machinehead

Beautiful bass. Frank.

When weight, size and volume matters at a gig, I use a Barefaced Super Midget and a Quilter BB800. I've tried guitar through this too and it sounds fine. This mini-rig will handle any pub gig I'm ever likely to play and any bigger gig with PA support. The Super Midget isn't cheap but you only buy once. The Quilter is cheap for what it does compared to other big name USA amps. Frank.

I also have a Quilter BB800 and a pair of Barefaced one10s. I find that if I leave the EQs all centred the sound can be quite dark with this rig. When I do the same with my Barefaced SM or BB2 it's a bit brighter. I'm going to suggest that you try changing your EQ settings. Try turning the "contour" knob slightly anticlockwise, then turn the "depth" knob anticlockwise as well to remove some bass. Experiment with the various combinations to get a sound you like. You should get more top end. Hopefully, if this works for you, you'll save some cash by not buying new strings, which is good. Frank.

I gig with TI flats but I recently put D'Addario ECB 81 flatwounds on my USA SUB bass and they are definately brighter than the TI flats and a little higher tension too. In fact, I bought two sets of ECB 81s to try on other basses. That was months ago and I haven't got around to fitting them yet. This is a good reminder to get on with it. Here's a link to a very good article by the Bass Whisperer on flatwound strings. https://www.bassplayer.com/gear/flat-world-a-roundup-of-flatwound-strings Frank.

The more I think about it and the more you post Dave, I think a single Super Midget would be easily enough for your needs. It'll also easily handle pub gigs without PA should you go back to that. Frank.

That's a great pic. I met him briefly in Belfast city centre when James Taylor was here. He seems a very unassuming person. Frank.

Or, to save space, sell your ST and buy a SC and a SM. If you don't fancy the SM (I love mine. It's such a useful cab in so many ways.) then a pair of SC will take up less space. I know, I'm not helping at all. Frank.

£420 for an 8" speaker cab? Wow. I've seen AER Amp Ones selling for £650ish. Surely that's a better deal? I had an Amp One for a (very) short time and it was superb. Frank.

Me too. I always have a spare amp head at a gig. Frank.

We've all been in that situation at some time - I know I've regretted selling some gear. What about a second hand Super Compact or Super Midget? The SM is very capable indeed and weighs next to nothing. I often gig mine with a Quilter BB800 and it never fails to impress. Frank.

I'd keep the Super Compact and a lightweight head. It'll outperform most combos and be easier to transport and store. I find my BB2 to be overkill for most gigs and capable of 99% of my gigs without PA. (But I play mostly pubs and clubs.) It's small, light and powerful plus sounds superb. Frank.

I've owned several combos (The best was an AER Amp Two) and they were all decent and easily giggable. My main problem is that I always carry a spare amp to a gig and it's not that simple with a combo. (I always gig with an amp and cab or two.) Frank.

I have both steel and cloth fronted cabs from Barefaced. The cloth is really strong and I have no worries whatsoever about damaging the speaker on the cloth versions. It's very strong. I like the weight saving on the cloth versions. Frank.

One singer/guitarist that I play with occasionally has apologised to me because I'm at the back and he has his back to me. Unlikely as it sounds, this is actually true. 😊 Frank.

Just to clarify my last post - I have a pair of one10s, a BB2 and a SM. They all sound great in all combinations at low/medium volumes, but for a gig, I personally wouldn't mix speaker sizes. My favourite combination is the BB2 with the SM although I rarely have a need for that much volume. Of course, volume isn't the only reason for a pair of speakers - the BB2 with SM has a lovely airy rich tone. As an aside, a pair of one10s sounds noticably sweeter than a single one10. (As good as a single one10 is. ) Frank.

It's a bad idea. The one10 will be overpowered long before the Super Compact. In fact, the one10 will limit the Super Compact's performance. Frank.

I bought a Peavey MiniMax 500 as a backup amp a few months ago when my GK MB200 fried. It's so good that I gig it regularly now. It cost £282 delivered brand new. it's LOUD, flexible and lightweight and comes with a gig bag. I'll be using it tonight at a festival gig with my Quilter BB800 as backup. I've owned quite a few expensive amps but this cheap amp has really impressed me. Frank.

Yes, the improvement (in what is already a good sound) is really noticeable at all volumes with a pair. Frank.

I think a Barefaced 4x10 might be enough. My pair of 1x10s are definately enough for any of my pub/club gigs. Frank.

If you like thick, warm, fairly traditional sounds, then the Quilter will do that in spades and at a bargain price. It seems to have unlimited power too. It's a quality piece of kit by any standards. I gig mine every week and it just gets better as I learn more about the tone shaping. Any time I'm through the PA the Di is supplied by the PA company. A DI box is cheap anyway. Anyway, can I suggest that you look at the EBS Reidmar 750. It's also reasonably priced, loads of tone control including drive, LOUD, well built and reliable and a good built-in DI. Just a thought as I regret ever parting with mine. (I only sold mine because it was too wide for my Barefaced one10 cabs - sad or what?) Frank.

Welcome pintspiller. Great username. 😊 Frank.

I use a gig bag (for the bass) on my back, cab and amp bag (always two amps) on a foldable sack truck. It works well on public transport. EDIT The cab and amp bag are secured on the truck with nylon straps - very safe. For the cab I take either a Barefaced one10 or Barefaced Super Midget if more volume is required. I can't imagine taking any 4 x 10 cab on public transport. 😕 Frank.

I was the same for many, many years. Then I tried a few Fenders and became a convert. I still have a Warwick, a Musicman, and a Steinberger and I've owned many, many non-Fender basses, but on gigs, it's almost always a Fender. Not because they're the best, but because they are just solid and just get the job done. It's all I need anyway. Plus I can choose from a USA P, USA Jazz, USA PJ jazz and a USA Jaguar - enough for any greedy bas**2d. 😁 Frank.

That's all the rig a man could ever need. Enjoy it. Frank.

I don't like the 4 + 1 tuners either and much prefer the 5 in a row. I had one of the US deluxe 5 string jazz with the smaller body and 5 in a row tuners and really liked it. I can't remember why I sold it as it was the perfect 5 string jazz. Enjoy yours. Frank.