They're good little amps. I've got a BA112v2, and it's been great for my needs.
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What was your biggest gear surprise?
- Thread starter Marikk
- Start date
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- amp bass pedal gear
They're good little amps. I've got a BA112v2, and it's been great for my needs.
slobake
resident ... something
Ampeg BA-108 The older model that I bought many years ago. That little amp rocks. People don't belive me but I use it as my stage amp with my band. Send it into the house with a DI. Sounds great, enough volume too.
My Fender Modern Player Jag, I got it (Ebay)for a backup, my other 2 Fenders cost more, my intention was to have something different to play at home, and play live if I needed it, I fell in love..so Hipshot tuners, a Gotoh 201, Gzr pups, and a black pickguard, now I only occasionally take the J or the P out, it's a #1 ..that I never expected.
Probably my Phil Jones bass buddy... I've gone through several high end pre's including a Kern Ip-777 & the bass buddy sounds just as good (to me) as any of them, as far as clean tones go. (The new Wayne jones pre is next on my list)
Another surprise for me is the TC Electronic BH250. A cheapie backup but incredibly loud, a great tone even with flat EQ and the cool TonePrint too.
The Digitech RP1000 Multi Effects unit (I have 2 - one for each pickup). From what I've read on TB, Multi Effect units and Amp/Cabinet Sims are worthless and even more so, GUITAR Multi Effects and Amp/Cabinet Sims are considered blasphemy. Oh well, I didn't like going with the flow when I was a kid. Why start now?
If you want to hear RP1000 examples, click below.
If you want to hear RP1000 examples, click below.
I was surprised at how much I like my MIM Fender Antigua P bass. I bought it on a whim, thinking that if it played well and was reasonably well-built, I'd just upgrade the pickup with something better. Which I was looking forward to doing, as I have a Delano, Nordy, Bart, MFD, P-46, and a Quarter Pounder here, all looking for new homes.
Well, it plays great and is very nicely built and finished.....and the stock pickup is staying put because it sounds terrific for my tastes. It seems Fender puts a little extra effort in some of their FSR basses. An 8.5lb keeper.
Well, it plays great and is very nicely built and finished.....and the stock pickup is staying put because it sounds terrific for my tastes. It seems Fender puts a little extra effort in some of their FSR basses. An 8.5lb keeper.
A Fender Geddy Lee. I knew with the first few notes it had the sound I wanted. I had been trying to get that sound with amplifiers, but with the GL I could hear that sound on many amplifiers.
I was surprised at how much I like my MIM Fender Antigua P bass. I bought it on a whim, thinking that if it played well and was reasonably well-built, I'd just upgrade the pickup with something better. Which I was looking forward to doing, as I have a Delano, Nordy, Bart, MFD, P-46, and a Quarter Pounder here, all looking for new homes.
Well, it plays great and is very nicely built and finished.....and the stock pickup is staying put because it sounds terrific for my tastes. It seems Fender puts a little extra effort in some of their FSR basses. An 8.5lb keeper.
Man I wish they made basses like this in lefty... that is gorgeous!
Doner Designs
Steve Doner
- Jun 2, 2012
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- Doner Designs is an alias for Steve Doner
Maybe the Ampeg SCR-DI, and more specifically the Ultra Low switch. I no longer own the box, but it taught me a valuable lesson about EQ. The ultra-low switch adds a very small bass boost but mostly what it does is cut low mids at 500hz. Very useful EQ technique that I learned from that little magic button which can be found on so many Ampeg products.
High quality speaker cabs.
1. Baer ML112. Fretless and DB never sounded so good, clarity in a mix, & intonation much easier.
2. Berg CN212. So light at 45lb, makes every amp & bass sound better. Exposes sloppy playing is the only downside.
1. Baer ML112. Fretless and DB never sounded so good, clarity in a mix, & intonation much easier.
2. Berg CN212. So light at 45lb, makes every amp & bass sound better. Exposes sloppy playing is the only downside.
Thanks. Yeah not everyone likes the snotburst paint job, but we're not "everymen", right?!
No lefties? Huh.
Agreed. While it seems that some players are looking to boost mids to be more easily heard in a mix, there's plenty of bass magic in a mids-scooped sound, and not just for slap. To that end, I just bought an EH Knockout pedal from the TB classifieds. Looking forward to getting it. If it sounds as good as the online samples I've heard, it may prove to be one more ingredient to enhance my latest playing technique interest (necessity, actually).....playing with a pick!
Two things come to mind:
1) SX P-bass. Amazingly competent for an $80 bass. I just put on a three string tree and installed a Q-filter mid cut. It sounds and plays great.
2) my old headphone amp bought 30 years ago (Head Gear 3001). Always seemed good for clean guitar but I recently started using it a lot for bass practice. Of particular surprise is how cool the "distortion" setting is on bass. With the instrument dialed down, that setting is just this massive, bassy, filtered tone with no discernible distortion.
Otto
1) SX P-bass. Amazingly competent for an $80 bass. I just put on a three string tree and installed a Q-filter mid cut. It sounds and plays great.
2) my old headphone amp bought 30 years ago (Head Gear 3001). Always seemed good for clean guitar but I recently started using it a lot for bass practice. Of particular surprise is how cool the "distortion" setting is on bass. With the instrument dialed down, that setting is just this massive, bassy, filtered tone with no discernible distortion.
Otto
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Was very surprised when I got one of the early Markbass Mini CMD121P combos. I had never used any of the new breed of small lightweight bass gear previously. The volume that thing put out for it's size and weight was astounding to me! Now it's old news of course, but man, I was blown away at first . . .
I was pretty surprised by the build quality of my Ibanez Mikro bass, have never played a bass I love playing as much.
Sound wise, although not exactly bad either, it left a little to wish for though, so I am upgrading the pickups soon.
I guess they had to to cut down on the production expenses somewhere, the rest of the bass is pretty much flawless.
Also was surprised by the sound quality of my Zoom B3 multi effect, since I have owned some of their old mid 90's multi effects which sounded pretty horrible.
Finally I'd like to mention Trace Elliot's older SM combo's.
I was with a band where I borrowed their 220W Trace Elliot SM combo with 4 10" in the build in cabinet, and was really surprised by the sound I was able to get out of it.
One of the best amps I played through in fact.
I even decided to invest in my own Trace Elliot SM combo (my current amp) after having played though theirs.
I love it as much as the Ampeg B-15S 60W I owned once, although a completely different animal.
Sound wise, although not exactly bad either, it left a little to wish for though, so I am upgrading the pickups soon.
I guess they had to to cut down on the production expenses somewhere, the rest of the bass is pretty much flawless.
Also was surprised by the sound quality of my Zoom B3 multi effect, since I have owned some of their old mid 90's multi effects which sounded pretty horrible.
Finally I'd like to mention Trace Elliot's older SM combo's.
I was with a band where I borrowed their 220W Trace Elliot SM combo with 4 10" in the build in cabinet, and was really surprised by the sound I was able to get out of it.
One of the best amps I played through in fact.
I even decided to invest in my own Trace Elliot SM combo (my current amp) after having played though theirs.
I love it as much as the Ampeg B-15S 60W I owned once, although a completely different animal.
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EBS Classic series 1x12.
Bought one used for 200$ to have a cheap cabinet to experiment home.
Was so incredible I bought another one.
Bought one used for 200$ to have a cheap cabinet to experiment home.
Was so incredible I bought another one.
I'll have to go with strings. I'm always trying new ones.
Tried flatwounds for the first time ever this year. No idea what took me so long. So I bought a set of La Bella Deep Talkin' flats. I'm in love with flats now. But I also play roundwounds on my other bass. Best find this year was Dunlap Superbrights - nickel plated. Love these too.
Tried flatwounds for the first time ever this year. No idea what took me so long. So I bought a set of La Bella Deep Talkin' flats. I'm in love with flats now. But I also play roundwounds on my other bass. Best find this year was Dunlap Superbrights - nickel plated. Love these too.
Took me awhile to try flats too. I was scared off a bit by the negatives you sometimes here about them. My first experience with flats actually came about,and i often wonder if i ever would have tried them otherwise, Because i bought a bass in the classified on here and it showed up with flats on it. Within the first two minutes of playing it i was like "Where the #@$& have you been all my life flats?". Now i have several basses sporting Labellas, Chromes and EB colbalt flats
Exactly. I have a set of the EB cobalts on order. How would you compare those to the Labellas Marikk?
