machinehead

My American deluxe jazz has a smaller body than a standard jazz which I much prefer. It is active only. The general quality is very high and it's a sturdy workhorse of a bass. Frank

[quote name='Bigwan' post='497997' date='May 26 2009, 02:12 PM']I'm in the North too - Where's the cab heading Alex? Shipping to Norn Iron is typically more expensive than shipping to, say, the highlands. Shipping to Eire will probably be more expensive again...[/quote] It's heading my way Ian...... Shipping to/ from N Ireland is the same cost as shipping within mainland UK. I 've posted 2 cabs to England for less than £20 insured for up to £500 and they were a little heavier than a Compact IIRC. Go on, you know you want a Compact and we only live 40 mins apart. I'm going to have mine shipped to Bangor to the shop my daughter works in so if you like...... I can help. Frank EDIT. Shipping to Eire isn't as expensive as you might expect - certainly worth researching IMO.

[quote name='doctor_of_the_bass' post='496379' date='May 23 2009, 10:43 PM']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] 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

Looking forward to my Compact arriving later this month. But to stay on topic, I'll add my approval of the LMII. I've had one for a few years and a 121 combo which has the same amp. Perhaps interestingly to the OP, I decided to buy a Compact before buying the traveller 121 extension cab because I reckon it will sound better all round. OK, the Compact is bigger than the MB 121 cab but the weight is only a couple of pounds more!! Alex... I'm not giving up my place in the queue this month. haha. Frank

The 1212L ( 4 ohms) combined with a LMII is very loud indeed. I never go through the PA. We play clubs, hotel rooms and small pubs and the 1212L can handle it all.. I can't even begin to imagine how loud a pair would be!!! I know I would never need more than a single 1212L. Frank

Thanks for taking the time to write a very detailed reply Stevie. I will try to identify the speaker in the Markbass. My guess was right that I would be best to buy a speaker as close to the Markbass one as possible. I want to buy the best speaker for the job rather than save money so I'll research it well before buying. Just a thought, is it possible to buy a speaker that is too good for the Markbass one and overpower it giving a worse result? I'm in a fortunate position of being able to get decent plywood free so I would plan to build the box as close to the Markbass box, to a decent standard and as professional looking as I can manage on my first attempt. Alex. I am certain that the Midget will be far superior to anything I build but I want to get the box dimensions and general appearance the same as the combo. Also, I quite fancy this project just to hear the results and maybe learn something in the process. Still, I might end up with a Midget if I make a total balls of building a cab myself,which is a real possibilty. Frank

I'm not sure if this is the correct forum for this? Maybe technical? Anyway....I've ordered one of Alex's Compact cabs which I will use with my LMII. For rehearsals and small pub gigs I've been using my Markbass 121 combo. It has it's obvious limitations due I think, to the small box size. Before I ordered the Compact I was planning to buy a Markbass 121 extension cab and use it paired to the MB combo for medium gigs. These little cabs now cost around the £500 mark which is too painful for me for what it is and I much prefer to go with the Compact. So now I'm thinking about just building a 12" cab to match the MB combo. This is as much about me learning how to build a cab as it is about saving money. And really, if I have the Compact I might never gig the Markbass combo again other than in a very tiny pub where even the compact is taking up too much space. I can think of only one pub we play where this applies. It is perfect for rehearsals though because I have to carry my gear up steep stairs to the room. So, after that long-winded introduction here are my questions: 1. What speaker should I buy to best match the Markbass B&C speaker in the combo? 2. Would this be successful if I simply copied the dimensions of the combo, including the rear port? (By this I mean would the two similar sized boxes be a decent balanced match?) 3. Roughly what sort of results should I expect by adding another 12", similar sized cab to the 121 combo? More volume? Deeper sound? That is what I am hoping for. 4. Finally, would building this cab be worth the effort based on the expected returns, sound and volume wise bearing in mind I will also have a Compact cab. I'm hoping the responses to this thread will help me decide this. Thanks for any advice offered and please don't limit replies to answering my questions. All other relevent points will be listened too very carefully. Tell me it's a waste of time and money if you think so. Frank

Even better Ian, Try the Empire Bar every Thursday (Belfast) Rab McCullough Band. They won "Best Band" at some blues festival in the US a few years ago. The real deal. Warrenpoint Blues Festival. Big River Blues and Jazz festival in Belfast every August. Was in St Georges Market last year. fantastic. I'll be there again this year. First Tuesday every month in Bangor. Blues jam. Google The Pontiacs for details. There's a decent website. It's an open jam too if you fancy it. And don't forget Roy Fulton (Who Dave from Newtownards/Carradore plays bass for) There's loads of live blues right here in norn irun. I think most people would agree that blues is best appreciated live. Frank.

Saw them in Belfast a few months ago. They did a stunning set. The young guitarist is well up to the Jan Akkerman guitar parts. Well worth a look. Frank

G&L L2500 perhaps?

Fill the screw hole and cover the screw threads with Araldite glue. Works 100%. Allow at least 24 hours before using the bass. Frank

Since the UK supply is 50Hz and the USA is 60 HZ I'd also make sure the switching in the amp takes account of this by asking the manufacturer. Using gear on the "wrong" frequency of supply (Hz) often results in a shorter life. Some gear is rated 50/60Hz so you might be OK. Best to check though. Frank

On balance and in answer to your question, I'd go for the bigger cab. If you want better portability, have you considered another 2 x 10 stacked 4 high on their sides? Seemed plenty loud and deep when I had this rig. Frank

[quote name='Jean-Luc Pickguard' post='438771' date='Mar 18 2009, 11:00 PM']I use a Shroeder 1212L with my LMII. Its very loud & very clear. Maybe a single 12 Schroeder could be worth investigating?[/quote] I'll second that although the sound might not suit everyone. A few weeks ago We did a gig where my Schroeder 1212L cab and LMII were used by all the bands. First band used a double bass mic-ed and I loved that. When the second band came on I went to the back of the very large room to hear the Schroeder and was knocked out. Loud, thick, warm. Nothing like I was hearing during sound check. It gave me confidence in these little cabs all over again. These things are amazing really. Small and light and well up to a very loud gig. I was thinking about selling the Schroeder for two very small 1 x 12 cabs but it changed my mind. Anyway, I hope this helps because everyone naturally recommends the gear they own, but hearing someone else use my Schroeder cab was amazing. Frank

I don't think it makes much difference but normally I have the "horn" to the floor. My theory is that the exposed speaker being higher will let me hear better, but I wouldn't argue about it. Frank

I have lent my combo recently with no problems but it's to a sensible person. I lent a combo about 20 years ago and, despite phone calls and chasing up, I never got it back. Best to be careful. Frank

Thanks for the feedback MartyB. I must admit, the price is a killer, probably because of the current weak sterling. I'd love to get a chance to try a NY121 before I would part with my Schroeder 1212L. Decisions...... Frank

I always learn something from these type of disagreements. I'm sure this one will educate me a little more. Frank

[quote name='benwhiteuk' post='418759' date='Feb 24 2009, 09:15 PM']I didn't know they did a passive proline. £250 was a really good price if it was a proline - I take it you didn't buy though?[/quote] I didn't buy it and maybe I was wrong. I was suspicious about some cracking at the headstock, the set-up was so bad that the strings were lying on the fretboard along the full length and it had been sitting below someone painting the wall and had white paint on it. All in all, I was put off. Thinking about it, I could have cleaned it up and adjusted the truss rod but at the time I just decided not to bother. Price was good, I think. Frank

I went to look at a Proline to buy privately. It was bolt-on, bubinga body and two J pickups and [u]passive[/u]. The trussrod cover said "Proline". Year was 1995 IIRC. It all looked as it left the factory to me anyway. Price was £250 if that's any help. Frank