fabbabass

I have the BB800 (amongst many other amps) and use various preamps with it; Bassics, Mesa +, Aguilar, Radial and it always delivers. Even the EQ is effective once you work out how it works and it really seems to slam in a way that so few Class D amps seem to when you turn them up. This new one seems to be a logical move towards market acceptance, but I don’t think I’d be ready to replace my made in USA unit just yet.

I got my Wal in ‘84 and it was fitted with Pocato nickel rounds. They were lovely and didn’t chew up the frets too badly as stainless steel might. I’d look at trying some nickels if you want a more modern sound but flats may be sweet and different.

I believe Picato as a business was bought by Americans. They took all the machines from Wales (I think that’s where they were based) and started up over there. The price of the strings doubled, especially the DB strings and I think they are still going. That all sounds a bit vague but they are still available in the US. I remember having nickel rounds on my Wal and I liked them a lot. i managed to get a couple of NOS packs from Gareth on this forum a few weeks ago.

Received the three sets of strings from Gareth. Fast delivery and great comms. Thank you Sir. Kevin.

I’ve had one I picked up at Sam Ashe in the US, hung my L2500 for years, no issues. Where are you getting it from in the UK? I’d get another.

Thanks for the input. yes, small stages are the norm. On a bigger one, well enough to have a monitor wedge and room for my cab, I can stack my two BBII’s and enjoy that for a bit! In one of the bands I worked with, we used IEM’s for around 15 years, so adopted quite early, but the unit I’m with now will likely not go down that route. That said, we’re using an X32 as two could do it relatively easy. For monitoring four of us use the TC Helicon monitors, which is Ok for vocals, acoustic, bit of keys and guitar. Tilting would seem to be the answer. If I could get a monitor that would sound really good (maybe RCF 7 series or similar), that maybe OK, but heavier than a BBII I’d guess.

Interesting. The band I work with now has an electric kit and we use our back line as monitors. Guitarist has a cab angled up to his ears, similarly keys have uses a pa cab as a monitor. I have a BF BBII that I like the sound of but it is designed to be LOUD and project/disperse in a huge way for the size. Often, it is on the floor aiming at my calves and quite difficult to hear once we’re under way. I do have a set of fender tilt back legs but have not put them to service yet. I did tilt the cab (about 45 degrees at the last gig and it worked for me). I’m not sure I’d want to sacrifice the BBII sound for a monitor/PA cab…anyone in a similar situation? Is the FRFR notion the solution (not sure it will be as good as BF FRFR though)! We will not go down the IEM route and even in small pub venues use PA support and get a pretty good sound.

A possibility would be the Radial Tonebone. I use the Tonebone OD (there was one for sale on here a few weeks ago for a good price). There are two channels, one with ‘drag’ control, so great for piezo, both channels have HPF and mid eq points. The unit is ideal for dual bass duties. I also run an Empress para eq for DB if I’m thumping with a R’n’R band to tame feedback.