Musicman20

[quote name='mildmanofrock' timestamp='1381436263' post='2239210'] Why? I'm not being confrontational, just interested in your thoughts. [/quote] A) Resale, B ) Bergantino sound - Jim has an excellent approach to bass guitar tone in cabinets, C) Aesthetics, D) Quality.

I would stick with the Bergs.

I received an email on this today. Nice idea. Are the P/J Jazz basses very similar to the recent MIJ models? Not keen on the P colours...wish they would do a 3 tone sunburst. I often think 'why not get a Sandberg' when I see these new Fender's, but I guess the Sandbergs are totally different.

[quote name='nottswarwick' timestamp='1381220384' post='2235826'] What I crave personally is a totally uncoloured back line set up, so that my bass sounds like it does through headphones in my studio. Not found it yet. [/quote] Surely most studios and headphones add their own character. I prefer, personally, to have some character. Even clean amps have character, (eg the Markbass sound, the Genz Shuttle sound).

[quote name='leroydiamond' timestamp='1381095222' post='2234385'] A mate of mine testifies to this, despite pairing it with TC cabs [/quote] Man, the 450 and 750 is all abouts mids mids mids, I've never once ever had issues with volume, tone, compression, or anything. In fact, the 450 sounded 'larger' than most the 500W similar micros.

Eventually there will be plenty about...just initial runs that keeps people interested! I might get the cherry burst Starcaster.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1381158599' post='2235136'] Despite the fact that I can think of umpteen reasons why these basses are not my "thing ", I am beginning to think that I really want one. Thanks for that ,Gareth . Especially because they are short scale , I think one of these could be a lot of fun for using on the sofa in front of the T.V whilst I entertain Mrs Dingus by playing along with the theme music to all her favorite shows . She loves that . These look great in a retro, indie band kind of a fashion and I can imagine myself growing a beard to complete the look ( and becoming even more irresistable to women in the process) . I think Fender will sell truckloads of these , given the current trend in basses towards vintage sounds and styling , and good luck to them . [/quote] Ay...I've just finally got my band sorted out. We are doing our own stuff, in the vein of The Smiths, Kasabian, Blur, Oasis, The Beatles, MIles Kane, Weller, that kinda mod/indie thing which I've wanted to do for over ten years but never found the right guitarist. Now I've got it sorted I'm tempted to get one of these.

[quote name='Martin E' timestamp='1381085445' post='2234238'] Without seeing one in the flesh, what is the black decoration at the bottom of the headstock? Just black paint under the varnish or an additional piece of wood? Hard to tell in the photos. [/quote] Black paint under varnish from what I can tell.

I've just recently tried a Starcaster in Newcastle. Super super impressed. Perfect QC, very pretty binding. Heavier than they look, but I mean that as in it weighs like a normal sized light P bass. Substantial feel. Very jazz-growl like with both pups, the bridge pup bites and snarls, the neck pup goes from clear warm tones to very very fat bassy tones. We are talking huge fat lows from the neck pup, should you want it. The neck is great, access to fretboard is great, it LOOKS great. The only thing they should do is upgrade the tuners...but other than that...super cool bass. This was the cherry burst. Now I want one. For the record, the fit/finish was actually perfect. Better than a lot of the recent MIA P/J basses I've tried. Some nice pics from the USA: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SCBassMACB/

[quote name='51m0n' timestamp='1380894323' post='2232063'] Played with one for a couple of hours at the SE Bass Bash - they are monstrously loud, my measely 500w MB sa450 head into one literally emptied the hall with the other 30 or 40 bass rigs, because no one could hear anything whilst we played with it. Once again apologies to everyone who put up with my getting very excited with filter sweeps into brown note territory at extreme war volume. Apparently you can jam 1600 watts into one all day and it will just turn your internal organs to jelly... It sounded fantastic, effortlessly loud, but more than that a great tone. Killer cab... [/quote] You must have one on order then ?!

I've just tried a Starcaster in Newcastle. Super super impressed. Perfect QC, very pretty binding. Heavier than they look, but I mean that as in it weighs like a normal sized light P bass. Substantial feel. Very jazz-growl like with both pups, the bridge pup bites and snarls, the neck pup goes from clear warm tones to very very fat bassy tones. The neck is great, access to fretboard is great, it LOOKS great. The only thing they should do is upgrade the tuners...but other than that...super cool bass. This was the cherry burst. Now I want one.

I think those prices on the amps are much more sensible. That is probably the rough price they are meant to sell for...

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1380728634' post='2229676'] Come back here saying that when you've developed RSI! [/quote] I've seen a few wrist problems with guitarist friends. I had a strict bass tutor from day one, on a thick p bass neck. No problems in 16 years....so hopefully he taught me well.

[quote name='Ghost_Bass' timestamp='1380720282' post='2229486'] It's the inner beauty that mathers... [/quote] They say that...but...we all know the reality haha!

[quote name='Ghost_Bass' timestamp='1380719053' post='2229466'] This is good for one reason, like most people i send my signal to FOH via the amps DI. Using an "uncolouring" rig i know that the sound i'm hearing behind me is the same being fed to the mixer (i play pub gigs with PA but no tech). Using a colouring rig i couldn't know if what sounds good to me on stage is sounding like sh*t on the main mix. [/quote] I get it, but the soundman will just change it anyway....that's what they usually do...to their taste.

[quote name='Ghost_Bass' timestamp='1380712913' post='2229279'] Now they just need to be finished with a smoother coat of paint. I'm not a big fan of the current rough paint job [b]but i won't get rid of my S12T because of its looks[/b]! The sound (and weight) is way more important [/quote] I could make an analogy, but I won't haha.

[quote name='Twigman' timestamp='1380711946' post='2229249'] A characteristic for which I am grateful. If it wasn't for the transparency of my setup I would be oblivious to the shortcomings of my technique and thus would not work to improve it. I think having a Barefaced cab has made me a (slightly) better player (albeit still a hamfisted amateur).....it has improved me. [/quote] No offence, I mean you were probably just as good before, but a cab cannot really make you a better player. It might make you play more as you like the sound, which makes you better.

The Super Compact grille is actually pretty damn good...looks much better, (just seen a Facebook picture). See, again, a little bit of feedback like this helps.

[quote name='hamfist' timestamp='1380709547' post='2229198'] Just pi$$es me off a tiny little bit when every thread mentioning BF cabs in any way turns into a Fanclub Lovefest Event about how awesome they are and how dare anyone criticise them. [/quote] It is getting tiring. Hence the very heated debates.

[quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1380703496' post='2229055'] I guess I'm vain too in that I couldn't be happy paying for and regularly playing something that I see to be ugly. Luckily, I love the look of the '69er; no visible ports, and a lovely silver cloth grill. I don't really have an issue with the painted finish. The only BF cab I really dislike the look of is the one with the big baffle across the driver holding a tweeter. It just looks odd to me. [/quote] I'm definitely vain and happy to admit it.

[quote name='Graham' timestamp='1380642983' post='2228349'] I remember feeling sorry for the rest of the band when Watkins was arrested as it's basically killed the rest of their careers, I wouldn't have thought a band made up of former Lost Prophets members is going to have much sucess. [/quote] My thoughts exactly. I knew as soon as he was arrested, they were over. Mind you, it would have obviously been a lot better to not have this outcome, but they have had a long run at it. I was roughly 17 when they first came out, (I think!). I'm now 32.

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1380699002' post='2228965'] I agree with some of the comments about the look of the BF range, but then again they do have a quirky originality that is somehow very "British" (IMO). And as someone else said, once you start playing your back is to your gear anyway. And despite what we might think (or fear), very few punters even look at the bass player, never mind their amplification set-up! [/quote] Some of us are terribly vain I'm afraid.

[quote name='skychaserhigh' timestamp='1380701609' post='2229007'] I'm not a Barefaced hater either but whenever I make a comment or ask a question about them some people react as if I've pissed on their kids !! [/quote] Mint.

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1380699656' post='2228979'] So is stating, on a thread specifically about BF products, that you would buy something completely different - especially when you don't bother to give any justification of your reasoning. And I agree that a very clean set-up does expose any technical deficiencies in its owner's playing. Still, you can be a "good player" but have poor technique, can't you? [/quote] Ay? I'm just giving my point of view. It isn't really derogatory to BF as I haven't said anything overly negative. I haven't heard or seen the new BF cabs, and I hope they sound and look as good as the descriptions that are around on the site. I've tried an early Compact, at the time, not for me. The whole technique thing is getting tired now. Unless you are playing technical music for a living, no one cares anyway.

[quote name='thebassman' timestamp='1380630226' post='2228056'] That's a bit worrying, i play through a Genz Shuttlmax and a zingy Stingray, so a clean cab may display my poor technique . I currently use a Mesa 2x12 powerhouse cab, and love the tone of this combination. I am after something a bit lighter and more manageable, that's why i was looking at maybe either a 1x12 cab on it's own or maybe a pair of 1x12's. I guess i could just get a light 2x12. cheers thebassman [/quote] I doubt it...I wouldn't worry about it. If you are already playing a Ray, and you have a Genz amp, you are already providing quite a zingy and precise signal. The Ray was the bass that showed me (compared to a P bass for example) that notes can really be heard as well as felt.