Guild Thunderbass - Treble and Bass Control Questions

[Muckaluck]

Hi,

I bought a Guild Thunderbass a couple months ago off Alec from our forum and I'm loving it. I was just messing around with it this morning and wondered if anyone knew about the treble and bass controls on this beast. Are they true cut offs like on the Traynor amps where 10/10 is even or do they boost and cut left and right of 12:00?

Thanks!

[Muckaluck]

Just thought I'd post up some pics to arouse interest! This amp serves its purpose wonderfully as a main floor compliment to piano and bass duos that happen once in a while with my partner.

[KramerBassFan]

Not a clue honestly, but they are probably passive cut only's.... i've never seen one of those in person. ALTHOUGH, i do have one that is slowly headed my way.....

[anderbass]

I have no Idea but this easy test might be a helpful clue: Next time your playing turn the Bass, (mid?) and Treble knobs all the way down and let us know if the amp goes silent.

[BassmanPaul]

Operating Instuctions—ThunderBass, Quantum Bass, and Quantum X Amplifiers
INTRODUCTION The ThunderBass I, ThunderBass I-A and Quantum X are designed for bass, guitar, and organ. The Quantum Basses are for use with electric bass ans organ only. The ThunderBasses have 100 watt amplifier sections and the Quantum series all have 200 watt amplifiers. The channel functions and controls are the same for both. The only difference in the amplifier sections is the power rating.
PREVENTING OF SPEAKER DAMAGE 1. When plugging your instrument in or out of the amplifier input , always place the
Standby Switch (indicated by SBY) in "SBY" position, which is the "off "
position. 2. Use caution when raising the volume level to maximum output. When used with
electric bass, the Guild ThunderBass and Quantum Bass amplifiers are capable of producing more power than the speakers can handle.
USE OF VOLUME CONTROLS These amplifiers have sufficient gain to cause overloading with an average guitar when the volume Controls are adjusted to maximum output. Once an amplifier reaches the overload point, very little additional volume is produced, but the distortion level increases exponentially. Unless distortion is desired for some particular reasons, there is no justfication for turning the volume Control beyond the setting which produces the maximum clean output that the amplifier is capable of producing. The most favorable signal-to-noise ratio (the least amount of hiss) is attained when the volume Control of the individual channel is set at maximum level—clockwise—and the master Volume Control is at a minimum setting. Note: The Master Volume Control overrides the Volume Control of the individual channel. Whatever the individual Volume Control settings, the Master Volume Control raises the level of both channels simultaneously.
INPUTS: NORMAL AND HIGH GAIN No.1 input is the high gain input. Unless overloading is experienced, use the No.1 input. No.2 input would be used with guitars having pickups of unusually high output.
PROPER USE OF TONE CONTROLS AND TONE SWITCH 1. With Tone Controls centered and the Tone Switch in the top position, the
frequency response is flat. This is preferred position for microfone reproduction
and accordion amplification. 2. As the Tone Switch is moved from top to bottom position, the treble gain
increases significantly. 3. Experimantation with the various Tone Controls will provide the player with a
wide range of sound and tone.
BASS CHANNEL 1. With Tone Controls centered and the Tone Switch in the middle position, the
frequency respons is flat. 2. With the Tone Contrlol Switch in upper position, the sound is "harder" or
"brighter." With the Tone Switch in lower position, it is a "deep" or "rhythm" sound. Maximum bass response is achieved with the switch in the lower position.
USE OF STANDBY (SBY) SWITCH The Standby Switch activates an indicator light which gives you a visual as well as audible indication of the Switch position. When the indicator light is on, the amplifier is ready for use.
POLARITY SWITCH Use of the Polarity Switch helps to eliminate excessive hum, string noise, and the effect of minor shocks. It is located on the front panel.
REAR PANEL FEATURES You will find an auxiliary AC outlet on the rear panel. This is convenient for the addition of such accessories as the Guild P.A. System, Copicat or Echorec. The current rating is printed below the outlet.
HUM BALANCE CONTROL Each amplifier had a Hum Balance Control on the rear panel to minimize amplifier hum and buzz. Correct hum-balancing procedure: Make sure that the Polarity Switch (front panel) is in the most favorable position (least hum). Then disconnect the instruments from the amplifier. With Volume controls at normal playing level, adjust the Hum Balance Control for lowest hum. After the instruments are again plugged into the amplifier, any hum that returns is the result of electric fields picked up by the guitar.
DOLLY ATTACHMENT You will note a small hole with a metal bushing located on the bottom and/or side of your amplifier speaker cabinet. An accessory dolly (Guild model TD1) is easily attached with a special fitting on the dolly. By inserting this fitting and turning it one-quarter of a turn, the dolly can be attached or detached.
GUILD
GUILD MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY 07030 A DIVISION OF AVNET, INC.
No6949-F Litho in USA

[Muckaluck]

Right on Paul (and everyone else!), thanks for the feedback. Paul, that seems like an owners manual of some sort. I've never seen it over the web before. Thanks for putting it out there.

[pgk]

Originally Posted by Muckaluck

Just thought I'd post up some pics to arouse interest! This amp serves its purpose wonderfully as a main floor compliment to piano and bass duos that happen once in a while with my partner.

COOL looking rig

[Muckaluck]

Thanks! I think it looks really good next to the piano in our main room. People will usually compliment the piano first, but we'll get the odd guitar/bass player over who will give a, "whoa, what's that!" That allows me to launch into my vintage amp schpiel.

[rllefebv]

Originally Posted by Muckaluck

Just thought I'd post up some pics to arouse interest! This amp serves its purpose wonderfully as a main floor compliment to piano and bass duos that happen once in a while with my partner.

Yeah, I gotta echo pgk's sentiment here... That is a COOL looking rig... I'm a sucker for a low-wattage tube rig that gets playing time

-robert

[anonymous02282011]

My old amp!

Good to see it's being put to good use. That little guy sure could crank for it's lowly wattage rating.

[BassmanPaul]

Originally Posted by Muckaluck

Right on Paul (and everyone else!), thanks for the feedback. Paul, that seems like an owners manual of some sort. I've never seen it over the web before. Thanks for putting it out there.

You're most welcome - got to help out the neighbours

Two minutes with a Google search found it.

[Muckaluck]

Hey, adbass, loving this thing! We've been playing a bunch of motown lately and the thickness of the thunderbass, with the thick 12" ampeg, with the Jamerson labellas, and with the Bill Lawrence P 46 pup is simply heaven. It locks in great with the piano for that old Marvin Gaye and Temptations stuff.

I messed with it this morning and according to the manual, setting the tone switch to middle is flat. I was using it with the tone switch in the upper position and getting a lot of attack. Set to middle and with bass and treble at 12:00 I'm getting a nice smooth tone.

[anonymous02282011]

Originally Posted by Muckaluck

Hey, adbass, loving this thing! We've been playing a bunch of motown lately and the thickness of the thunderbass, with the thick 12" ampeg, with the Jamerson labellas, and with the Bill Lawrence P 46 pup is simply heaven. It locks in great with the piano for that old Marvin Gaye and Temptations stuff.

I messed with it this morning and according to the manual, setting the tone switch to middle is flat. I was using it with the tone switch in the upper position and getting a lot of attack. Set to middle and with bass and treble at 12:00 I'm getting a nice smooth tone.

That's a great amp. Glad you're enjoying it!

How do you like the gauging on those Labella's? I'm thinking about ordering a set for my 66 Jazz

[wagdog]

Holy flashback!

Not only was a Guild Thunderbass my first real amp (in '73 with a Traynor 2x15) but I spent a considerable amount of time playing my P-bass in a duo with a piano too.

Originally Posted by Muckaluck

Just thought I'd post up some pics to arouse interest! This amp serves its purpose wonderfully as a main floor compliment to piano and bass duos that happen once in a while with my partner.

[KramerBassFan]

I've got to ask now, does your's have 6L6's or 8417's?

[Muckaluck]

I love the gauging on the Labella's. Funny, they don't seem that thick to me, but I'm a fan of the thicker gauge strings. Great string to string consistency. They're on the bass on my youtube clip here to get a sense of sound: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waXG-KXOajk

[Muckaluck]

Originally Posted by KramerBassFan

I've got to ask now, does your's have 6L6's or 8417's?

I think it has 6L6's. Whatever adbass had in it before (feel free to chime in). What kind of difference do you think 8417's would make?

[KramerBassFan]

Be much harder to find and far more expensive.

[Muckaluck]

I put a tung sol 12ax7 in the bass preamp section and I'm really happy with the sound that is producing. The guitar section has a electro harmonix 12ax7 and I think there are RCAs for the other 2 tubes. The print has worn off the power tubes, so tough to say what those are.

[KramerBassFan]

Take good pictures of the insides?