stewblack

Quick question. I'm a bit scared of forking up this amp as I'm a hamfisted klutz. In a gig situation once it's warmed up and been turned on and sound checked, what then? Do you power the whole thing down until 20 minutes before going on? Leave it on standby? Some gigs soundcheck is only half hour before kick off, others can be hours.

Next job is to build a wheeled protective case for it. Then some kind of hydraulic lift.

I've ruined myself for other amps haven't I?

Thank you!

Like all art forms the status quo is challenged from time to time. I believe this breathes new life into music, painting, sculpture and prevents things stagnating. It happened for example with skiffle in a very similar way as it did with punk. Giving people with little or no formal musical education or experience a voice is always a good thing. Cezanne had a similar impact on the complacency of the art world. Shook things up and much good came from the shaking. I suspect if Mr Baker was a few years younger he'd hold a significantly different view. Like the rest of us he holds a strong affection for music which hit him at a certain age. Punk appeared to challenge the very validity of that music and he took this personally. As to the question posed in the title, well it depends on what music you listen to. A lot of bands and musicians who have enriched my life were picked up and bunged into the mixer as a result of the punk phenomenon so I for one an grateful for it.

Got it, played it, love it.

I've been looking at a few different valve options recently. Happy as I am with the various heads at my disposal, I got badly bitten when my bass tutor let me plug into his Ampeg a little while ago. It got hold of something inside me and would not let go. So I decided to sell some gear and put the cash towards a valve amp. See what all the fuss was really about. Then the svt classic came up here and I bought it with money I don't have thinking I could sell it on if I didn't like it or keep it and recoup the cash by selling other stuff later. Tonight I hauled it into the rehearsal room, terrified I'd do something wrong and break it. Hooked up to two BF cabs (15 and a 10), let it warm up, plugged in and proceeded to Richard around with the controls. What did I learn about my new amp this evening? 1: Don't waste time dicking around with tone controls, just leave it flat, 2: Ignore first impressions formed while playing to an empty room. 3: Wait till the thing is nice and warm and you're playing in context, i.e. with the rest of the band. Then make your judgement. 4: while it may be true that new gear can't improve your playing it can certainly make a massive difference. I heard parts I'd thought I didn't play that well and they sounded like someone else, someone better than me, was playing them. Every note was beautifully articulated. 5: Even though I wasn't playing at massively high levels the sound filled the room and yet sat perfectly, beautifully in the mix. It was actually quite spooky how clear I heard every nuance of what I played and yet had a warm fat tone. 6: I'm going to be selling some very nice amps very soon. 7: I should have known these amps were absolutely amazing before trying one. After all, why would anyone put themselves through carrying something marginally heavier than the sun if it didn't sound awesome? 8: I'm in love. I'm a valve convert. I'm so very very happy.

I bought an amp from Dan. He was quick to respond to messages, very fair on price, drove some way to meet me and was a really friendly, approachable basschatter. It's a pleasure to start your feedback thread Dan and to anyone else out there you can deal with complete confidence

Another wonderful Sunday afternoon/early evening gig with my throw it together see what happens jam band. New venue and they loved it, landlord begged for another set so we busked out another half an hour. The whole place singing back at us. Lovely stuff.

Not just noisy. A plastic part inside disintigrated and jammed one up the other never stops turning These are knackered not just in need of a clean.

Thank you Dan. Great to meet you.

I have the older 1000w Terror. Never before have I struggled so hard to keep my volume down in some reasonably large sized venues. Monster amp in a small container. Will it survive the arrival of my SVT? It'll be interesting to find out.

Yep, also the guy off guns and guitars.

OK, things I've learned. 1: Allow enough time. Do not do this while clock watching. 2: Do this somewhere you can leave it in case something happens and you can't finish the job. 3: Don't get cocky. As you approach the final frets trying to shave that little line down to the thickness of a gnat's pube will likely end with you taking the top off the fret rendering all your hard work for nothing. 4: If you assemble the right tools, follow instructions you understand clearly it actually isn't all that daunting.

You folk who already know all about BV recommend further listening?

I can easily see why. So rhythmically aware, great technique

Great playing on SBL latest YT vid. Especially for the anti plectrum brigade! (Like me)

Only rubbed the body with sandpaper once and got permanent marker on the fretboard twice so far. Tell you what, my respect for those who do this stuff to other people's instruments has gone through the roof.

I enjoyed the programme. Like many others I was asked if I'd watched it by other musicians, so box ticked for broad appeal. Being a bass fanatic I felt it was quite a broad brush stroke and would have loved more. Think of the majestic Genius Of Photography series BBC4 put out a few years back and imagine that dedicated to the bass guitar. *swoon*

Spent a couple of weeks immersed in how to videos, and today I am actually having a go. Brave or foolhardy? Time will tell.

Thank you for the advice. Getting the old one off might be fun too

The Bruce Thomas profile was an instant favourite the moment I plugged it in. Can't believe you sold it Kev! Utterly superb instrument without a single fault I can find. Regular compliments on the sound, love the weight, balance, playability. I'd love a gold Jive but with a black plate.

I seem to spend an inordinate amount of time putting out fires between singer and guitarist in more than one band. Always talking folk back from the ledge. It must be tough on a lead guitarist when audiences focus so fully on the vocalist when they (the guitarist) believe themselves the most charismatic, important member of the band. Add to that the simple fact that the drummer doesn't care if the guitar is there or not and the bass player is effortlessly the coolest guy/gal in the room, and you can see how that inflated ego gets so easily bruised. They then lash out. Drummer shrugs, bass player sighs, singer bites.

Hi. I need to source replacement pots for an active bass. Google has not been my friend 😥 Not got involved in this kind of game before so any advice very welcome. Up to and including "pay someone else to do it"