BassBod

There is no AGS off option on the TH500. The only reason I sold mine! It really is designed to flavour the sound away from “class D” to something warmer and “tubey” and it does that very well. I just prefer to have an off switch. My solution is a Retroglide 800 and Sansamp pedal....same idea 😎

For me, the need for lighter more portable gear is partly age (not just health wise, but I’ve been shifting gear for a long time now, it gets dull!) but also the increasing hassle of getting a vehicle close to venues, loading out through drunk crowds etc. I’m self employed, work for a lot of different people, so I’m expected to be there on time, set up and ready...however much city traffic/motorway problems/parking restrictions get in the way. Lighter and smaller gear gets the job done a lot easier most of the time. If I was always arriving in a van with a band, I would use heavier stuff 😜

It must be your inner bass player, reminding you that sound is always more important than logistics. It’s a life-long struggle 😳

I’ve been using one or two TKS S112s for a few years now - still very happy with them. The performance/ portability/ cost combination is impressive. Not the deepest sounding cabs, but two provides plenty of sound. The surprise for me in just how good they are with the older generation of “small” amps. The TE AH150 or SWR Bass 350 etc all produce really nice noises, but are quite easy to cart about.

Yes, the TE manual is very comprehensive. I remember years ago, with a Series VI and a Wal (!) it was a struggle to get a good stage sound in hurried sound checks, and it was made harder by not having many decent PA’s. The amp had to cover the room, so it usually seemed way too much on stage. These days, with an old(er) AH150 it seems much easier. Pick a bass that sounds good, turn off the pre-shape and use the graphic eq very sparingly, usually just a slight low boost and some upper mid cut. DI into PA if the room needs it. 😎

On my old bass (ply with solid top) I found that Spiro E and A, with Innovation black Rockabilly D and G worked surprisingly well. I’m still tempted to try it again..

Yes, I’ve run more “voiced ” preamps into it (Sansamp VT, Sadowsky) but I assume it would overload with a line level input unless you were able to keep it very low.

Doesn't sound like the problem is nylon, but more string diameter - there are some black nylons like the D'Addario set that are almost "normal sizes". I use these on acoustic bass guitars (with acoustic guitar type under saddle piezo strips) and they work perfectly well.

You could try Jon Godsland at Orchid Electronics in Exeter....look him up and give him a call?

They (Hiscox) have a tougher ProII spec for their acoustic guitar cases, which is essentially a thicker outer skin. Might be worth asking about that - I’ve never seen one. But, I have had a Hiscox get battered about on a couple of flights to the point where it barely closed (edges and hinges all knocked out of shape). Bass was fine 😎

Nice to meet you yesterday Raymondo, hope you got some sleep eventually! 😎

Yep - my old SWR amps just about got away with it, but with increasing power comes more risk. Keep it very low, variable etc but it’s just a good idea (especially with double bass and piezo pickups).

Yep, that’s the one I was thinking of 😎

Warwick make one...looks like an old Sony hifi 😜

I rate the PJB’s as well. Very comfy, great sound..but not the toughest of designs. They are also sold a lot cheaper as Edifier H850’s. My other favourites are the MEars by Meters/Ashdown. Fantastic sound, about £40.

What stood out for me was the combo wasn’t sitting on the floor, but stacked on top of other amps, but it still had some authority to it’s sound. I’d usually expect any small combo to sound a bit thin if it wasn’t on the ground. I use small amps/cabs a lot - they are always on the ground 😜

I briefly heard the 1x12” version in PMT Brizzle - I was impressed, plenty of depth but also nice and clear. It’s on my watch out for list 😜

I liked mine, but the “drive” side of it defeated me. It seemed to me like a Sansamp that I could never unplug! I love Sansamps, but I use them sparingly, and know where the off switch is. I think experimenting with your bass/cab is the only way. But I also thinks it’s fair to say none of the micro amps will do the full “heft” of an older amp like the Eden. Now, I’ll go sit in the corner...😳

Bags is bags...everyone has theirs 😎

Yep, I’m there Sunday eve with Kevin Brown..😎

Best gig I ever saw JB fronting Norman Beaker’s band, with a few extras...Band on the Wall, Dec 1984. I spent the next few years hunting out his solo work, which was almost impossible outside of secondhand shops 😳. Stigwood really stiffed him!

Another easy fix is just carry a small passive (transformer) DI box and run from the line out or effects send jack. Radial Stage Bug SB-2 is my current option, £40 from the For Sales on here. Saved me from Behringer boxes more than a few times 😳