ossyrocks

I do expect my strings to outlast me. Having had flats on a all mine now for at least two years, there is no way I'm looking to replace them, they just feel and sound right. Rob

Well, I'm going to get an idea very soon, as I just bought this one off Reverb (and not for the full asking price either). https://reverb.com/uk/item/79551626-gallien-krueger-400rb-mkiii-bass-head-amp-black-silver I'll post again when it's here and I've done some A/B tests. Rob

Duly noted on the patch lead. I have tried one in the loop to make sure it works with, and without, and have put a couple of patch leads in the bag for gigs in case they are needed. Another question, do you have any experience of the 400RB-III, ie the 3rd version, and how it compares to version 2? Thanks, Rob

Just watched this. I like him, and I like his company, and their attitude. It does make me want to use his gear. I have too many amps at the moment, I'm thinking all I need is the GK 400RB and a TE Elf in the bag for backup. The rest can go! However, I will probably keep one more amp, which needs to be decided. Rob

Blimey! You've got all the GK's! I tried a Legacy 800 at the bass bash and was quite impressed with. How does it compare when A/B'd against a 400RB? Rob

@shug I think the 3x10 is easier to move around than the 2x10 I had. It has more handles, plus it has wheels! I have an old case it almost fits the GK, but I’ve ordered some foam to make it fit better. I do like the wireless setup, I don’t know why I didn’t do it before. I have the Boss WL20’s and a NU-X one on a higher frequency too, in case of problems, but I’ve never had to use it.

Ooooh, would you look at that....'tis a thing of beauty. I'm relatively new to the bass world, although now I'm here, it feels like home. As a consequence, I missed ALL of these amps over the past decades, and I'm still going through the process of seeing what works, and what doesn't for me. I'll gladly take recommendations from trusted sources and check them out, hence the GK 400RB as used and recommended by @shug. My amp background has been entirely vintage valve stuff, and I still have a couple, but it's generally not powerful enough unless it's too heavy to move. This is my first non-valve amp that isn't Class D, and I can tell the difference. If you ever feel inclined to let yours go, please let me know. Rob

How did the mark IV compare with your original mark II tonewise?

Last nights gig, The Hope & Anchor in Ulverston. I've never played it before. It was tiny. But probably one of the most friendly and welcoming pubs I've been in for a long time. Lovely place, lovely audience, and we went down a storm. Here's the GK rig out in the wilds of Cumbria. Rob

We have a winner !

This is the second version too. I'm just home from the first gig with it. It's great, I think it's going to become my main amp, which is bonkers as I have invested a ton in more modern and new amps. I always carry a spare, so if the worst happens, it won't be a disaster. My band isn't shy, we're on the enthusiastic side of volume levels, and I was barely tickling this thing, it had loads left to give. The bass and the cab have a lot to do with it too. Tonight I was using my 1970 P bass with La Bella flats and a Barefaced 3x10 cab which is 4 ohms. The cab really brings out the best of any amp I run through it, and I love the sound of their 10's. I'm thinking I'll find someone good to give it a look over and a service, so I can be confident in using it. Rob

I will also add, it's flippin' loud for its 200w rating.

It's funny you mentioned Bergantino. That's what I've been A/B'ing it against tonight, a Forte D, which has been my usual gigging amp for the last few gigs. Whouda thunk it !

I bought this from the classifieds here. My old friend @shug has one of these, and, despite being a remarkable human being, and probably the best bass player in the north west, he also sounds very good. At a festival gig a couple of months ago, his band were on after mine. My wife Jan and I stayed for the evening and enjoyed the show. This amp, through Barefaced 10's, and Shugs playing, combined to be simply sublime. So, I have to try one don't I? Anyway, it's here. It's not the best example you might find. It had loose DIY rack ears mounted with pop rivets which have now been removed, and the case is a bit battered and scratched. But it's functional, and I've spent a bit of time with it over the last couple of days. I have other splendid amps, some quite expensive, but this thing has me scratching my head. It sounds bloody marvelous! It's so present, so right here in the room, so hefty, weighty and toneful. It's got me wondering that modern amp manufacture has taken a wrong turn somewhere. Why didn't they just stop here? I actually can't believe that tomorrow night I'm choosing to take the cheapest bit of kit I own out for a gig, and I'm really looking forward to using it. Yours, puzzled, Rob

I always fancied trying a MB Casa rig. I'm a bit of a Michael League fanboy, and we both play predominantly P basses. Rob

Me too. I haven't counted that either.

You're the reason I'm getting the GK amp! Yours sounded tremendous at the festival. Yes, it's the one from Edinburgh, should be here this week. Yes, the Tecamp is the same as Eich, at least the Tecamp Puma 900 is the same as the Eich T900. We A/B'd them at the bass bash, and there was no difference. The Tecamp is a very workman-like amp, it gets the job done, but you're right, it doesn't have much character. It does punch hard and has a lot of heft though. The Taste control is very useful. I'll be selling mine however, as it won't get a look in over the others now. How are you doing with the covid? I'm nearly three weeks in now and still suffering! Rob

Ooof, Olympic White !

It’s not allowed to say ‘76 Jazz’ without including a picture of it.

I've clicked "cetera" although I'm attempting to be sane. I currently have only one cab, a Barefaced 3x10. But the heads are another matter - Fender Bassman 50, Bergantino Forte D, Ashdown RM800 EVOII, Tecamp Puma 900, TE Elf, and incoming a GK 400RB. I will sell one or two of the heads, i will, I will, at some point. Rob

The most success I have is by attending jam nights. Some of the best bands I’ve ever been in started life at jams. I was asked to join my current band by two chaps I met first at a jazz jam, who then asked if I could be house bass player for a night at a funk jam, and then I was asked if I would to join them in a newly forming band. I now count them all as friends. Same with the last band, and numerous others over the years. Rob

Tonight's gig was brought to you by Lemsip, Ibuprofen and high strength Vitamin C, washed down with Shipyard Low Tide Pale Ale. I seriously had to dig deep tonight. New venue for us, The Pub on China St in Lancaster, a legendary venue locally. The setup was complicated by the fact that we haven't been there before and they have a house Bose PA system, or rather powered speakers (subs and tops) and we ran our desk into them and brought our own monitors. Once we were setup I could relax a bit and concentrate on actually being able to play and sing. Well, we managed it. Great crowd, very appreciative, some dancing, some singing along. The stage area was tight and Covid appears to have robbed me of any spatial awareness I may have had before, so I must have bumped my mic stand or the guitarists mic stand half a dozen times with my bass! Lots of positive comments after, so I think we'll be back there in the future. Two weeks until the next gig, so that's a blessed relief, I may be starting to feel human again by then. I used my new to me '70 P bass for the first time tonight, through the Bergantino Forte D and the Barefaced 3x10. It sounded just right, I cannot think how it could sound better. Rob

I haven't played my gig yet, but it's going to be a tough one. It's 11 days since I tested positive for Covid and cancelled the gig last Saturday. Tonight's gig is going ahead, and I feel absolutely dreadful. I'm not testing positive since Thursday, but I'm well and truly hanging. The list of symptoms is too long to go into here. 9.30pm start, 2 sets, and I'm singing nearly half of them too. Wish me luck! Rob.

Prices have increased a lot since I bought my '73 too, probably by about £1k in two and a half years. I actually really like the early 70's basses. I don't want to go much earlier as I don't like the wider nut width. Rob