Beedster

Sold Brian a Walkabout and an SWR head, both deals made more complex by long distances, family changes, house moves, inept couriers and the intervention of several intelligence agencies (I may have made the last bit up). We did it though, everything went to where it was supposed to go (despite initial bad signs when courier tracking suggested a package destined for Scotland was en-route to the midlands and vice-versa), and Brian walked the tightrope of patience and frustration with good grace and the constant sense of humour often required with couriers Top guy to deal with in every respect Chris

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1378594256' post='2202336'] I'm trying to imagine what use anyone would have for a 400W valve amp. I may be mistaken but I'm guessing that will be a tad loud? [/quote] +1

[quote name='Kiwi' timestamp='1378621799' post='2202405'] Can't believe noone's mentioned Mesa Boogie Bass 400+! [/quote][quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1378548730' post='2201669'] Still some obvious names missing [/quote] [quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1378552781' post='2201731'] Let me guess - Mesa 400+? ;-) [/quote] [quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1378555783' post='2201769'] I thought this was about the definitive tube amp though? The Mesa is up there with the contenders, so are a few Ampegs. Don't discount the obvious choices (and re price, I've seen 400+s go for under £500). [/quote] Bit late where you are Kiwi? I was kinda mentioning it without mentioning it all long really anyway

[quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1378558157' post='2201800'] Great post Jack, being committed to your gear is important. Bit like a relationship, you get more out of it when you're not always looking elsewhere for something more. [/quote] And I'm not unaware of how hypocritical that sounded

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1378557578' post='2201795'] This is mine: [url="http://s1128.photobucket.com/user/h4ppyjack/media/Equipment%20and%20stuff%20CURRENT/Matamp_zps76e8c9ce.jpg.html"][/url] I've had a variety of tube, S/S and hybrid amps over the years but I can honestly say that (1) I've never heard anything as lush as this Matamp, and (2) I've never had so many unsolicited compliments about my tone from fellow band members, from other musicians, and from punters. I play simple 70s type rock & pop & blues in London pubs and I'm barely scraping the surface of what it can do in terms of volume and/or breaking up. Even at my low-ish volumes the bass feels like bathing in chocolate. I play exclusively through Barefaced cabs, which are seriously loud. I'm currently using a Compact and Midget stack which is totally uncoloured, but I'm collecting my 69er next week. It took a fair bit of negotiation but they finally agreed to build me an example of a GR120 which weighs just 18Kg. That's the good news. The bad news is that Matamp are lovely people and exceptionally fine valve-amp makers, but they are utterly crap at selling / marketing / dealing with new customers / meeting deadlines / keeping customers informed. They are NOT alone in that by any manner of means, and it didn't stop me from buying from them (I had help), but you should factor that into your thinking. Buying a Mesa means making a phone call and having your credit card to hand. Simples. Buying a Matamp means engaging with the company (once a week ideally!), getting to know the people (a bit, anyway), contributing to the design (all Matamps are at least slightly customised as far as I can see), negotiating over weight and finish (Jeff really likes to ensure that you get exactly what you want) ... in short, becoming part of the process rather than just being "a guy with some money". Quite apart from the glorious sound, I now feel far more "committed" to my amp. It really is [i][b]mine[/b][/i], rather than something I bought one day and will sell one day. [/quote] Damn, I want a Matamp now Great post Jack, being committed to your gear is important. Bit like a relationship, you get more out of it when you're not always looking elsewhere for something more.

[quote name='Matte_black' timestamp='1378553949' post='2201744'] Never tried one, heard a lot of good things about it BUT one in good conditions isn't much cheaper than a GT200 [/quote] I thought this was about the definitive tube amp though? The Mesa is up there with the contenders, so are a few Ampegs. Don't discount the obvious choices (and re price, I've seen 400+s go for under £500).

[quote name='Matte_black' timestamp='1378548579' post='2201666'] But I was looking for something a bit less transparent and moore "tubey" [/quote] Still some obvious names missing

[quote name='Matte_black' timestamp='1378548145' post='2201653'] LOL. Well, I owned a Little Bastard and it seemed pretty well made... of course I don't think it's in the same league of Matamp but could be good. [/quote] OK, but 'pretty well made' and 'definitive' are some distance apart

If 12th fret is OK most likely the string needs replacing

[quote name='Matte_black' timestamp='1378547265' post='2201633'] I'm trying to get more informations about the 427 and CTM300... Ashdown site doesn't really carry a lot of informations [/quote] 'Ashdown' and 'definitive tube amp'? To my mind there's a few names conspicuous by their absence in this thread

Mark bought my old SVP-Pro and was a real pleasure to deal with, in fact his enthusiasm for both the unit and for which vales he was going to out in which position once he got it made the whole process really enjoyable. A top bloke to deal with in every way. All the best with the pre Mark, sounds like it's exactly what you were looking for Cheers Chris

[quote name='Lowender' timestamp='1378498404' post='2201291'] Don't tell her, she'll probably never notice. If she asks; "Is this new?" Look at her incredulously (but don't over do it) and just say "no, I've had that one for years." [/quote] Nothing else needs saying, although given that the fairer sex seems quite colour savvy I'd strongly advise sticking to one finish on all basses - to all but the expert, a 3tsb Jazz looks pretty similar to a 3tsb Precision, 'ray or Ric. Don't get careless though, for example with fingerboards. They will notice for example that 'the bit where you put your hands was darker last time I saw it'. Stick to maple or rosewood, don't mix them and all is OK.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1378315064' post='2198546'] Like the age-old Kylie/Danni Minogue thing. Danni every time, but I just can`t explain why. [/quote] About 5 years back I had mid '90's blond/white/maple Precision called Kylie and a '79 Black/Black rosewood Precision called, well you can guess.... Kylie ended up with Legion. Not sure how that ended. Danni? Well there's a story And yes, Danni every time, goes without saying.

[quote name='Bassnut62' timestamp='1378478327' post='2200924'] I still have my Bassman 135 and I reckon they are killer amps - they stay clean right to the top and are clear and warm with plenty of punch. If you want a bit of extra gain and grit in the sound, you can jump the two channels with a patch lead to run both sides of the pre-amp valves and it gets just as punchy as an Ampeg. Main problem I found was with getting the right speakers/cab. When I occasionally play bass these days I now use an old MusicMan 115RH loaded with a vintage RCF 15" 8ohm speaker which sounds fine; but the best tone I've got has been using the original 70s 2x15 Bassman cab. At first that 2x15 cab was horrible - it was too weak and farted a lot. Once I had rebuilt the cab with all seams lined, glued and screwed with 1x2" wood and braced front panel to back with 2x4" wood, the cab was strong as anything and no farts or rumbles, just heavier with super tight tone once I got the right speakers. I tried numerous fancy speakers and eventually found that a pair of tight bright Eminence drivers worked best to give a full, round and detailed tone. I can't remember which speaker models they were but they cost about £85 each some years ago. I finally found bass amp/tone heaven and now I am playing guitar rather than bass!! Sadly, I now play guitar rather than bass; so this Bassman 2x15 cab will be making way for a guitar amp. [/quote] Interesting post Rupert, thanks. I'm playing mine through an original Fender 1x15 that sounds like it suffers from a similar lack of stability as did your 2x15 before you modified it. All going well I'll be playing the 135 through a Barefaced '69er which is due in the next few weeks, and at which stage I'll decide whether I'm going to hang on to it or move it on and get something more Ampeg (although for the time being I'll be putting a Tech 21 VT ahead of the 135 - or even between the two channels - when I use the 69er for some Ampeg-like tones, and if it gets close it'll stay). If you're looking to offload the 2x15 get in touch sometime as I may be interested. A 2x15 would be a great cab for the 135, as you say above, the great thing about the 135 is that it can stay clean and warm right up the volume scale, and that can be a lovely tone through two 15s Chris

[quote name='Low End Bee' timestamp='1373356238' post='2136477'] These are all mine for when I retire fronm the originals scene. [b]Boy Division[/b] - High energy version of Unknown Pleasures sung by four lads in tight PVC pants. [b]Codplay[/b] - Tedious, droning, accountant music played by a band of slightly whiffy factory workers from Young's in Grimsby. [b]AeroSmiths[/b] - Cock rocking versions of Morrisey and Marr's back catalogue. [b]the Psychedelic Spurs[/b] - Hoddle and Waddle sing Pretty in White and Sister Europa League. [b]Numan League[/b] - All your Synth needs in one band. [b]World Of WarKraftwerk[/b] - Teutonic machine elves. [b]Smashing Bumkins[/b] - Pa Larkin transposes Chicago alt rock to a Kentish farmyard. Pullet with Butterfly Wings, Perfick', etc. [b]Captain Sensible & Tenille[/b] - Love Will Keep Us Together sung naked apart from a red beret. [b]U2pia[/b] - Todd and Bono mash it up..... [b]Stiff Little Richard[/b] - Flamboyant rock n roll with an Ulster accent. [b]the Nicholas Parsons Project[/b] - Prog tracks that last just a minute [b]Bjorkwind[/b] - Icelandic space ritual. [b]Canon & Ball Corpse[/b] - Comedy duo go dark. Death metal on Tommy. [b]Emerson, Lake & Carlton Palmer[/b] - The audience wonder how the one with no talent managed to get in this group? [b]The Rollins Stones[/b] - Paint it Black Flag. [b]Promised You the Miracles[/b] - Smokey sings New Gold Dreams. [b]Thieving Sponging Benefit Scum[/b] - Daily Mail readers UB40 tribute [b]Good Vibrators[/b] - Beach Boys style punk bandwagon jumpers. [b]UK Dubs[/b] - Sly & Robbie supply the riddim while Charlie Harper toasts. [b]Bruce Forsyth and the Range[/b] - Thats the way it. Way it is thats. [b]Frankie Howerd and the Teenagers[/b] - Why do fools....oooh matron. Now listen.... [b]Mumford & Sunn (0))))))[/b] - Indie doom folk [/quote] One of the best posts ever Bit OT but related, I've always been a fan of Rutles contemporaries Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young, Gifted & Black

Ha ha, i see the jury's out here also. Still trying to get the tone I want out of mine, it's very close but lacks something at the bottom (I'm using a matching 1x15). Wonferful low mids for sure. Time will tell, but at present whilst it's a lovely vintage sounding amp, it ain't in the same league as the all-tube Ampeg gear

Just bought one, 1980 model AFAIK. At present the jury's out. Interested in knowing what cab you pair/paired yours with, what tubes you're using, what type of sound you're getting with what EQ settings, whether you bridge the inputs etc? Hit me Chris