FinnDave

Got myself an ABM 600 so I can relegate my old 500 evo II to back up duties. Had a brand new, boxed one delivered today (arranged with my local PMT, where I bought it) but unfortunately there was loud hum when valve drive was selected. As it had been out of the box for about 10 minutes at that point, I got in touch with PMT Oxford, and the chap who made the same turned up with the shop demo model about 15 minutes ago. That will tide me over until they can get another new one for me. I live quite a few miles from the shop, so the personal delivery at seven in the evening definitely deserves an A for effort. As nothing happens unless there's a picture, there is on lurking below. I expect you can guess my first thought when I saw the two amps together..... [attachment=244088:IMG_0659 (1).jpg] Precision bass in pic to give a sense of scale.

Just found this thread via google, took delivery of a brand new boxed ABM 600 evo IV about an hour ago, unboxed it, plugged it in and it worked fine....until I pressed the valve drive button, which resulted in a loud mains hum. I've asked the shop to order me another! I've been using an evo II for the last 4 years, it's been used for many gigs in that time without a problem, and I've been using Ashdown gear for at least 12 years without a problem until I decided to buy a brand new one!

My ABM 500 evo II is UK made, and so is my Touring 330 combo. I think my EB 180 is, but it's not kept at home so I can't check. My new ABM 600 should be delivered tomorrow, and I am sure they are all made in the PRC. I'll let you know how it's going after a few gigs.

I play mostly in pubs, what songs are you referring to as 'classic rock'?

I thought I was seeing Hawkwind next, but it seems I will see Walter Trout in Leamington Spa a couple of weeks before that now.

[quote name='haysy' timestamp='1492980602' post='3284639'] Sorry about the disappointment but she's just not that type of lady! [/quote] Strange, my ABM loves late nights out in pubs. Can get a bit loud sometimes, though.

[quote name='Cato' timestamp='1492977607' post='3284608'] You should have charged them for access, like the bogs at some train stations. [/quote] I was joking with the punters that they needed to buy me a drink to get to the loos, but none of them did!

[quote name='dmccombe7' timestamp='1492975547' post='3284583'] Mates band did a gig where access to the gents loo was between keyboard player and drummer straight thru middle of the set up area. Dave [/quote] Done that, my bass neck was basically a gate to the gents, I had to lift it every time someone wanted to enter or leave it. I remember pointing out the problem to the landlady before we set up, but there was nowhere else to go.

Never heard of the Bass Institute, but I did live in Acton in the 80s, and did buy gear at the Bass Centre in Wapping.

That looks the business, I've got a couple of post 2012 US Precisions, but still miss my sunburst one sometimes!

Yes, there is one place like that near to where I live. It is also a poor payer, load in/out is difficult...so we (like so many other bands) will no longer accept bookings there.

I had that recently when I advertised a lawnmower on Facebook. Bloke said he definitely wanted it, would be round that evening, so I got it ready and stayed in...never showed...messaged me and said his car had broken down, could we arrange another day for hime to pick up...replied yes...never heard from him again. Sold for the asking price a few days later. Never hold things for people just because they say they'll have it...first person to put money in your hand is the buyer. Sae goes when buying (sorry, Twincam), it ain't yours until you've at ;east paid a holding deposit.

[quote name='bertbass' timestamp='1492858600' post='3283687'] And me! [/quote] Glad I'm not the only one!!

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1492846482' post='3283564'] Really nice gig tonight. New venue for us. Top notch operation. We sent the sound engineer a stage plot earlier this week. On arival he introduced himself and he made sure he knew everyone's name in the band. He knew our stage set up and got us set up on stage really quick. Again top notch including a cool "green room " for the band. The room was perfect for live bands and the sound and lighting was superb. The stage moniters were awesome. I could hear everything ctrydtal clear. Great crowd with lots of dancing. Hope we can come back. The place is booked through 2017. They have bands on Friday & Saturday night. Blue [/quote] That's the sort of gig most of us Brit pub players can only dream of!

I decided I definitely wouldn't buy any more gear this year. So far, I have failed to the extent of re-buying my 2015 Jazz Bass, buying a Jack Casady bass, and today I splashed out on a new ABM 600. I'm pretty sure there's more, but I can't remember what just now! Bloody resolutions!

I must be getting old, I don't recognise a single song in that list!

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1492788831' post='3283270'] When and if I stop enjoying it, It will be a sad day. I'm encouraged by close friends to mentally prepare for when I can physically no longer do this. Blue [/quote] I would (will) be devastated when I have to stop playing, it really is the one thing I really enjoy in life. I've stopped drinking, no longer ride bikes after my accident 16 months ago, all my energy goes into the music. I hope that day is a long day coming, for all of us who live to play.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1492790629' post='3283286'] I will gladly play for reputable on the up and up charity because I believe in the cause. At 64, I don't really care about exposure. You are exposed to opportunities at paid gigs just as much as a freebie. Blue [/quote] Yep, and while you're setting up and playing a free gig, you could be doing the same for decent money, and equal exposure. Doing it because you believe in the event's aims, that's a different thing.

Our standard response to requests for charity gigs is to offering them a discount on our regular charge. Some of them accept that gratefully, others are never heard from again. I could probably guess which are the genuine charities and which are get-rich-quick chancers!

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1492724094' post='3282784'] Nice! Loved what I heard Dave. I also love that there is still a local market for the genre on both sides of the pond. Blue [/quote] Thanks, Blue, and I agree, it's good that this sort of music can still attract an audience, as I don't really want to play anything too different to this.

Quick wipe over with a bar towel between songs, that's all I bother with. Rounds or flats, they last for ages, they get replaced when they are worn by the frets rather than because they're grubby.

An ABM 500 has been my main gigging amp for the last 4 years, great amps.

Just home form second Swindon gig of the weekend. The gigs were a few hundred yards apart, but I've covered about 100 miles to play them! Fewer people at tonight's gig than last night's, but they all seemed to stay from beginning to end, which was good. That's it until the end of the month for us now.

[quote name='EliasMooseblaster' timestamp='1492376444' post='3279815'] Taken from the same LP as "Fohat digs holes in space" and "Wet cheese delirium," if I remember rightly! [/quote] Yep, all from Camembert Electrique.