Musicman20

I think bassists are actually quite a modern bunch. Just look at some of the mental basses we are happy to buy....guitarists are MUCH worse! Is it a Strat/Tele/SG/Les Paul through a Fender Twin/some form of Marshall/Mesa? It better be! No one really thinks heavy cabs mean heavy volume, and the same goes for amps if you ask me. BUT, and this is a big but, perhaps the tone profile of the cabs we associate with big tone is set that way, with that rock mid kick, like the Ampeg 810. I haven't as yet found a lightweight cabinet that ticks the boxes, and I keep looking. I also think some of the price brackets are insane. As with everything, there are times when certain items sell very well, but what happens when you've spent £1000 on a lightweight 2x12, for example, then in 2 years time there is a better/lighter version or the trend changes? Unless the neo shortage changes I don't I'll be buying a lightweight setup. I'd rather invent in a bass. It would have to try very hard to beat the tonal profile of my Aguilar DB212 which is perfect.

I think the Markbass LM2/3 got described as a clean tube amp tone due to the fact it does sound quite 'spongey' in the mids. Its a very warm even tone. I wouldn't describe it as old school or modern, its the 'Markbass' tone to me. Nice and even. I think they make good amps, and some of their cabs are brilliant. However, their recent lineup of amps is bizarre in my opinion...(no F1/500?!). I still think the LM3 is their best amp, along with the F500 which you can't buy now. If they added the semi parametric mids to the Big Bang it would have been a much better amp. The one thing that Markbass missed a trick on is the low mid freq. setting....its too high to get that really cool low mid kick. The Streamliner is VERY smooth, fat, and warm. I don't find it flubby, but then again I am using it with cabinets that have a built in mid tone profile to them. I also mainly use Musicman basses which are incredibly flexible no matter what amp you use. I personally really like it, and like a lot of amps, the slight mid dip with all the controls at 12 can be ironed out in seconds. This modern obsession with 'flat at 12' wasn't really a concern when they made amps which the Streamliner is taking influence off. The Streamliner does sound incredibly like a tube amp to me. It is ultra clean as well, if you need it to be. If you want it dirty, it will do that as well. Its almost like taking your bass sound and coating it in golden syrup. The response has some give, and the high end treble is fantastic, (brilliant treble control). It is also the loudest micro I've tried.

Cheers! Perhaps I don't really need it anyway.... I've been trying to ring Alan at Synergy for a week or so now but my work takes over.

[quote name='SisterAbdullahX' timestamp='1350333344' post='1837547'] My SB5000 should arrive end of this month. Got a gig up at Beamish Hall on 17th November, could possibly bring it over so you could have a try, if you're interested and not too far away from Beamish. Personally, I wasn't in the slightest bit bothered that it costs £800 in the US and £1300 (actually, mine is £1265) over here. If it plays, sounds, feels and looks like a £1300 bass I'll be well happy! [/quote] Thanks! Get some pics when it arrives

[quote name='Anders' timestamp='1350332132' post='1837520'] Very decent post Billy Apple! Absolutely no need for apologising in my opinion. I will confess ,I haven't heard the new Matamps with their new transformers,only the older one.I hope they could put up some kind of soundsamples on the website. [/quote] Agreed!

[quote name='TRBboy' timestamp='1350335767' post='1837598'] Yeah, I think the vintage tint is as you say, just a bit of a darker more golden sort of tint (if you know what I mean). I've got a copy of last years price list, and it mentions an "aged finish" under neck options. AFAIK, none of the Sandberg basses feature series/parallel switching. They seem pretty reluctant to do anything that they don't normally offer, as far as preamps go. I asked if they could include the passive tone control on my new Ken Taylor 5, and got a flat "no" even though I know that Glockenklang make a 3-band with it on. That said, they will theoretically make anything you want, but I guess that you're talking about custom builds then, rather than "standard" basses. The string spacing is adjustable, and I don't know the measurements on the Cali's, but I'd say it's fairly generous. Certainly feels more like a Yamaha TRB than a Ibanez Soundgear. I'd guess about 18 - 18.5mm [/quote] Thanks.

How do you choose vintage tinted?! Am I right in guessing you can order the maple board to look darker? I'm still a bit unsure about blocks on the P style body. I think I'd be happy with just dots to be honest. If it was binding as well as blocks as well I'd probably go for it. Another questions about options...the coil tap on the TM (Jazz), it isn't on the VM normally unless you order it. Does the switch also allow for series/parallel? I'd quite like that option. Does anyone know the string spacing on the 5ers? Cheers

[quote name='daz' timestamp='1350262541' post='1836619'] Much as it goes against the grain with me to say this, (see my Sig) but keep the five and get a four [i]as well[/i]. Even if you get the best four ever and find out you are better served with a four string. You may well regret selling the five later. [/quote] Spot on.

Just be glad the QC is spot on!

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1350297643' post='1836860'] From what I've read the STL6 was the most clinical amp Genz made. Their STL9 and the *.2 and MAX amps seem to be rated for their warmer and fuller tones. [/quote] Agreed. Plus the Shuttle 6.0 was attenuated down low to not destroy the little Shuttle Cabs! If you side by side say a Shuttle 6.0 to a 6.2, you will see quite a big difference! Genz make the Streamliner...which might appeal? TC RH750? Markbass LM3? From what I've heard about the GK 'tone', it really is quite bright, quite growly when you want it to be, and in the case of their new micros (MB500/800) BIGGGG down low and very bright. E.g. a mid-scoop but this an be easily dialed out.

AWS is just a 3 band single H Stingray played very aggressively with a few studio tricks.

It's like a witchunt in here when Orange VS Matamp comes up. The AD200b sounds great, looks great, and isn't that heavy. You also get a long warranty based on a UK company cf to something like Ampeg. For the record, I like Matamp but the last GT I heard did not have a grind or drive like the AD200b.

Sandberg? Musicman Sterling 5/Bongo 5.

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1350108368' post='1834595'] It's nitpicking, but I wonder who proofed the text on the back plate of the cabs? 'Design in UK and made in PRC'..? [/quote] Whoops

[quote name='drTStingray' timestamp='1350176112' post='1835552'] These look very unlike Bongos with piezos.......... They look rather like (whispering) [size=1]Fender copies[/size]. V nice looking though. [/quote] I want all three!

See above...I'd like one VM and one TM...probably 5ers...they seem to look better in 5 string format. I'm edging towards maple.

[attachment=120883:TM5CremeMHSWhitePlateMapleBlocks.jpg] [attachment=120884:TM5MBMHSWhiteGuardMapleBlocks.jpg] [attachment=120885:TM5MBWhiteGuardMapleDots.jpg] [attachment=120886:TM53TSBlackPlateMapleDots.jpg] [attachment=120887:TM53TSParchmentGuardRosewoodDots.jpg] [attachment=120888:TM53TSWhiteGuardRosewoodBlocks.jpg]

[attachment=120876:VM5MBMapleDots.jpg] [attachment=120877:VM5MBMapleBlocks.jpg] [attachment=120878:VM5CremeMapleDots.jpg] [attachment=120879:VM5CremeMapleBlocks.jpg] [attachment=120880:VM53TSBlack.jpg] [attachment=120881:VM53TSBlackMaple.jpg] [attachment=120882:VM53TSBlackRosewoodBlocks.jpg]

Yeah the NY122 is a SUPER loud clear cabinet. I had one for a very short amount of time but as I had so much else I didn't need it. It's light and slim and kicks like a mule. It has a much better tweeter than the usual Piezo loaded cabs.

The only thing I don't like is their tort...it seems VERY red like the MIJ Fender Tort...is it like that in real life?!

There is a new version of the Neo X cabs with Faital drivers. Apparently they are even better than the last spec of drivers that used to be used. It's also making the weight slightly less! I think the 212 is now 47lbs. They've also taken about £50 off the asking price!

http://www.configurator.sandberg-guitars.de/ There is a link off the main site as well. What a BRILLIANT idea. Musicman used to have one years back but that has long gone. I'm very tempted to get a Sandberg at the moment.

Cool that you compensated you...you'll never need more power! But, I can't help but think a new amp would have been safer. As you've accepted this one as it is they might be reluctant to exchange it later down the line. These micro amps have a lot jammed inside them so anything could have been knocked.

Yes definitely! I would hope they could at least send you a pic every few months Hope it all works out....should be a cracker.

I don't like that bass above at all (natural one)....looks INCREDIBLY boring. Mastodon are great but the bass playing and bass lines don't do it for me. The drummer and guitarists are superb though.