Musicman20

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.

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1404470659' post='2492883'] Yes!! BTW, is "sea foam green" the same as "surf green"? [/quote] No...I don't think so, I think there MAY be slight differences between manufacturers. I'm sure sea foam is lighter...I might be wrong!

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1404407406' post='2492397'] One of my work colleagues dropped down dead last week, he was 52, I have no concept of religion or afterlife etc, I came home that day and booked a holiday, I dont need a holiday as ive just been, I dont need 3 stingrays either. [/quote] My thoughts exactly Pete. It may seems a rather daft way to look at life to some people, but why shouldn't you spend and enjoy it??? If you've earnt it, spend it, whichever way you please! I mean, who wants to get to 70 (if we get that far) and have a stack of cash in the bank....and not be able to use it how you would in your 20s/30s/40s/50s etc. Just spend it. It's not selfish to spend your own money.

[quote name='Ma'Grass' timestamp='1404432821' post='2492684'] I honestly and clearly hate very much the stock preamp Ernie Ball sells the bass with, with that horrible sizzly sound and no tight lows. [/quote] The 2EQ DOES have more low end push, but it really is quite deep in the low end. The 3EQ has tighter lows, but part of the reason is that the realised all of those sub lows were doing very little unless you were going through a large PA that could handle it, otherwise you are just hammering your speakers with sub lows for no reason, as you will barely hear them. Sizzle? Rays love to sizzle. Stick flats on, drop the treble, no sizzle!

[quote name='Guinness21' timestamp='1404426330' post='2492643'] Congrats dude, I am currently in the process of saving for this exact american standard p bass - maple, tortoise shell and olympic white. Love the pickups in this year's model! I Considered mystic red and sticking on a black pickguard, but mystic red has got nothing on candy apple red. And then there's the fact that this looks stunning! [/quote] Aye, the Mystic Red isn't great, especially in the flesh. I think Fender will dump the new-ish Red/Blue soon...both awful! Fender, just please make American Standards in classic colours like LPB, sea foam green, fiesta red and sonic blue. You will sell a LOT.

The other side is, one of my most stunning looking and amazing playing/sounding basses is a Musicman Classic 5....it was not cheap...and they have risen to around £1900+.... I think its worth every penny.

I'm suprised Ashdown didn't send you 25p (or whatever they are) knobs!

£60-70 would have bought you a Sue Ryder P bass, and I gigged one of those just to see how it would stand up to gigging. It did, and it sounded like a P bass. Upto £1000 will buy you a nice (USED) American Standard Fender or (USED) Musicman Stingray 4 H. The reality is, prices are bumping fairly significantly at the moment, and have done for the past 3-4 years (more than I've seen for a fair while). New Fenders are reaching £1150+, and Musicman basses are around £1400 for a normal 2 or 3EQ Stingray H. Stingray 5s are £1500+. Yes, I keep seeing the same old argument that you can buy one used for half price, and you can in some respects, but it depends on age, condition, model, and whether the seller just wants to get rid quick. The market will change as new prices continue to rise. But yes, basses under £1000 are of course very good if you find a nice one, as is the same with a higher price bracket.

I have had EB Group III Flats on my 2009 P AS P Bass and they still have some bit, and feel lovely. The latest 2008 and 2012 onwards P and J basses are really really good. The best they've made in a long time. Zero mods required. Just get a good one and you are set. My P and J are in the 2008 versions of the cases, big SKB cases, the best cases I've ever owned if I'm being honest. Apparently Fender stopped dealing with SKB - possibly a fall out. They then started providing the ABS plastic cases which are great, but these are now for the American Deluxes models only. They now offer the more classic black Pro cases...which is still a good case! I'm about to get a 2013/14 Strat and Tele because I've resisted for years and now I've sold an old Tele, its time to strike.

Yeah, St Vicent seems to really be getting popular now. Rightly so...great band and totally original. I can't persuade the mrs to see her round the corner from us, so I'm going to go on my own if I have to.

All I can add is from using the TC amps in a band context, they sound even better in the mix (THE best DI I've used) but it all depends if you like the 'sealed 810 being pushed' tone.

DB!

I had an old Jackson as my second mid-range guitar, and it was superb for the money, but looked awful. Depends on what you like! The neck was SO fast it was unreal. I just hated the Floyd Rose licensed trem....awful to change strings. I think I paid £250 second hand and sold it for more than that in P/X against my recently sold Telecaster.

PS - My highlights so far are: Jake Bugg (hugely talented vocalist and song writer, and clever with the right amount of guitar lead etc), Interpol, St Vincent and Robert Plant. I'll watch last night's set tonight. I was disappointed with Jagwar Mar. Great on record but as has been referred to above, sometimes a festival isn't the right place to see a band. The band just sounded like they had zero soundcheck and couldn't hear anything. Blondie sounded bad...shame.

Rewind about 20 years ago, and I loved Metallica when I was learning about guitar bands (12/13 years old). I still think they have some absolute killer hooks and riffs, and its pretty amazing how they have kept going for so long. I just can't take metal very seriously, but it's inevitable that one day slightly rockier heavier bands would play Glasto. Have Foo Fighters headlned before? I reckon they will be next.

Ashdown amps have always, IMO, been pretty bulletproof and seem to be used and abused in practice rooms but STILL just keep on going. I think their recent tube amps look great. What do I want from Ashdown? Perhaps more expensive cabinets with higher power handling. A nice 600W rated 2x12 with high end speakers/crossover/tweeter with a decent weight would sell well in the UK. They may already make one, which makes this idea redundant.

Can we all move on now? It's a decal...I really don't see any issue we need to worry about. Enjoy the Limelight basses, or don't....simple as. Poir guy who runs it probably has, on the one hand, lots of interest, but on the other, lots of discussions about the ethics of his business.