Mikey R

No-one else has mentioned this - when I tried out a Ray, I found that you get the same sound whether you play soft or really dig in. I can see how this would be useful, but I didnt get on with it, I like to vary my sound by varying technique, which the Ray didnt respond to. But the Sterling really is a nice beast.

[quote name='winterfire666' timestamp='1399115056' post='2441152'] some really cool stuff, that orange rig is so ott, its gotta be an acoustic nightmare though [/quote] notice the disco ball

your pedals might be rolling off the low end?

Its very unlikely you would notice much difference in output volume by increasing the output power by only that much. It was rated at 200 watts by the manufacturer for a reason, most likely a max current rating of the output transistors. The power supply was likely overspeced to make sure the bottom end wasnt compromised at the rated output. If you wanted more output, as you said a second power amp would probably be the way to go. You could slave a second amp from the DI out, rather than cut up this classic amp.

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1397750428' post='2427095'] I believe it is gold metal-flake in a compote of translucent red. [/quote] Tasty!

Its not just bass players - at uni, one of my drummer friends quit her indie folky band, and was replaced by a drummer hooked on drum and bass. It didnt really work out for them.

i didnt see an effects loop in the specs, you might need one to put your modulation and / or time based effects post dirt EDIT: doh, missed it - youre going for a buffered loop, good choice

[quote name='Sean' timestamp='1395084683' post='2398519'] I've never had the need to play clean. I've read that the 2061x packs a big punch. Is that 1.25 dB based on through the same cab? How do you calculate that? [/quote] All things being equal - which they never are - the increase of decibels is = 10 x log(ratio of ouput power) So, if you had an amp that could deliver a clean 15 watts, and another that could deliver a clean 20 watts into the same cab, the decibel increase would be 10 x log (20 / 15) which is approximately 1.25 dB. In reality, the complexities of the distortion characteristics, compression, and frequency response, coupled with the way that the ear and brain respond to these things, means that maximum power output is only one of a ton of variables. And like you said, thats before we even consider the cab. Its very likely that the 15 watt amp could sound fuller and punch harder than the 20 watt amp. Even a clean amp isnt really that clean. So, the difference in volume between the 15 watter and 20 watter might not be what you would expect. Saying a 15 watt amp is too quiet and a 20 watt amp is just right isnt really useful. I tested this theory over the weekend, by taking two of the output tubes out of my Little Bastard and plugging my 8 ohm cab into the 4 ohm socket. There really wasnt much in it, I wanted to believe that the tone was a little thicker that closer to saturation, but I doubt I would notice unless I knew in advance I was only putting out 15 watts. Thats kinda why valves are so awesome.

[quote name='Sean' timestamp='1395083466' post='2398488'] So what are the alternatives out there to the LB30? There's the Marshall Treble and Bass 2061x which is 20w but I'm unaware of anything else in the sub 50w all tube bass amp category. I know Ashdown do a 15w one but that really is a bit small. Is it time to commission someone like Matamp or MJW to make one? [/quote] I doubt you would tell much difference between 15 and 20 watts, its only a 1.25dB increase in output. It might make a small difference at breakup levels, but if youre playing clean you really wont notice.

[quote name='Sean' timestamp='1394825623' post='2395739'] Nice review, Dan. It sounds nice and gritty on the video but obviously that's not doing it justice. There's no way to post a link to the review but it's worth going to the site and doing a search, it's pretty comprehensive. [/quote] http://www.iguitarmag.com/magazine-editions/iguitar-magazine-issue-11/reviews/laney-nexus-tube-head-and-nx810-cabinet/ I cant get the video to play I did try out the big valve Nexus a couple of years ago and I remember being impressed. If youre used to a well featured preamp then you'll probably get on with it. Right now though, I think I'd prefer a simpler master volume with two to three band EQ. Tastes change.

Bought a pair of pickups from Dan, dead easy no messing about. Would buy from Dan any time!

If youve got a woodworking clamp handy, you could try clamping it to your headstock. Use a couple of cauls of soft wood to stop the clamp denting the laquer. The extra mass should (may?) reduce your dead spot, or at least move it elsewhere. It will make your bass neckdive like crazy, so its only a diagnostic tool. But if you like the sound of your bass with extra mass on the head, you can get specially made lumps of brass that fix permanently to your bass for just that purpose.

Can you buy Ampeg by the kg?

i have the opposite problem, high notes on the lower strings are way more full than on the same notes on the high strings, its difficult to get a consistent tone.

Im not sure which forum to post this in, it doesnt really go in effects or amps, so I'll put it here. I had some good news through, so Im treating the blue bass to a new pickup, a Delano PC 4 HE/M2 split P: Ordered from Electro in Donny. Will post again when it turns up.

Well, Im assuming that amp comprises of a preamp section and a power amp section. Class D is nothing special, you can get those super light for not much money. So, if you're willing to put your preamp on your pedal board, that gives you a whole bunch of options. Mixing a bit of dry signal into your dirty signal also isnt anything new. That does sound good, but if you play around, I reckon you could get something sounding just as good for far fewer Gregs vouchers.

What do people think of the EHX Blackfinger? I like mine, but I use it as much for the tubey tone as the compression. Has anyone tried the Whitefinger?

That Facebook link is broken, have they taken the page down?

Ive got an HA2500, which is plenty loud enough, with loads of volume left to spare - I even scared our guitarist by turning it up.

Its not a twist, the frets are set out in a fan configuration, so that the bass strings have a longer scale length than the treble strings. It just creates a bit of an optical illusion. See the bass in my avatar.

[quote name='0175westwood29' timestamp='1387716560' post='2314799'] never have a problem getting the sound guy to di from my head, my problem comes when i ask if he'd mind micing my cab, for some reason having to plug in a mic and put it infront of my cab is a pain, seeing i use a dirt sound as my main tone it sounds better mic'd andy [/quote] Hey Andy, yeah the speaker is the important bit in the chain - maybe if you brought your own microphone and just handed the enigineer an XLR?

[quote name='Musky' timestamp='1387222959' post='2309599'] Most clubs I've played tend to DI the bass and prefer using their own boxes rather than any DI built into the amp, so I'm surprised you haven't come across this. In such circumstances it can be handy to have some control over your FoH sound, but your still left with trying to persuade the engineer to use your kit rather than his own. [/quote] [quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1387392585' post='2311523'] Surely if you need an external pre-amp you bought the wrong amp in the first place? [/quote] Ive youve got the preamp on your pedalboard, theres no way they engineer can bypass it. Its always a struggle convincing the engineer to mic or DI from the amp.

[quote name='andydye' timestamp='1387295483' post='2310388'] it may take me some time to be able to try one and then some time after that before I can approach buying one, but I love the 'buy British' concept and Matamp are king, unless my mate who used to work for them can build one for me in which case MJW here I come woohoo! [/quote] There you go - chat with Martin and see what he can do He might even have a bass amp in at the moment, you never know.

[quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1387236650' post='2309854'] So why did I live on NUNNERY Lane then, your bleedin' stroppiness [/quote] Theres got to be an Abbey Road joke in here somewhere...