Sean

Pro shot [IMG]http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd462/Stoker1/imagejpg1_zps96a745bc.jpg[/IMG]

I bet I could make that ACG Jazz sound just right in that band. If you don't think it's up to muster I'll fix it up ;-)

My M80 is my third one. I keep coming back to them. I've tried a Sansamp, Sadowsky, Behringer, EBS, Aguilar Tone Hammer but always come back to the M80, it's my sound. I love the distortion on it and use it loads.

MXR M80+ for me.

Sterling Ball. Whatever.

I know a few people have queried the power rating of the 400+ plus over the years and I was always very keen to know. I've recently had my Mesa 400+ serviced by [url="http://www.martamp.com/"]MJW Amplification[/url] and had the power checked. It is: [color=#000000][font=Calibri][size=4]245W clean and 350W maximum when clipping.[/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=Calibri][size=4]Martin at [url="http://www.martamp.com/"]MJW[/url] said: "[i]I thought that was on the low side for 12 6L6s, but I checked and it’s about right. They are set up so as to maximise valve life.[/i]"[/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=Calibri][size=4]The power valves in there are pretty old and they're all absolutely fine.[/size][/font][/color] [font="Calibri"][color="#000000"]This compares to 205 watts clean and 380 fully clipped for the Taranis 4 x KT88 and similar size transformers). They're very different beasts but both as loud as any sane person would ever need when put through a big cab. [/color][/font]

Corking find

"I'm so passionate about bass but I'm determined to drive down the number of trips to the car I make when I'm gigging to get my kit to the stage." You know who you are.

A few years ago I had a crisis and bought a Markbass LMK but now I'm the proud owner of a Mesa 400+ and an MJW Taranis 200. Big valve monsters. Anything else is like alcohol-free wine. I've tried loads of lightweight amps searching for the holy grail and the answer for my back but there's absolutely no substitute for big trannies delivering loads of current. Someone I work with asked me this week if 200 watts was enough for my new amp and I said that it would be more than enough for anyone at any venue. They replied by saying their bassist had a 500 watt amp that wasn't loud enough for a large venue that their band had played recently. Poor them. I've never had that issue because I've got limitless heft.

[quote name='Handwired' timestamp='1417719951' post='2623474'] Wow! I can't believe the legs on this, all you have to do is decide if you like the amp or not, and don't worry if there are any valves in there. [/quote] Valve amp vs. Solid state. It's like the difference between getting close to a real woman (or man) versus a mannequin. It's like the difference between Bacardi Breezers and great vin rouge or Real ale. Margarine vs Butter. The result is the same but the experience is completely different. Lightweight stuff is "just a phase" ;-)

Top bloke. Was a member of the Stones' touring band in the 80s. RIP. [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36gzZWeZPMA"]http://www.youtube....h?v=36gzZWeZPMA[/url][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] [/font][/color] Bass sound is lush too!

The whole experience has been fascinating and so much more rewarding than buying from a shop. I've learned a lot about valve amps and my own needs. It's been an interesting exercise that I'd recommend to anyone wanting an amp of this nature with this kind of budget.

[quote name='Chienmortbb' timestamp='1410216124' post='2547318'] I should add that as an electronic engineer of 62 years, no valve will find its way into my pre amp or power amp. [/quote] Interesting take. Please could you explain and give us some insight? Thanks Sean

^ exactly why I sold mine.

Single channel versions are available from www.mjwamps.com for £1600

In progress [IMG]http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd462/Stoker1/imagejpg3_zpsb8a6b31a.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd462/Stoker1/imagejpg1_zpsaee1e4f8.jpg[/IMG]

[quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1417379268' post='2619807'] Looks amazing - loving the colour - cab to match? [/quote] It's an ongoing discussion on the build thread. We'll get there ;-)

[IMG]http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd462/Stoker1/imagejpg2_zps8ed1ec66.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j74/PhoneyPoney/bass200_zps8c0672f9.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j74/PhoneyPoney/13oct14004_zpsfd23e74a.jpg[/IMG]

Some of you know all about this already as I've had a build thread on it since March. Some of you voted on what the amp would be named, Taranis. Today was new amplifier day for me as it was delivered and commissioned this afternoon. It's a two channel hand-wired 200 watt British amplifier with custom transformers and four KT88s in the power section. It's a similar format to an Orange AD200B or Matamp GT200 however the pre-amp sections and power reduction switching options make it very different and much more versatile. [IMG]http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd462/Stoker1/imagejpg1_zps6c34cbbc.jpg[/IMG] These are the transformers, the little one is a guitar amp transformer for comparison. [IMG]http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd462/Stoker1/imagejpg1_zps2a971fc2.jpg[/IMG] These are some pic of it in development: [IMG]http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd462/Stoker1/imagejpg4_zpsfd57e672.jpg[/IMG]

The long awaited and anticipated guts shot! [IMG]http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd462/Stoker1/imagejpg2_zps8ed1ec66.jpg[/IMG] Video review to be done over Christmas. To give you an idea of what it can do, it's got one vintage channel and one filthy modern channel. It's got a voice selector like a GT200, which on this amp has some very different characteristics and one of the settings makes it a pretty good guitar amp(zilla). It's 205 watts clean and switchable down to two valves from four and also can be run at half power so half power can be achieved by running all four valves at half power or two valves at full power. Very different flavours. There's also the two valve half power setting, which is amazing and I think it's brilliant for recording. The DI is very hot. That's all I'm saying for now.

[quote name='3below' timestamp='1417343507' post='2619237'] Tuffcab is available in RAL colours AFAIK to order. Contact Aldcroft and see what they have to say, - https://www.facebook.com/aldcroftadhesives Great looking amp, and whilst listening to the Who gets me thinking I must get the Sound City fired up. [/quote] Can you put Tuffcab on over another layer? Won't it be too thick?