Musicman20

I have a J and P from the 08 series (2011 and 2009) and both are rosewood. I was thinking of getting a 2012 with a maple board if the pups were decent

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1353673747' post='1877221'] I`ve just aquired a 2011 Precision. Olympic white/tort/rosewood. PMT had them at £786 - probably due to the 2012 Series getting such rave reviews. Anyway, £786, I couldn`t turn that down, as although I`m very pleased with my MIJ Precision, US Standards are my fave. And have to say that these really are great basses. It is so easy to play, and the sound is all that I want from a Precision - just got to wait for the strings to die a bit, not keen on new strings. The weight is also very good - over a 2 hour band practice it becomes noticeable as to how heavy it isn`t - much more friendly on those of us with bad backs. So if the 2012 is an upgrade, I`d like to hear one, however this bass has the playability and tone that I want, so I`m sticking with it. [/quote] Still very happy with my 2009 P Bass, it's a very nice instrument. I managed to get a matching Jazz last year in 2011, and its stunning. Brilliant low weight, lots of growl, and very pretty! I am contemplating picking up a 2012 P now to see how different it is. The 09 is staying though.

They are also a good distortion pedal and very high quality DI. So, even if you keep it flat, it's good for other uses. It does sound fantastic with a passive bass though!

If so, any views on how they sound? Cheers

[quote name='BluRay' timestamp='1353859560' post='1879053'] UPDATE! [color=#454545][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]following a visit to to the lovely-but-evil Bass Direct yesterday I walked out with....wait for it.... a Yamaha 2024x!!! Jet black and cool as hell.[/size][/font][/color] [color=#454545][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]Well as planned I tried the VM4 first, already convinced I was going to place my custom order (the candy apple red one in the store wasn't the one for me, and I'd got hooked on the custom configurator on their site). Anyhow....wow. What a superb instrument, and everything I was expecting. I was especially impressed with the neck which was so comfortable and fast, but without feeling skinny. Slightly more comfy than the neck on my Ray. Juuuust right. Kinda felt more like moulded plastic rather than wood (but in a good way, if that makes sense). Nice mid weight, felt substantial without being hefty. Amazing range of tones - but not especially MM from the bridge as might be expected. Super low action - but maybe a bit too much string rattle. Some easy adjustment would sort that out. Lovely rich P tone. I absolutely loved it. I reckon the 5 month waiting list is justified. [/size][/font][/color] [color=#454545][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]But then I tried the yammy. I'd guessed Mark might spring that on me - so was sort of prepared. I've played one before, so knew it might sway me. In fairness, terms of finish and feel there really wasn't much in it. Both basses were fantastic. But after about an hour switching between them, I found I kept trying to make the sandberg sound like the yamaha. Seemed the 2024 was the sound in my head. It was a very tough call. I wanted both. Also - the Yammy is quite assertive and just knows its tone. You plug it in and there it is. Take it or leave it. The VM4 is clearly more versitile, but the downside of that is quite a lot of fiddling arround to find the sound I was looking for. Dare say I'd have it sussed given more time - so in no way a bad thing. But the yammy just grabbed me by the throat and that was that. [/size][/font][/color] [color=#454545][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]I'd done my homework before visiting the store and think I got a fair price from Mark (I actually don't think there would have been [i]too much [/i]in it price wise between the two - by the time I'd spec-ed the sandberg and got carried away with the extras), and great buying experience all round. Mark knows his products sell themselves - and customers just need a little time to come to their on conclusions, with just a little advice and gentle guidance.[/size][/font][/color] [color=#454545][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]My only slight uncertainty is around the level of buzz that the j pup introduces - very pronounced soloed, and also "there" with both pups together. That might just be my paranoia! We shall see.[/size][/font][/color] [color=#454545][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]Anyway so far I'm very happy. And poor. Band practice tonight!!! Pics and discription to follow at some point.[/size][/font][/color] [/quote] Cool, you got one of the proper Japanese hand made Yammies?! They look great. I really like the sunburst ones. Apparently that hum is present on all of them. Yamaha chose to leave it like it is, probably because they wanted a true vintage J sounding pup (which has its hum but also has glorious tone!). I also had a quick check over a Sandberg on Friday (relic TM4). To be honest, I felt myself straying further away the more I held it. Nice bass, well made, the relic isn't my thing at all, and it looked a bit fake, but I haven't seen a non-relic one yet in the flesh. My worry with the Sandberg is the delano pups and the pre-amp....I know i'd end up just wanting to use a classic passive P or J bass, or a Musicman. If I wanted an active EQ I have the Aguilar TH pedal which is their active EQ in pedal format with drive and DI/etc, so if I get another J or P bass I want it to be stock passive. It's good to try these things, as it gives you a proper perspective.

...and even though I'm a Musicman nut, I'm expecting that your range in stock is 4 string H or HH Stingrays in Black. I'd suggest getting some of the rarer modern models as well, and some 5 strings models. Heck, even a 6 string Bongo HS as the guy from Dream Theatre seems to be adverstising them well. So, it'd be good to see: A proper USA made Musicman Sterling (maybe a 5 string in HH or HS) 5 strings Stingray 4 and 5 string Bongo's An SSS Big Al Reflex/Gamechanger (HH probably the most popular) ...and PLEASE....less black. Every bass dept I've seen has the normal EBMM colours. I avoid black basses like the plague. Maybe a white or sunburst (for the traditionalists) and some of the more funky colours like Sky Blue and Tangerine Pearl.

Another cab. Add another RS210 for £400 or whatever it is and you are away.

[quote name='BassPimp66' timestamp='1353758300' post='1878128'] The 9 quid extra are needed to pay business tax and rates. Something Amazon is avoiding via dodgy tax evasion schemes. [/quote] True. But the average modern buyer will then go online from then on.

Yep, that is the one. I'm probably a bit difficulty to please with any relic as its not really my thing, but something didn't feel right when I picked it up. Then again, I said that about the Jazz neck on Fender's at first. I did see a small seletion of Laklands and wasn't impressed by them. Weirdly, the most impressive thing I saw was a 2012 AS Fender P bass in Charcoal Frost. The fit and finished were excellent and the colour was really cool under the shop lights.

I just spotted a light blue Sandberg TM4 in relic format today. It was in GuitarGuitar. Firstly, the build quality was pretty spot on. Nice chunky bridge, and the usual areas neck pocket etc were spot on. I only played it unplugged, but I found it quite heavy and a bit 'clunky'... This was quite heavily relic'd, and after seeing pictures, I was a bit shocked to find it looking very artificial. It looked like a chisel had been used on it, then left. Not sure if its my thing at all. I didn't get chance to plug it in as it was lunch time, but the first few moments with it didn't feel quite right.

Unless you have a massive need for HUGE volume, massive output, and lightweight, then the new ultra powerful 12" speakers are not always the best choice. I would choose in this order: Tone Cost Portability Aesthestics The new 12" neo drivers as described above really can cover a lot of ground, but they will also cost you a lot for what is essentially two speakers in a box, with wiring, crossover, horn/mid driver. We are currently paying through the roof for these high end speakers, and all that will happen is that another breed of super cabs will come along, and you will lose a lot of money getting the latest and greatest. If you have a lot of money to throw at it, go for it! Personally, I have the 2x12 area covered with an Aguilar DB212 which sounds fabulous. I would like to try the new Genz Benz Faital loaded NX2 2x12, but I think that is just GAS talking. Whether I would prefer it to the Aggie is a difficult question!

The Berg HD212 is killer weight. Never played it but I've heard it's quite bass heavy. Personally, I'd try the Aguilar DB212 or the Genz NX2 212.

Get the 500. Neither meet the stated wattage but its not always about tested ratings. The 500 version sounds better.

Th other option is a trolley, and make sure your band mates always get the other handle. This applies to any gear, no matter what the weight, (maybe not effects pedals etc though haha).

Hi Peter I currently have both of those amps, so I consider myself very lucky! Firstly, if you are maxing the AG amp, it suggest to me that a 2x12 is just not enough rig for the gig, if you get me. If you really like that Aguilar amp, (and Aguilar are know for making very conservatively rated amps) I would see what you options are for cabs. If its a case of one 4 ohm cab, and no movement on that, then things might get more difficult. 2x12s are great but only cover so much ground. Doubling that would add a huge amount of volume. I think if you pound that cab with a 900W or 750W or whatever the ratings are (both the 750 and Max 9.2 are extremely powerful IME) you are probably putting undue stress on the drivers. However, I can vouch for the fact that both the 750 and Max 9.2 are fabulous amps. Both have a lot of flexibility, but the 750 stays in the 'low mid kick' area, and with the tweetertone you can add a lot more high end cf to the 450. However, it is still modelled to give quite a modern take on a classic tone I guess, so if you don't like that tone, maybe it is not for you. The Max 9.2 clean channel is VERY clean...extremely precise.

[quote name='51m0n' timestamp='1353404934' post='1874580'] Being in Brighton I think it would be cool if you had one of each Barefaced Cab on display, since they are from Brighton too. Not a lot of people really know about BF cabs and they are good.... [/quote] Only problem with that is Alex then has to deal with GAK, who obviously have to make a profit, which could mean its difficult to make the cabs the same price as direct from BF. I suppose they could sort something out though. I never knew you guys had a wall of Musicman basses!

Grab one from Synergy. They match Thomann prices.

I'd leave the RS212 as it is....and buy another. 250W through a 4x12 is a LOT of noise...watts don't really matter compared to adding shed loads of speakers.

[quote name='BigBeatNut' timestamp='1353273654' post='1873211'] Hope no-one minds me asking this here.... There was a bit of marketing hoo-hah earlier this year when fender announced that all the new Am. Stds would have 'Custom Shop Vintage 60's pickups'. Anyone know if this was just marketing or if the pickups became more old-school in tone ? Or, indeed, would a modern (I gather they got a lot better around 2008) Am. Std P have what's considered an old-school tone anyway without the alleged pickup tweak ? Yeah, I know, I should go out and play one .... [/quote] I've not tried the 2012 pups yet. It's easy to notice though; 2008-early 2012 = flush pole pieces, 2012 onwards = raised pole pieces.

Honestly, respect to the guy, and I love a bit of tasteful slap, but that was awful. Ridiculous mic, poor vocals, and the bass was typically scooped. I watched it with the Mrs and she said straight away 'all I can hear is high end pingy noises...the rest is lost'. He is the man for slap I guess, but I don't like how the slap was forced into bridges etc. Much prefer Flea...sorry.

What do these actually do?! I used a Zoom years back and found it a bit flimsy...

Hope you are alright Pete!

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1353180459' post='1872549'] epic badly broken wrist fail only an hour after purchasing! [/quote] Whattt? Hope you are alright!