JapanAxe

Over the last few years I have had reasonable success building a handful of small valve amps. I do miss the Ampeg PF-50T that I sold on to purchase an EBS, so the time is right to start possibly my most ambitious scratch build yet. I previously enquired in this thread as to what version of B15 to go for, and I have settled on something close to a single-channel version of the Heritage model (i.e. switchable between 25W cathode bias and 30W grid bias), working from the Ceriatone 'Aunt Peg' layout. Most of my previous builds have leant heavily on recycling old parts, but this time I am going for quality new parts. I have neither skills nor tools to tackle woodwork, so I am going for a Hammond 'birdcage' style housing. When assembled it is about 12in wide x 10in deep x 7in tall. The transformers (on order from Primary Windings) and valves will all stand up within the mesh cage (proportions not the same as shown here): Wish me luck!

The very same! 😂

But my precious personal SOUND!

I play a theatre venue where the sound guy close-mic’s my Barefaced Super Twin as well as taking a DI from my amp head - because he knows BF and likes the way they sound. I don’t know what the proportion of mic to DI was in the FOH mix though.

Wedding gigs can be a nightmare. You are one of the many contractors responsible for making the day ‘perfect’ for the happy couple, their families, and their friends. Potentially conspiring against you are the inadequate space you’ve been allocated, the bell-end DJ who has already set up in the middle of said space, the traffic light volume monitor, the venue manager’s aversion to anything over 80dB, the access to the playing area via the swimming pool and a window, the tables full of guests that are still in your way 10 minutes before your scheduled start time, the manic wedding planner, no changing room... None of these are fictional btw. You need to have your setup down to a slick routine, a bit like soldiers knowing how to strip down and re-assemble a firearm. If there is a sound guy/gal you don’t want to be surprising them with massive jumps in level. Make their life easy and your gig will go that much better. While we’re on the subject of wedding and function gigs, when it comes to what you wear: If in doubt, go smarter. No-one will ever criticise you for being too well turned out, but there are few less pleasant feelings than being under-dressed. Don’t ask me how I know all this!

Greats stuff - looks like you recorded it in the Dangerous Kitchen!

I love the modulations in that tune!

Sold an amp to buy a different amp - one in and one out on the same day, by way of a road trip between lockdowns last year.

I think for me it would have to be: David Bowie - David Live Iggy Pop - TV Eye - mainly because I’ve owned copies on and off for 40 years.

AC/DC, Sheffield Poly, 1978. They were still unbearably loud in the bar in the next room. Slipknot, Bristol Anson Rooms in about 2001 (first UK tour). I was wearing earplugs but still in pain.

I generally take a MarkBass Nano 300 with me as a backup. On one gig it ended up powering one of the PA speakers.

PM sent.

TLDR: Yes. I initially struggled to motivate myself but started keeping a Bullet Journal which (among other things) helped to make me accountable to my own goals. I have a folder called Bass Challenge where I keep sheet music of songs I want to play properly but have never really cracked. Last night I was working on Master Blaster and New Born, both of which I have gigged at various times but only played messily. I’ve also been working through the James Jamerson transcriptions in Standing in the Shadows of Motown. I have a Trello board for all these numbers and I am steadily moving songs through the categories Challenge > Familiar > Nearly there > Sorted. On guitar I’ve spent time on my country playing and on Beatles and Bowie material, as well as the set of a band I am looking forward to playing with post-pandemic. I’ve also been teaching myself keyboards with the aid of a Udemy course. Then there are the six electronics projects I’ve completed, and daily Spanish using Duolingo. Even so, there are days where I’m just too tired or can’t be bothered, and I no longer beat myself up about that.

Just played that from the dots - what a lovely groove.

Ooh, think I’ll have a go at that one later.

If you take out 'believe' and substitute 'hope' I think you'll get a clearer idea of what that's about - everyone hopes there will be gigs etc before too long. Then musicians can earn money to spend on new kit.

You can then sell the original cab and get another one to match the second, different cab.

I hadn’t considered that Bill - my live playing experience started somewhat later than 1980!

Exactly. I suspect that manufacturers and retailers propagated the idea that if you don’t have both 10s and 15s in your rig, your sound will be lacking something. As others have said, find something you like, and if you need to be louder, get another one.

If you don’t want to hire them one of your rigs you could suggest they buy one used and then sell it on for a bit less at the end of the run.

Cheers. And also ‘D’oh!’

May I ask where you got it from? There's quite a range of prices out there!