Twincam

[quote name='casapete' timestamp='1463606148' post='3052838'] Wem did indeed make separate Dominator heads and cabs. http://wem-owners.com/images/my-collection-2/my-collection/ [/quote] Non of those are actually dominator heads. Unless I've read it wrong. Also mine is a different sloping front model. But the heads do look cool better than a combo.

[quote name='luckydog' timestamp='1463604771' post='3052820'] Well, at risk of heresy, if they are made well and conditioned well they'll typically see us out for sure. I don't see evidence for, nor theory supporting a general ageing issue. In relatively recent times there have been some well dodgy quality issues with electrolytic caps that might have led to fairly sweeping generalisations. Check out the great capacitor plague of the noughties [url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor_plague"]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor_plague[/url] But actually, well made caps age very well IME and for good reasons, especially vintage ones. Not saying this to be controversial, but to suggest examine the hard evidence rather than take any unevidenced statements as fact on the subject - including mine ! Ever the heretic..... LD [/quote] Well some caps do age well. But there is massive evidence to suggest that certainly after 30 years of use the power caps particular don't do as good of a job they once did even if they . I've had a few fairly old amps now and everyone of them has had at least one of the larger filter caps replacing. And commonly on amps it's one of the first things to go and need replacing.

[quote name='Phil Starr' timestamp='1463587134' post='3052606'] Not really, there are small muscles in your middle ear that reduce the movement of the bones that transmit sound from the eardrum to the inner ear. They tighten up when it is too loud to reduce the damage to the inner ear. I'm guessing here but I suspect since the bones move further with deep bass it is this which will trigger the effects most easily. [/quote] Possibly I was just thinking I often listen to very loud music but only bass amps actually have this effect. But indeed could be those real extended bass frequency

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1463584484' post='3052565'] Woha! a hive of activity in ere all of a sudden with noodles coming in from all over the place... I shall have as listen to all the new ones as soon as I can [/quote] Maybe you are right this is the month the noodle bar takes off and I can do my butt hurt song and dance to all the people who said the idea wouldn't work.

Does this count as hofner porn lol. This is my gf with her hofner. Thats also her fender mij mustang in the background. [URL=http://s330.photobucket.com/user/Twincam2008/media/Mobile%20Uploads/WP_20160508_15_51_14_Pro%202_zps8gq7fgxf.jpg.html][IMG]http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l415/Twincam2008/Mobile%20Uploads/WP_20160508_15_51_14_Pro%202_zps8gq7fgxf.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[quote name='phil.c60' timestamp='1463575355' post='3052447'] We have had a couple of rowdy-ish ones recently and I don't mind but our guitarist/front man is not keen. My gear is usually out of harms way as it's at the back next to the drummer normally (and he likes the lively ones), and I am usually towards the back behind either front man or harp player so it's not an issue for us. Front man does not like his space invaded by "lurchers" as he's worried about his gear, pedals etc. Mind you, he does insist on being at the very front, because as he once said when we tried to get him to set up so we were all equally visible "I should be a the front, it's called the front man for a reason" so you get what you ask for....! He is a bit reluctant to play at one venue because of this, but the rest of us really enjoyed last time there so we are re-booked for later in the year. Let's see what happens after that. [/quote] Rowdy and harp player does not compute!

Can't you put up some artificial barriers. Some large wedge monitors even if you don't use them.

I'm hammering the amps and cab section today. Thinking of converting my wem dominator combo into to just a head. The reason being it rattles so much despite being almost mint condition. I actually use it with a seperate cab which also sounds significantly better. I've tried to fix the rattling and short of putting screws and re enforcement everywhere I don't think I will solve it. And think it might look cool, I don't believe they did seperate head versions? Also it would be easier to move around, take up less space etc. Looking ahead this might reduce the future value maybe if they reach classic statues, I'm not really in it for gain. Looking for opinions on if I should convert it or just leave it as is.

Yes I think I shall look into some ear protection. It's weird it does seem to only be with deep bass.

[quote name='ahpook' timestamp='1463579512' post='3052506'] Maybe you're got a sensitivity to very low frequencies ? I find the 'swamp' of sub-bass you get at festivals to be almost intolerable after a few hours, perhaps this is something along those lines ? [/quote] Yes I get that too.

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1463577261' post='3052472'] I guess there's also the question of how much bench time is really justified for an amp of a given value, bearing in mind that anyone who isn't into DIY pays by the hour to have their amps worked on. Perhaps on premium-valued vintage gear it would be worthwhile to test every part, but I've always had the kind of B-list valve amps that would be hard to shift even for a couple of hundred quid (although I note there are some people on a mission to slowly push up the prices). Many of those are good, solid amps, but a few hours of time from an experienced tech would be getting close to the market value of the amp. Taking a pragmatic approach to that sort of lower valued gear, it may make more sense to assess the functionality of the whole unit and deal with any problems as they occur. [/quote] Yes I see where your coming from. The only issue I have with dealing with problems as they occur is that if something fails big time, then it can cause a lot more work. But I'm not really taking issue with anyone whom chooses to only replace certain parts themselves or techs that leave in older components as such. It's only the people who imply the amp is serviced. When it's not, it may of been looked over and deemed ok right now but the amp is pretty much original and who knows when something of age will let go. I think prices are going up naturally. But also folk are realising the more obscure or b and d brands stuff Can be pretty good or modded and some of the crap or lower end of yesteryear actually can have there place and is retro cool or something. Especially as the better or more well known stuff is higher priced and not as readily available maybe. Also going through that time when people long for 70s stuff they had when younger. Then it will be the turn of the 80 and 90s and what were cheap trace heads will be worth quadruple what they are now lol.

For some reason ported cabs and not so often sealed cabs give me ear fatigue after 20 or so mins at higher volume and after a while my hearing loses definition. I've noticed this at lower volumes but it takes much longer to set in. Seems to be notably worse with 15 inch speakers, front ported cabs. Multiple smaller speakers and rear ported cabs are not as bad. And sealed doesn't seem as bad. Open back cabs on a few vintage combos I've had and currently have don't give me this effect. So Is there a particular frequency range or frequency below a certain threshold my ears/brain does not like. Or is it something inherent to 15" speaker with front ports. As before the ear fatigue I actually prefer the sound of ported 15s.

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1463548604' post='3052158'] I look at it as entertaining reading though. It's fun reading between the lines and gauging the level of bull. There's a jazz bass on there at the moment and the seller is detailing how the nut has been replaced with one fashioned from a toothbrush. The price for said Jazz, £12,000. Hopefully you won't get too wound up and stressed, may be avoid trawling the ads for a while. [/quote] It ok I'm not stressed or wound up, slightly irritated maybe. A toothbrush? Is it an old bone one? Ivory? Please don't tell me it's plastic.

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1463563283' post='3052280'] Regarding things like replacing electrolytic capacitors on old amps, I found it interesting reading through John Chambers' website. He's an amp tech with decades of experience and the site is a mine of information for anyone interested in these things. I noticed that he does not routinely replace capacitors in old amps unless they have visibly deteriorated or the amp isn't working correctly. This seems quite different to the prevaling wisdom nowadays, but it's evident that he knows his stuff. I do tend to go through any older amp of my own and replace them, but I realise this is like the guys who strip down old Morris Minors in their garage - tinkering as an end in itself. [/quote] The thing is old caps can work ok but for how long? And people think there serviced amp is going to be good for another 20 odd years which it won't be. The other thing people don't seem to test for is a caps esr rating which is from my understanding a better way of evaluating a cap.

I was just looking through some ads on eBay and whenever I see the words serviced I always take it with a pinch of salt. I've seen many ads now on eBay that really get too me. There is an amp on there claiming serviced but the pics show, a very corroded transformer wire, a couple of dodgy leaky caps a cracked resistor and a resistor that looks like it's badly overheated, patently this amp easily went through its service lol! What a joke. Because serviced to me means an amp has been brought up to date so it's ready to use reliably. So I expect ancient power supply capacitors to be changed, the bias checked and adjusted. And any other components that could be an issue in the near future changed. And guess what the ads show the inside of an amp that hasn't been touched since who knows when. Serviced to some must mean it was looked at and deemed ok. It's like saying the car has been serviced and all someone has done is check the coolant and oil levels despite how old the oil, filter and anti freeze is. I know some components last a long time and maybe the filter caps are in good working order but if the amp is over 20+ years old there is surely no way a good amp tech would let old caps be left in there. It's well known large caps have a lifespan. The amps I'm looking at are 30 - 40 years old, they need changing the bias needs to be checked. So I'm left thinking "serviced" means bullshit. I know some amps are actually serviced, but most "serviced" amps ain't and it's a con to people who don't know better to raise the price and sooner rather than later the new owner will have to foot the bill, and be left wondering why his serviced amp needs a service so soon. I will also add I'm not saying your 20+ year old amp needs servicing but it is worth noting that for reliability and longevity a proper service is a good thing. So not looking to pick a fight with folks who own older non serviced amps. Always ask questions when buying an amp. Rant over

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1463417850' post='3051207'] Here you go - a little bit of both pickups / P solo'd / Humbucker solo'd. Straight into Adobe Audition, no effects or anything. https://soundcloud.com/wateroftyne/handbox-r-400-amp-demo-clean-tone-p-humbucker-p-solo-humbucker-solo [/quote] Sounds canny. I like the hb at the rear, sounds better than the thin honk of a single coil , while still giving the treble to mix in.

[quote name='leftybassman392' timestamp='1463518752' post='3052071'] Indeed you do. Getting older people to actually take any notice of you is a different biscuit barrel of course... We like to sound off about stuff sometimes. It's our way of giving vent to the agonising pain in which we live every day.* Don't take it personally - you just have to be old is all. * It's a quote. See if you can work out where it's from before opening the spoiler... [spoiler] [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwgRoy057wc"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwgRoy057wc[/url][/spoiler] [/quote] I really wasn't being overly critical. My lighten up was more light hearted than it read.

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1463517426' post='3052061'] I think both have a place... P with flats, P with rounds and a scooped jazz with rounds are classic tones and the sounds most of us expect to hear from a bass... I still think my Wal sounds head and shoulders above my other basses though in a band situation. Just a personal preference... [/quote] I think if active basses are done very well then they can be better than passive basses. In the case of wal they have been doing it a long time with there own pickups etc and for the money they should be better than other passive basses. It's all very subjective, our ears although the same basic design do vary and how our brain processes sound will vary.

I too am a fan of strength training and I don't mean you have to be a gym rat. As said some simple training routines and even with lighter weights to strengthen your muscles and get blood pumping can be very beneficial.

I prefer passive over active. To me passive is easier to use, not always but they tend to be simpler and quicker to use. Active circuits are often way to powerful, your never going to use the extremes they offer. And I have noticed a lot of passive circuits, bartolini, east uk being two recent ones I've used inject a slight amount of noise into the signal, I have used active basses that have not however including a different east pre so I'm not saying anything bad about that company. No batteries to change and in general passive is more reliable if something is going to happen.

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1463503312' post='3051883'] As you say, some of your horrific experiences you have 'well documented'. There are probably plenty of people on here who have also had what were for them horrific experiences & hard lives but have chosen not to divulge them. What gives you the right to tell people to lighten up when you have no idea what they have been through in their lives? [/quote] Because this is the general section of basschat not off topic. And I actually have every right to say lighten up, just like people can say what they want. I wasn't telling anyone to shut up I was just saying lighten up. Not everyone wants to hear such negatives, so let's throw in some good stuff. I mentioned myself as I just wanted to say that although there is crap times there is lots if not a lot more positive things in life. I wasn't belittling anyone's life. Basschat can't half be miserable gits chat at times.

[quote name='leftybassman392' timestamp='1463500946' post='3051858'] I'm happy. Look: It's just people documenting stuff from their lives, if it's crappy then it's down to them to say so if they want, and (if I may be so bold) not your place to criticise. Life isn't always happy clappy (as you seem to know already), so why make it seem so? [/quote] Wasn't necessarily a critism. Just why not title the thread it was crap in the past and let me tell you about that. Surely it would be better to have more balanced opinion sometimes. But some members have basically said everything was crap and we should top ourselves as the present is crap and the future will be crap too. I would like to hear about good times as well as the bad things. Let's look at past times that were good. Music shops, people talking to each other face to face, more bands being formed, new music on actual instruments being discovered, more live acts etc etc.

I've had a pretty hard life with some horrific experiences along the way, some have been well documented. And all I can think is some of you lot really really need to lighten up.

Lovely looking bass. I do have one question do you have a recording of just the bass and amp. Just I find it hard to really hear nuiences of something over the backing track etc.