Ed_S

My gut reaction based on not much is that it's because so many people start off by requesting it. They say something like "I'm just starting out so I want something that will be ok for playing along at home and not so big that the other half complains I'm taking over the living room, but it'd be nice if it'd also be up to jamming with some friends when I get to that point, maybe travelling by bus so we can have a few cans". A 200W 1x10 combo, then, because if it was 500W it would sound like overkill for a beginner and if it was 50W it'd 'never keep up with a drummer', so it's 200W. Of which they'll get 140ish and there's no getting away from the fact that it sounds like a single 10, so then they say "I like it, but I want more". Matching 1x10 extension cab, then, because that's how you 'get all the power out of the amp'. So the manufacturer/shop sells another unit, and in fairness it probably works out well for the customer in most cases. I started on a Hartke HA2000 (200W), have gigged a lot with Markbass Nanos (300W) and am now using TC BAMs (200W) through whatever is already on stage and I don't have to carry. 200W through a heavy and unfashionable old 4x10 is fine for metal.

Last night turned out to be a good one, despite having a particularly heavy cold that seems to be doing the rounds. I still have some in-date covid tests and it's apparently not, so on with the show. The gig was guest-headliner at a Metal 2 The Masses competition heat (playing while the votes are being counted and the judges are deliberating), so I swapped my usual 10-6 shift at work for the 7-3, got to the venue for 4 as instructed, sound-checked at about 6, nipped to Tesco for a picnic that I couldn't taste, and then just loitered in the dressing room until showtime at 9:45. I would have liked to see the competition bands but I was best off sat on a sofa with my menthol sweets and a bog-roll. Stage time came around fast enough, and although the drummer had been at the JD a little more than usual, he only made a couple of mistakes and I managed not to have any fits of coughing, sneezing or otherwise malfunctioning. There were plenty watching and all the inter-song noises were positive and enthusiastic, but the highlight for me was the looks on the faces of a pair of lasses down at the front. I may be wrong, but I got the feeling that they'd perhaps spent the night dutifully supporting their boy/friends in one of the more shouty-thrashy bands, so being faced with two corseted sopranos in an operatic-symphonic outfit at the same gig seemed to catch them off-guard; they looked somewhere between emotional and mesmerised ...in a good way. Packed up and tried to help as much as possible with loading out, but I was at the 'if I start coughing I'm not sure I'll be able to stop before I run out of air and keel over' stage, so I made my apologies and my exit. Had a gloriously rough night and now need to spend the next three days helping my lass to move house. Epic. Gear was my RB Streamer LX 5 -(G30)-> [XS-1 -> BC-1X -> VT Bass v2 -> BDDI v2] -> TC BAM200 -> Blackstar house cab, and it really sounded quite good from where I was stood so hopefully that translated to FoH. Noticed that I was getting some very brief drop-outs on the G30, which is very unusual for it in my experience, but I eventually spotted that it was happening every time one of the singers operated the switch on her radio mic. Will have to see whether it was a one-off or maybe a different channel will be less susceptible to issues. Took the Hardly Benton along as backup, and the one photo I was bothered to take all evening is of it...

I used to have one. Sounded pretty good into a Classic 60 power amp and cabs, but there wasn't very much pleasing about the tone straight out of the back and into a mixer. It was easy enough to overdrive, though, so you might like it if you put some decent speaker emulation after it; I ran it into a Torpedo C.A.B. for a while, but ultimately it wasn't worth the effort and expense to make it sound good compared to my usual SansAmp RBI / RPM / VT-RM. I seem to recall reading that the TG Raxx is internally identical to the TB, which might hint at why there's guitar level gain on a bass preamp, and also makes it easier to find one to try since either unit should suffice.

I had the old Minimark 802, but ended up moving it on as I found it to be a bit of a 'solution looking for a problem'. I still have a Micromark 801 as that's a great home rehearsal or small gig amp, and I still have a Mini CMD 121p (LM3 version) as that's a solid pub gig amp. Whilst I loved how it looked (99% of the reason I bought it tbh) there was just nothing about the 802 that I specifically needed, and mine was noticeably heavier, more awkward to carry and less capable at volume than the 121p. I've not tried the new 802 with the Nano 2 bolted into it, but I have gigged with a Nano 2 for some time now and it's a great little amp for travelling light when you know there's a house/hired cab at the venue. Would I go out of my way to pair it with a 2x8 cabinet for gigging..? Probably not. If you've got as far as considering an NY121 cab and separate amp head, I'd give serious thought to a Mini CMD 121p; it really is a great all-rounder. If the pair of TE Elf 110 cabs really appeals and you want some for cheap-er, RichTone currently have a couple for £169 each in the second hand. Nowt to do with me and haven't see 'em, but they look to be in decent condition from the photos and have covers.

Absolutely - I’m all about the miniature and lightweight gear, but much of that gives plenty of cause for concern with dials and switches protruding from very droppable little boxes. Was lucky to find a suitable EVA case for the little TC head I’ve been using lately, which whilst not that tough is better than nowt. The best way of protecting this new offering would appear to be Calgon.

I personally think it's ugly, but I also question whether they've hit their utilitarian design statement. I still don't think I'd buy one, but I could maybe look past the aesthetics more easily if... - the back of it was completely blank so it could be used tight against a wall and transported safely laying flat - the power connector was on the side under one of the vents and the power switch was on the front panel - the amp controls and power switch took up only the left (or right..) half of the twin-tub front panel - a front facing patch-bay took up the other half of the panel, housing all the stuff that's currently on the back - it came with a flightcase style clip-on 'lid' that made it cuboid in transport and protected the panel/patch-bay

Preferably a celluloid one for increased flammability 🙂 That said, it'd be a funny "can I borrow your bass?" bass.

I personally have no issue with playing for free at charity gigs; music isn't my job so I have no pay expectations and indeed expect there to be out-of-pocket costs. I do actually have want to support and be associated with the charity, though, as I see those costs as a tacit contribution to their fundraising budget (spent immediately by them on entertainment for that event) and any photographs of me under their banner as being a much stronger indication of my personal support for their cause than, say, a bartender photographed at the same event. If I wouldn't smile for the camera as I put £50 in their collection bucket then I wouldn't play the gig as I see them as broadly the same gesture.

Yeah, fortunately neither are peeling yet, and I think given the lack of any kind of heating, cooling or humidity control in the gear store where their trunk is parked, if it was going to happen I'd have maybe seen the signs by now.

Yeah, that is a shame - sorry to hear they didn't get things sorted out to your satisfaction. That variability in experience is precisely why I shy away from giving any company too glowing a personal recommendation, though; I might consider that a company did alright by me, but in this case I was the one willing to accept a back-to-front cab as long as they confirmed that the ports (I know they aren't, but I forget the proper name..) firing in different directions was no sonic detriment, so maybe I'm a bad yard-stick to measure by. Thinking back, Alex's first reaction was along the lines of 'that actually looks pretty cool with the badges on either side', and I can see how some might not have been fully on-board with that as a customer service response. I'm used to my wonky stack now, and in fact when I put them in their road trunk for storage at the studio the fact that they can go in face-to-face to protect the grille cloth but still have the handles/feet facing the same way seems 'right' to me, so I'll mark myself out of any swapping and changing activities as there are many others like them.. but these ones are mine.

I think that's the main win from all this - that you've got them to sort your issue out and also finally make it clear for future purchasers. I like BF as well (I have a Super 12, Midget, Two10 and 2x One10s) but you're right - stuff goes wrong and it's all about how it's sorted out. My S12 had a buzz/rattle on one of the speakers, and the Two10 had a chrome corner missing - both issues were remedied with no fuss.

Mine arrived the same - 3 years ago almost to the day according to my camera reel, so it’s not news to them. I asked at the time about why it had changed and was told that it was to preserve the look of a vertical two plus one stack with new logos. Personally I wasn’t thrilled but decided I didn’t care enough to seek any remedy. Glad to read you’re getting yours sorted out!

For me it's more that I don't like the sensation of playing on the string closest to the floor whatever it's tuned to; if I play a 6 I'll find myself happily incorporating the G which I'd normally avoid on a 4 or 5. As it stands I play 5s which I mostly treat as BEAD 4s, but I can't actually use one of those because I treat them as 3s.

I get that. I've never smoked either, but I think the smell of a pipe being smoked will always be "the smell of a proper pub" in my mind.

One of the very few second hand bits of gear I've had was what turned out to be a well smoked Orange SP212 and Roqsolid felt-lined cover. Tried bicarb and various other things but the smell never left it, so it had to leave. Having experienced that, if I found myself in the OP's position it wouldn't matter how good the deal was; I'd be sealing the box back up and telling them to get it collected and refunded.