thinman

[quote name='Linus27' post='130680' date='Jan 30 2008, 02:18 PM']I am getting back into playing and may end up joining a band which I guess may lead to gigs at some point. What sort of size amp combo would be suitable for pubs and small clubs? I have been looking at the Ashdown MAG-C115-300 Pre Amp Combo but its 300W so is this a bit overkill?? They also do the Ashdown EB 15-180 Combo but thats only 180W so will that be underpowered? The prices are good at around £200 to £250 and I may even be able to get discount through a friend. Its just what sort or power rating do I want. Also, no idea if Ashdown are any good. Any advice really appreciated. Thanks[/quote] Linus, I've got the MAG-C115-300 combo. Without an extension cab, i.e. when running into its integral 8 ohm speaker, it knocks out 180W but compared with some other similar combos I've tried seems reasonably loud - some combos are more efficient than others giving more volume per watt - so there's not always any point in worrying about 50W here and there. The MAG 300 holds its own against our drummer no problem and is ample for pub gigs. I've been using a 150W Warwick combo whilst mine's being mended and that seems to have far less in reserve volume-wise. However, though I'm fairly happy with the sound I now wonder if I would have had more peace of mind if I'd bought something more upmarket for reliability reasons if nothing else. Mine's been in for repair for two weeks now having blown its mains transformer without ever being pushed. Maybe I've been unlucky (though this forum may imply otherwise) but I'd certainly agree that you won't go wrong by getting the best you can afford. I'm now looking into getting a separate head (hopefully a cheaper MarkBass or maybe a Hartke) with a home-built Bill Fitzmaurice Omni 10 (2 x 10") which I hope will sound better, be louder and be reliable! For the money I'd certainly give the MAG-300 a try but I've also heard good things about the Fender Rumble range amongst others. Other people here can give you a vast range of recommendations and sage advice on anyting else!

[quote name='NickThomas' post='128472' date='Jan 26 2008, 10:26 PM']You must know someone that would lend you something for the night? Where's the gig? Nick.[/quote] Nick, Only playing my local in Sevenoaks.. I'm now hoping to borrow a friend of a friend's Trace combo but it's a little indefinite at present. A reasonable backline hire firm would be useful as plan B though. Mike

[quote name='thinman' post='123050' date='Jan 18 2008, 07:09 PM']Thanks for the replies. It's not doing my confidence much good though! I wonder if the replacement parts are improved versions or if I'm just starting a new lottery![/quote] Well it's been in for a week at the Ashdown dealers. When I rang they said it will be at least another two weeks as Ashdown are out of spare transformers! Maybe they've had a bit of a run on them but I think I'll check with Ashdown. That's a bummer - have a gig in two weeks. Will have to hire something now. Can anyone recommend any good hire firms in north west Kent?

[quote name='foxthebiker' post='126215' date='Jan 23 2008, 03:50 PM']Guys, This is a weird one.... Been playing with my Mex P Bass 60th Anniversary with no issues.....for 6 months since I had it Traded up my 65 Watt Laney combo to an Ashdown EB 12/180 Combo with Mag 210 and now.... My P Bass has "grunge"! Not bad but noticable if I roll off the treble particularly. My Squire VM Jazz fretless has no issues but then has Duncan PUPs in. Do you reckon it's because my Ashdown gear is louder and so am able to notice it or maybe these P bass pups as standard are just like it. I had never noticed it before. Perhaps I ought to change out the pups! Which is best, EMG, DIMS, Duncan, Vintage? Tried different cables and sockets and different pot settings. My usual is about half way up on the volume pot on the bass and half up on the tone although that changes from time to time depending on what is being played of course. The previous combo wasn't ever loud enough to notice I think but this new Ashdown puppy is seriously loud and is noticable now . Any ideas anybody?[/quote] Not sure this is of any practical help but I've always had a suspicion that my MAG300 (which I'm assuming is substantially the same amp as yours) never sounded consistent - its tone seemed to change as it warmed up. Like you it seemed to sound like it was clipping even at low volumes but that seemed to disappear after a short peiod. That was with my MIM Jazz. Is yours a consistent problem? Oddly enough that problem seemed to go after I swapped the standard pickups for Wizard '84s as recommended on here. (Can't recommend them enough - I'd take a look at his P pickups ) They seem to have a much higher output but are not farty like the others seemed at times. Maybe your Duncans are similar? My MAG's blown its mains transformer now and is in for repair - maybe the fartiness was that degrading... Mike

Idle question really but why is the intonation adjustment required? As I understand it the 12th fret is halfway between the nut and bridge so why are the saddle alignments never in a line parallel with the frets when a guitar is correctly adjusted with the lower (fatter) strings being longer than the higher (thinner) ones? Is it something to do with the way a string is stretched when fretted such that the E, say, goes sharper due to it being thicker and less stretchy than the G when fretted so it has to be longer to compensate or is there something else going on here?

[quote name='Hamster' post='122458' date='Jan 17 2008, 09:33 PM']I think Guy has become more helpful because he has read all our complaints on the forum about the known problem with their mains transformers Hamster[/quote] Thanks for the replies. It's not doing my confidence much good though! I wonder if the replacement parts are improved versions or if I'm just starting a new lottery!

[quote name='woodenshirt' post='122292' date='Jan 17 2008, 04:46 PM']Welcome, I like your fave players, (Barry Adamson of Magazine, I presume)...... some great bass lines crafted by that bunch, Mike. I got a lot of ideas from the likes of those guys when I first started.... they don't write 'em like that anymore. Those were the days my friend (as someone once sang). Mart (slightly fat man)[/quote] Thanks for the welcome - yes Barry Adamson of Magazine. Real rattle your teeth sound that. Was it some sort of semi-fretted thing he used?

My 13 month-old MAG300 combo blew its mains fuse mid-song (practice fortunately) and every replacement fuse (I'm refering to the 3.15A one in the IEC mains connector). It's not had a hard life, wasn't up that loud and no extension cabinet ever used. Bit disappointed by that really. Is this a common ailment of these? I mailed Guy at Ashdown who replied very promptly and he though the mains transformer had probably gone (no visible signs of meltdown inside). To give Ashdown their due, after a bit of a moan from me, Guy has offered to repair under warranty even though it's a month outside but I'd rather it hadn't blown in the first place. I though those toroidal transformers were supposed to be quite tough (if built properly). Still, it's spurred me on to think further about building a Bill F Omni 10 and getting a new head.

Just saying hello. Been reading this forum for while and thought I'd better join up. I've been playing for 25 years on and off. Currently in a dad-rockish covers band. Only got a MIM Jazz (but with recently fitted Wizard 84's - big improvement thanks to recommendations on this forum - and a Baddass II I found in the garage). Also got a (waits for abuse) Ashdown MAG 300 combo but it's just gone pop a month out of warranty. Want to upgrade now.... Fave players: Bruce Thomas, Barry Adamson, Norman Watt-Roy, Cheers, Mike (not that thin anymore).

[quote name='BassManKev' post='121527' date='Jan 16 2008, 03:48 PM']any ideas?? its smaller than 1/16'', which was the size my musicman needed[/quote] Just had the same issue this very week. I bought a small set of keys both metric and imperial. A 1.3mm fitted OK but the 0.05" seemed better. Cheers, Mike (newbie poster afraid to admit he's got an (just gone bang) Ashdown amp)