Triumph_Rock

If an amp keeps blowing fuses then there is something else wrong with it else where, if the Trace were mine and I bought it new, I'd be sending it back. And ask for a refund or replacement... By swapping the power leads should of eliminated the fuse, atleast the fuse in the plugs, thats what most people think of when you say check the fuse on electrical household equipment. If there is a fuse else where built into the amp, I certainly am not taking the amp apart as that would void the warranty.

Thomann included a UK specific plug with the amp, and also it came with the EU plug. I have used both plugs and have the same results with the amp. There is no selector switch for changing power setting, and it has the correct power rating for the UK.

Unfortunately I contacted Thomann yesterday night by email, about a replacement, they have not got back to me today. Which is surprising. I think I will have to phone them. See what they say. If no luck that route, I will contact Warwick directly as I registered for there 4 year warranty on there website lastnight. Rotten luck I'm having.

Yeah so I see there is loads of experience here. I've been researching learning resources tonight, think I will use jamplay.com, it looks like a very well structured website, and loads of famous teachers to boot, and loads of useful features. Hopefully it will be second time lucky with the amp.

Hi Stew, I learned Trombone in school long ago, no previous guitar experience. This will be my first adventure into bass guitar playing. Unfortunately keen to get learning, I plugged my amp in and switched it on, and there was a loud pop from the amp ( when it pops the speaker moves very quickly ), it admits a loud humming sound at first, which has now gone, but when connected to the bass, no sound comes from the bass guitar at all. So its looks like the amp is broken. Already sent an email asking for a replacement. I wish I could get a Warwick BC80 locally but I can't...

Hi Guys, If you want to see photo's of my new bass guitar and amp, head on over to

Well here it is, photo's of my Westfield EB3 Bass guitar, and my Warwick BC80 amp. Now just to start to learn to play the bass! The adventure begins 😀

Good point about the difference, I haven't read music for a very long time, so I'm rusty. Hopefully if I learn the bass clef, my past experience at school wont hinder me.

Quite an interesting read, this ere thread. As somebody that was classically trained in Trombone at school I have a keen interest on this. I've been toying with the idea of which route to go down, debating it in my head, as somebody that has just picked up a bass guitar. Do I go down the play by ear root, or sight reading root? ( rhetorical question ). I mean being able to sight read, and if you are a good to very good sight reader, you should be able to put the notation of any style of music in front of you and play. Do I think it will hinder creativity? Yes/No. I think creativity is a very personal thing, and whilst theory might help one person, it might hinder another. I think it all comes down to if the person is an inspired type. And musical theory is huge, its not just being able to read musical notation. Some people might find a theory like playing root notes and 5th notes around the drummers snare drum, symbol or hi-hat , very helpful, other might find it a burden! David

Most of my equipment will probably be for " display purposes only "

Are complete beginners aloud to come along? If so I'll be bringing a Westfield EB3 Bass, Warwick BC80, and headphones.

Hi Richard, Thanks for pointing me in the direction of learning resources, I will definitely check them out. There seems to be quite a lot of learning resources these days, Fender even has an app on Google play store. Thinking to come to the Big Fat SW Bash, does it matter what my playing level is? Is it a big jam session or are there lectures? Managed to pick up the bass guitar today, the amp has shipped, so hopefully it will arrive soon. When I have it all I will post photos. David

Thanks for the welcome Richard, I've been well aware of Absolute Music for quite some time. I've known for the secondhand Westfield EB3 on there website for quite sometime, over a year in fact. I am surprised they did not sell it already. I did find a new Westfield EB3 for sale in Scotland in music shop in Glasgow, for quite a bit less than there secondhand price, what I didn't know at the time was that the Westfield EB3 bass Absolute Music were selling came with a tweed hard case. I used Absolute Music price match feature on there website. They did indeed match the price, and given that it came with the tweed hard case, which in and off its self is worth quite a bit of money. I thought it was a bargain! Yesterday when I popped over to visit in person, they demoed it for me through a Fender Rumble 40 bass amp. It did indeed sound good! Picked a Fender guitar cable to go with it, when I go back to collect it, I will pick up a strap! David

Firewind - Ode to Leonidas

@ezbass I'll post picks when I have the bass and amp. I can't collect the bass guitar until the first of August because of my work schedule. First song I will try to learn on it is Black Sabbath Paranoid! Might be a bit ambitus!

Well I've just got my first bass guitar, the first song I want to learn is Black Sabbat Paranoid. Lets see how that goes! Hopefully not to ambitious.

What does "NBD" mean?

Well never say never, finally got myself sorted out now. I got a secondhand Westfield EB3 bass guitar from Absolute Music. And after listening to loads of sound bites and videos, I bought a Warwick BC80 combo amp online from Thomann. Reason I went with the Warwick, it had the cleanest natural, undistorted sound of any I heard online. David

I've walked away thanks. Going to keep an eye out for a better deal, I guess though this is always going to be a rick whilst buying a secondhand amp unseen. Dave

Hello Everyone Thanks for the warm welcome. Thanks for the heads up Drew. Will go check them out. Dave

Thanks for the reply Jezza Well I'm currently the highest bidder at £11, but there is a £20 postage cost. I'm handy with tools, as I work with machinery as part of my job. Granted not electrics very often. I have sorted out electrics before on a motorbike..I've just googled about this. I do think this is something that I potentially sort out, I'm going to try to find the schematics for a Marshall B25 amp, and see what I think. If I think its to difficult for me to do, then I wont purchase it. Dave

Hello everyone I have the chance to buy a Marshall B25MKII Bass Amp for a good price. I'm new to learning bass and don't have a lot of money to spend. I asked some questions on the condition of the amp. I just wanted to check with you guys what you think on the condition of the amp. I've been told all the effects work fine, but there is a buzz when the treble is turned up to 10. That there is a slight faint crackle when the volume is turned up of down, adjusted, but doesn't seem to be consistent. Both the inputs work. He didn't test the headphone out jack socked as didn't have headphones the right size. So is what the seller describes a deal breaker, and I should walk away. Or is that normal for that amp? Dave