EBS_freak

The kick is used as the focal point as that is what derives the beat. If you can’t hear or in some cases, feel the beat, the whole band sounds flat and lifeless. Of course, in larger venues this problem is furthered because amplifying that lowend is really difficult and it gets soaked up quickly. I agree though, a lot of sound guys hit the kick so hard it pretty much over powers everything else. In smaller venues, where the kit is generally the loudest anyway, the overpowering of the kick is all too common - and the bleed of the cymbals into the vocal mics... you end up with all low end and piercing cymbals through the speakers. This is where your drummers have to have some sort of self restraint and the vocalists impeccable mic technique. If they aren’t eating the mic at all times, they aren’t doing it right. Anyway, you are right - you will save a lot of power by hpfing. Additionally, you may get away with going much higher than 35Hz (again many bass cabs won’t go that low anyway) as the effects of psycho acoustics put the rest back in. I’m hoping guys reading this will be inspired to have a play. As I stated earlier, losing the lowend may actually give you more and ultimately make your band sound better!

Just kiddin'

I recently did a festival where a Fender 500 was the backline - have to say, I immediately thought, oh gawd, going to be a nightmare... but have to say, it was an awesome piece of kit Mightily impressed. OK, was going out the PA out front, but that thing was thundering on stage and certainly more than enough for most gigs where the backline is providing the FoH sound. Got headphone jack - and as far as I am aware, is basically what Genz Benz became. It's manage-ably heavy... but for transportless students, it's easy enough to cart around on the bus, taxi I guess... or put on a sack truck.

Or at least the DI sound of it being processed by the FoH desk will...

A pure gem of a dutch auction.

On another tangent - I've just realised that I've played a Dingwall NG2 - I quite liked it, for what it was... but hated the cheese grater on the pickguard. I'd have to have that taken off!

I wouldn't worry - I've just realised that I've just described a naked woman as wearing leather trousers... that doesn't make much sense does it?

Oh! NOLLY. (Sorry, only know by the forename, not the surname) Yeah, I don't know much about him per se, just his name... but am aware of what he has apparently done for the sales of Dingwall. Wouldn't know about Darkglass (although rumour has it that they make beautiful looking amps). Talking of Darkglass, I know that their pedal sales are very much in keeping with the genre... but pretty much all the players of Darkglass that I know, don't use them for the genre which they are perhaps more famous for.

Who? If I go off googling, Im not going to be met with images of a naked woman in bronze leather trousers am I...?

Did people ever buy Hartke because Victor was using them? I'm happy to have discussions on this... but I reckon the only two bass players that can really shift amp gear in any numbers because they play it... are Mark King and Marcus. I can't think of any other players that would be able to shift amps in any significant number because they use it. Having said that, I'm not sure the Marcus signature amp is doing the same for Markbass as it did for SWR and EBS.

Do endoresements really work like that? This isn't even a King signature... so unlikely that he's getting a kickback from them. Very few artists get stuff for "free". They normally have the opportunity to buy gear at an "artist rate". It's only the real top dogs that command stuff for free... Or conversely, the small companies that are eager to have some sort of name playing their products, they'll give it away free in the hope that it generates some sort of interest. (Yes, there are artists out there who abuse the small manufacturers - those players are the REAL enwhorsers... especially when they flip the goods on for a profit). I suspect that as long as Kingy gets his face in a few mags when there's tours going on... and he can just turn up to a gig and there be his preferred backline there, I'm guessing he'll be happy.

Sometimes people just fancy a change. I don't think there's any slur on Ashdown's support why people move on. (Not that he moved from Ashdown to Markbass... he was currently on TC) Artist's can be somewhat prickly people to deal with. I know somebody who moved on because they didn't think that the manufacturer was putting their image in enough magazine adverts...

I did read that - but it didn't even register. Mind you, I hadn't slept yesterday... so it's amazing that I could even read anything.

We even got talk of Nathan East’s signature bass in here too. Poor Markbass. They are well down the pecking order in this thread!

I can't believe that anybody has commented on MARK King having MARK Bass amps. It's all a bit cheesy isn't it? Where's the STEVE Bass? Of course, the biggest trick that MB have missed is having a set of MARK King cabs. Just replace the tweeter, job done. Want Mark's sound? Then you'll need to buy the cabs, naturally. I've got this marketing malarkey down, I swear.

a - it's an immense preamp.

Knowing first hand how much low end that a BBNE2 can put out... and the fact that you are diming the low end on your bass... I'm amazed your speakers haven't given out yet. Or your ear drums. Or both.

And this is why it's a lost cause. 😛

I suppose it could be those who are chasing the tone of a particular era? Like those that chase the same with basses that Mark used from Jaydee, Alembic, GB, Status, Pangborn etc... (whatever your preference) The thing is, you know as well as I do, the only person who hears the sound of the amp/cab combination are those on stage... once it's left the DI, it's all in the hands of FoH.

Just beat me to it. I'm convinced that King fans will buy new basses at the drop of a hat... I'm not convinced about amps. If you are a true King fan, when he (inevitably) moves on... do you want to be stuck with a King head that isn't currently being used by Mark... and have trouble shifting it on because all the Mark King fans want to be on the next thing (or not?!). I just don't know!

Out of interest, did the Mark King signature generate a lot of sale due to the name on it? I know Status can get a cash injection through releasing a new King related bass... I'm not entirely sure that that is the case with bass amps and Mr King though.

Get in a DAW, download some stems and practice, practice, practice. You can only read so much, the rest comes from your ears and experience. Pay attention to the "sub bass" and you'll soon figure out why this stuff is important.

Passion! Sometimes the brand awareness that it brings can be more meaningful than the sale of the model that is being used by an artist. For example, can you name the exact model of Marshall amp that you see guitarists with... or does it matter more to Marshall that you see the name Marshall on the cabs?

Very much agreed - all sound is subjective. If it sounds good to you, it's right. Of course, many other people may disagree... but that's why there's different audio equipment, different instruments yiddah yaddah. Interesting comment about being built for one person and it's only their view that matters? That's not a particular wise move if you are looking at shifting units! Still, there's probably enough GB fans who could potentially take an interest. Also people, it's worth noting that the class D thing is actually quite a big market in the UK - but outside of these boundaries, especially in Europe, the rockers all gravitate towards big lumps of iron in their amps as opposed to class D and lightweight.