SamPlaysBass

+1 for EMG Geezer Butlers. I had a Squire Chris Aiken P bass which I bought as a project off Facebook. The previous owner had made his own loom and wasn’t the best with a soldering iron, so the tone pot didn’t work and it wasn’t great. Whacked in the GZR set as it came with a new solderless loom. Installation was easy, pots feel good and the sound... a fantastic, rich and slightly dark sounding with a big vintage nod. A fantastic upgrade with a very noticeable improvement in sound. Very pleased.

Sire V7 Marcus Miller 5 string. Again, it’s not hate, but disappointment. I’d read all the rave reviews on forums and waited patiently as the back order was filled and eventually it arrived. I told myself it was as great as the reviews made it out to be, but I genuinely expected a £1000+ instrument for £300. What I had was a £300 instrument for £300. The neck finish was sticky, it had paint defects that had been touched up badly and the chunkiest neck I’d ever played. Sounded great and the EQ section was clever, but really it was very average. Maybe a tad below average, but the pickups and EQ helped it out a lot. Sold it after a year and after buying a Fender Jazz Professional 5, which is my favourite bass of all time. Also, Ibanez SR500. It was devoid of any personality. Despite its Bartolini pickups and beautiful finish, it was just a few pieces of wood with some wires attached. My Mexican Jazz on the other hand was pure magic by comparison even with a crappy bridge and pickups. You can change those but you can’t give a personality transplant. Lastly, G&L L2000. Technically brilliant, but hard work to play (awkward nut, chunky neck) and pickups that could set fire to preamps. Not hate, I just don’t think I was the right player for that bass.

Very curious about these amps at this price. From your description, I’m gathering it be driven just a lil’ bit without having a pedal in front? And Is the compressor usable? And whilst I’m at it, what is the DI like? I remember the old Terror Bass having a DI that could set fire to desks made of brimstone!

I started with an Ashdown Mag 300, which was just about portable but not loud enough. Bought a Trace 4x10 combo which although weighing 4 metric tonnes, was louder and actually much more practical - wheels on the bottom turned it into a trolley for everyone else’s crap to be loaded in on. Bought a Barefaced Compact and a TecAmp Puma so I could be portable, but the TecAmp wasn’t longed for this workd and developed a fault. Replaced it with an LM3. Barefaced didn’t do it for me, so I sold it and bought a 4x10 SVT HE. Now I’m looking to go full valve... In between, I’ve kept a couple of TC RS112s to run the LM3, but I much prefer heavy stuff. Perhaps I’m into pain? Also, big heavy stuff is pleasingly cheap at the minute!

Can you run the BTA through an 8 ohm cab or is the minimum load 4 ohms?

Again, one of the considerations. I’ve had amps in the past (albeit Class D) that have needed some TLC and the technician has been stumped when trying to find parts. It would be great to have peace of mind knowing someone could fix it if it needed it. Speaking of which, I’m sure there’s an Ashdown BTA 200 on here somewhere...

I understand where you’re coming from, but perhaps I was a bit over zealous saying clean... Maybe I mean just not completely filthy? I love the break up sound!

I’ve recently bought a nicely run-in Ampeg SVT 410 HE (8ohm) for peanuts after selling my most of lightweight gear, and it sounds glorious. I’m looking at going the full hog and putting something valve-y on top of it. I’ve used SVT CLs and 8x10s when festivals have been kind to us, and I love that tone. My Fender Professional Jazz V loves to sing through big, heavy valves. I’m currently using an LM3 to power the 410HE, which sounds good but a bit.. dry? The truth is I’ve got GAS for a valve amp to complete the rig. My question is do I go for something like an Ampeg VB4 or stay British and get an Orange or Ashdown? I’m looking for meaty, mostly clean tones for finger style funk and soul. I like to slap, but I seriously dislike the sterile, active clack. I prefer passive thump to hifi clarity. I’ll keep the LM3 for pure ease of use, but for those awesome gigs where we’ve got a bit more time to set up and tinker, what would you suggest?

Cheers for all the replies - I knew this was going to be a can of worms subject but it’s great to see everyone’s own opinions. After reading through, I’d love to try something Japanese, just to say I’ve owned and enjoyed one. Failing that, a roadworn Mexican such as the one suggested (which looks perfect, just waiting for funds) would be the way to go. I love how there’s so much personal preference about what is essentially the same design. Definitely siding towards a more vintage voicing, so I think I’m going to try a few out when I can find them. I’ll keep you updated 👌

I’ve made a note, FinnDave 😉 I’ve got a MiM Jazz and a newer MiA Professional V, and I can see and feel the quality gap - the more substantial bridge being the most prominent. £ for £, would you say that the MiA is worth seeking out over a MiM with upgraded hardware?

I've got a few bits of gear up for sale (will soon be on Basschat, when I return from my holidays on Saturday) and I'm already gassing for a Precision. There's a new project that will be gaining more momentum over the next few months that will really dig the chunky, flatwound P-bass sound - Motown, Staple Singers, D'Angelo Pino etc. My question is: does it really matter which P bass you buy? Is a Vintage V4 any worse sounding than a MiM P? Is a MiM P any worse than an American P? What is so mystical about the JV Squiers and 80s Tokai Hard Punchers and Limelight wonders that are creeping around the for sale sections? Will a Yamaha BB satisfy all these urges? I want a P bass, and may not keep it forever. My budget can adjust accordingly, but realistically, no more than £750 and for that it must be wonderful. What do you guys reckon: Is a higher priced P bass any better than a lower priced offering?

Are they serious that good then? I’ve got a G&L L2000 I’m looking to release a bit of money from and gaining something with a P pickup. Might fit the bill.

There's a theme here... The result of years of shifting big heavy boxes around?

I love hearing tales of people going back to the big heavy stuff from small, light amps and cabs. I too moved on the Barefaced in pursuit of bigger (and cheaper, and less easy to steal - it's a rough area where I usually gig!) rigs. What are you blasting through now?

I've put off a few purchases in the past thinking that there are cheaper alternatives, or that the cost doesn't match how much I need them (a rare moment of clarity). I've used cheap crappy tuners, bought crappy gig bags etc. and I've now made a small list of things that I wish I had bought sooner. Here's my list of 'Just Buy Them...' items: 1. Boss TU-3 - I put up with crappy tuners for ages and then bit the bullet. Suddenly realised why there is one on most boards, regardless of genre, instrument, region etc. 10/10 2. Markbass LM3 - Bought mine off the 'bay for a very good price. It's been incredibly useful being so lightweight (I throw mine in a backpack) and with a lovely DI to keep the sound lords happy. Has powered countless cabinets and puts out a wonderful amount of volume, really pushing the notes through the mix in a pleasing way. Standard LM3 has more than enough power as it is. Built like a brick sh'house. Not the finest in aural pleasure, but on a cost / sound / reliability index, it hits a solid 8.5/10 3. TC Electronic Spectracomp - Was shown one of these a few years back, liked it and forgot about it. Found one for a very good price a couple of weeks back and it has changed my view on compression. It supports my playing, not hindering it by choking notes too quickly or sustaining notes when they need to fade out. It's like going from standard def TV to 4K HD. Absolutely love it, a great addition to any board. 9/10 4. Hiscox Bass Cases - STD. - Outperforms every other hard case I've come across so far. Not light, but you trust it. I've had mine over 10 years and I think it'll last another 20 years hard labour. A genuine 10/10 investment. What items do you wish you had bought sooner?

I borrowed an RB9 head back in the days before I had any gear of my own. I couldn't fault it; sounded good, had plenty of power on tap and that head is still used heavily in a rehearsal room to this day. A tad heavy maybe, but we're spoiled in this day an age with amp heads we could throw like a frisbee. I had a 1x15 Richter series cab given to me as an extension to a combo I was buying and it was perfectly adequate. Sold it due to lack of use rather than anything else. I don't think Laney as a company, or the people that use them, shout loudly enough about how good they are. Undeservedly overlooked.

Completely agree. There are many players on Basschat that swap and change to the latest technology when they can afford it and the stuff they sell on has been well cared for. I’d start in the for sale section here. Head and cab are easier to upgrade than a combo, so I’d vouch for that as a start. I recently bought a Markbass LM3 for £300. I’d really recommend it; reliable, loud enough for nearly any scenario and just going out of fashion (the key ingredient!). There’s plenty about for the same money, which leaves you with £300 for a cab. Again, based on your needs (will it fit in my car? Will I need to cart it up three flights of stairs after every gig? Will I be worried about leaving it for hours unattended etc.), there’s plenty of choice on Basschat. I’d say a 4x10 is capable of nearly any scenario. There are plenty around for £300, and most will serve you well. Again, it’s based on your needs. I’ve played through a Hartke HyDrive 4x10 and was asked to turn down in a loud rock band scenario. Wheels are always handy on a 4x10! The Fender Rumble stuff seems to be well liked in most instances, if you are happy or don’t fancy a change, look up the range for more power and speakers. If you aren’t getting the results you want, sell up and move on. I’d wholeheartedly recommend buying from this site if you can.