Max Normal

Had a drummer that had one, think it was called a "Cheeter" or something, had it thru a Roland TG midi brain/sampler thingy. Sounded *OK*, you could dial in lots of different pro kits, but he used live cymbols with it so it was kind of disjointed, and of course lacked the punch of a real kit.

I'd get a s/h ampeg SVT2pro to compliment your Markbass. I found Markbass a bit hifi for my own personal tastes, but than I do like the sound of valves......

Can someone help me? I have a vintage Jap P-Bass (80's one, better sounding than the USA version IM(humble)HO that I play through an SVT3pro full stack, 1x15, 4x10, no effects. I really like the sound, power, warmth and punch of the whole rig. Many, many years ago (probably 15 or 20) I had a weird shaped mahogany Guild bass with a set neck and a severe neck dive problem, but it played and sounded great. I was having one of my Great Clear Outs to enable me to buy a new amp so I let it go for a song. I have always been a Bruce/Frazer fan (first bassline I ever learned was "Ride On Pony" by Free) and I always wanted an EB-3 in the old days. Now I have just mortgaged everything I own to buy the SVT stack and a PA as I have to sing as well, and could not afford a Gibson (without murdering the missus first), but I have seen this 1960's reissue Epiphone EB-3 in both long and short scales. On the gear porn section here, some dude has posted pics of his Epiphone EB-3 and it looks gorgeous. So I decided i want one (long-scale, I have to detune), and I hear great things about them on the forums apart from the mudbucker, so I found a place in the US and got a new Dimarzio Model one for £35.00 that had been sitting on his shelf since 1995. Since then, I have looked and listened on youtube at some soundclips and to me they don't sound like a Gibson at all, all weak and honky and rattly in fact. So, do you think the Dimarzio will rescue it and make a giggable sounding guitar, or are they really just beginners instruments and i should forget about it? and while we are on the subject, if this is the case, should I cut a hole in my scratchplate and fit the "Model One" pickup to the neck position of the P-bass Billy Sheehan Style (but with only one rig of course!). I know, I know, I should go to a music shop and try one out, but there are none around here that has the 1960's reissue and I was going to order it online. Anyone got any experience of these as a useful gigging instrument, or the Dimarzio Model One fitted to an EB-3 or a P-bass for that matter? PS for the record, I am currently playing stuff like Sabbath, Dio, Deep Purple, Led Zep, Whitesnake, Free, Motorhead in my band, so that's the kind of sound I'm after. Why don't I just use the Fender if it sounds so good? Because I have to detune, one bass needs to be concert pitch and one needs heavy strings and a truss to detune 1 semitone properly withour flapping. I want them both setup for their respective tuning, not switch between the two.

You don't need wide straps, weights, moving the strap buttons, helium balloons!, light tuners etc etc. Here is how to cure your problem quickly, cheaply, effectively and without adding weight to your guitar. When you wear your guitar, the strap crosses your hip on the right hand side (if you are right handed), and is attached to the body-side strap button. Wear a leather belt. Get your guitar into your most comfortable position and mark the point the strap crosses your belt on both the belt and the strap. Drill a small hole at the marked point on the belt (best to take it off first) and screw a spare strap button on to it. Cut a slot at the marked point on the strap. My strap actually has a spare slot higher up there anyway. For added movement you can adjust the length of the slot. If you wanted something lockable/adjustable, you could even put a little wingnut bolt/washer through there instead, or even fit a Schaller straplock. When you strap your bass on, pop the slot over the strap button on your belt, and the neck will never dive again. Hope this helps!

I went down to GAK in Brighton where some spotty herbert tried to tell me that these are the best thing since sliced bread. I plugged in and had a try but I have to say that although MarkBass are punchy and crystal clear, they are tonal dwarfs IMHO. I guess it depends on what you play, and if you just play metal, or slap through a big bank of effects you could crank one of these up and cut through the mix no problem. If you want a sweeter tone you can forget about it. And by the way I have to disagree, you will never, ever get an SVT-like tone out of one of these. It did really remind me of an old Trace Elliot to be honest, which is why I'd probably go for Ashdown if I had to choose between two trace clones. Either way I'll stick with my Ampeg thanks.