Musicman20

For the past few years I've been using those foam plugs that literally block out what seems like half the actual volume. They can make the sound muffled but I never go home from gigs or rehearsals with ringing now. Are these doing the job? They aren't great for sound quality but it seems to save my hearing. If I take them out mid rehearsal the volume increase is insane. I have another set from boots which were roughly £10 and tend to have less of a drastic effect abc less muffling.

In a Musicman, yes. The Sterling pickups (and Stingray 5 for a certain period) are/were ceramic. Much 'middier' and seem a bit hotter. A little more aggression and sizzle. Series wiring also adds to this difference. The normal Stingray alnico pups are smoother, less in your face, more traditional. Parallel wiring normally. I think if we are talking P basses, it would still be a fairly similar difference.

I doubt I could get down just to witness the cabinet differences, but what I will say is that nothing 'special' should be set up...at all. When you get to a gig, you put your cab down and get on with it. As long as the same amp, cables and bass are used, by the same person demoing it, then that's enough.

I have contacted Synergy and Alan was very helpful, but the one I want isn't in and I've never played one yet, so really I need to try one out. I've heard they can weight quite a bit, which isn't that much of a problem as long as it isn't ridiculous. I think the P/MM type VM basses look great. Thing is, the conversion to the Euro is an advantage at the moment, so brands like Sandberg should be a pretty good deal.

Cool bass tone and nice to hear proper vocals and some singing in a heavier band...like it.

The Alembic was bottom for me. The Stingray came out on top because personally I love that raspy aggressive tone. Warwick's were alright. The hollow body just sounded like a Jazz type tone.

Funny how when Krist plays bass on Should Have Known, it's dead obvious and crazy aggressive.

[quote name='TRBboy' timestamp='1344373513' post='1763731'] You need to speak to Alan Greensall at Synergy Distribution, the UK Distributor. I got prices from Thomann, Session Music, etc, but Alan has helped me get the deal I want through a UK seller. It seems much more straightforward dealing with a UK company, and far easier if there's any problems. Alan has also been very, very helpful advising me of the possibilities, and answering all of my relentless questions! [/quote] Will they get close to the Thomann price?

Nice but id be happier with 34 inch scale.

I'd like one of their new Jazz basses...odd looking body but great tone, and kinda cool that they went with a different shape. Thing is, they are like £800 custom made over in the USA. Once you get it here, its more like £1300...

[quote name='dood' timestamp='1344287997' post='1762399'] Seriously, lets do this - have a panel of reviewers then post the results on a sticky on BC forever to be referred to. I'm in [/quote] Plus one

Maybe Mark will meet you halfway on the price difference? http://bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Sandberg_MarloweDK.html

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1344279042' post='1762223'] Just play the one you are interested in and go from there. There are as many old dogs out there as new dogs, IME.. Worse bass I ever had was a 75-ish Jazz so don't get suckered into that trap. If you find the bass you want, then pay what is it worth to YOU.. [/quote] Agreed. For me, id try the new 2012 custom shop pup equipped MIA Jazzes. Superb upgrades like the classic but hardwearing bridge. Never been a fan of the old bridges, no matter what is more 'vintage'. I really don't like the Badass models, purely because they look ridiculous.

Ive always thought that Markbass amps sound better in the 500 watt format. The 800 watt versions I've heard lose some of that magic. But, I've yet to hear the TTE500 or 800.

[quote name='KiOgon' timestamp='1344087126' post='1759592'] [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/fender_american_standard_pbass_rw_ow.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/fender_american_standard_pbass_rw_ow.htm[/url] I had a job finding it 2nd time around, but there it is! [/quote] That's the older 2011 stock

Nah I don't think I'll get one imported, more than likely ask a store to match Thomann

Think I'm going to go with my craving and get one of these on order: http://www.ebay.com/itm/2012-USA-Fender-American-Standard-Precision-P-Bass-Olympic-White-Maple-Unplayed-/110900217512

The key with the Streamliner is that its quite opposite EQ wise to the Shuttles. The Shuttle's EQ is much more 'in your face' and like a mixing console, whereas the Streamliner is more like a traditional bass/guitar amp, and the amount of gain you have has a big impact on the mids. The whole EQ is very interactive. I totally love low mids, and with a Stingray (which some would say is a little scooped) I leave the onboard eq pretty much without any changes, then roll the bass to 10, and mids to 1/2, on the actual amp. Genz have said they aimed to get the tone of a high end valve pre that you might record with, and with headphones in the back of the unit, you can definitely see where they are coming from. The treble can be as crisp or as subtle as you like. The treble control is more like a Fender passive tone knob. Its a cool amp. Not for everyone, but then again, what is. It is a total total brute with volume and sheer heft though. Pair it with something like an Aguilar DB112 which has a mid bump, and the amp sounds fantastic.

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1344070178' post='1759300'] Good marketing strategy. Raise your prices at a time when everyone is skint [/quote] My thoughts exactly. I've seen online that the prices have hit virtually all of the Musicman stores in the UK. Its now cheaper to buy off Thomann.de. That is saying something when it comes to these basses as normally Thomann prices are £300 more than us (only on Musicman for some reason). There couldn't be a worse time to do it. Musicman basses are, IMO, always a touch more money than a Fender (say £200 for a comparable bass eg 4 string, no fancy painted headstocks etc). On the other hand, my Big Al 5 SSS in Vintage Sunburst is now retailing for about £2k which im quite happy about

The Streamliner 900 sold me onto the whole Genz lineup. Its simple, sounds like a proper rock n roll amp, (although it can be clean ALL the way up if you wish) and the controls don't have one 'harsh' tone to them no matter what you do. I'd describe it as a loud, clean or dirty, tubey, warm and smooth amp. You can dial in some nice mids, so the whole Talkbass debacle about lack of mids is daft. Plenty of amps have slight mid cut set at 12 o'clock...thats what the EQ is there for. Turn the mid to 1, dial the bass back to 10, and boom, virtually flat. The GK amps have the same kinda 'slight mid dip' when all controls are at 12. I then realised I wanted a Shuttlemax 9.2, and I was luck enough to find a basschatter (contrary to my other topic) who was struggling to sell it and had problems with it on ebay. God knows why. THis amp is absolutely superb and so versatile its unreal. Beware, the FET channel, although glassy and super super clean, is VERY pristine, and has zero colour. Some like that, some don't. The tube channel warms things up nicely, and the blend is not just a gimmick as you can max out the tube side and get it gritty, then mix it with a flat setting on the fet channel and it brings clarity to the bottom end. Both very well made, very light, and reasonably priced for what they do. More volume than I'd ever need, but its there. If I ever get an 8x10 as a backline I will be taking the Streamliner to really juice it up. Cab wise, I think the Neo X212T must be there most popular cab. Light, neo speakers, properly engineered cabinet. Even the speaker guru's give this cab a good review. I want one but at the moment don't really need it!

There is a lack of big low end with the 8x10, but for ME, personally, I don't have stacks of dubby low end for the tone I'm after.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1344067470' post='1759269'] The thing is that they were not right as such but we love them for it, I love the original Mini (I have had 4) and its held up as one of these design icons yet its full of flaws, it's 90% perfect just like an 8x10 maybe? Once someone takes all the time money and effort to remove the flaws no one else likes it! Try selling a 60's Mini that has had the seam strips welded and ground off (those ribs that run up the four corners for anyone who does not know them) knocks the value massively, If you develop an 8x10 and remove any technical flaws that people have grown used to people will slate it even though technically its better in every way, unfortunately no amount of cad design or understanding of the fact and figures can calculate for that and to make it worse every person is different too! [/quote] True! Agreed.

[quote name='Raggy' timestamp='1344036636' post='1759146'] If you're getting a custom made bass, isnt the idea to get something built that will be what you want [/quote] Exactly, but how many custom basses do you see for sale? I think part of it is the specs, at the time of order, are spot on. Roll on 12-24 months, the buyer receives it, and isn't as happy as he/she hoped. I think its that 'let down' I'd be worried about.