Treb

I wonder how long it's gonna take for the "new" MarkBass Mark King 8x10" signature combo to be released. 🤨

Must be an older item, check the URL: www.ebs.bass.se Their current URL is: ebssweden.com Prototype perhaps? Why not ask EBS support?

The Sterling has a narrow, Jazz-like neck. The StingRay can also have a neck like that, these are called "StingRay SloSpecial" (these are rare, as they were made by special order only). Normal StingRays have a wider P-bass like neck. The Sterling has a small-ish body, much smaller than a Jazz bass. Hence these tend to be lighter than the average StingRay which can be on the heavy side. If you want "that MM sound" go StingRay. For "that MM sound on steroids" go Sterling. Do not confuse the Sterling with the more affordable Asian made Sterling by MusicMan range of basses and guitars.

Here you go: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!search/ken$20sadowsky$20bridge$20fundamental/alt.guitar.bass/wVRC_ZiYcj4/E45uRR7AdioJ I remember having read something about cheesy bass bridges. Don't take my word for it but I believe a bridge can make a difference. Even Roger Sadowsky switched from the Schaller 3D bridge to another design because it sounded better (to his ears I assume). The guys at Sadowsky know a thing or two about basses.

Always wanted one of those with the nice wood cabinets. Couldn't afford one back then, now hardly ever one turns up for sale.

Bo Hansen's DI perhaps. It's a DIY DI-box with a choice of three transformers. Can be made on a tight budget or you could really push the boat out and go for a top quality Lundahl transformer. Info here: https://groupdiy.com/index.php?topic=36569.0

I haven't tried the one you mention but can vouch for the quality of my DJ-Retro preamp, also a John East preamp. If it's anything like that, I'm sure it is, you're in for a treat. John East knows a thing or two (or three) about designing a great bass preamp. Not cheap but quality rarely is... Good luck deciding!

Thank for clarifying the Mk1/Mk2 differences. Not a fan of the pointy Mk1 Cruise. That LPB one above, would love to own one of those. Either one like that or a CAR one.

What's the difference between the different cruise basses? The 2Tek bridge?

The idea of a Cutlass 1 with a smaller body sounds appealing...

BTW it will not sound like a Stingray as you know it. The preamp is an important factor too.

And for a no holds barred sound in a sleek package choose the Sterling bass.

Replace if the mirror silver top inside the tube shows discoloration or turns milky white (vacuum compromised). it produces high pitched ringing sounds when tapped (gone microphonic). it has been used 10,000+ hours (end of life)

Yup. Two (preferably identical) 8 ohm cabs or a single 4 ohm cab. Those are your options. Hook up two 4 ohm cabs and now the resulting load will drop to 2 ohm. Your amp wasn't designed to run at 2 ohm. It will either refuse to work or it will work for some time and then perform a thermal shut down or do a melt down.

She may play my low B string anytime... I think they removed the gain and bass knobs of the ELF just to get it to fit in her back pocket.

There's not a lot of room left, the amp is crammed. There are some fuzzy pics of its guts, Google's your friend. A small sized amp appears to have been the major design philosophy. Hence no speakon and the butt-ugly hump.

I don't know what kind of class D module the ELF uses but I assume it's got some protection (current, temperature, short-circuit) but as a general rule cooler is better with regard to electronics. I hope they spec'ed 105° capacitors instead of 85°C ones...

It's common knowledge that vintage SWR amps tend to run hot by design. AFAIK it doesn't have a built in fan to keep things cool. Having a preamp valve inside just adds to that warm and cosy feeling...

I was under the impression it is called ELF (Extremely Loud F*cker).

I looked at a picture of the amp's guts. There's a poor excuse for a heatsink inside, right underneath the tiny fan. A bigger box design would have allowed the inclusion of speakon connectivity, gotten rid of the hump on the top cover and resulted in a better thermal design. Small and light weight amps are nice but is there demand for an amp so small as the ELF?

729 here too, BTW it's Bona not Bono. U2 would wish they had a bassplayer of his calibre...

You know the drill, no pics no bass...

This way nobody can be tempted to ever hookup an instrument cable...

And an interesting history. IMO these basses should never be separated, but that's just me.

Interested in how the one with the P-pickup sounds. Gary Grainger used to use a battered pre-EB Stingray with an added P-pickup in the middle and late 80's, but I doubt he used it often. I only know him of his awesome Stingray sound. Nice pair of basses!