Its darn Cool. I'd sure love to have it. Go for it.
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 Combo Club
- Thread starter ChefKen
- Start date
Thanks Doc. Here’s the embarrassing news: I didn’t even play this vacation. Other than sticking on the rest, I didn’t even noodle around and have only once since school began.
I came down with a cold on Friday and am just beginning to feel better. I have to stick some scores in later tonight and may monkey around to if the tape holds.
You’re underway at school, correct? Take my advice and say NO to anything you’re asked to do that’s beyond your contract and enjoy your Hofners!
Okay, I remedied that little ailment and finally did some playing, with the thumb rest in place. It lasted for ten minutes. First of all, I'm so used to the neck pickup my thumb kept nuzzling over there. Second, the rest sits up above the pickup so it's like having to reach further across and down to play the same notes. Third, while it did what I hoped it would do and alter the tone, it basically took the wool out of the tone and left with a very thin, dry sound. No double bassy-like vibe at all. So the plastic rest was pulled off (thank goodness I did the tape bit which held up nicely, BTW) and it'll be heading to an old VOX amp box of odds and ends. The only way I'd try it again is if the rest was half as tall and wooden! The plastic makes my inexpensive bass...cheap-looking and I will not stand for it.
Also, VOX fans, besides my fever breaking so did the amp's driver. Nicely too. I've been running music through the Aux In and I broke it in enough to be able to go..."Whew!" Now it's truly sounding tubey with mellowed highs and a fuller bottom end. It's a different amp completely compared to a few weeks ago. The boys were right, patience and some stretching exercises will give you what I think is a totally different sound now. This is definitely getting interesting. Add the Comp and the Drive into the mix and there is some variety, but IMHO VOX's targeted tone is centered in all of it.
Still gonna record something, Soul Reflection, as long as I can find time to play a little more. Playing was meh tonight due to the layoff, but I had fun with Joe Cocker's version of The Letter.
FL...out.
Biggie, ya gotta do what ya gotta do. win big at poker this weekend, buy the amp, fall in love, add it to the collection, repeat process all over again. Heck, I haven't heard my Stage 800 since July, but it's not stopping me from already looking for the next one. Full report when you become its new owner. Crossing my fingers for ya...
- Oct 22, 2015
- 21,154
- 256,530
- Disclosures
- I am an affiliate for Ari Cap.
Kind of get the idea he wants $200 for it.
- Oct 22, 2015
- 21,154
- 256,530
- Disclosures
- I am an affiliate for Ari Cap.
Like to hear more about breaking in a driver. I expect volume is required? Asking as one with a new(ish) cab.
Here on the Isle of Everywhere, this alleged bass player has been learning the floating thumb technique gleaned from reading TB. Don't recall where the threads are but the thumb "floats" over the strings to mute behind the index and middle finger. That plus the MM pup is my entire take on a tug bar.
Second that for info on the breakin. My R200v3 is 4 months old but has never been above 8:30-ish other than one or two plucks at 12:00 which made the cats and neighbors run for cover.
AgedHorse’s April 25, ‘19 post indicates no break in is required...
AgedHorse’s April 25, ‘19 post indicates no break in is required...
Attachments
Last edited:
Pic 1-TBird w/ original PG and tug bar; pic 2-TBird w/ custom PG and no tug bar. And no holes drilled to mount it. [tug bar saved]
OK. As much as I'd prefer to have a head and 2 cabinets (for portability) i think I'll have to save over $300 and do another combo. The best overall value I have found is the newish Ashdown 500 watt 2x10 Rootmaster EVO II @ $649. With onboard Compressor and Suboctavor and a weight of 40 pounds, how do you beat it. I also like the newish VT Tech 21 1x12 combo, 200 watts with the VT powered 1x12 ext cabinet. About 30 pounds each but about $200 more than the Ashdown. Finally, considering another Rumble 500V3 Combo as I really liked my past one. Any and all comments welcome.
Additional note. I'm 67, get whatever the hell I want.
Additional note. I'm 67, get whatever the hell I want.
Last edited:
I noticed that "The ElderEquine" specified, "There is also no need to break in any Subway cabinets, ... changes are virtually unmeasurable."[emphasis added]. This probably applies to other good quality brands and products, as well. I did not notice a need, or a change, in the speaker sounds of my multiple Fender Bassman or Rumble combos or cabs.
I did quite definitely notice a need, and a change, in the speaker sounds of my Vox VX50BA over the course of a couple weeks of near-daily practice and knob tweaking and short-term volume cranking. See my comments on this here: [0]=289525&c[thread]=1371024']Search Results for Query: Break | TalkBass.com
Around that time I also did a bit of TB research on speaker break-in. As you can imagine, I found everything ranging from "totally no need for any speaker break-in, ever" to "every speaker always needs intense break-in", and everything in between. So, as is usually the case, agedhorse's referenced statement is the voice of reason, and experience, between extreme opinions.
.
- Oct 22, 2015
- 21,154
- 256,530
- Disclosures
- I am an affiliate for Ari Cap.
Certainly able to comment without any understanding of your actual SPL needs
What I observe with the luxury of being able to quickly switch between three amps is just why the "Ampeg tone" is considered a benchmark by so many. The Tech 21 combo should do Ampeg tones in spades as kin to the VT pedal I (think I) know.
- Oct 22, 2015
- 21,154
- 256,530
- Disclosures
- I am an affiliate for Ari Cap.
The fun of it being as solid a reason as any. Reliably informed my bass + Elf + Cab 27 at modest settings is audible at the neighbor's mailbox. The Ampeg BA-108 is audible Beyond the Garage Door .... is that a band name or a horror movie?
I'm thinking that too. Rarely seen a Negative on a SansAmp.Certainly able to comment without any understanding of your actual SPL needs
What I observe with the luxury of being able to quickly switch between three amps is just why the "Ampeg tone" is considered a benchmark by so many. The Tech 21 combo should do Ampeg tones in spades as kin to the VT pedal I (think I) know.
I never get tired of seeing the T-bird. That thing is the business.
Thank you both. I never tire of playing it.
- Oct 22, 2015
- 21,154
- 256,530
- Disclosures
- I am an affiliate for Ari Cap.
More thanks. I've had it since 73, my "A" bass. I play 3 of my others, but always come back to this one.
- Oct 22, 2015
- 21,154
- 256,530
- Disclosures
- I am an affiliate for Ari Cap.
My attention is always drawn when I see a non-FSO.
Hmm...I think I may know who this alleged bass player is.
Though I may face backlash, from my first day selling high quality audio components back in November of 1980, and with loudspeakers being my favorite piece to sell, there’s rarely been a speaker system that didn’t sound better a few months later after what I’d call a shakedown period.
Electronics are a different beast and tended to die within a month of being sold if they were built bad, but speakers breathe; they move, they live, at least in my ear. Call it what you will, but the VOX was like someone slipped out the old combo and replaced it with a vintage-sounding amp of yesteryear. Others have heard it as well, proven in these here pages.
So yeah, M, push yours and see if you don’t hear a change in the coming days, especially in the nether regions.
And the last guy I’m gonna get into a confrontation with is AgedHorse, and on a scope you may be able to prove it down to the Hz, but I’ve always relied on the two ears God have me and that haven’t done a bad job up to this point. To each his own though. I’ll just say is that if there’s a long-time Rumble owner out there who says they think their combo sounds exactly the same as it did upon the very first open E they hit, I’ll never bring this topic up again!
