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Should deliver on Tuesday. And then be sent here in Halifax. and despite just picking up an Elf , I’m excited.

Early on I was using a GK MB 200 into an Ampeg 210AV. It was a very nice sounding rig. I picked up the RB cheaply on kijiji , and found the cab in the used section of a local music shop. So I got a good deal there too. It wasn’t too big and could easily carry a band rehearsal or gig that wasn’t too loud. It was a great rig for the money. I just got a little nerdy and kept buying stuff after I got it going …

curious

It’s a beauty! Welcome Matheus!

I have two practice spots , home , and the in-laws. We spend much of our time looking after my mother-in-law. My practice nook there , two lovely little rigs. Elf into a One10 , I just picked up the Elf last week. This could easily cover a small gig. And a Darkglass e500 with a PhilJones C2. The Darkglass is a modelling amp that can be made to sound like just about anything. I do have a Darkglass 200 MicroTubes on the way. Two Gretsch basses made the pic , there’s two Gibson short scales just out of the frame. The e500 and C2 are what I normally keep there. I initially picked up a Rumble15 but realized it was not going to work out. For quite a while a GK MB200 into an Ampeg 210AV was the perfect rig. But I’m curious about other things and a bit nerdy so things were bound to shift. My little happy place. and the back view … and the little Aguilar home rig. This might change when the little Darkglass MicroTubes arrives. We’ll see …

I had a Rumble 15 when I first started to practice at the in-laws. I thought something small and cheap was all I’d need. I was wrong , it was awful.

Nice! Congratulations.

I much prefer components to a combo , and then use whatever sized speaker I need at the time. So I have little speakers for home use at low volume and the cabs I’ll need to fill a mid sized bar. And various heads from 5 to 900 watts. I’m a little nerdy about amps and cabs , it comes from being a seventy something geezer that’s been doing gigs since the mid 70’s. I’ve seen a lot of changes in gear over the years. And love the light , small , modern amp and cab design. I love the flexibility of separate heads and cabs.

I see some lifting , and I know it sounds gorgeous.

Finally landed an Elf , been after one for a while , and now also have a Darkglass 200 MicroTubes on the way.

After wanting one for some time , I finally landed an Elf.

Aguilar discontinued their smaller 350 watt amps too. Pity they’re great little amps.

Sweetwater say the 200 MicroTube is no longer available. So it’s discontinued , I don’t know if Darkglass are giving up the 200 watt market or if they will bring out a new&improved model. I suspect they are just going to stick with the 500 & 900 watt amps.

I prefer components to combos. I buy both new and used , you can find some deals on the used market. There are a bunch of 200 watt heads around that can be combined with whatever speaker you choose. I was a big fan of the GK MB200. Great little amps. There’s also the Elf and Gnome , and The Darkglass minis. If you up the power to 350 there’s a bunch more available. There are some interesting speaker choices. In the UK I’d suggest looking at Barefaced , there should be used for sale too.

For those in the US , Korg is selling off Darkglass 200 watt mini amps , half price , on Reverb. They are not shipping outside of the US (I tried) A friend in Texas is forwarding one to me. $200 for either a MicroTubes or AlphaOmega. I went for the MicroTubes , I don’t need it to sound like a chainsaw. It’s a heck of a deal , I don’t know if this is just overstock or if they are discontinuing the mini amps. These are great little rigs , I am a Darkglass fan. Not just for the metal crowd , they play clean too. Good beefy transparent power that can get a little hairy. https://reverb.com/item/80819832-darkglass-electronics-microtubes-200?fbclid=IwY2xjawE6m-ZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHWMK_X8dNRYIwhj2QpAHoWxFf7a7tSWTQ200bXa4E5TCQcvzWdlV801yVw_aem_l_Q0CC0Lse0s40ShJ9BZYw

I was using a HoTone Thunderbass as a headphone amp, it’s also got a mini aux in so you can plug in a phone or tablet. I later picked up a PhilJones BigHead and have been using that. The HoTone was good but the BigHead is a much more elegant solution.

Our second last Sunday jam in the old dive , the bar will be moving after next Sunday. I’ve been in the house band for 28 years , hard to believe how the time has gone. I’m the longest there , the drummer has been there for about 26 years. I’m going to miss the old dive , it’s a classic , but am optimistic about the new digs. It will be closed for a week or two during the transition. They will be moving the bar itself. We had a wonderful bunch up to jam , trumpet , two trombones , bari sax , two altos , keyboards , a pile of guitar players , two other bassists , three drummers … a great night.

I’ve had a number of friends in the US say that they can easily cover a mid sized room without going in the PA. I have some gig rigs so I’m not worried about covering that. For years I got by with a RB400.

I’ve been able to spend some time with the Elf now. Various cabs and basses. Just goofing around. And I like it.

I’m going to use at our next rehearsal with the One10. I’m enjoying this little rig. I think I might move some amps that I haven’t been using much to try some new things.

I don’t have any “big” cabs , but have some Bergs I gig with that can fill a room. edit … I’m surprised at how loud that little amp will get

They did make four of ‘em.

Uno dos tres

A new shop recently opened across the harbour in Dartmouth. Checked out their site and saw a new Elf. Now I’ve been reading great reviews on these things for years. None of the other local stores ever stocked them. One turned up on kijiji maybe five years ago and instantly sold. I kinda kicked myself for missing that. So I was thinking about that Elf. And looking at stuff I haven’t been using, and decided that a trade might work. I picked up a SWR HeadLite a couple of years ago , and used it for a little while as a practice amp with an Ampeg 210AV. The amp is in perfect condition , none of the pots are scratchy , everything works perfectly. And I had picked it up for a song. So the dealer made a great trade , and I got a brand new Elf for roughly what I had planned to sell the HeadLite for. Without the hassle. I think we’re both quite happy. First trying it quietly out at home with a Bareafaced One10. Then in my practice nook at the in-laws with the C2. The fan is noisy , I can live with that , the HeadLite has a noisy fan too.

I was a Pbass guy for a long , long time. And got into Rics , and for some reason picked up a Dano Longhorn when the reissues first appeared , and started playing that. I’m not sure just how it happened because everything went sideways , I started picking up shortscale basses. Still mostly a Dano guy but really started to love Gibson shortscales. Picked up a big Gretsch hollow body , and then a chambered solid body. It happened … Gretsch guy. Just a working musician playing the mid sized rooms downtown. Not a big star , but I was always gigging. Still do. I’m ok with all that. I’ve got an interesting mix of classics and short scales , from a Ray to a HiFlier , Samurai , Flying V the usual stuff you can pick up over the years. I’m nerdy about amps , but I’m a thumper. I like an amp that has authority. Never owned a real boutique bass , I’d love a little Alembic Stanley Clarke. Or a Wal or even a Ritter. I think I’m safe for the time being , but if a good deal came up I’ve been known to weaken. I’d love to find a cherry EB3 in nice shape. I’ve never owned a Tbird. I usually have a little stash of gig money for any musical emergency that might pop up. I once took up the tuba , it did not go well. I was working on some chromatic exercises one afternoon and after about half an hour started to feel a little dizzy , so I put down the Sousaphone , and saw my wife with a look of absolute horror. I asked what was wrong and she said. ”You wouldn’t believe the sounds the washing machine was just making” I knew my days with the Sousaphone were numbered.