doctor_of_the_bass

[quote name='machinehead' post='496390' date='May 23 2009, 10:56 PM']Must say I agree. I love the cabs and I've done lots of gigs with the LMII and a 2 x 10 traveller. For bigger gigs I've added a second 2 x 10 stacked 4 high and the sound was superb. Only sold the cabs due to a smaller car and I've often regretted it. I also have a 1 x 12 combo and it's perfectly adequate for small pubs and rehearsals. I even used it last week in a 200 person room and it (just about) coped. Impressive for such a small box as long as you realise it has its limits in terms of low end but the volume is fine. Frank[/quote] Hi Frank! I think what happens is that your ears (or in my case, ear!) gets used to hearing a certain sound - I call it the `trace syndrome'. Reason is, you get accustomed to what appears to be a regular, `normal' bass amp sound; then something new comes onto the market (back in 86 it was a Trace rig for me) which suddenly `ups' the standard - it makes everything else sound dull or whatever. I got used to the Trace sound, then a mate of mine bought an SWR which then made the Trace sound dull! Went SWR!!! Subsequently, I heard an EBS rig which made the SWR sound old hat, (went EBS!) then Markbass came along which has, for me (note that!) given me the closest thing in terms of the sound I'd always searched for. I've tried other high end gear which is comparable in tone terms but there's something about the Mark stuff which just does it for me. Having suffered a major ear op this year, it does make you realise how delicate your hearing is and that everyone's hearing will be different - the clean, pure sound of the Mark gear does help me now that I'm much more aware of the effects of volume can have on one's hearing (even though my ear problem was nothing to do with high pressure levels, so my consultant says) - I find the onstage volume can be much lower without any compromise on clarity.

[quote name='thedontcarebear' post='496552' date='May 24 2009, 12:11 PM']Sent him an e-mail earlier actually! E-mailed EBS the other day but no reply.[/quote] Could be a rattlesnake! Thars plenny of 'em out here in the Fens! Fosk - where did you get the cab out of interest? I had one for sale at Live Music some years ago. I'd try Alex' suggestion; you might be able to pinpoint the issue that way, and as Ped mentioned, might be worth taking the speaker out to check the wiring/foreign objects such as polystyrene getting stuck behind the cone (had this with an SWR Triad which buzzed and rattled in an awful manner!).

[quote name='Bassassin' post='495303' date='May 22 2009, 04:08 PM']Morris as in house-brand of [url="http://www.kiwi-us.com/~mmi/"]Moridaira Musical Instruments[/url]. Pretty acoustics & distribution these days, but back in the day Morris/Moridaira gave the world some pretty decent JapCrap, although I don't think the Hurricane brand was their top stuff. This looks like an OK late 70s/early 80s P copy, the guy says it was a project & I'm guessing that involved fitting the Dimarzio pup, which doesn't exactly fit the scratchplate. Plainly the project didn't extend to realigning the bridge. Jon.[/quote] I recall an advert for an Hurricane guitar (in Guitar Player mag circa '84) - their tagline was `Watch out Kramer, the Hurricane is here'! That bass looks good and bad at the same time! Good quality Tokai style machine heads!

[quote name='Kongo' post='496219' date='May 23 2009, 06:31 PM']I was talking about the head, the cabs ain;t worth it to me. Plus combo's? Yetch! Markbass SD800 has more than enough power for the money. It almost has 1000watts of clout @ 800 watts and if that's not enough, the SD1200 has 1200watts...and it's a mono head! I picture the tone I like and get it. At the mo my Jazz gets me there better with the Markbass. I've seen many players use extensive EQ and I don't see why not.[/quote] As a full-time bass player with a selection of Markbass gear (four different cabs, a head and a 2 x 10 combo to choose from/mix and match) I find it interesting to hear that some players don't like the cabs! I personally love 'em! Just my opinion of course! In fact I'm tending to use my 2 x 10" Traveller cab on its own with the Little Mark head on a lot of gigs and it sounds fantastic (with my trusty Vigier!). Lovely, pure, transparent tone - just what I like.

[quote name='Marcus' post='496250' date='May 23 2009, 07:15 PM']Bookmatched Spalted maple front, rear and headstock 34 scale..... massive sound unlike my other series II's which were a bit on the thin side[/quote] Howay Mark! Was that Al Webb's bass? It used to be a goldflake all-over spray job. Very sad what happened to Al. Loz - stunning!

[quote name='phsycoandy' post='496055' date='May 23 2009, 02:43 PM']It plays like I never want to part with it! Thanks for the comments, she always gets favourable glances at gigs.[/quote] I have had the honour of playing this bass and tis a peach! I've always wanted a GB - I have owned a couple of lovely Nightingale basses (kind of related to GB!) in the past but I'd love a Spitfire!

..these originally cost £750

These were all the rage back in t'80s when I were a lad...

[quote name='Paul_C' post='489672' date='May 16 2009, 11:41 AM']the best bit is that if you look through his feedback, it shows where the bass and all its parts came from [/quote] What a prat!!!! Nice to see the bass only cost £112!! Well spotted sir!

Some lovely basses guys! Daveski - was that a custom order?

Look at this....the mother of all fakes!! [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1968-Fender-Jazz-Bass_W0QQitemZ150345729875QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item150345729875&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A10%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1968-Fender-Jazz-Bas...%3A1%7C294%3A50[/url] In the words of Meldrew, `I don't believe it'!!! Even if it was genuine I doubt it would fetch 21K

As a massive Yes fan, I think he's absolutely brilliant - there's been a lot of controversy surrounding the `Jon' and `Benoit' issue amongst the Yes fraternity but at the end of the day, no-one moaned about ABWH when they went out without Chris Squire. Jon is ill and not able to sing; its not as though he has been permanently replaced - in interviews, Benoit makes it very clear that he is not a replacement and is there whilst Jon takes time out to get well etc. Check out www.yesworld.com - lots of resources there.

[quote name='Shonks' post='488403' date='May 15 2009, 12:18 AM']I'm 17 but look 55 - but can I play like a m*****f***er!!!!![/quote] Me too son!

[quote name='6stringbassist' post='488400' date='May 15 2009, 12:16 AM']My 1st gig was the original line up on Sunday 11th November 1984 at Birmingham Odeon, I was 12 and totally blown away by what I saw.[/quote] Yes, saw your JD at Johns - lot of potential there! John is the best - lovely guy and very humble about his art. First time I saw 42 live was at the NEC in '88 - sadly never saw the original line up.

Great stuff John! To me, as a young fledgling bassist in the '80s, those pics sum up the era perfectly! I started playing in '82 (I was only 11 then! hard to believe I know!) and I can kind of remember seeing the video to `Living It Up' on TOTP - I thought that Mike Lindup was the lead singer of the band and that Mark looked like some kind of hardcase! I then saw the band on telly again and Mark was playing one of his Jaydees - I thought it was some kind of Yamaha bass as the body shape and inlays were reminiscent of a BB range bass - I didn't really know anything about Jaydees then!!! I bought my first Mark King model from Musical Exchanges in '88 - it was a blue burst Series III model. Again, at that time, I thought all JDs had a similar sized body as my bass looked quite small on me, whereas Mark's (series I) looked massive on him - I assumed he was some kind of pygmy!!!! I had that bass for around a year, then swapped it for a red Series II (like Johns!) and have over the years owned many many JDs, including Mark's red Series I (serial number 00002) which is most famous for its appearance on the Live at Wembley video/dvd. I went over to see John Diggins on Monday - they are really busy and have many new builds on the go - I dropped off my Roadie fretless for a complete refurb. John is still very touched by all the interest in what he is doing and has recently been featured in the new Haynes manuals for both the Fender Strat and Gibson Les Paul.

[quote name='al embic' post='487098' date='May 13 2009, 05:51 PM']the one in the bass centre in manchester was mine.....loved it...but it was a weighty beast so it went in a part ex deal for some eden gear...i bought it from the bass centre in london many moons ago,second hand then too.after shelling out for "the real deal" a few years agao i realised just how bloody good the old fernandes was!!sounded more like an alembic than my alembic did..honest!![/quote] I've owned two of these in the past, the one thats being discussed (now owned by a good mate of mine who is selling it) and the smaller bodied version. I must admit, there are notable differences between the Fernandes and the real thing quality wise, mainly issues such as the fretboard (rosewood as opposed to ebony) etc etc but for what they are, they do exhibit a similar tone to the Alembics (I own a '74 Series 1 LS and a 20th Anniversary model) and from a distance, look great! Bit naughty but there we are.

[quote name='Crazykiwi' post='487180' date='May 13 2009, 07:23 PM']Definitely one for the die-hard collectors I think. The neck on Nick's was superb though.[/quote] Thanks Steve - it is a great bass! I did actually have a bid on that one on Ebay (thank the Cosmos I was outbid by around £700!!!) but I've just bought another one - which is very naughty of course!!!! The Ebay bass looked to have had a string retainer on the headstock which may have meant a non-pitched back headstock, whereas mine is pitched! Would have been interesting to have seen it - the thing is that out of all the Pangs I've seen/owned, each is pretty much unique in terms of features/cosmetics.

[quote name='Ditchgbh' post='487418' date='May 13 2009, 10:56 PM']Hi I am a London based accomplished bass player with 22 years expereince (I'm 32 but look 22) and MI Diploma, string endorsement and great gear. I'm a very quick learner with fantastic ears and I'd love to find a great covers/blues/jazz/pop/rock/function/ANY band to gig with. I also have vocals. I'm availalble to dep too. If you fancy a meet up PM me and we can chat. cheers! Rich[/quote] Will keep you in mind (I'm 38 but look 17......stone!)

Very similar to my graphite necked Warlord...in fact the current high bidder is a very good mate of mine!!! Hmm!

Four strings! Although those fivers look superb....!