Soledad

About HARD CASES !! I'm a happy user of a TT4 fretless and the gigbag is OK (sure looks a bit naff though) but I'm amazed Sandberg don't produce or otherwise offer a hard case for their basses. I know my California will kind of fit a Jazz Bass case but not exactly. Seems to me an insane oversight on their part -what do serious touring players use (custom flight cases I suppose). Anyone recommend a decent hard case that fits a California well?

Just had a brief experience with the Darkglass Hyper Luminal compressor - I assumed it was faulty and it went back. Basically it was intermittent and when it did see the input signal, no matter how much comp I set it seemed the input was too low for the pedal. Is anyone using these with passive basses, it appeared to me it needs a far bigger input signal to be able to provide decent control. And more than half the time I had zero output no matter what I tried (all leads, basses, 500mA power supply, no chain at all...). I was left puzzled but I think I'll be heading off to an Empress. Shame, I had a Super Symmetry for quite a while and liked it, but could not get the HL to actual work or be properly useful.

Martin just bought my Warwick V2 head - immediate payment, no haggling (well, it was priced proper😁). Excellent comms, pleasure to deal with. Trade with confidence - a reliable BC member.

So this is what happened. I read all the valued inputs here (apart from the one about all amps are dead🤣) and got a shortlist. The list was Agi AG700; GR One; Eich T900. Planned a trip to Bass Gallery for a start, they have 2 of those so a fair start. But I had a look on Reverb just in case. Just happened to find a mint Eich T 900 so I got it. This way I own it a while (maybe longer) and really get to know it. If I find I have any doubts I sell it on at a small loss and try one of the others. I think this makes fair sense - the effort of taking my bass up to Camden then compromising on a similar cab (they don't have any Vanderkeley 210s in) and make a hasty judgement in a shop... better than buying blind but not at all ideal. This way I get to use it for as long as it takes to be sure. SO FAR: Bloody amazed!. Had it a week, done 2 rehearsals no gigs yet. I have not even touched the EQ yet, it's all set flat. I've had a play with the taste control (basically a tilt control) and like that a lot. Early impressions are it suits the cabs very well, it's really detailed and clean but in no way sterile. Think I'll do a review of the rig soon, but very happy - how I think my PJ sounds, but louder. Thanks to all for sharing knowledge and experience, it got me to here and I am very happy👍

Very fair question. I used the word uncoloured quite casually. I know what my P/J sounds like DI into good desk and back through studio monitors or good phones, so for me that's the reference. I also know how it sounds into my PJB Briefcase at low levels (the only levels you get with a Briefcase!) and I reckon that is very close to the actual bass's sound. But I accept that all amps are somewhat coloured, cabs are too. But I think some have a pronouned 'sound' and you either want that sound or not. I think I'll know it when I hear it, and it'll likely be one of those amps that a majority think of as 'neutral', quite clean maybe... pick a word!!

Excellent response @Hellzero - I think you have listed almost all the heads I was considering. The Vanderkleys are hard to find and serious money here in UK, tbh I was thinking up to a grand (£ of course) and I think the Vanderkleys are well above that and used ones are rare as... If they are as good as the cabs they will be supergood (love the 210s a lot!). I think I'm going to try a GROne; Agi AG 700 and an Eich 900 - for a start. Thanks for input👍

About that dead D-800 of yours - $50 do it? Maybe not 😀

Sorry Dan Dare, you did elaborate so ignore that. My experiences as a listener to MB heads has been punchy, cuts through very well, listener fatigue after 3 songs - loads of low mids make it cut very well, but tedious to listen to. But there are many other variables so it may not just be the head. And btw, the Warwick has been a quick fix after my GB Streamliner was nicked recently. But I will be keeping it as backup - way better than price or size suggest. If anyone has experience with Eich (T 900 maybe) I'd be keen to hear opinions.

Excellent responses, thanks everyone. Plenty of collective experience here so I'm paying close attention. @Dan Dare - about that Markbass 'party piece' - think I've heard it from out front but could you elaborate? Quite a few options here and I'm forming a list. I think the Aguilar AG needs a try-out (had a TH350 a while ago and we didn't get along, but I have changed cabs since then and clearly the AG is a different beast anyway). I'm drifting away from the PJB heads, maybe just a bit too clean (which makes me question my own brief); the GR One is on list (that's a lot of LEDs but...); no experience with EBS or Glockenklang so worth a try. And as Dan Dare says, time in a decent store is required, I'll try Bass Gallery first I think. Thanks for taking time to respond. I'll report back but it'll take a few weeks I expect.