JapanAxe

I have the Midget and TC Classic in my practice room, so my gigging and practice sounds are the same. I gave the rig 8 hours of 25hz and it is sounding very nice! I used this rig at tonight's rehearsal but I'll save a full review till after Saturday's gig.

[quote name='machinehead' timestamp='1361746127' post='1990332'] In the past I have put several layers of duct tape over the microphone on the sound limiter. None of the staff noticed and I forgot to take the tape off after the gig. Oooops. Frank. [/quote] I fear the mic is at such an altitude that this would be impracticable and/or highly perilous! Anyway it's the final rehearsal tomorrow, in front of a few of our respective family members - can't wait to see the reaction to the Midget (that's the speaker cab btw, not Mrs Axe, tho' she is only 5'2'').

The Ashdown VU meter is a gimmick - use your ears to check for distortion! You can usually get more drive by setting the input balance towards the valve side. Set your input gain for the desired amount of drive, then use the master as a volume control.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1361724414' post='1989875'] Now you know why the gig is available... [/quote] They have a country gig there every month!

<2p> Save your money and buy some new strings - that will do more for your sound than any fx pedal. </2p>

In the interests of narrowing the field I can confirm that it's not me, and couldn't be either, for any number of reasons.

There may be more to it than that. Fender may be requiring DV to stock a certain portion of their range for example (I heard Line 6 used to do this). Fender may also be twitchy about DV stocking competing brands that would show up how poor some of their output now is!

A friend of mine has one - strictly garage use only, wouldn't want to try carting it about. Unless you fitted a tow hitch and wheels to it

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1361702562' post='1989345'] The real cunning plan would be to get hold of a drummer who can play quietly. Proper drummers can alter their volume. I'd rather take the Compact. It'll sound better at low volume. [/quote] It ain't me that's hiring the drummer! There's no guarantee of being able to get into the loading area, so another part of my cunning plan is to park in the free car park 5 minutes' walk away, and walk it in one go. Mrs Axe can carry my stage clothes, I'll handle the rest!

There is always the ruse of running an extension lead to another socket that [i]isn't[/i] controlled by the noise meter. I once had to do this because I found there was no earth on the socket we were supposed to use! (I always carry a ring-main tester with me.)

Next Saturday I am playing a dep country gig with what is effectively a 'scratch' band pulled together to honour a long-standing booking. The line-up is: [indent=1]Female singer - 2/3 of lead vocals[/indent] [indent=1]Guitar (acoustic for some, electric for others) [it's his gig][/indent] [indent=1]Bass guitar and 1/3 of lead vocals, BVs [me][/indent] [indent=1]Drummer (electronic kit)[/indent] Thanks to a NIMBY neighbour, the venue has has one of those frickin' sound monitors attached to a set of miniature traffic lights. There are few things more effective at taking the fun out of a gig - I have known them to be set off by audience applause, whooping etc (chance would be a fine thing). As well as making sure we are not too loud (e.g. electronic kit - can be turned down just like a real kit can't), my [b]cunning plan[/b] is to take my new BF Midget for its first outing, thus ensuring we (or at least I) claim the moral high ground; I simply point at the tiny little speaker, topped by an amp the size of a car radio, and wheedle 'But it can't be too loud - look how [i]little[/i] it is!' Well, that's my [b]cunning plan[/b]. Bound to work, eh?

[quote name='hamfist' timestamp='1361538381' post='1987133'] Even ignoring the mids, The BF Compact does not have the top end that the OP is ideally looking for.... "If it can do crisp highs it would be a bonus but not essential. " [/quote] BF quote the usable upper frequency limit for both the Compact and the Midget as about 4kHz. You would probably want a tweeter for 'crisp highs' - you can order the Midget with one, but not the Compact. [quote name='gjones' timestamp='1361532643' post='1987004'] If you're going to buy a barefaced cab(s) I would order it now because you may be in for a long wait (mine took 3 months). [/quote] Yup, I ordered mine late September last year, and it is currently in the gentle hands of Fedex

Hmmm... I can't imagine myself wanting this, even less needing it. I've been down the whole modelling route with guitars - the more options, the more things to faff about with instead of playing. For those people who can make it work for them, great; for the rest of us, I suggest find a sound you like and stick with it.

[quote name='pendingrequests' timestamp='1339856817' post='1695487'] The deciding factor? It may sound silly, but this is my test. Playing the bass line ([b]and a great one might I add[/b]) Gabriel's 'Out of Reach'. It sounded so smooth, I collapsed into my own world of bass heaven. [/quote] Nothing silly about that - great bass line!

Hi John I recently bought a Sandberg California VM4 (i.e. reverse P-bass p/u and bridge humbucker. You can read the full story [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/194520-nbd-sandberg-vm4-in-candy-apple-red/"]here[/url], but briefly, yep, much fatter sounding than standard J-types. I think someone on here was selling a tasty TM4 (i.e. J-type p/u and bridge humbucker), which would save you a lot over the new price.

Love the sound of the Glockenklang 2-band in my Sandberg - then again you wouldn't need the blend pot in your Fleabass would you?

Speakon. Obviously you'll then need another cable (same guy does speakon-to-jack leads), but honestly you'll never look back!

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1360280996' post='1968180'] Don't believe that " change your underpants everyday " propganda either . That myth was started by washing powder manufacturers . With sensible use and a little bit of care a pair of pants can last almost as long as a pair of jeans without being washed . Even established touring bands with a major label behind them don't have the luxury of unlimited clean underpants on demand . I know this to be fact . [/quote] A shower and a pair of fresh under-crackers each day will help you feel good about yourself!

[quote name='okianok' timestamp='1359493202' post='1955742'] anyone got one for sale [/quote] You'll be lucky!

I'm a former Ashdown owner. IMO the VU meter is a gimmick There, I've said it!

DIY. Go and get a couple of lessons to help make the most of your voice, then go for it.

[quote name='Lfalex v1.1' timestamp='1359051575' post='1949127'] I've yet to play a duff Yamaha. [/quote] +1 to that. Fender, Gibson and the rest should take note!