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malcolm.mcintyre

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Posts posted by malcolm.mcintyre

  1. Am I the only one concerned about the “look” of the backline, as well as the sound?

    I use a Barefaced Big Twin 2, often for its appearance on a big stage, as much as the sound. As has been mentioned many times, at a big outdoor gig the PA guy is in charge of what the audience hears, so a single 12 would be fine for backline fill, but it just looks a bit weedy.

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  2. 60s I used a Selmer valve amp into a pair of Selmer 18 inch cabs (and used to fit them into a mini countryman). I’ve still got some tapes of live gigs, and the bass sounds better than it ought to.

    I the 70s, short of cash, I used H/H into a Marshal angle guitar cab. Fairly horrible sound.

    Much the best sounding amp that I got to use in that era, and possibly still the best sounding amp I’ve heard, was an original Music Man valve amp, into 4x12. Not specifically a bass amp, but that certainly didn’t matter. Much better than the Ampeg SVT which I got when I had some money.

    In the 80s I went with a series of Trace Elliots, amps good, cabs not.

  3. I am sure it will be a problem with the connection between the battery and pre-amp board.
    On mine it was a hidden break in the wire where it entered the body routing between battery compartment and pre-amp/controls cavity.
    Easy to check if you have a voltmeter, just see if 9v is seen at the pre-amp.

  4. I need some kind of isolating pad between my cab and old skool heavy bass amp, because the new Barefaced BT2 cab is shaking my amp too much.
    I'd be grateful for any suggestions for what others are using; foam rubber, felt underlay, or is there a neater commercial product?
    Thanks

  5. Have just used my Barefaced Big Twin 2 for the first time at a gig, with my Aguilar DB751. Large hall, very large high lively wooden stage. The cab has had about 6 hours run in at rehearsal studio volume.
    My first impression is that the cab is very responsive to any changes to the tone controls of either amp or bass, tonal changes which were previously masked or limited by my previous cabs. This was great fun for me, but generated a few complaints from the rest of the band that the bass was dominating the sound. One said that he thought a large ship was signalling its docking at one point.
    So, huge sound from one smallish cab, with great resolution, but need to watch the new bass extension. I think I'll try the cab on a small riser next time we play a large lively stage.

  6. [quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1391519371' post='2357997']
    @TimR

    I understand all that. It was xilddx's comment that confused me.

    Oggiesnr is right that PAT testing is just a cost of 'doing business' and there's no arguing against it really, but there comes to a point where the cost of doing business, both the cost and hassle, eventually becomes more trouble than it's worth. Camels and straws and all that.

    Thankfully, we've never been asked for PAT certificates. Do any bands ever ask to see the venue's certificate of electrical safety or the PA system certification? After all, it's all very well to check your own gear for, say, earth continuity, but how do you know the venue wiring is providing an earth connection. Where does it all end?
    [/quote]

    We ALWAYS test the venue's sockets

  7. I don't wish to imply any disrespect to properly qualified electricians, but my reading of the HSE regulations suggest that, even without ANY qualifications, testing and stickering my own gear would NOT be illegal, or even liable to any other claims. Provided I felt competent to do the checks. There is no PAT tester's exam needed.
    I am not an electrician, but have a good graduate level understanding of electricity and electronics, plus plenty of DIY experience of the inadvisability of playing fast and loose with the mains. The PAT test procedures appear pretty easy to understand and carry out. The battery operated PAT test units seem to do everything band gear requires.
    PAT tests aside, we are probably still liable to some degree if something goes wrong and we were the one who sets up the PA and hands a mic to a clueless backing vocalist?
    I absolutely do not want to go down the route of false pass stickers, but it still seems that anyone can decide whether they feel able to do their own tests and still be within the law.

  8. I don't wish to imply any disrespect to properly qualified electricians, but my reading of the HSE regulations suggest that, even without ANY qualifications, testing and stickering my own gear would NOT be illegal, or even liable to any other claims. Provided I felt competent to do the checks. There is no PAT tester's exam needed.
    I am not an electrician, but have a good graduate level understanding of electricity and electronics, plus plenty of DIY experience of the inadvisability of playing fast and loose with the mains. The PAT test procedures appear pretty easy to understand and carry out. The battery operated PAT test units seem to do everything band gear requires.
    PAT tests aside, we are probably still liable to some degree if something goes wrong and we were the one who sets up the PA and hands a mic to a clueless backing vocalist?
    I absolutely do not want to go down the route of false pass stickers, but it still seems that anyone can decide whether they feel able to do their own tests and still be within the law.

  9. In addition to the amps, my band has hundreds of mains leads and extension leads which is a costly chore each year as more venues demand PAT testing.
    So, I looked into this and it seems that in the UK there is no required level of qualification or training for PAT testing or certification. Anyone can do it if they feel competent. There are loads of cheap s/h PAT testing devices on e-bay.
    I thought I might start doing our own gear and just stickering it all up myself.
    Any thoughts.

  10. I am with the OP.
    The problem is with the Traveler cabs IMO. There is nothing wrong with the Little Mark III amp, but I have the same problem of an indistinct wooly boomy sound using my TV102 and TV151 cabs with it.
    The problem is worse if I try to use my Aguilar DB751 or Ampeg SVT 3pro. Marginally better if both cabs are stacked end on vertically.

    Not keen to slag them off, as I probably need to sell them, but I haven't found a single live venue in the past year where this cab combination has worked. However, the TV102 sounds fine, on its own, on a stand in an overdamped rehearsal studio.

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