M@23

Agreed with all. Great shop and staff.

Cheers Kev. Thats gaood of you to post. I settled on a similar setting tonight, just a little longer release and a bit less gain. Those Joe Meek pedals look the business. I have a rack one laying about somewhere!

So my Compressore arrived. First impressions are, it isn't as big as I was expecting! It's very solidly built but not too heavy. It's a bit of a pain that it uses a 12v power supply, but not the be all and end all as I always run my rig off my own RCD, then power surge extension lead anyway, so socket space isn't the issue. Sound wise, it is vey clean and transparent. Practically no hiss too. I have a studio session tonight and a gig tomorrow so will see how it fares in both situations. For what I wanted, which was subtle, always on compression, I think the Compressore is ideal. I actually found myself using more extreme settings than I expected. I don't know if it is my light touch or my P bass having low output pickups. It works very well and I'm really pleased with it so far!

The MXR was the one I was leading towards, I've got quite a few gigs scheduled for the next few weeks - so if the Markbass doesn't do it for me in practice I'll send it back and get an MXR. I'm sure I'll love the Compressore though.

Here is my 1996 Japanese Precision in Shell Pink. Since i last posted it's photo in this thread it has had: a Bass Doc pickguard, a Fender CS pickup, CTS pots, US control knobs fitted and a bridge cover. It also has 55-100 Fender flats. [attachment=162923:pinky1.jpg] [attachment=162924:pinky2.jpg] [attachment=162925:pinky3.jpg]

[quote name='Kevsy71' timestamp='1400248248' post='2452263'] I've been a MB Compressore user for about one year now, including five pub gigs. I play a Sandberg California VS (P bass) through a Genz Benz Shuttlemax 12.2 and two Baer ML112 cabs to cut through vocals, two guitars, sax, harmonica and piano. The music is blues/upbeat rhythm & blues (Gary Moore, Nine Below Zero, etc.) and I just use the Compressore to take some mud out of fast lines and to tame the E string and hence avoid overpowering low frequency boom. Lots of tweakability, and very quiet, only minor downer is that it runs on an 18V PSU only (which is provided). PS before anyone reading this thread gets a compressor they should read the Ovnilab site, contains the most detailed reviews I've seen for both the Markbass and MXR (and loads others!!!): [url="http://www.ovnilab.com/reviews/markbass.shtml"]http://www.ovnilab.com/reviews/markbass.shtml[/url] [url="http://www.ovnilab.com/reviews/mxrbass.shtml"]http://www.ovnilab.com/reviews/mxrbass.shtml[/url] [/quote] Thanks everyone for your input. I hadn't planned on pulling the trigger yet, but by chance saw a Markbass Compressore with an online retailer for £139 this morning - so ordered it there and then. It's been returned as unwanted during the 14 day returns period, unmarked and as new with a years warranty. Too good to pass up! Any recommendations on settings, Kev? Your main use for it seems very similar to mine.

I love that colour.

There are some very good deals on a certain German music retailers website at the moment. Not too sure if these new lower prices for the Indonesian products, or just a blow out. A good bit cheaper than UK prices though, especially the 8ohm 4x10s. I'm thinking of grabbing a 1x12 for smaller gigs. Edit, on checking the photos on said website - there do appear to be the new Indonesian models.

[quote name='hamfist' timestamp='1400068273' post='2450371'] I use my MXR M87 bass compressor in a very similar way to the way you are hoping to use compression. I want it there in the background, but not-noticeable (until you turn it off, that is, and realise that it is actually doing nice things). The MXR is very transparent, very clean, and very quiet at those levels of compression. It is also less than half the size and weight of a COmpressore (which is also a very fine compressor I have to add). The MXR is capable of all sorts of different compression, including extreme effects, hard-limiting and very subtle too. My experience with it is that it definitely has a compressing effect before the LEDS start to light up (the more LED's lit indicating the level of compression being applied). So if you try it out, I would advise adjusting the "input" (which is basically the threshold) until you are only getting a few green LED's lit on your heaviest low notes. You don't want it to be going near or into the amber, or you will be over-compressing for my tastes. My advice is Release and Attack at noon. Ratio at 3:1. Input adjusted as above, and output adjusted to whatever output level you need to drive your other pedals and/or preamp. There are some great pedal compressors out there these days. My experience is that none of the really good ones is particularly cheap though. [/quote] Cheers guys! Thanks for this hamfist. That sounds ace. I hadn't seen the MXR before but that sounds perfect actually. Going to read up about it now.

Hi, I'm after an always on compression pedal, I've read all the reviews on Ovnilab, amd am leaning toward the MB Compressore, but would appreciate some tried and tested opinions. I really want it to be a clean as possible, no harmonic distortion and as quiet as possible too! Not asking for much, then... I'd mostly use a low ratio as I don't want it to dip and swell and sound squishy, just want it to even things out and sound nice and clean. I have a LM3 and 2x12 and play 4 string Precisions. Cheers!

[quote name='stevie' timestamp='1399999456' post='2449779'] I found an interesting copy of the Markbass Magazine from 2009 online today. The front page reads: [font=sans-serif][size=7] "100% Made in Italy[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] The only way to maintain and grow the worldwide success of[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] Markbass is to keep manufacturing our products in Italy, where we[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] have full control over the entire process, from the quality of our[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] materials to our rigorous testing procedures. We stand firm on this,[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] despite the fact that so many other companies have moved their[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] production to Asia, seduced by the short-term economic benefits of[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] lower production costs.[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] Manufacturing in Italy not only keeps us on top of our quality control,[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] it also allows us to continuously—and quickly—innovate and refine[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] our products.[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] We couldn’t work this way with an offshore factory, because we’d be[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] locked into inflexible long-term production schedules. Our products[/size][/font][font=sans-serif][size=4] cannot afford this type of inflexibility! We’re a company with vision,[/size][/font] passion, and blah blah blah." (Don't shoot the messenger. I'm a Markbass user and I like their stuff.) [/quote] Maybe that was the case in 2009. Quite a bit of time has passed since then and they are a much more stable and established company now, perhaps.

I've had it twice with my LMIII. The first was a dodgy socket at the venue. The second was an IEC lead that was on its way out. The same amp is fine now and has done many gigs since its no problems whatsoever.

Nevada are great. Fantastic shop and staff.

Try the Bass Doc on here. I just received my P bass tort guard from him, it's a cracker at a fraction of the cost of an official Fender one.

I've had two big purchases with them in the past - they were ok. Just ok, really. Not massively friendly or welcoming, or seemingly that appreciative for the custom. But, I like the shop and they have some great stock. They're certainly not the worst big guitar shop south of London, in my experience. But, not the best either.

I just had two 250k Fender CTS installed into a Japanese P, as part of its makeover. I believe 250k is the standard on most Fenders, certainly what my two Precisions have. I got them from Thomann - they were something like £4.80 each! Well worth it - they are the ones that come as standard on US Fenders.

Bumping this up to show the (nearly) finished article. I've not added the pickup cover yet or got round to ordering new tuning pegs... But here it is, a Fender Vintage Pickup, Switchcraft jack, CTS pots, bridge cover and a Bass Doc pickguard later. I must publicly thank the Bass Doc for his efforts here, this was the cheaper option tort guard and is easily as nice as that on my US Std. Precision, at a very, very good price with a super quick turn around! [attachment=162016:pinky1.jpg] [attachment=162017:pinky2.jpg] [attachment=162018:pinky3.jpg]

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1398591978' post='2435493'] I was wondering that as well. Most of the replies so far seem to relate to the best 'player' but I interpreted the OPs question as a bit wider. In the Beatles example, Macca was clearly a great bass player but surely his defining feature is his all-round musical ability? He not only plays bass but also guitar, piano and drums ( and probably more for all I know) and his songwriting is also pretty legendary. [/quote] Yeah, agreed. Not just a great bassist but very talented multi instrumentalist and songwriter.

[quote name='EmmettC' timestamp='1398504890' post='2434727'] I sent a long message saying I'm short with a beard wearing a shirt etc, he just said "I'll be the one with a bass amp". [/quote] Haha :-)

I had a cover made by them, from the dimensions on the cab manufacturers website and it is pretty much spot on. I'd be very annoyed at them getting it wrong 3 times though. I used to have a cover for an old guitar amp made by Silvertone, there are some horror storied about them online, but this cover was incredibly well made. It's like a cab cover lottery.

[quote name='artisan' timestamp='1398339222' post='2433074'] cheers for all the replies guys after reading all your comments i have decided not to buy the passive (he's decided to keep it anyway) & to go for an active bass instead. so i just pulled the trigger on a new Pro Series Corvette from Thomann at a silly price as they have been discontinued so cleared out. brand new Korean Warwick for £570.00 ---- just crazy not too. cheers. [/quote] Bargain! Good find.

I just parted company with a 1995 passive Corvette, and instantly regretted it. It was very heavy, so I couldn't really gig it anymore. But, it was beautifully built and sounded great. It could do that growly tone, but not like a jazz bass. It sounded very well defined and clear too, through a Markbass setup. Even though it was heavy, it was a real players bass. I only moved it on as I wanted another Precision. This was a bubinga one btw.

Subjectivity at its finest.

So, your singer waited until after the gig to complain? Did the keyboard player not say anything during, or was he too nauseous to speak?!