spongebob

I love my classics - jazz and now a Jaguar! The 'newest' bass I own, shape-wise is a Rickenbacker 4004. Actually, the body shape is pretty much the same as the 4003, pups look like a 4002, but the fancy new colours give them a new look!

Thanks guys! I'll get reading......

I've got some already, but they are very large, on a piece of string, and look like bits of cheese coming from my ears! Has anybody got any thoughts and suggestions on some better ones, and where to buy? I'd prefer some 'flush' ones, and naturally, it would be nice to hear what's going on as well, but taking out the frequencies that could well send us all deaf! Please shout loudly amongst yourselves.....!

I'm over the moon with my new Fender Jag - in red! Sounds fab, variety of tones, played great straight from the box. My question is - the active mode. I'm aware that other basses have this option as well - but when do most people use it? As soon as I select it, my Markbass speaker seems to be poundng and working overtime, even at practice levels! - but it does sound great! I've got a gig next week, and I'm a little reluctant to use the setting as it may well shake the venue into tiny pieces! Do most people with an active option find the right level and gig with it? Or just stick with the passive? Or is there even an answer to this??!!

Thanks for all that - I'll get 'creating' again with the controls! The Jag has really impressed me - it looks a million dollars and then some, and yesterday I pumped it through my Markbass set-up - OMG! :wub: :wub:

Once again, thanks for that. Good to know, don't want to cut out in the middle of a gig! Any other advice on tones, etc, would be great. There seems to be a mass of options! I did hear that you can achieve a nice precision-esque tone - what settings would I need for that? Pre amp, etc. I've been doing some experimenting, and already discovered some really nice sounds which I'll be gigging with ASAP!!

Thanks for that! Do you get any warning if the battery is getting low? Or does it just die on you??

I've just got myself a Jaguar in Red - the colour I've always wanted! As a former - and still slight - Rickenbacker nut, I'm amazed at the 'out of the box' quality and growl of the Japanese Fenders have. I never had Ric without issues. The Jag sounds awesome, plays great, and what a price for it! You can get a real 4003 type-sound (obviously with the Jag twist) - and I've had some to compare it to! Question is, how long does the battery normally last? With the pre-amp off, does it still soak the juice, or is it only taken when the option is switched on? I was just trying to gain an idea if players keep a spare for gigging - ie if you use the pre-amp all the time, how is the battery use, and do you get any warning signs when you are getting low? Any other Jag advice on sound, how to achieve certain tones, etc., gladly received. I can see why some pro's use these, they are so versatile, and look amazing!

Thanks guys. I've ordered the cab, and the right leads to go with it!

Hopefully this is also okay to ask here..... but as an extension cab newbie.... What cables do I need to connect the two Markbass 121's - P and New York cab? I've done a bit on a search, and got very confused! I don't want to damage anything, so before I take the plunge..... What do I need, and best place to buy??

Looking at getting another hardcase as the basses I've just sold had their own! I've got a rubbishy e-bay one for home storage, but need a better one for the gigs. I'm only taking myself, but the gear does sometimes get chucked in the singers van. I've read good stuff about the Hiscox stuff - the one I've seen is about £65. Question is, I need it for a Jazz.....and maybe a Jaguar. That's what I've been tempted by - I assume they will independently fit, being of similar size? Just wanted to check before I try to broker a deal!

Thanks all. Looks like the extra cab really is the only way to get more power!!

I'm actually looking for another Jazz to gig alongside my Ged. I've always loved the look of Ellie from Erase Errata's Jazz - can anybody tell which one it is? [url="http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=17907937&albumId=446349"]http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?...;albumId=446349[/url] I've looked at the US stuff - quite pricey - especially when the MIJ appears to have a good rep. Is it only the Ged and Marcus Miller jazz's that are MIJ? No others? Must admit, I'm liking the look of the MIM classic series too. I'm just a little concerned about the stuff I've read on here about the quality. Is the classic series any better than other MIM's?

My 121P 300w combo - I totally love it, but in my current set-up, it's just not quite powerful enough. It's as new, and only 3/4 months old.....but I think I'll have to change. I was asking earlier in the week about adding the 121 New York Cabinet to it - but really, I'd like to stick to a combo as it's simply less to carry! I know there's a few above mine in the range - weight is the crucial thing, as I don't really want to exceed 16-ishk. Old work injury and all that! The Jeff Berlin looks tempting, as I nearly went for that before. 300w, but a 15" as oppose to a 12" speaker. Does anybody on the forum use one of these as their gigging amp? Would the power upgrade be significant enough to cut it with various styles in pubs and clubs? Or is the extension cab the only way to go? I don't need a massive power upgrade, mine is almost there, but to get a real boost I feel I have to crank up a bit too much!

I always thought that the 121P 300w would do the job. I'm only doing pubs and stuff, and anything bigger I get line'd out to the PA. I'm changing my settings for this weekend - shutting off the filters as suggested, so we'll see how we go.

Bit of research has given me notice of the Markbass New York 121 cab, which by all accounts plugs nicely into the 121P combo. Bit steep at nearly £500, but if it does the job.....!

Hi Danny Is the Hiscox the 'guitar shaped' case? Is there a compartmant for leads, plugs, etc?

My recent purchase of a Geddy Jazz has got my interest up in Fender Jazz's. My knowledge of these is pretty much zero! Which other Jazz's are Japanese made, besides the Geddy and the Marcus Miller? On a similar tip, is there a big differnce bewteen the Mexican and Japanese Jazz's? I saw some pictures of the classic 70's model - I beleve a Mex - and it looks superb! One last thing on the Fenders..........I've been looking a Fender flight case - overpriced branding, or actually worth the extra? I need a decent hardcase!

Thanks for that. What about the Jeff Berlin? Worth a punt?

Following from my question about more power and the settings for my 121P 300w combo..... If I want to attatch a seperate speaker, which one do I need? I've never done this before, so once again please be stupidly honest! The Markbass site seems to be blocked for me, so any suggestions here would be great. Does it have to be a Markbass speaker? I need something lightweight if poss. On the other side, I've been offered a barely used Jeff Berlin Markbass combo half price on new. On paper, it looks like the same output as my current 121P. However, they do retail at quite a bit more. Is there some power difference? Would it be a better bet? Or is it just the same with a slightly different tone? Any suggestions on this please!

[quote name='RhysP' post='533180' date='Jul 5 2009, 06:02 PM']So you bought one then? To quote Spongebob (the real one!) - "Whaddya think"? [/quote] I totally love it. Feels great, brilliant tone, a really useable bass. It actually has made me re-think my entire view of Fenders. I've always been a Ric man, but TBH I am starting to feel like I've been cheated! Playing the Ged has a) made playing much easier, and I can't believe it's soooooo good at that price. It just proves that brand snobbery is not always a good thing! Back to the amp............. I played last night (before I read the above), had a bit of a fiddle and it did sound better. The amp was on the floor - on Saturday, when I was drowned out, I was on top of the guitarists Marshall. I assume that stacking the amps together wouldn't have helped much either?

I recently bought a Markbass 121P, the 300w 12" combo. It's twice the power of my old Trace (on paper), and sounds fab. However.....a couple of times, using it even only for pub gigs, I have struggled to get as much power as I expected. Last night, I had the volume on 3/4, everything else pretty much at 12 o'clock except for the VPF at 3 o'clock, and the VLF set at about 1/4 high. I'm really no expert, so would appreciate any help on how to get the best sound and power from it! Last night I was using my Fender Jazz Geddy, but my sound lacked any bottom end, and just got totally lost in the mix. I like the clang, of course, but a bit of bass would be good! I'm playing again this afternoon, so any ideas will be tried with immediate effect!!