uk_lefty

Sorry to hear about your Dad, sounds like you have some great memories together. A guitarist I knew tried to learn lefty for Hendrix tribute reasons and got nowhere. I think it depends how dominant you are in your right hand. The coordination on different sides of the body can be very different. If you can pat your head and rub your tummy, great, now try changing which hand is doing which job. Might be difficult. I guess having a go is the only way to find out. And if it doesn't work flipping the nut and re-stringing is a non intrusive way to make it work for you.

Well, that was a LOT of bass!!! First proper gig pushing this amp, scrap that, it never felt pushed at all. Sounded phenomenal.

The Return of the Space Cowboys Funk-Soul something That's all I've got for now.

I love this

I had seen a few of these lovely little tweed reissues come up and started to investigate. Completely wrong, because I'm trying to reduce gear drastically and raise cash for my upcoming house move but I have no self control. I've had the amp for less than a week and it got two gigs this weekend. My usual rig is an Ashdown ABM600 with two fifteen inch cans but I fancied something more portable and with a distinct character. The TV twelve is an ok one hand lift at 20kg though more modern 12" combos will probably be half the weight. The tweed is a bit worn in and has dulled a bit and got some patches of light wear but is in good condition as is the brown speaker cloth. There are two things I love about this amp: the gain dial, I generally crank it most of the way up which gives a gorgeous, round and full woollyness to the sound, proper valve preamp. It's great with my jazz bass and stingray but comes into it's own with the P bass. The other thing is the volume control. At four or less it's comfortable home practice levels. Above that it's gig levels. Last night on an outdoor stage I had the amp at seven (out of twelve) and could hear it beautifully on stage, even with a full drum kit and stage monitoring. I ran the amp at lower levels the night before for a private party in a small room with electronic drums and a sub for the PA, again really good projection. So, this doesn't replace the ABM but I got a bit sick of going to festivals and having to use some really awful provided bass amps, where there isn't switch around time to bring out the ABM rig I can just bring the TV twelve and everything is fine. It's really got its own character, and sounds as good as it looks. They aren't cheap second hand but they really are a great little noise box.

I'm happy with the deal. I'd looked at a few different versions online in varying conditions and I'm happy with what I've paid. Thing is, I just paid for a service on my SWR practice amp... Can't justify keeping both. Need to thoroughly check this amp out. Two gigs this weekend so it may get both of them.

Ummmm it's in my office right now. TV 12. The weight is not a problem really, around 20kg, glad it's not a bigger box though. Will give it a proper play through and maybe even one of this weekends gigs and report back. However this does mean that I have far too many bass amps.

You've been playing bass for four years only, you did this to help out this band and they have you playing live. That should be a huge confidence boost!! They asked you to do the studio recording first. Ok, it didn't go perfectly. But let's all be honest, how many of us play in live bands but the second someone hits record we fluff everything??!! I don't think you need to beat yourself up on this at all. Playing live and recording can be seen as two entirely different skills, where one relies on calm precision and the other relies on the energy you can bring and bring able to react to what's going on around you. You sound like a good band member to me: doing what's right for the band, taking up a new challenge (bass) to help the band, and staying away from the politics.

That's absolutely stunning!

Hmmm I looked up the TV 12 and it's supposed to be 20kg. That doesn't seem stupid heavy but I guess it depends on how bulky the box is, those single top handles don't help.

I've seen a few of these retro tweed boxes advertised and I'm quite tempted... I'd have to shift some gear to get one but that's normal. Just wondering what the opinion is on these, anything I can find is quite a few years old and the world has moved on since then. I'm tempted by the looks but hoping that there's a pleasing sound to them too. I expect they have some weight, but it would most likely replace my SWR as a home/ small gig amp if I were to get one. All opinions welcome.

I had the gain cranked on full and the valve pre fully engaged. I noticed a nice warmth and thickness to the sound on my fretless. Switching fully over to Solid state I got a nice open clank too which would do very well for some P bass played with a pick. So, pedals for distort, pre amp blend for warmth or clank.

Got a gorgeous sound from the Marshall DBS. I was playing a Harley Benton fretless jazz direct into the amp, no effects at all. Gain up high, full on valve preamp, mid heavy EQ, deep button in but bright out and an Ashdown 15" cab. This then DI'd to our 1400w Mackie Thump sub. Delicious sound, lots of character from the fretless coming though. Given a bit more time I'd like to properly A/B this with my ABM600. I don't know if the Marshall is giving me something the Ashdown can't...

It won't be too exciting... It's the singer's kids school fund raiser and we are a guitarist down so doing his old acoustic set from years back but with a bit of accompaniment from me and our drummer. Loads of new songs and an excuse to go fretless though so I'm happy.

I've just got the head back from a service (it took ages due to other work he had going on but I was prepared for that). I've plugged in my fretless to noodle about before a gig on Sunday. Impressions now.... The fan is still a lot louder than my Ashdown ABM 600 but this isn't for quiet bedroom practice so I'm not bothered. There is more volume now since the service, hurrah. I asked him to check the valve because I wasn't noticing anything by cranking up the valve side of the pre amp, he says the valve is fine. Well. I've got gain on max and and I'm fully on the valve side of the pre and what I'm noticing is a good warmth to the sound when dialling from solid state to valve. I was expecting it to be more like the Valve drive on my Ashdown but it isn't, because it's not a drive function. I really like the EQ flexibility on this and the compressor is handy. I am yet to try it with anything other than a passive fretless jazz bass but I would expect using my Stingray with a pick will bring demons out the speaker. Using my Darkglass overdrive and or fuzz would also probably sound stupendously good. Until I have tried that I will restrain myself from comparing this to my ABM 600.

While I see what you mean... It's cheaper for me to buy a vinyl reissue of Miles Davis' Sketches of Spain than it is to get a decent picture of the album cover to go on my office wall. Mad, isn't it?

I think you need to experiment with where you position it and really only get one of you think you need it. I've lost mine and haven't bothered looking for it. It made a small difference but mostly not needed for the music I play.

Andertons did a good video comparing a few including the Warwick and Jack Casady. The Jack Casady came out on top in their review, but if thinking of buying a semi hollow I'd watch that just for how the sound compares with different pickup configs.

Free to the taker. Will even post. This motley assortment of strap buttons is up for grabs.