JimmyN2

Not me I’m afraid. Probably couldn’t lift one anymore and certainly don’t have a suitable car or home anymore either 🤣

Hi Linus Had our weekly rehearsal this morning and all the band members, and in particular the keys player, agreed with my comment above. In fact he said the fuller, more rounded and ‘big’ sound made it sound even more like a DB. Incidentally I didn’t alter the controls on the MarkBass amp. cheers Jim

Can’t be specific yet but immediately it was a fuller and more rounded sound. Waiting to explore the variable tweeter.

Took delivery of a MarkBass New York 121 yesterday to add to my CMD121. Quick delivery and good price from Bass Direct. Anyway the difference in sound without changing any settings is quite surprising. Let’s see what the other band members make of it on Tuesday. I won’t bother at church as I put a mic in front of the cmd121.

That’s really good Linus, so glad it worked for you and you had fun, excellent! Trying everything out is the only way. But if you really want to sound like a DB then the Ray Brown method is your best route. Plucking at 90o will never sound like a DB. Really pleased for you. Cheers, Jim

Hi Linus Initially I used my Cali76 pedal which I had used with a Rickenbacker bass for years but to be honest I stopped using it because of the way it alters the sound from the UB804. In my humble opinion straight into your amp is best and (depending on its characteristics) with the bass rolled back from flat. I often have people come up to me after a gig (jazz) to tell me how like a DB my instrument sounds. To me, close up, it sounds a little trebley but I’ve found that that cuts through the brass and drums. When we record ourselves the bass sounds much like DB on jazz tracks. But you said thumpy so roll the tone knob back and it will stop the brightness of the bass. Somewhere on here someone once said that sound is really in your fingers so I just spent a lot of time trying out different fingering and pressure on the strings and saved myself a shed load of cash on pedals. I think the original strings are also best. However it’s all opinion and I’m sure others will say different. Good luck Jimmy

Hi Linus I’ve been playing on of these beauties since 2020 and I can’t recommend it highly enough, and very easy to play for an ex Fender player. The strings from new are Daddario ECB81 and I wouldn’t use anything else. I play a lot and have replaced them once. At jazz gigs people often come and tell me how like a double bass it sounds. Jim

My Thumpinator 2 arrived Friday morning in time for me to try it out at a charity gig in the early afternoon. I wasn’t aware of any difference whilst playing but the recording I made showed what a game changer it is. No longer is my EUB muddied out by the kick drum. The Thumpinator is clearly superior to the amp’s inbuilt HPF, and if makes that much difference to an EUB I’d imagine a huge difference to a DB. Thanks everyone for your helpful thoughts. Jimmy

Thanks BreadBin, I did look at those as well as the Broughton. However, I have ordered a Thumpinator and will let you all know how I get on. Like my Cali76 it’s British made and that’s important for me.

Thanks chaps, plenty to mull over. I think that given the volume our sax players provide and the drummer with a loud kick drum, despite being dampened, I will continue to hear over extension of my speaker (flapping) when playing hard. I’ll buy British and get a Thumpinator. Have a good day!

Thinking of ordering one, so please tell a bit or lot more. cheers Jim

Thanks Nick. I didn’t realise that the MarkBass II had an HPF built in. I was looking in the instructions but couldn’t see it referenced in the specifications. So away from the wall and perhaps on a chair. I usually have the bass eq at 10, the low mid at 11 and the high mid and treble at 1 o’clock.

Here’s a question: Would an HPF be of benefit in my signal chain? I use an Ibanez WUB804 and Mark Bass CMD121P.

Some really interesting posts here. I use a Mark bass CMD121P combo and generally very happy with it. Just wondering if the EQ section ‘bass, low mid, high mid and treble knobs’ could do the same work as an HPF? We (Jazz quintet) played in an old school room last week with an audience (who thought the sound was good) but our usual method of recording has a very boomy sound with my bass and the kick drum. I usually have the bass and low mid dialled back a bit from 12 o’clock. Maybe I should have put the amp on a chair.

I was recommended the Origin Effects Cali 76 Compact Bass. I’ve found that it’s most like the type used in professional desks. It runs on 9-18v and is very silent in use.