• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

So what is all the hype about????

Status
Not open for further replies.
#41
kaputsport said:
I think the problem is that if I were to open a post in regards to Marshall bass users, I would get 3 people with some info, and others would jump in bashing it, and then the thread dies.

If I create a post about my SVT being all that and a bag of chips... I would be praised by all, for my love of the SVT... It is GOD.

I just wanted to know why this is? Does anyone play anything unique and different? Does nayone think for themselves here? Or do we all follow eachother to the store, and buy the same stuff to be popular?
Click to expand...

Actually, for the same reason that a massive number of bassists in the 'real world' use various pieces of gear like SVT's, G-K, etc. and don't use other gear like the Marshall bass gear. TB is actually quite reflective of the general market IME. Yes, there are the boutique gear hogs like me that post way too much, but in general, TB is a pretty good barometer of what's going on out there IMO.

I believe in another post somewhere you said that one of your criteria for choosing gear is to find gear that 'nobody else uses'. I find this a little strange, but we all have our specific logic that drives brand choice. However, if you go out of your way to find bass gear that most others don't appreciate, don't be surprised that it doesn't churn a lot of discussion or interest. People aren't using it for a reason (valid or otherwise!).

Does that mean that there is anything wrong with your love of Marshall bass amps?... of course not. However, the fact that if you post about a piece or brand of gear that isn't widely used (for valid reasons concerning Marshall bass amplification IMO... but that would be another topic:D) and you get very few responses should not be surprising. IMO.
 
#42
How to develop hype:

1. Announce a new amp with some spin on why it's better. Make sure amps cannot be found in any store for at least 6 months. Example: MarkBass, Phil Jones

2. Sell by internet only, low prices but decent quality. Wait for word of mouth to build. Example: Avatar, Thunderfunk, Schroeder

3. Get a sample to Bass Player magazine and get the reviewer excited enough to write an over the top rave. Example: Acme

4. Build something really different and then make it hard to buy one. Example: Walter Woods, Acoustic Image, EA

5. Have someone write a rave review of an unknown amp on some site like BGRA, HC or TB and wait until others start quoting that review. Example: A.M.P. (True story: early Thunderfunk web site quoted my review of the BH420 that was posted at BGRA; I've seen that same review quoted in a few other places, too. Did I personally create the A.M.P. hype? :help: )

At the end of the day, an amp is just an amp. If the amp you use today has some downsides, when something new comes along that promises to work better (size, weight, headroom, tone, whatever...) of course you're going to want to check it out.

I bought a Walter Woods not because of the hype, the light weight or the sound. At the time there were no other amps on the market that had two independent preamp channels and I really, really needed that. I tried a Woods, it sounded great so I got one. Hype had no part in my decision.
 
#43
I used to play G&K. I liked it, but it wasn't all that it was "hyped up" to be.

I don't really go out of my way to buy things others don't have, it just ends up that way.

Hell, if you saw my older Marshall amp, it was a rare treat... It was a Marshall 3560 Jubille Head... Rare as Rare can be.

I understand not having much info availible about everything I play, but really... How many "My Mark Bass rig is awesome!!!!" or "SVT amps rock" posts do we really need???
 
#44
I've always wanted to try a Marshall bass rig out, but I've never actually seen one in person to try. :hmm:

The fact that Markbass stuff is available at Guitar Centers makes it pretty available for many people to try out. I think that's part of the reason so many people are commenting on Markbass.

Seems like there is a lot of good stuff out there, but it can be hard to get your hands on it. I've always wanted to give the Phil Jones stuff a try, but nobody around here carries it. Same with Thunderfunk and Mesa. I've read lots of good stuff from people about this equipment, too, but not to the degree that we've seen posts about Markbass. Again, I think it's an availability issue.

Anyway, I find all these posts pretty entertaining. I like my little Markbass combo. If I can ever get my hands on a little Mesa or Phil Jones combo, I'll see how they compare. :)
 
#45
Familiarize yourself with terms like "groupthink" and "herd mentality" and strive to avoid them.

I think forums are valuable for disseminating information and opinion, but ultlmately no one else can or should tell you what you like. I was real poor many years and forced to play bass through a sunn concert lead head. That didn't stop my band from becoming successful and I had many people compliment me on my sound.

It's really all about the music and connecting with people, isn't it?
 
#46
nysbob said:
Familiarize yourself with terms like "groupthink" and "herd mentality" and strive to avoid them.

I think forums are valuable for disseminating information and opinion, but ultlmately no one else can or should tell you what you like. I was real poor many years and forced to play bass through a sunn concert lead head. That didn't stop my band from becoming successful and I had many people compliment me on my sound.

It's really all about the music and connecting with people, isn't it?
Click to expand...

nicely put (now where can I mount an Audere or a Dark Star on that ... only kidding).
 
#47
kaputsport said:
If I create a post about my SVT being all that and a bag of chips... I would be praised by all, for my love of the SVT... It is GOD.

I just wanted to know why this is? Does anyone play anything unique and different? Does nayone think for themselves here? Or do we all follow eachother to the store, and buy the same stuff to be popular?
Click to expand...

Quit yer whinin. You should have been here 9 years ago when I first joined and the forum was new. "SVT" was a dirty word for an old junky box that weighed way too much, ran off lightbulbs and was hopelessly underpowered. Back then unless you played an SWR, Eden, or some rack system, you were a backwoods dufus who didn't have clue about anything. You've been here a month and suddenly you feel as though you have a total handle on how the forum works?
 
#49
Chill guys. There is no best tone out there, just your tone (fingers, style, EQ preferences, etc.). We would never agree on "best tone", anyway. It just wouldn't make any sense to argue about that.

That said, I walked into a nearby music store last month and picked up an older NOS Markbass SA-450 at a great price (same as LilMark II but with 2 parametric mid EQ instead of the LMII shelving mids). It is a great amp. It is the first one that can replace my old GK RB200 and beat it in weight, tone and power. I have a couple of vintage tube amps (a '68 Bassman head and a Garnet BTO) that sound great but are underpowered for gigs so they stay nostagically in my studio. My new MB fits the bill on stage. And, horror of horrors, it drives a combination of smaller SVT cabs and sounds perfect for my Jazz, Folk and Reggae/Dub/Dancehall groups. I'm super happy with this rig, but I wouldn't expect you to be.
 
#51
I follow my ears. Do I check the forums for ideas? Absolutely! That's how I found out about Avatar cabs (which I love). Did I buy them BECAUSE of the forums? Nope. I decided to try them. My ears told me to keep them.

I'm always looking to improve my tone, and every change seems to get me closer to my mental "ideal". At this point, I'm close. I've tried the LM stuff...the weight is nice, the tone is nice...but neither one is so impressive that I'm ditching my pre-power setup. I like the sound, I can move it around (hey, I'm youngish), I'll hang on to it.

-Mark
 
#52
It is a bit of a journey to find the tone you like within your means. Mine included several different manufacturers for extended trial periods.

Quite frankly, Marshall Bass equipment is unavailable where I live, outside of a few combo units. What was available were Eden, Mesa, SWR, Peavey, Ampeg, Markbass, Hartke and some others. Keep in mind that the Markbass units are very popular here, and carry a hefty price tag. I was reluctant to pay it as I'm of 50% Scottish heritage.

What it came down to was the Markbass heads provided the optimum (for me) combination of Power, tone, and value. By value, I mean the 500 watts stated by Markbass has way more juice than another manufacturer who claims 700 watts.

Simply put, I love my LMK and have no desire, or need for anything else.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back