charic

[quote name='Phil Starr' timestamp='1330365800' post='1556311'] It is pretty hard to explain something as technical as this in simple terms. One day I'll have a proper go. Mr Foxens analogy is as good as anything. I'll attempt something in between this and the wiki article. You need to understand the way the amp works just a little The sound from a speaker is made as the speaker moves forward and back in time with your strings vibration. To make it do this the amp increases the voltage to push speaker cone forward and reduces it to let it back, at some point the voltage then reverses and the speaker moves further backwards behind its starting/resting position. The simplest way to do this is to have a single output transistor or valve doing the whole process. This is class A. The problem with this is that when the speaker is in the halfway position the voltage and current in the amp are also halfway so the amp is working pretty hard when the speaker is in the resting position doing nothing. This means class A amps get very hot even with low signals as all that energy has to go somewhere. As a result class A amps tend to be low powered and inefficient as it is the heat that kills transistors and valves. The next trick is to split the signal so one device does the positive side of the cycle and another does the negative side. This is class B. Now when the speaker isn't moving neither transistor or valve needs to do anything and there is no energy to disperse as heat. This makes class B amps more efficient and more reliable. The problem now is the point where you switch from one transistor/valve to another. The output devices aren't very linear at the bottom end of their range, there's always a bit of a gap and you end up with distortion when they change over, This is really noticeable in the quiet bits of music or whatever. The solution which worked for years was to have both output devices working at the crossover point, meaning you had a class A amp at this point filling in the gap and class B for the loud stuff. This is class AB. This is still the most common way of doing things though it is changing rapidly. The next way is to control the sound by switching the output devices on and off very quickly. This is class D. By switching them on more than off you get more current and therefore more power and less by having them off more than on. Because transistors make really efficient switches this means less energy and so the manufacturer saves on expensive heatsinking and supermassive transformers. this means class D is cheaper for really powerful amps. so your PA amp or anything over 200W is likely to be class D. Class H (orG) is using a different trick of varying the power supply voltage in the amp to make it more efficient again saving on heat problems and expensive power supplies. The reality is that you don't need to know any of this. You won't find a class B amp. Guitarists might have a class A amp or even one they can switch from A to AB. Some people think a class A amp sounds sweeter. Typically switching from class A to AB means the amp will go from 7W to 15-20W. Bass amps won't be class A unless they are nutty 'boutique amps'. (discuss). You'll get class AB, D or H. It won't matter because you'll be playing and not designing the thing. They do have different distortion characteristics but you aren't intending to distort by overloading the amp anyway. It is more important that they are well engineered rather than what class they are. Hope this helps [/quote] Nice explanation

Reminds me of Jacob from lost

[quote name='Ben Jamin' timestamp='1330380049' post='1556645'] ? [/quote] Shhhh

I'm in a melodic death metal band (apparently) and unfortunately at this moment in time I can't tell you about our attire as it's going to be a secret until our first gig back at it. Lets just say it's in the manufacturing process now

Now updated list of bands! Come on guys we need attendees too! I'm going to have to dig out the list from the last bash and mail around arent I?! Join in for a great day and night folks. Bassbash history in the making as far as I know the first ever Basschat based GIG!

[quote name='Thurbs' timestamp='1330235797' post='1554399'] Sounds great, count me in. Gear, i'll bring the Archer DB, Ashdown LB30 and a Midget-T. Dont mind doing a jazz trio or quartet (with bass, keys, sax and if we can find a drummer in time, one of them too). We are a new band so dont have any demos yet but will let you know when we are practicing and you would be are welcome to join us and join in! Cheers, R. [/quote] Hehe, I'm up for anything! I've never tried Jazz before though. Hmm... which bass to bring though

[quote name='silddx' timestamp='1330356645' post='1556098'] Best to go to the GP and get a proper diagnosis and treatment. [/quote] Have you been writing for the industry again silddx?

I've recently been thinking a TC RH450 + RS210 for the neck pickup and a Markbass Amp/Cab for Bridge and effects

Please stop!! I'm getting funny looks here!

I do love new string day (I even like the clean down part ) my Yammy feels and sounds amazing now and I'm currently experimenting with slightly different tensions with Newtone for the ACG

[quote name='Johnston' timestamp='1330353360' post='1556024'] Just a little inkling [/quote] Is that what you call it

[i][u][size=5][b]BEST DERAIL EVER!!!![/b][/size][/u][/i]

[quote name='david_l_perry' timestamp='1330349411' post='1555963'] Hope you guys and gals don't forget to come and say Hi to us on the stands.... Myself (EAD) Alan (ACG) and John East (East electronics) are all on the same stand..... Come for a chat ! [/quote] Christ that is one hell of a stand!

Was it for the dwarves?

[quote name='dlloyd' timestamp='1330338451' post='1555764'] Not all Fenders have a neck stamp. [/quote] And not all neck stamps have a fender... Yeah... I have nothing useful to add to this conversation

[quote name='eude' timestamp='1330273688' post='1554980'] I think Alan ususally does a ceramic pickup at the neck, and an alnico at the bridge, for a bit more variety, but yeah, you can have anything you want, as long as you say please... [/quote] Mines a ceramic at the bridge and alnico at the neck. Supposedly Ceramic is more naturallly 'bitey' and alnico is 'warmer' Either way they both sound HUUUUGE

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1330336694' post='1555717'] The 'D' may not mean 'digital' but, at the risk of being slapped with a kipper, it's an understandable popular description. Another way of looking at things is that class D is not an analogue amplifier but operates by switching fully-on or fully-off, which is certainly reminiscent of a 'digital' mechanism. I guess it's mainly marketing guff really - a bit like the craze to add 'turbo' to loads of product names. Funny how switch-mode power supplies are not generally regarded as 'digital' power supplies though. [/quote] Watched top gear last night didn't you I think the current fad is to add HD to product names tbh!

[quote name='dood' timestamp='1330296658' post='1555474'] If anyone dare use the word 'digital' in reference to D Class, I'll come round and slap them with a kipper!! There's no Analogue to Digital conversion and thus they're not digital. I.e. the D doesn't mean 'digital' it's just the class. [/quote] You better hope no-one with a kipper fetish sees this!

Used to get the same problem with my old peavey. Neck was too skinny it turns out, as soon as I changed to a p bass it was instantly better. Might not be the same for you but worth investigating

Thats great news L_Bass_Dog85 catering shouldn't be an issue but people are always welcome to come and help set up

My band play in drop C (CGCF), check out newtone strings. They will make you a set of strings especially for drop c tuning (you wont be able to tune to standard though). They wont be thicker than normal either and cut through absolutely great. The EQ as above. More importantly though check your guitarists EQ and don't be afraid to tell them to turn down!

What about those of us who like 6 string basses

Twice as big as it needs to be

Now I have gas for an avb5 :-(