Sugden

Markbass major problem seems to be their power blocks everytime I hear about one going wrong its the power block. Might be me though my LMKII went back for it to be replaced as well. Tell you what though I had to talk to alot of people before they admitted it was covered by a 2 year warranty for markbass, obviously they have started reading the warranty cards they send out with the amps they sell. But they do a fantastic service got my amp in 2 and a half weeks with xmas slap bang in the middle. Plus the maddest thing is they call you back when they say they will

I have to say that Im not really after light weight or heavey, light weight is nice but I've gone from my littlemark to the DHA amp simply for tone. Ortho the Littlemark was a hell of alot more practical in regards to turning up in taxi's etc. I don't think theres a heavey 2x10 or 1x15 that I've heard that comes close to the light weight options in terms of tone, my omni's sound huge and great, and the markbass cabs and berg and accu cabs are all great too. The light weight hybrid heads are damn close to the big heavey duty amps no matter what people say especialy in a live situation. Plus theres half way alternatives that sound better than the vintage stuff and lighter weight. I think most people if they can afford to will chase tone and sometimes might get blinded by repuatation and vintage label. But most get whats practical for their situation which in todays terms for small or big bands traveling alot is lighter weight gear plus every now and then you get the tone your after too.

Tweeters From CPC, theres where I got mine, and mostly everyone else does as well. Plus there in stock which is a bonus. Item numbers LS02367 and link: [url="http://cpc.farnell.com/LS02367/audio-video-tv/product.us0?sku=unbranded-mpt-016&_requestid=380717"]HERE[/url]

[quote name='Crazykiwi' post='210878' date='Jun 2 2008, 12:21 AM']A custom body shape?! [/quote] Alans seems pretty happy to tweek his designs according to customer prefrences. That looks great, sounds like a nice day with alan. Love the back of the harlot really suits the shape well. Infact I think you'll find a number of people wanting to use the shape as well if they go headless....

[quote name='d-basser' post='11813' date='Jun 4 2007, 01:23 PM']that thing is so lovely (and wonderful sounding) it makes me want to cry...then get an overdraft[/quote] cheers ill have to do an update review on it soon along with its sister the fretless harlot and ill put up a link to the small ep i recorded with that band all with both the acg's. the fretless tone in one song is a stunner ortho let down by my playing but the tone saves it i think. It is a fantastic instrument. I haven't as of yet found anything i'd want to replace it with and if you know me owning something for over 2 years is well I dont think its ever happened.

[quote name='BigRedX' post='190925' date='May 2 2008, 10:55 PM']I'm glad that nowadays it is possible to buy an unusual bass and not have to put up with substandard hardware and other design compromises, that was the norm in the 50s and 60s.[/quote] If anything an unusual bass these days HAS to be above standard in terms of quality so people will buy them over the other more image orientated designs theres no choice in it. It just wouldn't fly making a alternative design to leading names and putting sub standard parts on them companies wouldn't go anywhere. Ortho this has always made me wonder how fender get away with putting instruments out that most enthusiasts instantly replace most of the parts on apart from the wood.

Thought I better pop mine up for a listen, I've got 2 omni 10.5 crossfire cabs up in manchester at the moment, ortho no idea where I'll be after july. Sug

Might have to pop in and try one....

Haven't happened to have tried a Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 have you? For a comparison between the two as that seems like its major rival and they seem to be a huge hit over on talkbass, ortho the chaps over there do seem to get caught up in the moment a tad.

As a suggested alternative to the incase slim bag from talkbass theres the Protec Contego Bass Guitar Case. Haven't used one but it looks pretty good and coming in at £85 in comaprison to £150 for the incase maybe more, and the fact tribal planet GX40 cases have been disscontinued, looks like a good buy. [url="http://www.protecstore.com/items.aspx?ProductID=410&InstrumentID=5&InstrumentGroupID=4&CategoryID=2&subCategoryID=45"]PROTEC LINK[/url] They seem to be coming into the Uk shortly: [url="http://www.bill-lewington.com/protec/pt_fret.htm"]http://www.bill-lewington.com/protec/pt_fret.htm[/url] Ortho I haven't enquired as to when they will arrive. Hope this might help someone, i'll be getting one when my wariwck case gets too bad it wont close. Cheers Sug

I have to say I agree about the pre-drill I'd have no facility to easily pre-drill the box when I'd bought it especialy not to a level of accureccy I'd want. But if it was pre drilled sounds like a nice price. Comparing the pedal to its element costs, is just a stupid way to look at it from a product that is out on the market perspective. Dave has obviously spent time developing the design and had to come up with a way to implement it in the first place. Your buying the parts and the design here remember and a handy guide to put it together if it was as simple as buying the right bits everyone would just do that. Also looking at the price decrease from the retail assembled version looks like abit of a steal.

It's a shame I wasn't at the bash judging by your specs I was all geared up to go but had to travel home that weekend from uni. Best friends 21st as well no consideration for my bass playing needs. If your ever in manchester your more than welcome to come over and play my recurve, and the harlot. Liverpool's just down the road only a mear train ride away bit of a walk on the otherside but your more than welcome all the same. Plus not that biga cost compared to the bass for choosing shapes and getting an idea of the sound. Invitation is more than open to anyone else passing through or around manchester as well. Still love my basses haven't had another bass player play them and not want one after either. They go down very well. Alans superb to deal with great guy, always happy to spend time chatting through ideas or working hard to sort something for you. Good luck with the build nice to see another acg in the making. O just realised Im Paul btw just incase my rambling above didnt make the link between Sugden, and paul on alans gallery

Im a massive fan of sunbeams, got two sets of low rider nickels and they are very similar to sunbeams except well abit more low in their tone The MyMusic Stuff are brilliant always had great fast service just remember to order them a few weeks in advance if you want to change strings before a gig. Never had duties on top but it can happen depending how many you order. But they sent me Thomastik jazz rounds instead of flats with my last order and replaced them with flats straight away no questions asked. Very quick email responses as well. Theres just no point in paying stupid UK prices when thse guys are about.

They do sound different when they haven't been stuff though I have stuffed one side of each cab with acoustic wadding basicly a rich mans version of pillow stuffing. I could have just shuved some left over egg crate foam in but I already had the wadding bought it ages ago when I decided to do the build. I think the egg shell foam is alot tidier and means getting to cables if you so need to would be easier. No idea what the difference in sound would be Im sure foam and stuffing have different acoustic values but hell if egg shell foam is good enough for million pound rcording studios its good enough for my omni's I think you'll be fine either way depends which costs you less or which one you want to use at the end of the day. The answer might be on Bills forum somewhere if your really worried. .

Well I've had these all in the plan for a long time now. I'm exstremely happy with the setup won't suit everyone but I like an intresting combination between old valve drive and clear modern warm tone. For those who dont know heres what I have. Powering everything is one of the DHA VT5-400 proto-type heads, along with it in the rack a furman power conditioner and korg DTR-2000 tuner. That rack sitting on top of two Omni 10.5 crossfire cab's built by my self. Then two ACG basses, the first a 4 string Recurve with spalted beech top, black limba body, ebony finger board, and black limba and wenge 5 peice neck. The Second a 4 string fretless Harlot with quilted maple top and back, with a black limba core, purple heart finger board, and a wenge and flamed sycamore 5 peice neck. All joined together by the great OBBM cables. So enough words here's some pics: (I'll take some better ones next time it's not so bright and we tidy the place all the mess is just pushed out of shot )

[quote name='thinman' post='149978' date='Mar 2 2008, 08:02 PM']Good luck with it. Be interested to know what you find the bass response like. I've started an Omni 10 - not crossfire but built the extra 3" wide as per one to benefit from a bit of extra bass. But, I can't get any bloomin' 1016 piezos. CPC are out of stock again. It's all these people building BFM cabs and buying 24 at a time for the melded arrays!. I assume you've got yours?[/quote] I think I was very lucky when I ordered mine, I ordered them when they were out of stock and got them in the post 2 days later. My markbass cab has always had a great bass response its a pretty big cab for a 2x10. A single omni 10.5 doesnt cut it against the markbass but as a pair they knock it out the way. A single omni 10 beats it as well, when I compared them awhile ago. But its important to notice that the cabs are alot clearer and have a very level response which does make you think they have less bass response intialy. But they are very lite and I dont have to take both to a small gig. I think they sound great I'm very pleased. Cheers Steve Its abit weird having a fully custom setup apart from tuner, and power conditioner. Makes me feel like I should get my skill level up. But hell I just enjoy playing.

I may have neglected to update this but here we go from there to finished items:

Im going to have them finsihed by my gig on the 19th so I'll get to pass judgement then. But after the 19th if all goes to plan and they sound good of course then that cab will winging its way back to your self. I'll give you a message when I know. Im putting the radius on the corners tuesday morning hopefully. Final wood work tomorrow, finishing and carpeting tuesday. Wednesday speaker's in. Thats the plan at any rate.

Thought I'd pop this up Im pretty close to finishing the main building. Hoping to have all the building and carpet on and ready to use by thursday. But as my major projects just started I might not have time to get in the workshop as much as I'd like.

Great, right in my time off well pending not being slave driven into an early grave and acctualy getting time off during easter. Plus a well mannered parent not demanding use of their car. I'll be there with a family of ACG's, my DHA VT5-400, and in all realism a markbass 102HF. (These omni's will never get done) Might be able to bring people up as well based around Ross-on-Wye / passing through worcester, bromsgrove and warwick.