BassBod

My memory tells me that when I used to see Hot Choc on the tv, several centuries ago, the bass player was usually miming with a left handed white Rickenthanger, or a copy...never a right handed black Jazzer?? Not that it matters, at all. Maybe more than one bassist??

That’s not really explained anything, has it. A tooth, in something sold as new? I really like their ear buds, but this does nothing to enhance their reputation. Interesting to see if they pick up on the thread...

That’s horrible, and just plain weird?!! I hope they can explain/apologise in an acceptable way...not that I’m sure that’s possible in this case 😳

That’s really tricky. The combo is great, I miss mine. But it’s design is all about the cab/12” driver and how it functions with the weird tiny aluminium enclosure. I’d be tempted to keep the head unit, rehoused somehow. It’s a great little thing, especially with a DI for help. This might not work, as I think the mains transformer is mounted in the cab with the speaker? As is, I’d guess £200...but a challenge to shift in the current micro amp world.

Send me a message - we have a local tech who has restored many of these, he can assess its condition and probably find you a buyer.

I quite like it...adjustments look easy, no springs to rattle and rust. The only issue I can see is moving the entire string length 2-3cm towards the headstock. Not generally a problem, but some flat wounds will break if the unsilked string wraps around the tuner, and this makes it more likely to happen.

Yep, 1x15” ext cab is a better idea, or a 12”. I only owned the 10” combo for a few weeks, but on the few small gigs it did, I was impressed with it’s big sound. It was a bit of a lump..but quite impressive.

Looks like an AH200. Great amp, not very heavy, plenty powerful. Run with any modern light cab...and smile. Just start without the pre-shape, and a flat eq. If the graphic eq doesn’t make sense then google the TE manual...

They had a great reputation in the folk world - the stick on bug types could be used to good effect on all sorts of things! I had one of the bridge wing pickups on an early cheap double bass - with a preamp it sounded good, but died after a few months. He did at one time sell a complete bridge, with the elements set inside, but I never heard or saw one. Talked with him a few times, and he repaired an Ashbory bridge for me at very little cost. A real loss to the music scene.

Yep....ace little box 😎

Ashbury bass on the wall....there could be some stories to tell??

I did see a BB cab in Rikaxe music many years ago....thought it unusual at the time....😳

I've used a few, going back several years (Acoustic Image, Euphonic Audio, Aguilar TH500) but my favourite has been the Ashdown Retroglide. It's just a power amp with a graphic eq in front...no flavour of its own, just takes what you plug in and makes it louder...give or take the graphic settings. I mostly stick a Sansamp in front, but that's from choice not necessity.

The Sansamp does fuzz, but it can be subtle too (despite its own instructions!). It took me a year to work out what the Sansamp can actually do, and then I only really got it when I started travelling more and using all sorts of rental backline. The Sadowsky/Aguilar units are great too, but only do warmth (or rasp) as they are really modelled on the Music Man circuit that Leo Fender decided to use to make the Stingray sound huge. Small amps are great these days...and just what's needed for run around gigs in small venues when you can't park anywhere near. But, they do sound a bit modern and lacking in warmth.

A bit general I know, but I do a lot of "small jazz gigs" and often find that they are neither as small or jazzy as the booker intended. The thing that works for me is a clean /small(ish) combo or head /cab but what gives me the extra is a warm sounding preamp pedal. For amps, it can be an SWR, Ashdown Retroglide or a Mambo (jazz guitar amp) and for preamp its either Sansamp, Sadowsky or Aguilar DB924. It all does the same thing, makes the amp sound a bit bigger and older than it is.

He is on FB, but would probably delete any negative vibes 😳. Not sure he has much to do with running the company, but it’s a shame to see a once respected brand, with some high profile endorsers, perform so badly. Hope this situation improves, but Hartke is off my list for now 😳