Thunderbird Club

[Chucky Stiletti]

yeah, add

Yeah, just with the merest understanding of types of materials and their use for applications that imply a little ruggedness, connecting a tube socket or other large-ish hardware to a pcb trace sounds a little hack... But hey. Hot glue guns!

This amp is beginning to get actually dialed in, finally, and I'm really liking the sound I'm getting. That's why it's still here. Otherwise it's teetering on burdensome.

yeah, add to that the expansion and contraction of the sockets heating and cooling and it just becomes a matter of time….one of the main reasons for a 1 year warranty on a lot of those modern models….

 

[Gaolee]

Only about 1/4 - 1/3 of the various US border-related officials I’ve dealt with have acted that way, but I can’t recall a single interaction with another country’s border officials that wasn’t professional. Most were courteous, occasionally friendly, as well.

I have had some pretty funny experiences crossing back into the US from other countries in the past. Most recently, Mexico. The agent at SeaTac was funny when I declared four cans of beer for a friend who collects cans. (he's 75 and still collects beer cans, go figure) He asked if they were still full. I told him I sure hoped so because there would be a mess to clean up if they weren't. Then he asked why I didn't just tell the friend to go to Mexico for his own cans. Good question. Then he waved my wife and me through. I suppose graying hair helps.

 

[PhR75]

Does anyone here own an Ibanez Destroyer bass? There were several models apparently but if I could choose I'd get the DT670 with two humbuckers (I wonder why). Not necessarily in black 'though.

Link Removed

The pickups are the same they used on a Roadstar II RB950 bass which has been on my endless G.A.S. list for a while. The Destroyer would be nice especially as I don't play metal.

 

[MCF]

I'm a bit old-fashionned, I'm afraid.... I'm trying to keep up and Lord knows my kids are helpful, but stuff like Boss, Chief, Captain... I can't help being turned off. On the other hand, Man, Dude, Bro, I'm OK.

The ultimate thrill is when I'm approached by someone going Hi, welcome to our store, I'm Andrea, how can I help you ? Wether I'm purchasing or not, I'll most likely congratulate or thank the person on the way he/she approached me. Last person I did that to replied something like my mum always said the proper way to get to know someone is to introduce yourself, so I do that. That's not the way they coach us here, but I do it anyway. She could not have been more than 25.

Now I'll go and find someone to scream at to get off my lawn...

Absolutely Mike. Can’t agree more.

 

[Bassmike62]

The pest known as Turkeys then?

Nope.
Crazy kids

 

[Bassmike62]

Does anyone here own an Ibanez Destroyer bass? There were several models apparently but if I could choose I'd get the DT670 with two humbuckers (I wonder why). Not necessarily in black 'though.

Link Removed

The pickups are the same they used on a Roadstar II RB950 bass which has been on my endless G.A.S. list for a while. The Destroyer would be nice especially as I don't play metal.

A few players here own Explorer-type basses, so you might get a few replies. Me, I owned one for a short time, with TBird type humbuckers, couldn't tell you which ones though. Only owned one Explorer, the Epi Korina model and didn't mod it, so can compare with other electronics.

You'll probably get more replies here.

The Explorer Bass Club | Page 31 | TalkBass.com

 

[PhR75]

I found a sound sample of the MXR M77 Custom Badass M*t*af****n Snakes-On-A-Plain Distortion or whatever it's fancy name was.
Sounds very good especially on lower gain settings @BklynKen

 

[MCF]

yeah, add

yeah, add to that the expansion and contraction of the sockets heating and cooling and it just becomes a matter of time….one of the main reasons for a 1 year warranty on a lot of those modern models….

Questions. And I’ve been fretting about it. Here at the mountain house (6000 feet), the Ampeg SLT VR is in the basement which can be cold. When I go down to play, I let it get warmed up before switching it off standby to play. I’ve noticed that it sounds a bit harsh, for lack of a better way to explain it, until it is warm. Am I doing it wrong? Once all warmed up it appears bias is correct.

My son gave me a Sweetwater gift card for Christmas that I used for an Ampeg cover (he knows what his old man likes). Should I cover it when it’s still warm? I’m thinking that will help it cool down slowly and be better. Is that correct?

The last all tube head I had was a Bassman 50 in the seventies and I had no clue how to care for it.

 

[GonePlaid]

The newer Epiphone cases will fit it....

View attachment 4917522



View attachment 4917514

I s'pose it'd be long enuff for the 67-at an angle-once I got rid of that pesky reverse molded insert.

 

[Engle]

The stock pu's sound good - they are on the dark side like some other bass we know but you can experiment by modding the harness.

I’m going to start out by rewiring to stock - I’ve never seen a bass wired this way. The 100K pots probably contribute to the darkness.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Questions. And I’ve been fretting about it. Here at the mountain house (6000 feet), the Ampeg SLT VR is in the basement which can be cold. When I go down to play, I let it get warmed up before switching it off standby to play. I’ve noticed that it sounds a bit harsh, for lack of a better way to explain it, until it is warm. Am I doing it wrong? Once all warmed up it appears bias is correct.

My son gave me a Sweetwater gift card for Christmas that I used for an Ampeg cover (he knows what his old man likes). Should I cover it when it’s still warm? I’m thinking that will help it cool down slowly and be better. Is that correct?

The last all tube head I had was a Bassman 50 in the seventies and I had no clue how to care for it.

tube chassis don’t like moisture where organic films can develop within the interconnect….dry warm is where they thrive….if you gonna keep it in a basement the trick is to use it regularly, if not, charge it rent for a room…..

 

[GonePlaid]

Can I just say what a delight you guys and gals are?

Coming from years on TGP and Gearspace, Talkbass seems like a breath of fresh COVID-free air. You guys give me hope for humanity—maybe bassists should’ve been running the world all along.

I’m sure I’ll post again before the New Year but just incase, my best wishes, gratitude and ‘Happy Birthdays’ to all of you!

 

[GBassNorth]

On bass and on drums. No doubt.

I’ve never played drums before, but I feel fairly certain I can nail the first few minutes of Stairway to Heaven on them as well.

 

[PhR75]

I’ve never played drums before, but I feel fairly certain I can nail the first few minutes of Stairway to Heaven on them as well.

My bravura on drums is King Crimson's (originally a live improvisation) "Trio" from "Starless And Bible Black". Especially if I can't find any sticks, there's always a danger that I might play something. Bill Bruford didn't and got a credit for "admirable restraint" plus a writing credit too.

 

[MCF]

Does anyone here own an Ibanez Destroyer bass? There were several models apparently but if I could choose I'd get the DT670 with two humbuckers (I wonder why). Not necessarily in black 'though.

Link Removed

The pickups are the same they used on a Roadstar II RB950 bass which has been on my endless G.A.S. list for a while. The Destroyer would be nice especially as I don't play metal.

 

[GBassNorth]

Questions. And I’ve been fretting about it. Here at the mountain house (6000 feet), the Ampeg SLT VR is in the basement which can be cold. When I go down to play, I let it get warmed up before switching it off standby to play. I’ve noticed that it sounds a bit harsh, for lack of a better way to explain it, until it is warm. Am I doing it wrong? Once all warmed up it appears bias is correct.

My son gave me a Sweetwater gift card for Christmas that I used for an Ampeg cover (he knows what his old man likes). Should I cover it when it’s still warm? I’m thinking that will help it cool down slowly and be better. Is that correct?

The last all tube head I had was a Bassman 50 in the seventies and I had no clue how to care for it.

The entire time I had it, it was in a heated/cooled and humidity controlled environment (along side all my basses) in the lower level of my home in KY and on the second floor here in CA. No issues, but I always gave it a good five minutes of standby for warm up. Might be a good idea to purchase an inexpensive digital temperature and humidity gauge that displays high and low temp and humidity.
This is similar to the one I keep in my bass room all the time…
https://www.amazon.com/AcuRite-Humi...fix=Temperature+and+humidity+,aps,232&sr=8-10
It can alert you to indoor environmental conditions (ie large temp and humidity swings) that could be a problem for bass gear.

 

[BklynKen]

The entire time I had it, it was in a heated/cooled and humidity controlled environment (along side all my basses) in the lower level of my home in KY and on the second floor here in CA. No issues, but I always gave it a good five minutes of standby for warm up. Might be a good idea to purchase an inexpensive digital temperature and humidity gauge that displays high and low temp and humidity.
This is similar to the one I keep in my bass room all the time…
https://www.amazon.com/AcuRite-Humidity-Thermometer-Hygrometer-Indicator/dp/B0013BKDO8/ref=sr_1_10_mod_primary_new?crid=35FCUMZ7TSU95&keywords=temperature+and+humidity+monitor&qid=1672348880&sbo=RZvfv//HxDF+O5021pAnSA==&sprefix=Temperature+and+humidity+,aps,232&sr=8-10
It can alert you to indoor environmental conditions (ie large temp and humidity swings) that could be a problem for bass gear.

Or just get a good solid state amp and never worry again?

 

[JIO]

I’m going to start out by rewiring to stock - I’ve never seen a bass wired this way. The 100K pots probably contribute to the darkness.
View attachment 4917748

Yes, I had the option to make mine more conventional but rewired it to their specs. It has original Tesla pots and archaic jack - it was just messed with wiring & caps-wise. It sounds cool - you should like it.

 

[GBassNorth]

Or just get a good solid state amp and never worry again?

Heck, even solid state equipment doesn’t like condensate moisture around contact points and pcb boards where it can pool and cause corrosion or oxidation.

 

[Bassmike62]

I found a sound sample of the MXR M77 Custom Badass M*t*af****n Snakes-On-A-Plain Distortion or whatever it's fancy name was.
Sounds very good especially on lower gain settings @BklynKen

I like it... what are the John K mods on this one ?