la bam

Ok, heres my real world experience of using x3 types of set up this year. First Set Up - markbass 500w evo head & barefaced super compact gen 3 (giving 8ohms - so approx 300w). gig types: - a couple of large functions - 200 people + and a few smaller gigs - all with pa support. opinion: firstly the portability is phenomenal. believe the hype. you can easily carry in one hand. foot print is small and cab can go anywhere. i was able to get some gorgeous tones out of it, as well as some really nice gigging tones and volumes. Only occasionally on some songs did the volume become an issue and i had to really dig in to hear. I was convinced this was my set up for ever. the amp was running fairly full on, with a little headroom, but i didnt really need much more volume. Second Set Up - markbass evo head and 6ohm markbass 610 - so approx 400w. gig type: my current set up - did beer festival in fairly large social club - around 300 guests. i picked his up on a whim at a bargain price as our band was starting to do much bigger gigs, and i always fancied a 610. So .... i was 100% happy with the super compact, this 610 was just going to give a bit more volume.... WRONG!! Once i hit the first note i just sounded SO SO warm, full, powerful and suddenly lifted all the band. Volume nowhere near half, and everyone could hear it crystal clear without it being loud. I think the thing is, the super compact is perfectly acceptable, brilliantly portable and loud for what it is. However, the 610 is just back to what bass is about - full, warm, powerful, punchy and never needing to be over loud. Suddenly the super compact had been brought back down to earth. Fair enough - its not meant as a competitor to a 610 but the difference is there. Think of a soloist compared to a choir - just so much more full and nice. Third Set Up - ashdown evo 900w head and ashdown 8x10 4ohm cab. gig type: one off large out door festival. large stage. large pa support. rig supplied by the festival. i used this at the weekend - and i swear its a wonder the whole band didnt get blown 200 yards into the crowd. Absolute ridiculous power. Ridiculous. i think it was on half volume and i had to turn my bass right down and still all you could hear was bass. Not a particularly nice sound, but thats more to do with we only had a 10 minute window to get set up. I cant even compare how the super compact would have been in comparison. Probably a whisper to a scream. In conclusion, it doesnt take a genius to see that thicker, better constructed wooden cabs, with more speakers have a phenomenal effect on everything - volume, tone and presence. However they also are x amount heavier, bulkier and more awkward. In my opinion, can a super compact compete with an decent 4x10? - only just, and thats if the band dont need you playing full out. If your a smallish pub band the super compact is the way to go, absolutely. /itll be great for you. Just as loud as a 4x0 in a small space, nice sound and SO easy to move around. However, in a medium sized gig you can cope with a super compact, but dont expect it to have great presence or much headroom, regardless of whether you are using pa support or not. It becomes more of a monitor. In a large venue its 4x10 upwards all the way.

The point being having a punchy amp head through a 1x15 isn't going to be much more punchy than a less punchy amp through a 4x10. But a punchy amp through a punchy cab is a much better idea - if that's the sound youre after.

You'd be happy looking at something with a really comprehensive mid range eq. I'd also suggest going for more 10" speakers for punch. Rather than say 1x15.

Ahhhh.....crewe hall.... Did you keep having the lift shut on you and nobody around to tell you the code? And load out through the scary dungeon kitchens and plastic butcher doors! Its a spooky place!

Id say: 1. Ibanez. 2. V4 maple. 3. Yamaha. 4. V4 with rosewood neck.

Just thinking out loud, but those disappointed with class d - what cabs are they using? 1x10s, 1x12s? Sometimes for thaat heft you need more than one cab/speaker to get the sound youre after.

My 500w markbass evo gives out around 300 class d watts when used with my 8ohm Barefaced Super Compact. It sounds loud when up and running. It copes with a full band fairly easy, but starts to run out of headroom when really full on. However, put it through my markbass 6x10 at 6ohm - and itll rock the walls and rattle the tables!! Its not neccessarily class d watts - more what you power with them. Id always took what id heard about more speakers meaning much more volume with a pinch of salt - but its SO true. Itd be interesting to try an ELF with a 4x10, 6x10 or 8x10. PS i saw something interesting on youtube today regarding the elf - someone said there was a warning sticker on it saying not to touch the jack lead at all when in operation - is this true?

Ashdown After Eight packs a punch for around £30 second hand. Nice and compact but with a real bassy sound.

i tested this out at practice tonight. flippin eck - loud! such a powerful rich sound though. best sound ive ever had. smiling all night! - cant wait for sundays gig.

ive just bought a 6x10 sealed cab. its an amazing sound. really rich and full with no excess on the low end or high end - just smooth power. best cab ive ever used by a mile. having heard it i cant think why some cabs are ported (like every other one ive used).

Going to give it a run this weekend. Its so portable its crazy for an old school 6x10. It wheels around like a small box and can be lifted upstairs no problem.

Finally found the power ive always been after ..... Markbass 610 classic. Markbass Evo head. Never had a 610 before. Gees. Talk about power.

Where i accept that certain venues may have awkward spots for sound etc - i think in that case then they shouldnt sell tickets for that area. Especially if their excuse is theres nothing they can do do get it to sound good. I mean, flippin eck, we are all gutted if its a slightly poor sound for a song whilst we are playing in a pub consisting of about 30 people all getting in for free! Its time these touring shows got their acts together if theyre to continue charging so much. Can you imagine poor sound being accepted in the likes of stage shows or opera?! Not a chance.

Just picked one of these up. Sounded great. Gonna give it a run over tbe weekend then prob gig it next weekend. The portability and weight is crazy for a 6x10 !