Conan

[quote name='fingerz' timestamp='1413940063' post='2583933']They were really 'in' for a while, but had a sound that is, in my opinion, quite dated [/quote] Not sure about this... It's certainly true that in the mid-late eighties they were very popular and maybe ubiquitous - but they were also pretty good for the time! I had a Trace stack that served me well for nearly 20 years. It was heavy, yes - but it was very versatile due to the graphic and certainly wasn't a one-trick pony. I used it in funk, metal, blues and pop bands and it covered every tone that I asked of it. The amp only complained once in that time, and that was when the UV light went! Not sure where the reputation for unreliability comes from. Mine was (I think) from the mk4 range. I still miss it occasionally... but not at the end of a gig!

[quote name='thodrik' timestamp='1413935210' post='2583920'] Then I would suggest just getting the first one you see available for the right price, check that it works and then buy it. [/quote] Agreed. One can over-analyse these things Try a PM to Thornybank on here - he is a bit of an [s]anorak[/s] expert on all things TE!

[quote name='Ant' timestamp='1413898770' post='2583285'] definitely gets more damaged when compared to other cabs ive taken on tour. [/quote] Crikey! You must be rough on gear!

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1413894724' post='2583206'] So quaint that the gig-going public still think of Fender as the last word in bass design... [/quote] Are you saying that it [b][i]isn't[/i][/b]?!?!

We have just parted with our original drummer after about four years. Musical differences are a bugger! Anyway - we are the Sour Dogs. We are predominantly an original band, but we augment our set with some carefully chosen covers, played in our own style. Examples include Hanging around - The Stranglers, Here comes your man - Pixies, Runnin' down a dream - Tom Petty, Wicked Game - Chris Izaak, Psycho Killer - Talking Heads.... etc. We are all in our mid to late forties and are family guys with full-time jobs. As a result, we rehearse once a week and would be looking to gig around once a month on average. We are all experienced musicians who can actually play - but not virtuosos! None of us are in other bands, but that doesn't mean that our new drummer couldn't be... Obviously though, we would expect a degree of commitment to the cause. Our youtube channel is in it's early days, but there are a couple of our original tracks up that you can listen to for an idea of our style - [url="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmk5O67gMWgZM_h12QTByxA"]www.youtube.com/channel/UCmk5O67gMWgZM_h12QTByxA[/url] We have many more original tracks that are recorded, and even more that need to be! For more details, or if you are interested in an audition (or know somebody who might be), call or text John (our main songwriter and lead guitarist) on 07960 388604 or drop me a PM on here.

[quote name='RichF' timestamp='1413719465' post='2581138'] I have an East in my Marcus Miller - powerful, versatile as others have said. the worst I can say is I sometimes find it too much and sneak in a passive session. But that's just my preferences. [/quote] I had a Marcus Miller J with the East pre - and I totally agree. It was a bit much at times and I wish I'd had the time to explore it fully. Perfect for the studio or fiddling about at home, but a bit complex when making changes "on the hoof" at gigs or reahearsals. Some incredible tone-shaping abilities though - just not for me with the music I am currently playing.

Ibanez Musician basses are thru-neck, with a nice comfy feel (IMO). Twin pickups that look like humbuckers but are (IIRC) single coil. They occasionally come up on here and Ebay and can often be had for around £400 - which is a great price for a bass of that quality. They tend to be a bit heavy though, and I don't think they come in a maple fingerboard version....

[quote name='thisnameistaken' timestamp='1413841063' post='2582745'] Isn't Incognito like your favourite band? You're always talking about them, how can it be something different for you? [/quote] Rather bluntly put... but I was kind of wondering the same thing!

[quote name='Grissle' timestamp='1413878824' post='2582937'] a little knowledge can be dangerous. '99 was the last year for MIM's to have same size pups. [/quote] Really? I stand corrected. Still no need to be quite so patronising though...

MM basses in general tend to sound a bit "scooped", so if you scooped the mid on your amp too, I'm not surprised you weren't cutting through very well. I think there is a very fine line between "cutting through" and sounding aggressive. In some bands this can work fine of course - so it is the classic "horses for courses" analogy. What did your (temporary) band mates think of your tone? Did they (or the soundman - assuming you have one) comment on the different tones you used in the first and second sets? Which did they prefer? As others have said, what sounds good in isolation often doesn't work in a band setting (and vice versa). To my ears, this is a good example of a "Stingray-type bass played with a plectrum" sound. YMMV of course! [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIlFu5mIfnc"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIlFu5mIfnc[/url]

Be careful as MIM Js have both pickups the same length rather than the slightly longer bridge and shorter neck units that othe Js have. Some companies (EMG for instance) sell matched pairs specifically for MIM jazz basses - other wise you might need to get two (I think) neck pickups to fit the routed holes in your Mex bass... Brand-wise, I would recommend EMG, Wizard (now trading as HotRod), GFS and Entwistle - depending on budget. Plenty of reviews of those brands on here! For example: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/244691-jazz-pickup-recommendations/page__p__2555474__hl__jazz%20pickups__fromsearch__1#entry2555474"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/244691-jazz-pickup-recommendations/page__p__2555474__hl__jazz%20pickups__fromsearch__1#entry2555474[/url]

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1413819377' post='2582318'] the handles did remain attached though.... [/quote] Yes. Always a bonus I find

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1413807624' post='2582089'] My Genz neoxT 2x12 is only 24kg, not deal breaking extra weight over the barefaced with a much more professional finish to the cabinet all over.[/quote] Interesting! When I had a (gen 1) BFB Compact, the GB 212T became available at a price that I thought to good to refuse - so I ordered one. At £379 it was half the RRP. I rehearsed it and gigged it - but was totally unable to get a sound that I liked or that was properly audible in the band mix (the support band's bassist used it too). It was also surprisingly heavy - a fact exacerbated by the (back on topic now!) stupidly placed handles! I also found the finish quality to be disappointing. Switching back to the Compact allowed me to find "my sound" straight away and have a one-handed lift! I had the Compact up for sale but after a nifty bit of negotiation decided to keep it and sell the GB instead! That said - I've tried a few of the TKS offerings and have been impressed, and they are available new for the price of a (well) used BFB cab...

It just looks "wrong" doesn't it? Yet someone has clearly gone to a lot of bother to fool others - the neck stamps and so on... A classic example of [i]Caveat Emptor[/i], but I wonder if anyone will be fished in? It's easy for us to say that any "knowing buyer" would be able to spot the problems, but that just isn't quite good enough IMO.

[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1413715739' post='2581059'] Yes, it is important to keep challenging yourself by playing new material in order to keep progressing. [/quote] Exactly. One of the reasons why playing (varied) covers is such a good grounding and helps you find your own "style".

Brazilian eh? Sounds like she had a close shave...

[quote name='jassbass' timestamp='1413146178' post='2575325'] Looks the part,but doubt it could sound as good as it looks [/quote] Why? Plenty of people (including me) on this thread (and other similar ones) have said that these basses sound good - not just "for the price", but they sound good. Whether you choose to believe this is, of course, your prerogative! To my ears it sounds more full and authoritative than either of my two Fender Js. Very even response across the strings and no noticeable dead spots. Believe what you want to believe - but these basses sounds good!

[list=1] [*]Buy two cheap remote-controlled monster trucks. [*]Strap the cab on top of them. [*]Sit back and relax as you drive your cab around and into position. [/list]

They are great! Not too heavy (I haven't weighed mine but I would say around nine and a half pounds) and mine is certainly a keeper for now....

[quote name='chrismuzz' timestamp='1412283193' post='2567570'] Dave La Rue is a perfect example of a rock bass player. He's got the chops, knows when to use them, and more importantly, when NOT to! [/quote] THISSSS!!! ^^^ Satriani doesn't like key changes much, does he? Which must make the job of his bass player even harder. Much respect to Dave LR. Another example of his great chops and solid (though busy this time!) groove playing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juHYDJmGO5Y

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1412262172' post='2567276'] I think it's because it has more top end [/quote] Yes, I think it does - but it is that lovely honky midrange that does it for me. That would sit lovely in a typical band mix (IMO)

Even with my eyes closed, I liked the US '77 best - but not by much. They all sound great, which is a testament to your tasty playing!

[quote name='Cairobill' timestamp='1412170071' post='2566387'] What it strongly reminds me of in a number of ways is It Bites... launching into odd time signatures to remind the audience that they were essentially a prog band. It didn't work then and this doesn't work now really.[/quote] It Bites were, and still are, one of my favourite bands. How very dare you suggest that their futuristic prog-pop compexity somehow fell short of the mark!! That's unfair, patronising and reverse-snobbish!! Probably true though.... Is this the kind of thing you mean? [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBd401c9ak4"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBd401c9ak4[/url]