indiegrungesound

I've said this before on here, but I'm afraid I'm in the "Not a Big fan" camp re: the Little Giants. I waited 7 months to get hold of one of the first of the amps-if not THE first-in the country back in 2009(So I stumped up the deposit back in 2008). Finally got it. It sounded great through the music shop's Warwick 4x10". Thought it'd be the perfect replacement for MY Hartke HA3500. After that, it got increasingly worse over the course of the year. At one gig, Some the buttons fell off & the DI didn't work. 9 months later, It packed up at a rehearsal a few hours before a gig. 3 months after that, the same thing happened at an audition. I could have just had a bad one, but I wouldn't recommend one without you at leats trying it first. Even THEN, I say go for one of the MANY other small amp options.

Keep us posted, I wouldn't mind having a butchers!

You lot aren't the only ones interested. I'm after the PF350 myself. 250watts @ 8 ohms would be great for me as I'd only need to used 1 of my Warwick cabs. Also, they seem VERY well priced. My only worry is if they turn out to be as flimsy as my old Ashdown Little Giant 350. THAT would annoy me greatly!

Righto everyone! Just thought I'd update you on my query. I went back to the shop, and the the amp is still there. However, it WASN'T the 700 RBII as previously stated, it's a GK 400RB Mark IV, which only puts out 280 watts max @ 4 ohms. Not the kind of amp I was looking for @ all! Apologies if I've mislead anyone. Though I will say it's still available @ Johnny Roadhouse in Manchester for £299.99 if any Manc Bass Chatters want one! Thanks again for your comments!

Hi everyone! I'll make this as quick as I can. Tried a 2nd hand Gallien Krueger 700RBII last week. Sounded great and was going for a knock down price. Seriously considering getting it as a back up head to My Hartke LH500. Also, as it puts out 225 watts @ 8 ohms means I'd only need to take 1 of my Warwick 12" cabs to rehearsals/jams (Less stuff to carry a bonus.) I'm going back to the shop in question to see if it's still there. If it is, I'm having it! Is this a wise move? ANY & ALL advice & comments are welcome! Thanks!

The first time I played a Ricky, it looked the muts, but sounded terrible. To be fair, it was a 2nd hand one in a music shop in Australia, but I don't think I could ever get one new or old. Cost is steep and they have too few frets.

IMO in terms of amps, I'll back up everyone else on here to say that Hartke LH500s & Ashdown MAGs are good amps. The only other thing I'd say is if you are going to be rehearsing and gigging regular, get some attenuating ear plugs to prevent the risk of tinitus and general hearing damage. (Doc's Pro Plugs and Elacins(sic) are what you should be looking for-or go through Specsavers if you have the time & money as they have hearing test specialists for this sort of thing now.)

Whatever you do, don't go for the Little Giant. They are cheap, but they're not reliable!

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='1136444' date='Feb 21 2011, 10:38 PM']Well I guess John Entwhistle could get a good sound out of anything? [/quote] DOH!!! That'll teach me not to spellcheck.

FWIW, Here's my view on the matter. Played 4 gigs where one or all of the other bands playing used my rig. The first two instances involved the use of my old Ampeg Portabass 250 2x10" combo. Small venue, all the band's who used it-who were all grunge/punk/metal-liked it. I was worried it was loud enough, but I didn't use the DI on either gig. A few years later using my Warwick Neo Pro stack with an Ashdown Little Giant 350.(DI in use.) The who were on before us were largely acoustic and without a full drum kit. They sounded fine. When we came on, the bass was far to low down in the mix, though we still played ok and went down ok. The last time when my stack was used by other bands, it was my current Hartke LH500/Warwick 2x12" stack. (DI on again.) My band were a bit Britpop. The other two bands were a metal band and a funk rock/classic rock group. The rig sounded brilliant! So basically, if you use the DI on your rig and get your EQ sorted, everyone's happy!

Cool!

[quote name='coop1985' post='1119585' date='Feb 7 2011, 10:35 PM']Thanks for your replies!! I bet they were quality indie! Especially after hearing The Big Roar. I heard The Chapman Family were good too? Do you think it's worth spending the extra wedge on an ABM rather than a MAG? I think a cab and seperate head would be the way for me, just so the weight is shared, rather than a combo like Rhydian uses. I haven't listened to much of Warpaint... they any good? They're a lot quieter than TJF aren't they? I've tried to up the bass and drop the treble but then the amp just farts and feels like its gonna pop... like indie says, I think 4x10 might be the way... Will I beable to run a 4x10 with a 1x15? I'm not really up on this ohmage lark. I'm nearly there, but what difference is a 2x10 than a 4x10 in terms of ohms?[/quote] The Chapman Family were winningly demented. They had to cut a song from their set due to a bass malfunction.(Knackered cables I think.) Still plan to see 'em again in the future though. Warpaint are great IMO, but their brand of all girl prog/shoegaze/post rock/folk/indie rock with layered girl group harmonies is like Marmite. Check out their stuff on Youtube/Hype Machine/Myspace/Soundcloud first and decide for yourself. Now re: ohmage. Must bass cabs(1x12", 1x15", 2x10", 4x10") are rated @ 8 ohms. The larger ones(2x15", 8x10", 6x10", 4x12") are normally rated @ 4 ohms. So, by linking 2 8 ohm cabs together with a speaker cab gives you a 4 ohm cab. If you want more in depth info, someone on this board like Alex Claber (The Barefaced Bass gaffer) will be happy to inform you about more stuff,

IMO, I think it's swings & roundabouts with Ashdown gear. When I had my Little Giant 350, the active/passive button fell off and had to be fixed back on. Whereas the buttons & dials on my old MAG combo were perfectly fine. (Probably get a Mag Head as a back up for my Hartke once I start gigging again.)

You have a decent head that you like the sound of. It will be powering a high end cab. If you have the money, get it!

[quote name='coop1985' post='1115505' date='Feb 4 2011, 04:04 PM']Well, using my rig, i've had comments saying that the bass sounds thin. No balls. I'm not sure if it's my EQ'ing, or whether I'm better off going for a 4x10 instead. Only trouble is now, i'm really weary about what i'm buying. I feel like nothing will be good enough unless I go 8x10. lol I really like a band called The Joy Formidable...and he has an amazing live sound. He uses a MAG 500w 410 combo with a Jaguar. It sounds amazing, although his pedalboard is about the size of a coffin, but I keep thinking theres this bass secret that nobody is letting me in on!! lol[/quote] Excellent choice of band coop! Saw them play in Manchester last night and they were blinding!... as usual! If transport is no problem(or your back doesn't give you jip), the MAG 4 x 10" is a very good choice. Rhydian gets a great sound out of it! He does have it DI'ed AND mic'd up though. Jenny Lindeberg from Warpaint has also used one of these on that band's last tour over here. Same great sound. So yes, I'd take your ABM 2 x 10" with you as a trade in/part ex for one of those but keep the 15" cab for VERY decent stack.

[quote name='coop1985' post='1115233' date='Feb 4 2011, 01:25 PM']Thanks for that!!! Thats one of the reasons I had the Rick, but can't seem to get anywhere near the sound... Must be the beast that is the 8x10 that does it!![/quote] I wouldn't worry too much rig wise. Russell's only gone over to Ampeg recently. He used an Ashdown ABM combo and either an Ashdown 8x10" stack or a Fender valve stack. If you still have your Ashdown rig, you should be able to get the sound he used on "The Back Room" and "The End Has A Start".

[quote name='Anthony Joseph Waczek III' post='1114260' date='Feb 3 2011, 06:18 PM']Couldnt have said all of that better myself indiegroungesound! [/quote] Thanks for the seal of approval!

[quote name='JTUK' post='1114196' date='Feb 3 2011, 05:45 PM']hmmm..... not sure I have heard anything of the sort to back this up... whatsoever. but hey ho..you like him, that is fair enough.[/quote] Yes I'm biased, but like I said, they're my favourite band. I base my views on the info from the many biographies about the band that he grew up listening to classical music and jazz, played a few different instruments in his high school's marching band before he and Bill Berry played in various bands for years before they met Peter Buck and Michael Stipe in Athens at university. Oh, and I think the fact he's played accordian, piano, keyboards and guitar on his many records counts for something. So I've probably stretched facts a bit. Sorry about that. Mike Mills still rules!

I have to echo what Marvin and Anthony have said. I've said on here b4, but I'm happy to say it again that Mike Mills is my favourite bass player!(R.E.M. are my favourite band after all!) He's technically as good any of the super Bass players that get mentioned all the time like Jeff Berlin or Jaco Pastorius, AND-and this is the moot point IMO- he's both written and played on some great pop songs! He's also humble enough to say that doing vocals with bass playing-which is his strength and signature style-is hard work, thus giving hope to the rest of us average bass players! So basically, I'll have to agree to disagree with Spoombug! ;-) GOD BLESS MIKE MILLS!

Hello everyone. I try to keep any outbreaks of GAS under control, but I need the advice of the good people of this forum regarding a possible purchase. I've spotted an Ibanez RDGR on sale in a local Cash Converters for less than £90. It's a 24 fret neck black with a jazz neck pick up and a double humbucker Musicmanesque bridge pick up. If it's active, I may yet pick it up. (Can't tell if it is as there is a large cavity cover but no separate battery one.) Your help advice is appreciated. Thanks!

[quote name='Bassassin' post='1105273' date='Jan 27 2011, 05:12 PM']That was a Hohner B2A, after he did his back in - I remember he later flogged it on Ebay! J.[/quote] I remember seeing a close up picture on Wikipedia of him from the "Diamond Hoo Ha" tour with that bass, and it had the EXACT same "Spirit by Steinberger" logo on it as mine. Apologies for being pedantic. The Hohner and Spirit basses are probably the same basses but with different logos. Besides, seeing as you have one, you'll know they sound great anyway! :-)

I known I've said this before but I still rate Mickey Quinn as the best bass player out of all the '90's BritPop bands. AND he used the same type of Steinberger bass as mine too! I'll have to do like the rest of you & whack their albums on my iPod.

I love my 2x12" rig, as do quite a lot of the good people on this site with their 2x12" rigs. IMO it's all down to your own taste in sound or amp head you use.

[quote name='sshorepunk' post='1099010' date='Jan 22 2011, 07:45 PM']Been meaning to do this for while, so here goes! Got loads of photo's of what came before this lot, will add them later First up is my Musicman Stingray, 2005 Ltd edition, the tasty bettercream job! This is my manin gigging bass, currently running a John East pre This is the second time I have owned this bass! I had it when I joined the band I am in right now, but was playing 5 string at the time, so it went to fund other gear for the new gig I had. Eventually I switched back to 4 string with the band as there was no need for the extra string. I played a jazz for a while, but had GAS for a 'ray, especially one of these. Fortunatley, the guy who I sold this too no longer required it, so a deal was done! Suits my band sound and style and sounds great through my Matamp rig Next up is my seafoam green jazz. This si currently up for sale as the 'ray is my main bass right now Came from the US, wanted either a seafoam or sonic blue, took a lot of searching to find one. I really like the 70's styling with the blocks. Cool bass and great to play But it ain't getting playing and I want to try some new sounds in the band Next up is my Fender deluxe fretless jazz in lake Placid blue Just had a badass III bridge fitted I play fretless on a few tracks with my band, I unashamedly play lined fretless, can't be arsed making the switch to unlined This will be going soon, I love playing it, sounds great, but I have GAS for the MM style fretless sound A recent aquisition, Lakland hollow body fretless, in a nice red, christened "the trace bass" My band can do most of our set acoustic, so I wanted something like this for that reason. But I also wanted to do the acoustic stuff fretless and this came up, 34" scale as well! Sounds great, fretboard is like glass! Just bought a Markbass booster pedal for it, so I can use the vintage speaker filter, I like that on fretless! So the markbass pedal and a tuner will be all I need with this for acoustic gigs (and a small combo) Last of the current crop is a jap' Fender P! fitted with wizard p/ups and finished in photoflame! Not my first choice of P, but it serves a purpose. It's got some weird marks on it from an incident a few years back. Gonna change this at some point, I want a black or white P with RW board I got hold of this for a specific reason! Sometimes we have Aziz Ibrahim do a guest slot with us, he will do two of the songs he wrote with Ian Brown, My Star and Corpses. So this gets used for My Star as it is played on a bass that is detuned a full tone, and the sound of a P suits it More to come I guess, got some GAS going on right now! I'll also start adding some visitors from the last few years, there has been a lot!!! Tony[/quote] I can't believe you're selling that WONDERFUL Green Jazz. It's a stupidly good bass. I was able to have a go on it @ The Matamp stand @ the last Bass Day. Thanks for that. Hope it goes to a good home.

This might be a bit pointless, but I'd thought I'd have may say. I think it all depends on what head you are using. If your head puts out less than 300 watts @ 8 ohms, then any 12" cab with Celestion Neo drivers (Purple Chillis and Warwick Neo Pros-Yes. I AM giving props to my cabs again! ;-)) will do the job. If your head puts out more than 300 watts @ 8 ohms-because you did say that you were planning to use just one for tiny gigs- then I'd go for broke and get a Bergantino due to the power handling specs. No idea what Hartke's HyDrive 12" are like, whilst you could always e-mail to folks @ Matamp for something bespoke & retro. They also let use choose between Celestion & Eminence speakers. Hope that helps!