dmccombe7

Really nice email from Leszek at HB explaining the issues he has at the moment with his covid issue plus he's lost some of his enginners thru Covid. Approx a 6 week wait for the R-400 and WB-100 but he's working on upgrades to the pre-amp at moment too. He has given me a price and its a fantastic price for such an amazing bit of kit. £20-£30 shipping. How do they manage to produce such an amazing amp for that kind of money. I'll be ordering a WB-100 but have said there's no rush and can wait till he's fully recovered and his team back to full strength again. Will proceed as he sees fit under his guidance. @wateroftyne just thought i'd let you know since you also sent a message for me. Sounds like things are a bit tough for them at moment but hopefully picks up soon. Dave

We all need our holidays from work. 😂 If you hear anything can you pass it on and it'll save me pestering him with anymore emails till he's ready. Dave

I never even gave Covid a thought but that all makes more sense. I'll just leave it for a while till he's picked up and ready to get back to work. Can only wish him all the best and hope for a quick recovery. Dave

If the vibe was there just because you were all more relaxed about then keep it going but stay relaxed about it all. If a band gets too serious the fun disappears for me and time to move on to the next project. Dave

Even better and hope you get some more work out of it. Dave

The FB page shows they are quite busy with a new range of speaker cabs so it looks promising for them. Mentions new projects coming in so that's all good news. Its probably down to a holiday week i reckon. We all need our hols from work even if it is your own business. Dave

Reading thru the HB website "About Us" page it looks like a reasonable sized company with various production lines running. Comments that he has put together a team of electronics engineers etc so tey must have staff. Dave

Looking at the pics on the website or FB page it does look that way. The kids are off school this week in UK so i'm guessing it might well be the same in Poland. Can't fault a man that puts family first before work. I waited a year for a Mesa TT800 i didnt get so i have a lot of patience LOL Dave

When did you email ? Dave

I'm wondering if HB might be off on a weeks holiday for Easter. Not sure how big or small a company they are. ? I'll give it to middle of next week as Mon will def be a holiday ......... i think. Dave

Nice one Blue. Enjoy. I'm sure you'll have fun. Dave

I sent one at weekend but didn't expect a response till during the week. Thought i would send another one thru their website page this morning just in case i typed in the wrong email address. I'll have a look at their FB page. Thanks @wateroftyne Edited to say PM'd thru their FB page too so hopefully they get one of my messages. Dave

Out of curiosity are HB quick at getting back to you via email. ? Dave

That's a great story and typifies what i thought they would be like if i ever met them. Dave

I'd agree with that. They were producing some fantastic songs and i believe the Edge made a comment that he wished U2 could produce songs like Big Country. Had things not taken a bad turn i quite believe they would have taken over the mantLE from U2. Just a personal opinion of course. My punk band plays Into the Valley which is also an amazingly powerful song. With a drop D on the E string it may well have been one of the early songs to have that AFAIK. Think that was back in late 70's. Dave

Big Country were an amazing band. Saw them support Bowie at Sunderland in 80's think it was Glass Spider tour and they were better than Bowie. Fantastic live band, so much power and energy. Sad Dave

Glad you told me that Mike. I have been considering the Ashdown and you're the first person to say they couldn't quite get on with it and i think your amp history has a similar vane to mine. I was a bit concerned about buying a new amp from Poland mainly beccause there is no support network for repairs under warranty if needed but by sound of it they are a rugged amp. I definitely have a severe GAS for the all valve WB-100 after hearing the various vids on it. It seems to have more presence than the Mpulse and R400 but not by much. Sent HB an email this morning asking for costs to send either amp to UK and i'll take it from there. The Mesa thing is sad as they seemed to have a great range of new Subway amps and they were very popular for this to happen and kill sales for them. Now people like myself will have no option but look elsewhere. I honestly thought i was a Mesa man till the end but how things change. Dave

You dont get a compliment like that very often. Well done sir. Now curious what gear you were using 😂 Dave

I spent 2 yrs researching the Mesa subway gear and put my order in for the TT800, 210 and 115 rig hoping i would have it all within 3 mths. The cabs arrived from different shops but the amp kept getting put back. The order went in April 2021 over a year ago and now that its been put back to a maybe 2023 but no guarantee i just cant be bothered waiting that long for any bit of kit no matter what it is. 2 years is far too long to wait. Its left me disappointed with Mesa but there are probably a few other manufacturers in same position so its unfair to single out Mesa. Its all down to Covid. I had looked at the R400 before i ordered the Mesa rig but i already had the Mpulse600 and PH212 and loved it and that's what swayed me to the Subway rig. Alas i need to look elsewhere. No telling how many years i have left to keep playing but i want to have the best rig i can over the next few years. Not that i have any health issues but i might get fed up gigging again as i did in early 90's. Living for today is the way to go rather than living on a "maybe". Another amp i am looking at is the Ashdown ABM EVO IV 600 but i'm not a fan of that pale blue facing. I do like the look of the Geezer Butler head but at £400 more its a bit much as there's no way i need additional slave outputs which is the main reason for the added cost. I might hold off and see what comes up on BC as i still have my trusty old Mpulse600 which sounds lovely thru the 210 / 115 cabs. A bit long winded but i've been on the JD while making dinner so i'm nice, warm and happy at moment Dave

I was disappointed altho i understand reasons behind it. Andy from Mesa has been top notch and even PM'd me when he heard about it. You just can't get any better than having someone like @agedhorse on the bass forums. I'm gonna miss that level of support. Who knows ........ i might still get one when they eventually manage to ship to UK in next few yrs. Was funny but a lot of guys on TB went from the D800+ to the TT800 or WD800 and decided to go back to their D800+ so i'd be absolutely positive its the route you want to go down or you just keep the D800+ as a back up. One guy from US even offered to drop his price on his TT800 to help get it over to me as he wanted to go back to D800 basic amp. Some great people on our bass forums. I'm now looking at Handbox amps. Just missed 2 on BC. Dave

You guys are making me so jealous. Think i'm gonna email HB on Monday morning rather than wait for one to appear on BC ads. Dave

That was something that sold it to me. My Mpulse is basically flat with maybe a touch of mid boost. In the punk band i have used the paraEQ mid boost frequencies when my strings are getting a bit old and dull. Mostly i use the paraEQ for cutting ultra low bass frequencies. Dave