Musicman20

Well, next Tuesday is our first gig. The band is ready (well the bass, drums and guitars) but I feel the vocalist could do with at least another month to prepare, (he is a new member). He doesnt seem worried and they dont want to cancel, so next Tuesday is on. So far, they had to get new tickets printed as they sold over 150...apparently! Quite shocked and quite excited.

[quote name='SisterAbdullahX' post='1010377' date='Nov 3 2010, 09:05 AM']Hi y'all, I'll be buying a new amp in the next month or so. My trusty Hartke is ready to be put out to pasture. I need something that's small and light, powerful and sounds great. Narrowed choices down to TC RH450 and Markbass F1. Looking for advice on which is the best sounding of the two, bearing in mind the F1 is 300 quid less than the RH. Cheers.[/quote] The F1 is tight, fairly bright, and very punchy. Super light, small and 'set it flat and forget it' type of amp. Nice and loud. The RH450 is very 'classy'. Well built (well, the F1 is, but the RH450 oozes quality) slightly heavier but still sub 8 lbs ish, so still very light in reality. Lot and lots of tone options, inbuilt tuner that actually works, great tubetone (especially at about 1/3) and gives you a somewhat more 'traditional' tone compared to the F1. It doesnt do extremely bright slap tones (and I mean only the extremely trebly sheen type tone) but everything else, including a more rounded slap tone, excellent figerstyle tone, and killer pick tone. Rock-pop-funk, all with a semi para-eq. It is VERY loud, (probably louder than the F1 as it just keeps on pushing!) and id say the tone is punchy, warm, articulate and a little more 'tradtional'. Hope this helps. Both VERY nice, if I were you, and you went Markbass, get the F500! But, if I had to choose, id go for the RH450. I myself am still tempted by the F500....but I know I shouldnt be as the LM3 virtually covers everything it can do, but a little 'warmer'.

[quote name='rodl2005' post='1010136' date='Nov 2 2010, 10:39 PM']But by itself- I HAVEN'T really pushed it yet-I'm sorta 'easing' it in.... - it sounds just as you'd imagine- supremely articulate, but not in anyway 'sterile' & roll off the HF horn & it actually reminds me of my NV215!!![/quote] This sounds great! I like the idea of rolling off the horn and getting a more traditional 'fatter' tone!

[quote name='0175westwood29' post='1009792' date='Nov 2 2010, 05:08 PM']whats the norm for string spacing on the sr5's? 17mm? as im used to 19mm with my mody.[/quote] I think ALL EBMMs are 17.5 mm string spacing at the bridge. Put it this way, I had my heart set on a Lakland because the spacing was larger and it was 35" scale, then I played a Ray 5 and decided none of that mattered. I actually prefer a 34" scale...and the arguments for and against go on for a long time! Put it this way, SOME 35" scales are all about the low B and E, and then have an uneveness on the higher strings. They can also have a slightly 'flabby' feel to the strings. Thats not all though. I figured the Ray 5 is probably one of the industry standard 5 strings for a reason...eg it works and sound great. Learning on a fiver is much easier with fingerstyle than anything else if you ask me. [quote name='risingson' post='1010273' date='Nov 3 2010, 02:11 AM']Surely any sonic disparities with basswood as a tonewood would be diminished by those active electronics in the Bongo though?[/quote] 100% yes. The sound of the Bongo is exactly what everyone likes about it.

[quote name='sk8' post='1009629' date='Nov 2 2010, 02:24 PM']what about the new lighter smaller Aggy's?[/quote] Definitely comtemplating them. 22lbs apparently...and adjustments made to take out the slightly inherent aggression in the hi mids with certain neo speakers. The AE212 looks stunning as well though.

[quote name='sk8' post='1009615' date='Nov 2 2010, 02:01 PM']Ring him. Mark is very accomodating. Strikes me as odd that you've not contacted the only man in europe who stocks berg..........................[/quote] Oh I have, with regards to Berg cabs before. I just couldnt decide on what I wanted back then, and the DB212 came along and gave me sonic perfection Now I ready to give a high end Neo/fairly compact cabinet a go, Berg seems the only way. I by no means need it, so I have to decide if its quality overcomes the fact I dont need more amps/cabs!

[quote name='sk8' post='1009607' date='Nov 2 2010, 01:45 PM']either ring mark or take a trip to warwick [/quote] Wayyyy too far from here, unfortunately. I havent got any time free at weekends to even contemplate it tbh It would basically have to be a gamble, unless there is a returns policy.

Ive been chatting to KJung on Talkbass for a while about this cabinet. I want a neo cabinet that has sound im searching for, and his descriptions and sound samples have not helped my current plan to buy no more gear! He describes the AE212 as a fatter, smoother version of the AE410....eg less of the AE line aggression, which is exactly what I hoped for. Ive heard mixed reviews on its performance with the RH450 (some love it, some think its too 'old school') but im guessing it would be great with the LM3. For me, as I dont own any AE112s, this would be financially the better option.

Any more news on these?

No doubt Berg WILL get back into 15s now, and it will be Neo. It will also no doubt be very good!

[quote name='0175westwood29' post='1008853' date='Nov 1 2010, 06:49 PM']nice bass man! i immediately thought of of an sr5! as they really do seem to do it all! and yeh as some have said if i can grab something secondhand then i wont spend the whole lot that i save. anyone got a fender p 5 string? and whats peoples view of the mm bongo? andy[/quote] The Bongo, in my view, is a very powerful flexible instrument. Nothing sounds or looks like a Bongo, and you WILL be heard in the mix. The shape is definitely growing on me. The magnets in the Bongo are neodymium. The latest 2008- Ray 5s are the alnico pups like a Ray 4, so they are much sweeter sounding, and 100% Stingray. The older Ray 5s and the Sterling 5 are ceramic magnets, and are full on aggressive bite (although they can be tamed). I personally like both. I would also love to own a Bongo 5 HH.

Ebony is excellent. I wish I had an ebony fretless Ray!

Ah man what a wicked gig!

[quote name='martthebass' post='1005134' date='Oct 29 2010, 12:18 PM']MM20, what's the tension like on the EBs? I've got Rotoflats on my SR5 fretless and am looking for a lower tension set up. My bad - you answered my question a few posts back (should read the whole thread and stop skimming). BurritoB. Wouldn't worry too much - I wouldn't call the Roto's tension on my SR5 - 'neck breaking' just a bit higher than my personal preference. I'd personally be fine with them on a fretted but prefer something more like TI's on a Fretless. I've got a Roto 5 string set - unused/unopened if anyone wants them for say £15 (plus post).[/quote] Hi! Yep, as I mentioned, it is kind of inbetween. Not tense, not too light. Nice.

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='1008917' date='Nov 1 2010, 07:42 PM']Ah, cool. I'm just wondering if the ERs would have a bigger bottom, so to speak...[/quote] The latest HT/EX ER range sound absolutely MASSIVE in the low end. Stunning amount of warmth and full bass from such small cabinets. You would never think it is just a 112.

My now ex-2009 American Standard had a very fast, but also very slim, neck profile. For me, it was a little cramped...and maybe I could have got used to it after a while.

NASH Jazz? I had the sane problem. Strangely, the Sterling Musicman neck is perfect.

Hmm...id think about it. Its not the prettiest Sandbery ive seen. These are more my thing, but might be more money! [url="http://www.jamguitars.co.uk/sandbergbass.htm"]http://www.jamguitars.co.uk/sandbergbass.htm[/url]

[quote name='Muzz' post='1008431' date='Nov 1 2010, 12:46 PM']Popped (275 mile round trip - some 'pop') down to Bass Direct at the weekend, and had the chance to try the BB2024X, and as a Precision/Ray fan, it really was THAT good. MASSIVE sound for a passive, and exemplary build quality. Really nice feel to the neck, and the quality just drips off it. If they made one with a maple board, I'd have very very bad GAS indeed, but I just don't like rosewood boards enough to covet one. With eyes closed, though, it was simply the best P-Bass I've ever played (and I've played a few over the ears). I'd recommend trying one, but only if you're prepared for a £2.5k GAS attack... [/quote] They sure do look nice, but that is a heck of a price tag! Thanks

Ive never understood why people cant just switch between the two? I constantly swap between 4s and 5s, and to be honest, I prefer it that way. I feel like I can try and master two instruments, as the 5 is totally different. I agree a little with the 35" scale, but it definitely isnt necessary for a good quality 5 string....its just an option.

I notice people are looking back at 15s, especially the lighter ones. Probably because the new 15s are much more efficient, or just because people are craving a bit of a different sound. I absolutely love my Orange OBC115...fantastic cab.

[quote name='Chris2112' post='1006610' date='Oct 30 2010, 06:30 PM']I also believe that the Musicman style humbucker pickup is the way forward, it just sounds so much better than a singlecoil or a split coil or whatever![/quote] Agreed, their Humbucker is immense, and their new single coils (well fairly recent) are very nice. [quote name='charic' post='1007244' date='Oct 31 2010, 12:29 PM']For not too modern: My ACG it does both Warwick Not sure if its too modern: Dingwall[/quote] Hmm, never got on with Warwick basses. I tried one and the humbuckers just didnt sound like I expected. VERY well put together though! Not sure about Dingwalls. Nice idea, but I cant szee myself playing one. I need to have a tinkle on one. Thanks anyway! [quote name='Lozz196' post='1007519' date='Oct 31 2010, 04:25 PM']In response to the OP, I really hope that I never get to that point.[/quote] Its happened twice to me. Although I will always own at least one American P bass, and my guitar is actually an American Series Tele which is stunning. I just dont like the lottery and the faults I find on Fenders. The first time it happened was about 8-9 years ago. I saved for ages for a natural American Series Fender Jazz (pre S1 switch) and it was absolutely AWFUL! It paled it comparison to my Stingray that I owned at the time. I decided to take it back as the finish wasnt actually 'finished' (very poor gloss like finish with marks and dimples all over it) and the sound was thin and nothing like I expected a Jazz should be. The recent Fender's Ive owned have been MUCH better, without a doubt! I just decided one modern Fender P was enough, and ill try and find a Jazz that suits at some other point!