mcnach

So, here is the thing... I already have a reasonable compromise between loudness and bulk with my TC Electronics rig (RH450 head, plus BC212 and RS210 cabs, vertically stacked). It does what I need it to do and I have never found it lacking yet. But sometimes it would be great to have a more compact rig that can work as a great stage monitor, mostly. Last week we played a couple of gigs in a location ideal for such compact rig: the stage was on a balcony that had to be accessed through a narrow and steep spiral staircase. I did not know it was going to be like that, but I was lucky I had chosen to take my Hartke A100, 100W 15" speaker tilt-back combo. The Hartke did the job, but I was really pushing it hard and I could have used maybe 25% more volume. The Hartke is great because it can do the job and it's an amp I'm not too precious about, so if I have to lend someone an amp, this is the one. However, I'm thinking I'd really love a more compact rig (than the TC). Essentially, if I could have something the size of the Hartke A100 or smaller, and louder, and good sounding... I'd want one. Ideally with tilt-back capability, but not necessary absolutely, as that can be arranged... and ideally with controls near the front so that they can be easily accessed when tilted back. But again, I can compromise there. As it would not likely to be my main rig... I'll be choosy in two regards: size and weight. If it's really small, I can tolerate higher weight. If it's not so small, it's got to be light. But it MUST be good sounding and noticeably LOUDER than a Hartke A100. Price? Irrelevant. If I find something that is really good, I will save so that I can buy it. Can you recommend something? The Ibanez Promethean looked very promising and got good reviews, at a good price... but then also lots of concerns about reliability, so not so keen. The RedSub and Harley Benton Promethean style amps get good reviews regarding sound too, but lots of reliability issues, and I am not keen to enter a lottery. Gallien Krueger MB series gets good reviews too, and seems like they could work. The Markbass CMD121 looks almost too good to be true... very light, very compact, and people say it's reasonably loud and good sounding. I like the idea of being able to use this on top of the BC212 cab when wanting a louder rig. Although I really like by RH450 head, this would essentially give me two giggable rigs, and I like having a suitable backup, when it's as small as the Markbass... Not cheap, but if it does what I want it to do (and people say they do), it's money well spent. So far I'm leaning towards this and I'm trying to locate one to try. Any other suggestions? Another thing I could consider is a light reasonably compact but efficient cab to match to my RH450. The drawback is it would not provide me with a backup for my RH450... and something like a Barefaced is not too far off the price of the Markbass... but again I hear wonderful things about their sound, efficiency and loudness... and they seem to be really well design speakers that could cope with a larger head easily, so it could be a good investment thinking about future changes... but again, I don't know anyone with those cabs around here to try. It's all too much money to buy without testing. So much out there!!! Your comments will probably confuse me even more by adding more alternatives (love Basschat! ) but ultimately it will all prove useful for me... so any comments welcome!

[quote name='badboy1984' timestamp='1366755191' post='2057065'] i use Dimarzio DP123 jazz pickup. They already a bassy pickup. I may want to change it to something else. I use to like bassy tone but now i like more mid tone ...... [/quote] I like a lot the pickups that come on some CIJ Fender Jazzes (many 75RI models, for instance), made in USA ones. I forget the model number. They have a nice midrange content. I recently bought a second pair for £60 I think. Worth keeping an eye out for them, in my opinion.

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1366643230' post='2055342'] The valve pedal is mains powered, so no worries there. It occurs me that if I was going to abandon pedal tuners entirely and have the fuzz as the only 9v powered box, I'd almost be as well sticking with ye olde PP3s for the fuzz... [/quote] The problem with using batteries in a pedal board is you have to remember to unplug them all when not in use. The tuner should last a long time on a battery, I'd imagine. I have a Korg DT-10 in my gig bag for I don't know how long on the same battery... I imagine it will still draw current when plugged in, but as you'd normally use a tuner first in the chain, you'd probably not forget to unplug your guitar cable from it. At least if, like me, you have the habit of always unplugging the instrument cable at both ends... hmmm.

[quote name='badboy1984' timestamp='1366654827' post='2055585'] My Fender Classic 60 jazz had a J-Retro installed very long time ago before John East stuff became very expensive. I liked it very much when i first had it installed. I haven't play my Jazz for absolute ages because i'm so use to my Precision bass (passive) sound and my AGC 5 string P/J. I decide to play my Jazz bass in today and set everything flat on both the amp and the j-retro i find it the default tone is very bassy (in a good way) but i just couldn't get use to it, i even have to pull the bass down and boost the mid instead. Anyone find it the J-Retro to be a very bassy preamp by default? or I just got use to boost the mid and like the mid now? [/quote] I think the "flat" setting on the J Retro is slightly mid scooped. It can feel bass heavy I suppose depending on the pickups. I tend to use mostly only the bridge pickup, which is fine, but if you use the neck or both pickups on especially, I'd also want to add mids.

I apologise for my non helpful post, but I had to add that I am not a fan of Rics... but that bass looks AMAZING. wow.

[quote name='NJE' timestamp='1366476094' post='2053076'] Firstly that thumb needs looking at by a doctor, its not right at all, he's hyperextending it and will probably get really bad problems in later life. Apart from that, awesome playing and the sound is superb. The growler had a MM pickup in basically so a Stingray should get very close to that, to be honest my old Stingray 5 sounded very similar to that.....god I miss it. [/quote] some people have very bendy thumbs without forcing it whatsoever. Mine is not quite as bendy as the one in the video, but not far off, and has been like that forever. It really depends on the person.

[quote name='umph' timestamp='1366396916' post='2052146'] Didn't sound like sabbath to me, sounded a bit nu metal [/quote] really? sounded extremely Sabbathy to me, which is why I got excited

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1366375753' post='2051733'] Funnily enough , I always thought the last Sabbath " reunion " album with the Dio lineup that came out just over twenty years ago , Rehumanizer , suffered from trying to sound too much like Metallica's Black album , which was selling millions at that time . Thankfully , this new material sounds free of those kind of commercial influences and is only trying to sound like Sabbath . [/quote] I'm a big fan of Black Sabbath with Dio... but Dehumanizer was a huge disappointment for me. Mob Rules and Heaven & Hell remain my favourite Black Sabbath albums. Actually, I prefer to think of Black Sabbath as three bands: 1) with Ozzy, which I like, but second to: 2) with Dio, my favourite. and... 3) everything else, some of which I like a lot, most of which leave me uninterested

Ooooh, I like this!!!!!!!!

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1366401579' post='2052266'] I would have thought that if the guitarist has a rig sitting at home, uses whatever is provided in rehearsal & then fetches out his own rig for a gig & the guitar sounds completely different through it, then where's the logic? I've seen bands that could play, but sounded guff as they hadn't spent any time with the gear that they used at the gig (one was actually quite a good blues band). My band isn't a rock band, more down the lines of acid jazz & I think having a good sound to the groove will get folk dancing more than playing with a poor sound. [/quote] Sounding different with another rig? Sure. THAT different? Not really. I mean, not that different that a couple of minutes won't be enough to adjust. The sound will have to be adjusted to each room anyway. I found that something positive rehearsing in different places with different gear is that you learn to adapt.

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1366398136' post='2052171'] Occasionally I've used the room's rig, but most often I take my combo as too often I find the lump there is only good for making sounds similar to farting in a didgeridoo. The last place I was in had a Line 6 thing with dodgy sockets, the place before that has either some old Peavey thing or a worn out Hartke (that looks like it's been good in the 80s, but needs to retire) plugged into an SWR 4x10 with the drivers removed & a 15" driver bolted to the back of the board they was on & the place we're going next looks like it has a Peavey TNT (woooohooo!!!!). I can understand the singer & keys/turntablist using the PA that's in there &maybe even the drummer using the basics of the kit, but why would the rest of the band want to use the stuff if their own gear is better (other than lazyitis)? My band's just formed & the drummer's just bought a new kit. The guitarist said "you're not taking the whole kit are you", to which me & the drummer replied "why not, it needs tuned up". Then he asked if I can leave my combo behind & just use the rig that's in there. My reply was "I'll ask what they have, but if it's the TNT, then No". Maybe I should ask him to bring his rig? He hasn't so far & wasn't happy with the rig in the last room. Fair enough we're just getting together & only had a couple of sesh's together, but isn't getting your sound right just as important as getting the song right? So when you go to rehearsal/practice/jam, do you use what's there or do you take your own amp/cab/combo? [/quote] It depends. If an amp is provided and (as in most cases for me) it's really only needed as my own personal monitor... then I use what's there, unless we are playing for two hours, or I know parking is easy and accessible etc. I played on Thursday and Friday at the "Deadinburgh" show (google it, it was fun ). We set up up on a narrow balcony that we needed to access by climbing a steep spiral staircase, that's after a few more stairs just to get to that floor (big building). Another band is playing today and tomorrow and I know them too and they were having bass amp difficulties. I offered to leave mine for them. So, between the place, access and the idea of leaving it behind... I took my Hartke A100 combo. Tilted back in front of me. Not incredibly loud but it did the job, and I was able to carry all my things in one go. For our album launch next weekend, I am bringing my "proper" rig. For rehearsals, I tend to take my head. If I can plug it in, great. If not, because all they have is a combo without a way to connect a separate head through it... then I use that combo.

[quote name='Mr Fretbuzz' timestamp='1366224862' post='2049922'] ..perhaps not the best of names for a Bass then ... but I guess you could get the Little Bastard Amp to go with it but it might not go down too well on a Beeb interview if asked what kit you've got [/quote] And an OKKO Basstard distortion pedal

[quote name='iceonaboy' timestamp='1366191226' post='2049324'] Or "Puto" can be used [/quote] even better: puto cabron I find it amusing that this stuff does not get filtered... p**o ca***n

[quote name='iceonaboy' timestamp='1366189488' post='2049292'] "Berra" is Spanish for bitch...this is getting so confusing.. [/quote] No, that would be "perra"

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1366038076' post='2047558'] Goat is Capra. [/quote] That's Italian.

[quote name='John Schoen' timestamp='1366021203' post='2047284'] Cabron is Spanish for bastard. The suffix "ita" makes it a small female bastard. [/quote] Yes and no. Cabron can be translated as bastard, or asshole or many other things, in that it is used probably in the very same situations with the very same connotation. However, as it's often the case with these things, literal translations are completely different and often underwhelming. Cabra means goat. Cabron is the male goat, or a big goat. Often used as a mild insult. Or serious insult if you look stern Cabrona could be used as an insult (see above) or to indicate a large female goat. Cabronita, therefore, could be 1) an insult, but with the diminutive suffix -ita making it sound "cuter", so probably not an insult thrown in anger... or it could be 2) a large small female goat (what? nah... stick to 1) In Spain you'd use "cabrita" rather than cabronita, but I guess in Mexico they probably use cabronita. I would not be surprised it it has yet another meaning or at least a different connotation in Mexico, as often we use the same words in very different ways!

[quote name='waynepunkdude' timestamp='1366111818' post='2048379'] A friend of mine is an engineer at a medium sized venue and got this in a band's rider. I concur. [/quote] m-key

so... technically it's not finished. I can still assemble mine before you do!!!

The idea wasn't mine... I saw another orange bass here and thought it was too sexy

That is beautiful!!!!

[quote name='matski' timestamp='1365935486' post='2046084'] Spanky D'Monkey [/quote]

[quote name='SpaceChick' timestamp='1365926012' post='2045934'] I loved the suggestion of "The Mangetout experience" but now that Monkeys have been brought into to equation how about.... The Mangetout Monkeys Or (Having learned Spanish a bit where I'm quite sure Monkey is Mono) The Mono Mangetout? However, that implies you may never have a stereo sound.... Oh this is too hard.... I'll get my coat! [/quote] The Mangetout Monkeys has a ring to it...

Looks like a nice bass, I really like the Streamer design. If the neck on that one is nice (I've tried some delicious and some incredibly uncomfortable Warwicks) it seems like a decent deal.

[quote name='chaypup' timestamp='1365883657' post='2045700'] Ah yes, sorry I should have qualified where it was used. [size=4] Is there a word for South/Central American Spanish? Latin Amerispanish maybe?[/size] [/quote] in my comprehensive (3min? ) research, it seemed it was common in Northern Argentina and also in Mexico... and it was used in a variety of ways. It's always good to know. I had meant to ask you what a superchango was, now I have an idea How did your band's name name come about?