Nickthebass

I get the feedback loop between gain stage, EQ etc. - it’s more that I’ve never had that visual thing saying “don’t be shy - you can give it some more beans”.

Thanks - with that visual gain stage reminder ... I might be a bit more brave with the input gain that I would have been!

Thanks for this - definitely a good back up option. I've ended up going down the Ashdown route though. The ABM-600 just makes too much sense in particular from a UK support point of view. I had a couple of lovely chats with Dave Green and he has ended up making me a rack mount version which should be landing with me today.

You make a good point Phil. To be honest though the older I get the less wedded I am to particular pieces of gear, particularly back line and pedals. I want it to be reliable, loud and reasonably portable - anything else is a bonus. At the end of the day I have yet to meet an amp that I can't do without (from a tonal / performance stand point). It's only a "can't do without" if it's my only amp of an appropriate size / power. I've got a new Ashdown head arriving today which will likely be my primary amp for the next wee while as I get used to it. It'll sound different to the Streamliner but that's fine - maybe the difference will be something I prefer even if it's only because it is different and the STM has been the only amp I've gigged for the past 10 years. Neither amp is going to make my sub-Jamerson fumblings sound any more closer to the man himself.

Thanks for this. Looks like the 4 Stroke is discontinued though. ABM is en route!

For anyone keeping score ... @Lozz196 was on the money and wins a small prize. I spoke to Dave at Ashdown yesterday and a rackmount ABM600 should be with me tomorrow.

Thanks very much for this. I may look into buying a spare power module to stick in the drawer in case of disaster! I'm still a massive fan of the Streamliner and in particular the pre-amp. If the worst ever came to the worst and the power amp did explode and was un-fixable I would still keep it as a DI box / pre-amp. In fact ... is someone happened to make a Streamliner style DI box I could be persuaded to be in the market for one!

I was waiting for you to chime in on behalf of Handbox! 😆 The lack of a UK network is a bit of a downer TBH.

Haa!! That’s what I thought. I had some bad experiences with earlier ABMs being a bit wooly but I’m banking on that being partly down to lack of experience on my part.

Looks like Glockenklang’s only new head is a class D. DB751 is about £2k too much (budget added after you posted) and the AG700 is class D. The Ampeg solid state stuff looks to be all class D other than the SVT3 - which is a good shout. Hadn’t thought of the Orange option. Thanks

I’m looking for a new head as an alternative to my GB Streamliner 900 (which I plan to keep). The list of requirements is pretty short … loud, reliable, not class D (nothing against class D, I’d want something different and easier to fix). Also good after sales support / repair (UK based for preference either dealer or distributor) and preferably 2 speakon outs. Budget in the £800 ish range ideally. I don’t really need super twinkly top end, more like “warm Jazz bass” but. I’ll back myself to get a good sound out of most amps. Am I talking myself into an Ashdown ABM600? Any other bids? For those interested the head will be atop (one or both) a Gen2 Barefaced Midget T and Gen2 Compact. Gigs at the moment are either folky / singer songwriter or blues(ish).

I’m thinking about an ABM600 as an alternative to my (much loved) GB Streamliner 900. How are you finding the ABM? Still loving it? Tell me that I won’t miss the extra 300 watts of power amp! 😆

The place I have been going to was recommended by a former Streamliner owner that I contacted from here. Turns out my issue this time was two preamp valves needing replaced.

How old are the class Ds? Like you I have never had a hiccup but the STM900 is now ~10 years old.

I have a Radial Bassbone Mk1 and a SansAmp on my pedal board so I can run to the PA or into the head’s power amp if needs be (assuming the power stage hasn’t gone pop). I’m trying to get a sense of the chance of me needing my back up option as that would change what I want as my primary back up vs 3rd string options.

I have an early GB Streamliner 900 - it has been to the tech for preamp replacements a couple of time in the past year (I’m not too bothered by that as they’re still the original valves). The message I got from the tech was that the power amp may become unreliable or lose volume due to its age (can’t say I’ve noticed a problem). I asked what he would buy his bass player (ignoring tonal considerations) - something with transformers or valves in the power stage rather than class D. Any of our resident boffins have a view? (Paging Dr @agedhorse). Should I be worried about the fact that my only amp is a 10ish year old class D? (I have never had a problem with it before other than the noisy pre-amp valves.) I’m looking at this purely from a reliability / fix ability point of view - this isn’t a question about the tone. Thanks!

I see you've moved off the "max out the volume and tweak the input gain" approach. Why was this (from reading the rest of the thread I thought this was the builder's recommended way of running the head)? Also - can you share a bit more about the gig and the room please? What was the line up, how big a space were you covering (room or stage), how loud a was the gig, was the DI pre or post EQ? Apologies if I've gone a bit "20 questions" on you but I'm trying to read across from your warm and fuzzy feelings about the amp into my situation.

@Woody1957 - thanks for the suggestion but I think the splitter is probably solution for me. If I change cabs again in the future it'll likely be to another 2 cab set up - making the splitter box a simple permanent fix. Thanks @Woodinblack - I hadn't even twigged that these were a thing!