Stance

I just browsed through these amps manuals and it seems that the Ampeg and the Aguilar have a voltage switch. I guess I have to contact GK to know about their amp.

[quote name='iiipopes' timestamp='1351905359' post='1856892'] Mains voltage. Mains voltage. Mains voltage. What the above said: unless it has a switch on the back of the amp near where a modular power cord plugs in that will switch to European 220/240 vac, or an automatic internal switch, then it is a pain to either rewire the mains transformer, or switch out one for the higher voltage, or get a step down transformer. You need three things to get an amplifier in the USA that will work in Europe with a minimum of hassle: 1) a power supply voltage switch on the back of the amp or automatic internal switching; 2) a modular jack on the back of the amp (think computer power input cord) so you can get a modular cord in Portugal that is compatible with the physical mains plug in; and 3) (this is most important, and has not been addressed) warranty. Many USA amplifiers have a limited warranty that will not be honored at different voltages or in different countries. For example, here is a Class D bass amplifier that is advertised as "internal switching" from 120 vac 60 Hz for the USA market or 240 vac 50 Hz for the European market, and is good value-for-money: [url="http://www.carvinguitars.com/products/BX500"]http://www.carvingui.../products/BX500[/url] [/quote] Thanks for the tip! But do you know if the Ampeg/Aguilar/Gk have a switch like you´ve mentioned? I just wanted to avoid the $$$ of making some overseas calls.

Thanks for the answers. Since I still don´t know which amp I´m going to buy, I´ll try to get a hold of the manuals and see what they say about this.

Hello Maybe this question has already been answered but here goes: I´m planning on buying a class D head (a GK or Ampeg or Aguilar), and I just want to know if when it gets here its just plug and play (considering that the US current is 110v and here its 220v), or do I need to do any type of adjustment to the amp? Thanks

[quote name='toneknob' timestamp='1351200210' post='1848739'] The editorial accuracy of BP has sadly slipped over time. Like the previous poster I've got every issue except a few missing from the very late 80s/early 90s - for the first time I was forced to put virtual pen to paper when at the end of the most recent Flea interview, reference was made to Louie Artmstrong and Billy Holiday Having said that, I'm still a BP buyer (and now subscriber) over the Brit competition. [/quote]

[quote name='bassace' timestamp='1351184332' post='1848423'] As an upright player I found this all very entertaining, so well done guys. As someone who went up to London in '62 to buy a Fender Jazz for less than £100 and came away with an EBO, I don't deserve to have a BG opinion so I'll refrain. [/quote]

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1350934605' post='1845325'] [url="http://axvault.com/2012/10/10/five-other-fender-instruments/"]http://axvault.com/2...er-instruments/[/url] there's the article. Can't be bothered finding the links to the bass specific part, but it should be in there somewhere. [/quote] Thanks!

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1350933296' post='1845303'] eeem, what? fender recently produced an article on "the instruments you didn't know fender made". There were 5, violins and such, than at the bottom, a link, because fender has produced so many different basses over the years (excluding all P's and J's here) that they had an entirely different article for it. fender has risked a lot, especially in terms of bass guitars, it just never beat the originals, and lack of demand meant they ultimately dropped most of them. stick THAT in yer pipe and smoke it [/quote] Do you have the link to that article? Thanks

[quote name='Johngh' timestamp='1350905439' post='1844794'] [sub][size=5]Fender Precisions, horrible things. Never been able to understand people paying out thousands for a vintage one.[/size][/sub] [/quote] That hurts lolol

[quote name='Ghost_Bass' timestamp='1350905059' post='1844788'] Stance, if you're interested in hearing the Carvin there's one for sale not too far away from Lisboa [url="http://www.baixistas.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=2049"]http://www.baixistas...php?f=16&t=2049[/url] Abraço [/quote] It´s a small worls! Ihad just talked to him! On sunday I´m going to try his PF500 and since I´m there, that Carvin. Thanks for the tip though abraço

First of all, nice Topic. I´ve been buying BP since the early 90´s (and trying to collect the numbers I´ve missed-it wasn´t easy trying to get the mag here in Portugal), but as I grew I found less and less time to read, what I had already read a dozen times (how to set up bass, strings test, best cab etc, etc). I know things have changed ( a lot), and there´s always tons of new gear coming and new players seeking info, but from what I´ve seen in the last issue (probably a year ago), the format, pics and content has grown a little detached from what BP used to be (back in the 90´s). As someone said previously, there´s only so much you can say about bass, that either you get more pages of better content or you loose terrain to the web (forums, etc) and other publications. Unfortunatelly for BP (and for me, who still likes reading it on paper the latter is winning. Maybe they get a hold of these comments and start changing things.

I guess we could go on and on about boutique basses lol

[quote name='Rick's Fine '52' timestamp='1350858196' post='1844466'] Oooh, I like this, but where do ya start??! I have to start with Ricks, purely in tribute to the OP's opening statement, and I'm referring to the 4001/3 Rick, shocking to look at, and play. Anything headless, they look like snow shovels with strings. Anything that has an odd looking exotic wood top, they look like coffee tables, horrid. Anything with more than 4 strings, simply unneccessary. LED's, really??, do people [i]actually[/i] think these are cool?? I could go on, and on, and on, I have far more bass-hates than bass-likes. As you can see, I'm pretty traditional. All my favourite songs, and players, all used Fenders, and they sound, strangely, just like bass guitars. If its good enough for them, its definitely good enough for me. Almost every bassist i know, has spent years playing, and buying all kinds of basses, and almost without exception, they end up with a Fender. [/quote] Being a newbie I was afraid to say that about basses with more that 4 strings, but I totally agree with you (and fancy basses - 10.000 dollars Fodera etc )

[url="http://www.gbase.com/gear/bc-rich-mockingbird-bass-bc-rich-mockingbird"]http://www.gbase.com/gear/bc-rich-mockingbird-bass-bc-rich-mockingbird[/url]

[quote name='jaydentaku' timestamp='1350856799' post='1844446'] I do enjoy a good moan. The Danelectro Longhorn is an abomination. Gibson SG's machine heads make it look jug eared and unbalanced. I hate to be sweepingly general, but most basses with anything over 6 strings, look ungainly. Most BC Rich and Dean Metalman's. Moan groan, etc. I just like simple, subtle, good design. [/quote] BTW which BC Rich gets the thumbs up? To me, though I´ve never played one, I would go for the Mocking Bird (probably because James Lomenzo played one on Pride & Glory)

Warwicks! Had at least 6 or 7 and all sound the same (the one that didn´t - Stramer Stage 1- sounded like c&%$) Can´t understand what the fuss is about. They really look lovely, but those necks (specially after 00) all fell like a baseball bat! You need to get lucky to get one that´s been shaped properly. Gibson thunderbird - had one, but besides the neck dive, just couldn´t play that darn thing (maybe I need to improve my chops lolol) And Musicmans - I know I have two - and the one I have from 88 has the greatest neck ever - but they never sound balanced!! The E string is fatter and the G string has no meat at all!! Fender gt that right the first time! (but weirdly I play with the MM every weekend... go figure) This love/hate relationship with MM started with a 96MM 20th anniversary I bought new at Bass Center - beautiful bass, but very lame sounding.

[quote name='pietruszka' timestamp='1350839076' post='1844082'] Has Adam Yauch been mentioned? His playing was great to listen to, his playing on The Mix Up was by no means boundry pushing or overly complex but fantastic none the less. Dan [/quote] Man, I didn´t see that coming! And I´m a Beastie Boys fan! Great choice