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Trickfish?

#2
Regrettfully, I've never used one... but I'd make a $300 bet that if you took a Fearful 15/6 cab to a gig ... played a $1240 Trickfish through it, then a $449 Carvin BX1500 ... in front of a half dozen drunks watching girls in the back of a bar... none would be able to tell you which is the $1240 head. None.

Anyone who has dough like that to spend -- please buy the Carvin, then send me the remaining $800 -- PLEASE?
 
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#5
In all seriousness, there were some reports from guys who'd played the head and the cabs toward the end of the longish Trickfish thread, some months back.
 
#6
MarkA said:
Hey, I've played that gig, but there were *four more* guys in the front who were totally digging my tone.
Click to expand...

Sure, and IME even drunks can absolutely pick up on the energy that playing through a rig you love can afford. That's all the justification many of us need, I think.
 
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#8
Passinwind said:
Sure, and IME even drunks can absolutely pick up on the energy that playing through a rig you love can afford. That's all the justification many of us need, I think.
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I was half kidding, but I fully agree. ;) (Some of my most enthusiastic reviews have come from drunks! Err, wait...) Which isn't to say that you can't give and derive great enjoyment from modest gear, or vice-versa.

As for the Trickfish amp, I've not played one, but I'd suspect that it's a quality piece of gear. In kind of a weird market position, maybe, between stuff like the Mesa Subway and GK MB and MBF800 on one end and boutique, tube-driven (at least front-end) offerings on the other, but if the Pope front end is all it's cracked up to be and it hits hard, it might suit some people very well, even at that price point.

That said, I've considered picking up a Carvin B2000 before and have had good luck playing out with the modest Kustom KXB500. It's not my ultimate but it's a good little amp. Whatever works for you and whatever you dig.
 
#11
I ran sound for a friend of mine that had one and also got to spend another evening a/b'ing the amp and 212 with some of my gear. The amp is pretty neat and sounded awesome thru my Berg 212 but the TF cab was pretty disappointing and left me scratching my head. The head was clean and punchy and the DI sounded very good.
 
#13
I followed the other thread and had the feeling that without our more, for lack of a better description, trusted veteran trained professional ears weighing in on it that interest just petered out. Probably for lack of a bunch of them getting into the right hands. Also without something like the great vids done for the Subway showing it to good advantage, there simply wasn't enough exposure to the people who can drive interest in a product to the next tier of players to create a buzz. The price is prohibitive as well. If I had that dough I'd probably have had an order in for a Reiner amp.
 
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#14
@Kirk Bryant, I agree. The few videos that are out there aren't well done like what Mesa did.

Also just giving peak power ratings seems to have turned off a lot of players. We expect more disclosure from manufacturers (whether it means anything or not ;)). The TC Electronics BS watts didn't go over well around here either.
 
#15
I played through the Trickfish Bullhead 1k using the 4 X 10 then the 1 X 12 cab this weekend. Very neutral powerful sound. The head is bigger than I thought it would be. Think GK RB Series without the weight. The controls are very smooth and predictable. Cool guy 70's receiver knobs are a nice touch. The 4X10 just sounded rock solid. With the Bullhead amp set flat EQ adjustments on the bass were plenty to tweak the sound anyway I wanted (it was a flexcore loaded Jazz bass). The same head through the 1 X 12 was pure magic. Smaller but similar sound with a lot of focus. I personally like the newer 1 X 12's as they can usually cover most of my gigs and the Trickfish 1 X 12 would be perfect. A stack would be interesting too. The 4 X 10 sounded great but like most 410's just too much cabinet for me. I like my rig to have a small footprint because I guess I have a big one.

Everything was beautifully built and executed and I'd be happy to gig everything I tried out. I am not in anyway affiliated with trickfish. Just hadn't seen much feedback.
 
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#16
Bigskybassguy said:
Regrettfully, I've never used one... but I'd make a $300 bet that if you took a Fearful 15/6 cab to a gig ... played a $1240 Trickfish through it, then a $449 Carvin BX1500 ... in front of a half dozen drunks watching girls in the back of a bar... none would be able to tell you which is the $1240 head. None.
Click to expand...
Passinwind said:
Sure, and IME even drunks can absolutely pick up on the energy that playing through a rig you love can afford.
Click to expand...
LOL - well it's a justification, albeit IME - completely inaccurate!
I've run sound for close to 25 yrs - from bands at festivals on down to corp. events, political fundraisers, my PA and on others gear at bar gigs, as well as playing the stage side for 15+ yrs.
I'd have to say [on average] that 98% of punters are oblivious to the finer points of bass (or guitar) energy or tone.. they just know if the band sounds good or bad, but mostly not why!
The other 98% are sound engineers - but that's a whole other thread. :thumbsup:
 
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#17
rmars said:
@Kirk Bryant, I agree. The few videos that are out there aren't well done like what Mesa did.

Also just giving peak power ratings seems to have turned off a lot of players. We expect more disclosure from manufacturers (whether it means anything or not ;)). The TC Electronics BS watts didn't go over well around here either.
Click to expand...

Mesa set a new standard for doing an interactive product release with lots of professionally done videos. Of course it helps to have a product that also sets new standards.
 
#18
s0c9 said:
LOL - well it's a justification, albeit IME - completely inaccurate!
I've run sound for close to 25 yrs - from bands at festivals on down to corp. events, political fundraisers, my PA and on others gear at bar gigs, as well as playing the stage side for 15+ yrs.
I'd have to say [on average] that 98% of punters are oblivious to the finer points of bass (or guitar) energy or tone.. they just know if the band sounds good or bad, but mostly not why!
The other 98% are sound engineers - but that's a whole other thread. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

I was a sound provider for a very long time. Not an engineer though, I am not degreed. Link Removed

My rationale is that many of us do actually play better when we are using gear that we really enjoy. It doesn't necessarily matter if the crowd knows the cause of us playing better as long as they can perceive the effect. Beyond that, I find that smiles are infectious, so I will always bring along gear that makes me smile if I have that option.
 
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#19
Passinwind said:
My rationale is that many of us do actually play better when we are using gear that we really enjoy. It doesn't necessarily matter if the crowd knows the cause of us playing better as long as they can perceive the effect. Beyond that, I find that smiles are infectious, so I will always bring along gear that makes me smile if I have that option.
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Apologies, I misinterpreted what you said... And I agree 1000% with what I quoted above...

There's no doubt folks play better while using gear they like and are comfortable with, and the resulting smiles ARE infectious. :laugh:
but... I still have yet to see a situation where [other than other musicians] the audience knew it, or why. They like it 'cus the end result sounds "good" to them, not because of the gear.. alcohol aside!!
That was my point..
 
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