Fionn

[quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1394936490' post='2396942'] My go to filter for a really useable sound is the MXR, really flexible but really musical too. I'd be interested in trying out some other more esoteric filters, but for pure workhorse solid filter sounds, my vote is the MXR [/quote] This. You can get a real wet vocal thing going on, and it's as responsive to the dynamics of your playing as you like. It's no tone-sucker either. It holds its weight in the mix with as much of your essential dry signal in there as you please, without compromising the effect. Super flexible. If envelope filters were cheese, the MXR would be the funky blue stuff .... Quacktastic!

[quote name='permafunk' timestamp='1394891143' post='2396348'] Am I being unreasonably paranoid? [/quote] Aye, pretty much. There are horrible b@st@rds out there, for sure, but it's a sad world when we cower in fear and assume such guilt of our fellow man in the street.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1394964990' post='2397078'] Agree re Genz, if you can source one for that money they look to be real bargains. Also agree re Markbass, there are a couple on here at present, around the £500ish bracket. Quality gear, great tone, great volume, and easily portable. [/quote] Everything he said

[quote name='spaz91' timestamp='1394744870' post='2394801'] 1. Does the small cab size make it sound boxy and thin? 2. Is it hand portable, in your opinion? 3. Though the official website strictly prohibits it, is it possible to replace the amplifier with a different model? 4. Is 12" really enough speaker coverage to play with a drummer? [/quote] 1. No. It sounds fat and punchy. 2. Yes, Incredibly light and compact for such a meaty thing. 3. Yes, but I can't imagine why anyone would want to. The amp is excellent. 4. Yes, absolutely. I play with a LOUD drummer and two LOUD guitarists, and the combo delivers clarity, depth, and presence of sound, with plenty head room to spare. I

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1394625285' post='2393383'] I guess the day you 'out-grow' a cheap instrument is the day when you realise that the problems you are having with the cheap kit are problems. [/quote] I would agree with that. Ideally, a player would be discerning enough by that point to make the right instrument choice according to what they understand and feel is good v's bad. It's wrong to assume that expensive = good. It's true to say that many an expensive bass has been "outgrown" in favour of a cheaper bass of higher quality.

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1394613993' post='2393223'] Is that a fact? [/quote] Aye, it is.

Regarding the O.P ... If super sustain is what you want in a bass, then maybe consider an instrument with a neck-through body construction. Bolt-on basses offer less sustain, and bolt-on basses with neck shims even less so. High-mass bridges do make a difference, as does a brass nut for open notes. Certain wood types transmit greater sustain also. It's a fair point that folk make about fretless' though ... The finger with which you hold a note will dampen sustain anyway. If you're happy generating big sustain elsewhere in the chain, this can be well achieved with a compressor. Fretless, or otherwise.

[quote name='Toddy' timestamp='1394452862' post='2391407'] are there any hi mass bridges that do not use the original holes?, [/quote] The Schaller 3D bridge ... different screw positions to those which align with the standard Fender bridge screw holes.

[quote name='brensabre79' timestamp='1394196833' post='2389024'] I think it has often been said on here, and other places in response to the following sort of question... I wanna sound like (insert artist). I bought his signature model bass, I got the same amp he is pictured with in Bass Nerd magazine, I'm even using the same strings. But it doesn't sound anything like him. What am I doing wrong? [/quote] If, by accident of technique, he was doing that thing right, he'd approximate (e.g.) the "Steve Harris" tone better with the gear that Styeve Harris uses, rather than his dads old EB-1.

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1394196407' post='2389012'] There's the inherent sound of the instrument, then there's the sound of the notes that you produce. [/quote] Totally, that's what I'm alluding to. It's not just a single factor which determines tone,

You're all spot on. I just don't get how anyone could imagine that tone is all in the fingers. Perhaps they mean something else other than "tone"?

I've read so many times, statements alluding to tone being "[i]all in the fingers[/i]". Eh? ... Do folk really believe that? Sure, "[i]the fingers[/i]", those endlessly minute intricacies and subtleties in touch and technique are huge in the equation ... but they aren't the whole. How could they possibly be? It seems a bit flippant, to dismiss the role of technology and equipment in how we shape our sound. In choosing gear we are presented with an infinitely diverse range of variables with which to craft tone. Whether these variables are understood and worked with, or not, we've all got equipment which has it's own characteristics and limitations, and which greatly influences how we sound. I've read the argument that (e.g.), "[i]Zender sounds like Zender whether he is playing a Warwick Streamer or a Fender P-bass[/i]". True, but that's the player. The "[i]fingers[/i]" element of the tone is recognisible and present, but on the whole the tone is very different. Zender didn't sound the same on stage with Ronson as he did with Jamiroquai, did he? ... or have my ears become bunged with wax in the time between? Maybe it's just the cool thing, to don the omnipotent muso posture, [i]"I just plug in and play and get the tone I want".[/i] Great. Well, that's subjective to the individual and says nothing about the science of sound.

Aye, I'm very happy with my tone, although I wasn't for many many years. It took me a lot of research, experimentation with different equipment, and honing of technique, but I'm there. In terms of sound gripes, it's other things which cause me to be unsettled these days (like finding the right octaver, grrrrrr). There's always something. $hit, what a luxury it is to be able to indulge this stuff, when you think that folk are machete-hacking each others heads off for peanuts in some parts of the world ... eek!

Thumbs up from me too. I've had one of these for a couple of weeks now, and it's the BOMB. Very good combo

[quote name='Kev' timestamp='1393550944' post='2381896'] One of two Markbass combos I am looking at, glad to here you like it! [/quote] I can't recommend it enough, Kev ... and I haven't even added the extension cab yet. It seems a very tidy solution for folk who like compact gear with a genuinely big sound.

I recently aquired a Markbass CMD 121P, played it in the house a bit. It's quite unlike what I'm used to, and it took me a fair bit of tweeking (to previously unfamiliar parameters) to find sounds that I'm happy with. All good though. It's a very sweet spot when it's found. However, what has really amazed me is how this tiny unassuming box sounds in a full band situation. A couple more wee tweeks, and ooof! ... it properly delivers. I've heard folk banging on about how good this combo is, but I didn't actually fancy it to be quite so freakin solid. I'm blown away by how loud, tight, present, and clean-sounding it is. Totally beyond my expectations. I'm delighted. There's a great old Trace rig which is available to me for gigging, so I had bought the combo just to have something small and light, but relatively gutsy, for practice and jams, but after the experience of my last two band practices I've decided to make this my go-to amp for everything. I'll get myself the NY121 extension cab for when a little extra is required. It is a seriously tidy bit of kit. BTW, I've experienced none of the tweeter hiss that I've read some folk complain about. All is good in this Markbasshood

[quote name='Kev' timestamp='1393373895' post='2379615'] Any other suggestions please feel free to help me! Budget is the £300-£400 mark. [/quote] You'll get a 2nd hand GK MB150 for that ... and you can't have forgotten how great they are. 100W @ 8ohms, tiny, light, solid, practical, sounds fantastic ... I can't think of anything better in that category, and for that money.

[quote name='Cameronj279' timestamp='1393375701' post='2379626'] True but I still think I'd get a decent idea of how it sounds with my (god awful) playing at least [/quote] I think he was alluding to how you'd get on with the fanned fretboard, rather than the sound.

[quote name='Link' timestamp='1393319457' post='2378535'] Ah ok that probable explains it, but i still think it looks better with the W [/quote] It sounds, plays, and feels better with the "W" too

Aaaargh! ... the beauty and the beast! I wouldn't expose my Dolphin to that for the risk of infection. Look at Lemmy, ferchristsakes!!!