Mikey R

[quote name='BassPimp66' timestamp='1353833327' post='1878749'] What is meant here is: small amp wattage + big speaker wattage = DANGER for the amp. If you try to drive a 500W cabinet, with a 10 W amp, the amp may burn/explode/disintegrate trying to keep up. [/quote] I dont know how this myth got started - please could everyone stop saying this please.

[quote name='omikin' timestamp='1352914937' post='1869361'] Had to call Alex and tell him how fantastic it is. Now our guitarist wants a guitar cab from him!≈ [/quote] I dont know about the Super 12, but the Compact actually sounds awesome for guitar when driven by a valve amp.

[quote name='BigBeatNut' timestamp='1353246219' post='1872915'] Nice. I find the practical advice on which knob to twiddle first particularly useful. I bought a fully parametric EQ pedal a while back, and while I know what each of the knobs does, the combinations of the 3 variables was just too much and I never found it did anything useful for me. I will now tackle it again. [/quote] Yep, cheers Si - definately made me question whether a graphic EQ is more handy than a semi parametric on an amplifier. If you had two amps to choose from, one with two swept mids and hi and low shelving or peaking EQ, the second with a 10 band graphic, if all else was equal which would you choose?

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1352764428' post='1867289'] There is a 100w valve head for £250 in for sale, its built to be clean, and appears to have most of the relevant stuff replaced so should be pretty good to go, that is a good way to go for the clean valve experience. [/quote] Oli, Ive had a look in the For Sale section, no luck finding it - is it still there?

If youre getting it modded anyway, would getting it rebiased with KT88s be an option? Reading suggests they stay clean alot longer than the EL34s, but then break up right at the last moment - maybe some of the valve experts could comment?

Cheers guys! Bit of background - Ive played bass for around 18 years now, played in a number of originals bands when I wa'a lad, ran open mic nights at uni, those kinds of things. Bass has always been there for me when I needed it, which is why Im feeling a little lost now Im in this low spot. Im going back to basics, practicing scales and so on. I have no doubt this low spot wont last for long.

[quote name='Thurbs' timestamp='1352119750' post='1858883'] Wow, you have more patience than me! 3 months tops is my limit from joining to gig. This has been learnt the hard way unfortunately. [/quote] Its been my fault as much as the other two guys - we were all a bit surprised when going through the old emails to find the first set list really was a while ago... playing just hasnt been a priority for me and now I think Im starting to see the results of that. EDIT: speling

I dont normally play along to a drum machine, maybe I should give that a try. Cheers for the suggestion. Our drummer is really good, and I think I play alot better when playing with the band, but you play differently with others as you dont have the time to be so self critical. Unfortunately, we're all grown ups so music happens only when a house isnt being built / someone isnt working out of town / looking after kids / on holiday - which means its already taken a couple of years to even get gig ready.

Hey all, does anyone have off days / weeks / months? Like, practicing just makes everything worse and you just get frustrated? I feel like Ive been in this rut for a couple of months now, I thought I was just not practicing enough but practice just doesnt help. Got no control over the strings, my quarter notes are all different lengths, cant seem to hit the strings with the same velocity each note, the ghost notes dont sound, and I keep forgetting what section of the song comes next. Its like my muscle memory has gone to pot. Someone please tell me it'll pass some time soon cos Im really not enjoying it right now!

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1352071649' post='1858517'] As a musician highly interested in math and physics, I'd say they're essential. [/quote] I just dont get them - surely they only affect any notes played open string? As I understand it, they are used on a guitar to make the B a little sharper which makes it better harmonically related to the other strings when playing common open chords - as bassists, we just dont have that problem. Am I missing something?

Agree with the above - scale length is only one part of the equation. Personally, I find an uncomfortable action to be the biggest problem, followed by neck width, then profile. My guitarist played bass in another band, and I find his 5 string unplayable due to a wide, shallow neck and super high action - but he dislikes my 4 string as its a toothpick by comparisson.

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1351007473' post='1846134'] Boiled linseed oil is Danish oil. Edit - Sometimes it's boiled tong oil. [/quote] Nope - Danish Oil is a blend of resins and oils (possibly tung oil, possibly linseed, more likely mineral oil). [quote name='Spike Vincent' timestamp='1351008530' post='1846158'] So,never in 22 years is ok then? [/quote] I used to just wipe my fingerboards down with a little furniture polish. Ive got a rosewood neck thats been off the instrument for about 13 years and its not showing any sign of cracking up.

Cheers guys, drummer is away for two weeks so wont get the try the LB with full band for a bit. Will let you know when I get the chance to try it

Bought a BF Compact off of Oli, really fast transaction and next day delivery - dead chuffed!

Cheers for the posts guys, I spent the morning scanning through schematics and for the most part all the major bass amps follow the original bassman layout, fixed bias with negative feedback into the phase splitter, difference is in the filtering in the feedback loop and the values of the components to suit valve, HT voltage and output transformer. Im guessing the output transformer has a bigger part to play than the valve types. The combinations are mind blowing - the solution is probably to just try out a few amps and see what I like. [quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1350219792' post='1835869'] Tons of vintage amps suitable for bass with EL34. What cab do you have? [/quote] Oli - you know what cab Im using as you sold it me last week! [quote name='RandomBass' timestamp='1350223337' post='1835925'] Ive been doing pub gigs with my LB30 and BF Compact with no problem. In fact the LB is getting more outings than my ABM at the moment. At some stage I'm sure I will need to try the DI and put a little bass into the PA, and Im looking forward to experimenting with that. [/quote] Cheers Geoff, thats good to know. I should probably try to control the GAS till Ive at least tried the little beasie.

Hey all, sorry if this has been covered before but Im new to this thermionic way of life and wanted some opinions. Ive got me an Ashdown Little Bastard, going through a Barefaced Compact. I love the tone in my living room, but Im a bit worried it might not be loud enough to hang with the three piece rock band. Ive not tried it yet as we always use the backline at the rehersal studio but thought I would share my thinking on here in case anyone else has had similar experience. If I do need to upgrade, Im thinking I'll need to go up to between 90 to 120 watts, so thats around an extra 6dB, give or take. From what I can tell, alot of the bigger amps out there use with KT88 or 6550 output values, which some say are interchangable provided the anode voltage is below 600v (!). These amps have four valves at around 150 to 200 watts, six valves gives around 300 and up, so thats possibly overkill for what Im after. In the vintage market, are there any bass type amps that have EL34s or 6L6s? And importantly, how does the choice of valve type effect the tone, and can they be interchanged on that model? Im playing a P type bass, lots of clank in the mids but a tight bottom end, not too sparkly (bright switched off, no tweeter).

[quote name='51m0n' timestamp='1349899648' post='1832101'] Also if you have no limiter to catch excessive peaks then you will likely need to go a little faster in the attack to keep them under control.... [/quote] There may be no need to catch the peaks - the amp will clip them off and that might be a sound you want. Ive been playing around with valvey type amps and thats just what they do. However, if you want a really clean sound, then yes I agree you would probably limit them.

[quote name='umph' timestamp='1349431664' post='1826161'] Don't agree, you can run them at 100W a pair and they'll still last a decent amount of time, obviously if you ran them 800/800 they'd pop in a second but for the 100W you need about 400v~ on the screens and it really has to be regulated. [/quote] Just out of interest, how would you efficiently regulate a 400v HT line? I believe most solid state regulators only work up to a fraction of that voltage? EDIT: Dont worry, Ive figured it out I think.

[quote name='seashell' timestamp='1349864067' post='1831393'] Another thing is that the SE Bash has gained a bit of a reputation so some people travel a fair way to get there (eg from the Midlands or the South Coast). [/quote] (cough)North Yorkshire(cough) Though Im really sad I couldnt make it this year, Ive done the previous two and the SE bash really is a great day / weekend out.

[quote name='TRBboy' timestamp='1349726982' post='1829799'] Yes, I realise it wouldn't be a SE bash! I was just thinking that if we were talking about a National Bash, somewhere more central would be better. What's the secret to organising a decent bass bash then SE BCers? We had one in Birmingham last November, but only 4 of us turned up! I would love to organise a bash of the same sort of caliber as the SE one, so any advice would be much appreciated! [/quote] Location close to public transport. And tea and cakes, obviously.