Conan

Another amp has come to my attention - the SWR SM500: [url="http://www.swramps.com/en-GB/support/vintage.php/"]http://www.swramps.c...rt/vintage.php/[/url] There is a used one for sale on this very forum, and bang on budget! It would certainly seem to offer the mid-range control that I am after... but I have no experience of SWR gear. Opinions anyone?

Steve just bought my Hartke LH500. An excellent deal on my part, and he showed a great deal of patience when dealing with my inability to read numbers correctly... Payment was made very quickly and painlessly (for me!) and in good faith. He also sorted out the courier from his end - saving me a lot of hassle. Excellent communications throughout too! A five-star basschatter and I would thoroughly recommended dealing with him!

Does it [b][i]have[/i][/b] to be a combo? Separates would give far more options (and there are a lot more of them about in the for sale section!).

[quote name='machinehead' timestamp='1423428160' post='2684683'] I'd say get in touch with the owner, Alex, for the best possible advice. [/quote] This. Nobody knows the range like Alex, and his advice is very good.

Remember that "500 watts" (even if accurate) is a measure of the maximum power output of an amplifier, or power handling capability of a cabinet. It is not a measure of volume! Volume is affected by many variables... Many of us use 500W amps now as it has become a kind of industry standard - but how many of us ever need the full power of that amp? I have never got anywhere near that, even into a single 8 ohm cab. Even through one decent 8 ohm cabinet (and stated impedance is an estimate of the true picture too!) a 500W amp should be as loud as most people will ever need.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1423483964' post='2685243'] There's a Puma 900 in the classifieds. [/quote] There is - but it is well over budget.

[quote name='artisan' timestamp='1423492319' post='2685435'] How about a GB shuttle ? [/quote] I used to have a GB cab - which I wasn't impressed with... but I am unfamiliar with their range of amps. Tell me more about it...

[quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1423488379' post='2685354'] When I got my Carvin BX500 (well in budget) I A/B'd it with the Tonehammer and much preferred the Carvin, even without taking the price differential into account. I did see Molan post that they are not going to carry on stocking them at BassGear but worth checking one out if you can. [/quote] Just looked at the BG website and they appear to be out of stock...

[quote name='alexclaber' timestamp='1423486416' post='2685305'] Sadly it's impossible to change the grill type once they're built, as the mount for the steel grill takes up the space where the frame for the cloth grill needs to go. [/quote] Purely from a cosmetic point of view... could some silver cloth be glued/velcroed/attached over the metal grille? Not that I would do such a thing - but could it?

[quote name='Matt P' timestamp='1423485889' post='2685290']it has been the venue for the last 3 North East Bass Bashes [url="http://www.gingermusiccompany.co.uk/"]http://www.gingermusiccompany.co.uk/[/url] [/quote] Cheers for that. I've just been looking at their website and a trip across the water in half-term week might be on the cards! I've never been to one of the NE bashes though.. Hence my ignorance of their existence...

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1423483897' post='2685235'] Well I`ve had the MB500, the MB Fusion 500 and have a Tonehammer 500... Lastly, I heard another bassist using my rig on Friday with his Jazz and it sounded so good I`m now looking at Jazzes myself, so the Jazz/TH/BF gets a thumbs-up from me. [/quote] Thanks Lozz - that's a really good and useful post mate!

[quote name='Balcro' timestamp='1423483238' post='2685221'] Maybe you also need this: - There's a thread on here somewhere about the BD121 sucking out the mids and this fairly simple mod. [/quote] Yeah, I've looked at that before. Looks like a very useful mod but way beyond my electronics skills! TBF, the mid-drain from the pedal is a small issue as I don't use it all the time - but thanks for the reminder!

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1423481682' post='2685184'] The Fusion is more than worth the extra cash. [/quote] [quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1423483395' post='2685222'] At 8 ohms I'd get the TH500. [/quote] [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1423483964' post='2685243'] TH500. No point in buying a lower powered amp for this cab [/quote] [quote name='Matt P' timestamp='1423484497' post='2685257'] i'm saving for the TH500, [/quote] I thought this might happen! At the moment my budget is pretty strictly limited to £400 as we have other big bills... The TH500 is about £200 more than the TH350, and I just can't stretch that far just now. I am also rather dubious about how much louder it would be in "real world" terms. The cheapest I've found the MB Fusion 500 is £525, which is (again) significantly over budget. Now if I could source either of these heads second-hand... Even then, I'd have to wait until next month before pulling the trigger. Still, thanks for the suggestions!

[quote name='Matt P' timestamp='1423484497' post='2685257']they usually have both the 350 and the 500 in stock over at the Bass Base in Pelaw if you want a proper go, [/quote] Believe it or not, I've never even heard of that place! Might have to have a look...

So I finally managed to sell my Hartke LH500! Plenty of clear volume and headroom, but lacking in the midrange. I would like to replace it with something that has plenty of mids available - especially as my "normal" set-up involves using a Fender Jazz bass with both pickups full on. I know... The two amps that I have my eyes on are the GK MB500 (not the fusion version, which is more expensive) and the Aguilar TH350. Both are available new at under £400. My cab is a Barefaced Big One. It has no problem reproducing the mids, as long at they are there in the first place! Nominally it is rated at 8 ohms, but as it is so sensitive it doesn't need a lot of power to make it sing... I'm aware that the Aggie puts out less power, but my band is not particularly loud so I don't think that this will be an issue. I have heard that it can lack a bit of "glassy" top-end sparkle, but I don't need much of that anyway. I use a BDI21 for drive when I need it, so I have no need for the amp to do this. So what would you go for, and why?

[quote name='Jenny_Innie' timestamp='1423428468' post='2684689'] Maybe I should get a Gen 2 Compact with a silver grill from somewhere? [/quote] Or speak to Alex and see if you can get some of the silver cloth to put on your existing Compact?

So I guess the answer to the OP's question is ans unqualified YES!! I'm local as well, if you would like a blast on my Barefaced Big One (1x15 and 1x6.5 in a smallish, light box).

Great track - in fact I was listening to that very album this weekend... Can't help with the bass parts though - my style was (and still is) to simply listen to it and play along until I (thought I) got it right!

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1423147444' post='2681414'] Hence you can have both unprofessional professionals and professional amateurs. [/quote] Our work here is done

I think that we are broadly OK in using the word professional as an adjective... but its use as a noun is fraught with confusion. So it's fine to say that a great musician, who does a great job and is reliable, [b][i]is[/i][/b] professional - whether or not he is [b][i]a[/i][/b] professional. Yes?