nottswarwick

I had a bit is a blonde (well, thinning to be truthful) moment at my last gig and it made for interesting results: We were really rushed after set up to get the first dance done and set one - they were arseing around with the speeches for too long and we could not get in to set up...anyhooo, quick change in Hotel Blue Transit, and then on. Having gigged for years with Markbass, I did not unmute the ABM head...no sound from any output, so as the band merrily tore into the first number I stood there wondering. Could not work it out, so whipped the lead form the amp, and plugged it straight into the PA desk (next to me, luckily, unplugging my DI as I went. Quick PFL level check, a guess of the channel fader, put me into aux 1 and 2 (monitors) and GO. And it sounded mint. I could hear myself, and it was good out front (roadie gave the thumbs up). So, BASS -> DESK -> MONITORS AND FOH. Minimal rig to say the least. After a couple of songs I realised what I had done and reverted, but I could have done the gig, no worries. The band missed the rig on stage, and I guess I did too, but it worked.

Cheers. It's well gigged - I've had to upgrade to fixings on one of the corner cabinets recently. And the tumble drier is f***ed. The Smeg is still awesome though.

We charge £900 - £1200 ish, sometimes a bit more if we do the disco aswell. Pubs, £300 - £500. Mostly work East / West Midlands Hope this helps a bit. We have been going for 17 years so there is a bit of a reputation there. Harder to get established.

[quote name='simon1964' post='1343685' date='Aug 17 2011, 09:08 PM']Isn't that the one I sold you in a trade for some Mark Bass gear a few years back? If so, it was definitely right handed back then [/quote] The very same one. lol it is still right handed.

lol took it with photo booth on my mac, and did not turn it around. The kitchen and he bass are both 2001 models.

So, I sold this to a local chap a year or so ago (I think.....) But I now have it back. Here it is - crap pic but there you go. [attachment=87358:sr4right.jpg] C

[quote name='Prime_BASS' post='1342608' date='Aug 17 2011, 12:35 AM']Yes another flat convert, screw you smiley face mission!! Surprising how good "flat" sounds in a mix. I've also said on other threads, going about it this way is easier to translate into of genres of music. I wouldn't worry what the MM.com site mumbles about. All it's doing is describing the frequency curve of the knobs, i.e the bass slopes from it's centre frequency. It would have been more useful putting up frequency curve graphs. MusicmanBass.org states that the pre-Eb 2EQ and current 2-EQ are the same. Bass is boost only with boost and cut treble. I'm not 100% sure, and not that bothered, but I'm pretty sure the 3EQ bass is boost only.[/quote] It's more than just curves. They interact with each other it seems. Whatever, it works. Whilst you are of course correct about flat and mids being our friend from a live point of view, I do find that the ray needs a slight boost of the bass knob to give the lows some body and feel. Each yo their own

[url="http://www.music-man.com/faq/music-man-basses/how-does-the-3-band-eq-function-on-your-basses.html"]http://www.music-man.com/faq/music-man-bas...our-basses.html[/url]

There seems to be more to it. There is a section in mm website explaining it. Hang on..

[quote name='Linus27' post='1342540' date='Aug 16 2011, 11:05 PM']Is that actually right? I thought the detent at 12 o'clock was flat.[/quote] Ooo well now so did I

Out of interest how does the 2eq work? I know there are no centre detents unlike the 3 EQ so what is flat?

lol that is quality ;-)

[quote name='51m0n' post='1341922' date='Aug 16 2011, 02:10 PM']I disagree, to my ear it S12T is significantly different from a Compact, it punches way harder, and gets way louder, it has significantly more zing (tweeter innit) and sounds like a far more complete package, to me. It will take plenty of eq perfectly happily and produce immense low end, in that regard it is similar to the Compact. But its the punch that it pushes out that is the real ace up its sleeve.[/quote] Hahahah ace bring it on

What cab do you use 4000?

Thanks. Ive heard a s12t when I was doing Pa for a band and it was great, a good strong full range tone. I'm gonna see how the ashdown sounds through it. It might be just the ticket but we will see. If not i will go back to an lm3 plus a drive pedal

[quote name='Musicman20' post='1341584' date='Aug 16 2011, 10:22 AM']The ABM wont be at all like the MB amps. It wont have the punch or the clarity.[/quote] V true.

This is what I used to do- Amp- all 4 eqs at 12 o clock, often a slight bass cut to around 5 to and sometimes the same slight cut on the low mid. Sometimes a touch of vpf but not much. Sr4 all flat maybe a slight on gig adjustment here and there but never much.

It's quite poss that the Abm is not that special or versatile but I have to work with it for now at least...

I have re read my posts on this topic. I have not made much sense lol. In essence the Abm is a different beast to markbass. I am surprised by how much, but it is. Primebass, have you compared the two at all? I know this comes over argumentatively but it's not meant to. It is very lifeless and sterile if the pre shape is not engaged, and to my ears and through the compact canny be livened up unless this is engaged. One this is done the low needs taming and the MUDs boosting slightly. I know it makes no sense but there you go. And then slight EQ touches on the bass in the gig to suit. This could change when the s12t arrives.

I have obviously described it wrong. Growly is exactly the sound I get. The Abm pre shape is a scoop, but with a little judicious EQ it cuts and snarls and bites. I would leave the shape off but it sounds lifeless and sterile without it.'you would thing that you could simply use the EQ without the shape preset to achieve the same thing, but for some reason with the Abm you can't. The s12t is superb as you know, and I am sure will work for me. All input gratefully received, thanks. I will post back with updates. Edit - I hate low end mush. Mids are where it is at live. I am returning to stingrays for clarity, fullness and the ability to be heard and felt.

splendid.

Yep, you are right. So, I am pleased to announce, BF Super12 T INCOMING. Alex, is a legend. Pretty much spot on in the first place as he suspected a S12T was what I needed. But I could not afford it (still cannot really), so he is taking the compact back and I am upgrading to a S12T. I think that will do the job perfectly. Volume (575W in to the 4 ohms), and tweeter to give me the bite and to replicate what the PA is doing too. Top man, should be ready next week. Happy days. Chris

You could be right. I should explain further. I have used Stingrays and Markbass rigs for years. Last year I got a job as drummer in my current band, and thus only needed a bass rig for occasional sep work. Hence I sold my Stinrgrays and rig, and got some cheaper stuff (mim, Ashdown etc). However, now a change has resulted in me moving on to bass full time, and I am reassembling a rig to suit my needs. The Ashdown and MArkbass heads are totally different animals. I have owned LM2, LM3, TA501 and F1 heads, and found them to be very clean yet full sounding. I would not describe them as "hifi" but they are in comparison to the Ashdown, which is a very pillowy and warm sound. I used to use the VPF on the MB heads at around 11 o'clock on the dial. I would then usually leave everything else flat, a possibly cut the bass a little to suit the room. Again, as with the ABM, any eq tweaks were minimal. I also used a BDDI on 50/50 blend, as I need some drive in my sound for the rockier / punkier numbers. The abm does this well. Maybe I am missing a tweeter....either way, I will rig it all up later on in my studio. Going to email Alex now anyway, maybe to investigate a midget, or a swap for a S12T....