Musicman20

I've just had a look at the 5 string Musicman style basses....wow, serious money. I thought there might be a really high end top or expensive looking semi trans finish/figured wood grain.....

I just don't think they offer anything significant for the money. Do you get a nice flame/birds eye roasted neck? No. Do you get extremely rare and interesting nitro colours etc? No. Boutique high end pickup? No. I understand these will be well made, but they just don't seem to be much more than a decent American Standard Fender. Although Sadowsky basses are more money, that is where I would go. That or a Fender Custom Shop. Even 2 Maruszczyk basses instead, and they'd be pretty much at the top of their range like a lightweight body.

http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/bass_guitars_detail.asp?stock=160805301289007 ...and they ain't cheap!!!

[quote name='bassmachine2112' timestamp='1471451698' post='3113164'] Hiho,just use it or try out a Terror 500,swear by mine. I do like the OBC115 as well.I use one with my Terror and a SP212 or both. [/quote] The Terror isn't made anymore unfortunately. The OBC115 was lovely but not the easiest to move. I decided just to sell all of the Orange cab setup. I've got other lighter/smaller cabs that work excellently.

I could be wrong but the Gibson 2015 models all had, I think, wider necks? You could look at the blow out sales for a lower model?

I've decided if I adjust the pedal volume before my guitar amp I can keep the volume low and the tone great.

Hi - this will just be creating even more of a mid scoop to a bass that will sound scooped with both pickups on anyway.... Try leaving the active circuit flat and boosting mids on an amps. If I recall correctly (could be wrong) both of those amps are also quite 'scooped' for their core tone.

I recently went through all of my basses just to clean them down quickly, stop anything tarnishing with finger prints on the hardware (tends to happen on Musicman tuners on the Rays) and to check the batteries. Some of them were a little old. I took out anything coming up to the expiry date or past and replaced. Always worth checking all active basses for how old the batteries are. Same with pedals. Have a good check through once every 6-9 months.

I'm odd because I use 4s and 5s, but I now play a lot of guitar, so always switching 'feel'.

Sorry, nope! I do think the original price was much much better. Is it around £100 extra now?!?!

[quote name='Kiwi' timestamp='1471096856' post='3110521'] Klons are a bit swaggy - supposed to emulate dumbles and the nuances might be lost in your current set up. Why not settle for something like a Joyo JF14 American Sound which is a Fender emulator and see how things go? [/quote] As I've become more guitar effect obsessed, I've followed the 'Klon' story, and I think it attracts the same attention as 'wow, let's pay a LOT for that one ultra boutique piece of gear' like Dumble amps, but much cheaper and easier to obtain. The Klon sound isn't so Dumbly, but these pedals are: http://tonereport.com/blogs/tone-tips/dumbledorks-dumble-amp-in-a-box-pedals Klon Klones are so easy to buy at a low price I just wouldn't bother with the real thing unless a pristine one came up and was a decent (eg low) price.

I tend to cut the bass and boost the mids on the Streamliner, but there is still room on the dials to go! What I like about it is the sheen and pristine you get in the high end. It really does have a fat tube warmth and slight compression somewhere, but yes you need to boost the mids. I don't have any 'bottom heavy' cabs, and I doubt I would get on with one. Are TKS still going strong through Bass Gear?

[quote name='skej21' timestamp='1471094537' post='3110489'] Partially true. Having worked in Music Retail for a number of years, almost all of the manufacturers have an annual price-hike regardless and Fender are no exception. I very much doubt that the Brexit decision will have had much of an influence on their decision to continue with their incremental price increases but it will obviously affect us additionally because of the Brexit decision. Just for context, one of the reps from one of the big brands we stock told us that the American Guitar Centre stores sell more of their instruments in a year than ALL of the European retailers - Thomann, GuitarGuitar, Gak etc all combined (and as a result, they get first dibs on almost everything). This is also the reason why some companies like Ibanez have models that are available in the US only (like the Buckeye Burl SC Ibanez model. We only get the Poplar Burl option) . It's not because we can't have it but because the brand and it's distributors often think the volume of sales wont be large enough to justify it. Europe isn't that big a deal to these companies. Gibson instruments in Europe only make up about 10% of their global market. I imagine bigger brands like Fender are the same. [/quote] No i agree, prices have risen as usual this year in line with annual rises, but even stores have announced that the prices will rise/have risen post-Brexit due to the issue with the £. Andertons had a post on their website stating it.

The price rise is across the board on virtually all products, especially imported products. Boss pedals had a normal price and then a further rise....after Brexit. Not to bring politics into it, but the price rises are due to our 'decision' to leave the EU.

Well that was a waste of time! For the first time in years, Amazon had issues with 'stock'. It was being fulfilled by Amazon, but a store was selling through them. E.g. Amazon send it out on their behalf. It's worked countless times with pedals. I think as I caught the price before the rise, and I was showing stock, I am cynical that the store (not Amazon) wanted to go ahead with the transaction. Nevermind. I need to see what other smaller options there are, that aren't insanely expensive.

Nope.

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1470926616' post='3109387'] You do know that Lakland's sport 35" also? [/quote] That's true. I do think Ibanez's quality is very impressive with the mid to high range basses, much better than Lakland (although the early Lakland's were great). Whilst I can see why the 35" scale would 'add' to a pot of a recipe for a good B string, all of the Lakland basses I've played over the past 4 years or more have just felt focussed on big low bass. The B's were not at all tight and defined.

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1470772113' post='3108384'] I think some people are missing the point with a low B strings tone or tightness sometimes. Electronics and pickups have a great deal to do with it, and how a low B string responds. It's not all to do with the way the string behaves or its tension. It's how that vibration is picked up and handled electronicaly. Crap pickups or preamp can make a thight b string sound mushy, floppy. I've had floppy B string,s that sounded amazing. Ie a Fender Jazz 5 mim with a glockenspiel. Great sounding b string. On the other hand I've had a Fender 5 mim with DR low riders that sounded not so good. To many variables me says. A physically floppy B string can sound amazing, with a good preamp. Pickups. some technique adjustment may be needed. I think there is some confusion between the feel of a string and it's actual tone that can be achieved. [/quote] I agree that good quality pickups and a pre-amp can help a B string to sound clear and tight. A quality humbucker or powerful single coil at the bridge helps.

I'm not sure on the dates etc, but my is that a beaut!

If I had room, and was playing more often, I would opt for a AS Jaguar bass. I have two Jag guitars and I love the body shape and switching. The Flea Jazz Bass is a totally different vibe but, IMO, worth every penny.

[quote name='Bill Fitzmaurice' timestamp='1470839950' post='3108856'] Wait 20 years, when valves have gone the way of the dodo. [/quote] Thanks - I will consider this as well. If I don't get near what I want, I'll keep it.

Sadly, I think you are right....it should go. The solid state/class D amps I use are much cheaper to run, easier to use, and it doesn't matter if I have a few because of the cost. This gentle giant needs to be used. However, I think if it does go I may invest in an Orange OB1-500 as its much smaller/lighter and cheaper.

I hope I'm not breaking the rules. This is NOT a for sale thread or a 'how much is it worth' thread. I've recently sold BOTH of my big heavy Orange cabs. I didn't miss the 4x10, but I kinda miss the 1x15 as it was a lovely sounding cabinet. I do not miss the weight or the sheer amount of space they took up. I don't at this point need any more cabs. I've got others that are lighter, smaller, and more efficient. But, I may change my mind! The thing is, I still have the AD200b amp head. It sound absolutely stunning. There is nothing like it. It's just sat there though. I think 9 time out of 10, i'll just take a lightweight amp. Should I give up on the all tube sound and weight, free up a bit of cash and space, or should I keep it because I'll have to pay more if I wanted one again down the road. Hmmmmm ------------------------ See below..it has gone!

[quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1470754448' post='3108192'] Just saying beware of offers of free ac adaptors [/quote] Ah, yes! Understood, cheers.

The main songwriter, Paul Banks, has written his own solo material and the bass lines are clearly very important to him. Carlos seemed to always use a black Jazz in the photos I've seen, and when I've seen them live before he left. Also, the tone and most the albums, IIRC, is a Jazz tone. Could be wrong.