Ed_S

I've had a STD104HR (4 ohm) for a few years now and really like it - granted it's the cab I leave in lockup at the rehearsal studios rather than what I gig with, but as a back-handed compliment to it that means it's also the cab I play through most; we rehearse every week even though we maybe only gig every month. I use a variety of heads with it (Markbass included) ranging from 200 to 1000W, and wooly, undefined, flappy and boxy aren't words I'd use to describe the sound I get from any of them.

Going on recent threads, though, maybe I'm a bad person to comment as my other cabs are a Super12, Midget and SP212, all of which seem to have taken a kicking for one reason or another! Still, I like them.

[quote name='V4lve' timestamp='1386248502' post='2297646']
Peavey T.B.Raxx if you can find one. Doubt you will find better value for money.
[/quote]

Agree completely - they're great preamps; mine's paired with an old Classic Series 60 for those times I fancy a bit of all-valve action. I'm sure I recall reading that the only difference between the T.B.Raxx and T.G.Raxx (guitar version) is the lettering on the front, so you potentially have an easier search and, as a bonus, a multi-purpose preamp.

[quote name='Tripehound' timestamp='1385863148' post='2293060']
Bought one yesterday - I love my Bassman TV15 but I can feel my dodgy knee going when I lift it so the BG250-112 looked just the ticket for smaller gigs, home practice, messing with the effects and so on. Drove from Derby to Sheffield to get it and took it straight to the gig. I should have known better. Twenty minutes into the gig, said amp (which everyone had been admiring and commenting on what a smart chap I am) decides to cut out mid song.

I did what any self-respecting bass player would do under the circumstances - I accused the keyboard player of touching it. He proclaimed his innocence, we switched it off and on again and it started working. A situation that lasted around 5 minutes before it did it again. Then again. Abandoned set and took 20 minute break whilst we shot back to our rehearsal rooms to pick up the trusty Fender. Played the rest of the gig through that and of course it sounded great.

Confidence seriously damaged. Anyone else have this happen?
[/quote]

I bought a BG250-208 a few weeks ago as it looked ideal for acoustic jam sessions etc. It powered up normally, sounded fine (if maybe a little quieter than I expected) and seemed to be what I was after. A few home practice sessions in, I turned it on and thought I'd heard an electrical 'crack' from it, but there was some plastic packaging on my desk and I wondered if I'd just caught that with my sleeve, so I turned it off and back on again a couple of times and since all was normal, let it slide and got on with using it. Took it along to an acoustic rehearsal that weekend and it did just fine; it actually appeared to get louder over the course of the rehearsal, which I figured must be the speakers breaking in.

Fast forward a few more days, and another weekend rehearsal, and as we'd got more people playing, I decided to take a line out to the PA. I plugged in the XLR and while I was bent over the thing, hit the power switch. I didn't hear a 'crack' (though there may have been one) but did detect the distinctive smell of electrical overheating/burning. I'd just plugged in a fan heater, though, so wondered if it was just that warming up and burning off a bit of dust. Once again, it performed normally for the duration so I let it slide.

Few days later and it showed its hand; a loud 'crack' as I hit the power switch, a smell of burning and the power protection kicking in on my 4-gang. Being the daring type, I re-set everything and tried it again, whereupon it functioned perfectly normally as if nothing had happened. So this morning it's gone back to the shop and I won't be entertaining anything from TC again. My Markbass Micromark 801 should be with me within the next few days!

Just bought a BadAss II from Eddie and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Let me reserve my spoils by the briefest of messages whilst in and out of 3G coverage on a Friday night commuter train, waited patiently for me to sober up sufficiently to pay on Saturday morning, posted out the same day, and even managed to psychically 'know' the eagle had landed this afternoon in order to check in and make sure I was happy with my purchase! Needless to say I am, and its been a pleasure doing business. Top bloke!

Cheers,
Ed

I'd be up for that if its still available! Will pm you in a bit when I'm not travelling..

[quote name='RandomBass' timestamp='1381575612' post='2240787']
Interesting comment on the fans. On my UK made ABM500 Evo3 they were pretty much inaudible, and there was absolutely no hiss or hum on the speaker output either. It was probably the quietest amp I've owned, except my LB30. Even my LB550 has a louder fan - although lets get this in context, it's not audible when playing even gently.

Not that it bothers me either way, just an observation really.

Anyway - any further thoughts or observations you may have will be very welcome, especially from a gig perspective.

Cheers

Geoff
[/quote]

I think you're spot on - you wouldn't notice the fan over even gentle playing. I seem to recall there being two fans on the 500, whereas there's only one on the 1000 - maybe the one on its own has to spin a bit faster to get the same cooling, or just the cooling requirements are greater given the different components and airflow inside the chassis and the higher overall power rating? It isn't 'noisy' and it doesn't seem to get hot, so I'm assuming all's fine.

As for the hiss and hum, I suppose that might have more to do with my basses not having particularly 'hot' outputs (passive P and J basses) so the input gain on the preamp being up quite high to get the right movement on the VU.

Soon as I can take it out and turn the dial on the end to 'war' I'll be sure to pass comment!

Just my 2p, but I'd always go with the measurements to find out what's on there before believing the website - I check stock strings with vernier callipers as I take them off and replace them (first job as soon as it's a keeper) just to see if they're worth putting away as emergency spares, and in the case of Fender/Squier they've rarely been what's on the website. 40,60,80,100 and 45,65,80,100 seem to be common.

[quote name='Salt on your Bass?' timestamp='1381212041' post='2235734']
Hey ed, I'd be interested in your thoughts on the ashdown once you've played it in anger too, particularly compared to the abm500- not a lot of info out there on these.
[/quote]

No probs - will be happy to feed back, though it may be a few weeks now before I get chance, thanks to our singer doing her wedding type things and then heading off on honeymoon! Typical.. just when I want to test my new amp. Fair comparison with the ABM-500 will be hard as I particularly disliked it and didn't keep it very long at all, but I did use it for a couple of gigs so will try my best.

So far, I've used it at three rehearsals through my 4ohm Markbass 104HR and even though we're a melodic metal band and rehearse at (maybe even above) gig volume, only needed to push 9 o'clock on the master volume. The power in itself is impressive, but it's nothing compared to the way it's controlled and what's kept in reserve for when you push into the red on the VU; it doesn't compress or break up, it just hits you with an even bigger clean transient kick in the backside. I normally use some compression, but with the control this amp affords, it seemed a shame.

Settings - just as it came back from last rehearsal:

Passive, Shape, Valve Drive, EQ, no Compression, no Sub-Harmonic

[quote name='RandomBass' timestamp='1380698890' post='2228959']
Hi, thanks for this info. Where did you get your ABM1000? Were you able to try one in store before buying? I don't seem to be able to find one anywhere to try out. Well, not down south anyway

Cheers

Geoff
[/quote]

Hey Geoff,

I picked mine up second hand (not that you'd know - it's not got a mark on it and still 'smells of new' if you know what I mean lol) from Richtone in Sheffield, so yeah, I had chance to try it out but obviously nowhere near the volume level it's capable of. It was the same when I bought the ABM500 in that I only got the basic flavour of the thing and sadly never realised that the volume I was getting in the shop wasn't far off its maximum capability. However, if I'm totally honest, I figured that it was worth a punt because at the price I was paying I could probably sell it on and get my money back if I found that I didn't take to it. As it stands, though, I'm just waiting to get it on top of my Super 12 and open the taps a bit!

As for where to try one, I really don't know - the only one I've ever seen in person is the one I bought!

I can't say that I have 'long term' experience as yet, but I picked up an ABM1000 about 3 weeks ago and whilst I've only rehearsed with it so far, I genuinely like it a lot and don't think it'll be going anywhere.

I've never even seen a DB750 so can't comment on that front, but having owned and sold an ABM500 evo3 a few years ago, I'm happy to report that in my opinion the ABM1000 blows it clean away; it's massively more powerful, feels more dynamically capable, sounds much tighter and more articulate, and has a classically warm (more so with the valve drive engaged) yet strident and clean basic tone with no 'wooly' character as so often gets levelled at Ashdowns. Personally I don't like and won't be using the compressor and the sub-harmonic generator, but if they were an integral part of your sound on the 500, they behave just the same on the 1000.

To answer a direct question, the fan is audible (as is the general hiss and hum of the amp through the speakers - it's not a silent runner) but nowhere near as much as on, say, a Hartke HA series.

I had a HA2000 and a HA5500 - both great sounding and completely reliable amps but both sold on due to getting lighter gear that could cover the same ground. Nearly had an LH1000, too, but it had to be sent back due to occasional loud pops and bangs through the speakers with nothing plugged in and the volume fully down. On that basis, I vote HA series - I just wish they were lighter.

My very first bass was a BB N4ii in Yellow Natural Satin (looked just like yours but with a string less) and it was brand new in the mid 90s, so my money would be on '95. Was a very nice bass; one of a few I regret parting with, sadly.

[quote name='iceonaboy' timestamp='1371227314' post='2111482']


Im sorry mate, but thats horrible!
[/quote]

lol.. thanks :-) Much better for some to love it and others to hate it than everyone to ignore it, whate'er 'it' is!

It did sound immense, though...

[sup]I have a Fender Blacktop Jazz, which is a nice bass, but the best I've had to-date was this:[/sup]

[sup][/sup]

[sup]Absolutely earth-shaking thing it was, too. Sadly it was every bit as massive as it looks and made my back and neck ache in ways I never thought possible so it had to go. I never quite got over losing it sound-wise, however, so I'm currently in talks about getting a fitting replacement (also dual-P) made as a custom job for my 30th. Pictures when it comes to fruition...[/sup]

Spent this afternoon getting my girlfriend's white/rw one of these in order, and it's actually turned out really well...

My thoughts:

+ Smooth, straight neck
+ Well fitted and levelled frets
+ Accurately cut nut
+ Hardware solid (if basic)
+ Nicely figured fretboard
+ Finish near-perfect (only one minor blemish on back)
+ Neck pocket tight
+ Neck alignment good

- No shielding of routs / cavities
- One tuning machine cosmetically different to other three
- Pickup housing non-standard shape / size
- Pickguard seems very soft plastic

x Pickup not to my liking
x Strings not to my liking

So the good points really do massively outweigh the minor demerits, and the last two are just personal taste! With a couple of hours fettling time and the addition of half a roll of copper tape, some straplocks, new Rotosounds and the old pickup from my MIJ Classic 70s P, it's turned into a really nice second bass for her; absolutely amazing for the money, and the colour is great!

[quote name='sprocketflup' timestamp='1370166531' post='2097068'] pics when you do, in full flow, volume up to eleven, please [/quote]

Oh.. it'll happen, don't you worry!

Edit:
Kitted out and ready to go home. Phone camera, but...

My lass rang up and got the cheaper deal on one of these - cheers for the heads-up!

She wanted something cheap-but-alright to keep in Eb so she doesn't have to mess with the tuning of her main bass when plonking along to CDs that are half-step-down. The deal is, however, that if it arrives generally sound and I do the setup (and add copper tape, decent pickup and electronics, better bridge, straplocks, new strings etc. from my bits-box as required) I get to gig it with my metal band! Gonna get some quality looks, not least of all from the band given that I'd sound-check with my 'normal' precision. Hope it's a good 'un when it arrives

[quote name='Evil Undead' timestamp='1368655767' post='2079998']
Ibanez don't make them any more so I can't go buy a new one.
[/quote]

DV247 (ok, they've got some bad press atm, but..) and Musik Productiv both claim to have them in stock, so you might be able to pick up a new one after all.

Oddly enough I just posted a 'wanted' thread for a Firebass about half an hour ago. If you don't get an offer for the lot, and your definition of 'excellent condition' matches mine, there might be a deal to be done. Feel free to PM me.

[quote name='Kirky' timestamp='1366531422' post='2053464']
I agree re the upper mids (and the lower mids). I had a 700RB combo before the MB Fusion / MB200 and I'm sure its the 4 band tone control that gives all of these amps the great sound they have. To Ed S, I' going to be in Sheffield in the evening of 10 May and could possible let you have the MB Fusion to try for a couple of hours - get in touch if you're interested.
[/quote]

Cheers for the offer, Kirky - sadly I'll be out gigging in Selby that evening (BotB type thing for a slot on the unsigned stage at Bloodstock - should be a laugh!) and knowing me, as I should by now, I'll probably have ordered the 500 by then

[quote name='Merton' timestamp='1366486011' post='2053205']
Whereabouts are you? I have two weeks of no gigs if you wanted to give the MB Fusion a go. Assuming you're nearby!
[/quote]

That's really kind of you, Merton - really appreciate the offer. Sadly we're about 200 miles away from each other as the Google calculates (not found a crow yet this morning to ask) so not really nearby!

After watching some more reviews and thinking seriously about how much I need 800W and how much use I'd get out of all the push-button light-up stuff, I think I'm going towards just ordering myself the straight 500 to try. Hmmmm.. get paid on Monday

[quote name='obbm' timestamp='1366281724' post='2050412']
Use the MB200 as a pre-amp and take the line out into a good quality power amp. I'm sure you could borrow one to try it and see if it does what you need.
[/quote]

I've got a couple of Crown XLS1500s that serve double duty as PA / bass power amps, but even they, as light as they are, seem to defeat the point of the micro-head and single lightweight cab. I might give it a try at some point, but I'd be happier if I didn't need to cart a rack case with me.

[quote name='Kirky' timestamp='1366286963' post='2050496']
I have a MB Fusion and a MB200 and like them both. I'm not sure how close they are tonally, I tend to use them in very different environments. I seem to remember reading a thread on Talkbass where someone was saying that the MB200 is quite different to all the other MB series amps.
[/quote]

That's what I was concerned over.. seems I was probably at least partially right to be.

[quote name='Merton' timestamp='1366402513' post='2052282']
I bought an MB200 back in 2011 and fell in love with it, so much so that in Oct 2011 I bought an MB500. It was a great amp but I felt it was a bit harsher than the 200 - I think the 200 has really nice soft compression/limiting on the power amp stage which makes a difference. So I sold the 500 and bought an MBFusion instead. Haven't looked back, amazingly versatile amp and the 200 serves as a fantastic back up/small gig amp. TBH through the Super12 the 200 can hold its own on many gigs
[/quote]

Looks like I need to work out just exactly what it is about the sound of the 200 that I like rather than just grinning at it ...but it's so hard to actually describe. A big part of it is the 'attack' it has; if you play precisely and cleanly, it'll fire notes like bullets, but do it effortlessly and always be there waiting for the next. My Markbass LM800, as much as I like it, isn't as 'quick'. And there's that 'grind' (without it actually being overdrive) that matches up so well with the passive P's I play. And the way that it sounds like it's both sat back in the mix yet also completely present at the same time, without ever being too loud. It really is a whole load of things I've been looking for for a long time and everyone I've played with since having it has offered the same kind of enthusiasm without prompting, so it's not just me convincing myself because I want to; they know I go through gear like rain and don't feel in any way compelled to blow sunshine at any of it!!

I completely agree about the 200 being enough for most gigs btw, and it wouldn't exactly be a massive hardship to take my LM800 as a backup / extra firepower if needed (it's certainly not lacking), but if there's a little box out there that can do what the MB200 does, just with 3-500W more tonk, I want it! Maybe it is just a case of taking advantage of the distance selling regs, ordering a 500 and an 800 (I don't [i]think[/i] I need the tubes) and sending one back...

Bought a set of hard drives for my NAS from Pete courtesy of the new Sell Anything area, and am happy to report that the transaction was just as painless as you'd expect from an upstanding member of the BC community. A bit of friendly banter on PM organised the deal, and then Pete dropped the goods in at my office on his way to work - can't say fairer.

A pleasure doing business - cheers mate!

Cheers guys..

My cabs are Super 12, Midget and Markbass 104HR (not all at the same time, obviously!) so can all take a decent level of power - the 800 included. My concern with the 800 was the possible difference in sound the power section may introduce, and my concern with the fusions was that the tubes may actually damage what I find appealing about the 200.

The 500 is certainly not expensive in the grand scheme of things and is looking very appealing for being the 200 in bigger bunches.. I just don't want to pass on the chance of the 800 if the different power section doesn't change the basic tone.

Hi all,

A couple of months ago, I bought a GK MB200 on the grounds that 'hey, it's so cheap and small, I might as well give it a try' and somewhat irritatingly (for my wallet, at least), with everything set to 12 o'clock, it's turned out to be one of those sounds I've had in my head for years but never been able to quite achieve.

My question is, if I want the same sound but more volume, where do I go in the MB range? On paper the 500 seems a sensible bet, but what about the fusion and 800, and even 800 fusion; do they have the same basic tone as the 200 just with more features to play with, or is the 200 one on its own because of the 'stripped back' nature of what it is? Is what I'm listening to just GK in general and everything they do will hit the spot?

Any advice greatly appreciated!

Yup! Squier Vintage Modified Precision to be exact, and it worked really well. Once I realised it was going to work for gigging I went a bit further and put Schaller locks, a BAII and a SD Quarter Pounder on it too, but the change of bridge was purely aesthetic and nothing to do with the stringing; the BBOT it came with was on it for a few months and worked absolutely fine. Mine's actually set up for use in C,F,Bb,Eb but worked fine in BEAD when I first modified it.

And since pictures prove it happened...