derrenleepoole

Don't forget that some cabs are not that efficient either. So even if you have a setup which gets you full power from an amp head, albeit with a single 4 ohm or two 8 ohm cabs, the volume they give out will vary considerably. The general conceived wisdom to bare in mind is this, more speakers will move more air, and will give a 'perceived' increase in volume and will help carry tone and sound better. This is not always the the case, but it's a good thing to keep in mind when looking for particular setups. Also, having two 8 ohm cabs and head setup will probably give you more headroom for much clearer and stronger tone, not necessarily more volume - this will also help in getting you heard just as well without being 'more' loud. If that makes sense....?

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ashdown-Mag-600-Bass-Amp-and-Cab_W0QQitemZ110510697674QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_MusicalInstr_Amplifiers_RL?hash=item19baf36cca#ht_500wt_947"]This[/url] Ashdown is on eBay at the moment. With this setup you'll get 300 watts out of the 600 watt head. But you can always add another cab when funds permit. It's right at the top of your budget though.

[quote name='Sarah5string' post='789916' date='Mar 29 2010, 08:51 PM'] Come again? [/quote] What's your budget and ideal bass player's tone, someone you admire? Let's see if we can point you in the right direction

No, your head would be 4 ohm minimum, some run at 2 ohms. Two 8 ohm cabs = 4 ohms. Three 8 ohm cabs = 2.66 ohms approx. Four 8 ohm cabs = 2 ohms. You will never get a 1 ohm head. It's confusing at first but it soon gets clearer. If you run a 4 ohm head into a 2 ohm load you'll blow the head. Most heads you're considering will work with two 8 ohm cabs perfectly. For your needs, anything in the used Ashdown, GK, Trace Elliot or Hartke range will work fine. Ashdown gear is good, but can be over generous on it's specs and power ratings. GK is tried and trusted solid tone, and the Backline range secondhand would be perfect. Trace Elliot are built like brick sh*t houses, and are gig worthy, reliable and deliver tone and volume for days, and you'll pickup a used head and cab setup for little money especially the older range. Hartke has gone out of favour of late, but they are superb amps and like Trace, early models will deliver volume and tone in spades for little money.

[quote name='Sarah5string' post='789862' date='Mar 29 2010, 08:23 PM']I thought 8 ohms was better? Can you explain to me in very simplistic terms why 4ohms is better? lol [/quote] Most heads run at a minimum 4 ohm load, so a 4 ohm cab means you'll get the full wattage from the head with one cab. This can be a good and bad thing depending on your needs. If the cab isn't very efficient, the single cab route at 4 ohms would be a bad choice. 2 cabs at 8 ohms each, is a much more versatile arrangement. In answer to your original question have a gander at maybe a GK Backline half stack setup? There is a range on [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/search_dir.html?xsid=cc275fbea745402502c159d9998b6cc2&sw=bass+half+stack&x=0&y=0"]Thomann[/url].

[quote name='jjl5590' post='788252' date='Mar 27 2010, 11:31 PM']had a listen on youtube, can't say i'm digging the tone. I much prefer the tone from the Genz benz, and my GK. That punchy slap tone. I also think it will be underpowered for my needs, i play in a black metal 5-piece band. I'll have a look at some Epifani amps, but i need to find a used amp. so far no one's even made me an offer on my FS/FT thread (http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=81854) which is a bit weird because GK's usually get a lot of attention.[/quote] Ah, the Promethean amp wouldn't suit a black metal band, you need plenty of air for that type of gig Of the 3 amps tested in the link, the Genz Benz was my favourite too but I couldn't justify the extra expense when making my purchase. The MB gear is really good, the tone and power they offer are simply superb. But it comes at a price obviously, and for me, the Ibanez offered a good compromise for my more meagre needs (blues and jazz band at low volumes etc). The MB gear is tonally very flat though, and I found that you need a really good bass with lots of character to get the most from them because they don't really add any colour. This is probably true of most really high end gear though. Good luck with your search, it's a nightmare trying to find the right bit of kit. I did with the Promethean and I hope you do too.

There's n amp shout out on youtube of the Ibanez head against a Genz Benz and TC: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCnC0n4txgA"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCnC0n4txgA[/url]

That is the head, but I have it in combo form with the head being removable to pair with other larger cabs if required. The combo is available for £500 from Thomann. Don't be put off by the Ibanez name, this is as good as any MB gear, and I've owned MB gear so should know It also bloody loud for it's size. Don't judge a book by its cover, you may be pleasantly surprised and better off in the pocket for it!

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIL72B3JXgc"]Ibanez Promethean[/url] - half the price of Mark Bass but just as good, just as powerful, head comes away from the combo to be used with other cabs as required, extremely well made and rugged, small, light and portable. You can even get a gig bag for it....

Mint

What a good question... well Rotosound didn't come about until 1966? I think, so I'm guessing La Bellas?

Just bought a Shine Violin bass off Tom and it was a thoroughly pleasurable transaction. Bass was at a great price, was extremely well packed and arrived on the day he said. Superb bloke. Thanks Tom.

I think these basses say just as much about the bassist as they do the luthier, they're certainly a personal statement. Not quite my thing personally, but maybe it's one of those things that if I actually ever get to play one I may feel differently!

[quote name='crez5150' post='784909' date='Mar 24 2010, 05:24 PM']I was thinking about this the other day...... this would be kool on the new ipad..... saves carrying loads of sheet music around with you.[/quote] That would be cool... and when you've got a break in a song or set you can check BC or Facebook

It is rather good, and while the screen is small for some chord charts, it's usability and ease of use make it an essential tool for the gigging musician. Perhaps there should be a sticky for really useful apps, this being one of them?

The Necks - Drive By

Don't know if this has been covered, but there is now a [url="http://irealbook.net/iReal_Book/Home/Home.html"]Real Book[/url] available on the iPod etc. It's chord charts only, but you can transpose them to any key and even download new charts from the user forum. Priced at 5 quid it's a steal and has been really useful for me... check it out

I have an OLP, and there great basses for the money. Unlike an active bass, the output will be lower, but there are things you can do it help increase volume. Make sure the pickup is not sitting too low under the strings, this can have some noticeable effect on volume... so either raise the pickup and/or lower the action. The pickup on the original OLP's aren't great, but a good replacement can be had for little money if required. There are also pre-wired preamps available that you simply swap out with your existing control plate, just connect the pickup and away you go. Simple, easy and affordable. Just make sure you can fit the battery in! Otherwise a route out under the pickguard might be required.

[quote name='JTUK' post='770746' date='Mar 10 2010, 06:30 PM']Covering a cover song... err, have to disagree here. I don't want to hear note for note from a gtr and I don't rip off basslines either. I expect the band members to have enough about them to be able to 'interpret' the song and get the point over. Nothing will turn me off more, than to hear a religous copy of a song and I doubt most of an audience would know anyway. If someone made the point that it isn't like that on the record, I'd offer to buy them the CD and they can f*** right off :ol:[/quote] That is the point I was trying to make, but your way of putting it was far more eloquent The key word here is 'interpret'!

[quote name='nick' post='770534' date='Mar 10 2010, 03:43 PM']Like a lot musicians who play in originals outfits I used to (naively) laugh at cover/function bands. Don't know what happened, think I finally had enough of the egos, playing to small unappreciative crowds for no money, unprofessionalism etc... It's bettered my playing immensely, given me the oppurtunity to meet other relatively sane musos, plus allows me to get away with playing other styles like slap etc... that I'd never do.[/quote] +1... I couldn't agree with this statement any more if I tried

[quote name='Conan' post='770428' date='Mar 10 2010, 02:17 PM']Hmmm. Not sure about this. Depends on your audience and how long you've been playing. In some venues this might be taken as arrogance and possibly rudeness, as some punters expect to hear the track as they know it.... IME that is![/quote] Unfortunately in any covers songs played by any band will always be judged against the original, no matter how good the band or players are. At least if you do it your way, which is as validly creative btw, you can't be accused of not sounding like them In our band at least, the emphasis is on playing well and having a good time and delivering a good solid crowd pleasing performance. It's not about doing a like for like interpretation of any given song. If that were the case, then you'd need replica gear and such to come close to the sound of many of the songs we play. This simply isn't feasible for our band. I do however understand that audiences do expect to hear the songs as originally performed, but if that is the case then go listen to the original performer!

I would say don't be too afraid to make songs your own! In my band, we often arrange or rework the songs to fit us and very rarely do a straight interpretation. This is good on many levels: it stops you getting bored with the song, the songs will be recognisable but will sound fresh and original to the crowd, it gives the crowd something to remember you by and will make the band stand out.

AER do a powered cabinet, but it's not all that powerful. Crate also do one, but don't know the name. Why do they cost so much? Simple, it's a niche market with not many buyers.

Yep, been there and done it. My decision to stop playing really came down to exhaustion... new baby on the way, tiring job, creatively exciting band but getting nowhere... it mounted up and in the end I said enough. Took 9 months off and sold everything which included all my Mark Bass gear etc The break was the best thing I ever did! Obviously now trying to get back what I lost... but I did learn a valuable lesson: you don't need all the fancy gear you think you need in order to play well and just have a good time! The urge to play again slowly crept back in, and after a while myself and some other friends formed a nice simple blues band. What I like about the blues band is quite straight forward, I get to be more creative... especially as many of the tunes have similar chord structures, the challenge becomes about retaining originality but also keeping the band grounded. I'm finding that very rewarding as a player. I also think that the blues band has helped mature me as a player too. Having a break can be one of the best things you can do.