Count Bassy

[quote name='misrule' post='1216466' date='May 1 2011, 11:59 AM']I'd go with the Tascam trainer too -- though I have the guitar one for some reason. I use it pretty much every day. The only thing I'd prefer is a more sophisticated version that lets you set the pitch, speed and things like loops for individual songs. Cheers Mark[/quote] Yes, Not being able to set pitch and speed for individual tracks is one of the features I'd have liked, and I don't think their new combined bass/guitar one (GB10) does this either. Also, being able to fine tune the loop start and end positions, which the new one does do. And if you shift the pitch by much it starts to sound warbly. And a built in rudimentary drum machine would be nice, but perhaps that's asking too much. But, all in all still one of the best things I've bought.

If I could make a neck as good a this one claims to be I would want to stamp my own name on it, not Fenders. He's open in his description, but why not put a date stamp- of 2011 on, and his name? - unless it's intended to deceive?

Tascam MP-BT1 Bass trainer. Not perfect by any means, but the 90% that is right is brilliant. Transformed my practising and hence my playing. Also a second hand Marshall B150 combo for £100. Perfect sound for me and loud enough for most pub gigs.

[quote name='Quatschmacher' post='1206795' date='Apr 21 2011, 10:02 AM']Check out this Youtube clip of a [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZCBW-Ukhs8"]recent Jools Holland episode[/url], it is hilarious. Fantastic to see McCoy Tyner on there, check out Jools's face when the musicians run completely over their allotted time. BTW How do you embed a Youtube clip in the post?[/quote] Hardly suprising they ran over, he's got four people in his trio, so if they told him he'd got 5 minutes....... And your right about his face -- all the better for punching

I boughts Bartolini pick up and pre amp from the states last year and didn't get charged anything extra, however the shop had written a value of $25 on the package (I didn't ask them to) when it was actually more like £180.

I had the oppotunity to try a fanned fret Dingwall at my teacher's (his son has one). Suprisingly the fanned frets didn't feel as wierd as I thought they would, but I thought the tone of that particular instrument a bit 'Dull' (others might say it was smooth).

I wanted to vote for B and C (They're not mutually exclusive), but couldn't. Well well past its sell by date. Time for something new with a different (less nauseating) presenter. Actually to paraphrase an old joke: A: "Jules Holland is my second favourite presenter." B: "Oh really, who is your first?" A: "Anybody else!"

[quote name='JTUK' post='1199489' date='Apr 14 2011, 02:59 PM']Take it off the CD.. as a song you aren't missing much.[/quote] Actually I think it's a cracking, crowd pleasing, song. (cue heated debate about Mustang Sally)

A hole in the headstock to hang it up seems very practical to me.

[quote name='bassicinstinct' post='1198141' date='Apr 13 2011, 01:25 PM'](my recollection is that all the rooms there, while well draped with carpeting, have very high ceilings?)[/quote] Yes, very high ceilings, room would be somewhere around 10 x 7 metres, and the ceiling about 5metres. [quote name='Ou7shined' post='1198175' date='Apr 13 2011, 01:57 PM']Question for the OP, were the drivers the familiar bumble bee colour scheme or black ones?[/quote] Bumble Bee. Again, thanks for your thoughts.

Thanks for your thoughts so far chaps. To answer a few questions, I did play with the VLE & VLP pots, but to me the best sound was with them both off. The cabs were also MarkBass. The 4x10 had pot on the side, which I assume was a Tweeter volume pot, but again it did't seem to make much difference. I don't know if they were ported cabs, but I assume they were. Theey were a good 3 metres away from the wall. The bass was a Fender Urge Mk1 (i.e. active, with both Jazz and P pickups) and I couldn't get a sound I liked in any combination. To be fair to MarkBass I didn't spend too long playing around with the controls because I didn't want to come over as a fussy/primadonna type bass player, but as someone who just got on with it - which I am I am not normally fussy about my sound. Even then I actually said at one point "I'm not normally fussy about my sound, but just can't get this to sound right" Is it possible that the Cabs were just shagged out from being used in rehearsal rooms 12 hours a day? - although you'd like to think the studio would keep on top of that.

Had a (second) meet up with a potential band at Quad Studios in Leicester last night, and in the rehearsal room there was this MarkBass rig. Checking pictures on the net I think the amp must have been the SD800 (not the MoMark SD800) with a 4x10 and a 1x15 cab. First thought was "Wow, I've heard a lot about these - possibly the best rig I've ever played through" but when I plugged in I just could not get a sound I liked out of it whatever I tried (Starting with everything on the bass and amp flat - except the VLE/VLP which I had fully anticlockwise). The sound just seemed undefined with a very boomy bass. I unplugged the 1x15, which helped a bit, but even so, as soon as I turned the bass up (on the amp or at the guitar) it just sounded boomy and muddy. Now it may have been the room I was in (pretty well a cube), but you'd like to think that a rehearsal room at a studio would have good acoustics, and there were a lot of drapes and carpets around. Came away dissapointed by it and very happy to get back to my modestly priced Marshall gear. Is there a trick to getting the best out the MarkBass kit, or is this just what they sound like?

[quote name='cetera' post='1188778' date='Apr 5 2011, 11:26 AM']Sorry to hear this mate but it is, I fear, partly a result of the avalanche of information available around us. There's almost too much to deal with and people back away and can't be bothered to look for it. We often encounter a similar situation with our band where people ask the most mundane questions about our regular gigs - for which the answers are available from the venue websites, ticket agents etc etc... e.g. Q. What time are you on? A. Ask the venue Q. How much are tickets? A. See the venue/ticket agent website Q. When are you playing *insert venue*? A. See our gig listings on our website/Facebook or check the venue website and believe it or not... Q. "What bus goes from the local station to the venue and what time is the last bus back?" A. How the F**K do we know?!?!? and Q. "What time is the last train back to town?" A. See above!!! Basically, rather than spending time e-mailing us and waiting for a reply they could have looked up the info online and got the answers they required within seconds!! [/quote] On the other hand, the people coming to your gigs are your customers and are ultimately paying your wages, and might reasonably expect a polite reply to the first three questions above (the last two are pushing it a bit). And re. the OP: If you went into a shop and asked 'How much does X bass weigh' you'd be pretty pissed off if they said 'don't bother me with questions, why didn't you do your research first?'. There are plenty of threads on here compalining about poor customer service in shops, but when the same people become the seller rather than a customer it seems that a different set of rules applies. If you want people to come to your gigs, or want them to buy your bit of kit, then you need to make it easy for them. On the other hand buyers should be honest, straight and polite, and not mess people around, but sometimes thatere are genuine reasons why someone decides not to proceed. Not aimed specifically at you Cetera, just that your post triggered the thought.

I heard that it goes to 11

I can sort of understand the space problem on the RH450, but why on earth would speaker manufacturers not fit two sockets as standard, Total extra cost would (I'm guessing) be less than a tenner.

The orange smelling label remover stuff is also very good for this. I use this or WD40 depending on which can I find first.

Generally try to avoid them on the basis that if you learn something without using open strings than you can slide the the whole shebangle up, down and across the fretboard to change the key. However, as people have said, there are times when they are are useful for that big open sound, or when your using it as a drone or pedal note.

Or mod your cabs to add an extra socket in parallel

[quote name='lowdown' post='1182509' date='Mar 30 2011, 05:49 PM']You are correct - Hardly the end of the world. However - after reading all that it feels like it. Sorry Clive - no offence intended. Garry[/quote] None taken at all. I hadn't even looked at the whole clip when I wrote that (my download speed is abysmal) and it seems he is not a good example of how to do anything. I just thought it was a bit harsh to have a go at his use of words.

[quote name='lowdown' post='1182233' date='Mar 30 2011, 02:09 PM']This guy seems to think he has frets on His Double Bass, And he gives you a free lesson on how to find those two hidden frets. [In Gb] Garry[/quote] So he uses the word ftrets when he means positions or something - hardly the end of the world. Hands up who has never referred to a fret position when playing a fretless bass. Personally I get annoyed with people on here who talk about a maple/rosewood/ebony neck, when they actually mean the fretboard or fingerboard, but I don't ridicule them for it. However to say that the first position is halfway between the second 'Fret' and the open string is wrong.

[quote name='voxpop' post='1176135' date='Mar 25 2011, 05:28 PM']Ive sold my soul.[/quote] How much did you get for it, given the current climate? I'm thinking of selling mine, but am unsure how much to ask.

Plus the picture of the damage is out of focus - might give teh impression taht you're trying to hide its true extent.

If I were to use the system I would go for a light weight rig/combo, but to be honest my playing frequency and ability don't warrant me spending anything at the moment.

[quote name='Jondeeman' post='1171859' date='Mar 22 2011, 10:43 AM']Guys, thanks for all the help. After going through the details, I've decided to see what the GB-10 offers and give TASCAM a second shot... I was swung on the AA battery and SD card. The footpedal is another £50, so I've decided to live without (for a while, at least). If anyone is interested, I'd be more than happy to review.[/quote] Just be a little bit careful. This came up in a thread a month or so ago and, aLthough the GB10 has more and some very nice features, there are somethings that an MB-BT1 will do that the GB10 won't. For example The MB BT1 will allow you to boost or cut the bass on the playback track where as the GB10 wont. Also the GB10 seems much bigger - I don't think it would sit in your pocket like a BT1. Personally I liked the built in battery of the BT1 rather than having to carry AA's around. Looking forward to a GB10 review if you do get one.

[quote name='Kev' post='1175446' date='Mar 25 2011, 12:09 AM']Couldn't disagree with you more. I bought a £900 bass on the take it away scheme, now fully paid off and i sold it to buy my dream bass. There is no way i would have been able to do that had i not entered into that scheme,.[/quote] Surely if you could pay off the loan over 9 months then you could have saved that same amount and bought the bass at the end of the 9 months, or even have put the money directly into the dream bass, thus avoiding the loss (I assume) on selling it second hand. True you wouldn't have had then bass for 9 months, but then you ended up selling it anyway. EDIT: Whoops I see I was beaten to it with this sentiment. Also, normally yes,it's no one else's business, but when you post it on an internet forum then you are inviting peoples opinions. Edited again: Yes I have a mortgage, but that is slightly different due to the long term nature of the loan.