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MadMatt

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 16, 2010
Messages
856
Location
Frankfurt, Germany, Germany
Guten Tag! from Germany. I've been a lurker hear for a while until I finally broke down and purchased my first EBMM 2 weeks ago. Here is a link to a few pictures in the gallery.

Ernie Ball Forums - MadMatt's Album: MadMatt's 25th Anniversary Quilted HH

I've always loved the MM sound... Only problem I had with sting rays and sterlings is that they are too head heavy for my taste and I just could not get comfortable with them. Yea, I'm probably being too touchy and maybe its due to my lack of experience (more on that in a moment) but I could not justify putting up that kind of money for a bass that felt uncomfortable... Then along came the 25th Anniversary. I fell in love with its looks and after playing one for 30 minutes at a local store I know I had to have one. The balance is good (It's only a little bit head heavy) and the sound is incredible.

To make a long story short, on a trip to Las Vegas week before last, I dropped in to the local GC and could not believe my eyes. They had exactly the one I wanted just hang'in on the wall, way up high and gathering dust.

A swipe of the credit card later and she was mine. (Got a good deal too) :D

I've been playing it now for 2 weeks and just can't wipe the grin off my face. Even my wife says I get a funny look in my eyes when I look at it :)

I have not had the chance to see how he sound mixes in with the band but our practice session is tonight and I'm certain it will not let me down.

A few words about myself. I live near Frankfurt Germany. Unfortunately I'm probably not going to be able to help other members in the forum a whole lot as I am really just a beginner. I am (or maybe I should say "I was") a drummer until our bass player moved away about 2 years ago shortly after my 40th birthday. Unfortunately a replacement Bass player was not in sight, but we where able to find a drummer, who in all sense of honesty is better than I am. So I decided to learn the bass. Man, I should have done this years ago! Although I do miss the physical trashing of playing the drums sometimes, I find playing the bass much more fun and in some aspects much more challenging. Although my playing level is still pretty basic I can at least hold a solid groove with our drummer and have a lot of fun. Now I know what geting into the pocket feels like from the "other" side :eek:

I'm currently working on "Its my life" from No Doubt (I simply love the pre-chorus in there version) but its going to take much much more practice before I can get that right. :)

Anyway I just wanted to thank everyone here for helping make a MM believer out of me :)

-Matt
 

five7

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 24, 2008
Messages
4,296
Welcome to the best forum and congrats on the 25th!
 

MadMatt

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 16, 2010
Messages
856
Location
Frankfurt, Germany, Germany
Welcome to the addiction!
Nice to have someone else from Hessen around.

(Ich sach auch mal Gude, komme aus WI)

Hey Cool!!! (Ei Gude wie, Danke!!!)

"...Erbarme, zu spät ...Die Hesse komme"

Thats text from a German song for everyone else out there.

Although I must say I'm not a true Hessian... I moved here from the Washington DC area 20 years ago.

-Matt
 

cellkirk74

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 14, 2009
Messages
1,345
Location
Germany near Frankfurt
Hey Cool!!! (Ei Gude wie, Danke!!!)

"...Erbarme, zu spät ...Die Hesse komme"

Thats text from a German song for everyone else out there.

Although I must say I'm not a true Hessian... I moved here from the Washington DC area 20 years ago.

-Matt

Anyway, good to have you here!:) Our region of europe is quite underrepresented compared to the british islands.

The 25th must be a killer bass. As far as i know there are not many of them over here.

I didn't try one because I was hooked on the Big Al once I saw it.
 
S

sitonmybass

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your first purchase of an EBMM. The "25th" is a great way to enter the addiction, WOW!

I have been a drummer all of my life and I still am. I have two beautiful brand new Pearl kits. You will find that playing both is a huge benefit. I have always stressed that bass players should play drums and drummers should play bass even if the "other" instrument is only played marginally. Rock on, my rhythm section brother!
 

MadMatt

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 16, 2010
Messages
856
Location
Frankfurt, Germany, Germany
I have been a drummer all of my life and I still am. I have two beautiful brand new Pearl kits.

Cool! Pearl kits are awesome. Unfortunately I had to sell my red VBX to finance the 25th :( (now Thats setting priorities isn't it) but I still have a custom V-Drum setup in the basement to practice on. Yea knowing what the drummer is doing (Or trying to do :D) definitely makes me a better bass player.

-Matt
 
S

sitonmybass

Cool! Pearl kits are awesome. Unfortunately I had to sell my red VBX...
Yea knowing what the drummer is doing (Or trying to do :D) definitely makes me a better bass player.

-Matt

I have a brand new Pearl Vison Series VX (birch/basswood shells) 6 piece kit in Ivory color and a Pearl Rhythm Traveler kit and Sabian cymbals for both.

Drummers make better bass players, bass players make better drummers!

Our drummer in my band "Stormbringer" was featured in Modern Drummer magazine because of our long-running association with Robby Steinhardt (violin, vocals) from the band "Kansas." Robby was a full-time member of our band from 1990-1996. Be sure to read the history of our band on either of our web-sites listed below. We've been fortunate enough to do some interesting things including some shows with Alan White, the drummer of YES which included a drum clinic.
This Saturday, February 27th, Alan has again arranged for my entire band plus one guest each to attend a YES concert which includes free tickets and full access including the after concert "meet and greet."

Sorry for the thread hijack, everyone. I'm a drum geek, too!
 
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MadMatt

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 16, 2010
Messages
856
Location
Frankfurt, Germany, Germany
Just a little feedback from last nights practice session... WOW! was the response from everyone (including myself :D)

With my previous bass I have been running though a line 6 Bass Pod XT Live directly to the PA. With the MM that setup sounded like crap, primarily due to the fact I did not have any of the pre-sets set up for the new bass. I pugged in straight to the PA and was amazed by the sound. We are strictly a rock cover band and I was able to dial in a great sound for every song in the 25th's pre-amp pickup controls. I did not miss any of the "tube dirt" I usually dialed though the XT. Looks like I will not be needing it anymore :eek:

What really blew me away was playing Zombie from the Cranberries. I've never been able to cut though and provide that solid bass foundation without being too loud. Last night changed everything, I was able to maintain presence in the loud sections without having to use an effect pedal and back off when needed with only my fingers. Really an eye open for me.

Thanks,
M@
 

MadMatt

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 16, 2010
Messages
856
Location
Frankfurt, Germany, Germany
Which setting did you use, especially on the coilselection?

I just noticed that I actually forgot to make a note of it. I'm pretty sure it was bridge only in parallel (1&2) with a just a tick more highs and a slight cut on the bass. Hi and lo mids where both centered. The cut on the bass is due to the small room with terrible acoustics in which we practice (Gewölbekeller)

I'll make sure I make a note of it next week.

-M@
 
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