Musicman20

[quote name='henry norton' timestamp='1389859165' post='2338650'] Just be aware a big factor in the original Gibson EB-2's thuddy tone was the short scale. The mudbucker at the neck will give you a bassy, wooly sound but the thud is very much a product of the scale length. The new EB-2 / 335 Gibson bass is a long (34") scale so won't sound quite the same as the originals do. The Starbass is also long scale and it's pickups are too bright and too far forward for that EB thump. So far as cellulose finishes go, Gibson have been doing it for more than half a century so they're pretty good at it Cellulose is a harder finish than most water based finishes you see on cars and it looks nicer when it eventually does start to wear out. Don't worry about it. [/quote] Cheers. Yeah I am probably over thinking it. I've just never had a nitro finished instrument. I don't mind the kinda cool honest wear and tear...and I hear that the sunburst finishes look really nice over time. I should probably take the plunge and just be careful. We don't have major extreme weather over here so its not like I'll be taking it from a freezing 2 hour car journey into a red hot gig very often....if at all! I've been looking into the scale issue. I'd personally prefer to keep it 34", despite the sound differences. I'm just far too used to a normal bass guitar scale now. I'm definitely going to give the Gibson some thought...

[quote name='largo' timestamp='1389865432' post='2338721'] Has anyone emailed Markbass yet to ask? [/quote] I don't think so. Last time I emailed them a few years back I never got a response. I'm surprised it isn't on Talkbass yet...

[quote name='cytania' timestamp='1389805378' post='2338116'] Aren't alot of modern Gibsons a nitrocellulose finish on a polyester main coat also? [/quote] Apparently not....nitro base and nitro top coat...if that's technically the right way to say it.

[quote name='Mr Fretbuzz' timestamp='1389790036' post='2337880'] Check out the Warwick Pro Star Bass. I tried the Midtown but preferred the Warwick. It's lovely :-) [/quote] I was going to get one of the sale ones off Thomann but they sold out

I've always been a fan of the large semi-hollow basses and guitars, such as the Gibson E335 shape/etc, and I've recently been craving a very thuddy 'upright-meets-bass-guitar' type tone from a bass with a fat neck pickup strung with flats. I've been looking at new Gibson basses, and they mainly seem to be finished in nitro. Being how I am, this might not be a wise move! Some players love the checking/wear, and whilst honest wear is fine with me, I'm not sure I could be doing with having to put dusters on stands/not opening the case after its been outside for a while. I do not think checking looks good! Just how fragile is it??! Thanks

[quote name='Thor' timestamp='1389787416' post='2337836'] I've heard a lot of good things about the Berg AE212 - I'm not sure whether I could handle the weight though - perhaps that's another avenue for research? Cheers, Pete [/quote] The AE212 is pretty light for a 2x12, and quite slim! It is however less voiced in the mids compared to the DB112. It is quite 'big' down low and 'polite' through the mids.

IMO, the DB112/DB212 cabs 'sound' fantastic, and if I could only have one/two cabs, I would own the DB212 or 2 x DB112. I would pick them over every single boutique manufacturer. Not only do they sound stunning, they also look fantastic, and are exceptionally well made. I currently have a DB212 4 ohm and it is the sound I've chased for bass guitar amplification for a long time. It is punchy, warm, clear, and has a great kick in the mids that works in a mix. I say just get a £20 trolley off Amazon (I got one for housemoves/moving gear) and put the lot on the trolley. The covers are essential.

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1389746880' post='2337594'] I don't see the problem myself. Markbass aren't claiming their kit is made in Italy any more and their amps (along with everyone elses) have been full of Far Eastern components for decades. [/quote] Well, Indonesian construction of the amps/cabs may have been on the cards for some time. However, it is odd that they introduced a budget line (Black Line 250 I think) that was much cheaper, and made in Indonesia, and now it 'appears' their normal line of amps/cabs are going that way. A weight increase is also not acceptable without a full explanation in my opinion. Why is it heavier? Are we paying the same/a little less for cheaper wood/cheaper construction? I used to love my Little Mark III, but now this is happening, I would steer clear.

[quote name='EddyGlee' timestamp='1389714777' post='2337148'] Looking at the Markbass product pages.. I can't see anything about it been made in Italy!? But at the bottom of the product specs it does say.. "[color=#020202][font=Georgia, Arial, Verdana][size=3]Product specifications are subject to change without notice" [/size][/font][/color] [/quote] ....perhaps now omitted? I don't really care that much as I don't own any MB now, but 4-5 years ago these guys were one of the best. I'm not bothered about a companies profit margins or accounts. I'm interested in it from a customers point of view.

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1389701288' post='2336968'] I don't know the size of the MB set up in Italy but is it possible that they've outgrown their capacity and needed to go elsewhere - in which case Far East manufacturing probably makes sense. As for dropping their prices, that's a marketing decision. Price is only elastically related to cost. Apple stuff is not exactly renowned for being cheap because it is manufactured in the far east. [/quote] Quite possibly, and as I said, I have no issues with outsourced manufacturing as long as its as good or better than the previous versions. See many issues with Ampeg's Vietnamese products and the recent move by GK back to the USA because of lack of control of quality. Genz GET IT RIGHT (well they did) with regards to their micro bass amps. If the Markbass amps are the same price (or a little less) but weigh more, what is the point? The average bass player won't realise, but it may end up costing the brand in the long run. I personally used to see Markbass as top of the game, very light, very well made, with excellent quality control. The fact it was made in Italy was a nice finishing touch. They have always (previously) talked about being proudly made in Italy. A cheaper line made overseas is fine, but the whole lot???

I seem to spend too long organising people and trying to find quality players who I get on with. That is the hardest part of being in a band. I've not done a gig for about half a year now and its starting to feel like its irritating me. I find that most people my age (32) have had a long blast of enthusiasm at bands, then had a few hurdles, then realised they are incredibly busy with life and get tired of dealing with the same old bands who are going nowhere. I'd rather spend 4-5 hours practicing, learning and developing my playing at home rather than lugging gear around to a band rehearsal for a band who will never gig or record. Yeah, I'm picky. I then formed my own band with great musicians. We all worked the opposite times, and one lad had stress on with buying his first house. We had to call it a day. It had potential but I could not handle dealing with the other people we were auditioning (vocalists who let us down EVERYTIME). I was the guy doing everything and I have the busiest/most intense career, so I said we will put it on hold. I've made contact with another band who have written 4-5 quite decent tracks, and they have a great drummer/sense of melody, and they are organising things, so I'm going to try that out In the modern world, there are thousands of awful bands, thousands of people who just rehearse at home, and nowadays, bassists are everywhere. Back when I started bass was a good way into a band. It isn't now.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1389653218' post='2336697'] I don't mind paying a premium for western made goods...as long as they deserve that mark-up but production in the far east is only because the labour is cheaper, imo. That saving should be passed on to the buyer, and if it goes straight to the shareholders, then the brand deserves no loyalty. Cheap tacky trick... on the face of it, and has demeaned the brand. IMO. [/quote] Yep. Agreed. Aguilar are still going strong. Let's hope ther stick to it.

I'd send it back and not buy another MB product if that is their approach. Genz is no more, Fender is rebranding Genz, and now the original forerunners of lightweight gear starts to make products outside of Italy and increase the weight? That puts me off the brand completely. Offshore manufacturing is fine and some companies get it right, but MB have always been proud to be made in their Italian factory. Hmmmm

A nice design similar to the very small/light Genz Shuttle cabinets...the 8" cab was apparently wonderful for how tiny it was.

Controversial - please don't use the BF style textured paint.

[quote name='Jack' timestamp='1389451011' post='2334294'] The marketed is blanketed with super loud cabs and super full range cabs. Carve a niche by offering 'old-cab' sound in a tiny, lightweight package. Something midget-sized but 810e/nv610/k140 sounding please. [/quote] Ay this could be good!

Excellent idea. My favorite cab ' tone' comes from the Aguilar DB212/DB112. If you can get close to that tone in a lighter smaller box it would be amazing!

I personally think they are in a good place for a two person lift.

Funnily enough, further to the above, the worst failure rate Class D amp seems to be the Ampeg PF500!

To be fair, most amp techs dislike Class D micros. I've heard barely any problems with the TC amps when it comes to the performance and sound issues.

The other tweak of course was to the high end the amp could provide. It no longer had the low pass filter which stopped some of the more modern sparkly tones getting through. This was also made variable. I'm not sure what I paid for my RH450 but I didn't pay much more for a new 750...they are of course now more expensive down the line.

If you want a more tube like tone, go for the TTE.

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1389171716' post='2330763'] Apparantly it is louder, but uses the same power section. [/quote] Not the same power section, but it is 'limited' and 'tested by the Bass Gear Mag' at 236w. Testing wattages in these types of magazines can lead to all sorts of issues being brought up.

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' timestamp='1389107759' post='2330069'] To answer the question in this thread, well you need to try both and decide for yourself. as you can see people have different opinion on both basses. Stingrays are nice and poppy, if you like scooped slap / pull type of sounds but if you want a soid presence in the audible mix of a band, the precision is the only winner, after all the proof is in the number of competitors bass manufacturers which fit P style split pickups to their basses as opposed to those who fit those large soapbar humbucker common with the Stingrays brigade. [/quote] I've never quite understood this 'Stingrays are scooped'. I'd say a Jazz bass with both pups on is very scooped, whereas a Ray has peaks and scoops in the mids, but the mid frequences affected are different. Eg, most the Ray tones I like are very low mid aggressive, but of course you can roll up the bass and treble and make it scooped and modern which a lot of the slap bassists prefer. A Stingray tends to kick like a mule...a very immediate feel to the pickup response, which is partly due to that low mid/high bass kick, and there must also be a peak in the high mids for the detail. I think P basses, whilst ALWAYS popular, are VERY much in fashion at the moment. I remember back in the mid 90s when people thought I was weird buying a MIJ Precision. This was also when Orange were big with Oasis using their amps, way before they revved up and became super popular like they are now. Times change a lot. Thing is, boutique manufacturers are bound to make P bass copies, because they are selling! The Super Jazz is still a big seller, but the P is everywhere now. To be honest, I think charging £2.5k for a P bass which isn't a vintage Fender is crazy. It is a VERY simple design. To me, the P is great, but I'd choose a Fender American Standard everytime over a boutique P copy. People don't copy the Ray so much because they can't. Aguilar however are now starting to make a MM style pickup.

[quote name='cameltoe' timestamp='1389046187' post='2329380'] I've had a good look around google the past few days and I'm fairly convinced the stewmac truss repair kit would be the place to start with trying to fix it. This is the kit- http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Special_tools_for_Truss_rods/Truss_Rod_Rescue_Kit.html Does anybody know a UK luthier that has this kit?? [/quote] Ouch...how much ?! I hope you get it sorted.