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Thunderbird Club

#325,041
Ringhammer said:
Speaking of cables…

My foray into changing from my Orange TB500 and 2 x OBC112 rig to my Ashdown HOD and (ultimately, after trying the Ashdown 115 &210 pro-neo cabs) the GK 212 Neo cab, all started because the last couple of times I used the Orange rig, I kinda felt I wasn’t getting exactly what I wanted, and if I pushed harder it would appear to cut out. I believed this was a thermal shutdown thing. With all that happening, at the same time I briefly had an Orange OB1-500 amp which uses a class A/B, and I noticed how, even into an 8 ohm cab, running at only 250 watt, that thing was LOUD. Sooo, I determined maybe the class D Orange just didn’t have enough of what I needed, and, in conjunction with the Ashdown love going around at the time, and Ashdown using class A/B, I went down that rabbit hole. And then, a quick message to Sweetwater later, the new Ashdown was on the way.

In pretty short order I sold the Orange cabs, probably for cheaper than I should have, and after getting a bunch of lowball offers on the TB500, I ended up trading it for an Aguilar Tone Hammer 700. I only did this trade as a gamble that I might have better luck selling the Aguilar on line with pretty cheap shipping, since it only weighs about 5 lbs. And I know they are popular heads with a good rep. I made this trade on Friday.

Then, on Friday night I had a gig and had my HOD/GK212 Neo (which I’m finding to be a good combination so far, still need to learn how to adjust for a room on the fly though). When I set up, and tuned it on, I had no output?!?! Mute of, tuner not engaged, cables all connected. Then I jiggled the speaker cable and bam, I had output! I carry a little pedalboard case with my instrument cables, power cable and speaker cables, so I still had the same two speaker cables I used with the Orange rig. So I used the other cable I had and it worked fine. These are both 12 ga cables with Speakon ends and not old. But, I did get them on Amazon and they are not really the tightest in the sockets. Upon looking at the culprit end, I could see no reason for it to be a problem, but, they are just screw down type ends, not soldered.

Back to the start, this whole thing was triggered by a bad speaker cables, making me think the Orange was cutting out…

I just need to sell this Aguilar head so all this will be behind me.
Click to expand...
Takeaway: Neutrik AUTHENTIC connectors are a must.

Speakon type connectors are “only”screw on even with legit Neutrik connectors by design.

I’ve had several “Speakon” cables fail from Amazon sellers. Never once had a legit Neutrik equipped cable fail.

Replaced the knockoff connectors with legit Neutrik and 10 years later those are the ones I’m still using.

Speakon is a complicated connector and the materials and tolerances are narrow.
 
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#325,042
On the pier in Pt. Angeles.

7H4xSIK.jpg



I didn't know my fingers could even do this.


VEG48yM.jpg
 
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#325,048
Ringhammer said:
Speaking of cables…

My foray into changing from my Orange TB500 and 2 x OBC112 rig to my Ashdown HOD and (ultimately, after trying the Ashdown 115 &210 pro-neo cabs) the GK 212 Neo cab, all started because the last couple of times I used the Orange rig, I kinda felt I wasn’t getting exactly what I wanted, and if I pushed harder it would appear to cut out. I believed this was a thermal shutdown thing. With all that happening, at the same time I briefly had an Orange OB1-500 amp which uses a class A/B, and I noticed how, even into an 8 ohm cab, running at only 250 watt, that thing was LOUD. Sooo, I determined maybe the class D Orange just didn’t have enough of what I needed, and, in conjunction with the Ashdown love going around at the time, and Ashdown using class A/B, I went down that rabbit hole. And then, a quick message to Sweetwater later, the new Ashdown was on the way.

In pretty short order I sold the Orange cabs, probably for cheaper than I should have, and after getting a bunch of lowball offers on the TB500, I ended up trading it for an Aguilar Tone Hammer 700. I only did this trade as a gamble that I might have better luck selling the Aguilar on line with pretty cheap shipping, since it only weighs about 5 lbs. And I know they are popular heads with a good rep. I made this trade on Friday.

Then, on Friday night I had a gig and had my HOD/GK212 Neo (which I’m finding to be a good combination so far, still need to learn how to adjust for a room on the fly though). When I set up, and tuned it on, I had no output?!?! Mute of, tuner not engaged, cables all connected. Then I jiggled the speaker cable and bam, I had output! I carry a little pedalboard case with my instrument cables, power cable and speaker cables, so I still had the same two speaker cables I used with the Orange rig. So I used the other cable I had and it worked fine. These are both 12 ga cables with Speakon ends and not old. But, I did get them on Amazon and they are not really the tightest in the sockets. Upon looking at the culprit end, I could see no reason for it to be a problem, but, they are just screw down type ends, not soldered.

Back to the start, this whole thing was triggered by a bad speaker cables, making me think the Orange was cutting out…

I just need to sell this Aguilar head so all this will be behind me.
Click to expand...
Also, stop buying cheap cables.
 
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#325,050
/\/\3phist0 said:
Hunk of Honduran mahogany that is to become a Thunderbird, with a headless Kramer Duke aluminum neck:
View attachment 7296697
Thunderbird adjacent, my take on a Guild X-702 5string, My take on a 5 string Guild X-702 (Dubbed RR X-705)
Poplar body highly figured 200 year old redwood top.
View attachment 7296699View attachment 7296698
Nordstrand pickups, Warmoth roasted maple neck, black Babicz bridge, black Gotoh tuners.
Glue up tomorrow.
***edit: Dug up pics of the neck
View attachment 7296708View attachment 7296709View attachment 7296710
Click to expand...
That redwood top is going to look breathtaking on that bass!
 
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#325,054
Chucky Stiletti said:
that bass through that rig is probably unbeatable.....:drool::bassist:
Click to expand...

Pretty happy with the Ashdown! It was good with the Epi '64s I used at that show, I'm finding that just slightly backing off the neck pup gives a nice articulate tone when playing fingerstyle, which I seem to be doing a bit more of lately. That SWR cabinet is so good too!
 
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#325,060
Chucky Stiletti said:
I've seen Speakons that will not even allow a 1/4" jack plug as they are intended to.....the fact that GC warranties them for life doesn't help poor schmoe with intermittent issues mid gig...
Click to expand...
Yeah, I don't care how good the warranty is if the quality isn't there.
 
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