hamfist

[quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1330258017' post='1554640'] I like Ashdown sounds too. Would be nervous though - I have 3 amp repair mates and they are always moaning about them [/quote] Yeah. It does make me a little nervous. Especially coming from the school of building and handwiring my own guitar tube amps (which always gave me confidence that the main thing likely to let me down was the tubes, not the amp itself). Anyway, I'll just do what I always do, and look after my amps with kid gloves, and expose them to as few knocks and as little vibration as possible. If it's the sound I want, that is all important.

Well, I gigged with the new ABM500 Evo 3 last night. A really rather loud, heaving, sweaty pub, with a very excited drummer. ...... and I have to say that my tone was rather awesome. Every single band member made a point of telling me how great the bass sounded even. Pleased? Yes I am ! Playing mostly a J bass through the ABM into two vertically stacked TC Electronic BC210's. EBS Multidrive on a low drive at all times. Plenty of authority and so much punch and definition. I had an experienced bass player standing in front of me and my stack the whole gig and he was very appreciative. I know I am relatively new back to the bass world but I have decades of experience of trying to find the ideal guitar tone, even learned to build tube amps and built many in my time. To be honest, I pretty much ignored the bassist's tone during those years (maybe because most players have appalling tone !) and it's strange that it's only in the last few weeks that I'm actually learning what I want out of my own bass tone. Hence my initial (wrong) purchase of the LM3, not realising that some OD, clank, and background fuzzy niceness were going to be essential for me. Before buying the ABM, I read so much out there about how Ashdown have lost the plot and their current amps are rubbish etc. Well, from yesterday's experience, Ashdown know how to make a rock bass amp sound right, with the ABM series at least. I certainly do want to experiment much more with the tube pre-amp part of the ABM, as I was playing only with the SS side of the pre-amp, as I didn't think my first gig with the new band was the right time to be trying new tonal things. Next rehearsal (sadly over 2 weeks away) will see me experimenting a lot more with that. My setting were basically a nice mid hump, peaking around the 660Hz. Rolled off the treble a tad, and boosted the 60 Hz just a smidgeon for fullness. Master at about 10 o'clock, which was LOUD. The EBS multidrive also compresses (and mid-boosts) quite a bit, allowing me to have the input levels up decently high without getting frightening peaks on the low notes. Hence getting the very most out of the ABM's volume. I remember starting "Town Called Malice" on my own and the whole place erupted. My bass just sounded exactly like Bruce Foxton's. Seriously cool. I have a GK 700RB II coming at the end of the week and it'll be fun comparing the two, although I'm not convinced it will have the mids-control I want, and get with the Ashdown. I'm really wanting to give the GK "boost" (which is the control fro the GK growl) a try though. Neither of these amps is hugely light. But neither are they hugely heavy. A comfortable single handed lift is fine with me. I have to lug in two 2x10's anyway, so the extra kg's of an ABM versus one of the micro amps is nothing to me really. Thankfully space is my vehicle is also not an issue. Anyway, thanks for listening. I just was just so pumped about last night's gig, I wanted to share.

[quote name='ahpook' timestamp='1330175541' post='1553719'] can't make it down to see you, but best of luck ! [/quote] THanks !! I feel well prepared. SHould be a good'n.

Will be gigging for the first time with my new band. Just a good ole covers band. Loads of great poppy/rocky stuff from the 60's through to current. At the "George" in Fair Oak, nr. SOuthampton. I think we'll be on about 8.45pm. Come at let me know how my new ABM500 is sounding !!

[quote name='nottswarwick' timestamp='1330166255' post='1553554'] Sounds sank, so when he is not looking (I stand next to him) I change the amp EQ. If I don't it really eats my sound.... Nice band, by the way. Looks fun. [/quote] THat's an impressively sneaky move ! He must be rather a doofus to not notice.

THanks for all your suggestions. Despite never actually playing a Genz, there's something that just hasn't appealed to me on every clip that I've ever heard of them. To be honest, the ABM I now have ticks pretty much every box for me. Although heavier than the LM3, it's still easily a one hand lift, which is pretty much the key for me. So, I'm not really looking for another amp. Although I have to admit I just bought cccy's GK 700RB II from the forum. It was a great deal, and it's an amp I have really been wanting to try out. It may not oust the ABM from my affections but at least I'll have ticked it off the list. But, who knows, it might bowl me over, and there might be an almost new ABM for sale imminently !!! The GK will have to be pretty special for that to happen though !

[quote name='WalMan' timestamp='1330156929' post='1553376'] I did for a while last night, more for my benefit to see if I could hear the bass or not. Problem with that is that is that at that end of the evening level is not the issue (though cut enains for me) It is the second set when levels miraculously leap though "no one touches anything" that level becaomes an issue. Like I say I think tonight is a night forno digging in and banging the master back even further The Streamliner has more traditional Bass Mid Treble tone settings with "[size=3][i]Selectable 3-Position Mid Frequencies: 220, 600, 2.5K HZ [/i][/size]" I think I an set on the 220 band but will check tonight. Otherwise I have:[list] [*]Gain boost switch (STUN ) off [*]Gain 12 oclock [*]Volume 11 o'clock [*]Bass 11 o'clock [*]Mid 1 o'clock [*]Treble 1 o'clock [*]Master 8-9 o'clock [/list] Running into the Barefaced Super12T with the horn about halfway on. I think I need to invest in a BT Midget and keep the S2T for another of the regular deps that require a bt more power [/quote] IMO, you need your mids on the 600Hz setting for classic rock. Actually, 600 is just PERFECT. That's where the "cut" lies. Don't be frightened, having the mids dial on 4-5 o'clock, if necessary, is quite acceptable. I suspect, even if your guitarists are producing a muddy mush, you will still punch through without producing all the "boom" that I suspect your bandmates don't like from the combination of all the bass frequencies flying around the stage. You need some bass frequencies, but only just enough is best for live work. Good luck

[quote name='Flex' timestamp='1330123181' post='1553224'] I have recently aquired a vba400 + vbc412 and it blows away anthing else I have had.... Not a light rig but is totally manageable. The sound even blew our drummer away.. That says something... Can't recommend it anough, smooth or full on drive at all volumes and great value 2nd hand if you can find one. Nothing like the pure valve setup to cut through and has mid frequency selector too. If you get the chance to try one... Go for it and see what I mean [/quote] Interestingly, the VBA400 weighs precisely 12.4 times the weight of the LM3. And at also more than 3 X the price they are not really comparable products. However, I appreciate your love of the Marshall. It's not an amp I have even been aware of before. However, as an "older" guy with a dodgy shoulder, sadly I suspect the VBA will never get on to my list of potential purchases.

[quote name='Doddy' timestamp='1330086966' post='1552453'] The Bastards. It's awful that people actually dance to the band rather than just sitting there and 'appreciating' the music. [/quote] My point exactly. Outragious !

Clank "honours" to Sweet IMO. However, the MSP clank fits rather better in the rest of the band (also IMHO). I do loves a bit of clank !

[quote name='silddx' timestamp='1330111240' post='1553020'] You depressing bastard. [/quote] It's true

Sam is a great bloke to deal with. Trade with him with confidence !!

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1330079393' post='1552291'] How about this tone? [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pCw3Aw9yyk[/media] [/quote] Now that is truly gorgeous bass tone. Don't get me wrong, but to my rather bass-inexperienced ears a lot of that tone is in the overdrive and EQing after the bass. COuldn't a J bass make pretty much an identical tone with the same processing ? I'm actually very interesed in this. I've tried out a couple of RIcs (admittedly just in shops) and I didn't feel they added any "clankiness" or anything much else that you don't get in a decent J bass. Please educate me !

Awesome tone from Geddy. Pity about all the doublenecks. It's all too Spinal Tap for me !

I find it all so depressing, especially observing how the whole "scene" has changed over the last 27 years that I have been gigging. Ultimately though, so many people still want to play more for the love of it than for money (although the dosh is a nice bonus). However, venue owners/promoters/whatever are [u]never[/u] doing it for the love of it. Making money is always the prime influence. Making music is, and always will be, a creative love and expression for most people doing it. This isn't going to change so, as a group. musicians will always tend to get done over by the money-makers. The drop in numbers of folk who are actually interested in seeing a live band is also shocking. Of those who do come along, half of them seem to turn their backs on the band and dance, as if the band were simply like a DJ. I'd never, ever do this if I didn't love simply making live music with bandmates so much. It's like torture sometimes Might just go and top myself now.

What bugs me about the Spyder series is the EQ, which is very unflexible, especially the mids adjustment. If you like the base sound, that's great, but don't expect much of a range of EQ.

My "vote" is with Yes so far !!! Keep em coming !

Bought a pedal from Harvey1-8. He posted incredibly quickly. Packaged well. Great comms. Thoroughly recommended to deal with.

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1329987744' post='1550737'] ... and i loved the low low end of the ABM and found the SA450 could get close to that, but the LMII couldnt, due to the fixed freq's. [/quote] I don't know if the LM3 is different ot the LM2 in this respect, but there was never any problem with lows with the LM3. Seemed to have just as much as the ABM (through my basses/cabs etc, etc !). But, yes thanks , a great result for me in the end !