flyfisher

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1386276914' post='2298261'] The sonic properties of mains leads is a contentious issue, that is true, but amps with no mains lead all tend to sound very similar in use , i.e silent. [/quote] Equally contentious is that some amps would sound better without a mains lead at all.

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1386277067' post='2298265'] Almost. A kettle lead will fit an amp socket but an amp lead won't fit a kettle. It's exactly the same shape connector but the 13A socket has a little 'lump' on it which stops a 6A cable from being plugged into it unless you are daft enough to sit there carving plastic. [/quote] So pedants beware - when someone talks about using a kettle lead, they might be right.

[quote name='seashell' timestamp='1386276240' post='2298243'] If I was buying a kettle I'd expect it to come with an actual kettle lead. [/quote] But if you were buying a kettle lead would you expect it to come with an actual kettle?

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1386275082' post='2298213'] Firstly, French people's opinions don't count for much by virtue of the fact that we won two World Wars to save their useless cheese eating surrender monkey arses . They can either start using the same electricity as us or go acoustic , as far as I am concerned. My grandad didn't fight the Waffen SS in the bocage hedgerows of Normandy so his nearest and dearest had to worry if one of the local peasants could use their previously owned Genz Benz rig at the church hall without having to send off to Thomann for a cheap mains cable. The power cord [u][i]is [/i][/u]part of the amplifier. Are you saying that an amplifier isn't allowed to have detatchable componants? Where is that written in stone? Furthermore, it is a componant that, depending on its' construction and composition, can have a direct bearing on the sound quality of the amp. So what that different markets need different cables? They also need different output transformers, so you wouldn't sell an American a Euro voltage amp ( unless they wanted you to for some reason ) . Let the buyer beware, but it is not unreasonable for the buyer to assume that the means tio access power will be included , surely? [/quote] Where to start . . . . . (we are having a laugh about all this aren't we - I don't want any falling out over a bloody mains lead! ) 1. The French DO use the same electricity as us - in fact they typically supply us with about 10% of our needs. But they just happen to be good Europeans and use the European mains connectors. I couldn't possibly comment on your other characterisations about the French. 2. You're right - amps ARE allowed to have detachable components . . . like instrument leads and loudspeakers for example. I look forward to those being included when you sell me an amp. 3. Don't start me on the sonic characteristics of mains leads, otherwise we probably will fall out! 4. Most modern amps have 'universal' PSUs, which is the [u]very reason[/u] why mains leads have become separate items over the years. It makes things easier and cheaper for manufacturers, so easy in fact that it's not unusual for products to be shipped with multiple mains leads - which is why I have boxes of European and US mains leads as well as spare UK ones. 5. Let the buyer beware? Yes! Don't assume an amp will be shipped with a mains lead - check! 6. All the above subject to (hopefully that'll be enough to avoid any offence).

Sounds like the amp is going into oscillation when the voltage drops. Probably not easy to change without getting down and dirty with a soldering iron. All things are possible, but not necessarily worthwhile when a simple 'fix' like new batteries before each gig will do the job. You could still use the old batteries for practice and rehearsals. As for Nathan East - maybe he doesn't realise that the bass his tech passes to him even has batteries.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1386263475' post='2297947'] Unequivocably, an amp should come with a power cable. [b]How could it be argued otherwise ?[/b] The power cable is part of the amp. It's the part that connects it to the mains. [/quote] Er, quite easily. The power cable is demonstrably NOT part of the amp, that's why it's a physically separate item, in the same way that an instrument lead is not part of the amp either, but you won't get much out of the amp (more correctly 'into ) without one. Or a cab come to that. And the reason that the cable is not part of the amp is because different cables are required in different parts of the world. A UK mains lead is not going to impress anyone in France is it? Or vice versa. If you sold an amp to someone in France would you go to the trouble of buying a French mains lead for them or would you think it reasonable that they probably had a spare and if not could easily get one for a pittance? Talk about first world problems!

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1386251147' post='2297702'] I don't think it is. You can use a bass in the absence of a plectrum - but try using an amp with no power cable! [/quote] Fair point - I was thinking more about the cost. But, as others have mentioned, a spare lead really should be in every player's gig bag. I bet few of us don't carry a £20-ish set of spare strings or a £10+ spare instrument lead, so why not a £1.50 mains lead?

I voted yes because they are so cheap (about £1.50) that I would always include one for anything I sold and if I bought something that didn't include one then they are so cheap (did I mention about £1.50) that I wouldn't worry about it and just get a spare one out of my box full of them. Would people get upset if a bass is sold without a plectrum? I'd suggest it's a similar level of triviality.

[quote name='Highfox' timestamp='1386242418' post='2297540'] Just found out we will be playing support for Wilko Johnson when he gigs here in Finland! Not sure if Norm will be there as well, but I'm totally stoked and can't believe it [/quote] Don't let him use your gear if he is.

I don't believe this 10,000 hours thing. There must be loads of bankers out there who have worked 8 hours a day for 5 years but there don't seem to be many who are masters of their trade.

[quote name='seashell' timestamp='1386192276' post='2297119'] Yes, I'd forgotten that! :-) I rather liked that as well. :-) [/quote] Me too.

[quote name='seashell' timestamp='1386187633' post='2296983'] 10538 Overture was the first single I ever bought. I thought it was great (still do) even though somewhat of a rip off of I Am the Walrus. [/quote] . . . and was itself subsequently ripped off by Paul Weller for Changing Man.

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1386173040' post='2296731'] Until I watched a documentary on BBC 4 recently, I didn't realise how well regarded he is by other musicians. He has worked with so many artists since the ELO days. [/quote] Yes, I was going to say the same thing. Lynne is a musical legend among his peers, which is the highest possible accolade. If you're new to ELO and Jeff Lynne (and you like them) then do make time to watch that BB4 programme 'Mr Blue Sky - the story of Jeff Lynne and ELO. Here are the BBC programme notes, but it seems it's not on iplayer at present: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01n3yf4 I could only find clips on youtube but it's available on itunes apparently: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/mr.-blue-sky-story-jeff-lynne/id587278559

[quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1386143538' post='2296245'] [size=5][b]+1[/b][/size] once word goes around the local musos .... you know [b]fred smith[/b] from the [b]gearwreckers[/b] .... yeah ... well i let him use my rig and he f*cked it ... dont let him near any of your gear (that sort of warning) it may not bring you financial recompense but it will hopefully ensure that ignorant twats like him will in future have to carry and use all their own gear and thus not be given the opportunity to f*ck over anybody else's equipment [/quote] That's all well and good . . . . IF it really was the guy's fault. If he doesn't think it was, then he may well consider such a thing as slander/libel whereupon things could get really nasty, because it's likely to be easier for him to prove slander/libel than it would be for the OP to prove he was the prime cause of the damage. Imagine you go around to a mate's house to check out his new rig. He plays a bit, you play a bit, he plays a bit more, you play a bit more and it breaks. Is that your fault or would it have broken no matter who was playing it? Gear can fail, we all know that and it's not always the fault of the person who happens to be using it at the time. Would you be prepared to pay to fix a venue's PA system if it failed while you were using it? I'm not saying it can't have been this guy's direct fault, I'm saying we'll almost never know for sure and we'll almost definitely never be able to prove it anyway. If you're really precious about your gear then why would you risk anyone else using it? Unless there is a pre-agreed arrangement about how to handle any faults that arise while lending it out then it's all at the lender's risk. It's not great, but it is life.

A multimeter is a very useful tool but, like any tool, has to be used correctly and with some understanding. A simply voltage measurement of a battery is not as good as measuring its voltage when powering a load of some sort, so measuring battery voltage in situ is generally a better indicator of battery condition. And TimR makes a very valid point about the difference between battery voltage and circuit operating voltage. Voltage regulators are so cheap these days that they are a pretty good way of providing over-voltage protection - not such a big risk with battery operated gear, but eminently possible with anything powered by an external 'wall-wart' PSU.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1385816975' post='2292487'] While single strand conductors aren't ideal for cables that aren't in a semi-permanrent (at least) installation, t. . . [/quote] Single strand 'flexible' cables are a failure waiting to happen. Cat5e patch leads should not be made with solid core cable - that's the stuff for the wiring infrastructure. Structured wiring specs are (or used to be) based on a distance of 100m comprised of 90m fixed (solid) wiring and 2x patch leads (stranded) up to 5m each. You're right about the unsuitable nature of RJ45s in a relatively harsh environment, but proper, stranded, patch leads might help.

Perhaps he was following Watt Roy's example . . . some people like to emulate their heroes, right?

Difficult situation. Let's imagine it goes to court. The claim is that the person damaged the rig by misusing it. That person might well claim he was simply using it for it's intended purpose and the fact that it was damaged is proof that it was not fit for purpose. And that's without all the messy stuff such as counter-claiming that it was already damaged before he used it because the amp was far too powerful for the cab. I'd go with TimR's approach, but think about what you'll do if he flat refuses to pay and denies any liability. I'm not defending the guy, I'm just saying that the sort of arse who has no respect for a fellow bassist's gear will likely have no compunction about defending his position, with lies if necessary. A sad tale all round really.

[quote name='Bill Fitzmaurice' timestamp='1386021302' post='2294814'] For the woofers, nothing. If you have tweeters they can be damaged by too much harmonic content, and excess harmonic content is what's created when an amp (or any device in the signal chain, including fuzz pedals) is pushed to clipping. You're far more likely to push a smaller amp to clipping than a larger one, and the smaller it is the more likely that scenario. [/quote] While not disputing tweeter sensitivity to excess harmonic distortion, is this really a practical issue with modern gear? Is the THD figure for modern amps really so excessive these days that it could damage a properly rated tweeter, even at full volume? Also, do cab manufacturers not include any simple filter protection for their tweeters? It would be fairly easy to roll off the frequency response above, say, 25khz - or perhaps this is not necessary because of the above point?

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1385852456' post='2292968'] The power figures are fairly meaningless. [/quote] This^ . . . . (particularly when comparing 500W and 600W and considering the wide variation in how such things are specified) [quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1385852535' post='2292971'] Another way of putting it is that it has the same effect as not totally opening the volume pot on the 600W amp. I guess you are somewhat used to [b]that[/b] at least. [/quote] . . . . and that^ (I'd bet everyone here has 'underpowered' their cabs at some time, probably most of the time, but I've not seen the topics full of damaged speakers ).

[quote name='Marvin' timestamp='1385905869' post='2293376'] You're not paying a premium. [/quote] HappyJack wrote: [i]"Buy the MP3 download for £5.49. Or buy the actual CD for £3.00 and they give you the MP3 download."[/i] Sounds like a premium for downloading the MP3 to me.

[quote name='Marvin' timestamp='1385904577' post='2293351'] I think it's brilliant The last few albums I've bought have been from Amazon and thought it odd that you get a free MP3 download. However, it suits me down to the ground as I like to listen to the CD at home and the MP3 I can download straight to my iTunes for out and about without the faff off having to import a CD. [/quote] Yep, 'convenience pricing' in action. Buy the cheaper CD only and spend 5-10 minutes ripping to an MP3 or, basically, pay a premium for someone else to do the ripping for you. No rights and wrongs really, just consumer choice.

I was shopping recently and saw a 'special dual pack' of McVities chocolate digestive biscuits. It was simply two standard packs in an additional wrapper, no fancy packaging, but it cost more than twice the price of the single packs, which were on the same shelf! I suspect these are marketing tricks whereby hurried shoppers see a 'special offer' and automatically buy it on the assumption it must be better value than normal.

Alternatively, take the initiative and ask the audience if they have any requests. When they all start shouting over each other with their favourite songs, point to the back and say "what's that? xxxx by yyyy - alright then" and launch right into it. Of course, this trick doesn't work too well with only half a dozen people in the Dog & Duck.

This discussion has me wondering if there is a technical definition of 'bass'. Is there a specific frequency/note that defines the boundary between bass and the higher stuff?