M@23

Definitely! I've enjoyed gigging a whole lot more for it. I'm very happy with my sound. But, must admit that I've been fooling myself chasing 'the sound in my head' tone for the last few years. I think it's just a bit of a GAS fuelled game and an excuse to buy more gear, or, was for me anyway.

I'll go and watch a few videos and see what she says. My take is, when I chart stuff out I will always write the full chords rather than something like a bass tab. Firstly, because it helps to have it In case we have to get a dep bass/guitar/keys player. Scales are good to know, and a great reference, but chord tones are more of an accessible way to start making bass lines. For me relating bass lines to chords is better way of understanding harmony and the function of each chord in any given key. It gives more of an ability to target key notes that'll compliment what the others are playing and I can omit notes I know won't work over a chord. If someone gives you a chart with some more unusual chords, say I Will Survive that says: Am Dm G C△ F△ B° Esus4 E it'd be simpler to relate something like a m7b5 to a chord rather than a half diminished scale. Because right away you know which notes you can highlight, and can disregard notes that won't compliment the chord. Plus, you can visualise the shape of that chord, and know where those key notes sit as opposed to having to run through the whole scale to find a 6th or b9 or 11 or whatever the extension to the chord may be She could also be referring to the numbers system!

I've had the same experience. Moved on from Markbass stuff years ago and went round the houses with 'better' boutique brands. Recently got bored of having 2 grands worth of rig and not being 100% happy with it; went back to Markbass and it just works. That sound out of the box just fits really well with so many applications.

I've got pretty big hands, but pedalling that open A in the chorus is way easier for me than fretting an A!

Definitely depends on part. Try play Footloose at 174bpm without and open A to peddle off!

[quote name='Osiris' timestamp='1510035953' post='3403339'] Can you clarify exactly what you mean by this, please? Are you saying that rather than slap in to the string perpendicular to the fret board that I strike it more parallel to the body? [/quote] What I meant was, rather than striking the string and bouncing your thumb straight back off, as is the most common way of doing it; push your thumb through the string, so it is the same technique as double thumbing, well the first 50% anyway. That should stop the harmonics thing. So, if you used that technique on the low E, your thumb would pass through the E and come to rest on the A string. Try: https://www.talkingbass.net/slap-technique-bounce-vs-rest-stroke/

[quote name='Al Krow' timestamp='1510005992' post='3403265'] @Delberthot - agree that would be marvellous, but a BF One10 is a fair bit bigger than I'm looking for. Something 5" to (max) 8" and very compact (as well as being active / powered). I know bass cabs do manage with 5" speakers if they have been properly set up, but don't know if a powered 5" bass cab speaker exists. The most compact I've seen that could work is the [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/PJB_Double_Four.html"]Phil Jones Double Four (75W)[/url] - anything smaller and / or a tad cheaper? Just checked and the [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nxbd6pzg8kk"]PJB double4 handles a low B[/url](!) I'm impressed. [/quote] The Double 4 does handle a B and sounds great. But it's no where near loud enough to use as a stage monitor.

Just transcribed this for a guitar dep. If anyone wants chords to come up with your own lines, they go: G#m F E B F#/A# | C#m E△ D#m G#m F# Chorus 1 as above Then chorus 2: G#m D#m E G°

Try to slap 'through' on the G, rather than bouncing off it.

Big plus 1 for Bass Direct. Double 4s are ace too. It'll handle that low B comfortably.

We do duo gigs round here Kev. Most of them are duos because we're stuck in a corner and they're afternoon gigs where people are eating (Bargemans/Dairymans etc) so it is quite a quiet one. Also, 4 people splitting a duo fee is barely going to cover petrol!

Preamp pedal? Or even just a boost pedal. Short of further modding the bass.

Don't think they carry TKS? Spending some time A/B'ing against your combo is good idea. Least then you'll have a good reference point.

This is good to know. I think I'm going to get a tort one made up. Probably best to send the original then.

The new Yamaha offerings maybe worth a look?

[quote name='Chris2112' timestamp='1312483540' post='1327686'] You'd be better off just listening rather than watching the videos. As soon as you see the bassist's haircut you'll be wanting to punch him in the face because of his stupid haircut! Nice tone though. [/quote] That's funny, because he was saying he loves your haircut, but finds your bass tone a bit "meh"...

[quote name='scannerman' timestamp='1508357072' post='3391698'] Gm is my slap key preference! [/quote] 😂 I use it more for fills in our set, or in a bridge maybe. We only do a couple of tunes that need it. Punters do like it. The breakbeat 16ths thing is so cliche, but people love it.

I didn't find it to be wimpy. Certainly a marmite sort of sound though. Also, I much preferred it with more vintage voiced cabs.

[quote name='kevvo66' timestamp='1506717242' post='3380716'] I foolishly sold ,my pj compact 4 cab bad mistake ,I do like trace stuff and them elfs amps look great [/quote] Same ☹ I'd like another, think they come with a better PSU now too.

Andy is SUPER nice and helpful guy too. Great basses.

[quote name='Al Krow' timestamp='1506695285' post='3380504'] So are we all agreed that Markbass are still delivering a generally well regarded sound in both their amps and cabs which are quality products, to boot? And they manage to do so at a fair price point, with a widely recognised brand-name and whose second hand prices on their entire product range aren't currently falling [color=#808080][b]dark[/b][/color]ly through a [color=#808080][b]glass[/b][/color] floor then? For 30% less than a ridiculously over priced, over weight, "pointless" DG 4x10 (to quote Bill Fitzmaurice who, come-on guys, knows one or two things about cabs, right?) you can still pick up one of the [url="http://www.markbass.it/product-detail/combo-121-lite-strong-alain-caron-strong/"]finest gigging combos in the world[/url] [/quote] That's one reason I went back to Markbass, Al. It's not boutique stuff, but doesn't embarrass itself in any company. It just works for the stuff I do, my whole 600 watt rig weighs 21kg and it was all a good few hundred quid cheaper than the old rig went for 2nd hand. Of course, the great thing with the boutique stuff is, any issues and you can get top support, usually from the main guy, very quickly.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1506442244' post='3378781'] You'll need to go to 735 or 745 imo, but it will sound great and you can sell all the existing kit. [/quote] We use 735s, and have subs, but don't always use them. The 735s are incredible. We play some big holiday parks and I'm always impressed how much they pump it when you get chance to turn them up.

[quote name='Kev' timestamp='1506528371' post='3379383'] I must be missing something here, are these cabs not basically the same price if not a little cheaper than the berg/ vanderkley equivalent?? Edit: so Bass Direct have the equivalent Berg listed as £1499 so DG have come in cheaper, which is cool ☺ [/quote] I don't really know DG as a brand, but Vanderkley and certainly Bergantino are tried and tested. Handbuilt, by the head honcho, using top components. These cabs aren't even built by Darkglass, are they? Not that it's a problem, really. Just, that is what you pay for with Vanderkley, Marc's own expertise and time.