nottswarwick

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....

The Abm is nothin like the markbass heads in terms of sound or EQ. Having owned several mb products it has just taken me a while to get used to how the Abm works.

I know what you are saying, but it just sounds better that way. Believe me, I only use EQ when necessary and sparingly (I am also a competent sound engineer). My intention was to run without the pre shape, but for some reason it does not work for me. It's a bit like the markbass vpf filter. It certainly was not a sharp treble sound though, but I can see how you might think it is. None of the knobs were moved more that to five to or five past, so it was nothing excessive, honest.

Well, gig 2 done. Pa supported again, big stage area, bass can get lost. Used the stingray. Took some time to EQ the head. Started off without the pre shape but it sounded flat. Pre shape scoop engaged, cut the lows, boost mids and highs (all on amp), sounding good. EQ on bass - treble centre, slight mid and bass boost but only a touch. After all that it sounded great. So as it stands, the sr4 comes back home ( I buy it back), the compact stays, and I use my abm500. The drive is handy too- use it on half the songs. really organic sounds, warm and tubey and pillowy but also cutting. I can see a BD midget at some point soon. Good stuff

Ok so last night was a medium ish room not huge. Rig shoved in corner, not ideal. Bass wise I kept coming back to my MIM p bass, preferring it to the loan stingray. We will see if the same occurs tonight... Rig wise - dunno, not sure really. I struggled to hear myself a bit at times and tonight I'm gonna take a bit more time on my settings. No going to use the Abm pre shape scoop, try for flat with a bit of EQ if necessary. Need to try a lm3 aswell...... I could certainly see the addition of a midget cab helping get the bass to ear level....

you could be right Chris. Still, worth investigating theoretically.

Some of you will be aware that I am in the middle of my quest for the perfect (for me) gigging rig.... Well, another option will be a pre/power set up. I have down this before using a BDDI into a QSC RMX 2450, into my old Markbass 410. It met with slightly limited success, possibly because of something I do not quite understand - ideal (or less than ideal) matching (impedance related) of preamp (BDDI) and power amp (I think...). Anyway, the current cab in question is the BF compact - although this could still be exchanged (still within my one month trial period, just - final trials this weekend). So, what I am trying to establish is what good preamp options are there out there? I am aware of: Sansamp stuff - BDDI, Para Driver, and perhaps of most interest, the RBI. Avalon U5 Ebs Micro Bass Radial Bassbone. In fact, I actually already have a radial JDI passive DI box. No tone controls obviously, but might do the job. I [i]think[/i] I might be after something clean and clear and a transparent - basically a true representation of my bass. I can then add grit from a pedal if necessary. So something like the Avalon could be the ticket (although the lack of EQ - I know it has some presets - worries me a little for tweaking on the gig, as it were). And then there is the question of the power amp. From past experience of PA work I like the QSC stuff. PLX for lightness would be good. But what about this impedance matching string - can someone explain it. I know Alex (BF) uses such a set-up - perhaps you could elaborate? Anyway, this is certainly of interest to me, and hopefully might be to others. There is info already on the board, but I could not find it all together... Chris

Jimmy Cliff - top attitude :-)

[quote name='charic' post='1337798' date='Aug 12 2011, 03:45 PM']I'm not sure I'd fancy trying to nail much aerosmith. Always struggled with that band, is it hand or do I just have a mental block going on?[/quote] It has a certain swagger doesnt it? Great feel that band. Think the drummer has alot to do with it.

I thought I would share a heads up with any East Midlands bassists. This coming Sunday 14th, my band are at The Southbank Bar on Trent Bridge. It might be of interest to anyone who wants to hear a BF Compact, driven by my ABM500. I shall also be A-B testing a SR4 and my MIM P bass. And if anyone really fancies bringing along any alternative heads for my to try (EBS, Markbass, Genz, TC?????) then that would be super cool. It's all part of my quest to sort out a et up for once and for all. Let me know if you can get down. Chris

Well, 2 gigs this weekend - a wedding, and the a bar gig in a big venue with tricky acoustics bass-wise. I have borrowed back my old Stingray 4, with the option to buy it back if I want to. I shall be using this, and my MIM P bass. The aim is to see which type of sound sits in the mix best. I have been playing them both this afternoon for an hour or so through my studio monitors, and obviously the sounds are very different. They also feel different in terms of the right hand, but the neck feels are very similar. I played the solo, and then along to some ABBA (daughter loves Mama Mia, and she was around so it kept her happy while is was playing - plus I LOVE the bass lines). So far I has surprising thoughts - the P Bass was marginally more comfortable, and seemed to sit better in the mix when playing along. Stingray slightly less comfortable (maybe because I have been on P basses recently, although I played Stingrays for years before), and stood out from the mix a little. INTERESTING, and I shall report back following the gigs. Also, final 2 gigs in my trial month with the BF Compact. Still using my ABM500 head with it. So far so good. Always have PA support, but the Sunday venue is tricky in terms of stage sound bass-audibility wise, so we shall see. Anyway, lets see what happens. If I prefer the P bass, I shall be looking for a USA Standard, or other make (Lakky I suppose) to make my main bass.....but there is always a Jazz Bass to try too....lol it never ends. If anyone is in Nottingham on Sunday night I am at the Southbank Bar on Trent bridge from 9 ish, so come and have a listen and see how it all sounds to you. Chris

I'm still liking them a lot

[quote name='Musicman20' post='1334163' date='Aug 9 2011, 08:49 PM']..... so I could just be gassing for something I dont need.[/quote] LOL that is a comment that could be applied to a lot of us haha

Yep, used to own one. not bad at limited volume, but far from the best cab I have used. Very middl-y, not great low end extension. The ported 102 standard is MUCH better. I used to use my trv102 on its end and angled upwards, purely as a stage monitor, which to be fair it did its job as, but I have heard better. For the money I would not bother again. I used to be a string advocate of the MB cabs, but since trying others (Tecamp, Ashdown, Aguilar, Barefaced) I think they have a distinctive mid/wool sound, which some some but I do not. I have heard a LM3 into a BF Super 12 T and it was an excellent tone and volume. I would think a better alternative to the TRV102P would be a 210 form tecamp/TC, or a BF Midget, or any of the nice 112 cabs out there.