dave_bass5

[quote name='debwilliams' timestamp='1341316455' post='1716798'] I have absolutely no justification other than "I want that" .... It's just lust. Pure and simple. A strong driver all the same. [/quote] Told ya it would happen if you hung around long enough ;-) Dont resist it, you cant fight the inevitable lol..

Reading a lot of MB owner posts i get the impression that a majority of us really only need the filters. Ive always run my heads flat and tweaked the filters to suit. As someone said earlier, the EQ is there more to tidy things up rather than to drastically change the tone. I do sort of find the MB tone a bit bland, lacking a bit of life, but its garbage in, garbage out IMO. Having tried to get way from MB last year i found that MB gave a truer impression of how my basses sound when DI'd in to my PC at home. Im not sure thats the best test but it did show that the heads aren't really adding much to the basic tone.

There have been many, many posts (mainly on TB) over the years where people haven't figured out the two filters are off when turned all the way to the left. They sit down in the shop, put everything at 12 o'clock thinking that flat and wonder why it sounds strange.

We had two this weekend. Both very enjoyable. Sat was at a very posh house just outside Cambridge. We were in a Marquee in the garden and access was good, food was good, audience were great (once they got going) but band were crap. I realyl enjoyed it, my tone was fantastic (IMO fo course) but due to the fact that we had no walls the mix was very dead. This seemed to put the other off as they could now hear what they were playing clearly. A few songs fell apart, badly, butr on the whole it was a great night. We even got another booking out of it, and £50 tip. Last nights gig was in Pembroke lodge in Richmond Park. We have played it a few times before so knew the score with the sound meter. We could hear the guests talking over some of the slower songs. I didnt enjoy it too much, you cant with bloody flashing red lights in front of you and a drummer who thinks as long as he doesnt trip it his volume is ok. Didn't really care that he was drowning us out at some points because we had set everything low. As usual the food was good (Gordon Ramsay was a guest although we didnt see him after the meal was finished). The audience were amazing though. So much gusset and cleavage on show that i almost forgot to keep an eye on the sound meter. At one point the wedding party took over the playing area to get some photos done. The photographer did ask and we didnt have a problem with it (its their time and money) but at no point during the evening did the bride or groom thank us, or even talk to us. They seemed a nice couple though, and were up dancing all night. Im really loving my Squier CVP now. Putting the Dr Black Beauties on it hasreally transformed it. It has more life in it now and is a joy to play. A few shots i took of them, not us. Yes, the bridesmaid was scary looking but actually a very nice lady. [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/davebass5/7485532758/"][/url] [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/davebass5/7485535442/"][/url] [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/davebass5/7485537140/"][/url]

I totally understand you not likeing them, each to his/her own but i still agree with the others that say the MB gear tend to amplify the tone of the bass without too much colouration. I guess some pieces of gear work better with other pieces and its that combination that will appeal to the individual.

Could be that the MB "cognoscenti" have enough experience with MB gear to give opinions, based on personal usage and not just preference or reading about it on web forums. Using MB gear isn't for everyone (i'd never dream of using their cabs) but for those that have, and used other gear as well, i think their opinion is valid, especially when someone is asking for help. MB heads are known for being pretty flat, or neutral sounding, certainly not a big tone changer like some heads, and ive found that while my MB heads haven't produced the best tones ive ever had, they do tend to produce the tone of my basses more faithfully, given the right cab.

[quote name='EmmettC' timestamp='1341001656' post='1712830'] I have to respectfully disagree, it definitely affects the sound of all my basses, even with the mids rolled off it makes all of them sound a little more honky than normal, that's not necessarily a bad thing and it helps them cut through in the mix, but it is there and it's definitely more noticable on the active basses, but it does colour the sound. The EBS affects the tone too, but that enhances the ultra-high end, which I like, each to their own. [/quote] Have you tried running the MB head through a different cab. I dont have much experience with their cabs but ive heard enough comments about them sounding a bit flat to think this might be a big part of the problem. Saying that, i dont think the MB heads are known as sparkly heads.

You will probably find what you are looking for but i see a theme here. You like the tone until you put it through your rig, then the lows are overbearing. Have you exhausted your EQ tweaking? Maybe a compressor would help.

That looks like a nice neck, especially at that price. One thing i noticed is the radius is 12", that means the fretboard will be a bit flatter than an American standard (as an example). Probably not a problem, just thought i'd point it out.

[quote name='cameltoe' timestamp='1340911918' post='1711515'] I'm wondering whether the Wizard Trad might be a better option, but am concerned it may be too similar to the Fender Original. I was hoping for a sound that locked to the kick drum, and I could hear and feel the thump of every note in my chest. The FO seemed to smother the kick drum. If the Trads sound like what I'm after I'll try them out. [/quote] I cant really comment on the Trad, but to me it sounds like its aiming to get the same tone as the Fender. Both seem to be aimed at getting a traditional vintage P tone. I did have a Wizard Thumper in my P at one time but i felt it had too much low mid so i guess that one isnt worth looking at either.

Ive got this song in both TAB and music notation if its any use. Its from the Beatles Complete score book. EDIT: Seems like the tab KevB linked to above is the same as from the book.

Ah, well sorry, ill be gigging myself that night (as usual). One day ill make it. Have a good one.

Hopefully ill make the 29th July one (this time).

I do find that sometimes my bass sounds fantastic, other times its just plain horrible. This is normally down to the room and the EQ. My cab is very middy so i dont have that full, big low end tone (i wish i did,it does effect the tone quite a bit) so cant say ive noticed the low end being over powering but i wouldn't say it was scooped.

What a lovely pair :-)

Thanks for the heads up about Stringsdirect. I must admit I hadn't checked before posting. Thats also a good price. Look forward to reading your views on them.

Cool, I'll be interested in your thoughts. I normally use Stringsdirect but haven't seen them on there yet either.

Thomanns have them in stock. [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/elixir_stainless_steel_medium_bass.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/elixir_stainless_steel_medium_bass.htm[/url] There is another thread about these strings on here, although it seems to have died out as it was just about availability in the UK.

Nice one. I still love mine, it just seems to make my P bass sound like it should. Not hot or soupped up, just a nice woody tone. I still want a Fralin at some point but in no rush.

LOL, these Thomann threads are starting to mount up.

Ive been using Clayton Acetal 1.90mm picks for a few years. They feel good to hold and ive never broken one so far.

I use my fingers to hold the pick, so im real and multi talented lol. I do use a pick 98% of the time when playing live. I just cant get up to speed without it but at home i never use a pick. To be honest i dont always like the tone i get from a pick, but is what im most comfortable doing.

Wouldnt downloading be more like receiving than actually stealing? Im not arguing that its not a crime (no idea really), just that the person that uploaded it would have stolen it, they are then passing it on.

Way to long to get through in one sitting. Cant agree that its stealing, not if its being handed to you (or uploaded by someone else), I think we all have to make a judgement call on weather we feel comfortable doing this or not. Thats the only way its ever going to stop. I do it, ill admit that.

[quote name='Toasted' timestamp='1340030011' post='1697886'] Looks fabulous. [/quote] Indeed it does. I think Fender made the right choice putting maple fretboard on these. The only thing i dont like is the bridge. I just prefer something a bit chunkier so i'd put a Gotoh 201 on it if i had one.