chris_b

You can probably get big boxes of them at B&Q, Screwfix etc.

I'd guess it's a format that has changed significantly in the last 20 years.

The controls on the SVT are set to an interesting pattern.

Hey Dave, you've got to work out what's the best for you. No one else can make that decision for you.

I did several Internet gigs at the start of the 2000's. The Kashmir Club was a small venue in London and when they added an internet broadcast to the gigs we came in with our original songs. It was OK, a bit like playing to a few people in your front room, but not a patch on playing to a room full of real punters though. There's nothing like reacting to an audience, from a sit down gig to the banter you get with a sweaty bunch of herberts, to get the performing juices flowing.

It isn't the same but it is still essential on some makes and a very "nice to have" on all the others, because, despite the "wood doesn't matter" argument, the wood actually does change the sound (for the better) of an instrument and therefore does matter. Injection moulding plastic bodies and necks would be cheaper than bothering about transporting inconsistent pieces of wood half way around the world and the messy production lines required so why don't anyone use that method? Because the resonance caused by a sound travelling through wood and back again to the pickups still makes a positive difference and so matters to the sound. Over the years there have been plastic and metal instruments made but they have generally not been popular. Until they find something that sounds better than wood, wood will always be the preferred material.

If you've never heard either then you're taking pot luck which ever way you jump. There is one way you can try a Barefaced cab. Order one and if you don't like it you can return it within the first month and get your money back. If you buy the Mesa cab first and don't like it, you're stuck with it.

You should get what you want. . . not what this guy knows about! All pickups come with schematics and anyway, he should know all about Aguilar pickups by now! I've had several basses with Bartolini installed and always liked the sound. Nordstrand get very good reviews but my current Sadowsky JJ pickups and boost only pre amp is one of the best sounds I've heard on a bass so far.

Exactly. That was a bunch of internet users mouthing off, when none of them had even heard the amps in question. If they had they would have realised that the amps were as loud as TC were claiming. So, completely a non issue.

I played an RH750 for a year and liked the sound and format. The knobs didn't split on mine! Eventually I replaced it as my go-to amp with an Aguilar TH500. I just prefer the tone of the TH500.

Your Mesa amp sitting on a Barefaced 610 would sound like thunder.

The LH500 will put out 350 watts into 8 ohm. As long as you don't push the volume to 11 you should be OK. If you start pushing the cab to its limits you should be able to hear when it''s getting stressed. What cab did you buy? My advice is to get a 500 watt amp and start saving for another cab. 2 cabs will sound much better than 1 because you won't need to push either very hard to get a good sound.

I believe Aguilar used the same power module in the TH500 that other manufacturers used in their 900 watt rated amps. It seems to me that Aguilar under rates their products.

But I can assure you I was smiling when I typed it.

That's the ball-park for mainstream and unbraced cabs. The trade off between weight and cost of manufacture gets a 212 to the mid 40lbs. I imagine it will sound pretty good. All Aguilar gear does.

If you live and work in a studio it might be important for you to find a vintage bass that sounds better than the rest. One that is noticed and admired in the track. Most of the top US session guys have late 50's or early 60's P basses (some with decades old La Bella flats) as their main recording instruments. If you live in that world then the smallest advantage will get you noticed and working, but even these guys usually won't play their go-to vintage basses on tour. Many of them will go out with newer versions of their studio basses. If you're semi pro and playing on stage in sonically less than perfect rooms, standing next to a drummer and noisy and unsubtle guitarist the differences and benefits of a vintage bass will be less noticeable. I play modern P and J basses. On recordings of gigs I've found I usually make them both sound pretty similar out in the audience. So like most of us I just sound like me. What chance do I have of sounding any better than that with a vintage bass? If you think your old or special bass is making you sound better then it might be, but that will just be you on a wave of confidence. Learn how to be that confident on all instruments. You'll always sound better and save yourself a fortune.

Why not? Sounds like they are recommending a clean and clear sound.

Very good basses for not a lot of money. I briefly had a 55-01. Sounded good and played well, but weighed over 10lbs, so too heavy to be comfortable for me. If I could find one that weighs about 8 1/2lbs I'd buy it in a flash.

Mesa are redefining their business. People have opinions but Mesa will know which amps sell and which are and are not worth keeping in the catalogue. The Subway is their big seller and has moved them into markets that were previously closed to them. I imagine the Subway range will be extended to more models. The guy who designed the D800's posts on Talkbass and is very knowledgeable and open. Expect more great amps from Mesa in the future.

I also used 3 of these cabs and together they got one of the best sounds I've had. I did use 2 for smaller gigs but in the end a 30lb lift with one handle became a little tiresome.

Nooo. Why would you stick with playing bass only because you spent £500 on a new amp rather than £300 on a used one? I don't get that logic. You should buy the best used amp for the least. Then if you decide to stick at it you can look at more expensive gear down the line.

Doesn't Jerry Barnes have his own Atelier signature J bass? His "beefier" sound is going to come from that. I don't get the "overplaying" criticism. JB is busy but that works for me.

About 20 years ago I got a bonus from work and bought a 400+ from the Bass Centre. Mesa made it for me. I gathered together some Road Ready cabs, a Mesa 115 and 210 with EV's, and was set to rock. Except, the amp failed on a few occasions with valve problems and I never got the sound I was after. I swapped the amp with an Ampeg SVT3-PRO and bingo. A fantastic sound. I used that rig for nearly 10 years, until the weight of those cabs damaged my back! I bought a D800 when they came out and thought it was a very good amp. Great sound and very flexible. The D800+ seems to be even more flexible with some great features. These are in the top flight of amps. I sold it because I slightly preferred the sound of my TH500. I would happily use Mesa amps again. They are top quality products with a great sound. If anyone has a D800+ they want to sell I'd be very interested.