any real desire. And I realised that I'd be bored of it in a week, particularly given how rare Berg IPs are and will remain.[/quote] Same here. I didnt need one but after so long with one brand i thought it was time for a change. Actually now i have sellers GAS as i need to shift the old amp and cab soon.