Opticaleye

I used Markbass for years while not being keen on the look (yellow cones and ugly large plastic-y logo) but the build quality/components were excellent. I now use the fairly divisive V-framed TKS cabs but I personally love the look. What I'm not keen on are the cabs that have cheap off the peg grills held in place by a plethora of cheap visible screws in front of more visible screws in the speakers. If there is a choice of two similar cabs with similar quality components and one looks aesthetically better to me then that's the one I will go for. I probably would have gone for Fearless F112's if the grill options were the same as some of their US made cabs but I'm really happy with the similar concept TKS 1126's.

[quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1460496929' post='3026353'] The Status strings finally arrived (took a while, but got an apology from them a few days before they came). If you don't like paying for packaging you'll like these a lot! Very simply packaged with all four strings together in a plastic wallet with a paper insert. For £18+VAT (and with silk wound ends too), this simplicity suits me! Installed on my G&L L1000 and they are an immediate step in the right direction for me. The Trubass strings were fine, but rather soft sounding for me, the Status flats have more aggression and don't appear to change sound if you dig in. If there's a criticism it's the E string sounding a tad softer than the others at the moment, but otherwise intonation is perfect, tension is even across the strings and, for me, neither sloppy nor too taut, and tone up the dusty end is good. I'm still playing them in will report back in a month or so, but very promising so far. In the meantime my otherwise favourite round wound strings have been Newtones by a long chalk. I enquired about flats with them, they have responded that they have carried out some experiments which have gone well, so maybe some news from there sometime. [/quote] With regards to the E string on the Status, please stay with them as they really do open up. The set on my G&L L1000 have been on for a couple of years and still do not sound soft. They still have a nice percussive click to go with the vintage thump and great mids. If you think they sound ok now you have a treat in store over the coming months.

A strange choice of cabs to compare. Discontinued apples vs fresh oranges maybe? I'd have liked to see the comparison against any of BF's current competitors like Berg, Vanderkley, Fearless, TKS and Genzler etc. if specs are to be compared. This choice seems engineered to reach a particular conclusion.

[quote name='DiMarco' timestamp='1459853666' post='3020201'] Jeigenbass, like you I have been on this quest for portable cabs, preferably one cab that can "do it all". You see, combining two cabs and then planning to only use one of those two for small gigs means your amp will be working at 8 ohms, which in my opinion is meh. [/quote] Works for me now I have a bigger amp. 500w into 8 ohms sounds pretty much like 500w into 4 ohms IME.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1459689464' post='3018624'] They also do the maths, build superbly-braced and damped lightweight cabs and[b][i] install drivers that have been designed by themselves and manufactured by Eminence which consistently out-perform the competition.[/i][/b] [/quote] I think the contention in the thread concerned was to do with this (seemingly overblown) claim.

I am sure the BF cabs sound good. Personally I was put off when I read the spat on the "Smallest 2x12 cabinet" thread on TB.

Yes, I like the sound of the 760FL especially at home. On a gig they seem to lack the mids that the 760FS, Status and Ti's have. I really liked the new Fenders (I have 4 sets !) but they started to sound a bit "soft" in the attack after a short time and lack a little thump. Different basses sound better with particular strings though so, as you say, YMMV.

Yes I bought a set of Status half rounds and the E seemed dead. They replaced without a quibble but the replacement didn't seem much different! It eventually opened up though. I've learnt to hold my nerve with flatwounds. They rarely sound perfect out of the packet. Best to wait a couple of months at least from a sound point of view

[quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1459458059' post='3016894'] Woody sounds good! I have Trubass on my L1000, I think I'm looking for something less soft sounding - woody might be the way to go! Would you recommend the LaBellas on an L1000? [/quote] I tried 760FL's on the L1000 but they accentuated a dead spot on the G string that I never notice with other strings. The 760FS are too stiff on that bass. Ti's sound good but I've never really got on with the rubber band feel (although the newer ones I've played on on other people's basses feel a bit firmer). The Status are the nearest sound to the TI's that I've tried but with a little more tension. It takes a month or so but they just keep getting better after that.

[quote name='Byo' timestamp='1458746324' post='3010468'] Loving the amp, loving the cabs and loving the UMBO(s)! Always wanted to try the Umbo due to the control layout as the people who own one talk wonders about them. [/quote] The Umbo certainly solves the dilemma of "Precision or Jazz?"

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1458717764' post='3010051'] I also feel I have to tame the low end, the BB2 is huge down below. [/quote] I see you have a Zoom MS60b. The AcBsPre model has a high pass filter (Depth control). This works for me with my full range cabs to pick the ideal amount of thump vs articulation. From the Fishman pro eq manual (What the AcBsPre is modelled from) [i]Depth[/i] [i]Tighten up your sound, or dial out deep-bass feedback with the Depth control. The Depth control works hand in hand with the Bass control to bring out tight and articulate lows: 1. Start with the Depth turned up full (5:00) with the EQ set flat on your bass amp and/or PA. 2. Set the Bass control slider to full boost. 3. Play the bass and back off the Depth (counter-clockwise) until you hear the sound tighten up, usually between 9:00 and 12:00. 4. Re-set the Bass slider to taste.[/i]

[quote name='drTStingray' timestamp='1458673510' post='3009757'] I bought a set of Ernie Ball Slinky flatwounds (cobalts) which I have on my Stingray fretless - they sound excellent and have some unique qualities in the sound - similar tension to TIs. Highly recommended. [/quote] I bought 2 sets of these when they first came, out while I was in the U.S. I made this video with them; [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s736Ryj4J3A"]https://www.youtube....h?v=s736Ryj4J3A[/url] I really liked them at first but then, after a couple of months, they seemed to lose the fundamental quite a bit. At this point they sounded like bad flatwounds instead of the perfect mix of round and flat that I initially loved. I don't kill strings quickly either. Disappointing

[quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1458664131' post='3009610'] Do you use flats on your L1000? [/quote] Yes - the Status ones, really woody sound. I also have Status on my cream Umbo and an old set of LaBella 760FL's on a 70's Precision that I rarely use.

[quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1457951156' post='3003190'] STOP IT WITH THE UMBO ALREADY Jealous, moi? [/quote] I'm sure that there's a few old shape Umbos still out there that I don't already own

[url="http://s139.photobucket.com/user/optical_I/media/cabs2.jpg.html"][/url] 1st gig last night with 2 cabs. I can't imagine ever [b][i]needing[/i][/b] the second cab but it sounded perfect. With the Sandberg Umbo strung with GHS Bass Boomers I could go from "P with flats" to slappy jazz with no bass changes! I used my Fishman depth control to roll off the bottom end again but the bass control on the TTE does the job nearly as well.

[quote name='krispn' timestamp='1457194978' post='2996262'] Opticaleye I was led to believe that the first run had the B&O analogue power modules - since production went to Asia there were some changes (not better or worse just different) which could be reflected in the 801. I've no point of reference only in the gear I have and to me the big rig wins ...not that the punters notice the difference [/quote] They've always advertised their power amp models as proprietary (Markbass Proprietary Technology, MPT) and the TTE's certainly as their own design (Tube Technology Emulator). I've never had the feeling that the MB's lacked power or dynamics (although the LM2/3 can run out of steam at 8ohms). I used to run a Sansamp RBI into a bridged QSC RMX850 and my LM2 seemed much more powerful. Whenever I've tried the ICE module amps they have always seemed a bit "flat" to me in comparison.

[quote name='krispn' timestamp='1457056640' post='2994959'] The TTE isn't a bad amp and it works well, has the B&O power module but to me I can notice a bit more oomph with the power amp/preamp set up. [/quote] I believe that Markbass use their own modules and do not use B&O. My (class D) TTE801 is voiced slightly different from my old analogue TTE500 with a little more bottom end and, of course, power. I've always found Markbass heads to have more authority than the B&O module heads, personally.

James bought my Markbass TTE head and was a pleasure to do business with. I'm pleased that it went to such a good home Kev

[quote name='Lw.' timestamp='1456328353' post='2987920'] Nice looking rig - I assume that's the "oxblood" grill cover? Which vinyl is it, black-on-red? [/quote] Yes and yes. I'm expecting the second cab very soon.

Okay....so after a few gigs I can report back that this combination works really well. My bandmates tell me that they can hear me really well and no one frequency jumping out or missing. It did take me a gig or two to learn how best to cut the bass frequencies to allow all the strings to be heard as the cab is very full range. The bottom end is quite addictive though the way it reacts with the bass drum . Using my Fishman Platinum EQ pedal (depth control) to roll off the bottom end has worked incredibly well and I also have the modelled version of this on my Zoom MS60B and B3 pedals should I need them. So in short, I've been able to achieve my aim of vintage, tubey but detailed tone with a controllable bottom end that works equally well with flats or rounds.