Musicman20

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1398156639' post='2430906'] Interesting piece here about the growth of Amazon over the past 20 years: [url="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-27055407"]http://www.bbc.co.uk...siness-27055407[/url] [i]Every man, woman and child in Britain spends an average of more than £70 a year on Amazon. That's more than half the country's entire online retail spend. It's an impressive result for a business started on a couple of computers exactly 20 years ago. [/i] [/quote] I really rate Amazon, no matter what tax issues there are. I always end up paying less and having that brilliant service. If we ever get to the stage of them stocking American Series Fender gear, then I'll probably use them for that as well. They currently have little bits like MXR pedals, and in the USA they stock Aguilar.

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1398122830' post='2430774'] What a load of softy pussy-footing wimps, eh..? Here's what the good gig circuit was like in the '60s... Want to read more..? [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles_in_Hamburg"]Wikipedia: Beatles in Hamburg...[/url] Still want to be a 'star'..? The British circuit was perhaps slightly less uncomfortable, but paid much less. Things ain't what they used to be eh..? Gerraway..! Never 'ad it so good..! [/quote] If I didn't have the day job, and earnt a living off music (and was in a suitably amazing band) this wouldn't bother me!

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1398119592' post='2430750'] i guess it also depends on your cab - I imagine a RH750 through a sealed 8x10 or some other vintage cab would feel different in the way it uses power than through some modern designed cab (like barefaced). I do wonder how much of the compressed sound of the TC stuff is the power section or the preamp - anyone stuck something else into the power section of a TC amp to see how it does? [/quote] That would be interesting! I'd like to see the power section/module tested without the ABM. I don't like super deep low bass. Barefaced cabs can clearly handle it but I find a lot of deep low bass muddies the tone, sounds too 'enveloping' and makes a mess on stage. It's why the 8x10 might be an old/not very efficient design, but the low end is just right for stages. Leave the deep lows to the PA. That's just me. Maybe if I was playing gospel/dub/reggae/ things would be different. I prefer a tight quick punchy low end which is why the TC and Genz work for me

I spent about 8 hours this past 4 days learning new guitar parts, tuning/checking the basses and playing ones I don't her chance to, and writing with the aid of recording software. In 3 months ive learnt how to record at a basic level and put bass down to a good standard with some half decent guitar over the top. I don't presently miss being in a covers but the time I've has to write and practice has been great! Hopefully I'll meet like minded people soon and get this music played by a full band. Agree with JTUK...£50 for a full evening, travel, load ins, etc, isn't worth it!

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1398088899' post='2430269'] So it's only twice as powerful as the RH450 then? And 20% cheaper Sorry - couldn't resist [/quote] Well, on that particular way of assessing wattage of an amp, (e.g. a test by a magazine with no proof that it is 100% correct scientifically or whether indeed that is the best way to do it anyway) yes, you'd get more RMS rated wattage with the LM2/3. What you would also get is a hard wall limiter, especially at 8 ohms, so when you hit that limiter, that is it. No power compression, just awful clipping. Also, the Markbass master volumes I've tried hit the max volume at roughly 12/1 o'clock. Lot's of manufacturers do this, to make you think you have more master left. With the LM3, I didn't have any more headroom left. Genz do it differently....eg the volume goes up gradually and you can push and push the modern amps they finished with and they will not clip. TC also do it differently. You can absolutely hammer the master volume all the way up and it will not clip...it will just get incredibly loud, and like a tube amp, it will naturally 'sag' and compress like playing through a large 8x10/SVT at high volumes. Different design goals, different tones. Wattage? Volume? The RH450 sounds louder to me.

[quote name='gsgbass' timestamp='1398082135' post='2430177'] I've used both, and I found for myself, the TC had a thinner sound to it, where the Markbass had a fuller rich tone to it. Markbass cut through the leads, and drums great. And MB is a true wattage, not just a ratted wattage. [/quote] The LM2 did not hit the rated wattage if I recall correctly. Obviously not how the TC heads did, and thats different, but the LM2 was about 450 watt or something, maybe a little more or less.

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1398067651' post='2429950'] One interesting little observation I have about instrument retailers is that almost all of them are 'players'. A lot of them are relatively young, have been through years of learning at school, university or music academy type places After all this preparation for a career in 'music' they end up flogging guitars in a shop because there's either so few opportunities to earn money playing or they simply didn't have whatever it took to get into the band they really wanted. This can often result in a resentful workforce who look down on their customers. I'm not defending this attitude one bit, I've always thought that if you do any job you should try and do it to the best of your abilities, but it might explain some of the attitudinal issues from some music shop staff [/quote] Completely agree Molan!

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1398078727' post='2430116'] I've also had a bad experience of Guitar Guitar who are praised in previous post. [/quote] Same here...although in the end they sorted it out. Still not keen to test it again though. I got the impression because I wasn't interested in typical shred metal guitars they weren't interested.

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1398077848' post='2430106'] Genuinely interested (and a wee bit surprised) you're using TC stuff - what model you using? and why the switch from Genz? [/quote] Sorry I should have worded it better. I have TC and Genz gear.

I've switched from MB to Genz and TC now. The RH450 always felt like it had more grunt than the LM3, so whatever the power management does, it works. Clipping is the issue with some MB heads; they never did improve the limiter from the LM2 to LM3.

[quote name='ash' timestamp='1398004014' post='2429420'] I use Promenade Music - just down the road in Morecambe. Despite doing a lot of business online they always have a decent stock of good quality basses thanks to Gary who works there and happens to be a bassist himself. I can't fault the staff and service there and there's none of that elitist rubbish of many shops - they welcome beginners and established pro musos equally - as indeed it should be. Guess we are spoilt here! [/quote] +1 I've used Promenade for puchases and Gary is fantastic.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1397935881' post='2428868'] Wow, very interesting. Especially in this colour combo: But I have a horrible feeling an HH would be a touch over my budget... [/quote] That's the ticket. Unfortunately they are quite pricey and I think they have a price rise due very very soon. They are worth it though. You might be able to pickup a 4 HH Stingray secondhand or £850-£1000 depending on condition and colour.

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1397989137' post='2429187'] Agreed, not just music shops, the same issue is everywhere. John Lewis is a notable exception in my experience. [/quote] I agree with that. John Lewis are great, and they give very generous warranties with their electrical items.

Exactly why shops are struggling. It's that almost aggressive / arrogant attitude of music stores that will be the death of em!

Although the Musicman tone can easily be tamed and made more 'vintage' classic bass sounding, (almost upright if you use the right EQ etc) it is true that a lot of the time, people play one because they want to be quite an upfront bassist. They can, if you want, really grab attention in a mix. A P sits nicely and will growl, a J can get lost but has that alluring tone, the Ray, with new strings and treble up, just slices and dices like no other bass.

In comparison to a decent Jazz, IMO the Musicman sounds 'bigger', faster and more responsive. I like a nice Jazz tone but even the active Jazz tone doesn't have the Ray quickness of attack.

[quote name='warwickhunt' timestamp='1397926730' post='2428748'] I do think that the music scene has changed and unless you have a very strong USP or a long established fan base then even a good covers band doesn't get the recognition and support that it used to get some years ago. [/quote] I also think this applies to original bands. I can honestly say as much as I will always love the North East, I had a much busier musical life back in my tiny home town! I guess its who you know etc, and I've seen fantastic bands up here, but barely any of them from here. I have also not been playing in a band since the last originals band became too hard work, (e.g. I did EVERYTHING and I'm working the most hours). Work has taken over a lot of my evenings as well as daytime, due to events I'm part of. Work is great and I can't complain, but I miss being in a decent band writing their own music.

For the price of the pedal (cheaper than one Aguilar pedal on its own) its worth a shot new from Amazon or somewhere, then send it back if you don't like it. I now have the G3 as well. Both great.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1397839560' post='2427872'] I'm not a big fan of the BBOT. It sounds O.K, I suppose, but in my experience the saddles are prone to movement and constantly slip on it, and it needs readjusting every time you change strings. If you are going to use a BBOT, at least make it one with tracks on the baseplate for the saddles to sit in. Other more substantial alternatives such as the Badass ( or Lakland!) offer more stability and better clarity to the overall sound, in my experience at least. My old Jazz Bass sounded loads better when I had a Badass installed , especially in the upper registers, from what I remember. . [/quote] Agreed. My old MIJ P Bass had a BBOT and by comparison to the latest Fender, Lakland, and Musicman bridges, it was pretty ropey.

[quote name='ahpook' timestamp='1397911118' post='2428518'] And there I was thinking it was just a bit of fun ! [/quote] Aimed at Fender! Sorry.

Bongo - Clear/huge tone/different to the Stingray (less 'grit)/modern/very very fast to play. Stingray - Classic raspy tone, brilliant kick in the mix, unbeatable (IMO) character of tone, (see below for taming them to a more warm tone). EBMM's don't need any mods, at all, IMO, apart from when you want to change strings! I have a lot of experience of pretty high end gear and I come back to Musicman. Every time. My personal favourite bass at the moment is a Stingray Classic 5, glossed maple neck, loads of birdseye figuring. It can jump from aggressive Flea tones to fat warm thump with just using the EQ and technique, (oh and the mute pads are brilliant).

Those Carvin amps are a bargain !

Soo cheesy! Why is anything associated with heavy rock/metal so cheesy?!?!

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1397899683' post='2428315'] That was massively disappointing. [/quote] Plus 1. Poor execution of what could have been great.

[quote name='davedave' timestamp='1397742546' post='2427013'] +1 on the Matamp. They are rated at 200w clean. I've heard from a few people (add salt as required) that the Orange ones only do 140 clean. Better build quality too. Nothing wrong with the Orange at all. I've seen them for as little as £750 used, which is a bargain. [/quote] Nah...I've heard that...its more than that, plus tube life, the way it is tested, the age of the amp, all make a difference. You get a fantastic warranty with Orange as well Not knocking Matamp, as they are obviously superb, but if you like the Orange, you may as well just get one.