Marvin

I am, probably, one of the most anxious people you'd would likely meet...racked with self doubt. However, I have in the last 6 years of playing bass again turned up for numerous auditions where I knew no one in the room. In that time I've never failed an audition. The bands have never lasted very long, but I've never failed to get in. I have passed on auditions for bands where I've thought the material will take too long to learn or it just doesn't interest me. All I've done to get in a band is learn the material as close as possible to the recording, no one has a crystal ball to know what 'slant' the other members of the band will be taking. Even for the originals band I've just joined, where the guys said I was the only bass player to have even attempted to learn the songs. Do your homework. One of the reasons though that I'm loathed to join another covers band is the 'blagging' approach is all to prevalent. Turning up, you've learnt the structure and at least the important signature parts and the rest of the band can't even say what the song title is. I got caught several times like this. One was where a drummer couldn't be arsed to learn the proper rhythm to 'Ain't no sunshine'. I had to modify my part and it sounded complete trash. Another where drummer and guitarist/vocalist couldn't even be bothered to refresh their memories of the songs they used to do. I figured out that they used to rely on the former bass player to learn the song properly and they worked off of him. This blagging method is why I won't even watch covers bands, too much of it going on. Band members stand there like statues not interacting with the audience because their too busy try to figure out what they're supposed to be doing...it needs to be in your head before you get on the stage.

Regards the Rumble 200, it is an option. I've got the Combo 500 (which I'll be using for gigs and if I need to get it louder buying the 210 ext cab) and it's great. However, as any head I'd be buying would be going through a tatty old, brand unknown, 410 I'd probably end up spending most of my time tweaking the controls as the cab would make the Rumble sound a little different anyway. Also, I'm a gear whore and thought as it's a practice amp I'd try something else The Fender is also, from what I can find on line about the same as the GK (both about £220-35) [quote name='BassManGraham' timestamp='1453231327' post='2957713'] Difficult choice Marvin! I had a Markbass Little Mark 250 Black Line, a TC BH250 (in a combo) and a GK MB500. All have been reliable and all sound decent so you should listen to each model before deciding. I prefer the GK and Markbass, both sound great but distinctively different and both have good noiseless DI output which is crucial for me. GK MB200 wins on pure portability. GK amps built in USA too! Markbass wins on classic warm sound. Love the VLE & VPF controls. Lack of mute switch is a bit irritating. With regard to tone and sound quality I cannot tell the Blackline apart from the more expensive Little Mark 500. TC electronic wins on extra features such as built-in tuner, toneprint etc. To my ears TC electronic amps do not seem as loud as equivalent rating GK or Markbass gear. Both of my TC electronic amps have noisey DI outputs without a ground lift, so If I play larger gigs I need a separate D.I. Box If had to choose one I would go for the Markbass 250 Blackline, (and keep the GK MB200 as an amazing spare in my gigbag!!!) Good Hunting [/quote] Thank you, that is very informative and helpful. Cheers

I know these threads are a ball ache for some , however I just want to know people's experiences of the following heads. [size=4][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Gallien Krueger MB200 [/font][/size] [size=4][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Markbass Little Mark 250 Black Line[/font][/size] [size=4][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#000000]TC Electronic BH250[/color][/font][/size] [color=#000000][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]They all cost a similar amount. I'm more interested in reliability, loudness and quality of build and their 'sound'. The Fender Rumble I have has a tone I really like and of course there is the Rumble 200 head to throw in I suppose. The reason I'm toying with getting one is the band I've joined has got it's own practice room. However, it's in the roof space of a recording studio and although my Rumble 500 is light etc, even getting that up the narrow stairs can be very tricky. I could leave the rumble in the room but when the band aren't there the room can get incredibly cold and I'm not really one for leaving gear in environments that can basically freeze There's a 410 cab in the room so all I'd need is a head.[/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Ta[/font][/color]

If you can get to the Bass Gallery you could try a Big Baby 2 [url="http://thebassgallery.com/big-baby-2.html"]http://thebassgallery.com/big-baby-2.html[/url]

Peter Gabriel. Sledgehammer. Nothing not to like.

I've gone my entire life without knowingly listening to any Greatfull Dead and those 2 clips have only confirmed why I avoided them. I'm coming to the conclusion that my musical blind spots aren't blind spots merely my subconscious is perfectly tuned to knowing what I won't like.

I only pick up my bass if I'm in a band and have material to learn. I had an audition on Wednesday. I learnt a couple of their songs the night b4, it was the first time I've touched my bass in 6 months. The Zoom B1 is a great mini practice set up.

I might be wrong, but I don't think the guy with the p bass is Wimbish

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=951828771533649&id=117575444958990 Posted on his facebook page. Wonder what the future holds for Trace Elliott.

Yes, very much so, other parts of life do 'get in the way of' exploring all music. Currently music falls into 3 broad categories for me. Music I like, music I don't like and music I've not listened to. There's a lot of music I've not listened to and to be honest I doubt I'll ever make much of an indent on it

Considering the Nate Mendel P bass seems to sell quite well perhaps Fender might twig there's a market for P basses with a Jazz like neck

[quote name='LewisK1975' timestamp='1452617292' post='2951726'] I think the Yamaha Attitude deserves a shout as a prime example of this - It's been manufactured for 25 years now and as far as I'd imagine would only be on the radar for Sheehan fans, if he stopped playing them, I'd imagine sales of it would plummet, if not actually stop... For the record, I'm a sucker for a signature Bass. [/quote] I think the only Attitude Yamaha make now is Sheehan's sig bass. Similar thing for the TRB range, I think only the JP and Nathan East sigs are made. Everything else is TRBX and BBs

Westone Spectrum 2. Not even decent firewood

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1452614301' post='2951677'] But does Marcus actually use it? I know there's the video suggesting that he does.... but he's certainly remembered for his Fender bass over a Sire...? [/quote] His main bass is still his Fender, but he does use the Sire (most recently the 5 string).

Pickguards always seem to be a bit niggly. That might have to be a homemade venture.

That looks great. Superb job.

I was totally shocked when I heard this on the news yesterday morning. An absolute giant in music, an artist in the truest sense of the word. I've never really listened to much of his material to be honest, I've got a best of and Ziggy but you can't deny his impact. A one off. His last album still excited people and was news in the mainstream media, that speaks of how big he was to me.

Has anyone modded one of these? I'm just thinking pickguards and pickups fitting properly. White bass with a tort guard for example

Nice.

The Ibanez gets called Izabell by Mrs Marvin, that's about it. The Yamaha gets called The Yamaha and my Sire V7 Marcus Miler gets called the V7. All very simple

Arse. I can't get that channel. Love Fraser's playing.

Mrs Marvin was give 25 for Christmas. I've listened to it a few times and there are some great songs on there and she's got a cracking warbling box. There are though about 4 or so songs that tend to drag and don't really do much, which is a shame. It's a good album, just not a great album.

Like Bigwan, I'd recommend the Sire V7. I made a point of visiting a couple of guitar shops before I bought mine to check out the MIM Fender Jazz's. There's nothing at all wrong with them, lovely basses. However, after getting my V7 I just couldn't see where the extra +£300 was in the Fender. You can get a brand new V7 for less than a 2nd hand MIM. I absolutely love my V7 and as Bigwan am waiting eagerly for the P bass they are saying they'll bring out. If not the Sire then I'd go for the [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Maruszczyk.[/font][/color] Both makers have very good reputations for quality at sensible prices.

2015 was a dreadful year musically, 3 failed attempts to get something off the ground. Hopefully I'll be able to find or put something together this year, I've got the nicest gear I've ever had and want to get out gigging...and maybe earning some pennies to pay for maybe a little GAS

I've had both the B2.1u and now have the B1.on. For the money Zoom multi fx pedals are very good. I found the B2 a little tricky to using given it's only got the 2 digit display on it, the B1 interface is much better. I also own a BOSS GT6B and the amp sims on the Zoom are, in my opinion, much better (but then it is a much newer pedal). The B1 is great for home practice. Bass in, aux in (iPod, tablet or laptop in) and headphones out. Compact and easy to use. I tend to put the B1 in front of the Boss, use the B1 for some amp sim and the Boss for other effects, works a treat in a band situation