TRBboy

Absolute bargain! They're great basses, I used to have a black sparkly one. I always remember doing some pit work, and I was mainly using a 5 string Yamaha TRB and a US jazz. I brought the ATK along one day, and after rehearsal/soundcheck the engineer came scurrying down and said "Wow! What have you done to your bass sound today, it sounds INCREDIBLE!" 😂👍

I've tried a few different brands, but keep coming back to Alpine Musicsafe Pro. Comfy, I can hear what I need to just quieter, and you get 3 different attenuation filters with them. The fact they're pretty cheap is a plus. 😅 The unexpected bonus for me is it helps me massively with vocals; I can 'hear myself' in my head when I'm singing! 👌 Been using musicians plugs for years, and I think I'd find it very uncomfortable gigging without them now.

As others have said, try as many as you can, but in general terms you can't go far wrong with something like an Ibanez SR, a Yamaha, or A Cort of some sort. I reckon a Sire V5 5 string would be a good shout too, although I haven't tried one myself. Some of the low-mid range 5ers can feel really clumsy and difficult to play, but there are so many variables, and so much of it is personal, you really need to schlep around some music shops and get your hands on as many as possible if you can.

I had the 500w 2x10 combo with the 1x15 ext cab for a few years. They're great VFM I think. The 2x10 will go loud, but in my opinion the drivers start to really sound like they're struggling at volume, like they're being pushed to their limits. Ultimately this is why I changed

Yes you're absolutely right, but most people will choose an active bass because it gives them more control over their sound. I was making the point in relation to choosing an active/passive instrument, not in relation to signal loss with wireless systems. My bad for not being clear enough.

I'm not quite sure I understand what this thread is all about after reading it, but I'll chip in anyway. 😅😬 I've always detected a loss or 'change' of some sort with any wireless system I've tried, with either active or passive basses. That's just to my ears. However, several years ago I took a punt on a Smooth Hound system, and it's amazing! I can't detect any tradeoff in the signal, and I'm really happy with it. The main thing I don't understand about this thread is why you seem desperate to use this as a justification to buy an active bass. If you want one, get one? I've had lots of both over the years, and have ended up deciding I generally prefer passive basses, however I wouldn't turn my nose up at an active bass, there's a lot more to it than just a preamp.With an active preamp you have more control of the sound at the bass, that's all there is too it. As I tended to set and forget, and I'm always stood right in front of my amp anyway it's not an issue for me. I've ended up where I am because I came to the conclusion (again just my perception/opinion/ears) that passive, single coil basses seem to offer a purity of tone that often gets lost somewhere with active basses. Again, this statement has no basis in fact, purely personal preference! I'd personally buy a bass firstly for the feel/playability, second for the tone, thirdly for the looks. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Obviously I'm a long time Sandberg fan, but I REALLY like the look/sound of these and would love at something similar! I've long had a hankering for a shorty with a humbucker, but I think I'm possibly going to build one after my current build 😊

This sounds cool! Will see if I'm free, but fingers crossed! I went to one very small bass doo in Birmingham about 8-10 years ago, but that's the only one I've been to. Just getting back to BC after a lengthy hiatus. 🙏

Well, I played my first gig with the LMT on Friday night, and it performed admirably! Sounded really good, and it was easy to dial in something that worked well with the room we were playing in. I ended up with the SS/Tube preamp blend set at about 3 o'clock; the valve side does seem to have a bit more grittiness and presence, but the solid state side has a fuller, tighter low end response as far as I can tell (could be complete nonsense though!). I still continue to be impressed with this GR cab, I've had some great gear over the years but this just WORKS (especially well with a Markbass head it would seem!). Although I enjoyed the LMT, I'm still not sure if the LMII is my favourite out of the few I've tried recently! 😂

I think next gig I need to do one set with the LMT and one with the LMII. Out of the 3 the Markbass heads I've tried recently, I kinda feel like the LMII is my favourite! 😂 Although tbf it's the only one I've gigged so far. May do some comparing in the cellar today.....

Seems great so far! Do you notice a real 'boost' when you have the preamp blend set to 12 o'clock? Is that a P5 too..... 😃 I keep ogling the 5 string version!

I won't do a seperate post, but my replacement for the LM800 has arrived today; a lovely Little Mark Tube! I've only given it a quick try, but it sounds great so far. Inherently brighter than the LM2 possibly? We will see. No gig this weekend though sadly!i will report back after next Friday's gig. 😊👍

I think some people are asking too much if I'm honest, but you're right the prices vary wildly! There are bargains to be had out there though, you just have to keep looking. 😊

Not that anyone's particularly interested 😂 but I had the speaker out tonight. Not many clues, but a quick Google of the number on the magnet suggests to me that it's an Eden speaker. I think 300w RMS, 8 ohm impedence. I was only curious because it sounds SO good. Mystery solved, I think. 🤷🏻‍♂️

As an old boss of mine used to say, one man's Coq au Vin is another man's chicken in a basket! 😂

That's a big part of the problem here isn't it, there's so many variables at play that make up the 'sound' we all hear, including the fact that we likely all hear things slightly differently! I can't find anything scientific that says a class A/B power amp should sound any different to a Class D poweramp, assuming all other things are equal. 🤷🏻‍♂️

I am no electrical expert, but I don't believe there is from everything I've read so far. Watts are Watts are Watts, regardless of amp class. Harmonic content may be noticeable between say solid state and tube, but then you can have an A/B class power stage of either of those 🤷🏻‍♂️ I just read an interesting point that most PA/FOH/Live sound installs have been class D powered for quite some time now, and no one complains that they are lacking vs heavy transistor amps. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Yeah I know what you mean, and I do just try to use my ears as much as I can. I tried all sorts with the shuttle, watched Ed Friedland's review and settings, etc. I ended up boosting the lowest mid range frequency as he did, because actually it did sound best. The versatility of the preamp wasn't the problem, and you could easily dial in a nice tone. The problem for me was that there didn't seem to be enough breadth or 'guts' to the sound. In the band mix it just got a bit lost and felt a bit 2 dimensional. As an aside, I have to say that coming back to Markbass after nearly 10 years is a beautiful thing! It's the happiest I've been with my sound for a very long time! And that GR cab just slays! 😎😜

Ah okay, I've no experience of that one myself. From the Class D heads I have had, I've certainly found that they're not all created equal. The GB Shuttle 9.2 I had was powerful, and had a good eq section, but I always somehow found it lacking. It just wasn't 'present' and seemed to be lacking body. In contrast, the Aguilar AG700 I had was excellent, warm, powerful, full sounding, and just generally awesome.... Yeah I regret selling it! 😂 I found the fender rumble much the same. Both sounded great in a loud rock band, whereas the Shuttle always seemed to get a little lost. So in essence, I don't think the power amp classification creates an absolute rule on whether the amp will be good or bad in a band context, like with any class of amp it's just down to the overall design and execution, and whether it is the right amp to deliver your expectations.

That's what I figured, thanks 😊👍

Hey folks! I'm buying a cracking little Ashdown cab from local BCer @vmaxblues, and he bought it from someone on BC. The speaker was replaced at some point, and I'm really curious what it is (it sounds fantastic! 😍). I realise I could drop the speaker out, but I thought it was easier to ask in the first instance. So, was this your cab? Do you know anything about it? Thanks for any help. 😊🙏

That's hopefully what I have coming end of the week to replace the LM800 😊👍

What class D amp did you have Pete?

So, after further consideration on the LM800 and more time spent with it, I've sent it back today. It worked okay, but did have some issues (mainly cosmetic). Ultimately, I didn't feel like it had been looked after by its previous owner, and this gives me uncertainty over reliability. That maybe silly, but it is what it is. I think I've found something else suitable, but whatever I get will definitely be a Markbass head regardless 😊👍