M@23

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1471606314' post='3114376'] Whhhhhaaaaaa???? £1750 for a Fender Elite 5?! What happened there? They've just replaced the previous Fender deluxe models which were about £1400 a year back....what on earth is going on?! I for one am glad that I don't want to buy any new basses! [/quote] Currency fluctuations and ever increasing import costs? The Elite J5 was about that price on introduction only a few months ago.

I played a passive Lakland J5 there once. It was about 2.3k I think. It was great though. I don't know enough about Lakland to say whether the manufacturing process and materials justify the price, but it was noticeably 'better' than the offerings from other manufacturers in the price bracket below.

Great that they're bringing the 45-105s back from extinction ☺ I love Fender flats. I've had them a on a few P basses, on my old 2012 US Standard they were perfection. I tried some La Bella but went back to the Fender. They sound and feel significantly better after about 2 months solid use. Can't say I found them growly at all, but this was on P basses with the tone rolled back. They're pretty high tension too.

What strings are you using? I found the Sandberg strings to be terrible! They don't do the basses justice at all IME.

Where do you lot get your 9v batteries from? The one that came in my Sadowsky is an Energizer Industrial. I keep checking it with the multimeter and it's not budged yet. I'm expecting it to as it's been very heavily used since I bought it, but still going strong.

I wouldn't go back to 4 either. I don't really play much below low Eb other than the odd D. Have probably never played a low B or c on a gig. But, i find it more comfortable and logical. I used to play and 7 string guitar and my first bass was a 5 so I probably learnt things differently than if I was using open strings and playing more at the 1st fret. If you play functions and covers or dep and play with different singers it makes life much easier IME.

A Tecamp Puma 300 - or Eich - would make a cool mini rig. Really like my 900 very much indeed.

[quote name='Old Horse Murphy' timestamp='1471115719' post='3110673'] My gigging Board: [URL=http://s945.photobucket.com/user/nwmurphy/media/image_72.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i945.photobucket.com/albums/ad298/nwmurphy/image_72.jpeg[/IMG][/URL] [/quote] How are you liking the Keeley Bassist mate? I really like mine as a compressor, it's the most neutral compressor pedal I've tried. Not yet sure if I like that or not...

I didn't even know they made bass stuff. The studio I used to work in had a Powerball guitar amp which was something else.

Lovely. Looks very clean.

[quote name='brucethebassplayer1' timestamp='1470843062' post='3108895'] Ended up getting a Vanderkley 410 combined with a Glockenklang Blue Sky. Sounds incredible. Thank you all for your comments. [/quote] Nice one. Would love to try the Glockenklang.

[quote name='Bill Fitzmaurice' timestamp='1470834649' post='3108804'] Keep it, if only to hide it away and appreciate in value. [/quote] Really? They're not exactly hard to come by and seem to sell 2nd hand for the standard 60% (ish) of retail.

I like a 130 B. Good strings definitely help too. I thought my Sandberg had a bad low B, turns out it was the awful strings they ship with. Still not the best, but hugely improved by better strings.

TC K210 would be top of my list at that price. Or, phone round and see who will do you the best deal on a Markbass 102p and see if you can get nearer to budget. I really like those cabs, they can take a serious amount and really kick for such a small box. Great little rig with a LM3.

How are they more refined? I've never had a set, but have had loads of basses with Hipshots and can't fault them.

[quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1470499472' post='3106422'] Good to know I have a heavy plastic anaemic sound . Epic fail after over 40 years of gigging. I must learn more. [/quote] I suppose plastic is a step up from wool? But not as good as wooden... probably. I'm still LOVING the Puma 900 btw, there's nothing I don't like about it. Maybe it's just a particularly good pairing with the Vanderkley, but the EQ points are spot on and I don't think anyone would describe that setup as thin/anaemic/plastic or similar.

GES 😀 I feel confident that this won't turn to GAS, too.

Not too aware of them other than the odd song but 'Ain't it Fun' is a great track with a super cool bassline. Someone did a great cover on YouTube which is the only reason I've heard it... http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dgAQZ9KZfdw Edit, no idea if that bass part was written by this guy?!

I think saying the tks struggle with loudness and lows is a bit unfair; given that providing tons of either isn't what they're made to do.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1470045477' post='3102827'] The future of everything is wireless, No one is going to go back to a lead in the professional arena even if it's made of unicorn hair. It is totally pointless. [/quote] That was my thinking too.

Yamaha bb2025 seem to go for £1300 ish second hand, if you can wait for one to come up. Sandberg VS looks good as well and they're nice and light. Then, Sadowsky, Lull and Xotic will all be top class, but also £2000.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1469916139' post='3102035'] I was going to say, you don't seem to be using an Ashdown... [/quote] I resisted the temptation to put that! 😁

[URL=http://s1240.photobucket.com/user/mattdigweed/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20160729_123002_zpse4xnimnn.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/gg488/mattdigweed/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20160729_123002_zpse4xnimnn.jpg[/IMG][/URL] The fire extinguisher is not part of my current setup! Sadowsky MV5 > pedal board (TU2, Keeley Bassist, Boss OC2) > Tecamp Puma 900 > Vanderkley MNT212. Love it!

Different valves could help, what have you got in there at the moment?