The Combo Club

[iagtrplyr]

It's been too many years since I have done that as part of a live band...50 years and counting but, still hopeful.

I’m hoping for ya too. Heck, I’m hoping for me. I just finished with school since after right this morning. Of course, a nice lunch with #2 was part of the agenda!

Okay, I’m buying this weekend to stimulate the economy and beginning tonight to pare down the prospects, and I HAVE SPOKEN!

 

[SoulReflection]

Bassists of the '60's Club.

Membership is your choice...

Best Regards,

Jim

 

[RodRy]

OK, now I understand. You did need something different from a Sunn.

Yep, and my combo at the time was a little Gorilla 60 W with a single speaker (12? 10?). I thought it would be enough, but first jam with the drummer convinced me otherwise. The guitar player was using the Sunn as his amp, but then bought a Crate 2x12 combo and handed the Sunn to me. After about 3-6 months with it, I had enough saved up to get my Hartke & Carvin rig.

Later, I helped form a little band (it became Teenage Tragedy) and the Gorilla was fine with that group (two acoustic guitars, bass, and vocal). We played 'coffee shop music': mellow Floyd, some Beatles, etc. Often in local coffee shops. Volume level had to be low enough for people to order drinks.

Even later, a drummer was added, and I had to use the big rig for practice sessions (volume set to about 2). At that time, we began adding some more pop music to the lineup: Bangles (Hazy Shade of Winter was a favorite), a few up-tempo folk-rock songs, retooled Black Sabbath (Paranoid), and even Metallica (Fade to Black). I think Paradise by the Dashboard light was the last song added just before the last show. Teenage Tragedy fell apart at the end of the semester when 4 of the 5 members left town for the summer.

Gaterboy spun off with one of our guitar players also doing vocals, the second Teen's drummer, and me (housemate) on bass. I had purchased my GK MB150E112 about that time, and had a much better and more portable sound. Gaterboy was a more punk-tinged band, with Ramones, Radiohead, Kiss, and assorted other influences. Our drummer was challenging himself to play with less, so every couple weeks, he'd take an item out of his kit. He got down to just bare essentials. A few house parties were played.

First band reincarnated under a series of different - and never agreed upon - names. Our last show was a wedding for a friend who had followed us around for years. The drummer keeps talking about a reunion, but I don't think it will happen.

My fretless bass and GK amp were not getting enough to do, so my wife (on violin), our friend Rita (on guitar and vocals), and I formed a little living room band called Rita and the Meters. We covered John Prine, acoustic Floyd, Beatles, and some more folk stuff, along with originals from Rita. Later, we added another guitarist, and played one show. Then fell apart.

I lost the urge to play bass, dabbled in guitar for a few years, and played nothing for about the last 5. In 2018 I found a desire to play, and to play with others, and I'm looking for like-minded folks to make some music with. Instead, I spend too much time on Talk Bass.

Sorry, oversharing. I got on a roll.

 

[Doctor Intrepid]

I’m hoping for ya too. Heck, I’m hoping for me. I just finished with school since after right this morning. Of course, a nice lunch with #2 was part of the agenda!

Okay, I’m buying this weekend to stimulate the economy and beginning tonight to pare down the prospects, and I HAVE SPOKEN!

What are the options? So curious! Let us drink in your GAS.

 

[iagtrplyr]

What are the options? So curious! Let us drink in your GAS.

Doc, I’ve been waiting for ya all week! I dunno, my brotha, this has been painful. I love the hunt, and now that I can do whatever I want, I can’t make a decision. I’m glad most of my day is school work. (Hey, how’s virtual school going with you? We may find out tomorrow if and when we go back)

I’m torn between an amp (combo or head) or a bass, probably a P, but I’m also thinking of holding off too. The thing is, I’m about out of room for anything large in the music room, so a big combo seems dumb.

The head for my Ampeg might be good, but that cab is earmarked for use with the Stage 800; meaning I don’t really need the head. Anyway, I use my SuperBeetle head when I want to hear the Ampeg.

I was looking at Hofner Contemporary basses a couple of nights ago. But as happy as I am with my Rogue, I m not adding anything I don’t already have, more or less. There’s whet a Precision would make the most sense; a perfect fit with the Jazz and Rogue. I wish I could play one first before deciding a purchase. Corvus 19...I hate you!

Last thought was an American P (haven’t owned an Am Fender of anything since 2008) and call it Corona. It’s the retirement bass two years early!

I keep browsing Reverb, but will most likely buy from Zzounds because of their no-interest payment plan.

Long post? Doc, you asked for my thoughts! What’s your prognosis?

 

[Mvf]

Doc, I’ve been waiting for ya all week! I dunno, my brotha, this has been painful. I love the hunt, and now that I can do whatever I want, I can’t make a decision. I’m glad most of my day is school work. (Hey, how’s virtual school going with you? We may find out tomorrow if and when we go back)

I’m torn between an amp (combo or head) or a bass, probably a P, but I’m also thinking of holding off too. The thing is, I’m about out of room for anything large in the music room, so a big combo seems dumb.

The head for my Ampeg might be good, but that cab is earmarked for use with the Stage 800; meaning I don’t really need the head. Anyway, I use my SuperBeetle head when I want to hear the Ampeg.

I was looking at Hofner Contemporary basses a couple of nights ago. But as happy as I am with my Rogue, I m not adding anything I don’t already have, more or less. There’s whet a Precision would make the most sense; a perfect fit with the Jazz and Rogue. I wish I could play one first before deciding a purchase. Corvus 19...I hate you!

Last thought was an American P (haven’t owned an Am Fender of anything since 2008) and call it Corona. It’s the retirement bass two years early!

I keep browsing Reverb, but will most likely buy from Zzounds because of their no-interest payment plan.

Long post? Doc, you asked for my thoughts! What’s your prognosis?

Every bassist should own one good P bass, so go for it!

 

[Mvf]

Welcome Mvf! Greetings to our new friend in Finland!

Many thank’s for your kind words. Tack!

 

[Mvf]

All excited over my Rumbles, I forgot to show a picture of my sofa noodling amp, a Blackstar ID Core Beam. Nice little amp that works excellent with electric guitars, but works also surprisingly well for bass.

And talking about my sofa practice, this is the device my wife prefers

 

[bhendrix]

Every bassist should own one good P bass, so go for it!

+1 Simply THE classic electric bass!

 

[GwenOnBass]

Pretty rare to be talked out of a new bass here at TB, unless the bass is a real dog. Sky's the limit, find a Squier with a good neck and drop a Darkstar in place of the P bass splits. Keep the split pickups and pop in a mudbucker at the neck. Fun fun fun till Daddy takes the T'bird away

 

[roccobass]

And talking about my sofa practice, this is the device my wife prefers

Great minds think alike! My primary social distancing practice rig!

 

[Doctor Intrepid]

Doc, I’ve been waiting for ya all week! I dunno, my brotha, this has been painful. I love the hunt, and now that I can do whatever I want, I can’t make a decision. I’m glad most of my day is school work. (Hey, how’s virtual school going with you? We may find out tomorrow if and when we go back)

I’m torn between an amp (combo or head) or a bass, probably a P, but I’m also thinking of holding off too. The thing is, I’m about out of room for anything large in the music room, so a big combo seems dumb.

The head for my Ampeg might be good, but that cab is earmarked for use with the Stage 800; meaning I don’t really need the head. Anyway, I use my SuperBeetle head when I want to hear the Ampeg.

I was looking at Hofner Contemporary basses a couple of nights ago. But as happy as I am with my Rogue, I m not adding anything I don’t already have, more or less. There’s whet a Precision would make the most sense; a perfect fit with the Jazz and Rogue. I wish I could play one first before deciding a purchase. Corvus 19...I hate you!

Last thought was an American P (haven’t owned an Am Fender of anything since 2008) and call it Corona. It’s the retirement bass two years early!

I keep browsing Reverb, but will most likely buy from Zzounds because of their no-interest payment plan.

Long post? Doc, you asked for my thoughts! What’s your prognosis?

If you got a Hofner Contemporary it would provide something different because it is really a solid body. If you got one that had the Cavern spacing for the pickups - i.e. the bridge pickup is in the middle spacing - your tone could be quite different. I have one and I love it! If you like the neck profiles of the violin basses I'd say go for the Hofner Contemporary!

 

[iagtrplyr]

If you got a Hofner Contemporary it would provide something different because it is really a solid body. If you got one that had the Cavern spacing for the pickups - i.e. the bridge pickup is in the middle spacing - your tone could be quite different. I have one and I love it! If you like the neck profiles of the violin basses I'd say go for the Hofner Contemporary! View attachment 3790348

Truly beautiful bass you’ve got there, Doctor Intrepid. Great pic too. There was a lefty for about eight bills on Reverb. I might take a look to see if it’s still there. I can’t remember if it’s new or not.

Just curious, how much does your Contemporary weigh? I know the sustain block is going to add some girth, but I wondered just how much. Sounds as if you get the same pickups as the 500/1, but it still has the dopey, black controls. I watched a YT video where a Hofner fan updated his Contemporary with the gold control plate. Looked very nice!

 

[Doctor Intrepid]

Truly beautiful bass you’ve got there, Doctor Intrepid. Great pic too. There was a lefty for about eight bills on Reverb. I might take a look to see if it’s still there. I can’t remember if it’s new or not.

Just curious, how much does your Contemporary weigh? I know the sustain block is going to add some girth, but I wondered just how much. Sounds as if you get the same pickups as the 500/1, but it still has the dopey, black controls. I watched a YT video where a Hofner fan updated his Contemporary with the gold control plate. Looked very nice!

I'm not sure of the weight. Sorry! They are exceptionally well made, though, and sound great! There are lots of opportunities to upgrade stuff like the knobs and tuning pegs. No need to upgrade the pickups. They sound great as they are.

 

[Doctor Intrepid]

Truly beautiful bass you’ve got there, Doctor Intrepid. Great pic too. There was a lefty for about eight bills on Reverb. I might take a look to see if it’s still there. I can’t remember if it’s new or not.

Just curious, how much does your Contemporary weigh? I know the sustain block is going to add some girth, but I wondered just how much. Sounds as if you get the same pickups as the 500/1, but it still has the dopey, black controls. I watched a YT video where a Hofner fan updated his Contemporary with the gold control plate. Looked very nice!

I saw a nice left handed HCT on Reverb. It has has the teacup knob upgrades already and a nice tweed case for around 800 USD. It has the traditional spacing on the pickups, but folks sometimes modify them to get the Cavern spacing. It's easy to do since the pickups are mounted on top of the body. That opens up possibilities too I think.

 

[bhendrix]

Great minds think alike! My primary social distancing practice rig! View attachment 3790325

Definitely helps keep the house harmonious! I like to think (EDIT: it LOOKS like it could be) the worlds smallest bass combo amp!

 

[RodRy]

Definitely helps keep the house harmonious! I like to think of it as the worlds smallest bass combo amp!

View attachment 3790707

Just for the tease, but I'm not convinced that's a combo. The speakers are external in a different housing, right? So then, you have an amp head plugged into your bass with the world's shortest cable!

 

[iagtrplyr]

Just for the tease, but I'm not convinced that's a combo. The speakers are external in a different housing, right? So then, you have an amp head plugged into your bass with the world's shortest cable!

Yeah, they’re called headphones!

RR, as I’m nearing my Decision 2020, I’m finding myself being pulled in by your GK tractor beam, if you know what I’m getting at! I just dunno, but I’m giving it serious thought.

 

[Protagonist]

Definitely helps keep the house harmonious! I like to think of it as the worlds smallest bass combo amp!

View attachment 3790707

Not a combo, but I can't wait to replace my Vox amplug with the upcoming NUX Mighty Plug. Modelling amplug for guitar and bass that you can control the modelling and effects via bluetooth and app, and you can play your practice music through it as well. It can also be used as a recording interface. Was shown at Winter NAMM and is starting to show up for preorder at retailers in the last week or so.
Link Removed

 

[iagtrplyr]

Hey membership, I’ve gotta a couple of small tasks I’d like ya to do this weekend, if you’ll be so kind.

One is to support Soul Reflections new thread on sixties music and bass and players. It’s blowing up and I’ve seen a few of you there already. Jump in if you like that era of music.

My other request is to add your two cents to the guy who started a fun thread based on your favorite and least favorite combo amps for bass. It was fun to read (and I held off commenting) the opinions of most TB members I’ve never heard from before. One loves the Rumble v3 and the next hates ‘em. Ya can’t be this much fun at home!

Get over there and drop off your opinion to make the thread even better. I’ve already invited anyone to wander this way if they are fit. Who knows, 200 members might not be that far away.

Thanks for showing CC pride and comradeship!