chris_b

I believe Aguilar used the same power module in the TH500 that other manufacturers used in their 900 watt rated amps. It seems to me that Aguilar under rates their products.

But I can assure you I was smiling when I typed it.

That's the ball-park for mainstream and unbraced cabs. The trade off between weight and cost of manufacture gets a 212 to the mid 40lbs. I imagine it will sound pretty good. All Aguilar gear does.

If you live and work in a studio it might be important for you to find a vintage bass that sounds better than the rest. One that is noticed and admired in the track. Most of the top US session guys have late 50's or early 60's P basses (some with decades old La Bella flats) as their main recording instruments. If you live in that world then the smallest advantage will get you noticed and working, but even these guys usually won't play their go-to vintage basses on tour. Many of them will go out with newer versions of their studio basses. If you're semi pro and playing on stage in sonically less than perfect rooms, standing next to a drummer and noisy and unsubtle guitarist the differences and benefits of a vintage bass will be less noticeable. I play modern P and J basses. On recordings of gigs I've found I usually make them both sound pretty similar out in the audience. So like most of us I just sound like me. What chance do I have of sounding any better than that with a vintage bass? If you think your old or special bass is making you sound better then it might be, but that will just be you on a wave of confidence. Learn how to be that confident on all instruments. You'll always sound better and save yourself a fortune.

Why not? Sounds like they are recommending a clean and clear sound.

Very good basses for not a lot of money. I briefly had a 55-01. Sounded good and played well, but weighed over 10lbs, so too heavy to be comfortable for me. If I could find one that weighs about 8 1/2lbs I'd buy it in a flash.

Mesa are redefining their business. People have opinions but Mesa will know which amps sell and which are and are not worth keeping in the catalogue. The Subway is their big seller and has moved them into markets that were previously closed to them. I imagine the Subway range will be extended to more models. The guy who designed the D800's posts on Talkbass and is very knowledgeable and open. Expect more great amps from Mesa in the future.

I also used 3 of these cabs and together they got one of the best sounds I've had. I did use 2 for smaller gigs but in the end a 30lb lift with one handle became a little tiresome.

Nooo. Why would you stick with playing bass only because you spent £500 on a new amp rather than £300 on a used one? I don't get that logic. You should buy the best used amp for the least. Then if you decide to stick at it you can look at more expensive gear down the line.

Doesn't Jerry Barnes have his own Atelier signature J bass? His "beefier" sound is going to come from that. I don't get the "overplaying" criticism. JB is busy but that works for me.

About 20 years ago I got a bonus from work and bought a 400+ from the Bass Centre. Mesa made it for me. I gathered together some Road Ready cabs, a Mesa 115 and 210 with EV's, and was set to rock. Except, the amp failed on a few occasions with valve problems and I never got the sound I was after. I swapped the amp with an Ampeg SVT3-PRO and bingo. A fantastic sound. I used that rig for nearly 10 years, until the weight of those cabs damaged my back! I bought a D800 when they came out and thought it was a very good amp. Great sound and very flexible. The D800+ seems to be even more flexible with some great features. These are in the top flight of amps. I sold it because I slightly preferred the sound of my TH500. I would happily use Mesa amps again. They are top quality products with a great sound. If anyone has a D800+ they want to sell I'd be very interested.

You want to start using an amp, need something small with a good sound and don't know if you'll be gigging. I'd look at one of the Markbass 112 combos and add an extension cab if you decide to rehearse or gig.

With the 310 stack the name plates are all over the place. Doesn't look great! Some attention to the visuals in the design stage would have helped, but I'll endure what it is for the sake of the sound.

I've been using 2 SC's for 2 years and they create a massive bass sound with either my Aguilar TH500 or AG700. I also have a Two10 which has only done 1 small-ish gig, maybe a comparison with the SC's is soon, but again it was a great sound. Where are you? Anywhere near SW London/Surrey? You could hear mine. I'd drop Alex at Barefaced an email and ask his advice. He's pretty good at working out which of his cabs would do the best job.

Whether there is a difference or not, if you can't hear a difference then there is no difference.

Was the band was playing live? I could be wrong but I don't think so. The sound track definitely sounds "studio recorded". IMO definitely gone through a studio desk for mixing and post processing. It's a show so for me that doesn't take anything away from the band, arrangements and performance. I love the energy from anything Bruno Mars does. I wish my bands could raise 10% of that energy.

I have run a 310 and it sounded pretty good. I can't see that moving 50% more air can be a bad thing. I already own these cabs so I shall be using them in the future if they are appropriate for the gig. So far the 10's haven't made me want to sell the SC's. I am looking at another Two10 though. Two of those would be a neat stack. . . and horizontal would be my preference as I don't want any more racket anywhere near my poor old ACS plugged ears. With Alex's cabs I can hear everything clearly. I know what I sound like and as long as I'm vibrating the hell out of my knees I know I'm loud enough.

I love fireworks. . . . but only if I'm there. Live fireworks have so much heft. . . . you don't get that on TV!

May 2108 be a good gigging year for everyone.

Chic and Niles Rogers are still a quality act. I like the way that Niles isn't pretending to be the original band and that he's allowing some of the great players in the band today to put their own stamp on his music.

Chic and Niles Rogers are still a quality act. I watched some of this on a neighbours larger TV and with sound bar. They were almost in the room with us. IMO it was a great gig and I'm off to get myself a belated Christmas present! Haven't seen any other NYE TV yet. It's all waiting for me on the hard drive.

If you ask an electric bass player which bass sounds like a double bass you'll get dozens of suggestions. Ask a double bass player which electric bass sounds like a double bass they will say non of them. Same with the Precision. You can fiddle around with the pickups and pre amps on any bass as much as you like but only a P is going to sound like a P.

Could it be that you were just too loud? I don't know Orange, but the (unscientific) way I get a sound with new gear is to start with the controls at noon and add or subtract a couple of clicks until it works. Controls at noon has to be my starting point and get me close to the sound I want or I wouldn't have bought the gear in the first place. That you're already at the point of changing valves to alter the sound makes me wonder what appealed to you and made you buy this rig in the first place.

Rob Allen supplies his fretless basses with La Bella black tapewounds. I played one for a few months and they felt very good.