Musicman20

Great review Gareth, and great name also I wouldnt mind having a tinker on one of these when I have more gear money.

Ive used Interparcel twice recently, and they were fantastic. Expensive insurance, yes, but worth it. So I recommend them fully. Im glad you resolved this Nigel. This this was my old Fender + case, and the case as Nigel mentioned was pretty much unused. Im shocked at their service and im glad it has been resolved. Good idea for a thread, and useful for any future problems we may have.

Last time I took a walk down that street I realised how over priced some shops can be. I did pop into this particular store but only to browse. I've had some awful cust service over my time, and frankly the staff who gave it should have been disciplined...it's their job to give you a good service. I won't mention stores but one chap in a store about an hour from my home town said 'are you going to buy one or just waste time' after I asked to try a LM2 out. I'd spent a lot with them in the past. Too bad, he lost that sale and my custom for future sales. Idiot.

[quote name='EssentialTension' post='826770' date='May 3 2010, 07:36 PM']Unfortunately it seems they are neither flawless nor consistent. My Decade which came directly from Lakland is flawless but Musicman20 (Gareth) has seen a series of not up to standard Laklands in UK shops. He refers to it here: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=86456"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=86456[/url]; and elsewhere. He may be along in a minute to tell us more.[/quote] Unfortunately, it's true. I was trying to find that one that ticked all the boxes, and sure they all had great style, consistent tone, and brilliant necks. BUT, I could not find one out of around 5/6 (I forget how many as I was getting annoyed by this point) that didn't have a major QC issue. Yep, some of the new and old Fenders are the same, but I was frankly shocked to find a more expensive instrument had such obvious problems. Eg, frets sprouting in the binding, pickguard not fitted straight, pickup pieces not in line with strings, paint defects, one of them had a Lakland logo that was on a big slant (so the painted inside part was well out of the lines). The last one I tried had two of the rings on the back of the body (string through area) hanging about 4mm out so not flush with the body. This meant they scraped against you whilst you played it! Worst problem was weight...half of them must have been around 12-14lbs. Don't get me wrong, if I found one without problems I'd buy it, and I told Dan about it. He was shocked and annoyed at his factory and offered to help, then they changed hands 2 months later. If they were cheaper, I could understand, but two of them I tried retailed for £1200!!!

Bloomin heck, under the cover of darkness. It will suddenly appear in Clarky's sig hahah.

[quote name='tredders' post='826382' date='May 3 2010, 12:41 PM']Musicman20, did you get sorted in the end? Reason I ask is that I have a spare Comfort Strapppppppppp that you could have a try of. If you like it, we can sort a price out. If not, just send it back, but at least you'll have an idea as to what they're like. I personally love 'em![/quote] Hi! Wow thanks, ill be in touch....im half inbetween looking at what to get. Ill get back to you on that! Many thanks

Good review! Very thorough. I must admit I only had a brief go on the LMTube. I emailed Peter Murray and he said it's not for any tube dirt, just a warmth which is apparent at louder volumes, plus you get a nice colour and other features. That combo looks cool. I think if I go Markbass cabs, I'll get a couple of 2x10s or their new NY122 which is 4 ohms. Actually, yep, I'd personally go for the 212 just so I've got all power into one cab. I was tempted by a 4x10 but they are pretty large.

[quote name='guybrush threepwood' post='826176' date='May 3 2010, 08:29 AM']I don't think it's that old school; yes it's a 15 with no tweeter, but warm isn't a term I'd use to describe it. It's certainly got a great deal of low end, but it's not wooly, just incredibly clear and pure. As for the whole setup, it really sounds great - loads of depth and bass, with so much punch. I used to use a 4x10 and I hated 15s, thought they were dull and toneless, but markbass converted me![/quote] Sounds perfect! I must admit I have heard it briefly and it sounded great. I was never a massive 15s fan but the Orange converted me so I'd definitely consider the Jeff Berlin at some point.

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='825800' date='May 2 2010, 07:21 PM']Sorry to derail the thread into another major one, but I hope it will help your request. [/quote] No thats a good idea, thanks. I must admit, I was taught the basics by a bass tutor. This was a long time ago though. I used to be better at 15/16. I just need to sit and copy/play along....that how I enjoy and pick things up. Then Ill try and read a few things as well.

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='825758' date='May 2 2010, 06:47 PM']I would just start with simple octaves in a disco style. This way you'll practise a clean thumbed note and a precise popped octave at the same time.[/quote] Good idea...thanks. My pops arent so bad, but my thumb and muting the strings inbetween notes is poor at the moment. I dont want to start playing anything ridiculous, as the slap lines I tend to hear that I like are fairly simplistic, just tight and funky! Basic Flea lines (ive found a few) are probably a good place to start, and just octaves up and down the neck with a metronome.

[quote name='The GroovyPlucker' post='825628' date='May 2 2010, 04:44 PM']I see you have the Jeff Berlin Combo and a 1x15, how does it sound for you, plenty of punch I guess, but does it have warmth and grunt, me's thinking MB is more for Bass twiddlers & noodlers in the upper registry? I like the root bottom end grunt, but need portability, can also noodle, but need that warmth as well as tightness, am I looking in the wrong place, or just got the wrong set up? The GroovyPlucker[/quote] From what I hear the Jeff Berlin is pure old school with the modern Markbass sheen! A nice combo!

I would add the Markbass NY121, which I think is the same dimensions?! Anyway....one of the Markbass 1x12s. If thats not enough, sell the combo and get an amp with cabs. The LMTube isnt, IMO, worth the extra over the LM3. I would stick with the LM3 or the F1/500. The LMTube adds very little in terms of tube warmth. The power sections of the F1/500 and LM2/3 are the optimum setup when it comes to tone. There are some negative reviews of the LM 800/LMTube 800....they dont sound like the LM2/3 for some reason. Personally, I nearly did what you did and got a combo. Very light and awesome tone. BUT, I dont think it would be loud enough for me. The Jeff Berlin might cut it for me...might. If I get any Markbass cabs itll be the 2x10 (x2) or one of the 4x10s. I like the Markbass amp tones...and I like how well made they are.

[quote name='ezbass' post='825711' date='May 2 2010, 06:02 PM']The entire thread has been removed from TB, something to do with using the press release or something, how crap was that? I hope we're safe from that sort of thing BC.[/quote] Has it? I got shot down straight away by all the mega-Lakland fans. I stated id seen some appalling QC one recent Laklands and they just werent having it. Excuses all the way through it. Not good enough....the previous Laklands ive heard were very very good, but since the Skylines became more popular, the modern retail price is way too high. Time will tell. Lakland make very nice neck profiles so I hope they actually keep going and get better,

[quote name='bottlebassman' post='825599' date='May 2 2010, 04:06 PM']My ear has always been drawn to the bass it seems! I think it probably has a lot to do with The Stranglers being the first band I really "got into" in the late seventies, JJ Burnel's bass lines being extremely prominent, particularly on the first 3 albums. I just always seem to listen out for the bass, no matter what style of music it is! (Maybe that's why I found "and justice for all" a poor album after "master of puppets")[/quote] Master of Puppets was awesome. I do like And Justice but Tallica wasnt the same. I cant understand why metal wont let bass be prominent. Some bands do, but not many. Then again, most modern metal is boring to play anyway....just mindless chugging.

[quote name='Clarky' post='825135' date='May 1 2010, 08:51 PM']OK Gareth, last one! I've got Britain's Got Talent to watch .... well actually am going to [s]perv over[/s] watch 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona' with Scarlet Johansson Anyway about 60cm at its longest and I think you could get it down to 44cm at its shortest (but that was an estimation as am in a hurry!)[/quote] Thanks ill measure that up and test it tomorrow.

[quote name='Clarky' post='825096' date='May 1 2010, 07:58 PM']Just shortened the strap as much as it will go and the top edge of the belly cut out on Sid is about 1cm above my belly button - there's scientific for you! But should allow you to hold up one of your Precisions and visualise. Frankly, much higher than that and you start looking a d*ck/slap merchant in my view [/quote] Thanks Clarky. I have another request! When you get a moment, could you measure the distance from strap pin hole to strap pin hole when the strap is laid flat off the bass (on the very highest/shortest setting)? I can then set my old strap up at that length and see how it fits. Thanks n sorry for being a pain!

[quote name='Clarky' post='825077' date='May 1 2010, 07:34 PM']Thats the very same one that I have - I have it slung medium to medium/low (Mark King and Sid Vicious I ain't), its adjustable as it has rectangular holes cut in it and you thread the bottom half of the strap through these as many times as you want to get it the length you like. I think it will do anything other than short. I have it on my Oly White bass Sid right now and I've never noticed any colour come off it[/quote] Cheers! Id quite like it to be able to be fairly high for the covers band, and a lower setting for my originals band which is more pick style. Will it go fairly high up do you think?

[quote name='Clarky' post='825077' date='May 1 2010, 07:34 PM']Thats the very same one that I have - I have it slung medium to medium/low (Mark King and Sid Vicious I ain't), its adjustable as it has rectangular holes cut in it and you thread the bottom half of the strap through these as many times as you want to get it the length you like. I think it will do anything other than short. I have it on my Oly White bass Sid right now and I've never noticed any colour come off it[/quote] Cheers! Id quite like it to be able to be fairly high for the covers band, and a lower setting for my originals band which is more pick style. Will it go fairly high up do you think?

[quote name='discreet' post='824648' date='May 1 2010, 10:33 AM']Er... not Mono or Comfort, but may I refer you honourable gentlemen to an entry in another recent thread concerning comfy straps? [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=85640&st=20&gopid=824636&#entry824636"]Minotaur Strap[/url] EDIT: Platypus, didn't you have one of these?[/quote] Very impressed with the look of the Deluxe Black... I hope this leather wont rub colour onto a white bass, will it?! Probably just paranoid. Ill have a good think. Leather + padding seems a bit better than the Mono.

I might go for one of these Minotaur straps. Plain black with padding: [url="http://minotaur.gr/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=28&products_id=52"]http://minotaur.gr/catalog/product_info.ph...;products_id=52[/url] Well, its their deluxe one so Im expecting it to be awesome. How short and long will they get? Lastly, daft as it sounds, has anyone found the leather 'rubs' onto their light coloured instruments? A lot of mine are white.

Orange Bass Terror or TC Elec RH450.

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' post='825004' date='May 1 2010, 05:50 PM']And don't forget Ed's review on the 25th Anniversary, which is A-W-E-S-O-M-E!!! [/quote] I do like it, in fact a while back that was the bass I HAD to have. But the prices here in the UK put me right off. They are releasing it as a Reflex arent they? I still reckon Big Al 5 SSS is for me though....totally crazy design, but I love it. Ill be old school with the colour combo though.

[quote name='dub_junkie' post='824974' date='May 1 2010, 04:53 PM']are you going to change your order and go with the Big AL 5? I owned an Albert Lee guitar for a few years. great shape imo. they've discontinued the ice blue now but I guess I'll take whatever I can when the exchange rate gets better and I can import a used one.[/quote] Im gonna keep the Ray 5 coming....I know its the one 5 string Ive been after ever since I started on their 4 string basses. But, after that gets 'paid off', I think a Big Al 5 SSS is in order.

Ive decided, after thinking about it for a while, that this bass is damn cool. The 5 string is even cooler... dont know why. My next bass had to be a Big Al 5, SSS. For some reason, I really dig what EB do...a lot. High quality, flexible, excellent electronics, cool looks. At first I didnt really get into this shape, then I saw this: [url="http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r309/bovinehost/BigAl5/bigal481.jpg"]http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r309/bo...l5/bigal481.jpg[/url] Perfect

[quote name='essexbasscat' post='824902' date='May 1 2010, 03:08 PM']Three of us in our school band played guitar. One of us had to take the bass and it ended up being me, for non musical reasons. Once I'd got to grips with it though, I realised it was actually really fun to play. That's when I took the paper round to pay for my first bass and and speaker. Always been keen to play every instrument I could get my hands on though and discover how it fitted in with the whole picture, whatever that landscape was at the time. Years later, ended up with 14 different instruments and sold most of them to get my first Goodfellow once I realised my true love is the bass. More recently offered to play guitar in my band when the right guitarist couldn't be found (at the time). Found myself soon after contemplating watching someone else play bass in my band. After a while, I realised I felt really sad and upset at the thougth of it Backed out of the guitar thing and stayed with my bass You know when something is instinctively right. T[/quote] +1 I still flirt with guitar; nothing like a Telecaster cranked through and Orange Dual Terror...awesome. I really like using delay on guitars. BUT, it feels different. I pick it up and think 'what is this child's toy I have acquired?!'