fretmeister

The Lite does look good - but I do like the wedge format of the 2x10. Very handy to have it firing upwards a bit in some venues.

I'd go for this: http://www.markbass.it/product-detail/marcus-miller-cmd-102-500/

I'm currently trying to nail Zoot Suit Riot by the Cherry Poppin' Daddies. I've got to perform it on 15th December so I should really do more practice. Rehearsals are going reasonably well though.

Play the WASP version. Johnny Rod did a better job than JE did! Heresy I know - but it's true.

The reviews seem very positive! £395 seems a good deal to me.

If they are good for 5000 hours perhaps something else is making you think it might be a dodgy tube? Playing amped for 5 hours per week = 260 hours per year = life span of 19 and a bit years. How old is it?

Answer 3. https://www.talkbass.com/threads/markbass-lmt800-tube.583086/ should be good for 5000 hours. I think they are soldered in.

Isn’t it a mini tube in them?

I love pedals, and I love playing without too. When I did the Top 40 covers thing in a 3 piece band they were pretty essential to replicate keys and other stuff. I had a massive board for that. Now I'm playing in a big band and I've got a tuner and a compressor. Whatever the song needs is good for me.

We’re doing some Mickey Bubbles and the dreaded Maria Carey.

MXR M81 preamp pedal.

I always wanted a Cliff Burton model. bit pricey really!

I can’t stand locking jack sockets. If anything they give a higher load on the wood possibly causing cracking - especially on front mounted sockets. At least putting the lead through the strap moves that stress to the strap and strap button area where the wood is thicker. All basses should have slot load bridges. I hate having to feed the strings through the bridge, especially if taking strings off but wanting to keep them for future use.

Only your hands can do this. No body else can. All you can do is play as many as you can and see what feels comfy and doesn't get in the way of how you play. I play 5 strings mostly. I know that a 48mm nut is too wide for me, and that rules out a lot of instruments. 44.5mm is a narrow 5 like on a Stingray 5 and I like that a lot. The feel of my 45mm nut bass is hugely different to my Ray even though there is only 0.5m difference. The neck profile is very different and the bridge spacing is larger meaning the strings splay out more as I play up the neck. The Ray is quite chunky in the hand and the Marleaux is much thinner, front to back. If the Marleaux was as chunky as the Ray I don't think I would like it - but it's slim and easy to play, just in a different way to the Stingray. Get to a good shop and try as much as you can!

Helix. But I've recently been experimenting with my Tech21 dUg straight into a powered PA cab too.

Lovely! Hohner really were a great brand. Awesome value for money.

Does no one just draw the settings on the amp anymore? Stickers and a pen?

I doubt it, but I’ve never needed to turn it up that much either. Gets over a loud drummer and 20 odd piece brass section without breaking sweat.