G-bitch

So between a huge sound control and a huge PMT, I managed to try out the vast number of f*** all of the above amps. I'll nip to Fair Deal on my lunch break this week and see what they have/ can get.

Superb. Well I'm moving to Bristol end of this year, high student population, just need to find the right band - folk'n'roll just moved up on the list!

That's because the bass player had stopped to take a photo No bass = no booty shakin' Can you get the guitarist to take it next time? None of 'em'll notice so the basschat gets a booty shakin' photo!! Win/Win

Damn right! What i'd give to be playing infront of a largely female student crowd. (I'm 28 so it isn't that pervy )

baaaarstard!

I looked at the 610, but it isn't a sealed cab. Perhaps I should take me head a try a few cabs out whilst I'm shopping for a practise amp tomorrow/Sunday!

Quite why anyone would bother going to Sound Control in London when there's the Gallery to visit is beyond me! I don't even bother going down Denmark St as most stores are staffed by tossers (Bass Cellar anyone?) or full of hideously over-priced vintage crap. Bass centre is OK but the Gallery never fails to be anything short of superb.

That came out wrong - I was only jibing because they're *spit spit spit* g***tar amps

Marshal guitar amps are gold; you may wish to re-consider that statement

Judging from your description of sounds and other amps you didn't get on with then I'd say it was a pretty sensible gamble. Lets face it, unless you've got a selection of very good music shops nearby then you always end up having to buy stuff to try it out and then sell it; that's why the classifieds are so bloody active!

Reason I ask is that I’ve just got back off a two week holiday in the states including seeing a couple of friends bands at gigs and rehearsals – all using fridges – which are basically just your defacto standard backline over there, and they sounded bloody fantastic. I’m currently using an old Ampeg V4 head with a Marshall VBC 412 cab (budget choice mostly) having tried it with a selection of ported cabs, the difference with a sealed cabinet design was very noticeable (I’d always thought that the differences lauded on Talkbass etc. using sealed cabs with valve heads would be fairly minor – wrong!). Anyway, I generally prefer the sound of tens and would love to get a fridge to match the valvey goodness of the head and to have the iconic R&R bass stack. Is that daft? The weight is a bit of a put-off (75kg vs 49kg for the Marshall) but at the end of the day, I’ve generally got someone who can help (the missus is a good strong lass ) and I’ve a trailer that it’ll fit in quite nicely with a drop rear so I can just slide it up (oo er). How many of you got one and then sold it? They don’t come up second-hand all that often so presume it’s a wait and see job as they certainly aren’t worth paying £800 new for. Anyone know of any used ones about at the minute? I’ve got until the end of September to sort it – the Mrs has never seen the Marshall cab so if she doesn’t know that I’ve changed it to something even bigger/heavier then my conscience will be clear (we’re both supposed to be having a major clear out of stuff – fortunately, the porn stays but gear is lower down the rung in her view LOL). I like the idea of one that's battered and bruised; it'll match the head better. What a f***ing rambling mess, sorry folks.

The next step after trying them through a 'decent' rig is to forget the rig just like every sound engineer will and get used to the sound of you fx through your amps DI, or even a DI box being reproduced by the PA which, obviously, is not designed like your amp to make things sound all nice for bass. You will forever be at the mercy of the soundman! (Unless he's got the decency to mic you up)

Sadowsky

Man, I just don't have the disposable income to be buying stuff anymore - so much of my gear was bought on student loans (since repaid!) it's just silly LOL I'm rarely in the area to be honest, although I was up at the city council's offices a couple of weeks ago with work.

Fookin'ell! You still in Manchester?

Ste - you're like the ultimate obscure boutique pedal fashion victim - like the kid who stops liking a band as soon as someone else has heard of them Nice man; I reckon that lot could keep me occupied for longer than every music shop in Birmingham combined, would love to test drive it. Anyway, here's my ancient one. I would say it's out of date but in reality it's all for sale so doesn't matter a toss! Muse-cubed - the case is for sale too. Check the classifieds as it might meet your requirements for a good deal less than you were looking to spend.

I'd seriously just go for an MTR DI box - no point in racking something so small. What do you need it for? Reason I ask is that every sound engineer under the sun has a box ful of regular DI boxes so unless you want a 'top quality' unit like the aforementioned Avalon then I'm struggling to see the reason for owning one - unless the XLR out on your amp has kicked the bucket! Can you give a little more info on intended use etc?

He's got a point - if it was about the whole [b]FEEL[/b] thing - that really is just a bollocks rhetoric thing that people say when they get the bass sound that [i]they[/i] like. I run an old valve head, but I don't want to literally feel it (by having a shedload of low end boost) 'cos that isn't my preference - fackin' nice sound mind. I'll play devil's advocate on both sides of any argument