The fasting showman

Thought so Pete, currently in free fall. I played there 2 years ago in a pretty ropey band and we went down undeservedly well, now I'm in a better band we made an enquiry about playing there and the landlord basically said we'd have to play for free first time. Suffice to say we left it at that, given that we play covers and are fairly decent (not that we are Chic or anything but we can earn OK), and that you can get decent money at the Bowling Green. The George IV suddenly looks much better in comparison.

Your experience echoes what I found with SVT heads, I had 2 MK1s and I gave it 4 years, re-valves and whatnot, and concluded that much as I love other people playing through them it didn't work out for me at all. I dropped on a GK800rb (I foolishly sold it to basschatter Cetera, a man of taste) that played so clear and fast, even if I don't play particularly fast, and I managed to get the sound I always wanted from an Ampeg. The GK cost less than the SVT revalve. Obviously I'm going to recommend the amp I have now, Gallien Krueger 700rbii, I imagine the 1001ii could be ideal too. Should come in way under your budget. All the best, Martin

Ian Paice drumming on the post Lou Reed Velvet Underground album Squeeze

Thanks for another great deal Ash, good to catch up again mate Martin

Around 15 years ago I owned an MTI SVT head and an early '70s one, prior to marriage and being a parent etc. I briefly had an Ampeg 810 (maybe early '90s, nothing exotic) but had to switch to a 410hlf. To my ears the 410 didn't suit the head at all, just my opinion. The whole experience of SVT ownership didn't work out for me, well and truly got it out of my system; they can sound fantastic in other people's hands though, I guess that's the lesson. It was an overkill in the bands I used it in, the sound just seemed to go straight past me, no fun whatsoever and wasted on me. Now a GK800rb into an SVT 810 to me is a great combination, one of my favourite rigs I've played through, all our tastes are different so doubtless people will disagree. I wonder if Bob Gallien designed it around the SVT cab. I remember as a kid seeing people using Acoustic 370s through SVT 810 and assuming (stupidly!) that they were cheapskates that couldn't afford an SVT head! Having heard an 800rb through one I bet a 370 would really compliment it, I've seen Anthony Jackson using the 370 /SVT setup in the early '80s on DVD. I've owned an SVT 810 and Ashdown Mag 810 and didn't find lugging them around too bad despite being an 11 stone, 5 ft 7 weakling, easier than a wide 410 any day. Just tilt it into your boot, all fairly easy. Martin

Cristina-'Things fall apart' from the Ze records Christmas album

Sold my Hipshot BT1 to Norm last week. Clear communication throughout, a hassle free transaction, as said above a pleasure to deal with. Glad it's gone to a good home mate! All the best, Martin

Bought an MXR Phase 90 off Stu this week. Absolutely perfect condition and prompt dispatch, many thanks.

Looks good Jim, just as cheap as the parts you'd need to buy. The possibility of it not working is highly unlikely, at the very least you'd have all the bits if you had to rewire anything; will be fine for the job. Regards, Martin

Yeah, just your basic Maplin O level project guitar pedal DIY jobs. To suss it out you can just get a stereo jack plug wired to a 3 core mains lead and short out the connections to see how it works. There's nothing to it at all, it doesn't warrant spending much. If you're moderately handy it's easy. If I can knock a pedal together anybody can. All the best, Martin

Hi Jim, I DIY'd one when I had an ABM300 evo 2. I made it out of a Neutrik stereo jack plug I had kicking around, a length of 3 core standard mains cable, a project box from Maplin and 2 SPDT footswitches. I soldered the earth wire to the screen of the jack plug and at the other end in the switch box bridged to the centre pin of both of the foot switches, The brown and blue wires were soldered to the two contacts on the plug and at the box end to an outer tab on different switches respectively. Obviously as either brown or blue make contact (when the switch is pressed) with earth the effect is activated. That's what I did anyway, didn't cost much as I had all the parts as scrap and I only wanted it for the Sub / Valve effects. Shouldn't cost much for the bits, no more than a tenner. All the best, Martin

Had the pleasure of buying a great USA G&L from Graham yesterday, incredible deal. As I was buying a 5 string out of necessity rather than GAS I don't think I could have dropped on a better purchase, way better than described. Many thanks for the bass and the mug of tea from a rock'n'rolling ornithologist!

I've owned a few Bassman 135s and a 100 and I seem to remember from the circuit diagram that the '70s Fenders break from the convention of parallel outputs (tweeds etc) and are wired in series but with a switching jack on one of the outputs that switches the output transformer to an 8 ohm tap. That then enabled you to use two of the stock cabs (4 ohm pyramid 4x12s) with one head presenting an 8 ohm load overall. If you are going to use a single 4 ohm cab then you use the regular speaker output, hence why it says 4 ohm min over each output but states 4 ohm minimum overall. Having said that, back when I was a kid in the '80s I used an 8 ohm cab on the regular (not ext) output with no issues. It may be better in this instance though to use the ext jack with an 8 ohm cab if using a single 8 ohm cab as (I think! Please check the diagram) that the switching jack is on the ext output and would switch in the 8 ohm tap. Hope this helps, there will be better informed people doubtless but I'd check the circuit diagram. Don't want the output tranny getting fried because of my rambling! To add if you are using a 4 ohm cab on the regular (not ext speaker out) then all is fine. Martin

Interesting points made definitely. I'd always wondered whether it was Louis Satterfield playing bass at times (as he was in the ranks of EWF anyway) having heard how good his playing was on Electric Mud and the equivalent Howlin' Wolf Psychedelic album that he did for chess. Pure speculation though!

Received a GK speaker cable from Cliff, great deal and service. Many thanks mate, cheers for the Paypal tutorial too! All the best, Martin

I think I changed them to M4 Schallers on mine, would have been back in the mid '80s when it was obligatory to upgrade (and usually ruin in the process) your bass. Great sounding basses these, wish I still had mine. Martin

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1452531095' post='2950873'] "All The Young Dudes" [/quote]Yes, both the Mott version and the one on 'David Live' When I heard the news 'Look back in anger' is the song that I needed to hear first. Ask me tomorrow and it could be totally different, so much incredible music to choose from.

Thought that would sort it. Just whack a short jumper lead in there permanently and forget it, I've done this with both my 700rb iis. I'm glad you actually tried it, usually people dismiss the suggestion! All the best, Martin

Hi, As many will advise, try and put a lead between the FX send and return. Also try using a contact cleaner on a jack then insert and reinsert into the input. If any of the volume or boost controls feel stiff maybe give them a few repeated turns until they feel free. These are some of the tricks I've done on GKs that have made some quite sinister quirks go away, I am a fan of their amps despite any gremlins. Pots and switching jacks seem to be their achilles heel(s). If these tricks fail, try a tech. Maybe Polar Audio can help. Good luck, Martin

Hi, It sounds like you've already been through more than I have with GK, the 4 I've had have been great (800rb, 400rb, mb200, 700rbii), I thought that the procedure was for GK to replace entire section boards. I know toroidals aren't cheap but there's ways around that, if you aren't bothered about warranty. I'd try the bloke on Talkbass, I'm hoping Gelfin, Nick or Cetera chime in! Have you managed to actually make contact with GK in the US? All the best, Martin

Hi, I'm far from a guru on anything, all I know with GKs is the old patch lead in the FX loop trick; seems to cure a vast range of ills. There's a bloke on Talkbass (B-string) who is a good contact. Polar Audio, as you will know, are the distributors, I've mixed feelings about them but they may help. When I swapped the mains tranny in my 400rb the local amp tech thought the insides of the amp looked pretty straightforward. Good luck, Martin

I think the intention with the P bass pickup was to obtain a humbucking design with an absence of phase cancellation in the sound given that that the two parts of the humbucker operate on different pairs of strings. That's not to criticize basses like the Stingray where phase cancellation is part of the sound (i.e a dip in the mids from having 2 coils on at the same time, like position 2 and 4 on a strat pickup switch) or a Jazz bass with both pickups turned on full. All great sounds in their own way. Martin

Many thanks to Wayne for a great deal, highly recommended.

That's really helpful David, the s2010 is what I'll be ordering. Many thanks again for the help and the clarity of info. Martin