You'd better go ahead and find yourself a good speaker re-coner now then.
Those things are terrific, but require a bit of discretion.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
The biggest, baddest, tube Marshall...
- Thread starter Clammy
- Start date
You'd better go ahead and find yourself a good speaker re-coner now then.
Those things are terrific, but require a bit of discretion.
Heheheh... I run a 4x12 that can handle 400w, and one of 2 2x15 cabs that can handle 500w or 600w. So from a power handling capacity, I think I'm covered. That said, I can get plenty of volume using 1 Super Bass head (100w), so I will have some fun with the VBA, but when it comes time to play with the band, I'll keep it reasonable.
Cheers!
Many years ago I got to play Lemmy's murder one and mashall stack. Wow it was loud. I think it was by far the loudest thing Ive ever heard. And I think I know why my filling came out a few days later. Congrats! Im a jazz guy but I love loud bass especially lovely tube goodness.
Lucky guy! My rig, and my style, are extremely influenced by Lem. I've talked to him a bunch of times about his rig, and one thing he always says "Turn the bass to 0!", hehehe... I keep mine around 6, though!
I'd really love to know what speakers are in his cabs, but any time I've asked him, he says "Dunno, my roadie takes care of that for me", hahaha!! 
I've been to many, many Motorhead shows, and his setup IS insanely loud!Cheers!
Heheheh... I run a 4x12 that can handle 400w, and one of 2 2x15 cabs that can handle 500w or 600w. So from a power handling capacity, I think I'm covered. That said, I can get plenty of volume using 1 Super Bass head (100w), so I will have some fun with the VBA, but when it comes time to play with the band, I'll keep it reasonable.
Cheers!
Well... that amp is only 400 watts so long as it's clean. If you're turning it up loud enough to overdrive the power tubes, it's probably putting out more than that. So... be careful.
I dont know lemmy but if your are influenced by his sound I know he is very accesable and could probably point you to his amp tech (even back in the 80's when I saw him his guys are around for ever).
I would guess you are absolutely right about his speaker setup etc (special package there) and I would guess it would be something thats basic and able to withstand the test of time (Im sure Mr Kilmister wouldnt tolerate a lot or knob fiddling or real time failure).
I do remember asking him about distortion and he told me that all the sound comes from his amps.He used (pre no sleep till hammersmith )to use Marshall JMP Superbass II amplifiers from the late 1960s/early 1970s (hotrodded). Each amp was around 100 watts, and had4x12 speaker cab and a custom-made 4x15 cab. He used to one on each side of the drums. For many years the amps were nicknamed "No Remorse", "Killer" (left side amp) or "Murder One" (right side amp).
I haven't seen him or met him but that one time and he was very gracious. I think you could get the right info from him.
Congrats again on a great piece of equipement and hope it brings you much happiness!!!!
I would guess you are absolutely right about his speaker setup etc (special package there) and I would guess it would be something thats basic and able to withstand the test of time (Im sure Mr Kilmister wouldnt tolerate a lot or knob fiddling or real time failure).
I do remember asking him about distortion and he told me that all the sound comes from his amps.He used (pre no sleep till hammersmith )to use Marshall JMP Superbass II amplifiers from the late 1960s/early 1970s (hotrodded). Each amp was around 100 watts, and had4x12 speaker cab and a custom-made 4x15 cab. He used to one on each side of the drums. For many years the amps were nicknamed "No Remorse", "Killer" (left side amp) or "Murder One" (right side amp).
I haven't seen him or met him but that one time and he was very gracious. I think you could get the right info from him.
Congrats again on a great piece of equipement and hope it brings you much happiness!!!!
Oh, don't worry. I've been playing through Mashall tube amps all my playing life. I know about rated output power vs. "full-on, into distortion, almost double the output power" that many tube amps, and Marshalls in particular, are capable of! I'll take it easy (at first!
)Cheers!
sweet amp, been wanting to try one of those for a long time. let us know how it goes...like i need more amps
I've been very lucky to have met, hung out, and partied with Lemmy many times over the years. He's simply the coolest dude on the planet. No "rock star" bs attitude, and funny as hell, too!
I never thought about asking his tech about his rig; great idea! Next time, if I get the chance, I'll see if I can meet him, and pick his brain a little.Lemmy still uses Super Bass heads cranked up into 4x12 and 4x15 cabs. These days, it's his signature heads and cabs. No pedals. All the distortion comes from the amps, and they're non-master volume amps.
Cheers!
sweet amp, been wanting to try one of those for a long time. let us know how it goes...like i need more amps
Will do. I know what you mean about "like I need more amps" thing, hehehe...
It was kind of an impulse buy for me. I've been very happy with my Super Bass heads, but I kept reading comments (a fair number right here on TB, too) about the VBA and how awesome it is, etc... and my curiosity got piqued BIG time.
I just got lucky that there was one on Ebay right at that time, and the bidding stayed in my range. I'm hoping it lives up to the expecations I have.
EDIT: I just noticed you're here in ottawa. Have we met?
Cheers!
I'm guessing you're in a band here?
Cheers!
yes sir, probably playing some lower key venues than you though
.links in my signature...
Hate to put out your fire but I've owned two VBA400s and both had the same design fault, the fan. The fan is designed to pull air through the amp from the grill on the front and out of the back the problem is that while the fan does this, it also pulls air through every hole in the amp including the jack sockets resulting in various bits not working. The first to go on both amps was the effects loop. The switched jacks got dirty and cut the connection. As I didn't use the f/x loop I just bypassed it, problem solved. The next problem was the unused input jack. This also got dirty and caused all sorts of intermittent problems, such as volume drops and jumps. Switch cleaner didn't seem to cure the problem either. The amp tech that I took the amp to said that the dirty jacks had damaged the input circuit but he got the amps going again. Sounded good though, typical Marshall.
Now the air is cleaner, as we have smoke free venues here in the UK, the fault still exists I don't know as the amps had to go as they were unreliable.
I'm not trying to put anyone off buying a VBA400, it's a great amp, just saying that I had problems and if yours develops similar symptoms then you know where to look first.
Now the air is cleaner, as we have smoke free venues here in the UK, the fault still exists I don't know as the amps had to go as they were unreliable.
I'm not trying to put anyone off buying a VBA400, it's a great amp, just saying that I had problems and if yours develops similar symptoms then you know where to look first.
This is the first really negative thing I've read about this amp. I suppose I can turn the fan around, so that it blows air out rather than drawing it in.
I'll keep this in mind if the amp starts developing any problems. Thanks for the head's up.
Cheers!
2 VBC 412 cabs, and you have to run the pre up really far to get it to overdrive. all kinds of clean power.
You running a VBA400 into 2 VBC412 cabs? How do those cabs sound? I'll be running mine into a JCM 800 Bass Series 4x12 (model 1520) and JCM 800 Bass Series 2x15 (model 1552). I've been hearing a lot of good things about the VBC412 cabs.
Cheers!
