From Practice Combo to first micro rig

[PlungerModerno]

Originally Posted by ::::BASSIST::::

I love markbass but that tiny thing ain't no competition for a BF Compact and Gk Mb500.

'Course we already knew that didnt we.

AW Hell no! it's like comparing a 115 + 350W head to an 412 and a 800W head.

Originally Posted by Jeff Scott

Oops! I meant Minimark, which is what I have.

Cool they are the ones that look like the PJB briefcase amp.

[Jeff Scott]

Originally Posted by PlungerModerno

Cool they are the ones that look like the PJB briefcase amp.

The Minimark is a lot better, tonally, IMHO, and louder, too; I have done a side-by-side comparison.

[PlungerModerno]

Originally Posted by Jeff Scott

The Minimark is a lot better, tonally, IMHO, and louder, too; I have done a side-by-side comparison.

Cool, the Markbass is rated at 250 W, the PJB at 100W though.
Could just be a bad case of fletcher munsen

Just kidding, I'd say equal volume testing (I'm assuming you did) would give you an Idea of tone - as well as headroom issues. Can the Markbass be battery powered???

Ok read it up here: http://www.markbass.it/product_detail.php?id=86

It's not capable of the battery operation like the PJB and has only 150 W @ 8 ohms... 250 W with a second 8 ohmer.

Such a cool Idea though. I could be in the market for super compact combo at some point in the (fairly) distant future. I would consider one of these personally: http://www.thomann.de/ie/gallien_kru...bass_combo.htm

Not just 'coz leo sklar played one (or had his photo taken with one ).

[Jeff Scott]

I used to have a couple different variations of the GK amp, fist a 200MB, and later a MB150S; I liked the tone of the 200MB better, as I thought the new version sounded a bit boxy ( lacking clarity and definition in the upper bass/lower mids).

I have use my Minimark with a small 1-10 cabinet, i used to own, for larger gigs and it held up great and sounded like my basses should sound like. Even with no extension cabinet it worked great for small pub/restaurant type gigs.

[PlungerModerno]

Originally Posted by Jeff Scott

I used to have a couple different variations of the GK amp, fist a 200MB, and later a MB150S; I liked the tone of the 200MB better, as I thought the new version sounded a bit boxy ( lacking clarity and definition in the upper bass/lower mids).

I have use my Minimark with a small 1-10 cabinet, i used to own, for larger gigs and it held up great and sounded like my basses should sound like. Even with no extension cabinet it worked great for small pub/restaurant type gigs.

That doesn't surprise me. Ok the kinkiness with a mb 200 does but the Mini carrying a small gig figures. So much emphasis on high volume, I agree some styles need it, but at moderate volume the skill and feel of the music comes to the audience in a nicer way. I was looking a 210's intially. The 115 I'm looking at now, while not microscopic, has low weight and highish sensitivity... meaning it's likely to not require too many watts or an extra cab for most situations.
I'll put it this way... If I need more than 350+W through a high excursion 115... I need sound reinforcement and / or reduced stage volume.
Oh the joys to come! It's a good thing I love bass!

[Jeff Scott]

Sometimes I think high volume levels are trying to make up for something else lacking in the music.

[PlungerModerno]

Originally Posted by Jeff Scott

Sometimes I think high volume levels are trying to make up for something else lacking in the music.

Like some famous guitarists in world reknown Irish pop-rock quartets with actively humanitarian sunglasses wearing frontmen.... If you bury your playing in distortion, echo or other layered effects... you just need to flail at a few notes mainly in key and all is well. Well well enough for some .

High volume buries the performance by distorting the ears of the listeners and putting the the person in a hyped up state. Good for high energy metal / rock but It's gotta be functional in the context of the performance. I saw rammstein this year. Super show. OTT SPL, indoor venue with monster PA. But they dropped the volume for the slower ballad 'ish' parts... letting the interaction with the audience work as well as letting building & falling mountains of sound. If you can't do that on your instrument or with your voice you don't belong on a stage (ok maybe Punk ).

Oh and I did wear earplugs. I'll take a slightly muffled sound over ear distortion any day. I wish I had the heat protecting grease stuff rammstein were wearing though (flamethrowers are HOT). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qygMn...eature=related

[Jeff Scott]

I'd like to see/hear Rammstein some day. I wear earplugs these days, too, I only wish I did so when I was an invincible teen/young adult. I tell every young musician I talk with to wear them. It surprises me how many do not, just like all the young folks who smoke cigarettes. You'd think they would know better, apparently, not.

[PlungerModerno]

Originally Posted by Jeff Scott

I'd like to see/hear Rammstein some day. I wear earplugs these days, too, I only wish I did so when I was an invincible teen/young adult. I tell every young musician I talk with to wear them. It surprises me how many do not, just like all the young folks who smoke cigarettes. You'd think they would know better, apparently, not.

Indeed. I've read it's an image thing, most young smokers are girls.
The sad thing is when one is . . . less than capable at a gig or bar/club one tolerates the high volume much easier, and while not usually dangerously high, has a long enough exposure to do serious damage over time. The bar staff will need hearing aids far younger and for an avoidable cause. Rammstein are good. Not my type of thing really but a great show and nostalgia for my rock and metal childhood.

[PlungerModerno]

Ok. It's been in the making for quite a while... I got a delivery the other day:

Still waiting on amps and such. Should be fun!

[Jeff Scott]

Ooh, very nice!!! As much as i love my micro amps, that cabinet screams Bassman, either mid '60s blackface or the very latest.

[::::BASSIST::::]

*When* you get another one you will RULE THE WORLD!

[Jim Carr]

Just plain wow. Really wow. So great. Play the heck out of it!

[PlungerModerno]

Yowza!



I got this in . . . and with the compact have achieved some wondrous bassy goodness.

Very loud, quite portable (including stairs) and seriously light.

Really good even sound, seems to have an ocean of headroom especially in the lows and low mids, a world away from my combo - which while adequate for fairly sedate practice, is far short of thunderous drum matching volume. This match of head and cab seems very capable, not 1515/66/1 monster and 2000W head capable but still pretty potent, especially if you add another compact... which I don't really need just yet, as I'm playing at around 1/4 volume and burying the drums.