The fasting showman

Hi, I bought an Ashdown Mag 810 off ebay for £99 last year and I've been very happy with it. I owned an SVT810 around ten years ago and I must say that the cheap Ashdown might be different but certainly not worse than my old Ampeg, it's hard to be precise as I'm using a different head with it (GK800RB/400RB as opposed to Mk1 SVT). The low price may have clouded my judgement but I think it sounds good, I often use various 810s at rehearsal and I think it holds up well. I've found it easy to lug around too once you are over your doorstep, just trundle it. Our cars are small too. I like the fact that the Ashdown has 8 ohm drivers, cheap to keep going at a push. I saw a Peavey 8x10 go for £80 on ebay last year, the 'get that bloody thing out the hall' syndrome! Martin

[quote name='gelfin' timestamp='1389969883' post='2340115'] As above re Bstring on talk bass. There are two, Bstring and B_string. The first is the one you want. He is also very helpful on the GK forum and does seem to have access to GK info (more than most). Another simple option would be to take an effects send from the 700 and connect to the return on the 600. Thus using the pre on the 7 and the power on the 6. [/quote]This is the easiest way to do it if you can get the tech to ensure that the mains transformer is still and only powering up the pre section of the 700. As Gelfin has stated from there onwards regarding connecting it up, a great quick fix. My way would be to get the tech to effectively swap the pre section of the 600 out and replace it with the 700 pre and front panel. You'll have what looks like a 700 then at least. I can't see a way around retaining the Speakons as the 600's power amp and thus rear panel are integrated. If I was you that's what I'd attempt...knowing how good 600s are though (not owned one myself but Bob Gallien has stated that they are the same parts as a US 400RB) I bet it will sound no better than the stock 600 which has got the GK RB voicing and eq anyway! The Backline 600s, for what you can get them for, are amazing value. Good luck and keep us posted! Martin

Hello Mick, This is all off the top of my head so bear with me! I can't see why it wouldn't be possible as the Backline 600 is similar to the old 400rb mk3, I'd have thought that what you want to do would work if you forego the biamp capabilities of the 700rb and higher power obviously. The RB series of amp seem to be modular, in the most basic sense preamp board bolted to the front panel power amp to the back, power transformer in the same place in the amp etc. More knowledgeable sources:- 1. Polar Audio as you know distribute GK stuff on this side of the Atlantic, they are very helpful with spares for new stuff but don't tend to dwell much on older amps. To be fair to them they helped me with changing my old 400rb to UK voltage (new tranny) but I've since heard that GK have hiked the replacement tranny prices, dunno how helpful they'll be. 2. I think on Talkbass there's a bloke called Bstring who knows his onions regarding GK, not sure of his relationship to the company. I think GK have there own forum also. 3. Your own tech if he (horrible phrase!) 'buys into' wanting to tackle the job, that's probably the long and short of it. I don't think it would be a hard job to do really but it's all down to his enthusiasm or lack of. Hope my ramblings have helped you, Martin

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1389481850' post='2334747'] Hagstrom were making a well-regarded 8-string back in the late 60s. [/quote]I believe that's the type of bass Joe Osbourne used on 'MacArthur park'

Great idea Phil, very good of you all to put your time into this. How about a 1x15 using a sub £100 driver (Eminence Beta-ish cost perhaps) that's smaller than 100 litres. I know that this is a crowded area of the market for secondhand cabs that fit this criteria but it would be great for anybody who wants to build a cab and start with a brand new driver rather than one that could be about to expire. All the best, Martin

Hi Marvin, What about the angled metal sections sold by B&Q, Wickes et al? They are with the wooden beading and mouldings/ timber dept. Should be easy to cut down, say 25mmx25mm L section into what you want. Martin

My favourite bass sound of this era is Pete Farndon on the 1st Pretenders album, the intro to 'Space invader' in particular. I think of the new pickups around the current USA Fender 62 is fine, more important is to not cut mids on your amp and to play hard. This is my favourite era of bass sounds when the recording technology of the day flattered bass to my ears and there seemed to be a desire to have bass guitar prominent in the mix (possibly thanks to disco maybe?); I seldom struggle to hear the bass parts of the players mentioned in this thread on a car stereo, mono radio etc.

The old Ashly SC40 instrument preamp sounds great, has a brilliant eq section, and has been used by a lot of big names over the years. Yet another piece of gear I flogged for next to nothing back in the late '80s...sigh. I've seen them turn up for around £200ish.

To add, there's two G12-65s with 444 cone codes on ebay now. Same seller, one is £50 buy it now and the other £35 with a small repair. Might be worth a look? All the best, Martin

Hello again, The 444 cone code (written in white on the cone) is the bass version of the G12-75 that Celestion made for the JCM800 bass cabs, so that's the one you want. It came with a cloth edge. There's lots of info from people like Southbay Amp / Scumback works (I think!) online. Worth a look, but it is from the guitarist using bass speakers perspective. The 444 code bass speakers also cropped up in the pre JCM800 1982 model general purpose / high power cabs as well as the usual bass 4x12s, model 1935 and 1984 cabs . The speakers were (again from memory!) Celestion coded TF1281 and despite the Marshall black label the speakers were a G12-80 in the late JMP 1982s. I think these were a G12-30 descendant and featured 100db rating. There's also pre JCM800 G12-65s that had a 444 cone code, black Marshall label and a Celestion code of TF1221, these cropped up in Marshall 1935 cabs, 97db rating I believe. Probably again from the 1979-1981 era. So 2nd hand wise I'd be on the lookout for those two mentioned above as well as G12-75s and 65s with the 444 cone code. As with running valve amps you'll need a good rapport with repair people, reconers etc. Good luck, hope I've helped Martin

Hello, I've owned a few Marshall bass 4x12s over the years (I think the current VBC412 is the best they've ever made) and have always enjoyed the sound in rock bands. Sorry if you already know this but the bass model 12s had a cone code (Kurt Mueller cones that is) of 444 , the lead models were 1777. When Celestion used to sell replacements back in the '80s the 12s were sometimes suffixed CE for cloth, or cambric, edge. Pulsonic cones have a different code but that's for the way back in the early '70s cabs. I think the 444 code implies 55hz resonance (rather than 75hz for 1777 cones) and obviously that's high by modern standards but great for the rock bass sound that you probably like. So to clarify, the Celestion model would appear the same, say G12-75, but the only differentiating factor between lead and bass was the cone code. So I've always tried to establish that the 12s in my old JMP or JCM cabs had the right cone code, often a lead speaker would get replaced into it just because somebody had got their hands on a G12-80 plonked it in and assumed that all things were equal. I think, just to muddy the waters, that the Celestion Vintage 30 has a 444 cone code but a paper edge; by that I'd avoid them for bass personally. Probably sound good if you can afford to keep replacing them! Cheers, Martin

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1384435912' post='2276634'] SB700, surely. I appreciated the seller's courtesy in telling me it was gone. For quite a few gumtree ads, I send off a query and hear nothing in return. [/quote]That's all that ever happens of late, I've been trying to land a Yamaha BB414. I'm starting to think Gumtree is a waste of time.

[quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1384081208' post='2272462'] maybe a bit like this ? [media]http://youtu.be/AI2k6aseNqg[/media] [/quote]Andrew Bodnar sounds great on this doesn't he?

[quote name='Balcro' timestamp='1382117109' post='2248299'] Good job you checked in here first before "ruining them in". No that's not a misprint. As BFm says, the pages & pages of threads on this subject must now add up to a saga. So much so, that we need a pinned "Read This First" sub-forum. However, you may be lucky. You may not be so lucky. We shall see. We need to know detail. Tell us the exact description of the speakers you've bought - are they the Sovereign 12-500LF as shown on the Fane website? Secondly, as a crude starting point only: the 2 H&H speaker boxes. We need the dimensions and a description of the ports or slots. Pictures would be helpful. Balcro. [/quote]I'd get the dimensions ready Dev if I were you. Balcro (Alan) was a great help to me with the DIY 1x15 Faital cab build I did earlier this year. If the HH cabs don't pass muster for whatever reason the DIY route isn't anything to fear with the help you'll get on Basschat from Balcro, Phil Starr and others. The birch ply for the cab I made (12mm 8x4 sheet) came to £42 incl VAT and the saw cuts( carried out on a saw bench with fixed fence) were thrown in free at Travis Perkins. I dare say there's cheaper suppliers and ply etc but the saw cuts were so accurate the build was very easy. Regarding porting tube, the 4 inch ports popular on many cabs in the industry are (if I recall!) 102mm internal and 110mm external, either way it's the same as black soil stack poly pipe... Good luck, Martin

Looks very smart, I remember trying one of these out last year and it was very impressive and resonant, great value. I was watching a Youtube clip earlier this week of Eddie Cochran and band playing live, the bassist comes across very well considering he seems to be playing through a 50 watt 4x10 bassman. It's a contoured body single coil P-bass of course. I think the Blue caps are on the same bill, also on youtube.

[quote name='nick' timestamp='1377723959' post='2191049'] Pino Palladino Andy Fraser Stuart Zender. Nick Fyffe. Paul Turner Sting Geezer Butler John Deacon Jean Jacques Burnell Paul McCartney Lemmy Jack Bruce Steve Harris Dougie Poynter Norman Watt-Roy Boz Burrell John Paul Jones Rick Laird Ric Grech Percy Jones Roy Babbington Boz Burrell Dave Holland Jeff Clyne Mo Foster Hugh Hopper Yolanda Charles John "rhino" Edwards Chris squire John Entwistle Danny Thompson Mani Andy Rourke Herbie Flowers Roger Waters Guy Pratt Mike Rutherford Peter Hook Mick Karn Roger glover Pete Cruikshank Barry Adamson John Wetton Paul Gardiner Greg Lake John Giblin Neil Murray Trevor Bolder Roger Waters Rick Kemp Cliff Williams Martin Turner John Taylor Kev Hopper Roy Wainwright Alan Spenner [/quote]Bruce Thomas

I can't see a problem with using a stepdown either, as Bremen has said, once you've established the consumption which won't be huge I'd guess. I owned a USA '70s Ampeg v4B that I sourced a replacement UK mains transformer for from Fliptops in the US; this was only because I was sick of dragging a heavy stepdown around along with a heavy amp. It was an easy drop in for our local amp tech. I'm stating the obvious, I don't mean to insult your intelligence: keep the original transformer in case you sell the amp on if you go down the route of switching out the mains transformer.

Not contemporary but I'd say Todd Rundgren's 'Sons of 1984' fits the criteria!

PM'd

I'm out of touch with the last 20 years let alone 10, that aside I'll nominate N.E.R.D 'she wants to move'.

I used to use a '70s V4B with a Marshall VBC 412 and the combination worked very well. Too loud for most gigs I did but a great sound, other bassists seemed to comment on how well the head and cab matched up. I found 4x10s didn't seem to work as well particularly a SVT410HE that I briefly owned. I hope the new V4B is as good as the old one, I preferred mine to the SVTs I had. The active mid circuit does all the work to get you heard, very gritty.

I was very relieved to see that the dates on neck or body didn't happen to be 17/11/68! It would have been a blow the family war-chest job. It's much nicer than my 3x2 slab of a mudbucker '72.

Yeah Nick, I can't see why GK themselves couldn't be contacted via email, I gave up despite getting various contacts off Talkbass. I hope they don't lose interest in the RB series, they're fantastic amps. As I've ranted elsewhere they should do a reissue 'heritage' 400rb and 800rb, just like somebody should do a reissue Acoustic 370!

[quote name='gelfin' timestamp='1375908177' post='2167390'] Be very wary of getting it from polar audio. I did last year for a 2000RB. They sent one with the wrong electrical values and it blew the amp main board. GK were very helpful and basically supplied all the internal electronics required to fix it "free of charge" Check the spec of any transformer with GK before you fit it. [/quote]Good advice. How did you manage to contact GK in the US? I just kept getting my emails bounced back to me; I figured that Polar were the only contact if you are in the UK as far as GK are concerned. Cheers, Martin