sam_ofzo

Ever since I've been playing, my rig has changed quite a bit and I came to the point I'm perfectly happy with it for now (although a 6-string fretless might be fun).

I've been playing since 2006 and I've been lurking the forum for a long time, but I thought it might be time to contribute, so here's a UROTM.

I’ll start of with a picture of my entire rig / playing space



Starting with the smallest part of my rig, this is my Korg Pandora Mini.

It's the most recent addition to my arsenal. It might not have the greatest effects, but it works rather well as a headphone amp. So I use it if I want to play outside, or late at night.
It also makes my amp work better with my electric guitar, wich is a nice bonus as well.

I picked it up a couple of months ago for a cheap price, so I didn't expect much, but it's fun for playing around with and trying some effects. I wouldn't use it live, but live I like my sound clean, so that's not really an issue

Next up is my amp.


I’ve been using my Markbass mini CMD 121 for more than 2 years now, and I must say I’m still very happy with it. The sound is exactly what I have in my head on how my bass should sound.
It’s also fun to see the looks of people after they realize how loud it goes. I managed to get by at a gig where they amplified the drums, but forgot to amplify me. I didn’t even had to go to 11.

This combo is also incredible to transport. It fits easy in every car with still leaving lots of space for drums/guitar amps/keyboards/trombones/… and on top of that it’s really easy to transport when taking public transportation or even by foot. It’s really everything I need.

In the future I might add another NY121 or NY 122, but I don’t really need that at this moment.

At this moment I’ve got 2 basses. I’ll start of with my main bass


My pride and joy, my Maruszczyk custom frog 6.
About a year and half ago I deceided I wanted to get ahigh quality 6-string bass, since I found myself wanting more range for chordal playing at home on one hand, and the lower notes for my band on the other hand. So I decided to look for companies that made basses I like.
Since I live in Belgium, I quickly gravitated towards the German companies. I found that the Clover Avenger, Sandberg KT and Maruszczyk Frog were models that I liked.
I liked the Frog the most, but I couldn’t find any 6-strings, so I decided to send them a mail and Adrian Marusczyk was happy to build me a 6-string frog to my specifications.

Now that the background-story is complete, here are some specs:
- Mahogany body with ash top (and a transparent, matte finish)
- Maple neck with ebony fingerboard
- Delano MM-humbucker (splitable) and single coil
- 2 band Glockengang EQ (switchable to passive mode with tone control)
- 18mm string spacing at the bridge

Here are some more pictures







For those interested in the sound, here’s a live recording of my band:

There’s also a lower quality recording of a live song I did with my band on my UG profile as well as a home recording, done with my loop pedal.

I recorded an EP with my band with this bass as well, to wich you can listen here:
http://bamboo-avenue.bandcamp.com/
My bass was recorded with 1 clean DI and 1 Sansamp and no amp. I wasn’t too fond of the sound of the Sansamp, but hey, the sound engineers knew what they were doing so I don’t mind

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Maruszczyk Frog 6 custom -> TC electronic Polytune-> Markbass CMD mini 121 + Markbass traveler 121H

Playing bass in Bamboo Avenue (Like us on facebook! )
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sam_ofzo

My second bass is my very first Ibanez GSR 180 wich I defretted myself. It’s actually a great bass for the price.I haven’t got any recordings of it, but it sounds realy decent (although my markbass might have something to do with that).


Here it’s pictured with 2 of my old basses, my SR500 and ATK700, wich brings us to my old equipment.

The SR500 was my first bass that wasn’t a beginner instrument. I’ve had a good time with it, but I never connected with it as I did with the ATK or my maruszczyk.
I sold it after I got my ATK, since it wasn’t getting any playtime.

My ATK I managed to buy for 200 euro’s, that’s is really cheap for a ’00 Japanes model.



After buying this bass, I just knew bridge humbuckers are what I want in a bass. I realy liked the bass, the specs of this bass have been the greatest influence on my 6-string as well (mahogany body with an ash top, 18mm string spacing, maple neck).
I traded it for an ESP ltd B-206, since I just didn’t play it anymore since switching to 6-strings.



This is a bass wich was with me for a very short time.
I traded my ATK for this bass, so I could have a backup bass if, god forbid, something would happen to my Maruszczyk.

I couldn’t get along with the narrow string spacing. It just didn’t feel right. So I sold this to my sister’s boyfriend, who now also loves 6-string basses.


Not pictured is my ex amp. A warwick Sweet 15.2.
It was a very decent amp. Loud enough for rehearsals and small gigs, cheap, not overly heavy. Just a decent piece of equipment. I sold it together with the SR500, since my Markbass and ATK were all I needed.

As a last piece of equipment, I’m posting my double bass


Since every bass player shpuld at least try to play double bass, I got myself this Hora Student double bass. It’s got a solid top and laminated back and sides. It plays decently.

My intonation isn’t spot on, but it is incredible fun to play the double bass.


I’ve also got some guitars, a ukulele, a keyboard and a melodica. They are not pictured, since they don’t really belong in the bass forum, do they

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Maruszczyk Frog 6 custom -> TC electronic Polytune-> Markbass CMD mini 121 + Markbass traveler 121H

Playing bass in Bamboo Avenue (Like us on facebook! )
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moody git

that Maruszczyk really is beautiful.. how does it play?

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herby190

I called UROTM for April.

I actually don't have my equipment right now, so it'll probably be easier to do it next month anyways.

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anarkee

Nice UROTM! Never got around to posting mine for March--maybe I'll grab one of the summer months.

I love the Maruszczyk custom frog 6. What a beautiful bass!

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"I have suffered for my music and now it's your turn." Neil Innes

sam_ofzo

It plays really smooth, it's got a wide, yet thin neck. Every fret is really easy playable, as well, as you can see in this picture:


It's not too heavy either, so it won't hurt your shoulders when olaying longer gigs (and it came with a very nice, wide, leather strap).
The only thing that diminishes the playability, is that it's got a slight nek dive when you're playing sitting down and it's resting on your leg. When playing standing up, it balances perfectly, so that's not too much of an issue.

Normal frogs have got 16mm string spacing at the bridge, and I don't like that very much. But I could have it made with 18mm, so that wasn't too much of a problem



I'm really sorry, I checked about 2 weeks ago in the bass forum plan and i was told there was no UROTM planned and I could post one, so I went ahead and posted this one.

__________________
Maruszczyk Frog 6 custom -> TC electronic Polytune-> Markbass CMD mini 121 + Markbass traveler 121H

Playing bass in Bamboo Avenue (Like us on facebook! )
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anarkee

Don't worry sam, its always been a loose schedule anyways.

On the intonation on the upright, I find that marking it off with painter's tape on the side of the fretboard helps, until you get your finger spacing dead on. That being said. even Edgar Meyer has dot markers on the upper frets..



Another thing--get a bow if you don't have one. Nothing get intonation in line like playing with a bow.

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"I have suffered for my music and now it's your turn." Neil Innes

Spaz91

No offense to anyone else who's done UROTM so far, but this is probably my favourite rig I've seen on here. Nice dreads too.

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sam_ofzo

I'll probably put on some masking tape on the side of the fretboard as reference points. I've got a bow, to help me with the intonation. It's getting better, and it's lots of fun playing, so I just keep on practicing


Thanks!

__________________
Maruszczyk Frog 6 custom -> TC electronic Polytune-> Markbass CMD mini 121 + Markbass traveler 121H

Playing bass in Bamboo Avenue (Like us on facebook! )
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fleajr_1412

Is it wrong that I'm more jealous of your dreads than your gear? Nice rig!

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herby190

It's cool; my equipment has all been at our practice space for awhile anyways, since we've been preparing for a show that's coming up, so the pictures would be pretty minimal. Actually, now that I think about it, I could post a live vid from the show as a demo of the rig.

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|CauseInEffect|

shmbluh12

Nice rig! I want an ATK like that

Just btw, where in Belgium do you live?

sam_ofzo

That seems like a great idea!



It was an amazing bass, but I just didn't play it enough to justify keeping it anymore.
I'm from a town very close to Brussels, why are you asking?

__________________
Maruszczyk Frog 6 custom -> TC electronic Polytune-> Markbass CMD mini 121 + Markbass traveler 121H

Playing bass in Bamboo Avenue (Like us on facebook! )
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shmbluh12

Just wondering, I live in Belgium too.

sam_ofzo

My band just put a little clip online with my rig in action.


You don't really see my equipment that often, but I felt like sharing


Edit: if this is against the rules, I'm sorry and I will remove this post

__________________
Maruszczyk Frog 6 custom -> TC electronic Polytune-> Markbass CMD mini 121 + Markbass traveler 121H

Playing bass in Bamboo Avenue (Like us on facebook! )
EP out now!

herby190

I like the active basslines, and the horn section is really cool.

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red_hot_chili18

What type of ATK did you have? Mine's an ATK200 and i LOVE it do you use the Markbass combo when playing live?

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I'm selling an Ibanez BTB 24 fret limited edition bass for £150, PM me.

PSN: BenGarbutt1989

sam_ofzo

I believe it was an ATK700 (the '00 model).

I do use the markbass combo when playing live, it's loud enough for everything i encountered sofar and it's got a great DI.

__________________
Maruszczyk Frog 6 custom -> TC electronic Polytune-> Markbass CMD mini 121 + Markbass traveler 121H

Playing bass in Bamboo Avenue (Like us on facebook! )
EP out now!

red_hot_chili18

I may have to look into getting one myself.... Thanks for getting back to me

__________________
Every snowflake pleads "not guilty" in an avalanche

www.hourglasspromo.co.uk - live music promotion website, 'av a gander!!!

I'm selling an Ibanez BTB 24 fret limited edition bass for £150, PM me.

PSN: BenGarbutt1989