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Thunderbird Club

#257,661
 
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#257,663
Ringhammer said:
Why?

I had a 800RB back in the late ‘80’s. After deciding I could not get what I wanted from my Peavey MKIV. I loved that GK, nice and light, easy for biamping. Used it with my Ampeg 810e (which I still have and use regularly at my rehearsal space), and had a 210 GK cab on top. Same width as the 810 and made for a great (big) setup. Ran the lows through the 810, highs to the 210. Always had complements on my tone with that rig. And I could always hear myself really well without having to blast it to compete with to loud guitars and a hard hitting drummer. That was my rig all through the ‘90’s. Then around 98-99 I got an SVT-II (non-pro), and well, that was it. It’s been tubes ever since.

I do have a PF500 and PF800. I have used the 800 with an SVT212AV and it sounds pretty f’ing good, and easily able to keep up in my other band that is downtuned and has 2 guitars, drums and that plays rather loud in a small rehearsal space.
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I don't like the character of sound from Class D. That may get me a little static, but there's a character, more with some than with others. The guy who fixes my amps lately remarks that they don't take hard transients as well, he's had them on the bench for that reason. I still tend to think of Class D as the Bic Lighters of the amplification world. Maybe I'm just being stubborn, but it's not endeared itself to me thus far.
A GK 800 would be the mark for me I think... If it's not broken, you know...
 
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#257,664
Ringhammer said:
I had heard the earlier ones (which I had) were better. I think you can tell by the knobs. The newer ones had “skirted” knobs were the older original models had more barrel shaped slightly tapered knobs.

Not sure what was better about the earlier ones.
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Components maybe. The 200RB I've got has some of the same components used in Crown amps of the same era, later 70s-early 80s.
That 200RB sounds really, really nice.
 
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#257,666
I went with sunburst last night..Love those VP’s

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#257,667
Count Bassie said:
I don't like the character of sound from Class D. That may get meet a little static, but there's a character, more with sober than with others. The guy who fixes my amps lately remarks that they don't take hard transients as well, he's had them on the bench for that reason. I still tend to think of Class D as the Bic Lighters of the amplification world. Maybe I'm just being stubborn, but it's not endeared itself to me thus far.
A GK 800 would be the mark for me I think... If it's not broken, you know...
Click to expand...

There is some truth to this on class D amps.
I’m sure @Chucky Stiletti could chime in on the good, the bad and the ugly.
I’m thinking about going back to an A/B power amp.
Crest or Stewart World.
Some of the old Crown gear is pretty awesome too.
 
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#257,668
I’d like to hear more about it.

I like the compact and light features of a class D, but reliability is utmost. I figure it’s only a matter of time before I’ll be done hauling around a heavy tube amp to any gig. I do use compression (and am learning how to use it best I think) and try to keep things at unity so I don’t think I hit any amp hard with input, if that has anything to do with it.
 
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#257,669
Ringhammer said:
I’d like to hear more about it.

I like the compact and light features of a class D, but reliability is utmost. I figure it’s only a matter of time before I’ll be done hauling around a heavy tube amp to any gig. I do use compression (and am learning how to use it best I think) and try to keep things at unity so I don’t think I hit any amp hard with input, if that has anything to do with it.
Click to expand...
I do think it's not a good idea to overload a gain stage. There are so many amplifier architectures that it's hard to have a ruler that applies to everything, but I think a few general rules for yourself are a good idea. I overran mine last night.
I've got a massive tube head that sits at a rehearsal studio for the original band. I want to start using it for gigs just to learn about it, really. Using it only occasionally isn't helping me make the most of it, so I'll be hauling it around for a bit...
But what I really want for club gigs is a light-ish, mid-powered integrated amp. Solid state, simple tone options. I've mentioned how much I like what the GK 200 I have does, so I'm looking for a 400 or 800... Maybe a 700RB. I'll even consider swapping my Eden, which doesn't really quite get me where I want to go...
I'll ask my tech guy about that component thing add the Class D thing, and pass along what I find.
 
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#257,671
Count Bassie said:
Just found a 400 RB for $150 locally, looking into that. It'll do the gig, and for the price, yeah...
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Even to have to bring it in for a clean up could be worth it.
I have found that high wattage is just not a thing for small/medium sized clubs- almost all my gigs. 200w into my cobbled-together 215 (small cab loaded w/ Kappalit 3015s) brings it plenty. Turn it up if you need to...
 
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#257,672
Count Bassie said:
I do think it's not a good idea to overload a gain stage. There are so many amplifier architectures that it's hard to have a ruler that applies to everything, but I think a few general rules for yourself are a good idea. I overran mine last night.
I've got a massive tube head that sits at a rehearsal studio for the original band. I want to start using it for gigs just to learn about it, really. Using it only occasionally isn't helping me make the most of it, so I'll be hauling it around for a bit...
But what I really want for club gigs is a light-ish, mid-powered integrated amp. Solid state, simple tone options. I've mentioned how much I like what the GK 200 I have does, so I'm looking for a 400 or 800... Maybe a 700RB. I'll even consider swapping my Eden, which doesn't really quite get me where I want to go...
I'll ask my tech guy about that component thing add the Class D thing, and pass along what I find.
Click to expand...
I think the bad news about older solid state bass amps is that parts will be and in some cases are harder to get as time goes on. Andy Fields at Mesa indicated a few month ago that they have a lot of parts that are no longer produced stockpiled for many of their out of production amps. But at some point they’ll be gone.

The good news is that given how old many of us are, we will probably be able to find parts for old amps, but at a price.

Class D bass amps are here to stay, either in hybrid or pure form, as long as bass players want their own amps. I sure like my Mesa with the three tube preamp. But I also have the SVT VR which I like just as much. Except for how heavy it is. Best of both worlds you might say.
 
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#257,674
Count Bassie said:
Even to have to bring it in for a clean up could be worth it.
I have found that high wattage is just not a thing for small/medium sized clubs- almost all my gigs. 200w into my cobbled-together 215 (small cab loaded w/ Kappalit 3015s) brings it plenty. Turn it up if you need to...
Click to expand...

I have the Kappa 15a in an Orange OBC115 (which is the standard driver that Orange installs in that cab), and I have to say it is the best 1x15 cab I have ever heard. I like it so much I swapped the OEM driver in my PF115LF out for the KappaPro 15A just to see, and that 101db driver makes the PF50T a mighty loud and huge sounding amp at only 50w
 
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#257,675
GBassNorth said:
I really like the look of that! Is the roasted maple always finished in satin? Seems like all the ones I’ve seen are that way.
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I don't see why it couldn't have a gloss finish. I bought that particular neck from the TB classifieds and the previous owner had used Tru-Oil. I narrowed it to fit the Jolana body and refinished with Tung Oil.
It's my first neck Warmoth neck with graphite rods. Lightweight, but solid with even response all over the fingerboard.
I'm going to move the bottom strap button to the back of the body, similar to where it is on the Dbird.
 
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#257,677
JJR58 said:
There is some truth to this on class D amps.
I’m sure @Chucky Stiletti could chime in on the good, the bad and the ugly.
I’m thinking about going back to an A/B power amp.
Crest or Stewart World.
Some of the old Crown gear is pretty awesome too.
Click to expand...
I don't think its accurate to generalize based on the amp architecture. You can easily find examples that sound great and others not so much in each type. IMO Mesa and GK build very nice sounding Class D amps.
 
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#257,678
Engle said:
I don't think its accurate to generalize based on the amp architecture. You can easily find examples that sound great and others not so much in each type. IMO Mesa and GK build very nice sounding Class D amps.
Click to expand...

Oh, totally understood Irv.
I wasn’t trying to generalize, if I came across that way, my bad.
There are so many choices out there these days.
As much as I love Mesa, personally, I’m just ready for a new flavor.
Or go back to one I really know.
 
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#257,679
Engle said:
I don't see why it couldn't have a gloss finish. I bought that particular neck from the TB classifieds and the previous owner had used Tru-Oil. I narrowed it to fit the Jolana body and refinished with Tung Oil.
It's my first neck Warmoth neck with graphite rods. Lightweight, but solid with even response all over the fingerboard.
I'm going to move the bottom strap button to the back of the body, similar to where it is on the Dbird.
Click to expand...
Just a heads up before you move that rear strap button - it’s about the only feature of the DBird that I don’t like. It eliminates the option of running the strap over the face of the bass to keep the body from flipping forward. I’ve considered moving mine to the end of the body about an inch above the centerline of the raised block.
 
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