Tee

[quote name='Merton' timestamp='1460476242' post='3026043'] I still rate the WT550 as the best solid state head I've ever owned. Brilliant preamp [/quote] This was on my radar, way back when i got my OTB 500. It still is and i'd like to A/B one with a LMIII.

Are you saying the LM3 has a more pleasing tone/body/feel to your ears? I like the idea of the multi band (spectra)comp on the TC though, built in tuner etc. But i would probably take better tone over features at the end of the day. I'd say the DI out tone/quality is pretty important to me due to its use live/recording. But i guess the DI quality is directly related to the quality of the preamp (pre-EQ).

Is it reasonable to compare the LM3 to the RH450, if you were in the market for a head like that? The TCs look feature rich, but what [i]is[/i] the TC 'sound' exactly? Likewise what is the MB sound? I've heard warm and articulate for MB. Any other view or descriptions?

Just revisiting this old thread. Still have the 12AT7s in, but hadn't realised that they draw more current than 12AX7s. I'm wondering if this is safe in the long run? I can't remember if Orange allowed for different preamp valves and subsequent current draws through the resistors.

Is the gain knob on the Blue Sky purely for setting your input level (not to clip), or does it offer actual overdrive, albeit, i assume not very much?

Owners/users, tell me about them. Sounds pretty sweet to me. Quite neutral/uncoloured, but warm. Your bass, nicely amplified. How do they compare to other high end or even lesser heads?

They are owned by Marshall now. Used to be made in USA, but in recent years i believe many products are far east manufactured. I've read pros and cons about Eden over the years.

This CS '55 precision relic (w/o the covers. I've never liked covers) Or a single pup NR Thunderbird (or copy) (Burst or Pelham Blue)

It's teeny tiny [url="http://youtu.be/RfHMpUgqbE8"]http://youtu.be/RfHMpUgqbE8[/url]

Just looking for opinions/observations. I'm currently cabless and considering a one (smallish) cab option. Whilst i previously loved my Aguilar DB210, it was a tad bulky. I did like its vintage voiced midrange punch, but i've more recently found that i appreciate a little more note clarity. Hence, i have been looking at the likes of Bergantino/Vanderkley, specifically the Bergantino HD112 and at the Vanderkley 112MNT, or even the 210MNT. The Berg isn't a neo, but is reasonably compact with a good power rating, while the Vanderkleys are neo and are reasonably light for their size. My head is an Orange TB500, however, with NOS 12AT7s in the preamp, giving it a warm, clean, fat sound, with little gain or break up at all. I use a US P bass with flats. It's very much about the midrange for me, which i tend to push. I like to hear the woody sound of my bass. Bass tone/style is pretty much in the vein of Mike Watt (fiREHOSE, Minutemen etc) so no effects or super low frequencies, just trying to use the fretboard to its full potential. I'm assuming these cabs will give a decent representation of my amp, bass and fingers? I often think these types of cabs are more for the clean soul, jazz, funk players and not so much for your rock. But then Watt has used Edens for years and got a pretty gritty tone out of them. Does anyone have any opinions or experience of these cabs? Any users who lean more towards a rock/alt/indie thing? I did see a thread with praise for the tone and midrange of the 210MNT, which was encouraging.

[quote name='owen' timestamp='1458296071' post='3006306'] LIke a cross between a Bluesbreaker and a Bassman. On paper, anyway. [/quote] Correct, that is the idea with these.

[quote name='Twigman' timestamp='1457629068' post='3000408'] I'm a bit worried about being shot! [/quote] There was a gun man on the Arizona highways, randomly shooting at cars, when i was there last summer. They didn't catch him ( i assume it was a he) at the time. Made for interesting news in the Arizona highway motels i was in. Sounds like fun though. Enjoy! You'll have fun no doubt. You'll be knackered, but it will be a good knackered.

[quote name='NancyJohnson' timestamp='1457119810' post='2995641'] If anyone is interested in my input (I've owned a few Thunderbirds), certainly I'd like to see more colour choice. A few years back they did a limited run of deep blue (not Pelham) for the Japanese marketplace, so it is feasible for the paint shop guys to use a different colour. At the end of the day, if you want a decent Thunderbird built from a myriad of choice parts and finishes, just buy a Lull. [/quote] They look good, but he seems to only have the 2 pickup option. I'm guessing they're quite pricey too? Although cheaper than an original

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1457106585' post='2995443'] Gibson are lazy because they can be. As long as people keep buying Les Paul and SG guitars, bassists can get to the back of the queue. It's not a recent phenomenon [/quote] I know. I was including guitars in my original post too (of which the 2015 range was mare for them, including SGs and LPs). They've really thrown together some abominations without much thought. Or they've added quality in one spec/place and taken away elsewhere, which just leaves you rolling your eyeballs. They're simply not creative enough to release new models every year.

Why, why, why are Gibson so lazy in recent years. It's like there's a blind/deaf designer throwing together random spec without any thought for the guitars. If its not badly matched or cheap pickups, it's prosthetic limb coloured plastics, or trapezoid inlays everywhere. Why have all the Thunderbirds in recent years come with black hardware, (black) bland modern pickups and the input jack and tone knob switched around. I guess it's Gibson trying to be 'modern. Yet i get the feeling a player after a 'modern' bass would look elsewhere. It's effectively an attempt, a nod at least, at a 60s bass, so why not do it a bit better. I'm sure there are others out there who have looked at this bass and thought 'almost'. Chrome (more vintage voiced) pickups and hardware please Gibson and a one pickup version would be very much appreciated, if you want to keep the bean counters happy. I know it won't happen though. There seems to be a decent choice in Japan for NR T-birds copies, but they look hard to acquire.

Bogner have done this with guitar cabs too (Bogner Atma)

Hmm, Pelham and Lake Placid Blue look better imo. That blue somehow looks 'cheap'

[quote name='MacDaddy' timestamp='1456786961' post='2992359'] BTW this was through an 8 ohm cab. [/quote] What speaker configuration?

Yup, miss my white SG bass i sold, a good few years back. Who has it? Can i buy it back?

Always loved these basses, but i've not owned one yet. Is that a stacked pickup? What's the general tone difference between these and the typical split P?

Mike Watt Charles Mingus ______________ Geezer Butler Mark Sandman John Entwistle Les Claypool Cris Kirkwood Kim Deal Lou Barlow Eric Avery

I went to the Blue Note around the early to mid 90s. Been to Troy bar too, i remember they seem to have that sort non-rock/pop thing, more jazz/acoustic/world type thing going on. I guess the kids today don't know or remember Jazz Funk, so it's new to them.

How about a mini version of the Mark IV series