RandomBass

Hey that's impressive. And the Jazz sound fits so nicely into that tune. Nice work - must give it a shot myself.

Cheers

Geoff

Well bit of a boring update: it eventually stayed on, and I left it powered up for an hour. Then switched it off. It wouldn't power up again. And hasn't done since, so I think it needs someone cleverer than myself to have a look at it. Other things to do, so this will have to wait.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1342356272' post='1733626']
Out of warranty before you open it?
[/quote]

Yes definitely - I got it S/H and I've already had it open for valve swaps. Will take a look later this evening.

[quote name='PURPOLARIS' timestamp='1342355124' post='1733607']
Watching with baited breath.
[/quote]

Yes - don't I feel bad, or what.... Thanks for your understanding Will.

Geoff

Yes I think I'm going to have the thing apart for a nose about inside. The odd thing is that every now and again it will power up, but then die just a few seconds later, which leads me to think it might not be a blown fuse, but possibly a poor connection somewhere. Maybe.

Has anyone had experience of their OTB500 not powering up? I haven't used it for a couple of months, but its been stored indoors safe and dry - just gone to check it and it's dead as a dodo. The power lamp doesn't come on, no fan, nothing. Valves not glowing either. I've tried several mains leads with no success. Mains fuse in the unit is still intact.

Oddly, it did switch on at one point after a few tries - then died a few seconds later.

I did a quick search on here but didn't come up with anything much.

Ironically I was about to trade it with a BCer for another amp.. thank god I did try it beforehand otherwise that would have been most embarrasing. Damned frustrating though.

Anyone had anything like this before? Are there any other fuses inside the unit that might have blown?

Any suggestions most welcome.

Cheers

Geoff

Every time I hear them I can't help but think of Kula Shaker. Now there's a band.....

bugger i missed this, just paid out for one from PRC, which i assumed meant Peoples Republic of Chelmsford lol
Am really enjoying it though, plenty enough for most of my gigs, and a tone to die for.

[quote name='Marvin' timestamp='1341467062' post='1719392']
I must investigate, I was unaware there were other notes apart from the 'root' one could play.
[/quote]

You'll be fine, both root and octave are the root. So the if we take the root of the octave, and divide that by two - play that twice, we are back at the octave. Which is also the root. Maybe I should teach bass...

Geoff

[quote name='Joel McIver' timestamp='1341393081' post='1718068']
> Joel, I'll do the proof reading for a free subscription. Nothing puts me off a mag more than poorly proofed bits!

Believe me, no-one is more anal about proofreading errors than me. Some of you may have read my books. When an error makes it into one of them, I’m ready to kill someone! With BGM, the assistant editor and I work really hard to nail any grammar/spelling/punctuation screw-ups before publication. In the new issue (Geddy Lee cover), there’s just one boo-boo that I’ve seen. Ten points for anyone who spots ityet read the…

[/quote]

I've not yet read the whole issue from cover to cover (with Geddy at both ends funnily enough), but the only thing I spotted was in Franc O'Shea's 'Bass Beyond' - the musical notations in examples two and three are identical - but one should have leading notes a semitone below the root, the other a semitone above, according to the narrative.

Have I won a point?

Cheers

Geoff

PeeeeEmmmed

Yes that was my immediate thought - so maybe their manual isn't as error free as I'd hoped, or they just haven't advertised this nice feature yet....

Had a quick flick through the BH250 manual online, and it appears you can use the optional footswitch to toggle between two different Toneprints. I'd always assumed that you could only have one Toneprint programmed in at a time, not two. So that's pretty cool then.

Cheers

Geoff

I wouldn't be impressed. I've had similar treatment in the past from another dealer, with an amp delivered in another manufacturers box, home-made cut out foam inserts to protect it and a photocopied manual. The product was advertised as new in stock, and I questioned what I had received.

If you aren't happy with this I'd press for a better answer, and perhaps threaten to contact the manufacturer - I'm sure Hartke would take notice of their brand new premium product being sold like this.

Geoff

The Dual Compacts feedback was mine, funnily enough. I originally went the route of adding a Midget to my Compact but didnt really get on with the tonal shift, so I sold the Midget and got another Compact. The combination is very nice indeed - obviously headroom galore, and better height on stage. However I found just one Compact was enough for everything I need right now so the other one left a couple of months ago. However I'd get another one instantly if my needs change.
My advice is to first contact Alex for his sterling knowledge. You can buy and try a compact for a month!
Cheers
Geoff

How about an Orange Terror Bass 500 (£500 new, £350 s/h) and the GK MBE212 (8 ohm) - total just over £700 new, light as a feather - and never any volume problems again. In fact, the rest of the band will prob need to turn up to keep up with the bass!
Cheers
Geoff

oops and i forgot my little Roland Cube 30! Lol

So who here just has one of each of the above that they use for practise, gigs etc?
To start, I have 4 basses and 3 heads, but just 1 cab. I remember fondly when I had one of each when I started out - has anyone stayed that way, whether it be out of desire or necessity?
Just curious really....
Cheers
Geoff

[quote name='phatbass787' timestamp='1341263148' post='1716157']
Glad you're loving your LB, love mine, fantastic buttery old school tones. Haven't gigged mine but have always thought it would be enough for sensible situations and good to hear you say it copes well
[/quote]

How do you find the EQ Shift switches? I can't hear any difference when switching the Middle shift switch, and very little with the Bright switch. However the Bass shift gives a massive difference: deep and old school when down, brighter when in the up position.

Is it just me?

Geoff

Hmmm time for a 'Clank' TonePrint methinks.....

Firstly, welcome back.

Secondly, a new option might be the TC BG250 combo - compact, light and 250W through a 15" speaker. Bass Guitar Magazine reviewed it this month.

Secondhand - 'super portable' might be one of the GK MB combos? Or the Promethian from Ibanez.

Cheers

Geoff

I have two Vintage V4 basses and they are both excellent instruments. One is the standard black with rosewood fretboard, the other is the Tony Butler sig version - because I wanted a black one with maple board. Both are very well made, quality hardware and feel great to play. I've been able to get a very low action on both and they just work beautifully. The TB Sig is definitely a real looker too - I just love that gloss black, black pickguard and all maple neck/board. The neck as a rather nice rich lacquer finish to it. No sharp frets on either, both stay in tune for ages and sound superb.

You may have gathered I might recommend one! Cheap? No. Inexpensive? Yes!

I also have a Highway One Jazz which is similarly rather delightful.

Cheers

Geoff

Well the LB30 had it's second outing last night. A country/blues type band - with some Eagles and Elvis thrown in for good measure. Three moderate guitarists/vocals, sensible drummer and me (rarely moderate or sensible lol).

I used the high input to see how much clean the LB could give me with my passive V4. Lots, is the answer. The low input goes into grit land just about 1pm on the Volume, the high input stays clean all the way - although the bass doesnt quite have enough juice to push the needle into the red using that input. However, it's a moot point because I was easily heard in the mix, with room to spare if necessary. Thats often the case towards the end lol.

So, once again, I'm very impressed with the LB. It's great for small/medium venues but larger clubs will need DI. However, more speaker cones would also answer that question to some extent - I'm beginning to wish I'd not sold one of my Compacts now!

I reckon Ashdown should do a 100W version, in the same form factor. Keep it well under 20kg and £1k, and it would be a winner. However, I'm amazed how well just 30W performs - it sort of reminds me of my Electric Blue 180 combo, with a 12" extension cab.

Cheers

Geoff

To be honest I didn't know there was a white face plate version - I assumed they were all polished chrome like mine. I'd recommend giving it a go with your Compact, and make sure you try both the low and high inputs. The low is for passive basses and seems to go into grit-land fairly quickly after 1oclock on the volume knob, the high input stays clean all the way up (with a passive bass).

I like that EQ too really, not hugely different to the OTB, but the bass shift switch had a massive effect on the sound. The middle shift didn't seem to do much at all. Early days yet though

Geoff

We had an enjoyable gig last night. That's now quite a few consecutive gigs where we have played so tightly together, just a couple of bum notes in the whole set.

The venue was the Hampden Arms in South Heighton, just near Newhaven. It's a great village pub and very musically oriented, and has a reputation for being welcoming with good beer and food.

The LB30 performed admirably. We found a great balance sound-wise, and I wasn't struggling at all to be heard - in fact I was too loud to start with.

I spent most of the evening with the EQ at noon, apart from a cut in treble to tame my bright maple board and new strings. Those EQ shift butons are curious - so far it seems the Bass Shift has the most notable effect on sound: 'down' gives a lovely creamy deep sound, 'up' gives a much more clanky middy sound which cuts through fabulously. I found myself just switching that up and down depending on the song - thats all the changes I needed all night long.

I did have the volume up high, and at times the needle was pushing hard into the red, giving break-up, but in that lovely valve manner. Nothing horrid there at all.

The only downsides are those valves don't half create some heat - the vent panel along the top was too hot to touch. Also, I find the EQ quite limited, but that's the nature of the beast I guess, having a passive tone stack. Very much like the OTB actually.

So I'm impressed so far. I have another gig tonight (different band, more blues stuff) which will be interesting.

Cheers

Geoff