There are many paths to enlightenment. Some search their entire life and never attain it.
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Get off my LAWN! "Grumpy Old Farts"
- Thread starter B-string
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There are many paths to enlightenment. Some search their entire life and never attain it.
- Oct 22, 2015
- 21,166
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- I am an affiliate for Ari Cap.
Enlightenment is a chump's bet 
The first one was my first bass amp. The second one I got ~4 years later when a guy in another band was selling it. I sometimes ran one head into both cabs. Awesome sound. Not real loud, but full.
There are many paths to enlightenment. Some search their entire life and never attain it.
The Holy Grail of SVT
The Holy Grail of SVT
An SVT, V4B, and B-15 can cover all tube amp bases. Being an ampaholic, I didn’t stop there.
I had a V4-B years ago but sold it around that same time I purged everything, 1995, but just bought an original cab for one, the seller's holding it for me until I get back in April, boom! I have a B-15S, a B-18 and a Bassamp 835, that thing sounds good too.
The Holy Grail of SVT
When I was younger, I wanted an SVT w/ an 810 cab, but I couldn’t afford them. Now that I can afford them, I can’t lift them. Such is life.
Enlightenment is a chump's bet
Perhaps knowledge would be a better characterization.
Many bass players are on a never ending quest to find their perfect sound. They hunt, buying and selling equipment. Some follow trends and always want the latest products. I’m fortunate in that I found my sound early in my career and stuck with it. I’ve never heard a better sound.
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- Oct 22, 2015
- 21,166
- 256,913
- Disclosures
- I am an affiliate for Ari Cap.
Bah humbucker 
Doesn't matter what equipment I've got going for me, I'm going to sound like me no matter what. Whether or not I believe what I hear is an accurate representation of me is another thing entirely
Video recording is a powerful tool 
Doesn't matter what equipment I've got going for me, I'm going to sound like me no matter what. Whether or not I believe what I hear is an accurate representation of me is another thing entirely
Video recording is a powerful tool 
Al Kraft
Supporting Member
- May 2, 2016
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- Mesa Boogie beta product tester and player support
This search for greener grass is so true of most aspects of life for so many people. I think one reasonable definition of wisdom is knowing when you've got it good and actually pausing occasionally if not permanently to enjoy it.
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Bah humbucker
Doesn't matter what equipment I've got going for me, I'm going to sound like me no matter what. Whether or not I believe what I hear is an accurate representation of me is another thing entirely
Carlos Santana said that it doesn’t matter if he plays a Gibson, a Fender, or a PRS, he still sounds like himself.
Likewise, there is a goodly number of people who try to figure out which bass Sir Paul played on each of the Beatles songs. More than 50 years later, the experts still can’t agree.
I have 5 basses all very different from each other. I sound like me no matter which one I play. I do think that amps and basses color the sound - some better than others - such that there are a multiplicity of “me’s” available depending on which bass and amp I use.
Al Kraft
Supporting Member
- May 2, 2016
- 10,777
- 40,463
- Disclosures
- Mesa Boogie beta product tester and player support
I find that really good musicians can pick up any quality level of instrument and sound simply outstanding while poor musicians make even the finest equipment painful to listen to.
- Oct 22, 2015
- 21,166
- 256,913
- Disclosures
- I am an affiliate for Ari Cap.
What I imagined as a university student was to write like Jorge Borges and to play like Sonny Rollins. What I did was write like a newspaper reporter, and play like the Portsmouth Sinfonia. 
While a good player can make anything sound good, the right rig and touch sensitivity inspires you to play and perform better. Playing in a group helps cover your sins. Recording naked does reveal all your flaws. Critical analysis goes a long way to improve your technique.
- Feb 12, 2006
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- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
A friend of mine was the guy who announced not to take the brown acid at Woodstock. Worked with Wavy Gravy doing gigs for over 20 years, one of the good guys.
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