NHM

I recall Chappells in Bond St had a good bass selection, I bought a Yamaha BB from there about 20 years ago. Now long gone (both shop and BB).

I've got a 500 and it's a great piece of kit and is my main gig amp. It has been 100% fine since new. Good luck with finding one, I don't see them come up for sale very often.

I've just had the Monaco cab on the last leg of its UK tour.

For most of the gigs my band does, our instruments do not go into the PA - so a great onstage sound quality is essential. We're a blues-rock four piece, and my regular gigging rig is a Fender Bassman 500 into a Fender Neo 1x15. The only pedal I use is an always-on HPF. I didn't gig the Monaco while I had it on trial but did run it at gig volume for a three hour rehearsal.

While I'm very happy with my Fender rig as it sounds and looks great, when the opportunity came to try something different / state-of-the-art I was very interested to explore possible differences. And differ it did, the Bassman through the Monaco was different to the Neo - cleaner, smoother and more even through the frequencies, and very articulate/sensitive, with the amp on the 'vintage' channel and eq set flat. Tweeking the eq from flat as the rehearsal progressed, I ended up with only a very slight bass boost, mid and treble staying flat. Hearing my sound through a neutral speaker made me think the Bassman is a really great amp, it pushes out such a lovely, warm & laid back sound. It was an interesting experiment to pair it with a very high quality 'neutral / reference' speaker, so the 'sound' only is created by the bass, my technique & the amp. One less item in the chain to contribute to confusing differences! In fact, it made me think what role a cab plays in creating a manufacturers' 'signature sound'?

If I was in the market to downsize my gear I would definitely consider getting a Monaco. But I like the physical appearance of Fender gear (does any manufacturer's kit look better?), I think it is important how the stage looks and Fender gear has real presence. I'd say the Monaco sounds close to perfect, meaning to me that it pumps out pure, even and uncoloured sound, and should be a perfect platform to shape your sound to your spec with the amp and pedals if the natural character of the intended cab is not doing it. Also, it is a one-hand lift and I don't think you'd need a second cab for the average pub gig as it seemed to handle volume OK, so two more plusses there.

I think it has been a great idea from the company to let a cab do the rounds on trial and I hope they get good publicity and sales as a result.

I was using a 500W /4Ohm, but being very careful not to push it into a single 210. I usually used a second cab on a gig for reassurance.

I had one of these for a time, a decent cab although I wasn't over-excited by it, I expected it to be more punchy that it was but that might be my playing! I also had a 1x15 which I though was better, a really decent unit. Can't help with the specs, but the 2x10 isn't heavy. It certainly did the job for a lot of pub gigs, and when used with a second 2x10 (which it paired very well with) or the 1x15 it can make plenty of noise.

and there's me thinking that people made videos about things they knew something about...

thanks for the link, Doc, I did search for 'Event UK' but nothing seemed to come up ...

The band I'm in are being sounded out for a festival this summer. We've been told we have to register with Event UK as this is the way payment is made. Has anyone any prior experience of this? Just interested to know if there are any pitfalls to be aware of.

Another vote for the Rumble 500c. I have one as a back-up to my Bassman rig but it becomes first choice when playing in pubs with tight spaces or difficult get-ins. It really is a decent solution. Its going out on a gig this weekend (the double whammy of a tight space and a long carry!).

Can't comment on the Ampeg as I've not tried one.

I bought a Sound City head and cab new in 1978, I don't remember which model but I recall the amp had 4 inputs and I think it was 100 watts. The cab was a 4x10 (or was it 12?). I wasn't experienced enough then to know whether it was decent gear or not, but it was loud and heavy! I ended up trading the head in for a tiny solid state amp at a small music shop in Exmouth -the shop owner thought I was crazy. I don't remember what happened to the cab but that went too and I morphed from the Sound City rig to a little red amp (brand unknown) and a WEM 2x15 which was more portable and worked fine which was all I wanted. Life was simpler then!  And the red of the amp matched the red of the WEM so it looked quite a cool match.

Fender Bassman 500 fits the bill, 'though not many about.

when I was a boy I had a Hornby train set with a notched controller, at least I learned the meaning of 'crap' at an early age.

We play mainly pubs and something that hasn't been said yet (IIRC) is that it is important to get on with the punters. All our band members seem to be able to effortlessly negotiate drunks asking for songs, trying to sing into the mics, dancing/lurching into the front line or worse - without getting involved. Not something I find easy, I try to keep out of it! But having a good vibe with those that we're 'entertaining' seems pretty important to getting more bookings. 

Do report back on what settings you end up with after trying things out in rehearsals.

The sound I'm looking for is a very pure, even, controlled sound. I play in a blues band and my playing style is fairly gently compared with other players, using fingers or pick. I try to let the amp to the work as much as possible. I've gone to the LMB-3 after trying a range of compressors over the years, and I think this does the job of lopping spikes better than anything I've tried.

I use my LMB-3 always on, with Level at 1 o'clock, Enhance off, Ratio at noon and threshold at 10 o'clock. Just to show the wide variety of settings that people find useful. I haven't changed these settings in at least the last year. 

Just sold Jim a pedal - what a gent to deal with.

I've got a 'big' Vong (now now) on my pedal board and it's a great bit of kit, very sensitive so you can dial in the right low frequency cut off to suit the room acoustic (that's if you've got time to fiddle around at a gig) and the top cut gets rid of all the hissy stuff squelching it down to a proper bass-sized package of thumpy sound.

I've just ordered a Sub n up, listening to the video reviews hopefully it will give me something clean/not intrusive and sine-wave-like to boost the first harmonic. 

Mr Black Octaves pedal, handmade in Portland, Oregon.

In vg / as new condition.

Classic one up, one down, plus source mix. 

With velcro on bottom, and with box, sticker & card.

£55 NOW £50 + £5 postage to UK 

... and the zoom will have a basic drum machine built in to jam along to...

I'd suggest a Pacifica too, as that's the one I bought for my son and he loved it. Also a cheap multi-effects pedal like a Zoom, where you son can fiddle around to find unique sounds / loops, which he can store in the memory and begin to develop his own ideas. And this means he can practice through headphones for your sanity.

I've got the 500W version which I keep in my bag as a back up. It's not been called on for a gig, but i sometimes use it at rehearsals just to keep familiar with it. It's got a punchy feel, but one downside is the fan is very noisy.

Yamaha Stage Custom drums - 'Advantage Nouveau' model.

This set is in very good condition, just a couple of minor marks on the bass drum (mainly on the hoop where the pedal attaches) from normal usage.

Comprises:

22" bass drum

14" snare with stand

10" + 12" Toms with mounting spigot

14" Tom with stand

Extras:

Some spare skins

An extra mounting spigot, allowing two toms to be mounted on the stand

A drummer's stool, not Yamaha, with repaired seat fabric but functioning.

Collection only from Faversham PRICE DROPPED TO £200, SANTA SPECIAL £150

In 'as new' condition, only used once or twice. Very stylish with wooden base and hinged clear lid.

Complete with mains unit, manual and audio conversion software.

£25 + £5 UK postage

A pair of top hats for a 38mm pole, vgc / as new. 

£6 + £4 UK postage