First off..... I can be very fickle, especially when it comes to a big purchase. I want to thank everyone that has given their opinions and advice during my lengthy and indecisive search for my next rig. My mind has changed constantly over the last few weeks. Thank goodness for the GC 45 day return policy! Before I go any further, I might want to give a disclaimer.... Any brand junkies/fanboys might want to move on. I might hurt your feelings.
I started out with a vague idea of what I wanted, but wasn't sure. It started with a 30th anniversary edition Stingray 5, a Rumble 500 and a SansAmp pedal. I thought the Rumble sounded muddy, so I returned it and got an Ampeg BA210. That sounded even worse overall. It was then that I realized that it wasn't the amps, it was the bass! The redesigned preamp made it sound "not great" to me. It wasn't the sound that I wanted, and the Stingray just never felt right. I returned the amp and bass and started over. The next round, I got a Markbass Tube 800 head with the Markbass 210 8 ohm cabinet. For the bass, I thought I'd try a used Simonetti 5 string fretless that they had. While I was doing the deal, a guy traded in a Darkglass B7K. The next day, I came in and exchanged the SansAmp for it. I REALLY hated the Simonetti once I spent some quality time with it, so I went back to a different GC today (48 miles away) with the intention of trying a Warwick Rockbass (just for grins), a BTB745 and an SR655. I checked out the Rockbass first..... Passive, heavy bass? No thanks. Also, the fretwork was HORRIBLE. I know it's not a German Warwick, but having really jagged fret edges on a $1000 instrument doesn't help your image. The fret work on a $200 Ibanez is nicer!
Next, I tried the BTB. It had a great sound, but it was heavy and the neck was like a 2x6 (I forgot about that from my BTB 13 years ago). Being a 25" scale bass, the low B sounded amazing and tight, but there were too many negatives overall. I knew the BTB wasn't "the one" as much as I tried to convince myself that it should be.
Next, I tried the SR655. It's super light, has great tone and the neck is REALLY fast! I was about to pull the trigger on it when I saw an SR1305 on the top rack. It was $450 more, but I figured I'd check it out. Have you ever seen a movie where everything goes into slow motion, the heavens open and the angelic choir sings? Yep.... That was this moment. Sometimes you just know an instrument is "it" the second you pick it up. REALLY hot active/passive selectable preamp, American Nordstrand pups, 24" scale, light weight, medium frets, individual bridge saddles and beautiful wood with gold hardware. What's not to like? I know I'll have a lot more questions in the future, but it won't be "help me decide on a bass or amp" anymore. This setup isn't going anywhere! This is my "final answer".
If I offended any of the Fender, MusicMan, Ampeg, or Tech 21 guys, it wasn't intentional. I just feel that I now have the best overall rig for the money, and for my playing style.
Thanks again to everyone that contributed!
I started out with a vague idea of what I wanted, but wasn't sure. It started with a 30th anniversary edition Stingray 5, a Rumble 500 and a SansAmp pedal. I thought the Rumble sounded muddy, so I returned it and got an Ampeg BA210. That sounded even worse overall. It was then that I realized that it wasn't the amps, it was the bass! The redesigned preamp made it sound "not great" to me. It wasn't the sound that I wanted, and the Stingray just never felt right. I returned the amp and bass and started over. The next round, I got a Markbass Tube 800 head with the Markbass 210 8 ohm cabinet. For the bass, I thought I'd try a used Simonetti 5 string fretless that they had. While I was doing the deal, a guy traded in a Darkglass B7K. The next day, I came in and exchanged the SansAmp for it. I REALLY hated the Simonetti once I spent some quality time with it, so I went back to a different GC today (48 miles away) with the intention of trying a Warwick Rockbass (just for grins), a BTB745 and an SR655. I checked out the Rockbass first..... Passive, heavy bass? No thanks. Also, the fretwork was HORRIBLE. I know it's not a German Warwick, but having really jagged fret edges on a $1000 instrument doesn't help your image. The fret work on a $200 Ibanez is nicer!
Next, I tried the BTB. It had a great sound, but it was heavy and the neck was like a 2x6 (I forgot about that from my BTB 13 years ago). Being a 25" scale bass, the low B sounded amazing and tight, but there were too many negatives overall. I knew the BTB wasn't "the one" as much as I tried to convince myself that it should be.
Next, I tried the SR655. It's super light, has great tone and the neck is REALLY fast! I was about to pull the trigger on it when I saw an SR1305 on the top rack. It was $450 more, but I figured I'd check it out. Have you ever seen a movie where everything goes into slow motion, the heavens open and the angelic choir sings? Yep.... That was this moment. Sometimes you just know an instrument is "it" the second you pick it up. REALLY hot active/passive selectable preamp, American Nordstrand pups, 24" scale, light weight, medium frets, individual bridge saddles and beautiful wood with gold hardware. What's not to like? I know I'll have a lot more questions in the future, but it won't be "help me decide on a bass or amp" anymore. This setup isn't going anywhere! This is my "final answer".
If I offended any of the Fender, MusicMan, Ampeg, or Tech 21 guys, it wasn't intentional. I just feel that I now have the best overall rig for the money, and for my playing style.
Thanks again to everyone that contributed!
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