The Combo Club

[GwenOnBass]

They'll tear my Ampeg BA108v2+ from my cold frets when ...

... seriously, the little 'Peg is a practice amp. For me, it's a perfect practice amp because the Aux In has its own volume control. That's important to me as I switch input devices. It plays very well (and, to my ears, sweetly) at low volumes. It's certainly fun to play the bigger stuff, at make stuff rattle settings. Does me very little good when I'm concentrating on something technical.

They'll tear my Ampeg BA108v2+ from my cold frets when there's a PJB Double Four in its place ...

 

[RodRy]

They'll tear my Ampeg BA108v2+ from my cold frets when ...

... seriously, the little 'Peg is a practice amp. For me, it's a perfect practice amp because the Aux In has its own volume control. That's important to me as I switch input devices. It plays very well (and, to my ears, sweetly) at low volumes. It's certainly fun to play the bigger stuff, at make stuff rattle settings. Does me very little good when I'm concentrating on something technical.

They'll tear my Ampeg BA108v2+ from my cold frets when there's a PJB Double Four in its place ...

I thought you already have a D4?

 

[Nuage420]

I think this is the second request for personal information about that new critter. Last time I saw a post about it, none of our tribe has yet taken the plunge and brought one home. I'm interested, but not enough to purchase.

Anyone else?

This seems very interesting! If I come across one I will probably take that plunge! I'll bet it punches hard!

 

[GwenOnBass]

I thought you already have a D4?

Not this little black duck. The BA108v2+ sees daily use here. I find lots of loud out of the bigger stuff for practice isn't necessary, and may even detract. What I see in a D4 is an amp I to keep on one continent so I don't wind up again with another MeHere / AmpThere situation. MeHere / AmpHere for any location sounds right to me

 

[Nuage420]

... seriously, the little 'Peg is a practice amp. For me, it's a perfect practice amp because the Aux In has its own volume control. That's important to me as I switch input devices. It plays very well (and, to my ears, sweetly) at low volumes.

I couldn't agree more about the sweet tone on these BA's. Even though mine has a bit more umph than the 108 it's still only 200 something maxed out and I keep the volume between 9 and 11. It's so clean and the notes ring out with a very articulate and pleasing warmth. I usually run it clean, but I do have my 10 band in the loop my Harmonic Boost and the slightest bit of compression on tap if I want to spice things up.

I still haven't scooped the BA108, I went to play one at GC and got distracted by a rumble stage 800. Then started sampling musicmans and P basses through it... I'll remember to play the little guy next time

 

[G-Dog]

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The 2021 NAMM Show is Free and Virtual
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[GwenOnBass]

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The 2021 NAMM Show is Free and Virtual
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thank you!

registered

 

[Nuage420]

IM GOIN TO NAMM!

 

[edr]

Count me in as a member! I use GK MB combos (112 mk1 and 212 mk2) these days, and just picked up a PJB micro 7 for home practice.
I hate to admit it, but amp-cab pairings is just too many decisions for me to make and I’d never get anywhere. It was hard enough deciding on my current gear.

The guitarists in my band have seen the light as well

 

[WestyBassBob]

Count me in as a member! I use GK MB combos (112 mk1 and 212 mk2) these days, and just picked up a PJB micro 7 for home practice.
I hate to admit it, but amp-cab pairings is just too many decisions for me to make and I’d never get anywhere. It was hard enough deciding on my current gear.

The guitarists in my band have seen the light as well

Combos seem to be really taking off these days. I think it has more to do with the fact that they can make really good bass speakers now that aren't so big. So you can get a really loud, nice amp without so much weight.

I'm with you, between the choices and the (albeit simple) electric engineering required to mix and match cabs and stuff I'd either be constantly second guessing myself, or more likely frying multiple speakers.

 

[swink]

Count me in as a member! I use GK MB combos (112 mk1 and 212 mk2) these days, and just picked up a PJB micro 7 for home practice.
I hate to admit it, but amp-cab pairings is just too many decisions for me to make and I’d never get anywhere. It was hard enough deciding on my current gear.

The guitarists in my band have seen the light as well

Welcome in the wonderful world of combo lovers.
Pleas be seated in the waiting room, and keep your combo pics by hand, our Fearless Leader (FL) will soon be with you to hand out your number....

 

[edr]

Here’s one of the GK’s and my new pjb.
Noisy PJB micro 7
im dealing with an issue in it right now though (linked)

 

[iagtrplyr]

That would have been me!!!!!

Been contacting brick & mortar stores in the St. Louis, Illinois and Indianapolis, Indiana areas (I'm right in the middle of the two), to see if anyone actually had a HD508 on the floor.

Was promised I'd get a text if/when one came in.

shoot-r, if you end up getting a text and someone has one in for you to try and you do, please scribe your thoughts down here for the rest of us. If ya but it, take a pic and post it. With that, I’ll issue you a membership number you can call your own. That is, if I haven’t already!

 

[iagtrplyr]

View attachment 4126528 View attachment 4126530 Here’s one of the GK’s and my new pjb.
Noisy PJB micro 7
im dealing with an issue in it right now though (linked)

A seemingly nice pair of combos, edr. Noisy, as in coming out of the speaker at all volumes? When an instrument cable is connected? What’s your issue, specifically?

Also, since you posted pics, of you haven’t already requested a membership number, do so and I’ll get you one as soon as I can. A player with combos must belong to the Combo Club!

 

[iagtrplyr]

They'll tear my Ampeg BA108v2+ from my cold frets when ...

... seriously, the little 'Peg is a practice amp. For me, it's a perfect practice amp because the Aux In has its own volume control. That's important to me as I switch input devices. It plays very well (and, to my ears, sweetly) at low volumes. It's certainly fun to play the bigger stuff, at make stuff rattle settings. Does me very little good when I'm concentrating on something technical.

They'll tear my Ampeg BA108v2+ from my cold frets when there's a PJB Double Four in its place ...

You had me ‘my cold frets.’ As you know, I couldn’t agree more. Currently my favorite amp to listen to in my smallish music room. The tone I want with my Precision.

M, did you see the thread from a guy who bought himself a BA-108 v2 and loves it? I thought I’d pay my respects soon.

You also had me at ‘when there’s a D4 in its place.’ Trust me, you want both! Totally different vibes where you don’t wanna be without either!

 

[iagtrplyr]

I thought you already have a D4?

No, RR, you and I do!

 

[RodRy]

Not this little black duck. The BA108v2+ sees daily use here. I find lots of loud out of the bigger stuff for practice isn't necessary, and may even detract. What I see in a D4 is an amp I to keep on one continent so I don't wind up again with another MeHere / AmpThere situation. MeHere / AmpHere for any location sounds right to me

Ah, I just thought it was part of you PBJ arsenal!

My two bits on the D4 is that it is a very light and portable amp, that sounds absolutely amazing and punches far beyond it's weight. I'm guessing your BA108v2+ can get louder, but the D4 can keep up with an acoustic guitar played enthusiastically. At that size and weight, you could almost just carry it with you when you go continent-hopping. Bring a battery, and you won't even need to worry about plugging it in.

 

[RodRy]

No, RR, you and I do!

But of course! I just thought our mutual friend had also added one to her collection.
My mistake.

 

[edr]

A seemingly nice pair of combos, edr. Noisy, as in coming out of the speaker at all volumes? When an instrument cable is connected? What’s your issue, specifically?

Also, since you posted pics, of you haven’t already requested a membership number, do so and I’ll get you one as soon as I can. A player with combos must belong to the Combo Club!

I’ll gladly take a number!
There’s some type of white noise, a constant hiss. Independent of any and all knob settings. Doesn’t matter if there’s a bass or aux input. Hiss not present in headphones. Someone in the PJB club said the amp should be dead silent.

 

[GwenOnBass]

Ah, I just thought it was part of you PBJ arsenal!

My two bits on the D4 is that it is a very light and portable amp, that sounds absolutely amazing and punches far beyond it's weight. I'm guessing your BA108v2+ can get louder, but the D4 can keep up with an acoustic guitar played enthusiastically. At that size and weight, you could almost just carry it with you when you go continent-hopping. Bring a battery, and you won't even need to worry about plugging it in.

Very probably a BA108v2 can hold its own in an acoustic match (no banjos!). But at ~30 pounds, why take it when there's a PJB BG400 combo at 40 pounds? And equally reasonable to question why not practice with the BG400? My answer is, because the little 'Peg sounds smooth to my ears. Not better, not worse, different. More than once I've considered an Ampeg BA112v2 just for the tone and a "go to" for low volume "that tone".

"That tone" to me right now are Dunlop flats on my Chowny CHB-1, and it's been a difficult decision and I'm staying with it. TL;DR warning beep beep beep

What I had in mind with the semi-hollowbody bass is that The Animals vibe. The Filter'Trons, the thud, the whole thing. Eventually settled on La Bella Low Tension Flats and stayed with them throughout the 40 weeks' music theory course. And as a result of that course material, found myself practicing above (and sometimes well-above) the 12th fret
and yes I know all the money is below the fifth fret and who said there's money in this right now?
:: looks around ::
What I find I need beyond the Rubicon is more articulation and less thud for what I'm doing, and in all this foolishness

install Dunlop flatwounds three months ago to hold that space between :: whatever weird criteria is in place for vintage and modern :: And you know what? The Dunlops are super nice. They keep their tune for days, literally. Maybe a couple cents, but I could really pick it up and not tune (bad, bad, bad) and be very close to spot on.

What I did not account for is the incoming Nordstrand Acinonyx. It'll be "my bass" for the new start of the Music Theory for the Bass Player cohort that begins on Friday. (It'll arrive when it arrives, February-ish by the blessings of the FSM.) I'll be playing it with either the stock DaD nickel rounds, or GHS Balanced Nickels, (or maybe Pressurewounds) which means

the Low Tension Flats might go back on the Chowny for maximal thud. Or keep the Dunlops that are very barely broken in. What I can report is the Chowny puts out some serious thud in both cases

.... ain't a lot of bum-thumping thud in the BA108v2+ but that's not what it's for. And I really like it for what it's for.