algmusic

Right, Bought my first valve amp, (Terror bass). I bought it second hand here and I've been told its was bought in December. It's great and I love it. It's a tube pre/with power amp. Q1: How long do the tubes last Q2: Should I carry spares? Where can I get them (live in Greenwich, but in the city a lot) Q3: Are they easy to change or do I take it to a shop Q4: any other tube advice to help them last long etc. I usually gig about 1-3 a week and I always carry a my sansamp as backup. I always put it on standby for about 5-15mins before and after the gig at least.

Recorded part of a video in the hairdresser, then performed a gig... I was on drums for this one though does that still count :-) I think the outfits were the strangest bits though [url="http://www.sirwalterjwallis.com/"]http://www.sirwalterjwallis.com/[/url] (click the video, if you're board)

[quote name='farmer61' post='929646' date='Aug 19 2010, 12:16 PM']only if you can't afford it[/quote] I think all 2nd hand is a gamble, unless you know the seller. I feel a bit more comfortable on this site, as you get a feel of your seller by their posts etc... I have a rule, I sell at reasonable to very good price, then hopefully, when I buy the bass gods will look down on me a help me get a deal :-) That said, I was very disappointed that my mirco bass sythn new price is went from £240 down to £180 new... only bought a year and a bit ago and the 2nd value.. 1/3 of what I paid :-(

For function bands, usually the person who owns the gear or pays for it, get a slightly bigger cut of the pie for the gigs, which I think is fair. I'm in a trio function band and we've all paid for our own leads and mics, but the Speakers/subs/lights/mixer/leads were paid by the singer/guitarist.. That said if a singer (who only sings), buys the gear, I think it should be split equally, maybe minus subs or lights.. My bass/cab/leads/strings/straps/insurance/amp/racks... costs a lot more than a small light SM58, or if they are fancy a beta 58 ..rant over breathe .. relax :-)

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' post='928194' date='Aug 17 2010, 11:30 PM']Same here, I have basses from both end of the ££ scale and I agree there's good and bad in both cheap and expensive[/quote] +1 You just gotta try it. some brands generally are good and others generally bad.. but i've heard cra*p vintage basses and good cheap ones no name basses. You get the Friday afternoons basses and the Wednesday mornings production line bass, then the brand might not matter... :-)

[quote name='Badass' post='929429' date='Aug 19 2010, 09:42 AM']Had both also, DI'd into large PAs and infront of my rig. I loved the BDDI, and used it for many years. Then I discovered the MXR80. Now I only use the MXR, and have sold the BDDI. I echo most of the above comments. If I were to choose again it would DEF be the MXR.[/quote] oooh I must check this out. I have the Sanamp and love it, but MXR have great rep for very interested myself. Parallel out means you can give the desk a good FOH sound and still play with your bass sound on your amp to your hearts content :-).. The Sansamp always did better than the DI out of most amps.. so the MXR.. hmmm nice

[quote name='JMT3781' post='924497' date='Aug 13 2010, 10:59 PM']thats reassuring..[/quote] depends if you're buying or selling :-)

[quote name='DreadAlert' post='923403' date='Aug 13 2010, 12:30 AM']Hey guys. Since I first got into bass I've been using a cheap noisy practice amp, and I'd like to upgrade my amp setup. All I have right now is a little combo and I've had no experience with anything else. What kind of setup would you recommend for about £200-£300 max. Preferably as cheap as poss. Thanks! -DreadAlert-[/quote] first of all. Look 2nd hand. you'll get a better quality rig? (check the forum - you'll get alot of true advice rather than a salesman at a shop second what bass amps have you heard that you like? third what style do you play?

Wow, give them a ring, to try and sort that out. I've used them many times over the years (not a custom order though) and had no problems, I order something yesterday via ebay and it's coming today

two usually one as a spare.. on one gig, there's an acoustic set and I use the my aerodyne with tru bass flats, as that's lighter than an acoustic bass and a still a good back up. I always bring a extra leads and sansamp too incase.. life has been good so far, but why risk it.. If you're gigging 200 miles away from home in the middle of nowhere... you need a backup I was depping for another band and the keys player stand fell over, the gig stopped and it was akward as we waited for 15mins during a function set.. I'd rather pick up my other bass/lead/sansamp and carry on and sort it out in the break.. and call it jazz

[quote name='Low End Bee' post='920333' date='Aug 10 2010, 08:49 AM']I stick mine on top of my TC cab and run a bit of gaffer tape through the handles and over the top to keep it secure.[/quote] If I get time, this week I might just put a small but of foam between the metal bit that is rattling if I could

[quote name='d-basser' post='919735' date='Aug 9 2010, 03:53 PM']I just use a few sheets of thin packing foam, for recording you could just put the head next to the cab so it isn't vibrating.[/quote] On the recording, I'll put it next to it.. just live it look nice if it's on top.. so I'll sort something out

[quote name='sockdeluxe_mikey' post='919777' date='Aug 9 2010, 04:23 PM']Actually, what I meant was that I was hesitant at getting a D.I box that needed phantom power from the [b]desk[/b] etc. just in case the desk can't power it and it can't accept a wall power supply - I took delivery of a T-Rex Fuel Tank Chameleon last week so as long as an active D.I box can accept a power supply the Chameleon can take care of it although it does seem to sound like that most desks should supply 48V phantom power. My girlfriend has the programmable SansAmp but I need to give it a proper try out - I've not been a big fan of the SansAmp (although when she got hers I learnt how to use them a LOT more effectively, which may be a factor when I try it out again properly). The Super Booster by MarkBass looks really appealing because it has the two filters which I happen to already like (I have a MarkBass SA450 as a normal amp) and it has variable preamp gain. Doddy, those EMO's look good too! I have a Studiospares catalogue and they catch my eye quite a lot.[/quote] If you like the markbass sound, go with that.. I love markbass, but I like the balance of option of that vintage grit.. I have the programmable one, which I like, as on some gigs, I need more grit or more warmth or blend or straight DI I can sort it out in the sound check then switch sounds between songs, just with my foot. Also if you're going minus amp you are at the mercy of the sound engineer and their gear, which is a gamble (some great some awful), so try them both if you can.. . The EMO are the broadcaster's fav's very good.. but that's assuming you always have a good desk behind you.. Just the down side of not having your monitoring (amp) is if you change your awful sound on stage, you might ruin the great sound FOH..

[quote name='sockdeluxe_mikey' post='919729' date='Aug 9 2010, 03:50 PM']Hi all, I have been assembling a sort of 'system' that would allow me to either go to a studio or a live gig without my amp and be able to (close enough at least) get a great sound that I can take around with me. I bought a Rothwell Love Squeeze about a month or two ago and that is perfect for one half of the job - natural subtle string-to-string eveness and room boominess, if needs be at worst a 'room fixer'. Now for the second half of the job I need a D.I that will obviously go directly into a desk, either live or in the studio. My situation is I don't know really whether I need a passive or active D.I - I do have two active basses (a Lakland 44-01 and an 18V Peavey Forum) and logic would dictate that a passive D.I would do the job, two which have caught my eye being the MarkBass Super Pro DI and the Radial JDI/Pro DI. If it turns out an active D.I would be best to get, then ideally I would like one that can source its power without the need of phantom power (such as the MarkBass Super Booster) because I wouldn't want to risk going to a gig and then not being able to source phantom power for the box. On the other hand, is phantom power from the desk actually a bankable option? I just don't want to turn up to a gig one day and be told I can't get phantom power! Thanks everybody, all help would be welcome [/quote] Sansamp.. it can be powered via phathom power and on a rare occasion you don't have that it takes a 9v. Very few desk don't have PP. To be honest, a 9v power supply is pretty cheap these days, I think I pad £20 and that had lots of adaptors for many pedals and it'll fit in your gig bag. Also the sansamp will give a good range of tones that don't sound synthetic.. That said I do like the EMO..

[quote name='JMT3781' post='919736' date='Aug 9 2010, 03:53 PM']If this goes for the start bid i think it will be safe to say that the market is well and truly saturated with lightweight gear, and nothing is worth anything anymore [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mark-Bass-CMD102P-2x10-Bass-Combo-/180544134621?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_MusicalInstr_Amplifiers_RL&hash=item2a0944dddd"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mark-Bass-CMD102P-2x...=item2a0944dddd[/url][/quote] Good times.. that's why I generally buy second hand. the minute you leave the shop.. it's 35%off at least.. Mind you, I wish when I was looking for a combo 2 years, I saw this for that price..

[quote name='gjones' post='897279' date='Jul 17 2010, 01:56 PM']+1 'LESS' is 'MORE'.............but usually you figure that out after overplaying on stuff for years until you eventually get it (of course some people never do).[/quote] I wish I learnt sonner aswell

[quote name='d-basser' post='919717' date='Aug 9 2010, 03:41 PM']Mine rattles quite a bit, think it could be the springs that hold the valves in. I put a cushion or some foam between the head and cab when I am playing at home and that seems to sort the problem.[/quote] Hmm.. I might get some foam or something then..

Recent bought a terror bass second hand. But have noticed that the metal chassis can rattle when you turn the amp up (vibrations from the sp210 cab). I'll be taking it apart to try and sort it, hopefully it should be fine, because I love it and have a live recording on Sunday (using mics and DI) anyone else has this problem..?