moonbass

I think it's a nice sound, but from your description it sounds like you're not so keen on the high mids which do seem a little rattley. A few things I'd try: -I know you weren't so bothered about the playing but perhaps raising the action a hair and using a touch of vivrato would mellow the top notes -What DI are you using? Sounds like a different one, or even going through a desk with a nice preamp would help. Either that or try the DI out of a 'valve-ish' head (I'm currently getting lovely results with GB Streamliner.) -In your recording platform try taking out some high mids. As an amateur I'm fairly fond of presets, and for speed I often duplicate the recorded line and in Logic use two different sounds on each. For instance sixties finger style and sixties pick style channel presets work very well together to make tracks a lot more warm. (I guess it's a but like adding a DI signal to a mic'ed signal.) Andy

I agree about the LCD screen - it really is rubbish! I would expect them to upgrade this fairly soon with something a bit more user friendly.

I use the H4n. Bought it for recording practices and gigs, which it does fantastically well at all volumes. It's easy to set recording levels and gives a wonderful stereo spread. The menu's are a bit fiddly to navigate with the rotating switch thing, but to be honest most people using it will just record and then download immediately onto a computer platform anyway. With a big enough memory card your can record for several hours in good quality. But the thing that I use it mostly for (and most unexpectedly) is as an audio interface. It sit's nicely under the screen of my Mac and accepts instrument, mic, or mixing desk just fine into Logic with great results. How often do you really need more than 2 inputs for home recording anyway? I love it, and find it's a really great all rounder. Really want the Zoom Q3 now though as the demo's look cracking for gigs. Andy

So I bought a Fender Precision 5 which has a very professionally fitted but pretty thin sounding Jazz neck pickup installed. I never use it as the precision pickup sounds amazing in its own right. My other bass is a Stingray though, and I wondered if anyone had tried adding a humbucker to this kind of setup? Is it possible to add an active pickup to a passive precision bass? I hear the Fender humbucker that was on the old deluxe precision 5s is pretty thin too, and that's the last thing I want! I'm not too bothered about resale value going down as I'm pretty sure this bass is a keeper. And of course if anyone knows of an amazingly fat and warm high output single coil 5 string Jazz neck pickup that would be great too?! Cheers, Andy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUw6HLUxs10

Vanderkley 112 EXTs - great little cabs, but I'm pretty sure the Streamliner would go well with anything.

I think it's so when reading in a major key you don't need to use accidentals. I think the concept of how different keys have different characters is fascinating. Having just transposed Otis Redding's White Christmas for my band from the original E to F it makes a huge difference. But I don't think D# major sounds different to Eb major. However, the same note can sound very different dependant on its position in the scale for some of the reasons mentioned above. I think the brain has different tolerances for a note being sharp or flat depending on its context. For instance the major 7th of a major scale can get away with being a little sharp but not a little flat. Whereas the minor 3rd of a minor scale can get get away with being a little flat, although you could view it as the same note. Also I think a pianos black keys sound different to the white keys, but that could just be me!

I tried the MB TTE, but eventually settled on the Streamliner. The TTE has a great tone, and I think it is quite unique in the MB range as it sounds quite like an Ampeg. That said, for the price I don't understand the things they missed off: no headphone out, no aux in, no mute, only one of the MB filters (although it is tube driven), I mean who actually uses much of the tone controls on their Markbass stuff? For me they're all about their filters. Also it's got little LEDs inside to look like glowing tubes, whereas the Streamliner actually has... glowing tubes! (Does that make me vain?) Also there's a heck of a lot of fresh air inside the casing of the TTE which from a portability based company seems a bit strange. But I think it is well worth a look as there's a lot right with it too. Still remarkable lack of grit for so many tubes...

Yeah, I think the review in the link from Dave above says it all nicely! When you think back just 10 years or so it's amazing to hear what power and tone you can get out of these mini cabs; yay for neodymium! When I think about the number of flights of stairs I lugged my old Trace Elliot 2x10 up it almost makes me weep! My cabs before these were Markbass 4x10 and 1x15 and they were a bit of a revelation at the time, and still amazingly light for what they were, but the Vanderkley another leap up in portability again. I honestly went into Bass Direct to get my 'ideal rig' (well, I wasn't intending to buy it on the day, but then anyone who's talked to Mark will know how that pans out...!) And I wasn't bothered about weight, I was just really after the best tone I could find. After trying the TC and the Genz Shuttles the Streamliner was instantly exactly the tone I was after. Certainly not hifi, but not a one trick vintage pony either. I think the Vanderkleys are an ideal match for this as they excel in the mids. If you're really after earth shaking low end and subs I think you would have to look elsewhere, but to be honest I can't think of a band scenario where that is desirable nowadays. I also used to own the Markbass 1x12, and although that was a stunning cab too, the Vanderkley is so much better for electric bass. I think I'd say the Markbass was slightly better for upright though as it was a smidgen warmer (looser if that makes sense.) I also bought a PA for my band around the same time, and I would never get everything in the car if I hadn't gone for these cabs. They are so light that it's not even a chore carrying one in each hand. They seem very solidly built; not surprising as they're all hand made by one guy apparently! I have to say they are a bit bland on a purely aesthetic note, but certainly not ugly. Part of me wishes I'd gone for the higher power rated MNT's for the styling alone! But also the 900 Watt Streamliner will never be fully cranked up through just 2 of the EXT's; having said that there really is no practical situation when you need to fully unleash 900W on punters, that's just cruel! What I do get is all the headroom I need in the amp with cabs that are more than capable of handling serious amounts of power. So yeah, I'd thoroughly recommend them! Andy

Because its awesome and I'd get all the girls of course!

Genius. If I could get close to his tone and feel I'd be a happy man!

I think it's pretty rare that pre-amp tubes die; you'd probably get a lifetimes service out of it if you're lucky.

The new version seems much nearer the mark Bilbo. There does seem to be quite a lot of hiss on the recording though; is this coming from a compressor or noise gate or similar? And I once got a very intimate DB sound on and EUB by using a tiny instrument mic (which I think was a condenser designed for violins) right ON the end of the fingerboard between the A and the D string, so perhaps try putting the Rode between the strings and the bass itself?

I sometimes think things sound louder when it gets warmer and there's more people in the room... I usually turn up the volume anyway!

Currently Chic live at the Budokan. Such a sad story surrounding it, but amazing to hear Bernard Edwards on such fine form considering. And I heard that Nile Rodgers left it 'as played' out of respect. A.

I reckon they sound too similar to justify as an upgrade. Definitely try the Genz Benz Streamliner before you buy the Markbass. Andy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81qbyTgNcmI&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1319408830' post='1413889']I've never seen a Streamliner rack mount, what does it even bolt on to?[/quote] It doesn't! It's essentially a sheet metal tray that the STM attaches to by screws where the feet should be. Then at either side there's two rack 'ears'. All a bit bulky really, but I'm a sucker for a rack! Even though the valves give slight compression I still like having the dbx for effect at times, and of course the tuner. (Although if I'm perfectly honest it's probably just the shiny LEDs that I like!)