silverfoxnik

Will do! I'm excited to see what possibilities it has, but the Ampeg rig has been absolutely fantastic for me, so the new rig has a lot to live up to.

An Ampeg V4BH head with Ampeg 210 + 115 cabs. Main basses used have been a BC Rich Eagle, Squier P with flats and a Gibson Thunderbird.. Will let you know ☺

I've just bought a Big Block 750 and a Berg AE212 and so far, it seems to be a great combination. Haven't gigged it yet, but will be doing that at the weekend, so then I'll have a better idea of it as a gigging rig. Initial impressions so far A/B-ing at home against my all valve Ampeg rig, are very positive.

Cheers Mick!

Just bought Markbass LM3 head from Mick, which is in excellent condition and which works and sounds great.. It's the second time I've dealt with Mick and this has been just the same as the first time; good communications, good gear and a great person to deal with! Highly recommended. Thanks Mick ☺

Interesting... I've just bought a Big Block 750 and it sounds fantastic to my ears when paired with a Berg 212 AE; and that's when using it with range of different basses, 4 and 5 strings, active, passive etc.. It's loud but with plenty of headroom, has very good mids and loads of low end. More importantly, it has that 'authority' and 'heft' (or should that be 'weight') that I would normally associate with an all valve amp. I say that because I've A/B'd it against my Ampeg V4BH - which has a lovely warm and sweet tone to it - and it compares really well and, whilst it's not quite as warm sounding, it's got more detail in the mid range and more power, as well as a fantastic overdrive sound to it. Overall, I'm very impressed with the Big Block and as my introduction to Mesa's bass gear, it's created a very good first impression.

Great thread this ☺ And with some very well-constructed, well-reasoned points about 'vintage' versus 'modern' instruments that have really got me thinking. Having thought about it, my 2p worth is this.. I'm kind of with Shaggy on this (as in his original post) in that I just enjoy the whole aesthetic of older, over-engineered instruments that look like they've been used a lot over time to make music with... So, 'Bass Nirvana' for me is when I find an instrument that fits with how I like it to look, but also so that it fits with how I like it to feel and sound when I'm using it. All three of those determining factors are completely subjective to me and are undermined by my poor hearing and tinnitus in my right ear, my lack of good (or proper) playing technique and my own quirky sense of what looks good and what doesn't. Having said all that, one of my favourite basses that I really enjoy playing is a 5 year old Schecter Diamond P5 that doesn't look at all like my other basses, is way too big for me and will never gain any kind of classic status I expect. But I just love the way it plays in my hands and the sound I make when using it. What's it worth? Probably about £300. Yet it's outlasted some much more expensive basses that I've had over the last 5 years. I remember having a '66 Fender Jazz in the early nineties that I never really bonded with, much preferring an '80s Tokai Jazz Sound that I had for three years, which I then rather foolishly traded for a Music Man 5 string with a John East preamp that I never liked at all and which I sold on quite quickly... Hence my conclusion is that I have no set perspective on this topic that I could reasonably offer to anyone that will be of any objective value, and that in the end, my preference for any particular bass I buy will be based on my mood and my finances at the time I'm buying it. I doubt that all this will help move the debate along much though, but I'm looking forward to reading more comments as the debate continues. ☺

Just bought a Gibson EB-5 from Colin, who, apart from being a great Basschat friend, is always a pleasure to spend time with! It was good to see you and the family, albeit briefly.. Before I forget, got to say that your BF cab is absolutely brilliant.. serious amounts of low end. 😀 Thanks for the bass Col, and the very. Cool matching Gibson strap.. Really appreciate it and looking forward to using them both... ☺ Anyway, just to say Folks that the bottom line is, deal with Colin in absolute confidence! Nik

Thanks Jack! ☺ Happy Christmas and Happy New Year btw... Nik

Cheers Colin, Can't find your feedback thread to return the compliment - do you have one? Nik

Met with Dave, aka Dvisions, yesterday and bought a very cool Boogie & Berg rig from him.. Everything went really well, very good comms throughout and Dave's an easy guy to deal with, so I'm more than happy to recommend him to one and all here on Basschat! Thanks very much Dave ☺

+1 So much faster! Thanks Basschat Team ☺

One of my big bug bears over the years is the sometimes lazy, very generic treatment of the bass by soundmen at gigs that I've played at - or been to as a punter -and often, the biggest sin is that they compress the life out of the bass in the overall mix. That's not to say that I haven't hear great bass sounds in live & studio settings, or used compression myself and liked it -I have! But sometimes I think compression is used as a rather blunt tool by engineers who, if I didn't know better, I would swear were guitarists in disguise...?