dave_bass5

I too have had this with my old SA450. Only time it (kept) happening was when i was using a rehearsal studio's cab. I wasn't even slapping, but every time i "dug in" the amp would shut down. Turns out the cab was faulty, although i never found out exactly what that meant. Other than that, nope, not with the 3 MB heads ive regularly gigged with over the past 10 years.

[quote name='hairychris' timestamp='1465209976' post='3066073'] Yep, my MB800 gets harsh quickly, controllable with tweaking gain/contour/treble... I'd also like to A/B with a Fusion 800! [/quote] I havent noticed any harshness with my MB800 although i do keep the mids in check. In fact i use a Darkglass VMT in front to liven things up a bit. I did own a Fusion 800 for two hours, but never got to plug it in. Quite fancy getting another one some day, but for now im happy with what i have.

Yes, I was put off buying a Fender P bass for years, as although I like P basses I do prefer the feel of a Jazz neck. I took a chance on the special, knowing I could put the CV Jazz neck on it if I had to. As it turned out the neck is very easy to play, and I'm actually finding I get my fingers less tangles with this neck. The Lakland neck is a bit too thin really, but I wanted a a maple jazz neck.

It's a lovely Sandblasted Blue American Special. These have what Fender call a slim C neck. Not to sure how it compares to all the other necks they do but it's been the nicest P necks I've every played. Very narrow front to back which has helped a lot. For me it's much more comfortable than an Americna Standard, although it's not got the rolled edges.

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1464942584' post='3063903'] I think I might still consider a BB2 as I'm using a 5 string all the time now, and it would be nice to have some depth. I'm just worried it is going to be far too much low bass for me. [/quote] It definitely was for my Sire V7 bass. I had to stop using it with the BB2. I just couldn't get on with it with the V7, I found lots of gaps in the freq spectrum that would make it sound like I wasn't actually playing. This was more down to the bass though as it wasn't as bad with my 4 string P bass. Again, this was just my experience. The 115NM6 on the other hand has got me back in to playing the 5 string agin. Very even response across the board and although the base is only 34"the low notes sound nice and tight.

For the past 4 or 5 years I've had with a Lakland JO neck or my Squier CV Jazz neck on any 4 sting bass I've played live. I just really like Jazz necks. Now I have found a P neck that feels just as comfortable, but I still have my CV Jazz neck on my CV P body as a back up.

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1465118663' post='3065355'] A luthier I know had a Fender CS Strat in for repair. It was a heavy relic version and the customer wanted one of the paint surface dings retouched. When the luthier asked why, as the guitar was covered in marks and dings, the response was "yes, but those are from the Fender factory and I did this one myself so I want it fixed". . . True story 😂 [/quote] I do often wonder why people insist a bass is in top condition when buying it, but are quite happy to pay over the top for a factory "damaged" bass. Still, that's for another thread (think we are due for another on this topic soon :-).

A Lakland Duck Dunn (more recently called the 44-60C) is a lovely P bass with nice jazz neck. ive had two and both were almost the best P basses ive owned. Lovely neck with blocks and binding. Only my current Fender has topped them, which has a very nice slim P neck. The only P neck i get on with.

Yes, i agree but i also think you can EQ your bass it ensure certain freq's or a cert in part of the character still comes through. This might involve boosting a freq that wouldn't sound good on its own but does sound better in the mix.

Well not "this" Christmas, obviously :-) Actually i know someone coming over here from Australia in a couple of weeks. I could have asked asked her to bring me one.

[quote name='largo' timestamp='1464680657' post='3061288'] All about being in a band for me too. I'm going to be contentious here but if I wasn't in a band I would turn my hand to a different instrument, either guitar or piano most likely. I see the bass as a supporting instrument and love it for this very reason. Solo or lead bass just doesn't do it for me. [/quote] Same here. If we have long breaks between gigs i rarely touch the bass until the week before a gig. I enjoy playing it, but unless i have a purpose other than sitting at home i lose interest. When we were doing a lo of weddings and learning songs them ill play each day, but these days for social clubs the set is all sorted and pretty boring to keep playing at home. As we do have long gaps ive brought a guitar and plan on clearing that. We also have an electronic drum kit (my sons) and like to have a mess around on that as well. In fact ill more likely play any of these rather than bass, even keyboards. For me playing the bass goes hand in hand with plaything live, the other instruments are recreational.

I've never found anything that goes over the nut end to give the same effect. You don't get the same thump as up at the bridge end IME, just a loss of overtones.

[quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1464615782' post='3060793'] There's also this: http://www.bassmute.com/bassmute/bm_mainframe.html The advantages of this over the Fender mute is that you can fine-tune the mute pressure per-string, and also you don't have to drill any holes as you can mount it with double sided tape. [/quote] That looks pretty cool. I've just ordered one, should be here before Christmas. :-)

I voted yes 51-60, but I started using lightweight cabs about 10 years ago. It's not an age thing, it's a come to my senses thing. Why struggle and risk injury when I don't have to. In fact I'd say my switch to Neo cabs only happened because Neo cabs came along at that time. It wouldn't bother me if they didn't exist, but given the choice..... We still use heavy PA cabs and I still carry them in and out at gigs. Pain in the ass but not a real problem.

Well at the risk of sounding like a right Pratt I've just gone and got a Mono Vertigo. I got a very, very good deal on it and thought I'd see what all the fuss is about. I still feel the same as earlier in the thread, as in I don't need this much protection and extra weight and bulk, but the very low price and the fact that it sits lower on my shoulder than any other bag I've tried made me give it a go. It is a lovely case, and although it's the longest case I have it feels quite compact. The one issue I have with my other bags is they flap around on my shoulder when I'm walking and only using one strap. I guess due to the Mono being more rigid it doesn't move much, I'll probably not use it for gigs as it will be a tight fit in the car, but for rehearsals and storing my bass at home it's going to work well.

We only use a vocal PA (1x15+ horn each side) but if the room is on the nasty side, or packed (not likely these days) I'll DI my bass as well. Although i have more than enough power the PA will help get the higher freq's out in to their audience. So yeah, just adding a bit more clarity out front without me having to EQ for it on stage. My rig still does most of the work. EDIT: Sorry, miss read the title. Ignore this post as it's not relevant.

I agree about the cutting through bit, but I think it that's open to interpretation. For me I want to cut through and not be buried, but I dont want to stand out in the mix if that makes sense. In fact with the current band I need to fill the mix more, and the 115VMN6 does this well. The overal tone of the bass does seem to change when the band start playing. I've heard really good bass tones when bands are sound checking just the bass, yet it becomes more generic in the mix and they lose some of the nicer points. I even find this at home playing along to CD's etc. Great solo tone but once it's blended in some of that just disappears.

Thanks. I got the F1 off here years ago. Very pokey and never had any issues. It's just a back up to my MB80 now but it's one thing I'll never sell.

I prefer red, even when its MarkBass [url="https://davepearce.smugmug.com/Gear/Music-gear/i-pHdPVSP/A"][/url]

As long as the speakers aren't blue. That's seems to be a dark, woolly colour ;-)

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1464371143' post='3059007'] I can well believe it! [/quote] Market it right and they will buy in to the idea.

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1464362718' post='3058875'] The red paint? :-p [/quote] Oh yes, I do believe the red paint makes a difference to certain freq's. A lot of R&D went in to getting the shade just right...apparently.

[quote name='sunburstjazz1967' timestamp='1464359057' post='3058841'] If a player has a specific tone they want then that's great, that's why Alex requires all your info up front but for me I'd rather have a cab that does lots of things fairly well than one designed and supplied for a specific setup. I don't know If I'll be rocking out with a pick or playing some blues finger style from one gig to the next, I use a variety of heads too, I haven't got time to adjust my pickup height between songs to suit the cab! [/quote] Totally agree. The only thing i will add is ive never been looking for a definitive tone, only a tone that appeals to me. Every cab ive used has had this to some extent, but none quite as complete as the one i have now. As far as different drivers not mattering, i have no idea, but there is certainly something going on that makes the Vanderkley sound different, and better for me.

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1464353570' post='3058772'] Maybe - but for those of us who play smaller venues (with only vocals through the PA) and rely on backline, the sound of the rig is important. If I can hear myself properly and like the sound I hear, I tend to play better and enjoy the performance more. Audiences feed off that and the whole gig is better. The bands that get to the point where we are paying to see them tour have probably been through that stage too but have moved on to bigger (but not necessarily better) things. Their sound is totally at the mercy of the(ir) sound man... All IMO of course [/quote] This is how my bands work. We dont need to invest heavily in a big PA, and pay the extra expense if upgrading cars etc to transport it. A vocal PA has worked fine for the past 14 years. My rig has to cover the room without support most of the time. Im happy it admit ive never had canyon say my tone is bad, but if im not enjoying it then im in a position to fix that. sometimes the room will play havoc with the low end. Thats to be expected, but in a controlled, familiar environment if its not working then time to move on. There are major claims on the BF website that had me believing this was going to be the last cab i ever needed. Well it wasn't. How could it, they dont know what i like. If thats a neutral, almost flat cab then its not for me. I have no regrets about buying it. Im glad i got to try these great cabs, but its also taught me a valuable lesson.

[quote name='sunburstjazz1967' timestamp='1464342828' post='3058580'] So we need different basses for different cabs now, no wonder people say going light weight is expensive! [/quote] Well ive never had to do any of that in the past, didnt need to do that with the studio cabs and didnt need to do it for the new cab so......... Of course many people love the BB2, I did at first, but i think the correct answer would have been its just not for me, not that i am doing soemthnig wrong. There is nothing wrong with the BB2, nor my set up. I feel a few answers have been a bit condescending, although presented in a polite way. Actually, come to think of it i wasnt asking for advice about the BB2 in this thread.