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Video recording started in the late 1950s and by the 1970s it was still a bit of a black art. Because it was the most difficult priority was always given to recording the pictures. The audio tracks were a bit of an afterthought and the concept of synchronising a multi-track audio recorder wasn't even considered. The workhorse video recorders of the broadcast industry were the Quadraplex Ampex VR2000 and the RCA TR70 which both 2-inch tape. The video was recorded transversely across the tape using a 4-headed scanner. Audio tracks were longitudinal and somewhat rudimentary by modern standards. The BBC used mainly VR2000s. Here is the brochure. Have a look at the audio specs. [url="http://www.digitrakcom.com/literature/VR2000BbrochureWEB.pdf"]http://www.digitrakc...brochureWEB.pdf[/url] . Initially there was no electronic editing so the only way to edit was by developing the tape to see where the control track pulses were and then physically cutting and splicing the tape to make a simple cut. Anything recorded prior to the mid/late 1970s was on one of these machines. By the mid 1970s the Quad machines started to be replaced by the C-Format 1-inch VTRs and then in the 1980s by the Analogue Betacam SP Cassette Recorders. Finally in the 1990s recording started to become digital and proper full-bandwidth audio was possible.

Westfield, when they were in business, produced a small Precision with a 24" scale. I acquired one from this Forum last year with the intention of giving it to my Grandson one day but it is really quite good and I'm having second thoughts especially after a set up and new set of string which I cut down and unwound from a full-scale set. They do come up on Ebay and Gumtree occasionally.

To quote from an email I received last week. "It's funny how we spend lots of money on amps and guitars and then completely overlook the bit that connects them all together!"

[quote name='tauzero' timestamp='1441377319' post='2858465'] No, I wouldn't have bought it in the first place at that price. [/quote]

[quote name='tauzero' timestamp='1441368421' post='2858316'] I'm comparing buying privately from a US dealer with buying privately from a UK dealer. [/quote] so in the event of a problem you'd send it back to the USA to be fixed?

[quote name='tauzero' timestamp='1441366077' post='2858285'] £500 would be a bit low, but the US price is about £460, plus about 25% VAt and duty is £575, so there's about £150 in price difference once you've accounted for shipping. [/quote] That's only a valid comparison if you are buying privately from a US dealer.

I've done more than a few in my time but not much lately. I like going because you often don't know what you're going to have to play. It makes you think on your feet, listen carefully (good for ear training) and watch the other band members. Yes occasionally there's a train wreck but mostly it's pretty good. Got one tomorrow afternoon in Godalming, a memorial Jam to a former band mate who passed away a few months ago and with whom I shared house band duties many times. We are hoping to raise some funds for the Music4All charity Can't think of a better way to pay tribute.

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1441282250' post='2857495'] I'd much prefer it if most manufacturers just sold direct to stores. I've barely ever seen an advantage (in my personal experience) with having a dealer. Depends if you've ever needed a lot of after sales care. [/quote] Unfortunately this becomes eventually becomes an administration nightmare for the manufacturer who finds himself dealing dozens of companies per country rather than filtering them all through a single distributor. Even your friends Musicman find it necessary to route all their business through Strings and Things. Also there are considerable savings in consolidating shipments through a single company.

[quote name='6v6' timestamp='1441279334' post='2857449'] Well the US street price will include their sales tax which won't apply to exports, but I never said it was only mesa shafting us - I mean come on, 40% combined VAT and import duty, welcome to rip-off Britain! As others have said, plenty of other manufacturers manage more competitive pricing than this despite similar overheads. [/quote] In the USA Mesa probably sell directly to their dealers and provide support. In other countries, like the UK, there is a distributor and their dealer network all of whom have to make a profit margin and pay the cost of warehousing and distribution, local warranty support, in-country advertising and product promotion, exhibitions, etc. on top of the cost of buying and importing what is in effect a low quantity product. Bergantino seem to be different in that they sell directly to their in-country dealers.

[quote name='silverfoxnik' timestamp='1441029301' post='2855462'] Lozz -would it help if you gave an outline of what you're looking for exactly with the Cab shoot-out? [/quote] I can offer a PJB Compact 4 for the Shoot-Out.

[quote name='Monckyman' timestamp='1441032495' post='2855488'] The NL2s only carry a 2 way cable. Wired to the 1+ and 2+ connectors. [/quote] Surely you mean 1+ and 1- ?

[quote name='mxm' timestamp='1440948576' post='2854901'] ...anyone know if the VT 500 can handle a zero load ?!! ta. [/quote] You mean with no speakers attached? Been using mine like that like that as a DI into mixer/headphones. No problem.

NP-2 only have terminals 1+ and 1-. NP-4 only use terminals 1+ and 1-. The situation completely foxed me and just to be sure I got Neutrik involved, who I must say were very helpful. They checked one of the allegedly faulty cables and gave it a clean bill of health. I'm convinced that is either the combo socket or the way that Markbass mount them but not being a Markbass user I can't check. All very strange. As for using jacks, I recently got a Tech 21 VT500 head. It doesn't have combo sockets, just Speakon and their manual says "We do not recommend using 1/4" jack converters as they are not rated to handle 500W reliably". Well said Tech 21 but I wonder how many people get that far into the manual.

Do your cables have 4-pole or 2-pole Speakons and are they genuine Neutriks? I recently had an instance of 2 cables with 2-poles being returned as allegedly faulty when there was in fact nothing electrically wrong with either. One was sent to Neutrik for checking and they confirmed that it was A1 OK. It happened when the cables were plugged into either of the customers Markbass heads, both of which had combo Speakon/jack sockets. Neutrik NP-4 4-pole connectors seemed to fix the problem but I still don't know why it got me wondering about the stability of the combo sockets, especially when both are used. Combo sockets only come in PCB mount version so perhaps the physical weight of two connectors was distorting something. When I have time I plan to dissect a combo socket and see what is going on inside.

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1440190184' post='2849035'] What a smart looking rig, love it. [/quote] Two 4 x 5 and a half rack amp, a poor man's two 4 x 10 and a 4U rack-mount amp, .

[quote name='machinehead' timestamp='1440096225' post='2848324'] I'm very interested to hear how the PJB Compacts perform volume-wise. I've mulled over getting a pair but I'm worried about the sensitivity and probable low volume. Frank. [/quote] I've been using one Compact 4 with a TH500 for rehearsals with my band for about a year and everyone says it's perfectly loud enough with and without a DI. I haven't had the chance to try it at gig level yet. I've just got the second cab and that is now loud with the TH500. My concern was that the VT500 doesn't seem as loud as the TH500 although both are, on paper, rated at 500-watts. My hour of playing was in the garage with the door open so not a fair assessment. I will use the VT500 at rehearsal on Monday and see what happens. I will also bring both cabs and both amps to the SE Bass Bash next month - not a lot of help for you however I'm afraid.

I've just spent a hour playing through my new Mini-Rig, a VT500 and two PJB Compact 4 cabs. With the two cabs it is quite loud but through one there was a significant drop off in volume compared with the TH500. For band rehearsals I've been using the TH500 through a single Compact 4 and it is loud. I shall try the VT500 on Monday night and see how it performs.

In the interests of going small and portable I have just put this together. Will take some better pictures when I can.

The "U" is the unit of vertical equipment measurement. Almost all rack mount equipment is made in multiples of "U", this is usually with any feet removed. 1U = 1.75-inches or 44.45mm. For example a 4U rack should have an equipment opening of 7-inches. Does this help?

So to whom has the programme been sold, on which channel will it air and do you have a transmission date?

Nice one Chris. I also started on one of those. Over the years the quality of my basses has progressed, it's a shame my playing hasn't.

I would suggest Neutrik NP2X straight jacks and NP2RX right-angle versions. Compared with all others that I've seen Neutrik are a better design than most others being completely rivetless, i.e.no joins in the signal path , and have a superior cable clamp system.