Musicman20

Plus one, refund!

I couldnt find a thing on ebay or here for £60 delivered that was brand new. People thought I was crazy at one point for not wanting to spend over £120-£150....so I just waited. I didnt want something that had already been well beaten. When I was starting on bass, my Encore cost probably double this! For a bass to leave out and noodle on, and to not worry about in an energetic band, this is perfect

I think compared to the bottom of the line Squiers, its probably the same. Eg, a playable bass, but nothing amazing. However, the colour sold me on this one

I only bought it because I wanted a useable Precision-type bass as a backup. Some of the gigs we are going to be playing will get quite hectic/energetic on stage. No way am I taking a £1200 Musicman man to gigs like that....I cant afford to replace them. Ive had crowd members pick me up and walk me around the room/crowd before, which was all in good fun, but not great when you are trying to minimise damage. I wouldnt gig it in a covers/professional band, because I may as well drag the decent basses for that. I wouldnt mod it. If someone had a spare USA Fender P pickup and was selling it really cheap, thats the only thing I would change. I nearly bought a Squier CV, which are great basses, dont get me wrong, but I didnt want anything over about £150. £60 delivered for a useable and quite pretty sonic blue P bass that works 100% is a bargain. Otherwise, I wouldnt have bothered. No offence to the other chaps who are modding the hell out of them, but I wouldnt bother spending anymore on it apart from (as mentioned) a second hand pup and new strings. They are what they are....basically a fairly decent starter bass. To have quite good QC on a bass this cheap is very good, IMO. Better than some MIM Fenders! Although probably not as hardwearing etc. I cannot see these being worth anymore than they are down the line. If mine works out to be hardwearing and lasts a few tours, ill be happy and sell it cheap.

Sansamp.

I was going to change my pickup, but I figured I cant be bothered. Great bass for £60, but Im not one for modding with parts that are more expensive that the bass itself.

I realise its not what you want to hear, but you have the right bass for the job already! A J bass, even at the front pup, will still grind a little if you have SS/Nickel strings. I know what you mean about big fat warm tones. I love the bass sound the guy from Paul Weller uses. Fat, warm, but with enough articulation to hear his great runs. I can see where you are coming from though. A P bass can sound very grindy and punk with a pick and the tone up. Especially with new strings. My idea? How about the D'addario Chromes? Apparently they are a happy medium between flats and roundwound. I never thought id see the day I use flats, but my P bass is strung with them, and its soooo smooth to play. It will still grind because they are quite fresh, but if you dont want it to, it wont. Cut the treble, boost the low mids and bass. Mmmm

Oh heck. Glad it's not affecting them so far. Let's hope they don't do an SWR.

Maybe it's just for European Distribution?

Very expensive prices but a very hefty tone apparently (Uber cabs). I do find it weird that Genz, with amazing customer service, are going through Fender. Fender's after service care is pretty bad.

Awesome rig Higgy.

The DB212 is loud enough for me, I can only imagine its very similar if not the same as the two DB112s. I can see the DBs being a classic setup for a long time. They seem to have really caught on, despite the fact they are fairly heavy. Most amps seems to take well to mine...I havent used the Orange that much through it due to the fact the amp is hard to move about, but the LM3 sounds great!

SWR 6x10?! YES

The thing is, most decent 2x12s (the neo kind) are around 52-55lbs+. With the Berg, you lose the 'casters' option so its a dead lift. The Neo X 212T is 52lbs, and has the tilt back wheels, which does help. The DB212 is 70lbs. Its no lightweight cabinet, but I imagine the sound it produces is associated with the box size and the wood its made from. The difference of 52lbs-70lbs might seem like a lot, but its not a huge huge amount, especially when you factor in casters, handle placement, etc. Some neo cabinets, like the Genz Uber 212, (which I have heard excellent reports about) are almost the same weight (63lbs), but they have a larger box than the other neo cabs, and more ommph I guess. Its a game of give and take.

Nice red tolex! I like these rigs...

Id think about possibly keeping it, and using the DB112 (if you still have it) for smaller gigs. I sold my DB212s (8 ohm) and missed it straight away so went for another DB212 (4ohm). If I had more space and needed it, id audition the Genz Neo X 212T before anything else as a lightweight option. Fair price, well respected, covers are cheap, and great customer service.

Im pretty lucky. I moved home after a poor attempt with bands in Newcastle (love the place, but found all but one band were time wasters....although next time I move back up Ill have a different approach) and to wait for my legal contract to start. The band wanted me back, and if im honest, the current bassist moving to guitar is a much better place for him. I know all the lines (almost) and they know I record well and put in a lot of effort. Happy days....hopefully! I now have a year and a half of touring, work temp jobs, and basically trying to go on as many trips abroad as I can before my real career starts. AD200b is 4 ohms minimum, so I need two haha.

[quote name='xgsjx' post='1130575' date='Feb 17 2011, 08:24 AM']What about a 2nd AD200b & 4 SP212s? Stack 2 each side & have a stereo signal going to them.[/quote] Oh my....what a thought!

How hard are these to fit? Id quite like one for a Jazz bass.

My thoughts exactly haha! Big cab big stage. Not sure we can muster the strength or space to lift it every night though

Adjust the EQ...dont cut the mids too much! Ive never had this issue....but I think thats the answer. The EBMM pickups and preamp are expensive anyway, id never swap them out! Another idea. For more thump, whack some flats on it.

I do have to point out how MB tried to cram EVERYTHING into the F500, and the controls are very strange to use. It didnt have the feel of the LM3 at all to my hands. It felt a little bit delicate. The Gain on the RH450 is accessed normally, then if you press shift, the compressor can be tweaked. I do know that compression can be important, but I must admit, the RH450 compressor works very very well indeed. Its not hugely complex, but they know how work these things from their past efforts in effects and studio gear. The LM3 is simple to use, but the RH450 is far superior to most other amps that try to add extra features. Why? Because for once, they all actually work damn well, and arent just there for fun. Ive never had a semi-parametric EQ, and it works very well and fluid on this amp. Again, I like MB and TC, so Im not fussed.

I have changed a lot of gear the past year or two. I have finally got the amps that really work for me, and Im not gambling on anymore for a long time. Basses? Almost there. Fender J, then Im done for a few years.

Buy ALL cables from OBBM, seriously good and no high prices