Musicman20

I have a Zoom B3, and its probably the best bargain I've bought for a long time. I'm really impressed with how far multi effects have come in 10-15 years. What is the G3 like? Just as good as the B3? I want to be able to jam along and write riffs, but also have a good selection of amp models and effects.... I was going to use the B3, but at the prices of these units (cheaper than buying one individual guitar effect) I may as well treat the guitar to its own unit!

Done.

[quote name='Handwired' timestamp='1395830797' post='2406737'] We'll after a couple of Gigs the BT2 has been sent back. I've used quite a few different high end cabs with my rock band but this one got a unanimous thumbs down from everyone, mainly due to it being difficult to hear on stage and certain notes seeming to disappear on me. The projection however was almost too good, loud as hell out front, so much so I had nothing through the PA, a fellow Bass Chatter I know also had the same experience with this cab. I've now done what I should have done in the first place and bought a Berg. [/quote] Did you go for the CN212?

[quote name='skej21' timestamp='1395838099' post='2406872'] It really is! We had two of the 4 string EB13s in last year (natural and sunburst) and they were just as awesome. One of them went to our very own moderator, Gus [/quote] Hang on a mo, if I'm thinking this through, do you work for Banks in York? If I remember correctly, I was in York when you had the natural one in stock and stupidly I thought 'I'll go back tomorrow and try it' and we didn't have time. I'm always in York (just because its a great place!) and I might be there again soon. Do you have any more in or coming in? Cheers

For £ 800 or so with that stunning case...it's crazy !

Wow that's a nice Gibson!!!

I think this might be partly why the normal Markbass amps are now (mainly) being made in Indonesia. From what I understand, the Musicman/MB amps will be made in Italy.

[quote name='Prime_BASS' timestamp='1395525701' post='2403460'] I'll repeat. Although I wouldn't cut anything. I have the pickup mix set towards the bridge, but works equally well on a middle pickup solo too. Boost the 1khz area, I have my mids set to that and have mid level set to around 3 o clock. Mixed with some drive instant rage. [/quote] Cheers

You can't beat a new Musicman! Nice finish!

[quote name='hamfist' timestamp='1395478571' post='2402828'] Mid cut centred somewhere around the 200-600 Hz range. And/or hi mid boost centred somewhere around the 1000-1500Hz range. In fact I'd start with just the upper mid boost and only cut lower mids if necessary as you will get lost in the mix if you cut lower mids too far. Treble and bass to taste. I'd start with the J bass, both pickups full on. I "think" that might be the sort of tone you might be describing. I have the NX2 cab myself and that should be fine, tweeter control about midday upwards if you want it bright & cutting. [/quote] Cheers!

Hi all When I first started playing and gigging, I used to have a VERY bright bass tone. New sound to the strings, no flats, mainly played with a plec, and I boiled the strings if they were sounding a little dead. I used a Trace GP12 400 SMX and it was fabulous at that super aggressive, bright modern tone. Lots of crisp clear upper mids and treble available. I only used a cheap Peavey 4x10 and it worked fine with the tweeter on a little. My tastes have changed and I’ve pretty much tried all different types of tones. I’d like to replicate a similar bright/sizzly tone. I miss cutting the mix and having a lot of aggressive bass (it used to be my signature tone…everyone used to ask how I got it!). I’m sure this MUST be possible with the GB Shuttlemax 9.2 and the cabs I have (most the cabs I have now are probably more modern in tone than my old ones). Suitable cabs I have would be Aguilar DB212, TC RS210, or GB NX2 212T. What do you recommend I boost/cut? Boost the high mids? The Max 9.2 is super flexible and has a very good control of low mids/high mids and has a High Freq Attack with variable control. Maybe I can even get this with the Streamliner 900? The treble on the amp seems pretty damn clear and bright. I assume that I probably used to gig with a mid scoop somewhere in the mids…. Bass wise, I use Musicman basses, Fender P and a Fender J.

Matt Freeman (Rancid) Carlos Dengler (Interpol)

Ah I see. Well that would be fine with me. Many criticise the BT500/AD200 from Orange, and indeed the Genz Streamliner (mids are flat at about 2 on the dial so room to boost) due to their 'mids aren't flat at 12) EQ...when lets face it, dial position doesn't really matter. If it sounds great, and works with the band, then everyone is happy!

Great helpful review. Nice tone (although for me its more the bass I like!). I like how bright it is... Am I right in thinking this has a mid scoop like the Bass Terror (just using an example) and that the mids won't 'boost'....so to speak, as mids flat is mids dialed up to full on the dial?

[quote name='Muzz' timestamp='1395392261' post='2401853'] Thanks for that Karl, I'm not keen on a 4004, for me it wrecks the best thing about Rics, which is the looks. Having played it some more last night, it's just not good enough; by which I mean, the woods and contruction are there, but the design is ergonomically hopeless, and with eyes closed it actually plays like a £450 bass, not a £1600 one. The neck pickup is incredibly low output and wooly, the nut's cut way too high, and I don't know what strings they ship with, but it plays in a pretty lifeless, inconsistent way. There's no zing to the thing, acoustically or plugged in. If I'd paid £450 for it, I'd grit teeth, possibly compromise on the ergonomics and make some mods, change the strings, fettle with it, etc, but for £1639? No chance. I'm on to GAK's returns department when they open at half nine. For the record, I'm not a 'Fender player', I've had many, many different sorts of basses, from luthiery lovliness to Explorers and Thunderbirds to 8 and 12 strings, and even my rather idiosyncratic but appealing Wishbass, so I'm very happy with lots of different styles of bass. I'm not exclusively a pick player, either, but there's no way to play it with your forearm on the bass that doesn't leave a mark on your arm within seconds, the edge is soooo sharp. Still gutted, but I'll get the money back, get over it and get something else. I'm almost as upset for my other half, she'd bought it for me for my birthday, so she's quite disappointed, too. It still looks lovely, though... [/quote] Ric basses are just a stunning design aesthetically, especially the 4003, but I have to agree (and I'm sure that this is where me and Dingus agree) that the ergomics are either right or wrong for you. Almost every year I seem to yearn a Ric, play one, get put off, pick up a Stingray/Bongo, realise how easy they feel to play and hold etc. Yet the aesthetics and tone still drag me back to the Ric, especially with this run. I've also tried to get the 'Ric' tone in a shop and never got it right...it felt quite weak This could be setup or the amp though when it comes to my try outs. I'd then go home, pickup a Musicman, and be instantly comfy. The Bongo gets a fair amount of stick, but that bass is just purely perfect ergonmically...so fun to play. Super responsive and powerful. I'm sorry it didn't work out, but £1600+ is TOO much to have in one instrument you don't instantly think 'wow'. You have made the right choice IMO. This is the advantage of the modern internet world - try before you commit completely.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1395237446' post='2400043'] No, that's not true! Right around the time I started playing right at the beginning of the 1980's Fenders were out of fashion in the same way that Victoriana went out of fashion in the 1950's. The general consensus was that Fenders were old fashioned, outmoded and boring. If you did have a Fender it had to modernized, with a big heavy bridge and hi-tech pickups to try and drag it into the Modern Age. This was the era when so many Fenders were vandalized in the name of progress. The renaissance of Fender basses is a far more recent phenomena than you might think, although they have of course been a residual presence regardless of whatever the trend in basses and never completely went away. Nowadays, it's as if history has been rewritten to assert that bass player's dalliance with basses other than Fenders and similar vintage models was a big but short-lived mistake, but up to about fifteen years ago most of the basses in high-end shops were modern hi-tech designs and, to a greater or lesser extent , that is what most serious players aspired to in the era from the mid-1970's to the turn of the Millennium . During that era, a lot of bass players might indeed have a Fender bass, but as another option to their main bass which would be an up-to-date contemporary design. [/quote] I agree. Even into the 90s I usually found quite modern shaped basses, very slim necks, almost Warwick-like styles. I found the shops had a few Fender's but not like it is now. That or Stingrays...which seemed (in my area) to be the holy grail (and they still are for me!).

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1395231064' post='2399933'] Under good old 'invitation to treat' legal rulings I don't think a shop has to sell at a price that's displayed so, if I'm correct, he could have refused your 'offer to buy' at the displayed price [/quote] This is true, however I think unless its a glaring error, eg £1000 instead of £10000, then the shop would be best to sell it for the £10 and put it down to a mistake.... Very odd though...you would have thought they wouldn't have questioned it....

[quote name='paulconnolly' timestamp='1395184875' post='2399661'] Have to agree about Liverpool being a bit crap for buying basses. Dawsons do have quite a few but they're mostly precision/jazz basses of the Fender/Squier/Ibanez/A N other make. Very few interesting ones though there may have been a Gibson in there the other month and I did buy my BH250 from them. Curly music have even less choice and the staff are even less helpful than Dawsons. Good bars/venues [b]Musicman20[/b] - what do you want? There's endless chavvy disco and karaoke shoite around concert square and Matthew street and The Academy may have someone decent on. Try the Caledonia on Catherine Street or The Grapes on Roscoe Street (not the one in Matthew Street) for a bit of jazz, real ale and something a bit unusual (The grapes this Thursday has Swingology for Gypsy Jazz stuff). For a Friday take the Wirral line train to Hamilton Square and get a taxi to take you to The Swinging Arm for a bit of rock music. Sorry thread drifting away from bases to beer. Feel free to pm me for a bigger list of alehouses [/quote] To be fair, beer/nights out are probably the priority with the trip. I've never been so it will be interesting! Any indie/rock type bars would be great...I don't mind if they are a little pricey.

Every boutique manufacturer is jumping on the P bass with a zillion strings, 40" scale, yet still just sounds like a P bass trend. P basses have always been popular, but they are currently very very popular indeed!

[quote name='Mark Dyer' timestamp='1395179060' post='2399584'] It's Dawsons or bugger all in Liverpool sadly, which considering the musical heritage of the city is damn shameful. I, on the other hand, can show you round some truly top-notch drinking establishments nearby which should take your mind off the dreadful five mins you will waste wandering around Dawsons. Apologies to any members of Dawsons Liverpool, who may be reading this, but it is a bit sh*te? [/quote] Haha! Good bars/venues centrally for a thurs/fri night? Cheers

Cheers all! Very helpful.

Pics and reports pleaseeee! Congrats by the way!

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1395151790' post='2399215'] Exactly my problem, Gareth. I love the sound of Rickenbackers, and they are surely one of the most beautiful basses ever in terms of overall design, but I just can't get on with playing them! The lack of taper to the neck feels very weird to someone raised on Fenders, the strings seems to hit the pickup polepieces all the time when I play them, and the action never seems that good on any Ricks that I get to have a on. Definitely a bass that like to be played hard . [/quote] It's a shame. They are stunning and sound superb. It must be the last of taper...something I could probably get used to but I'm a Stingray/P Bass neck fan through and through.