Bass equipment thoughts and ideas

[Jim C]

I'm very happy with my Genz Benz 2x12 neo cabinet and a Mesa TT800 but am entertaining the idea that a combo amp could be enough for gtr, keys, bass, drums, and vocals in a rock band. Historically combo amps have been a disappointment as my groove is clear, clean and medium loud.

But what about the Ampeg RB or BA Series 210? About 250 watts without an extension cabinet and approx. 35 lbs?
No way it can keep up with a 2x12 and 800 watts??

 

[mktrat]

Is it really gonna do what you want?
Is it more convenient?
Is it worth the expense?
Is it gonna get the job done?
Is it I am just being a gerk?
Or is it simply curiosity?

I’m not against combos at all, just asking the questions.

 

[Jim C]

I can't seem to get an idea of quality in a music store and really only trust a gig as the true performance test.
Our rehearsal space sounds really good and covers up any cabinet nasties.
I also found a BA212 V2 for a decent price but not close by.
Probably only saves 20 lbs. but smaller and 1 less piece of gear.
And curious if any combo amp is really "good enough"!

 

[Jeff Preston]

I have an old Hartke 210 combo that is pretty killer. Especially when I pair it with a custom built 1-15 cab that has a JBL in it.

 

[Jim C]

All things being equal, how much brighter is an ebony board compared to maple?

 

[LBS-bass]

All things being equal, how much brighter is an ebony board compared to maple?

Zero. Zero brighter.

 

[Jim C]

Zero. Zero brighter.

Thanks for this.
Do you find maple fingerboards brighter than rosewood (i.e. do you hear a difference at all with fingerboard woods)?
I've never been much of a tone wood guy but think that there is some difference in tone with the fingerboard. It's all just a theory as I've never had two basses that were close enough in materials and construction with just the neck being different.

 

[Morrighan]

If there are differences between fretboard woods, I can't hear them. I do like combo amps for ease of setup, load-in, and load-out. A PJB BG-800 Roadcase will keep up on an outdoor stage. Ain't light, but it's got wheels.

 

[metron]

I dunno about toanwood magic, but I have an ebony and a maple Ray. Both specials. The maple one is brighter by a hair but I don’t really think it can be isolated to a fingerboard wood correlation. Either way the difference is marginal.

Ebony looks nicer.

 

[Morrighan]

One maple fretboard, one ebony fretboard, one rosewood fretboard, and it's mostly looks to my ear. I like the ebony one best on that score. IIRC my older sister's DBs both had ebony fingerboards.
yeah sort of in the family. When we still spoke, learned she couldn't play my electric and I couldn't play her doghouse. That lady could sightread like a mofo but couldn't play Smoke On The Water on a bet. (actually that's a pretty syncopated bass line, and I reckon most don't get it right anyway)

 

[Jim C]

None of my business but I'll ask anyway, what happened between you and your sis?
Amazing to have two women in the same family that both played bass let alone sisters.

 

[LBS-bass]

Thanks for this.
Do you find maple fingerboards brighter than rosewood (i.e. do you hear a difference at all with fingerboard woods)?
I've never been much of a tone wood guy but think that there is some difference in tone with the fingerboard. It's all just a theory as I've never had two basses that were close enough in materials and construction with just the neck being different.

I do think that maple is brighter, but what do I know? It may be that maple boards tend to be finished, and it's a harder wood, which translates into less interference with string vibration in my mind. I never played maple boards until fairly recently and I'm a total convert.

 

[Jim C]

My gut says maple is slightly brighter and maybe a bit clearer in tone.
I have maple and rosewood but don't favor one bass over the other because of it.
Never had a bass with ebony but it certainly has become more available and in some cases the only FB offered with a particular color.

 

[bonin in the boneyard]

I've had two basses with ebony and I just love the way it feels and looks. Like if stone could be perfectly smooth, soft, and warm.

I have no dog in the tone debate

 

[NSYMCE]

My gut says maple is slightly brighter and maybe a bit clearer in tone.
I have maple and rosewood but don't favor one bass over the other because of it.
Never had a bass with ebony but it certainly has become more available and in some cases the only FB offered with a particular color.

My man Marco pitched me on going with maple for the fretless he built me, he said in that instance it would enhance midrange more than affecting highs. But I'm not into shiny finished boards at all, especially on a fretless. I've had rosewood, ebony, and now purpleheart for fretless basses, not sure it matters all that much compared to other factors really. The new fretted four has a wenge board, my fretted five is maple, all good in my book.

 

[LBS-bass]

I've had two basses with ebony and I just love the way it feels and looks. Like if stone could be perfectly smooth, soft, and warm.

I have no dog in the tone debate

Ebony is also a very hard wood, so I'm thinking that might give maple a run for the money in the brightness department.

 

[NSYMCE]

Ebony is also a very hard wood, so I'm thinking that might give maple a run for the money in the brightness department.

Maple isn't a particularly hard wood at all, hence the need for a coating. Even rosewood is harder, and ebony is much harder: https://www.bellforestproducts.com/info/janka-hardness/

But once you start coating the board it's a whole different different game for sure.

 

[4strings]

In my experience, the subtle differences between fretboard woods on a fretted bass are eclipsed by the differences in strings, even new vs slightly broken in with the same type of strings. To me, it matters a little more on fretless.

 

[Andyman]

What about fret material?
(On fretted)

 

[LBS-bass]

I'm wondering if maybe the reason I like my maple boards is that I like to play skinny, bendy strings. The coating really facilitates that kind of playing better than the uncoated rosewood.