The Combo Club

[GwenOnBass]

Cavalry man 1:"Sure is quiet out there", Man 2:"Yeah, too quiet."(sounds of arrows). Where'd ev'rybody go?

I crave the adulation real bass players receive

 

[ghostinthemach]

Not exactly combo related, but news for me; I’m looking to trade my (exclnt cond) Roscoe Beck 5 here on TB For Sale/Trade - Feeler: 1996 Fender Roscoe Beck v

So far I’ve had a couple of near-miss transactions... with the same guy!
Now it’s fallen through completely and I’m shopping again. Here’s one i’m investigating now:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[GonePlaid]

I crave the adulation real bass players receive

View attachment 3164155​

The only bass players I know of who receive adulation are Sting and Sir Paul and I doubt that all that many folks realize they play bass-"ooh, that guy that plays"guitar"backwards".

 

[iagtrplyr]

Three hour jam on Friday and on Saturday I took the Vox in the get a speaker out added. Details to come. . .

Patiently waiting for your full report, Doctor I.

 

[iagtrplyr]

Ive been thinking of getting a Tech21 VT Bass pedal, to put in front of my small GK combo. Mostly for when i want more tubey type of tones. I haven't found to many negative review and most seem to love that pedal for the SVT like character....anyone else do this?

Owned one, FirewalZ, for a while and overall liked the tone. The knobs don't need to move much to hear a big difference in sound. There's a lot in between 8:00 and 4:00! Like you, I ran it with non-Ampeg amps but must admit, it didn't hurt an Ampeg amp any either, especially if you were going for some fat tube. Kinda pricey, but very well-made. Now if ya wanna go bargain basement, the Behringer BD121, that's currently in a laptop case somewhere, is not too shabby either; especially if you get one that works! Kinda cheapie, but tone-wise does the job. You could spend a Benjamin and pick up the Ampeg classic preamp pedal as well, and keep it in the family! Keep us posted what you decide to do.

 

[iagtrplyr]

I see Commissioner Gordon used the Morrighan signal

View attachment 3160931
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That would be me with the VT Bass Deluxe in my signal chain. In fact it is the only pedal in my signal chain. There are plans a-foot to add yummies like a HPF and compressor blah blah woof woof but the VT Bass goes with me every time.

Now there is a particular lemonade stand with a backline of an SWR (can't recall exactly which) driving a 15. I plug in my 'Ray and the drummer says: turn it up. Well shiver me timbers, I ask around TB what the sam hill happened and the wiser heads agree: it's the SWR scoop.

Bring my VT Bass Deluxe the next time and plug in the same backline at the same volume level. It's the little red light on the pedal that tells me to go ahead and plunk that twanger. Pedal's set to emulate (roughly) an Ampeg flip top.

Oooo! Drummer's happy. With my volume, even.

And in my current situation where I'm working to get my name out there as at least a reasonably capable player, I brave the local open mike. No drummer. No backline. And resolve this with my VT Bass as I just run straight to the board. Select the default setting for "Fat Tube" and the open mike host compliments me on my tone.

Now it's a funny thing, I see threads here saying everything short of "VT Bass killed my cat" right next to high praises. The mids on the VT Bass Deluxe are centered on 500 hz. It's the Character knob that is also a mids knob of sorts and works interactively with the mids knob.

That I like it probably doesn't mean much because it's the only pedal I ever used apart from an MXR overdrive from back when there were still dinosaurs on the gas station signs.

Peace, love and karmic negligence,

- M

Random Thoughts:

1) wasn't your bat signal graphic from a tie Jimi wore on Electric Ladyland?
2) For some of us, killing the cat with a VT pedal can be a plus...
3) Wow, M, reminiscing about dinos on gas station signs probably means you remember when gas was $0.50 a gallon too! Do you also remember attendants wearing uniforms? I do. Boy, am I getting old.

 

[iagtrplyr]

You really don't need to add an HPF to a VT as it's got its own built in to mimic the low end response of an 810e or B-15 cab.

Jimmy, you made it to our little club. Toss up a pic of one of your Ampeg combos and win a chance to receive free silverware for life. Anyway, we could use a little more balance in this club. There's an awful lot of Fender owners present if ya know what I mean...Hope you accept our humble invitation!

 

[GonePlaid]

Owned one, FirewalZ, for a while and overall liked the tone. The knobs don't need to move much to hear a big difference in sound. There's a lot in between 8:00 and 4:00! Like you, I ran it with non-Ampeg amps but must admit, it didn't hurt an Ampeg amp any either, especially if you were going for some fat tube. Kinda pricey, but very well-made. Now if ya wanna go bargain basement, the Behringer BD121, that's currently in a laptop case somewhere, is not too shabby either; especially if you get one that works! Kinda cheapie, but tone-wise does the job. You could spend a Benjamin and pick up the Ampeg classic preamp pedal as well, and keep it in the family! Keep us posted what you decide to do.

I've got a little amp-sim by Korg(?)that does a lot of cool stuff. When I get back home, I'll post info on it. I used to hook it up when I was playing bass or keys through a 3 separate channel keyboard amp made by a company I won't mention. I've had the thing since the 80s and it still works-prolly b/c I don't use it except at the house.

 

[iagtrplyr]

There is only one thing I like more than my Rumble Combo 200...

View attachment 3161740

And that's the 1-15 Cab under it...new logo coming.

Woo, SR, that's a lot of Rumble right there! Ya got a license for all that firepower? Just keep little kids and small pets ten feet from the front of that rig and you most likely won't get sued. Enjoy!

 

[GonePlaid]

Random Thoughts:

1) wasn't your bat signal graphic from a tie Jimi wore on Electric Ladyland?
2) For some of us, killing the cat with a VT pedal can be a plus...
3) Wow, M, reminiscing about dinos on gas station signs probably means you remember when gas was $0.50 a gallon too! Do you also remember attendants wearing uniforms? I do. Boy, am I getting old.

$0.50? Big deal. In high school I paid(suggest you sit for this) $0.17/gallon.That's right, seventeen cents a gallon in Miami. And, S&H green stamps to boot!

 

[iagtrplyr]

I still dig my big Rumble rig......but Ive been taking my new GK MB112-ii to rehearsals and small Coffee Shop, Winery type of gigs and really enjoying it. I love walking in with a bass in one hand, amp in the other and cable bag over the shoulder...loading in/out has never been easier. I have yet to have the volume much past the 9-10:00 position, which is about a quarter of the way up.

So what do you think are the biggest differences (both positive and negative) between your Fender and the GK? I'm thinking your thoughts on the subject might come in handy for someone looking at mid-size combos. As a former GK owner (yeah, like what haven't I owned up to this point?), I can easily like both tones, different as they are. Toss in an Ampeg and you're pretty much good to go in the classic sound domain. I look forward to your opinion.

 

[KohanMike]

I just discovered this thread. I have only combos; a Phil Jones Double Four, a Carvin MB15 with extension cabinet 115MBE and a Blackstar Fly 3 Bass rig with extension cabinet. Do I get a number?

 

[iagtrplyr]

$0.50? Big deal. In high school I paid(suggest you sit for this) $0.17/gallon.That's right, seventeen cents a gallon in Miami. And, S&H green stamps to boot!

Yeah, but your wheels were stone and you used your feet to accelerate! Don't try pulling the wool over our eyes, GP. I suppose bass guitars had only three strings too. Now watch him pull one out and take a picture of it!

 

[GonePlaid]

Yeah, but your wheels were stone and you used your feet to accelerate! Don't try pulling the wool over our eyes, GP. I suppose bass guitars had only three strings too. Now watch him pull one out and take a picture of it!

Well, it was 1961 thus proving my qualifying for the GOF Club. BTW, random new pic of my gig rig:

 

[iagtrplyr]

I just discovered this thread. I have only combos; a Phil Jones Double Four, a Carvin MB15 with extension cabinet 115MBE and a Blackstar Fly 3 Bass rig with extension cabinet. Do I get a number?

kohanmike, absolutely you get a number! Anyone with mike in his username automatically gets a cabinet post too. Welcome aboard, our combo amp brotha. You will now be known as club member #106. Congrats! Throw a picture or two up and be the envy of the other 105. We're a relaxed bunch here who besides having a great love of bass and combos, are fairly knowledgeable and extremely humorous. Tell your bass combo-loving friends about us!

 

[iagtrplyr]

Well, it was 1961 thus proving my qualifying for the GOF Club. BTW, random new pic of my gig rig:View attachment 3165805

Sheesh, I was born in '60. What's that make you in dog years, GP? Nevermind, the rig is a thing of beauty with power. The perfect combination! I'm not overly familiar with Gibson basses, being I've never seen a lefty other than Epis. Tell us a little about it. Gee, I'm glad I stayed up after correcting work. This has been fun!

 

[GonePlaid]

sheesh, I was born in '60. What's that make you in dog years, GP? Nevermind, the rig is a thing of beauty with power. The perfect combination! I'm not overly familiar with Gibson basses, being I've never seen a lefty other than Epis. Tell us a little about it. Gee, I'm glad I stayed up after correcting work. This has been fun!

Well, for openers, it's not a lefty. It's a 1967 non-reverse Gibson Thunderbird IV that I've had since 73. It has a few dings and scars as it was my working-and only-bass for 20+ years. No matter what strings I put on it, it sounds great. Right now it has D'Addario Chromes on it but I'm soon gonna put a set of EB Cobalt Flats on. That's what I have on my Epiphone 5 string non-reverse TBird and I Really like their sound. This is the 5er: BTW, the Gibson has a custom pickguard on it.

 

[KohanMike]

Thanks lagtrplyr, I just put it in my signature. I use them all with batteries most of the time, a laptop for the PJD4, a powerful lithium and inverter for the Carvin and rechargeable AA for the Fly 3, which I wear doing childrens hospital gigs.

 

[FirewalZ]

So what do you think are the biggest differences (both positive and negative) between your Fender and the GK? I'm thinking your thoughts on the subject might come in handy for someone looking at mid-size combos. As a former GK owner (yeah, like what haven't I owned up to this point?), I can easily like both tones, different as they are. Toss in an Ampeg and you're pretty much good to go in the classic sound domain. I look forward to your opinion.

Essentially I tell folks they sound like they look....the GK being modern, clean and crisp and the Fender low/low-mid forward and a classic "Fender Bass" tone. The Fender has a thicker, warmer punch in the low mids and when paired with a P-bass, nails that classic sound. The GK has a tighter, drier sound, with a crispness to it. I dig both and use them for different gigs and genres.

 

[GwenOnBass]

I just discovered this thread. I have only combos; a Phil Jones Double Four, a Carvin MB15 with extension cabinet 115MBE and a Blackstar Fly 3 Bass rig with extension cabinet. Do I get a number?

Double Four! From all I read the Double Four has a sweeter tone than the Bass Cub? Strongly considering one or the other for restaurant gigs. Don't wanna carry the whole enchilada with me to turn it down so people can talk over dinner.... (don't think I need the battery option)