umph

[quote name='bobbass4k' post='688847' date='Dec 19 2009, 03:32 AM']I've been playing 6 years, and in that time I've been through 25 cables. I seem to destroy them at a rate of knots, I don't think I put them through undue abuse, but eventually all the jacks seem to go dodgy, the either get visibly bent or just inexplicably go dodgy. Basically, I'm tired of spending £60 a year on cables, is there a cable out there with very heavy duty jack plugs? I'd be willing to splash out a bit if it lasted for more than 2 years.[/quote] how do you wrap your cables up at the end of a gig? i've had some no name 10pound ones for about 3 years now

[quote name='StevieD_FenderP2009' post='682763' date='Dec 13 2009, 02:49 AM']Hi there guys. I've got all my kit rackmounted which consists of: Trace Elliot GP12 Series 6 Head (mounted with a rack shelf) 2 AKG WMSPro40 Wireless Recievers Korg DTR2000 RackTuner Also, it's all plugged into a 6 way extention (with surge protection) socket thats been put onto a 1u rack piece Basically, i've got it all built in but there's this f***ing horrible buzzing noise coming from my head when it's all hooked up. I've tried all different cables etc but still the buzzing is there. and this buzz is awful, it's so loud it actually rumbles my cab the way i've got it connected is: Bass guitar 1 + 2 loaded with AKG Bugs on different frequencies -> Recievers -> inputs 1 and 2 on the back of the Korg Tuner seperately -> single output connected to the Active input on my Trace Elliot head (as both basses are active) -> output on back of head to Marshall JCM800 Cab I'll be honest when I say it's really upset me cos I am so proud of how i've worked to get all this equipment I don't know if there is an earthing problem as it started to happen when everything was fully bolted into place. Please note all the "rackears" from each component are metal so they could be interacting and causing a problem, also, the casing on the Trace head is metal and the casing on the wireless recievers is metal so could earthing/insulating be the problem? If so, how can i fix this? Everything is mounted into one of these 4u rackcases - [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ABS-4U-19-RACKMOUNT-FLIGHT-ROAD-TRANSPORT-RACK-CASE_W0QQitemZ370216164827QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Rack_Cases_MJ?hash=item56329a5ddb"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ABS-4U-19-RACKMOUNT-...=item56329a5ddb[/url] That is the exact case by the way Please please help! i'm desperate, Especially as i'm meant to be playing a big make or break gig for a management company in a few weeks time Thanks so much Stevie Dewar[/quote] ey up its an earthloop caused by the wireless, i hope you've sorted your problem

[quote name='SS73' post='691435' date='Dec 22 2009, 12:49 PM']I think you may be confusing Valve amps with aggresive valve sounds. Most of the best HiFi amps are Valve driven and go clean all the way, a Quatra or most other Valve Bass amps will go very very loud without distorting, all depends how you set them up, but they will be warm and have feeling unlike most Trans that can be made to sound more harsh or tinny.[/quote] true dat, valves are much more linear in their distortion and clip alot softer than transistors. Valve > SS for clean hifi sounds with the added bonus of being able to crank it. I want to know where people get this misinformed view that valve amps only sound good when cranked and can't do hifi sounds!

[quote name='Ant' post='690795' date='Dec 21 2009, 05:01 PM']I think it was just one valve out of the six[/quote] not a problem thats how 6550's / kt88s work! sounds like your driving them really hard though.

people are to nice on this forum. If this was any other forum this thread would've got reallllll bad.

[quote name='civictiger' post='674691' date='Dec 5 2009, 03:18 AM']im interested.. since the pro's are rack mounted, its ideal to have them. also the fact that they dont require tube maintenance e.t.c.. however, what are the pro's and con's? of having either? just a little discussion I wouldnt mind you lot talking about, for my own educational purpose.[/quote] most of the pros have valve preamps!

[quote name='yanto' post='689215' date='Dec 19 2009, 05:02 PM']so heres the question, why do guitarists turn up their amps to the point of drowning out everyone else, is there something in the rule book about this. Cos they've got small cocks.[/quote] because they have sh*t tone and don't know how to cut through a mix without having to dominate it

[quote name='pantherairsoft' post='689118' date='Dec 19 2009, 03:02 PM']In the very near future I will be the owner of the 1st T'Double Midget cab, I'm excited about recieiving it and not at all put off by others views and experiences.[/quote] is that an attempt at a yorkshire accent? ;o i'm not sure i've ever actually heard anyone say T in front of anything even in deepest darkest barnsley

[quote name='bassjamm' post='687606' date='Dec 17 2009, 06:46 PM']Hi everyone, I've just taken receipt of a Mesa Boogie Bottle Rocket pedal from a seller on ebay. Now I'm no genius when it comes to things like this, but am I right in thinking that valves have an orange glow about them when they're in good order, and that when they're gone, the silver top bit seems to be more cloudy? Thing is, the two 12AX7A's that are in there, well, one seems to look fine, the other doesn't. The dodgy looking one hasn't got a glow at all really I've had a good play about with it, but can't seem to hear any problems tonally. Am I doing something wrong? Or is the valve gone d'you reckon? In a darkened room, only one is visibly glowing! Thanks in advance for any help! Jamie[/quote] if the silver on the top is beginning to fade away thats an indication the valve is on its way out, not all valves glow though especially if there being underrun

[quote name='bumnote' post='687292' date='Dec 17 2009, 01:28 PM']While he is charging professional prices he should expect criticism where its due, as long as its objective. Fair play to the bloke, he beleives in something and hes got off his arse and put his money and effort into doing something constructive.[/quote] yeah say it to the guy don't publically slate them. Thats MY opinion but whatevs.

[quote name='Prosebass' post='687191' date='Dec 17 2009, 12:03 PM']Unfortunately , (and I will take this opportunity to thank anyone who has reviewed my basses) I think reviews are pointless unless they are objective, written with a depth of understanding and from someone who has no prejudice and plenty of experience. Musical instruments and gear are reviewed subjectively and personal likes and dislikes enter the equation. It applies especially here on basschat as there are those who wouldn't wear anything other than a Fender round their neck irrespective of whether other basses are better value, sound better or look better (in the reviewers opinion) and there lies the problem. With regard to Alex , he has put a lot of effort into his business and is producing something different without the backing of a corporation or by getting his cabs made in China for peanuts. I think the original gripe over his cab was satisfied amicably and how many other producers would just say " if you are not happy you can have a full refund" It is pointless discussing this any further in this thread and this should be put to bed with any reviews of his gear going in the review forum written by people who have actually used his gear. You can test a washing machine objectively by how clean your clothes come out of it but with instruments and gear its always going to be subjectively, so on many levels what one person says will be absolutely pointless to another , again I cite the Fender Good = Fender Bad debate. It seems a typically British thing to knock the little guy and put down innovation, ideas and enthusiasm. Products from small producers may not be perfect (price / quality etc ) but the products come from a passion and desire to improve and innovate and with time and encouragement the products will improve and come down in price. Otherwise we may all as well just give in now and all you will be able to buy is American branded gear made in the far east by someone who doesn't give a sh*t....[/quote] i agree very much with all of this, personally i would've never wrote a review like the o/p it'd make me feel like a complete arsemuncher, alex is starting up he needs all the support he can get not someone trying to knock him down while hes still on his learning curve!

[quote name='tayste_2000' post='687097' date='Dec 17 2009, 10:36 AM']I use HCFX to feel better about the gear I've bought, everything is so positive[/quote] same and if you ever want to buy anything all the justification you need is in the reviews!

[quote name='eude' post='686547' date='Dec 16 2009, 05:15 PM']Gave the website a good read, but there's always holes in that kind of info. I was actually asking them about how usable they think it will be compared to a small class D amp that is louder on paper. As you'll see already from the thread, some folks say it will be a lot louder than your average 30W, some folks say that's nonsense, I'm not sure what to believe so I just thought I'd ask for Ashdown's opinion is all. I also was wondering if they have a definite date for release and details of UK availability. Eude[/quote] 4 el84s are pretty loud for guitar but not so great for bass

[quote name='geoffbyrne' post='686232' date='Dec 16 2009, 12:39 PM']They wouldn't have just found a box of obscure old valves, would they? G.[/quote] more like hes just used the military spec versions of normal valves which often have the same ratings just different names.

i'm assuming there aren't seperate inputs for the two different parts so my feeling is the 4X10 will have been disconnected or you will have a loose connection! If your any where near sheffield i can sort this out for you.

[quote name='roddimus' post='685996' date='Dec 16 2009, 03:46 AM']Hi there, I've just picked up one of the original V-Type 220 Watt valve heads. I've opened up the amp and its all totally original, its never had new valves and it was made in June 1995! I was wondering if anyone has any idea on biasing this amp? I've had a good look around inside and I can't find a variable resistor for adjusting the bias with (I haven't removed any pcb's yet.) My only guess is it could be on the top of a PCB or that it could be a fixed bias design. If anyone has any ideas on this it would be appreciated. Also I've heard it mentioned on forums that these amps could have been built by Matamp. Does anyone have any info on this? I'd be interested to know if it was true. Any information will be greatly appreciated![/quote] fixed bias is still adjustable cathode bias isn't. Your looking for a trim pot, i'd recomend taking it to a tech or getting a bias helper if you want to do it yourself.

[quote name='Catalin' post='249435' date='Jul 28 2008, 09:48 AM']Hello guys ! I have a Trace Elliot V-Type all tube head. The head have 4 preamp tubes: 2 are closer to the power tubes and the other 2 are lower situated and closer to the input - i think these are preamp tubes and the others are drive tubes, i'm right ? The preamp tubes are Tronal, what do you know about these tubes? Tnks ![/quote] my gut instinct is there gonna be similar to JJ's and made at the same factory. Your right in saying that the two valves near the input will be the input valves and the other two with be the driver and splitter.

am i right in thinking the drive control is similar to the older matamps? studio / studio bright / normal / normal bright?

hahaha i don't normally bash stuff like this but that was just total w***ery

[quote name='trent900' post='679356' date='Dec 9 2009, 06:35 PM']Hi! Can anybody help with this problem? I've checked the wiki as is my duty - and a wonderful thing it is - but it doesn't seem to answer this question. Anyway. I would like to have a system where my snap, crackle and pop input stage in my GK amp is partnered with something a bit fatter, cleaner and more laid back - like an Ampeg SVP-pro. So I have conceived of a 'distribution board' which: [list] [*]Fits into a 19" rack [*]splits the signal from the bass to run through the two preamps parallel [*]recombines the signal post-preamp using a blend pot [*]sends the combined signal to a rack compressor and receives it back [*]sends the compressed signal to an FX loop and receives it back [*]fires the now horrifically mauled signal into the GK's power stage. [/list] Now I'm not much of a one for electronics. I do have talented friends who will help with circuit design, board layout and actual manufacture, but they're not audio people so they can't really help with component choice. I have found a nice signal splitter on Jensen transformers' site: [url="http://www.jensen-transformers.com/as/as014.pdf"]this splitter[/url]. I plan to fiddle with it to the tune of deleting the automatic power on/off mechanism that uses the two batteries and replace that with an always-on DC mains supply, probably 15V, and delete two of the output lines. This leaves the costly components as: [list] [*]A Burr-Brown (now Texas Instruments) OPA627 opamp [*]Two Jensen JT-11P-1 transformers [/list] I also plan to have switchable active and passive splitters, the passive of which requires [i]another[/i] JT-11P-1. Now here's my problem: those transformers are $70 each. The opamp will cost about £27 but I can cope with that. My question is: do I [i]have[/i] to use the Jensen transformers? I know they're meant to be the absolute dogs and I would like to make the splitter stage as transparent as possible but man, $210 plus shipping plus duty plus VAT doesn't half make me squeal for just 3 little components. Can anyone suggest an alternative? Does anyone have experience of doing something like this? If there's no sensible alternative then I will start to look at fulfilling the same requirement using a sequence of commercially-available boxes but I want to build it myself for the educational value, the satisfaction, and rack neatness. Many thanks in advance! Any other comments on the idea or proposed setup very welcome also. Jon[/quote] you'll probably get away with just buffering the signal to prevent signal loss on the splitter, using the jensen transformers is a bit overkill but would get the job done perfectly. A blend between the two preamps would be easy to assemble and a buffered effects loop is also very simple, you shouldn't have a hard time sticking this all in a rack case aswell. This should be a good project if i was you i'd be tempted to do this all valve!

make sure the amps in standby when you measure the grid voltage! those voltages seem a little low to me though, you thought about taking it to a tech? You should be getting around 40 - 45ma per valve. Also stick some kt88's in there!

[quote name='guybrush threepwood' post='680227' date='Dec 10 2009, 01:30 PM']Ah right, is that just heads then? I thought there were quite a few class A 30 watt guitar combos...[/quote] ac30s aren't class A it's just marketing hype, anything with more than one output bottle is generally gonna be ab1.

i'd say take it to john at champ electronics but hes taking a break for christmas atm. Whats up with the amp?