The fasting showman

Totally agree with Dingus regarding the Miles albums, the track 'Fat time' has an amazing sound and feel, I think he was playing through an SVT then. I've never heard him sound better.

I'd go for 'Donny Hathaway- Live' and 'Fresh' by Sly and The Family Stone. Have a listen to 'Glide' by 'Pleasure' too, I've only got that as a single but a real gem.

Here's some of my favourite players that I've ripped off, or tried to, over the years:- George Murray (Bowie '75 to '80), I've never managed to track down his stuff with Weldon Irvine Fred Smith of Television Rusty Allen, bass on Sly Stone's 'In time' album Lequient 'Duke' Jobe of Rose Royce John Siegler (Todd Rundgren and Utopia)

I've found the Marshall VBC412 a very efficient cab. A real pain to lug around but sounds amazing with my GK800rb, also sounded great with 100watt valve heads; paired very well with the '70s V4B I used to have, quite an SVT beater for a mortal like me. I was astounded how much louder the same settings (at gigs and rehearsals) were when going from an SVT410e, which is a nice sounding cab otherwise. I can't quote specs, but maybe a combination of a big sealed compartmented box and 100watt 12s getting worked hard maybe. Good for a band with a lock-up rehearsal room and a van! I'll get my coat...

I've yet to hear any mention of his great playing on Robert Palmer's 'Every kind of people', apologies if I've missed it elsewhere. A great P bass sound on that record; equally as fat and clear a sound up the 'dusty end' or on the low E. One of those records that cropped up on the radio when you were a kid that formed your taste in sound, gear, what a bass does in a track, counter melodies etc, certainly true for me. 'What's going on' is a great showcase and contrast for both Jamerson and Babbit and their respective attributes. Pretty nifty songs, arrangements, production and so on too, it doesn't get much better really.

Thanks for that, I'll contact them later. I cannot believe how loud the old 400RBs are through an Ampeg fridge or a Marshall VBC 412...wish I'd dropped on one years ago. Cheers, Martin

Hi Richard, sorry to dig up this old issue, I assume the amp is long gone now. I use a UK voltage 800RB and sometimes a US model 400RB (same era) with a 2KW step down, I love both amps; they've caused me to fall off the valve amp bandwagon after 2 decades, a long, long story! I'd just like to know how this saga resolved...the aforementioned repair emporium gave me some advice about an early '70s SVT I used to have and it was, er, a little wide of the mark, and also OTT. My usual repair bloke fixed it very easily, can't praise him highly enough. I'm not saying that to discredit them, to be fair it was over the phone. My 400RB likewise only has the 2 tabs and is earthed to the chassis. I'd be grateful for any help on this, up to now I'd been blissfully ignorant but resenting lugging a heavy stepdown around! Cheers, Martin.