Musicman20

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1405342438' post='2500952'] I'm sure you don't. Nor do I. But the endless growth which capitalism demands cannot be sustained on a planet with finite resources. That's not a political statement, it's just a fact. If profit continues to be made at the cost of the environment - you know, where we live - then we're in deep do-do. [/quote] True, but there is very little we can do about it.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1405324354' post='2500656'] Not sure why. Unless Thomann are selling at a loss, they must be buying these from Aguilar at less than £335 each. Assuming that a mark-up of 20% for overhead & profit is reasonable, then they should sell at about £400. If 20% is too tight, then a 30% mark-up would give you £440-ish. That would imply that the eBay price (£529) is a rip-off, that Woodbrass & BassGear are looking for a relatively high profit margin on a piece of high-end (and slow-moving) stock), and Bass Direct for a rather lower one. Sounds like a market to me. If Tesco decide to (temporarily) sell baked beans at 10p per can less than Sainsburys and Aldi, no one suggests that this will be bad for the industry. [/quote] Good post. If it's such a 'small world' then in my eyes it shouldn't matter if we as UK consumers buy from Europe. If it is cheaper, then we get from Europe, and we save money. We aren't here to assist UK stores make a profit, although I will happily prefer to buy from a specialist in the UK if they match the price. Money is money at the end of the day. From what I understand, Aguilar now have a UK middleman setup who essentially store the items and deal with warranties. Another person making a profit for a person in the UK to pay. Whether that is good or bad is upto the consumer. The TH500 is also cheap at £484.00.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1405336879' post='2500861'] I understand that you want to stick to 4's, but the string spacing on the Lakland 5 ers is 19mm. The "buy new" restriction is a strange one. You can get a much better deal in the BC Classifieds. [/quote] Not saying a Lakland wouldn't cover it, but I think if he currently wants to stay on a 4...then probably wise to stick with it. When I tried a 5 string a few years into playing I hated it. I didn't really get into 5ers until it felt right...which was about 4 years ago. It took a long time for it to feel right to move to it, and I still play 4s all the time as they do have a different tonality, string feel/tension, and sound. From the influences, a decent P bass or Ray is going to be spot on.

Exciting! When does it arrive??!?!

I'm sure in the near future we will see tiny power amps that can be used on your pedal board with a pedal as a pre amp. The GK MB200 is the closest at the moment! Or the TC BH250.

I would opt for a Classic 50s Fender P bass / second hand MIA P Bass, or save that cash and get a nice new American Standard P bass/Musicman Stingray. Waiting and spending a little bit extra will save you money in the long run. Running up until then, will you current bass last? If not, try and salvage what you can from it and try and pickup a Squier CV bass...which will then serve as a great backup.

I doubt many people buy it. The PF amps are smaller, lighter, sound better and are very loud. I'd avoid it....I've toured with one (I didn't own it) and it was one of the worst amps I've used. Sorry...that was very negative!

Think its now storewide....seen this with Andertons and GuitarGuitar as well.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1404997375' post='2497691'] Agree, but there's no need to call them 'knobs'. [/quote] Haha !!!

I still think they are well in front of Royal Blood. I think Royal Blood have peaked in the media/festivals too quick and the hype has ruined it.

I've flipped between 5s and 4s for a while now, and I'm faced with more 5 sting basses in my collection. I'm getting very used to the 5 string ergonomics of a Musicman bass now. The B is tight and isn't 'louder' or boomier than the other strings. It just blends well.

+1 to the new Fender Rumble combos. If I were you I would make a list of decent giggable small combos and go from there. I agree if you are new, buying new with a warranty/free delivery/7 day trial is much safer...IMO. Ashdown would also be a good place to look.

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1404860550' post='2496551'] Yep, the cab is definitely coloured in the mid range. Changing it is an option but I'd rather try and tame it if I can. I also think I would miss it too much if I got rid of it. Something like the Carvin BX700 seems to have all I need built in, and that's very tempting. [/quote] I'd stick with the cab...you are definitely used to it and know that the mid hump is there. Certain drive pedals can bring out high mids and harmonics/clangyness that some users might not like... Actually, I'd go against the grain and say most cabs with a normal 2 way speaker and tweeter can sound pretty similar...the bass/strings/pedals and amp make the biggest difference. No tweeter then makes a huge difference (for me).

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1404892940' post='2496665'] No offence, and I'm sure it is not the reason for your lower pickup output - but many would argue that Orange and Markbass cabs are far from being "the best you can get"... [/quote] Best is definitely subjective....I've tried some Markbass cabs and played through pleny of Orange cabs and found them fantastic.

TC BH combos or the giggable sized Peaveys would be your best bet.

Good suggestion re: Carvin! The B series is apparently warmer, whereas the BX are known for being, similar to Markbass, quite clean and flat. Great prices from Bassgear. You cab would really like the extra grunt from the higher powered Carvins. Another option, albeit bigger, but a great price/tone, is the Orange Bass Terror 500. Simply plug and play tube tone.

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1404752848' post='2495428'] The thing with the Darkglass is it's a lot of money for what is really only a subtle effect (in my case). [/quote] Aye, the Sansamp gear isn't cheap but the fact Darkglass is quite boutique (for now) means they are quite expensive. Obviously I imagine the quality of the components is very high...but it depends if it 'wows' you or not. If not, perhaps it isn't for you.

Really surprised! The later MIM basses clearly ahead of the vintage Fenders! How bizarre. I'm not sure whether I'm surprised or not to see Dingwall near the bottom. Maybe not 'Fendery' enough?

I think I'm one of those who is guilty of spending too much time trying to achieve a certain tone/rig. To be honest, I sound like me, and I probably like colour in my tone from amps/cabs and the occasional pedal. I really don't care so much what is flat, what is compressed/where compression is used, and whether my bass sounds 'natural', probably because I don't listen to any music that players who strive for those tones do. I've conciously taken less time worrying about it and more time trying to find more interesting musicians, playing, or seeing live bands. In all honesty, the best policy I can have as a customer is if it sounds great with a band rehearing and gigging, and at home, then it ticks the right boxes. There is just too much choice and almost like information overload with the amount of varying viewpoints. Most players outside of TB and BC have not heard the TC Elec way of having their amps 'loud'...and I bet they are happily playing all the time with plenty of power and plenty of tone. Same with all the brands, I guess.

[quote name='GrammeFriday' timestamp='1404654772' post='2494424'] Thanks for this info, LukeFRC. To be honest I tend not to read manuals, and I don't work in a bass shop - I just play bass, listen with my ears, and form my own views on what sounds good. [/quote] ...which is what matters in the end! Sound is subjective...if it sounds great then that's all that matters.

I'm sure Janek just uses a few different amps...I would. http://www.tcelectronic.com/janek-gwizdala/

[quote name='GrammeFriday' timestamp='1404637084' post='2494258'] I currently run a TC RH750 through 2 TC cabs (1 x RS212 and 1 x RS210) and, contrary to the above, am getting the [i]best[/i] live sound I've had in decades of playing. Amazing power, clarity and versatility, and in an extremely cleverly designed package, too. Loads of compliments from FoH guys (not that that necessarily means anything, but whatever) and it does everything I want a bass rig to do, and do it really well. I totally understand that tastes differ, and each to their own, fine, but I really cannot understand how you could have had such a bad experience with a TC amp, Molan. Might the problem have lain elsewhere, perhaps? For a company that makes such horrible-sounding equipment, TC certainly have some very impressive endorsers - John Paul Jones, Janek Gwizdala, Nathan East, Ida Neilsen, etc. etc. Must be paying them a lot of money to put their names to their products! [/quote] I also get great tone with TC gear. I find the compression just makes it sound a little more like a pushed tube amp...that's it.

Very nice quality straps, just like their cases.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1404478569' post='2492991'] I'm using Aguilar DB cabs.... I think they are fine sounding cabs and speak very well. I am not sure the chassis' are anything too special on paper but I think they don't need to be. I also think they have gone up in price recently.. not sure why that is but not an issue in so far as I don't plan to sell them soon. I far prefer these cabs to Berg AE112 which I also have. More likely to sell them sooner... [/quote] I'm with JTUK. The Aguilar DB cabs really are something else....and I've tried a LOT of cabs. The price rise is a shame....but I suspect its because they now have a middleman / supplier in the UK. Never really understood the need as every time I needed service I contacted the store I bought them from or Aguilar direct. It's a small world now.