Al Krow

If you were going for a single powered speaker such as the RCF 745A or the QSC K12.2, then does it not also make sense to go for a dedicated bass combo such as the Fender Rumble 800? I'm guessing that the 'general' FRFR is geared to provide very good sonic response across the range of instruments and vocals whereas a bass combo will be specifically geared for...bass. Then there's the BF FR800 which seems to be essentially a very expensive bass combo? Why get that with its 600W power module rather than a dedicated amp plus a BB2 and keep all the benefits of separates? (Appreciate that this topic may have been covered at length in the FRFR mega thread somewhere - but thought it might be useful to have this particular angle covered separately).

Cheers for that. But I still can't get my head around ANY amp sounding louder through a BF 110 than the BB2 just based on speaker cone size and greater driver displacement in the BB2.

No worries. Totally relate to what you're saying about coping with a 5: panic attack sums up exactly how I felt on a couple of the numbers when doing my first full two hour set with a 5...

I know, BCers are an abusive lot at the best of times aren't they? 😄 What are the EQ mid points on your new bad boy? And does it have heft? (I really don't give a Rat's Tail whether it's good for metal) 😁

Excellent, congratulations! So did you end up getting a brand new one from BD?

@51m0n three TF Bulheads in FS including a 1K for your delectation! I will be interested in what amps the sellers move onto and how they stack up against their TFs, but that’s for another day

Really weird that you should be getting a bigger sound with your 110 than the BB2 at 300W? In fact with the bigger speaker size and additional driver displacement, I would be expecting it to be the other way around ie the volume from your BB2 to exceed the 110 by a margin (in the same way I’d expect a 410 to be louder than a 110). A capable cab shouldn’t require a monster amp to drive it. Hmmm...if what you’re getting is common to BB2 owners, it will definitely make me think twice about upgrading my SC to a BB2.

Am I correct in thinking you are London based? If so, I’ve got a white 1025, which you would be welcome to borrow for the gig if you don’t mind the extra string?

Absolutely no science involved in amp and cab design I agree. The notes come into being by themselves.

Ok thanks. I was hoping it was "more than a feeling" to quote Boston... I do like the rationality of Dood's explanation; it has the solid core of being testable / replicable and on such fundamentals has humanity's progress been built these past four centuries.

Can you elaborate on the 'transient thing' please?

The other immediate action point for me is to change the EQ centre on my DG M900 for the low mids to 250 Hz or alternatively move the mids selector switch on my Ibby SR bass from 750 Hz to 250 Hz, so that I’ve got this key range you’ve identified covered by one or the other. Looking forward to giving that a try out when I’m back ‘at the ranch’ next week.

@Dood thanks buddy. Excellent (as usual). Lots of great EQ wisdom there, too, to mull on. I may need to buy @dave_bass5 's Q/Strip after all!

They’re not necessarily always better. Depends on the gear in question, innit? But guaranteed to be older (vintage) and heavier (valve / big gear) 😄

So another analogy to add Skinnyman's torque is that just as a painter or photographer can (rightly) seek a certain quality in the "light", similarly musicians can surely seek a certain timbre from their instruments? A Stradivarious will have a richer tone than a £500 violin. They can certainly both play the same notes at similar volumes. Heft is just one aspect and a label that many of us commonly apply to a certain quality of the sound that our amps and cabs deliver.

Fixed 😁 Good description - do like the torque analogy. Whereabouts is your shelter and is there room for more than one?

Nonsense. My Mesa M6 doesn't make me feel superior nor does my DG M900 make me feel inferior. I enjoy them both for what they are. It's not a subject I've spent any time discussing before today and, due to a lack of a bass to hand this week, improving my playing is a touch tricky... 😄

Hmmm, interesting. In theory a recording should be able to capture the sonic signature of heft and it still should be felt provided you have a faithful recording and sound system. In practice well sound engineered album tracks will, anyway, be a lot better than what any of us can produce in terms of recording a live performance.

My Mesa M6 has 'heft' in spades. I wouldn't describe my DG M900 as having it. I think @Lozz196 summarised it very well above. Sonically, for me it is do with the resonance, combination and dynamics of frequencies the amp is producing. The Mesa is more tonally complex and manages to have a powerful low end whilst not losing the rest of the frequency range. The DG is cleaner sounding without the microtubes engaged, and whilst more complex with it engaged, as with many dirt pedals loses a little low end.

So I think of it as being: "Full bodied" "punchy" tone The opposite of anemic Certainly not bland It hits you in the gut and you know its there!

Congrats on the new acquisition and joining the expanding BC Stomp club! When's yours due or have you got your hands on it already?

So looks aren't necessarily first or foremost for me with a bass, but they're definitely an important factor, particularly if I'm spending a lot on a bass and if it has a 'wow' factor in terms of look, finish and feel, that's a real plus! I thought @stingrayPete1977 put it really well when he said that a white / black / burst etc. bass isn't pretending to be anything other than what it is. A relic'd bass clearly is. BUT if it makes its owner happy then wtf guys. Move on, life's too short.

The other brand that has recently caught my eye, due to the sheer 'classical' elegance of its design, is Zon Sonus. Never played one (although I note that the bass gallery has one in the commercial items for sale currently). Does anyone have experience (plus or minus) with Zon basses?