Conan

Well, the TH500 is gone now in a trade - and last night I used my new (to me) GK MB800. Sounding nice and clear (in that it seems free from the distortion I got with the Aggie) but it will need a bit more fiddling to get a tone that I am fully happy with. Didn't have much time last night, but I feel pretty sure that a great tone is in there!

In real terms, gear is very cheap these days. Just think how much a fairly modest family holiday (or car) would cost, and then look at how much bass gear you could get for that price! Most of it is pretty decent too. It's not like it was back in the eighties (or even nineties) when you could shell out a lot of cash on something that just wasn't fit for purpose... These two points make our lives both easier and harder at the same time. In many ways you just can't go far wrong, but in other ways there is so much choice that making a decision can become a nightmare! There is a lot to be said for trawling through the for sale section on here and just looking for the best prices on amps and cabs. Buy them. Try them. If you like them - sorted! If not, as someone has already said, you can usually move them on for a similar price to what you paid. It can be a great way of getting to try gear that may not otherwise be available to you, for reasons of geography or budget. £700 is a decent budget if you look at second-hand gear. For example, there is a great Markbass Jeff Berlin combo available at the moment [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/256297-markbass-jeff-berlin-price-drop/page__p__2759553__hl__markbass__fromsearch__1#entry2759553"]http://basschat.co.u..._1#entry2759553[/url] Or if you go down the separate amp and cab route, your budget would just about stretch to... http://basschat.co.uk/topic/260846-little-mark-tube-800-scratched-hence-only-l350/ and http://basschat.co.uk/topic/260714-barefaced-g1-compact-l400-posted-midget-sold/ . Now that's one heck of a rig! Remember that a powerful amp will turn down low, but a weedy amp will not go loud with any clarity (if at all). Visiting music shops and trying stuff can be productive, but can also be a chore depending on the shops and how much time you have. Predictably, most people on here will recommend what they own themselves - which may not be particularly helpful to you, as their ideal tone and portability solutions may be very different to yours. For example, how old are you? Are you physically fit and strong? If so, there are real bargains to be had in the "heavyweight" line. If you want lightweight, the expense (and choice) becomes more limited. Enjoy your search!

[quote name='LiamPodmore' timestamp='1430305283' post='2760000'] BC's very own Bass Doc is the first place i'd go to. [/quote] Not any more...

Drop [url="http://basschat.co.uk/user/7835-kiogon/"]KiOgon[/url] a PM explaining your predicament. He will give you advice and suggest what kind of wiring loom will help. His prices are very reasonable too

[quote name='alexclaber' timestamp='1430243309' post='2759450'] The TH500 works brilliantly with all current Barefaced cabs - in fact the only one I know it doesn't work well with is the long discontinued Big One and possibly the Gen 2 Big Baby and Big Twin. It's great with all the Gen 3 cabs, both 12XN and 10CR. [/quote] That's cool, and why I suggested that the OP "be careful". If he looks to buy on the used market and one of those "problem" cabs comes up, he will know what to expect if he has a TH500. BTW, I use a (long discontinued) Big One!

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1430212923' post='2758900']For me finding a rig with the right kind of coloration of sound is far more desirable than being totally transparent. [/quote] A conclusion that I am slowly coming to as well...

Be careful with the TH500/Barefaced combination.... That amp seems to be much more compatible with TKS.

[quote name='Noisyjon' timestamp='1430218685' post='2759016'] Nice and aggresive there. [/quote]No smileys in your post so I can't tell if you are being ironic.... I really hope you are?

[quote name='Rumple' timestamp='1430215790' post='2758956'] I have [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/301555127285?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2661&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT"]these[/url] in a couple of my basses. [/quote] Cool! And what are the advantages?

How much publicity do you do? Do you leave it up to the venue, or do you put the word out yourselves?

Jonny does hang around service stations a lot doesn't he? Last night it was on the A19, where he and I traded amps - his GK MB800 for my Aguilar TH500. Top bloke and a great deal, arranged quickly and smoothly. Shame i didn't bother to check about the road closure and extensive diversion on the way back... Highly recommended! (Jonny that is, not the A19 roadworks...).

[quote name='Rich' timestamp='1430139285' post='2758282'] TB says FMIC MIJ RIP? BS IMO, but YMMV. [/quote] Excellent!

[quote name='Modman' timestamp='1430125339' post='2758081'] Definitely won't need anything else for long time to come. [/quote] Ha! We've all said [b][i]that[/i][/b] before...

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1430066081' post='2757654'] A pair of TKS 112s. I doubt you'll get better for the money.... [/quote] That's about £700 though, and the OP's budget is around £500... Quite a big difference for us bassists on a budget

[quote name='Merton' timestamp='1430040168' post='2757260'] I thought bass and treble on 2 (8 o'clock) and mids on full was flat? [/quote] Yep. And to boost the mids further you can cut bass and/or treble and raise volume... which is also odd!

Yes to Barefaced (but not all of them, some of them are not designed to be "transparent"!). Amp-wise, the Hartke LH series (500 and 1000) are very clean and clear, and definitely not too mid-biased. Cheap as chips and loud as hell too!

Great post. Top advice!

GAS is a terrible thing...

[quote name='FuNkShUi' timestamp='1429800448' post='2755099'] I found MarkBass to be very clean sounding. Have you tried much of their kit? [/quote] Only one - an F1. I wasn't hugely impressed, to be honest. I'm not ruling them out though, if one comes along at the right price

[quote name='MOSCOWBASS' timestamp='1429796505' post='2755048'] Try a GK MB800 before you do anything with the BIG ONE. At least you can rule it out. [/quote] It's on my shopping list!