Sparky Mark

The Genz Benz Streamliner blue LEDs intended to light up the front panel window were an example of an aesthetic gimmick that backfired. For some reason many Streamliners developed a fault where the LEDs didn't light up which didn't affect the sound but certainly persuaded me not to buy one.

Agreed. The OP asked for gimmicks that don't really affect the sound that DO work. Compressors, mute switches, tuner outs, etc are quite useful features, not gimmicks. The Trace Elliot UV light is a brilliant gimmick that did work and I dont know of any other manufacturer that has ever copied it. From a 100 yards away on a dark stage, if the amp was glowing green, you knew it was a Trace Elliot.

Jake's voice is so distinctive that I guess it's inevitable he'll be one man's meat and another's poison. I actually like his songs a lot and his voice suits them perfectly for me.

I reckon you could get this tone (or very very close) with a pick, P bass with TI Flats through a Tech 21 VT bass pedal.

Hotcovers made an excellent padded vinyl cover for quite a large Bugera BVV3000I head from my drawing for under £50 delivered. Highly recommended.

My old Hartke 410XL was 99lbs. Circa 90lbs is about right for a ceramic magnet loaded 410.

Hijack- AH200 and Bergantino HD210; compact and capable.

The bridge saddles positions look rather odd to me; is intonation at the 12th fret spot on for all strings?

Most of the problems with the BVV3000i seem to be caused by failing valves blowing fuses. As long as these fuses are easily accessible to check/replace, looking after this amp should be relatively simple.

Brilliant news. I agree that these sound amazing and appear to be very well put together. I replaced the nasty spring valve retainers with a set of Ampeg birtcher style clamps to keep them seated firmly without scratching the bottles. I wonder what happened when you connected your Barefaced cab via the Speakon output that caused the valve seating to become intermittent? Did you put the amp down heavily when moving it at some point?

Any news yet?

Yes, it's been taken from a combo.

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/best-cheap-short-scale-for-a-child-to-learn-on.1514116/

I own a quite a few P's including a CS Pino loaded with TI flats and as much as I love them I still wouldn't recommend a P with flats as a first bass. I'll get my coat. 🤐

The problem with a single pickup P with flats isn't a particularly versatile set up. Okay if you want to play James Jamerson (not a bad thing of course) and other classics but a PJ set up with brighter sounding rounds might inspire a beginner a little more.

Have a look at the Ibanez Mikro bass range. They are much better ergonomically than those you have mentioned in my experience. The Mikros are short scale, lightweight with slim necks and a very comfortable body profile. Rounds are usually much easier to play because most flats (TI flats ££££ excluded) are higher tension and tougher for beginners. Just about every new bass will be supplied with an adequate set of roundwounds on it already to go.

No it won't. The combo can drive another cab, but another 410 would be a better match.

It's pretty safe to assume that your combo has not been modified and the speakers inside create an 8 ohm load. You can add another 8 ohm extension but not a 4 ohm cabinet as at any decent volume the head would most likely cook itself.

I agree that an AH500 is a lump but the AH200 as used in this combo isn't very heavy at all. Based on the occasion I'll use either a Markbass or AH200 head; whether an amp weighs 8 or 18 pounds is certainly not the deciding factor and never will be for me.

Agreed. If this combo could be converted into a seperate head and two 210 cabs that would be an extremely flexible and easy to load in/out rig. The carpentry appears straightforward but the tolex refinishing and corners would need to be done to a professional standard to do it justice.

Another option is a 1215 combo which is much smaller and 32 lbs lighter than the 410 combo but still delivers that lovely Trace Elliot sound.

This was my solution to being able to keep Trace Elliot tone in a compact package. I think the AH200 is very conservatively rated. It was using the same 410 TE combo in a rehearsal room that convinced me I needed TE in my life again after 30 years apart.

Me too; it's a fantastic resource and I'm missing it.