markorbit

The Tort looks great!! Like an inferno... I'd like to order one for my P bass when available.

PM'd

As already mentioned, a tube swap in this amp won't yeild radically different results. The GP12SMX is my favourite Trace pre.

Cool. Always good to see Herbie clips. Haven't seen that one before. Even back then he had ten years mileage on the same bass...

ONLY if taking it to a professional is not an option... It sounds to me like it needs some more 'relief' on the bass side of the neck. Have you tried SLACKENING this truss rod to try and remove the forward bow? You may then need to lower the action again. I would have thought that going to a lighter gauge string would increase the problem.

Electro Music have secured the services of mega-session player Phil Spalding for a 'Bass Evening With' event at The Regent Hotel, Doncaster on Wednesday March 5th. Phil has an impressive CV having recorded with Robbie Williams, Kylie, Mick Jagger, Elton John, Mike Oldfield, Simon Townshend amongst many others, not forgetting his roots in Original Mirrors and Toyah (with Simon Phillips). More details and video here: [CODE]http://www.electromusic.co.uk/philspalding[/CODE] He gets right 'in the zone' on the Seal clip!

I happen to like flats on a graphite neck. Clear and pure bass tone. A great combination.

I think you are looking in the right drection with the MB Fusion. After owning and trying quite a few amp heads myself (F1, F500, LM3, TH500, SVT7Pro, PF500), and wanting something small and light, I went back to the MB Fusion 500. I like the fat smooth warmth it has with soft fingerstyle with flats on a P bass. If you dig in, it gets snappy and funky. My 2nd choice would be the Aguilar. Both good in slightly different ways - I'd say the Aguilar has more going on in the lower mids but the Fusion sounds bigger.

Ampeg premps come up for sale from time to time, I would hold out for one. I've had the SVPCL, SVP Pro and SVTIIP and ultimately kept the latter. I haven't tried the Darkglass B3K but I have been mightily impressed with the youtube demos I've heard.

Don't forget there is another set of La Bellas inbetween the 760FL and 760FM - the 760 FS. These are great strings and much easier to play than the Jamerson 0760M and more substantial than the 760FL. However, I think I'm gonna move up a gauge and try the 760FM next. I want to get as fat as possible but stop short of the Jamersons (which I believe are made differently to the others). I've had a few sets of TIs over the years. They demand a lighter touch and do have a certain appeal but the D & G don't feel like bass strings to me. I like big chunky flats on bass. It just feels right and the tone is BIG and FAT. Funnily enough my playing has also got progressively less busy too but I think that's what real bass is all about. Less notes but make 'em BIGGER

I've owned 4 Bergers and currently have an L2 which I like to take out on gigs, just to freak everybody out. When standing, the reach can be short or long depending on whereabouts on your body you 'hang' the bass - middle or to the right hip. I've never found it an issue at all. The biggest 'problem' is that there is no body to anchor to (well, there [i]is[/i] a technique if you must have this) and the bass too easily moves around on the pivot plate. Other than that it's probably the coolest bass ever invented.

What we need is a micro Trace Elliot that has all what we like about the old gear! Are you listening Trace? Sadly, I don't think there are many close alternatives especially when you factor in a built-in compressor. I didn't think the TC RH amps were in the same ball-park. Not as dynamic and punchy as a Trace and a little processed-sounding. If you are open to a combo I would have a listen to the latest NEO Ashdowns which are due out any day now. (They also do a 1000w Class D head if that's your thing). This will have the compressor, tube and an octaver plus 7-band eq. If you forgo the compressor more options become available - GK MB Fusion and Markbass Big Bang come to mind. Nothing I've tried quite has the same tone and punch of my GP12SMX (though I've yet to try the new Ashdowns yet myself)..

My trusty L2. the second one I've owned. Went to Brooklyn with me last year so you could say I brought her back to her roots!

For the first time in my life I had the same thought as I decided I finally ought to own a T-Bird late last year (I'm 47). I kept wondering 'But hang on, aren't they a young rockers thing?'. Then I remembered Entwistle. You can make any bass work if you approach it right. Crikey, my last few gigs were with my trusty Steinberger L2. I say make your own vibe and do your own thing. Play with confidence and you'll make it work.

[quote name='bassmansky' timestamp='1246212114' post='526927'] i guess jj burnel of the stranglers does'nt own a wooly jumper then [/quote] JJ tends not to use the ABM style VU Ashdowns that are mainly referred to here - he favours the 12 band graphic models that resemble the Trace Elliots. Basically a black Mark King model with a few tweaks. Sounds very much 'Live at Leeds'. Personally I've also struggled to get my sound out of an ABM-style Ashdown but sometimes I hear someone else playing one and I think it sounds great. I think the last [i]great [/i]British bass amplifier was the Trace GP12SMX. I'm always impressed when I plug that in (pre-shape OFF there too). If only the could make one that weighed 5kg.

I like phenolic/composite fingerboards and I favour a warm tone. I've had 'cold' basses with maple, rosewood and graphie boards.... What I love about the phenolic fingerboard is how refined and consistant the sound is. I generally prefer flatwound strings with them as I think they compliment each other well. I have a Status S2 Classic and original Steinberger at the moment. I did a quick recording session of all my basses the other day. The Precision with Status graphite neck and Labellas beat the rest. Refined smooth tone. Great for fingerstyle and even Motown. The Pino with the same strings was waaaay more upper middy for that Gang Of Four thing. Quite surpring really. Could be the Fralin pickups being the difference aswell of course. If I was still a pick player it may be different but I wouldn't dismiss a phenolic neck.

From my own experience I can confirm that Lakland have GREAT customer service.