Big Mick

The bits! Some more cutting will be done after tea, pics. later. Cheers, Mick.

Driver and hardware has arrived (within 24 hours) Pics. later. Cheers, Mick.

[quote name='steve' post='1034102' date='Nov 23 2010, 05:02 PM']Mick, who's your supplier of Baltic Birch? I ended up going to B&Q when I built my omnis [/quote] Hiya Steve, found baltic birch at Peter Benson Plywood in Darwen. [url="http://www.pbplywood.co.uk/"]http://www.pbplywood.co.uk/[/url] £29 for a 8x4 sheet. I ended up going to Howarths Timber in Bury and got a sheet of decent looking stuff for £17, it's not birch but it looks ok. If I was going with a wood finish I would've lashed out on the better stuff. Wickes and B+Q want £30ish for tatty looking stuff and B+Q only had 18mm Birch ply @ £56!!!!!!!!! Cutting and pics. tomorrow! Cheers, Mick.

Right, bits ordered! Cost so far: Eminence Kappalite 3012HO driver £121 (delivered) Hardware £21 (corners, carry strap, connectors etc.) 8x4 plywood sheet 12mm £21 BFM Jack12 plans £10ish Total £173..............so far. Stuff still to get: cab covering, cab sound deadening, front grille (optional), recessed carry handles (optional), adhesive, wiring materials. So far, so good! Cheers, Mick.

[quote name='Big Mick' post='1033182' date='Nov 22 2010, 09:02 PM']It's just starting to come together. I found a local supplier of Baltic Birch plywood who's prices are very reasonable, so I'll pick up a sheet and maybe start cutting tomorrow. I'm going for the Eminence Kappalite 3012 driver, not sure if it'll be the LF or HO version [url="http://www.bluearan.co.uk/index.php?id=EMIKLIT3012HO&browsemode=manufacturer"]http://www.bluearan.co.uk/index.php?id=EMI...de=manufacturer[/url] [url="http://www.bluearan.co.uk/index.php?id=EMIKLIT3012LF&browsemode=manufacturer"]http://www.bluearan.co.uk/index.php?id=EMI...de=manufacturer[/url] both are the same price from Blue Aran. Bill used to recommend the LF version but my plans say the HO is the one to go for. As soon as my registration on the BFM forum is confirmed I'll ask why! I intend to build one 1x12 without tweeter array first and see how that goes (I don't really play slap bass so the tweeters are not necessary). If it's a success then I'll do a second one with tweeters to stack together. I was thinking of an OMNI15 TB, but cost is a major factor and it seems from reading the forums that 2 Jack 1x12's are perfectly adequate for my needs, that and the fact that the TB is the size of a wheelie bin!!!! Cheers, Mick. [/quote] Bill says use the 3012HO driver, will order it tomorrow. I may have got myself confused after reading so much about Omni 15's Cheers, Mick.

[quote name='Pentode' post='1032439' date='Nov 22 2010, 11:54 AM']Excellent! Love Bills' designs - what driver are you planning on using?[/quote] It's just starting to come together. I found a local supplier of Baltic Birch plywood who's prices are very reasonable, so I'll pick up a sheet and maybe start cutting tomorrow. I'm going for the Eminence Kappalite 3012 driver, not sure if it'll be the LF or HO version [url="http://www.bluearan.co.uk/index.php?id=EMIKLIT3012HO&browsemode=manufacturer"]http://www.bluearan.co.uk/index.php?id=EMI...de=manufacturer[/url] [url="http://www.bluearan.co.uk/index.php?id=EMIKLIT3012LF&browsemode=manufacturer"]http://www.bluearan.co.uk/index.php?id=EMI...de=manufacturer[/url] both are the same price from Blue Aran. Bill used to recommend the LF version but my plans say the HO is the one to go for. As soon as my registration on the BFM forum is confirmed I'll ask why! I intend to build one 1x12 without tweeter array first and see how that goes (I don't really play slap bass so the tweeters are not necessary). If it's a success then I'll do a second one with tweeters to stack together. I was thinking of an OMNI15 TB, but cost is a major factor and it seems from reading the forums that 2 Jack 1x12's are perfectly adequate for my needs, that and the fact that the TB is the size of a wheelie bin!!!! Cheers, Mick.

I'm looking for a bass head 300W + that can do warm and rounded as well as more growly tones and came across this [url="http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/product/47269-tc-electronic-bh500.html"]http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/product/4726...onic-bh500.html[/url] Does anyone have any experience of them and can they do what I want. I was considering a used TE GP12, but for the money I'm thinking i might be better off going with something new and warrantied. I realise that there is quite a lot of choice once you get over £350, I need some help chosing the right one. Also, is there anywhere in the northwest where I can try something other than Ashdown stuff? Cheers, Mick. P.S. I'm not overly bothered about it being uber lightweight!

Just ordered and received plans for a BFM Jack 12 cab build. Cheers, Mick.

The usual people who bring the backline to our jam night were away on tour last night, so we struggled to find a suitable bass rig as mine is still in the shop. As a last resort we ended up using a PA amp and speakers instead. Worked just fine on stage and also had a line out to the house PA. Cheers, Mick.

[quote name='rmshaw37' post='1023156' date='Nov 14 2010, 09:03 AM']i played a gig where there was 4 bands on, i was the only one that didnt use the rb9 - but i can honestly say it sounded nice for the others - there was a blues band, a strokes esque band and an all out metal band - hows that for variety! pretty small too compared to the shallow rack system i was using![/quote] Cheers for the replies guys. I just want something reliable that sounds good and can do warm and full as well as more modern sounds without breaking the bank. I also don't want to waste my money on something that can't do the job. Cheers, Mick.

[quote name='BurritoBass' post='1023216' date='Nov 14 2010, 10:18 AM']Having picked up an Orange Terror Bass Head I'm really thinking about going all out with an Orange cab to match. I have my main set up which is the 70s Bassman into an Ampeg SVT 115E but was using an Ampeg SVT 150h into an Ampeg SVT 210E as a more portable alternative when the band travels to venues and space is an issue in the cars. Plan A was to keep using my 210 Ampeg cab but I do like the idea of having an Orange rig. Just wondered if anyone else was using Orange cabs with the Terror head or if not what have you settled on? Those SP cabs sound like my back would be a fan [/quote] [url="http://www.limeshark.com/images/gallery/gallery_large/image23.jpg"]http://www.limeshark.com/images/gallery/ga...rge/image23.jpg[/url] Get a van!!!!!!!!! LOL Cheers, Mick. Sorry, I'm not being much help, am I.

Nice Ampeg rig 4x10 and 1x15 with Fender Japan Aerodyne and P bass. Cheers, Mick.

Looking for a cheapish head (but not cheap sounding or unreliable) what should I be seeking out as a used choice? Cheers, Mick.

[quote name='thinman' post='1020561' date='Nov 11 2010, 07:13 PM']Mick - probably the combination of the amp and cab - when I had the MAG 300 head (not the Evo) through the Ashdown C115 combo it was a bit woolly as a lot of people have found with SOME (but not all before someone jumps down my throat) Ashdown cabs. However, through the BFM Omnis it sounds more like what you describe - slightly unpleasant to my ears (although I do wonder if it suffered some other damage when the transformer went pop). It's not the cabs - they sound great with other heads.[/quote] That's what I'd thought, it's played through a Laney 210 cab and also DI'd to the house PA and sounds ok at low volume but not when cranked up. It also sounds growly through the PA. I'm contemplating an BFM OMNI TB15 build and would like to find a head that does a full, warm, rounded tone to go with it (at a sensible price). Cheers, Mick.

I regularly play through a MAG 300 evo2 at our jam night, it always works and the guy who owns it rates it as good value for money. The thing I'm not keen on is that it seems to get a bit growly/clanky if you crank the gain up, which may be ok if you're playing metal, but not if it's blues/classic rock/reggae/dub etc. Is this a common trait of this model or just this particular example? Cheers, Mick. (possibly in the market for a cheapish but good sounding head)

Being a relative novice (playing 11 months now) I regularly struggle with lots of stuff. My favoured method for learning a new tune is watching youtube covers and reading tabs and trying to work out if the tabs are correct. One I've been really struggling with is Seek and Destroy by Metallica, it gets played every week at our jam night by various people and I really want to be able to get up there and do it with them. After several months of trying it every few days and getting nowhere, something has clicked this week and I'm much nearer to getting to grips with the first half of it. For me it's just lots of time and perseverence! Cheers, Mick.

DC/79 @ Moses Gate, Bolton. Nice Ashdown 8x10 rig with custom Sandberg bass. Cliff Williams.......alike!!!!! Cheers, Mick.

[quote name='Bill Fitzmaurice' post='1013481' date='Nov 5 2010, 04:32 PM']Looking more closely the driver has squared edges. BWs have a round frame, as do the Blue Marvel(low end Eminence OEM, actually), so it's probably a Scorpion. If it is the same as the current SP-15825 it's a fair enough driver, but not worth putting into a fEarful or Barefaced type of box. It would work OK in an Omni 15, but with 3.1mm xmax is only good for 150 watts, so it would be a limiting factor in the long run.[/quote] Spoke to the shop today, it seems that a good service and maybe a new pot (not sure which one) should sort the distortion/noise issues. Also there is a broken baffle plate somewhere which is rattling. They seem confident that it will be ok when done. The guy also said he would think the driver is a scorpion or black widow, he will check when it's in bits. With my high school level physics I'm beginning to understand the reasons why I'm being advised against using a certain driver in a specific application. and I will use these factors to decide what type of cab I will build. Thanks for all the input guys, you're helping to point me in the right direction. Cheers, Mick.

[quote name='Bill Fitzmaurice' post='1012855' date='Nov 5 2010, 02:33 AM']Building a well engineered cab is a lot of work. IMO it's a shame to get less out of a good cab than its capable of giving by using inferior drivers.[/quote] Thanks for the reply Bill, I understand your point now and a valid one it is too!!!! I was doing some research on Peavey products last night and couldn't find info on what actual driver was fitted to TNT 150 combos, the Blue Marvel was fitted in the TNT 115 and others (according to Peavey records) but no mention of the 150, it's a mystery. When I get it back, I'll have a look and see what is actually in it. But I'm pretty sure you'll tell me that a new Eminence driver will be far superior anyway. Cheers, Mick.

[quote name='umph' post='1012751' date='Nov 4 2010, 11:39 PM']Slightly confused, you'd be better off just following the original fearful plans, or going for the tall boy. There really wouldn't be an advantage to running a pair of 8's full range and if you did cross them over they'd dominate the 15, assuming you're using ones of a similar sensitivity[/quote] I see your point, as I said it's just an idea at the moment. If people can explain why things won't work well then I'll take that on board and adjust my plans accordingly. Cheers, Mick. itching to do a DIY build!!!!

[quote name='umph' post='1012739' date='Nov 4 2010, 11:22 PM']intrested in why you want to use two 8's over a single 6 in the fearful design? Thats gonna end up extremely bright.[/quote] Only cos I've already got them in the extension cab. I'd probably have the brightness pretty much dialed out anyway, but it would make the cab more versatile. It's only an idea at the moment, I need to see what the news on the TNT is first. But I fancy doing a build anyway! Cheers, Mick

[quote name='Bill Fitzmaurice' post='1012680' date='Nov 4 2010, 10:34 PM']AFAIK the TNT uses a Blue Marvel driver, which is OK for a combo, but I wouldn't put it in anything else.[/quote] Hmm, interesting observation Bill. Can you expand on the reasons for your advice (I'd like to know as if the driver is still useable, then a new one is a major expense). Cheers, Mick.

I still don't know if my Peavey TNT150 combo is viable to repair, so I've been exploring the idea of a DIY cab build for my next project. If the TNT is easily (and cheaply) repairable, then it will be done. My thoughts are leaning towards using the guts of it (and it's 2x8 powered extension cab) to build either a BFM Omni 15 TallBoy or a fEarfull 15/8/8 (modified 15/6 or even a separate cab for the 8's). Also separating the amp section and mounting it in it's own rack/case. I did consider improving the original combo by fitting side handles and better castors and re-covering it, but if I'm breaking out the router then I figured I might as well build from scratch. My unanswered questions are really revolving around how much improvement in volume/tone/low end range I might see over the original Peavey cabinets. The amp is rated at 150w RMS into 8 ohms, has a built in variable crossover and in the combo is easily capable of holding it's own in the practice room. I mostly play classic rock/metal/doom, so the fuller, rounded bottom end is important to me (snigger), lots of Sabbath, KISS, AC/DC, RATM etc. One of my basses will be strung B,E,A,D when it's time for a restring. Any thoughts/advice appreciated. Cheers, Mick. P.S. The Fakenbacker isn't mine!

[quote name='PeteBassMan' post='1011787' date='Nov 4 2010, 10:38 AM']Hi Mick, If you are still thinking of getting new Trace Elliot stuff, I would suggest that you spend some serious time trying it out in the shop before making up your mind. Recently I had my very old TE 2x10 GP12 SMX combo that I have used for years seriously damaged, and as I liked the sound and gear so much, I simply ordered a new (and eye-wateringly expense) replacement. I also use this with a TE 15" compact bottom cab. Buying the new stuff turned out to be a very bad move. In comparison to the old stuff, the sound for the new stuff is horribly weak, and no amount of buggering about with it seems to produce the drive and and tight sound that I used to get with the original gear. It also buzzed and farted a lot when I first got it. Had I not had a gig that I needed it for the following night, the whole pile of steaming nonsense would have been sent back. Instead I simply tw**ed the top of the amp hard, and the buzzing and farting has not returned since. Doesn't say a lot for the build quality though does it? Something else that I find annoying is that when powered up the amp does not remember the fact that I had stuff like eq, compressor etc switched in or out, but instead decides that what I really want is the 'classic' TE settings instead. Err, no, if that is what I had wanted then that is what I would have set it to. Oh, and as a matter of interest the 'classic' TE setting sounds nothing like the original TE that I replaced! It leaves me wondering if they are using cheap and nasty components (maybe the speakers?) and simply trading on the name they used to have. I would suggest (IMHO) that the new TE stuff is best avoided. Cheers, Pete.[/quote] Having read a few comments about new TE stuff I wasn't about to shell out for any of it, I was just rather surprised to see it absent from the shop. I'm still waiting for the verdict on my peavey TNT150 combo before I decide what to do. I have borrowed a TE GP12 SMX 4x10 combo from a mate of mine, it sounded fantastic, but I'm a big bloke and I couldn't live with the weight of it! Separates seem the way to go for me, self build cab and a decent head I think. Another mate recently bought a Peavey Tour 700 head to go with his Hartke 4x10 cab, that setup has it going on in spades in a pub gig setting. Cheers, Mick.

[quote name='budget bassist' post='1011109' date='Nov 3 2010, 05:32 PM']Phwoar, bet that shifts some air![/quote] It did sound particularly good to my ears. (there is a house PA, but I stood right infront of it as well.) It's a bit better than the Ashdown MAG300 and Laney 2x10 we use for the jam night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cheers, Mick.