ossyrocks

I’m currently appraising my ampage. I have four amps set up on top of each other, on top of two cabs, and the aim is to decide what suits me, what to keep, and what to sell. The amps are, top to bottom, TE Elf, Bergantino Forte D, Aguilar Tone Hammer 500, Mark Bass Little Mark 3. Cabs are Barefaced One10 and Super Compact. At this point, the Elf is in no way demonstrating that it has inferior capabilities or power. Running at 4 ohms, with both cabs, it really is holding its own. This is at home mind you, but I’m not necessarily tickling these amps, I’m letting them go a bit. The stand out amp is the Bergantino, but that’s not surprising, it’s simply wonderful. But, I need to decide what to keep as a backup, and it’s a toss up between the Elf and the Aguilar at the moment.

I have just bought an amp from Jack. All good, recommended. Rob

I did gig mine a couple of months ago in a busy pub with full kit, guitar, sax and trumpet. I used a Barefaced One10, and that's it, no other reinforcement at all. I wouldn't say it was a loud gig, but it coped, and someone actually complemented me on my tone! I felt I had hit it's limit though. An additional cab would have been much better. Rob

Back in the 80’s a mate of mine bought a “half fretless” Wilkes. Fretted E and A, fretless D and G. I think he still has it! It was a lovely looking thing. Are they collectible, if so I should let him know? Rob

Now, the Forte D has arrived. This is getting interesting and complicated at the same time. Here’s the heads - LM3, TH500, Forte D. Cabs - MB Traveler 102P, BF Super Compact, BF One10. I’m slowly going through all combinations of the above, to see how everything compares. I’m not ready to say definitively what works yet, but the Forte D has upped the ante quite considerably, and it’s sooo simple to use. Also, the difference in character of each of these amps is quite pronounced. I am aware that I have some serious and expensive kit here, but that is the point really, and some of it will get sold on in order to keep what works best for me. Cheers, Rob

I bought an amp off Geoff recently. Great comms, great to deal with, excellent packaging. Highly recommended. Cheers, Rob

So, an Aguilar Tone Hammer 500 arrived today. It’s been very interesting to play it through three different cabs and compare it to the Mark Bass LM3. It is much more of a different amp to the LM3 than I expected, much different. It completely threw me at first, but I’m starting to get used to it, and appreciate its difference. This exercise also highlighted the difference in tone between the Barefaced One10 and the Super Compact which I haven’t used until today. I thought the Super Compact would sound like a big One10, it doesn’t, it’s much more hifi/neutral, so I have to dial it in with the amp. More to do tomorrow, to appraise the new setup, and see what I think. It seems the LM3 has set a benchmark tone for me though, it’s just so chewy in the mids. Bergantino Forte D incoming too! I’m going to be busy. Rob

I’m intrigued by these. I do have first hand experience Steen Skrydstrup’s work. I’ve played and seen inside a couple of his amps, and another friend of mine had him build all his interface and switching options for his guitar rig and racks. Nothing he does is cheap, but it’s always top quality. Rob

Years ago a band I was in got booked to play a bike rally. Big stage, big PA, lighting rig, lots of people. We were 20 seconds into soundcheck when the power went off. They reset it, and it happened again, then again. I asked to see where they were running power from and traced a single long extension back to an outbuilding plugged into a single 13 amp socket. We got paid, but no bands played that night. Rob

@rwillett Rob, I would say don't stress over numbers of people, or indeed flyers. Word of mouth will probably be enough. If you get 50 folk turning up it will be too busy. 20 or 30 would be ample if everyone brought two or three things to look at and talk about. I've not been to a bass bash before, but I have been to guitar based small gatherings, and we had a drum kit and backline set up for timetabled jam sessions. It might be worth considering, although we'd have to convince a drummer to come along and be bored most of the day! Rob

Ahh, just seen that they have announced the dates for Ribble Valley Jazz & Blues Festival - Fri 3rd to Mon 6th May 2024. Chances are I'll be getting at least one gig at this festival. I played it this year, and now I'm two bands that could do it. Rob

A Sunday in early May works for me, I'll bring everything I have, but what that is by then is anyone's guess ha ha. I'm sure there will still be Barefaced cabs and a tasty amp or three, as well as my vintage Fenders. I live in Morecambe, so will be able to speak to Gary at Promenade Music about it closer to the time. We'll need to decide what we're asking first. Thanks for offering to sort this out! Rob

I would say a '65 Jazz too.

Didn’t there used to be a definition? I recall it was 25 years, but I could be wrong. In the early 90’s I bought a 1965 Fender Deluxe Reverb. It was only 27 years old then, but it was considered vintage. I still have it! On the other hand I have a 1987 MIJ Fender PB-62 Reissue. It’s a great bass, and it’s 36 years old, but I don’t consider it as vintage! Rob

I'm seriously thinking of arranging a visit. I'm hoping to tie it in with a visit to see family near Wakefield.

I couldn't drop that kind of money on a bass either. My recent '73 Jazz is sunburst/tort/rosewood, plays and sounds great and I love it. I could buy 7 or 8 of them for the price of this one. Also, I travelled on public transport yesterday to and from rehearsal, returning late, with it slung over my shoulder in a gig bag. I'm not sure I could wander around a city in the dark with that bass over my shoulder. I wonder who will buy it though, and if it will get used the way I use mine. Rob

It gets a wow from me. Lovely thing. Price is reassuringly impossible. Rob has marked himself safe from purchasing a '60 Jazz. Rob

I have messaged many other people here successfully, but yes, I will message you because I haven't messaged you before.

I’m in the market for a new amp. Eight days ago, after exchanging a couple of messages, I said I would like to buy an amp and to please send payment details so I could pay. No argument over price, full asking. After that, nothing. Two days ago, I messaged another seller here, also saying that I would like to buy their amp, no offers, just send me detail of how to pay. Nothing. I’ve messaged twice about it, and updated the thread to say I’ve PM’d. Basschat tells me they have visited here in the interim. Is there a possibility that they are not receiving my messages? Is there something I’m not doing that I should be doing? Is there a secret blacklist of people that I’ve been added to? Is Suella Braverman an admin here? Rob

Congrats. The One10 is a rather remarkable little cab. I use one for rehearsal and small gigs too. Rob

You've said that before when I've talked about this project. It's a ground up handwired build, including new transformers. Let's wait until it's finished to judge it. I'm optimistic, and so is Martin. Rob