machinehead

I must be one of the earliest Barefaced users. I bought my Compact in 2008 and my Midget in 2009 and I still have them. They have done many gigs although not too many together as they are more than adequate on their own for most of my gigs. Still, the option to use both is always there for those times when mad volume is in order. The handles are still intact, the feet are firmly in place and show no signs of falling off. The only damage is to one edge of the Midget where a careless band mate whacked the edge of a heavy fire door. It was easily repaired and touched up though and is back to 100%. When I hear other players through my cabs at jams etc, I think they sound wonderful and I'm "totally bemused" at how some people have said they sound "middy" and don't like the sound. They can be tweaked to make very different sounds but it's all in the ears of the listener isn't it? Frank.

The older Barefaced Midgets with tweeter should fit your bill. I think they use a superior and more expensive speaker to all the 12" cabs mentioned above (Although I could be wrong, no doubt someone who knows better will correct me?) plus they are probably the smallest and lightest and might even be the loudest. Sound-wise - that's up to you to decide but they are getting a lot cheaper used now that they have been superceded by the newer model. Frank.

Thanks for posting that pmjos. I have only played/gigged with the amp two and I agree, it's a really serious gigging amp. It has easily enough volume. (Too much even. I was asked to turn down on Saturday night in a pub. Makes a change from the guitarists always being asked to turn down.) I know what you mean about the amp two being bright. I thought so too until I discovered another 9k knob on the back of the amp! It does take time to learn how to use the many knobs but I'm starting to get to grips with it. It's a fantastic piece of kit and ticks all the boxes for the sound I prefer. The ONLY drawback is the weight but then I'm old and have back trouble. The trolley has helped though. When you start to use your AER you'll forget the high cost and just have a permanent smile. Frank.

For the more recent ones with the switchable input and effects sockets bypass switch I would say £550 to £600. That should get you a silver/black face model or the latest (I think?) black face. These amps are a dream too, if you're thinking of buying. Frank.

I have a badass bridge on two of my jazz basses. If they make any difference to the sound, I can't hear it, but I prefer the way they look and that's really the only reason I have them. Others will disagree but maybe I just have cloth ears. Frank.

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1414263766' post='2587752'] I've just sold my one remaining TKS S112. I'm replacing it with a TKS S112, though. [/quote] What? You didn't like the colour or what? Like for like? Frank.

I thought I'd bump this thread because I've failed miserably to find anything at all on the amp two on the 'net. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated. I've also had a few more gigs with it. I've realised that it takes time to properly understand this amp. There are a lot of knobs to twiddle and I usually prefer simplicity. However, I've taken the time to try to understand this amp and it's been very worthwhile. This is not, in my opinion anyway, a "plug and play" combo. I've found that learning how to use it properly ( and I think I've really only scratched the surface) has revealed how absolutely brilliant the design is. At heart it's a hifi type amp. It is possible to make it sound thick and more traditional and discovering how to do this has made me enjoy it even more. It's a different beast from anything I've played or heard before - and I'm going back over almost 30 years of bass playing and at least 15 years as a guitarist before "seeing the light" of the low end. I hate distortion in a bass rig. A little break-up is OK for me, but clean is my preference. This little combo is clean but rich and deep as well. And f*&^ing LOUD. And it's loud while keeping its core tone as well, which is a class act. I must be the only person who actually owns one because there's no trace of another owner anywhere on the 'net. EDIT: It's still too heavy. A newly purchased folding trolley should help with this. Frank.

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1413561217' post='2579627'] Pair a Walkabout (assuming it hasn't been tinkered with!) with fairly sensitive cabs, and it'll cope with anything but ridiculous volumes, IME. [/quote] Agree completely. I gig with a Mesa Walkabout and G1 Compact (which I bought new in 2009) and it's easily loud enough for all my gigs. I also use my G1 Midget (again, bought new in 2010) with the Walkabout in smaller pubs and it's loud and sounds glorious. And both cabs have the original handles fully intact. (Just to stay on-topic) Frank.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1413301019' post='2576901'] Getting in a decent cabinet maker should have been priority number 1 years ago, IMO. [/quote] An even higher priority than proper and high quality mechanical and electrical engineering and acoustics? You know though, part of me agrees with you because it's quite likely that most players buy with their eyes. There's nothing at all wrong with subjective good looks but I suspect that for years now, most (note: not ALL) cab manufacturers have been selling their products based on looks, image and profit margins, usually at the expense of good engineering. Which would be acceptable if the products were also cheap and we all know that isn't always the case. In the end it doesn't matter to me what people do or don't buy. We all buy what works for ourselves. Frank. Frank.

The Stage II is, in my opinion the most wonderful instrument. I sold mine ONLY because the reach to the first fret was causing me problems. (Neck and back trouble.) When I played Fenders due to the pain, going back to the Stage II also caused hand position memory problems, due to the different ergonomics. In the end, I reluctently sold mine. But it will always be the best bass I ever owned for sound and sheer quality. I also owned a 2004 ish Streamer LX4. This was also a great instrument. It's worth pointing out that this bass also had a jazz width neck but was deep front to back and very comfortable. (Although often complained about, I found it fine) So, maybe seek out a Streamer LX of that era because it seems to fit your wish list. Frank.

What a gem. I hope you enjoy it for years and years. Frank.

Hello. We're the Symbolics. I'm Sym and he's bol............ Frank.

Here's one by Fleetwood Mac from the early days - before they destroyed the band by letting girls in. If you're brave enough. Frank.

Outstanding customer care. Almost unbelievably good. This gives me even more faith in my recently acquired AER amp two. Frank.

I'm just home from two gigs tonight using the AER amp two and F&%* me - how do they do this? I understand that there's a bit of processing going on in the amp but the tone and volume is astonishing. The amp two is a 12" + 4" speaker combo. It is deep and clear, with more highs than I really like, but rolled off the tone on the jazz and it seemed to sound more pleasant to me. It handled the larger venue on the secend gig amazingly well for the size of this little beast. I need a few more gigs in different venues to give a better considered and more experienced opinion of this combo. So far it's amazing. The only drawback for me at the moment is the weight. Frank.

[quote name='Marc S' timestamp='1411134366' post='2556820'] Indeed, some are going for silly money, considering the quality of these instruments... I'm not going to link you to my thread which is a Stingray for sale Lol But as Dazed says, you could opt for a USA Sub Personally, I haven't played one - but they are spoken highly of on this forum and by others who own them.... Go for it - you only live once [/quote] I'd definately recommend a US Sub "Stingray". Mine is a superb quality instrument with electronics and hardware from the US Stingray. All you lose out on is a contoured body, painted neck instead of oiled and the paint. mine is white and I think the finish looks great. I'll probably never be a full-time Stingray user but the SUB is a cheap but excellent alternative. Go for it. Frank.

I quit, cold turkey, after smoking for about 35 years. It's been well worth the pain. I don't feel the pangs at all now and appreciate the clean air - and the money. Stick at it. it's WELL worth it. Frank.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1410604921' post='2551159'] Well going from your amps listed above, I`d also check out the new Fender Rumble amps. We seem to have similar taste in amp brands and I think these amps sound great on-line. [/quote] I played one of those new Fender Rumbles last week in a shop in Belfast. The tone was lovely - a nice rounded sound with a touch of growl. Very impressive, although I don't know how they'd sound at gig volume. Frank.

My Fender Rumble 15 sounds better than I expected and was dirt cheap used. EDIT: And it's featherlight. Frank.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1410168543' post='2546654'] Personally I don't blame them if I were in their shoes, but as a buyer, this is why I buy western music product as I think there is a premium to be paid. [/quote] If anyone thinks that eastern manufacturers are any less capable of producing high quality products than western manufacturers then they are most definately wrong. With all manufacturers its down to the level of the specification and how the final product conforms to that specification, in other words quality control. (Quality Control is not what quite a few people seem to think it is.) I've worked in manufacturing plants in Korea, Japan and China and been frankly dismayed at how good they are. So don't automatically dismiss a product just because it's manufactured in somewhere other than the UK or US. And don't automatically assume that UK and US made means better quality. It might, or it might not. Frank. Frank.

[quote name='chrisanthony1211' timestamp='1410210304' post='2547245'] There was an amp two which sold recently on bass chat, I personally have an amp one and love it... [/quote] Ha! And guess who bought that one. Thanks for the reply Chris. I was just wanting to read up what others thought of the amp two and hear what they thought about it as a gigging amp. I was very interested in your self-built sub too. I need a few gigs with the amp two to really get to know it better. It seems more than capable in a loud rehearsal but depending on how it performs live I might consider building myself a sub. I have a gig next weekend where it will have its first outing. I certainly can't afford to buy an AER sub. Frank.

[quote name='TheSiberian' timestamp='1410163949' post='2546604'] This is a very intersting set the new balanced tension strings...but I have a problem ( I hope only me...lol) You know, after more than 30 years of bass playing with 130.100.80.65.45.32 ( six and five strings much later) I feel this gauges setup like they belongs to my fingers. Of course I tryed all the existing strings' gauges sets on the market but I feel really "at home" only with my usual combination (D'Addario EXL 170) It's also interesting that I find myself more sensitive to the gauges than to tensions of the strings, so it's easely to use different brands as long as they have my favourite gauges. I always thought that the best bass set up is when you forget about the bass itself and when you are 100% in the music. Changing now for a better tension oriented set (with other gauges of course) it's kind of weird feeling and I should do a real effort...but now, if I already find long ago my "perfect gauges" is it any better to change? Interesting question. However I want to believe the new balanced tension ones are very very good. Best [/quote] Yeh, I know what you mean and I would be sensitive to string guages as well but in a different way. I kept playing other players basses over the years and often they felt somehow better set up than my own bass. I came to realise that I prefer a lighter guage. These D'Addario EXL220BT sets are light guage, smooth feeling and just seem nearly perfect for me. I might try the ProSteels out of curiousity but I'm more interested in the feel so I won't go chasing a different sound as I'm happy with how the ELX220BTs sound. Frank.

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1410127971' post='2546487'] Try a set of ProSteels for a nice, crisp, piano ring [/quote] Next string change, I'll give them a try. Thanks for the advice. Frank.

The American Standard is superb. No modding required and a great playing and sounding bass. It's everything the gigging bassist needs really. Frank.