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Thunderbird Club

#298,402
dagrev said:
My used AMB 500 evo iii arrived today. I haven't got to give it a good playing yet but so far I'm impressed. Even flat it just sounds big and full. It's in near mint condition.

I maxed the input and valve drive and did not get the distortion I kept seeing in demos online. Not that I want true distortion, but was curious as to why there was not more breakup than I was getting. Using passive Pbasses and Jbasses I was not able to get the VU meter into the red either. That didn't seem normal like on my little RM 300 EVO. (I was not using the active mode so that wasn't it and there was a reduction when that was engaged. EQ was largely flat.) I asked the seller about it and if different tube was installed that didn't breakup easily and he said the original tube was very cheap and said "China 12ax7" and was very cold and harsh. He didn't use much distortion but wanted a little warm dirt sometimes so he replaced the tube with a David Eden 7025, so that may explain it. I'll have to look into 7025 tubes. No experience with those.

View attachment 6979458
Click to expand...
Either another tube was replaced by a lower gain tube, the amp has been modded, or something is defective. Other than not breaking up, it sounds fine?
 
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#298,403
TBird1958 said:
Yes. its part of a special run by Epiphone, US Dist. exclusive to ZzSounds and AMS, Canada LMCQ. There is also a Sparkle Blue finish which I found irresistible.

3c7Lz0F.jpg
Click to expand...
You found it irresistible because it is irresistible. (Including the headstock.)
 
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#298,405
GonePlaid said:
They're little thin glass containers with things inside them that do stuff to electric pulses that they receive which they then magically send through a bunch of little pins on the bottom (unless installed upside down) to other electronic thingies to make noises.:smug:
Hope this helps.:whistle:
Click to expand...
As my elder, I respectfully say you don't understand tubes well at all. Has nothing to do with electric pulses (who believes that?), it's the sound bouncing around in the tubes that amplifies the sound. All the weird metal stuff in the tubes does is help the sound to bounce around differently as it's reflected in various directions. That's why each tube style sounds different. I thought everyone knew this. ;) :smug:
 
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#298,409
OK, I got to do a little more serious playing and found the compressor was kind of choking the tube break up. Breakup is still there with the comp lightly on, but once turned off it is capable of more overdrive than I would ever want. Dailed back to about noon with no comp on it sounded just right with the bass I was using. I can get the VU needle to get in/to the red, but that is playing harder than I normally play. So all seems well. :thumbsup:
 
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#298,411
_Tay_ said:
Question regarding Babicz bridge.. what am I doing wrong here?? I can't seem to get the screws to go into the bass it's too tight. Tried lubricant.. The screws look the same dimensions as the ones I took out too.View attachment 6979701
Click to expand...
*Bridge update*

After a lot of swearing, brute force and blisters forming, I found some 3 in 1 oil... Job done! It's now tight, though I've chewed the screws to bits 🤣 will have to replace them. Can't have my pride and joy having tatty looking bits!
 
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#298,413
dagrev said:
As my elder, I respectfully say you don't understand tubes well at all. Has nothing to do with electric pulses (who believes that?), it's the sound bouncing around in the tubes that amplifies the sound. All the weird metal stuff in the tubes does is help the sound to bounce around differently as it's reflected in various directions. That's why each tube style sounds different. I thought everyone knew this. ;) :smug:
Click to expand...
Ohhh!
 
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#298,414
_Tay_ said:
Question regarding Babicz bridge.. what am I doing wrong here?? I can't seem to get the screws to go into the bass it's too tight. Tried lubricant.. The screws look the same dimensions as the ones I took out too.View attachment 6979701
Click to expand...
Check the threads to make sure they are the same pitch as the originals.
 
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#298,415
_Tay_ said:
*Bridge update*

After a lot of swearing, brute force and blisters forming, I found some 3 in 1 oil... Job done! It's now tight, though I've chewed the screws to bits 🤣 will have to replace them. Can't have my pride and joy having tatty looking bits!
Click to expand...
I would have just used the original bolts...
 
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#298,417
_Tay_ said:
They were just as tight as the new ones. Inside had rusted a bit I found.
Click to expand...
Looking at your detail pic, I noticed the openings on the bridge did not align over the threaded inserts. As in, the bridge openings are wider causing the bolt to rub against the insides of the bridge openings. Filing (or Dremel) the opening sides would have allowed the bolt to thread as it should. (not touching) Rust would have nothing to do with it.

1720885639280.jpeg
1720885652603.jpeg
 
Last edited:
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#298,419
dagrev said:
My used AMB 500 evo iii arrived today. I haven't got to give it a good playing yet but so far I'm impressed. Even flat it just sounds big and full. It's in near mint condition.

I maxed the input and valve drive and did not get the distortion I kept seeing in demos online. Not that I want true distortion, but was curious as to why there was not more breakup than I was getting. Using passive Pbasses and Jbasses I was not able to get the VU meter into the red either. That didn't seem normal like on my little RM 300 EVO. (I was not using the active mode so that wasn't it and there was a reduction when that was engaged. EQ was largely flat.) I asked the seller about it and if different tube was installed that didn't breakup easily and he said the original tube was very cheap and said "China 12ax7" and was very cold and harsh. He didn't use much distortion but wanted a little warm dirt sometimes so he replaced the tube with a David Eden 7025, so that may explain it. I'll have to look into 7025 tubes. No experience with those.

View attachment 6979458
Click to expand...
7025 should be equivalent to 12ax7.
 
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#298,420
JIO said:
Looking at your detail pic, I noticed the openings on the bridge did not align over the threaded inserts. As in, the bridge openings are wider causing the bolt to rub against the insides of the bridge openings. Filing (or Dremel) the opening sides would have allowed the bolt to thread as it should. (not touching) Rust would have nothing to do with it.

View attachment 6979828 View attachment 6979829
Click to expand...
The bridge was loose in them pictures. The bolts were into the original holes.
 
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