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- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,066
- 5
- 221,114
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
What things sound like in the room can be very different than on stage, especially within the context of a mix.
When I hear stories like this, I always remember my '96 AmStd Jazz Bass and how it always sounded anemic to me. Then I let our band's guitar player play it with the rest of the band for a couple of songs when another guitarist was sitting in. From the audience, the Jazz through my rig sounded altogether different, and *much* better. Ever since then, I've been convinced that bassists really have no idea how we sound to an audience unless somebody gets a really good recording.
The Aguilar DB 751 head is one of the best amps on the planet (IMHO) so with or without the sansamp, it's got a leg up on most anything. More likely though, is that the owner of the Aguilar just has a great touch. I have some bass player friends and guitar players I play with who double on bass who can play circles around me and when they play my basses through my amps, they are able to get a noticeably better tone than I can. It's a tough pill to swallow, but it is what it is. I still strive to play through the best gear I can afford (cuz I love this stuff!), but try to keep it reasonable and not go crazy on all kinds of pricey boutique gear because _I_ am always going to be the limiting factor in the tone equation.
Also examine picking technique. IME, a too stiff or too loose (hanging) hand or using only a part of your anatomy (either only your arm, wrist or fingers instead of creating a natural and rhythmic motion with all 3) are definitely tone killers.
This is a classic case of your fingers v his fingers. Don't matter what P I play it always sounds kinda flat and middly almost like a Jazz bridge PU tone....guy I used to watch played straight an old Peavey 150 combo and a Jazz..had the thickest hardest hitting tone I've ever heard....again how'd he do it?....fingers.
I use the standard Sansamp bass driver DI, I prefer the older model w/o mid. I typically run the sansamp with level set at 12 o'clock, Blend pegged, treble at 2 oclock, Bass at 11 oclock, drive at 11 oclock, presence at 11 oclock. the only knob I adjust really is the drive I run it from 9 oclock up to 11 or 12 oclock and the presence. I use the sansamp with an GK fusion 550, a mark bass Little mark II, An carvin B1500, Mesa 800, my choice typically is the GK 550 fusion with the sansamp. I run an Fender marcus miller 5, Lakland 55-02, Carvin bunny brunel 5, Fender Pbass all with great results . I prefer the older sansamp for it's reults and simplicity. I plug from Bass to sansamp and direct into amp inputs. hope this helps as your sound venture continues.
Welcome to the endless pursuit of tone. From now on, you will be consumed with getting that last bit out of every little thing that might affect your tone, and never truly be happy with it.
OK, practically, I do spend a lot of time chasing tone - getting the basses and gear (strings, electronics, etc) to where the gear chain is an ideal toolets for me to make music with.
When I get to a gig, though, I pretty much have to trust that what I'm sending to FOH (that tone I've worked so long and hard on) is good, and no matter what it sounds like in my ears, it's fine out front. I never really get to hear that, though I ask the sound guy from time to time how it sounds, and usually get good feedback. You have to be OK with the fact that you're one of a handful of people in the venue that will never get to hear what your instrument really sounds like. Either that, or go mad. Slowly, but surely...mad.
OK, practically, I do spend a lot of time chasing tone - getting the basses and gear (strings, electronics, etc) to where the gear chain is an ideal toolets for me to make music with.
When I get to a gig, though, I pretty much have to trust that what I'm sending to FOH (that tone I've worked so long and hard on) is good, and no matter what it sounds like in my ears, it's fine out front. I never really get to hear that, though I ask the sound guy from time to time how it sounds, and usually get good feedback. You have to be OK with the fact that you're one of a handful of people in the venue that will never get to hear what your instrument really sounds like. Either that, or go mad. Slowly, but surely...mad.
Oh man, I've been playing 35 years professionally and all I use now is Markbass heads and cabs. Best tone I've ever had. But with that I also use a Tech 21 VT Bass, which adds alot to it.
I also switched from the TH500 > 800+ earlier this year. I liked the TH a lot, but found that I was frustrated by not being able to remove the wool/grit when I wanted to. That said, I picked up a TH pedal and run that when I want some of that gritty, scooped, tube-sound and it works extremely well. It's not identical to the TH500 since you don't get the "drive" knob on the pedal, but it can get me into the realm of what I hear coming from both the TH heads and some tonal magic I've heard in the DB751 (a la Paul Turner).
I don't use the sansamp pedal in my regular rig, but if I'm using someone elses gear or going to a jam night I always put the sansamp in my to go bag.
I'm lucky, I've always lucked into really good sounding equipment combinations, it's my playing that Can be challenging from time to time
Not sure I've seen anybody hate on anything the way people around here hate on Markbass stuff. I get liking or not liking certain brands, but there're a few guys that get so...we'll say passionate about it, it makes me wonder what's up.
Also makes me wonder what everybody hated on before Markbass came along...
maybe worth adding that I've owned Trace Elliott, Hartke, Fender, Ampeg and now Markbass. I get more compliments on my sound now more than ever...and at less than 1/2 the weight.
Didn't mean to derail, if I did.
I feel ya. I got plenty of hate when I used Hartke and I actually got a lot of snark when I used Trace Elliot. Ive used a Markbass a few times and they sounded great. Ive heard about reliability and parts issues but the heads sound great to me.
Whats even more funny is when I play guitar in a few bands and get laughed at for my carpeted Crate head... then we soundcheck and they shut up. Its a huge crystal clear clean channel with a mean distortion that cuts right through.
I used a LMII for years and loved it. Great amp. I didn't know anyone disliked MB. Did they go bad?
Well I used to work for GC and one of the local managers told me that they were having reliability issues and the availability of parts was complicating things. I think that GC picking them up with an agreement to be the exclusive US dealer was part of it as well. A lot of people hate GC.
Im not a fan of their cabs but yea, the heads have always sounded great. I also would LOVE one of their combos for home use/small rehearsals/gigs.
