lemmywinks

If putting a DI'd instrument through a PA is ridiculous and a worry then you're 100% doing it wrong (it's two cables FFS), if you spent a lot of time and came to that conclusion then you spent a lot of time being wrong. You also don't need a "big PA", just a capable one which these days can be very compact and comparatively cheap. Two tops on stands which are smaller than what we used alongside subs back in the day. It's literally a DI cable and a monitor return, that's it. That replaces trying to make your backline to two jobs, one of which will be compromised on some stages as the ideal volume and sound for the stage will not be the same as those for FoH. The OP might have to use his amp as FoH or the band might have a decent modern PA and use in ears. They might provide monitor wedges and all he needs is a DI box, we don't know so best to give advice after he has asked and we know the situation. Saying that putting a band through a PA is pointless and too complicated and then saying people will laugh at you for doing so is outdated and terrible advice to give anybody about to start gigging though.

The first thing you should do is find out what the band are doing, if they put everything through the PA (best option) then you'll just need to DI and sort yourself some monitoring. That might be an amp, in ears or a wedge. Chances are if they are doing this then it will be one of them setting levels with no omnipresent engineer (unless they're on very good money), used to be a hassle but with modern remote tablet based desks this is much easier. If they need you to provide bass for FoH then it gets more complicated and can be a bit of a compromise as you'll need to have the correct volume and sound for the audience and your own personal monitoring, usually one will end up sounding worse due to not being able to tailor each one individually. PA option is best basically but it all depends on what PA gear they have as well as their own monitoring situation. Ignore advice that tells you to not bother with bass through the PA for pub gigs, it's not 1990 any more and I see a lot of bands with good PA setups (2x full range tops will get you there) and in ears on pub circuits, these are usually the better outfits who get better paid gigs. If that's what the band are already doing then take advantage of it. There are no hard rules and those who will tell you putting a band through the PA at pubs is over complicated are either people who have little to no experience of it or those who's band don't have a decent PA capable of doing so. I personally find using IEMs instead of an amp live is much easier to use and setup than any rig I've owned as well as sounding better, I would never have thought that a £30 belt pack and a set of £23 IEMs would sound so clear and remove a lot of the things I hated about gigging, I can put whatever I want through my mix just by sliding my finger on a tablet screen.

Don't go bluetooth, sounds like a nice idea but is pretty much useless due to lag. I use a USB mini desk (https://www.thomann.de/gb/soundcraft_notepad_5.htm) and a pair of KZ ZS10 IEMs. Advantage here is you also get a sweet mini desk as well!

Double post!

Btw I've only just noticed how grubby the + pad looks on that board, will redo it at another date as the amp is back in one piece now!

I have a TC BH250 head which only has a Speakon connector and not a combi jack, this annoys me. I'm aiming to use it as a rehearsal head with whatever cabs are in the practice room, so I could take a Speakon-jack lead and depending on the connections provided by the cabs on offer I could plug remaining end into the amp. Essentially meaning I can turn up to rehearsal anywhere with a single cable. However the Speakon connector (4 pole) is soldered to a PCB which plugs into the mainboard, nice and convenient for swapping it in or out but not as easy to find if you want a drop in replacement without soldering wires to it. Anybody know where I can get a 4 pole Speakon combi jack with these long legs?

Yes that was me being sarcastic, the quoted bit in italics is genuine though. That car salesman tactic of turning a negative into a positive, like the built in tuner not functioning will aid learning the instrument. It looks like it's had some water damage to the screen so who knows how long the preamp will work. I don't think he owns any clamps either, you could do a better job with planks of wood and a few budget clamps. I did my daughter's cheap (and very pink) acoustic with a handful of ratchet clamps and some scrap wooden board. came out miles better than that.

Never seen it before, maybe he's heard about scalloped fretboards and thought this is what it meant? Quite how we go from that to a neck that looks like an 80s BMX grip I don't know. Oh and this is in the description: "but the LCD inbuilt tuner has a misty screen so I doubt it will ever work: get yourself an E tuning fork and learn to tune it by ear, you learn guitar much better that way." It's got a knackered tuner and the top is protruding and has a massive crack, bracing is probably mangled too but hey, he's doing you a favour by removing your training wheels. Get a tuning fork and learn to play properly noob! No need to tune in silence at a gig, just whip a tuning fork out even though you can't hear anything!

Described as "shop soiled" which is either massively dishonest or he doesn't know what that means. It's one of G4M's many "exploded in transit" acoustics which are sold off at half price or less. Absolute firewood. You can get the guitar brand new for £99: https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Deluxe-Single-Cutaway-Electro-Acoustic-Guitar-by-Gear4music-Sapele/C4Q

"It's crazed the glaze!" - another damaged G4M acoustic being sold at a massive upcharge after some rudimentary hacking about. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Blues-thumb-style-acoustic-electro-guitar/193427320449?hash=item2d092aae81:g:80AAAOSwLfZemY-o

The sale is over now I think.

It's totally my fault!

He's nicked the pickguard as well!

Usually £12.49, looks pretty neat: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.planeth.gstomper&hl=en_GB

Nobody has been angry at Ashdown though, that was the point. Some disappointment definitely but nobody is mad.

Nobody is mad at Ashdown, we're discussing their basses. This is a bass discussion forum so it would seem like the right place to do it.

This one looks cool: Like someone's thrown together a Wal, EB0 and a Tele but it works.

Indeed, in fact seeing as these are touted as Dan Lakin designed you would expect them to be something along these lines seeing as he is known for his original take on aspects of Fender, G&L and Musicman basses. Quite what input Mr. Lakin has had with these Ashdowns aside from writing "dunno, a Jazz bass?" on the back of a beer mat remains to be seen.

Because it's spectacularly boring to churn out the same old shapes over and over again with no innovations or good visual design choices.

I'm sure they're competitive in terms of sound and build quality with numerous other Fender clones in their price range, that wasn't the point at all. I appreciate that Ashdown aren't the best when it comes to visual design and tend to rely on gaudy motifs but surely they could come up with something better than that?

Going off his feedback he's sold one already, offer accepted on the BIN price of £650. Has a website and everything, seems to have sold another on there with a £950 asking price: http://cricketbatguitar.com One born every minute, or in this case two.

In the right hands that could sound very good, granted it would have to be in a piece of music which suits its inherent tone. Obviously in that video it definitely does not sound good!

Used one of these with my old Markbass rig, made it incredibly versatile and great for stages with limited space essentially giving me 3 different configurations of amp. Stored away nicely hanging over the front of the cab with the cover over the top too so you don't have to carry it separately. IIRC they are sold on eBay in case you don't have an IKEA close by.

Expected them to be yellow with black wrappings, disappointed tbh.

Did they throw the three of you out of the shop?