MoJoKe

Jealousy warning alert - I am thoroughly blessed to have just come back lat night from a 4 gig mini tour in Cyprus, it was very touch and go as to whether we'd even get there, what with waiting for Covid test results and stuff, but we made it. Instruments were provided, and I was given an MIM Precision to use so I took a set of LongEvo Steels with me and restrung it (it had some nice flats on it, but flats just aren't my thing!) and it sounded like this:

My Gig Last night.... VID-20200926-WA0002.mp4

Maybe Markbass think these are more resilient and durable than the competition so not even an issue? 😜 Being a massive and long time Elixir fan this didn't go unnoticed for me either, as I always feel Elixirs need to be handled with kid gloves until fully restrung... Maybe they are more resilient, I guess the proof is in the longevity. I'm not with you on your "underwhelming" comment, but then it's what it sounds like when the bass is plugged into something which matters to me. My Precision sounded fat and jangly when recorded through my Audient ID44, and having gigged it, full and punchy through an amp and PA. I can honestly say the stainless steels also sound great on my Lakland 55-02. I seriously need very good reasons to switch from Elixir, because I'm so comfortable with them, but at the moment my feeling is I will switch to these. However, early days still.

Dave, the LongEvo 45-105s went onto my JV precision, which replaced a set of Elixir 45-105s without any changes to setup. The coating is far less obvious on them compared to Elixir, which in my experience is much thicker, where the LongEvo feel much more like regular strings...

I said I'd give a post-gig update... I used my JV precision with its new set of LongEvo strings. 2 x 1 hour shows (Warners Norton Grange on the Isle of Wight. The way they are working around the regulations is for the bands to do two slots with a completely different audience each time, and the venue cleaned down in between). To be honest, I wasn't even aware I was playing different strings to my usual Elixir Nanoweb Mediums, which I have used on all my basses (including my fretless) for about as long as they've been available. The LongEvo were comfortable to play, they felt ever so slightly less "slippy" than Elixir and feel a bit softer maybe, and they sounded great. I would have suggested that I need to see how well they are going to last before I can truly compare, but given that they are the same price as the Advanced/Ultimate strings, which sell for around £28 elsewhere, and are therefore about £10 less than the equivalent Elixir, this is less of a consideration. So... If you've not tried them before, some advice to those who are trying coated strings for the first time... 😉 I interestingly just watched an Elixir "how to change your strings" youtube, but I am absolutely not going to share it here, because the guy committed the mortal sin for coated strings (clearly they want you to buy them more often than you actually need!!). The coatings on all brands of coated strings is very thin, but while it's also quite tough, it can easily be damaged. So you need to feed the strings gently and carefully through the bridge, body ferrules and string trees, anywhere its metal on metal. Having spent your hard earned dosh on a new pack, the last thing you want to do is pre-strip the coatings by effectively attacking them with a cheese grater!!! In the early days of Elixir strings people often complained they started going "fuzzy" very quickly, with the coating peeling off. This was almost entirely explained by people yanking them thorough the bridge in the way they always had before, and they'd already "pre-damaged" them without realising! Also, as with all bass strings, ALWAYS bend/kink the end before cutting to length. It helps stop the windings loosening from the core. IMHO this is the biggest reason why people experience "dead" strings.

I've used Line6 for years now. I have a rack mounted G55, and have just picked up a used G50 for £80. IMHO you can't beat Line 6 (unless you go Sennheiser maybe)... that said, the guitarist in my band uses an Xvive, and I've never noticed him drop out... well priced and rechargeable.

I already have some of these! 😁 A couple of months ago, before these were released, MSL asked me to do a YouTube comparison of the different series of strings. When the LongEvos landed in the UK I was sent a set of each (steels and nickels), with the intention of adding them to the video. When the additional tracks had been done, the tonal difference between these and the Energy and Groove series was imperceivable, so it was decided it wasn't worth changing the video as it just made it longer for no real gain! I have been an exclusive user of Elixirs for the last 6-7 years or so (by choice, not endorsment! Chance would be a fine thing!). I love the feel of them and have always felt that, and long life is well worth the extra expense. My love for them is now on hold until I see how long the LongEvo's last, because they feel/play great and the street price is going to be about £10 less for a comparable set of Elixir! I have set of Steels on one of my JVs, which I have recorded with, but not gigged yet (we're out tomorrow so will update if I have further to report!), and a set of Nickels on my Lakland 55-02. If you want to hear the LongEvo Nickels in action, wind your ears around this:

Yeah, I don't trust a man jack of them to do the job properly!!! 🤣😂

I did 3 proper gigs (holiday parks) in August, and I have 5 in September, including 4 dates in Cyprus. It goes a bit quieter in October, but I still have work in November/December. They're all a bit "strange and different" and audiences are socially distanced with no dancefloor antics (just dancing on tables in your family bubbles!) but thank heavens some venues/businesses are finding a way...

Here's my cable case before a gig: And here's what it looks like after a gig: All in a Peli (iecs and Speakons live elsewhere), all twist wrapped and with those elastic ties (MUCH better than velcro!). I have always done this, I usually put away all band cables at the end of each gig (there are about 24 XLRs in there, it takes me no more than 10 minutes, I don't trust anyone else to do them properly), and I have several 40 year old cables in my collection which are still perfectly serviceable. Look ofter your equipment and it wont let you down.... And carry spares of anything you reasonably can.

😂😂

Having spent four and a half months not playing/earning, it was good to be able to get on and do something! In other news, as long as nothing changes, I have 5 confirmed gigs for August, and 6 in September, starting this Saturday! Yay!! Back to playing (and earning!!)

Its nice to be able to do stuff during lockdown, and the guys at MSL asked me if I could do a YouTube comparing the sound of the currently available Markbass strings. This will need updating in late August when the new LongEvo coated strings, but in the meantime:

I'm sooo pleased we've not yet grown up here!! How anyone can get through life without schoolboy humour is completely beyond me!

Thanks all! I'll see how timings go as we approach the day! In other good news, we've just had ALL our August gigs reconfirmed (all for the same holiday Park group), so it's back to work in a week or so!!

While I am desperate for the work/gigs, I am oddly really pee'd off that I am playing at the Tencreek 60s weekender on the same day, so I'm probably not going to make it, which is a first for a few years. Was hoping to bring a couple of the new Markbass Basses, (which are a bit tasty, obvs!), the new Vintage preamp pedal and I'll have a few packs of the new Markbass strings to stick in the raffle.... Maybe if I can get there early, and I might be able to persuade the guys I don't need to be at the gig as super early as we normally arrive, someone could dep for me at the bash (ie. hang on to/pack away the shizzle I bring!), when I need to dash towards Looe around 3pm?

I heard he used to rub his nose, which is actually something I do myself during a gig if my fingers are feeling sore... Disgusting maybe, but it does actually work!!

I used to own a Wal unlined fretless, and was discussing fret lines with Steve Lawson a couple of years back, and he said "why would you not want to give yourself every chance you possibly can to be pitch perfect?". I agreed. I sadly had to part with the Wal, and now have a lined fretless....

This. Elixir will last for 6-8 months as long as you a. don't play with a pick, and b. are really careful pulling them though the bridge...

You can see at the SW Bash if you're going..! I've been using Elixir for the last 8 years or so, and both my JVs are currently strung with Elixir steels. That said, if there are coated MB strings available before then, I may well have changed already!

I am also an Elixir player. I don't think there is a comparison either, but I'll try some of their coated strings if/when they make some. As you said, can't win 'em all! I have always found that different brands of strings sound different, and handmade strings are more likely to have their own character. This works really well for some people, and less so for others. Regarding price, strings are a consumable and a highly competitive market. I suspect as we start seeing these advertised online and in music shops, the price will get discounted as market forces take command and that'll almost certainly make them sit better against the others...

Referring to my earlier pic of the Markbass JP Gold with one of my JV's... I don't have anything else with flats on for a direct comparison, but the I would say the tension of the flats on the JP is pretty much the same as the JV, which is strung with 45-105 Elixir steels. Elixir reckon the total tension on theirs are approx 171lbs... not that that means much to my poor brain! Hope that helps!

I have an open pack of Advanced 5 string 45-130's here, which I was going to fit to my Lakland 55-02 (35"), but I realised just before stripping them off, the Elixirs on there are still far too new bin them yet! I've just matched them up, and if strung through bridge they'll fit fine, but not if you want to string through body...

I know it's very easy to keep saying of all fender clone basses "why? Just buy a fender," but I actually think the Italians have made a really fine, playable professional level bass here. We're generally a pedestrian lot here in bass world, and this "look" kinda works for most of us (witness my pair of JV's and playing Lakland 55-02/DJ basses for the last 15 years!). However, this bass feels great, the Italian build quality is bloody good, while its a J/J setup the neck pickup on its own still gives a bloody good impression of a thumpy P bass, and it has the secret weapon Markbass Instrument Preamp inside. Its absolutely not the same preamp which was put in Cort basses, it's a new design conceived as a collaboration with Richard Bona for his signature Kilimanjaro bass. It has three band active EQ, a passive tone control (which influences both in passive and active mode), and has virtually no gain difference between active and passive mode, which is something I've not experienced with any Lakland, East or Tonepump preamp equipped bass i've ever owned. You can dial from thumpy old P to sharp, mid-focussed active bridge tone between songs without touching your amp or the volume pots. Apparently its also available as a retrofit....

You're on! in the meantime, here it is in my studio with one of my JV's for company... I have to say, I never used to be a "flats" kind of player, always thought they felt dull and sticky under the fingers, but I'm rather loving these! Having played with Elixirs on all my basses for years now, they're obviously different, but the MB Vintage are neither dull or sticky.