Please help me choosing new amp and effects pedal

[iain173]

Think of this as a fairly blank canvas. I need a bass amp and multi-effects pedal for studio recording and live gigs and would really appreciate your learned suggestions.

[u][b]Current line-up[/b][/u]
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[*]Bass - I’m using a Fender US P-bass (pls see image below) that I've had for about 6 years. Although not shown in the photo, I use the peacock blue DR bass strings (which are awesome!). I do not want to, and couldn't, part with her.
[attachment=12218:_MG_0174.JPG]

[*]Amp - Been borrowing a friend's for the last three years and do not have one of my own.

[*]Pedals - Boss ODB-3 (use it a lot), Boss SYB-5 (don't use it very much - actually a little disappointed with it!) and Boss GE-7B equaliser (never used it - bought off ebay in drunken bidding war; who hasn't done that!!). These are shown in images below. I also have some thing by Korg called Pandora, I believe, which I don't use. Happy to get rid of any/all of them.
[attachment=12219:_MG_9937.JPG]
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[u][b]Playing technique, influences and band sound[/b][/u]
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[*]Style: I play exclusively using my fingers. Generally quite fast walking bass, some slap and some tapping and also some fast plucking with the overdrive pedal on. I quite like a trebbly sound so that you can pick out the walking bass.

[*]Influences: The only 'famous' bassist I would cite would be Mark King. However, I grew up listening to late 90s punk, so I have been inspired by the bassists of [url="http://www.myspace.com/rancid"]Rancid [/url](Matt Freeman, their bassist, is unbelievable - check out the bass solo in Maxwell Murder and Axiom if you haven't heard him), [url="http://www.myspace.com/cigar"]Cigar [/url](skate punk - have a listen to the bass on their myspace songs, they picked great bassline songs!), [url="http://www.myspace.com/reelbigfish"]Reel Big Fish[/url] (ska punk), [url="http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=31309018"]Farse [/url](ska punk), [url="http://www.myspace.com/awilhelmscream"]A Wilhelm Scream[/url] (skate punk: the bass on their new album, Career Suicide, is phenomenal), [url="http://www.myspace.com/thegetupkids"]the Get up Kids [/url](rocky punk: On a Wire, in particular), [url="http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=7552206"][Spunge][/url] (ska punk) and so may others.

[*]Band: I play in a band that mixes punk, metal, ska, dance, funk and lots of other styles, so I really try and vary my playing quite a lot ([url="http://www.myspace.com/ubermanoeuvre"]www.myspace.com/ubermanoeuvre[/url] if interested). We recorded a few songs a while back which sound great, but, to be honest, I wasn't overly happy with the bass tone.
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[u][b]What I'm looking for[/b][/u]
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[*]Amp: I think this is where I'm really struggling. I don't even know if I should be looking at a cab and head or a combo. We're just in the process of recording a studio album and, having (apparently) used some very high-end mics for the drums last week (details at [url="http://www.ubermanoeuvre.co.uk"]www.ubermanoeuvre.co.uk[/url] if anyone is interested), I feel that I should match this on bass. I need something quite loud for gigs (200+ people) so could potentially hire something for the studio and get something else for gigs. Would any wattage suffice for the studio? Orange do a 35W amp for about £130 that might work if I don't need lots of power in the studio, but I can't imagine that would be loud enough for gig situations, although people do seem to mic up bass amps at gigs. I'd REALLY like something light so I feel less bad making my band mates cart around my equipment (). Cost-wise, I guess you get what you pay for, but would ideally like to spend less than £800 if buying new or £600 if second-hand. From reading a lot of posts on this website, the small MarkBass combos sound like they might be a good option.

[*]Effects: I'm thinking of getting a Boss ME-50B pedal, especially as it has a decent tuner. I'd like something which has a reasonably decent echo/delay, a reasonable tuner and a decent overdrive/distortion. Is there anything else people would suggest?
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I can get to Denmark Street after work, so perhaps I should pop there and have a play. However, any thoughts would be much appreciated, especially in relation to the MarkBass lightweight amps and Boss ME-50B, which seem to be the best options at present!

[bass_ferret]

You dont need an amp for studio work unless you have a sound you can only get that way. Most recording is just DI.

know nowt about pedals except that individual pedals are usually better than multi effects unless you spend loads. Multi effects that cost the same as one decent pedal just wont be as good.

[thepurpleblob]

Get a sans-amp for the studio and for plugging into the house PA. It's all you need as they say.

As for an amp.... piece of string, how long is a? I'm going to suggest that almost anything from a reputable company is much of a muchness *really* - Ashdown, Ampeg, MarkBass, Eden..... etc. for ever!!!

[xgsjx]

Couldn't advise on pedals as I only have a Zoom thing that makes a good tuner. I'm gonna hit Denmark St next weekend & see if I can find something good (maybe try a Prunes & Custard or a MoogerFooger).

For amps, well I have a Markbass CMD 102P which is their 2x10 combo which I bought without even trying MB stuff & verrrrrrry happy with it. I would give this a try as it will give you that clear treble heavy sound you seek as well as deep bass to enjoy. But get down to Denmark St or any decent music shop & try some stuff out.
If weight isn't an issue, then try GK & Ampeg. Ashdown is a bit marmite but they look great (that's probably a marmite opinion also).

I done some studio work with this last week & just DI'd straight out the back, lovely recording!

[iain173]

Guys,

Thanks for your really quick replies. It looks like the MarkBass combo that xgsjx mentioned might be a good option. I'll pop to Denmark Street and try and find somewhere that sells them and give them a go. Are there any particularly good shops on Denmark Street that people would recommend?

As for recording, I think I see what you mean about going DI. I wasn't aware of the sans-amp unit you mentioned, thepurpleblob. I had a look on their website (I assume this is it: [url="http://www.tech21nyc.com/bassdriver.html)"]http://www.tech21nyc.com/bassdriver.html)[/url] and it looks quite interesting. Is this basically something that connects the bass to the recording system so that you can alter the tone before it gets recorded? Again, forgive me if this is obvious, but could we just go straight into the recording system and chage the tone etc afterwards or is the sans-amp for a different use?

Thanks again

Iain

[thepurpleblob]

[quote name='iain173' post='263526' date='Aug 16 2008, 11:18 AM']As for recording, I think I see what you mean about going DI. I wasn't aware of the sans-amp unit you mentioned, thepurpleblob. I had a look on their website (I assume this is it: [url="http://www.tech21nyc.com/bassdriver.html)"]http://www.tech21nyc.com/bassdriver.html)[/url] and it looks quite interesting. Is this basically something that connects the bass to the recording system so that you can alter the tone before it gets recorded? Again, forgive me if this is obvious, but could we just go straight into the recording system and chage the tone etc afterwards or is the sans-amp for a different use?

Thanks again

Iain[/quote]

No... it don't work that way. The mixing desk takes a balanced input (not the low level unbalanced from your bass) and isn't designed to EQ bass anyway. The sans-amp is pretty much the industry standard.

[bass_ferret]

[quote name='thepurpleblob' post='263531' date='Aug 16 2008, 11:27 AM']No... it don't work that way. The mixing desk takes a balanced input (not the low level unbalanced from your bass) and isn't designed to EQ bass anyway. The sans-amp is pretty much the industry standard.[/quote]
But the EBS Mircobass II is much better, but also cost more.

[thedontcarebear]

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='263598' date='Aug 16 2008, 02:24 PM']But the EBS Mircobass II is much better, but also cost more.[/quote]

But remember that is an opinion and not fact.

[thepurpleblob]

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='263598' date='Aug 16 2008, 02:24 PM']But the EBS Mircobass II is much better, but also cost more.[/quote]

I guess any of those quality preamp/DI boxes are a much better idea than the 20quid specials you get in many studios. If it's yours you'll (hopefully) know how to work it too. On a budget, even one of those Hartke VXL things is a lot better than nothing.

[bass_ferret]

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='263598' date='Aug 16 2008, 02:24 PM']But the EBS Mircobass II is much better, but also cost more.[/quote]


[quote name='thedontcarebear' post='263602' date='Aug 16 2008, 02:42 PM']But remember that is an opinion and not fact.[/quote]
Of course. It is the opinion of everybody who has used both in my opinion

[iain173]

Cheers Guys,

Will look into both of the pre-amps. Not too fussed about cost if it's going to sound awesome and I'll be able to re-use it. I got the impresion (from reading reviews) that the SansAmp is fine if you're going to distort the signal, which I guess I'll be doing in production, but I know the producer likes having the best quality clean signal he can going into the system and then tinkering with software. Would it still be worth getting one of the EBSs for that? Sounds like it'd be really useful live anyway as I could just go through the PA with it...

[bass_ferret]

Well the EBS does a bit more than the sansamp in having two channels, a speaker sim on the DI and a parametric mid. Both have a valve drive emulator and the EBS has an additional tube sim. Its a bit like the bastard child of the BDDI and PDDI and the programmable BDDI. I think every bass chatter that has used both has gone for the EBS.

[iain173]

Wonderful - thanks!

I'm going to pop to Denmak Street on Saturday and investigate. It sounds like the EBS would be a good option.

Can anyone recommend a decent tuner? I quite like the look of the Boss TU-2 since I use it quite easily in a live setting too. Any thoughts?

Thanks for all the help on this by the way guys (= and girls?).

I

[thepurpleblob]

[quote name='iain173' post='265210' date='Aug 19 2008, 08:43 AM']Wonderful - thanks!

I'm going to pop to Denmak Street on Saturday and investigate. It sounds like the EBS would be a good option.

Can anyone recommend a decent tuner? I quite like the look of the Boss TU-2 since I use it quite easily in a live setting too. Any thoughts?

Thanks for all the help on this by the way guys (= and girls?).

I[/quote]

You can't go wrong with a TU-2. Korg make a vast range of tuners too. The DT-10 seems to be popular if you want a stomp-box tuner. If you want to be really fancy there's Petersen strobe tuners, e.g. the StroboStomp which has the best name if nothing else. I've never used one but they're supposedly the dogs thingies.

Edited August 19, 2008 by thepurpleblob

[iain173]

Thanks to everyone for posting on this. On the tuner front, picked up an ex-demo Peterson StroboStomp for £50 which I was quite pleased with!

With amps/DI, I think I'm going to look at amps and then think about DI boxes later. We can hire/borrow a DI for the studio if necessary!

On the amp front, I went to Denmark St but was a bit gutted about the lack of bass amps to try (esp with Sound Control and Turnkey now closed).

I'm going to pop to Anderton's in the week and try a few amps, and just wondered if people had any thoughts on the following:

[list]Ashdown MAGC410T-300 307 watt 4x10 Bass Combo - [url="http://www.andertons.co.uk/acatalog/info_MAGC410T250.html"]http://www.andertons.co.uk/acatalog/info_MAGC410T250.html[/url] - looks quite heavy, but I drive to most gigs, so should be OK.
Ashdown ABMC210T 500 Evo II 575 watt 2x10 Combo - [url="http://www.andertons.co.uk/acatalog/info_ABMC210T500.html"]http://www.andertons.co.uk/acatalog/info_ABMC210T500.html[/url] - bit lighter and probably a more sensible choice!
Eden Silver Series N15S 175W 1x15 Bass Combo - [url="http://www.andertons.co.uk/acatalog/info_N15S.html"]http://www.andertons.co.uk/acatalog/info_N15S.html[/url] - a bit less powerful, but quite a bit cheaper. Not sure that it would be powerful enough for gigs.
MarkBass MINI CMD121 P Bass Combo - [url="http://www.andertons.co.uk/acatalog/info_MINICMD121P.html"]http://www.andertons.co.uk/acatalog/info_MINICMD121P.html[/url] - quite a bit more expensive (no food for me for a month or so if I get this!), but obviousy very light. Just not sure how it will compete with REALLY loud drumming!
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I'm going to give them a try, but any of your wise suggestions would be welcome. If it helps, I'm leaning towards the Ashdown MAGC410T-300 307 watt 4x10 Bass Combo.

Ta, Iain

[lowhand_mike]

[quote name='iain173' post='268571' date='Aug 23 2008, 07:16 PM']Thanks to everyone for posting on this. On the tuner front, picked up an ex-demo Peterson StroboStomp for £50 which I was quite pleased with!

With amps/DI, I think I'm going to look at amps and then think about DI boxes later. We can hire/borrow a DI for the studio if necessary!

On the amp front, I went to Denmark St but was a bit gutted about the lack of bass amps to try (esp with Sound Control and Turnkey now closed).

I'm going to pop to Anderton's in the week and try a few amps, and just wondered if people had any thoughts on the following:

[list]Ashdown MAGC410T-300 307 watt 4x10 Bass Combo - [url="http://www.andertons.co.uk/acatalog/info_MAGC410T250.html"]http://www.andertons.co.uk/acatalog/info_MAGC410T250.html[/url] - looks quite heavy, but I drive to most gigs, so should be OK.
Ashdown ABMC210T 500 Evo II 575 watt 2x10 Combo - [url="http://www.andertons.co.uk/acatalog/info_ABMC210T500.html"]http://www.andertons.co.uk/acatalog/info_ABMC210T500.html[/url] - bit lighter and probably a more sensible choice!
Eden Silver Series N15S 175W 1x15 Bass Combo - [url="http://www.andertons.co.uk/acatalog/info_N15S.html"]http://www.andertons.co.uk/acatalog/info_N15S.html[/url] - a bit less powerful, but quite a bit cheaper. Not sure that it would be powerful enough for gigs.
MarkBass MINI CMD121 P Bass Combo - [url="http://www.andertons.co.uk/acatalog/info_MINICMD121P.html"]http://www.andertons.co.uk/acatalog/info_MINICMD121P.html[/url] - quite a bit more expensive (no food for me for a month or so if I get this!), but obviousy very light. Just not sure how it will compete with REALLY loud drumming!
[/list]

I'm going to give them a try, but any of your wise suggestions would be welcome. If it helps, I'm leaning towards the Ashdown MAGC410T-300 307 watt 4x10 Bass Combo.

Ta, Iain[/quote]
cant comment on the eden or the markbass but as for ashdown
the mags have a brighter sound than the ABM which you could say is a little more classic sounding. the mags have plenty of punch and are not muddy contrary to popular belief (IMO), my 210 is loud and has served very well for all our gigs so far (up to 200 ish punters) so the 410 will give you a bit more and you can always add another cab later.
the abms like i say have a bit more of a thud to them but you can still eq a brightish sound to them they also have the tube section on the amp. they have been said to sound slightly quieter than the mags but that is probably due to the less mid rangey sound. really you'll need to try them but they make a great sound.
down side is they are not light, my 210 weighs in at around 30kg so expect quite a bit more from the 410

[MythSte]

Im going to give some advice based on what i'd do with the money in your position, So yeah!

Firstly, I wouldnt buy new. Full stop! Theres a forum with gear that is in perfect condition for half the price right here! I think for the sound of all the artists you've mentioned would require a 4x10 or similar. Obviously wouldnt discount others and its not as linear as it used to be (bright 4x10s and muddy 15's are a thing of the past!) but still a starting point.

I would probably try and find a used Trace Elliot Rig for your used budget. A 410 and one of the 300 watt heads will be ample, And if you shop carefully you could [i]probably[/i] get one with the on board compression etc for your price. I really dont want to be the guy thats raving on with "you should buy what ive got" but in all honesty, I cant stand the [i]normal[/i] Trace gear, but i rekon with the really prominent high mids that they produce you should cut through really well, and i doubt you'll struggle for volume.

Even [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=18919"]This[/url] would probably give you tone for days

[bassmansky]

i'll just put my usual opinion in,secondhand i would go for trace 300w 4x10 combo,loud,punchy but a bit heavy,but its the sound that matters at the end of the day not if you can carry it with one hand!either of the ashdowns i would say,obviously the abms are the better of the two hence the cost difference.sound wise just as mike has said earlier so i think the mag would suit your sound.saying that listen to the latest stranglers sound as they use abm gear as well as loads of other top bands.but for £800 the choice is endless.

[iain173]

Cheers all,

Went to Anderton's today and tried the Mark Bass Little Mark II and one of the 102P cabs. Fantastic piece of kit and the staff at Anderton's were really helpful. Decided to have a think before buying, esp as the two would have come to £1k, but really liked the Mark Bass sound.

Cool, will listen to some new Stranglers stuff for the A'down. Do you know if they use that rig live? I saw them a couple of months ago and the bass did actually sound pretty awesome.

Iain

[bass_ferret]

Dont forget that what you hear on record or live is normally DI'd, but may sometimes be mic'ed as well. Its highly unlikely to be just mic'ed.

[bassmansky]

[quote name='iain173' post='268898' date='Aug 24 2008, 03:03 PM']Cheers all,

Went to Anderton's today and tried the Mark Bass Little Mark II and one of the 102P cabs. Fantastic piece of kit and the staff at Anderton's were really helpful. Decided to have a think before buying, esp as the two would have come to £1k, but really liked the Mark Bass sound.

Cool, will listen to some new Stranglers stuff for the A'down. Do you know if they use that rig live? I saw them a couple of months ago and the bass did actually sound pretty awesome.

Iain[/quote]mostly jj burnell uses ashdown gear has done for a couple of years or so.go on ashdowns web site there are a few stranglers tracks on there also you will see what other bands use ashdown.dont know what markbass after sale service is like but it would be hard to beat ashdowns!(if you ever needed it of course.)

[lowhand_mike]

+1 for the ashdown service, it realy is second to none. any time i've had a question the response has been really quick (by email) and if you phone them they are just as good.

[jim_bass]

Having tried both markbass and ashdown amps. Here's my thoughts....

I thought that the sound of the Ashdown ABM range beat the pants off the MAG sound. Hard to describe, just sounds lovely. Especially with a bit of the tube drive dialled in.

I really liked the markbass sound and was really tempted to buy a LMII and a 151P Traveller cabinet.

In the end I've picked up a new Ashdown Classic Neo 15 cab from soundslive.co.uk for £330. They have some others going cheap at the mo, but mine was the last one at that price.

As for the amp, I'm erring towards an ABM500 purely for the wide range of sounds. The markbass sounded great for clean sounds, but I suspect I'd end up buying more pedals!

As for the rancid comment. Awesome bassist. When I saw them recently, I think Matt Freeman was playing an Ampeg stack. I suspect that the ashdown will give you a closer sound that the markbass - if that's what your aiming for.

Hope this helps.