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[quote name='The Funk' post='647651' date='Nov 6 2009, 08:58 PM']Interesting! Love the pic, Happy. I'd like to upgrade my WTX-260 to a -500 and possibly shift my Compact and Acme B1 and replace them both with a Midget. The mini rig looks like it would actually fit in my place and be properly gig-worthy.[/quote] As an aside, let me know if you want to shift the B1. I already have a B2, and I'm looking for a B1 for small rehearsals...

Just for everyone's information. I had also posted my original question over on Talkbass. I have had quite a few responses over there, and thought it might be useful to everyone here to see some of the thoughts from there too. Here is the link: [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=595904"]http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=595904[/url] Pete

My gosh, a stream of replies. In order, then: Bassbod - Thanks for the tips on considering extra EQ with an AI and its 'relative power'. JonnyM - I checked out the megathreads on the GK MB[sup]2[/sup]500 as well, but it looks like a dog in terms of reliability. When they hit revision 4 or 5, I think I stopped reading. And good point about real-world requirements. I'm heavily jazz oriented, generally don't need to worry about loud drummers. Rich - I like tubes well enough, but I also like being able to take them out of the signal. I generally don't use the tube channel built into the Peavey MaxBass I've got. I generally prefer the solid state sound. Heresy, I guess. Fraktal - if what you say about Markbass heads holds true, I'm definitely interested. I liked the LM2 I played through a couple of nights ago, and the thought of picking up an F1/LM2 secondhand and being able to use it internationally is really good news. I'll do some googling. Thanks for all the input gents. Ultimately I guess I'll just have to cough up and try some out. But I'm leaning towards Markbass, as long as I can find that info...

[quote name='zero9' post='645833' date='Nov 4 2009, 11:15 PM']I'm waiting for my AI Clarus head to be delivered. I've been using an AI Coda R combo. The AI combo makes my bass sound like my bass, without colouration. The Clarus head is also small & light. Good luck with your search. Wil[/quote] Thanks for that. Reassuring information! Let us know what you think of the Clarus head when you get it - what cabinet are you going to be using it with?

[quote name='JonnyM' post='645834' date='Nov 4 2009, 11:18 PM']I've been considering the Micro too and was going to skip it for the same reason, but am now reconsidering after finding this on a site that sells EA gear: "Rather than have all the volume in the first turn of the knob, EA uses potentiometers that are more linear. This means you may actually have to turn the master volume all the way up to the 3 o'clock position when things get really, really loud. This gives you a more realistic measure of how much power you are using. Most other amp manufacturers (and think stereos, car radios, etc.) use a taper that puts all the volume up front. This is to impress unsuspecting customers trying gear in stores. "Wow, listen to how loud it is, and it's only on 2? ," he says, and thinks to himself, ”This thing must get really loud!!” Nope, they're just fooling with you. It pretty much stops getting louder around 5, and then only gets more distorted. EA thinks it's better to use the entire volume control. You'll otherwise never actually attain the mythic eleven. Is this an EA Exclusive?? We're not sure, but we think others should follow their example. Euphonic Audio says respect your customers, don't try to fool them. " I have a Barefaced Compact, which is pretty sensitive, so I'm tempted to give the Micro a try. Acmes, on the other hand, are, as walbassist says, reknown for sucking up the power, but there's really only one way to find out if the combination works... [/quote] I'd run into that quote too, but in the thread I posted over in Talkbass, someone else has mentioned that, even in spite of taking this into account, the EA's appear to be less loud. I wonder whether it could be because the tone is very uncoloured. Nonetheless, this person felt, that into an Acme B2, his Markbass F1 was louder, even accounting for the settings of the volume controls. His words were to the effect that the EA Micro maxed out = Markbass F1 at 75%. Although I don't know if he formally checked this with an SPL meter. As you say though, there's only one way to ultimately find out... I'm going to see if I can get an AI Focus/Clarus and an EA iAmp Micro 550 in the same room as my Acme B2. I hope I don't have to buy both of them!

[quote name='walbassist' post='645743' date='Nov 4 2009, 09:39 PM']Ah yes, AI heads are great; small and full of clean power.[/quote] Ah-ha! You have some experience? The Talkbass forums are largely positive, but a lot of them talk about how 'dark' it sounds compared to the EA. Not quite what I was hoping for, although it's mostly double bass players who talk about it. But there's a nice looking high pass filter on many of them which could be extremely useful with the Acme....

Yep, I'm starting to wonder the same thing about the 2nd gen micros, so.... The DPC is great. Inexpensive (secondhand), lots of headroom, and the fun factor of people looking a bit surprised when you say your power amp is capable of up to 1400 watts. Not that I've needed that much power, ever, thankfully.... The Epi looks nice, but I was hoping for something a teeny bit more portable. I started a thread on Talkbass essentially copying this one, and have had a few other responses to think about - Acoustic Image came up as another contender. I'm still wondering about the Carvin BX500 too. A lot of features for not a lot of dosh. mmmm.....

I should have added - my 'reference' rig is a racked Peavey Max Bass Preamp (using solid state channel most of the time, everything flat) running into a Peavey DPC1400X power amp. I only need one channel (700W into 4 ohms) for the Acme B2, and I'm careful with my levels :-)

Hi all, I'm looking for a lightweight head to shlep to gigs for use with my (4 ohm) Acme B2. I'm looking at picking up an (8 ohm) Acme B1 in the future, and I'll be travelling to the US soon, so I'm looking for something international-voltage compatible. Rules out Markbass stuff from the start, sadly. I tried a LMII out and liked it well enough (a little 'coloured' for me, but nice amp), seemed to have enough welly (500W) for the Acme B2. Can't imagine needing more volume! I've researched a lot of heads on this forum and on Talkbass, and although there's a lot of choice (Eden WTX500, GK MB[sup]2[/sup]500, Genz-Benz Shuttle 6.0, TC RH450, Markbass LM2/3/F1/F500, TecAmp Puma 500, Carvin BX500) it looks to me that the EA iAmp Micro 550 is a pretty good match to my needs. I've ruled out the TC and TecAmp on basis of cost, Eden based on reports of poor power output, Markbass on non-compatibility across international voltages, and Genz-Benz on the tube preamp (it doesn't appear to me to be switchable out). The Carvin looks interesting (and inexpensive), but had a run of poor reliability models at the start, although from what I'm reading it appears to have been ironed out. Anyone have any experience with the iAmp Micro 550? Does it truly cough up the power required to drive an Acme? Or perhaps someone else has had experiences with the Carvin BX500 they could share? Pete

[quote name='andy67' post='634773' date='Oct 23 2009, 07:20 PM']Iain Bruce (Nico) ex Proclaimers bassist and nephew of...You guessed it Jack Bruce! Totally stunning player - He is a Senior Lecturer in Music Technology, Jewel & Esk Valley College. andy[/quote] Cool - does he do private lessons without having to do the course? And would I contact him directly, or through the college? Thanks! Pete

I'll say it too. The Squier Classic Vibe Jazz. Flat out stunning for the money. £250 is what I paid. Great build, fretwork, strings, and tone. Shielded too. Pickups seem absolutely great to me, others have installed replacements. They sound like single coils, what more do you want? Bit of set-up when you buy it and you're done. Ready to gig! It's not as ergonomically pleasing as my Lakland DJ4 (has better upper fret access), and the DJ4 has 21 frets, which is what I'm used to. But still, for the cash, you're hitting pro sound easily. I'll whisper it quietly - the Squier sounds better than my DJ4 to me. The DJ4 sounds a bit too 'bright' for me at the moment, not enough in the way of the mids I like. Perfect for Marcus Miller lovers though, I think. But of late my 'tone centre' has drifted to loving 60's alder/rosewood Jazzes, so not surprising, really. Maybe my ears are changing as time goes on... Pete

[quote name='LukeFRC' post='627344' date='Oct 15 2009, 09:03 PM']i know a music teacher who specializes in jazz and teaches bass.... ill aks him if he's taking anyone on if you want?[/quote] That's be great, very kind of you. Could you PM me any details? I'm planning to head back to study with Jeff Berlin next year, and I have a ton to practice in the meantime (still!), but would like to find someone local who 'knows their oats', and could help keep me on the right track. Pete

Sold Rich my Bill Lawrence pickups, and a very smooth transaction with great communications all round. Thanks again Rich! Pete

Anyone know of a bass teacher in Edinburgh who does jazz? Pete

Thanks for that.