chris_b

I've been playing longer than that and I have never used a compressor either. If you have been happy with your sound then I'd say you haven't needed one.

Beat me too it!!! 5 string and tort and I'd buy a pair.

Of course they do. That's why most bands who hire an Ampeg SVT, hire 2.

Anyone got JH's number?

. . . . and more mids. The extra definition and clarity from the BF's allows you to hear yourself clearly so you don't need cabs right behind your ear any more. The band hears you more clearly as well.

Yeah. I've found that keeping your teeth in the glove compartment of the van on those long overnight drives never endears you to the younger members of the band.

All the really low priced basses I try are way too heavy and because I'm only looking at 5 string basses I also find a lot of not-so-good B strings. I recently tried a couple of Sire V7 5ers. I thought they sounded good and were very easy to play but sadly their weight makes them a non starter for me.

Wave a magic wand over your bass and install a replacement JJ pickup and preamp from Sadowsky.

It's a very general statement that (all) 10's sound brash. IMO you've been listening to the wrong 10's. I've had Mesa Boogie, Epifani, Bergantino and Barefaced 10's that didn't sound like that at all.

I'm not referring to engineers but the guys who see a qualified comment from an engineer and repeat it in an unqualified way ad nauseam.

Nothing to do with me. Mixing cabs can and does work. It is inaccurate to say that they never work.

I used a 210 and 115 for 10 years. No random sound there. You can mix cabs and they will work. My point about 15's is that the design of drivers and cabs for bass has improved so much in the last 10 years that the traditional reasons for 15's (adding low end to your sound) is no longer relevant.

Yessssss

I think you'll find in the thread that the Mark Bass rig sounded "great" with two of the guys basses but "dull" with the third. That doesn't sound like a cab problem to me.

I know there is a difference in the sound and resonance of different woods. IMO if you work in studios or close mic'ed environments then these differences will be noticeable and more important, but the nature of the gigs most of us play will reduce the benefits that different woods could bring to our sound. I'd guess that in the semi pro gigging world differences this small will not even be noticed by the majority. If Roger Sadowsky, one of the pickiest guys around, can find acceptable alternatives to rosewood for his flagship models then the rest of us are going to be fine without rosewood..

IMO you should be buying pickups and onboard pre amps for their tone and you should be looking to the amp to provide the volume you require. If you have to spend time trying to tame the signal from a bass it is not a good thing. And a too hot signal from your bass will probably limit the effectiveness of what you can achieve with your preamp.

What is your budget? What amp are you using? How loud do you play? Have you reached the limits of your Zoot cab? Do you use a DI or mic your cab? Are you expanding because you want to or are you playing louder and need to? If a standard 115 (assuming 8 ohm) has been good for so long, just adding a 210 will be the simplest and cheapest solution. With 1 good 212 you shouldn't need to keep the 115 at all. The 115 won't add much in that set up because a good 212 can do everything you need on its own. Upgrading to 2 212's will be like chopping in your Ford Focus for a Ferrari. You could get another, better, 115 and replace like for like but if space is a limiting issue then I'd be looking at 1 or 2 of the smaller, more powerful 112's.

Get a used one. You can find virtually unplayed basses in the classifieds for a lot less than the new price. For your budget you could be in Shuker/ACG/Lakland etc territory. If you can save a little longer and get up to the £1500 level the basses get much more interesting.

I've recently heard a couple of bass players using MB amps (not the cabs though) and they were getting a very nice full, warm sound. I'd definitely stick with it and try different EQ settings. My only experience of MB was an LM2 and I liked it. I had the controls at noon with the filters switched off.

You're not supposed to be taking it out!!!

What does your band say? What does it sound like out front? Really, I'd be happy with "good" any day of the week.

I just got a ticket for Knower at the Jazz Cafe. Excellent.

I believe the illustration is. . . like turning a tap on and off. Anti clockwise is on and clockwise is off.

Self belief gets you into your first band. Getting better moves you into the next band, and so on. Joining the best bands depends on who you meet. IME you never really know, but you should never stop striving to be better.

JA's comments were in relation to the largely chambered, ie hollow, body of the Sadowsky. US Lakland's are not heavy basses.