MoJ

Just got a Peavey Pro 500 to replace my TE AH500-7 and Im amazed at how loud that sounds for 350w at 4 ohms. Has some serious bottom to it too. Going by what other say about Peavey it should be heavy duty. Too early for me to say though it is rack mounted, which just makes it heavy at the moment! Andy

[quote name='Dragonlord' post='28779' date='Jul 8 2007, 08:50 PM']..with many greeks buying from thomann etc, they were forced to drop the prices... now you can even find some items cheaper in Greece than in Germany...[/quote] I have found that there are a few items on Thomann that arent really any cheaper than here in the UK, but that is a [i]few[/i] items. A lot of the time we would be selling things for [b]less[/b] than we bought them in at. We are by no means a small shop and do sell a fair bit, and are main dealers for quite a few brands so we have some buying power and get good rates, but it should be obvious to anyone that its not good business sense to sell at less than you bought unless you are the end user and selling second hand. Even had one customer recently who complained that after haggling, our bottom price was a couple of pounds above Thomann's, even when you spend more than that for shipping. I will leave at saying that my bug bear is when customers try in the shop and then buy else where online. I dont go in for the big, pressure sell personally, as I dont like it when Im a customer so there isnt a waste of effort for me. It does mean that soon there wont be anywhere to do that if we all carry on that way. Dont get me wrong, I want the bargain price too, but we need to strike a middle ground, or complain to the manufacturers, not the shops. Back to the original thread... Andy

Looks cool. Nice clean lines and simple too. Looks very good because of it. Andy

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='28254' date='Jul 7 2007, 11:24 AM']I wouldn't dream of asking a local store to fix it for free. Why would I do that?[/quote] All I can say is that from [i]some[/i] posts on here, Bassworld and Basstalk, there have been some people who've had to shell out carriage costs to get their product back to the store/manufacture of origin (sometimes both ways) even though it is still within the 1st year warranty. If you're looking at sending pretty much anything guitar related its mostly going to be big and/or heavy. I wouldnt want that. Still, its your choice and at this rate will be the only choice. In the last music shop I worked in it was freqeunt that I would hear of a music shop closing down. Andy

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='28198' date='Jul 7 2007, 09:01 AM']No I don't, but consider this: If the UK dealer did as I did, and bought it from a US dealer, paying full import tax etc., at the price they were charging they could still have sold it for around £400 profit. No matter how charitable and pro-UK trade I'm feeling, I'm not falling for that.[/quote] Not that I know for certain, but Im pretty sure there are rules/laws about going behind the backs of the UK main/sole distributors backs. Andy

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='28189' date='Jul 7 2007, 08:09 AM']I will as soon as they stop charging us through the nose...! I bought my amp from a amall US retailer and paid the full import charges. Despite this, it was still far, far less than if I'd bought it from the UK distributor, who presumably gets them at trade cost.[/quote] I assume you know what the trade costs are for UK dealers and elsewhere in the world? I must admit I only have access to UK trade, so in which case I ask, how do you know that we in the UK aren't being bled dry? Im not accusing manufacturers, but when you add, if the product is not made in the UK, the cost of buying from a distributor based in the UK as well as VAT and export/import duty and to things we are getting screwed over by somebodyelse. Any retailer has costs they have to cover and factor into the price of selling anything, as you will no doubt know. I'd still like to get paid at the end of the day, as Im sure you do as well. The guitar shop I work for has been my local one since I started playing, and Id also like to see them grow as a business so as then they can maybe get in more products. Sorry, not trying to pick a fight here but when you're amp goes wrong, dont expect us to be repairing it or footing the carriage charges for shipping it back to wherever it comes from to get fixed. Andy

[quote name='crez5150' post='28156' date='Jul 7 2007, 12:12 AM']No wonder the industry in this country is on its knees......[/quote] Ive been reading this thread wondering thje same thing. Ive worked in two music shops now and neither will match prices on Thomann. I even remeber reading an article in a trade magazine about this very thing, and in mentioned Thomann and how the music trade is up in arms about them. Its a whole can-o-worms but basically you pay for (hopefully) a service which you wont get online or buying over the internet abroad for starters. In my current shop, we even have a few people who want us to repair things bought from places like Thomann, to which our response is not unlike you would expect if you'd bought from another shop. Take it back to them! Why should we have to deal with some thing that is not our problem, at our expense? Sorry, its late and I dont thin Ive made the point I meant to but it would be nice to see people support local industries, otherwise you wont have anywhere to go try out your guitars or amps and then buy online.... Andy

[quote name='Muppet' post='26486' date='Jul 3 2007, 01:21 PM']I buy my DR sunbeams from a ebay user/shop called "koeblerenterprises". A shade over £30 for two sets. I'm never buying strings in this country - it's a rip off.[/quote] Hi Muppet, although Ive asked the seller, I thought I may get a quicker response here, but do you know what you're charged for shipping? I assume that strings from the US slip in under the tax radar? Thanks Andy

[quote name='EdwardHimself' post='27882' date='Jul 6 2007, 12:46 PM']don't be silly that's not a transparent amp! it's a transparent speaker cab.[/quote] No, but its as close as you'll get for the intended pun. Considering I'd only been looking at the Ampeg site a couple of days previous to this thread as I thought it was quite coincidential. apparently its been made for the Beastie Boys... Andy

You mean you dont want one of these? [attachment=1069:beastie_IMG_1370.jpg] Andy

[quote name='BassBalls' post='27195' date='Jul 4 2007, 09:45 PM']Ahh bugger this sounds like an expensive trip down to the local guitar shop to get it set up to the right tension at my tunings. Got an annoying earthing problem which i cant seem to solve myself too. Suppose it will be cheaper than buying a new neck in the long run though! Thanks for the advice.[/quote] I t [i]shouldnt[/i] be too expensive. If you know how to adjust your truss rod and intonation, then it'll be as expensive as buying some new strings. Given the tuning you're aiming for, you'll probably find keeping the same standard guage for the first, second and third strings they will feel a little looser as well so Id suggest having a look at going a little heavier on those. That should in theory balance out any neck issues. Electrics aint my thing though so maybe if you're going to you guitar repairer anyway.... Andy

[quote name='BassBalls' post='26080' date='Jul 2 2007, 03:52 PM']OK so what i have done for the short term is put one of my old heavy B strings (130) on and its sounds fat. However, its quite tight and im scared that the neck will twist or the intonation may go out, is this true. I recon a 120 will be about right though. Cheers[/quote] Without checking the D'addario guide Id say yep, a 120 or 125 is probably about right for a C#. As for the bass, its not so much a case your intonation wil [i]go[/i] out, more likely from putting a heavier string on and going a lower pitch it will [i]be[/i] out already. You'll probably need to move the saddle back to increase the scale length, if you have room on the bridge to go back that is. The twist in the neck may happen, depending on the quality of the neck wood etc, but over a fairly long period of time. If you adjust the guage of string so that tension remains equal (to as closer degree as you can) and even tension across the strings as set up for a standard E tuning (and therefore guage) then you shouldnt encounter any problems. It [i]may[/i] mean having to buy different guages for the other three strings as well just to keep the balance right. Andy

[quote name='DHA' post='26256' date='Jul 2 2007, 10:06 PM']Hi Kev, About £120 I think. Dave[/quote] Personally I think this is well withtin the realms of any one looking for a decent foot pedal compressor. Put me down for one if it all turns out well. I shall be watching Basschat closely for a review by Crazykiwi! Andy

Ok, Ive played with the Pro 500 some more this afternoon/evening, and Im pretty certain Ill be doing a part ex with my Trace Elliot AH500-7 tomorrow, providing I havent broken my back getting the cab back to work! Im completely amazed at the power of this thing, and the versatility. When I say power, I dont mean the wattage (if only as Ive not been able to have it [i]that[/i] loud), but just what you can do with it, hence its flexibility. Maybe thats parametric EQ's for you, but it certainly does the job. I did do a bit of hunting on t'interweb for some tips on using a para EQ, and Im still amazed at how easy it is to set up. Easily able to find the right low mids to emphasise, and the mid mids and high mids is really up to me I guess. Even without using any of the EQ, the Pro 500 easily beats my TE to the ground [i]and[/i] some, but the voicings of the low and high controls seem perfect. I could go into more detail but no-one really needs that. I just hope it performs as well at practice levels. We seem to have a habit of playing more at gigging levels really Thanks for your help Hooky, most appreciated! Andy

[quote name='stingrayfan' post='25672' date='Jul 1 2007, 05:57 PM']Wasn't having a pop - just replying to the original question! Sorry for any misunderstanding. Actually, I was once given a set of Elixirs with a bit of a nudge-nudge: "try these mate and you'll never look back" kind of thing. Couldn't see what the fuss what about![/quote] Thats cool. No problm. As for Elixirs, I was trying a, albeit tenuous pun on Elixir of youth/Holy Grail thing. Failed miserably Andy

[quote name='stingrayfan' post='25659' date='Jul 1 2007, 05:28 PM']Loads of people use Slinkys I think. Anyway it's all personal taste. There's no Holy Grail of strings![/quote] You not heard of Elixir then? No, as you say it IS personal taste, but I was merely stating my opinion.. Andy

IMO I think Ernie Balls are overpriced for what they are. D'addario's seem to last longer and are generally a little cheaper too. If we're talking non-coated strings anyhoo. Having said that though, if you like em then you know you can get them anywhere as pretty much most guitar shops Ive been in stock EB strings. Andy

[quote name='BassBalls' post='25541' date='Jul 1 2007, 10:18 AM']Thanks for the help guys, yeah i want the C to feel like the standard E in tension. At the moment it keeps getting magnetized to the pickups when i rest my hand to play higher notes! lol Where can i buy single strings? Cheers[/quote] Try these guys, [url="http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/"]Stringsdirect[/url]. Ive been using them for a while now as they do single Elxir strings, so I dont have to keep buying the 4 string set + the 5th and wasting the G string, and singles work out about £3 cheaper too. They do also do a few other single strings too, and though they charge £1 postage its next day delivery if they have your order in stock and you get it in before, I think its 3 in the afternoon (Stringbusters dont charge but they dont do what I require). I usually phone them to order as at least that way I know they have the stock and Im dumb enough to leave things like this till a few days before a gig! Andy PS Alternatively you could ring my shop , [url="http://www.nevadamusic.co.uk/"]Nevada Music[/url], but we wont be as cheap on singles and we really only keep Rotosounds in singles.

[quote name='hookys6stringbass' post='25434' date='Jun 30 2007, 11:18 PM']In all honesty Andy i've never found it to be a problem power wise. I use the trace 1153 cab quite abit and thats 8ohms, i think that pushes out 200 watts and i've never gone past 5 (half way) so if your using the peavy 4 ohm cab i think you'll be ok. i'll be interested to hear how you got on with it...[/quote] Well, I tried it last night for a short while, after needing a winch to hoist it up my stairs (effectivley a first floor flat). I don't think Im going to go for certainly this particular cab as its a heavy mo'fo! Having said that, it does sound really warm and fat, but Im hoping thats the head more than the cab. At band practice I have my own Trace 1048 (new 4 x 10) and someone elses old Trace 1 x 15 so Ill get to the 4 ohm no prob. As I say, Im hoping the Peavey cab hasnt imparted anything to what I heard last night. Besides, I was at a relatively low level as it was getting late so Im sure its bouund to sound different at proper playing levels, and Ive also heard/read that Peavey cabs aren't particularly efficient spl wise. Like I said before, I have plans for Bill Fitzmaurice O10's which are 4 ohm and Im aiming to get two done. This would get me the light weight and the ohmage Id be after, and the sensitivity to boot which would mean this head could get ultra loud. I had posted about going the bi-amp route but if the Pro 500 lives up to this sound at practice then I don't think Ill bother really. So far Im incredibly impressed. Later today I hope to be able to play with it more and at a better volume to judge! Thanks again Hooky Andy PS, its interesting that at 200 watts you say you're never past 5. With my Trace head running at 500 watts Im rarley past 4 on a good day with a following wind. Im getting more and more tempted by the second!

Id say you may want to go a little heavier than that. Bear in mind that your lowest note is only a couple of steps up from the lowest on a 5 string. That in mind, maybe try a 120 guage. That would be a very light string for low B so tuned up a couple of steps would even it out a little. What I found very useful is if you go to the D'addrio website and go to bass strings, near the bottom of the page is a link to a .pdf on string tensions and guages. Ive recently gone down to B-E-A-D and it was useful to see what guages would approximate the same tension. This is of course if you want your C# to feel like a standard E... Andy Here's a direct link to the .pdf [url="http://www.daddariostrings.com/Resources/JDCDAD/images/tension_chart.pdf"]http://www.daddariostrings.com/Resources/J...nsion_chart.pdf[/url] If you scroll down to about page 10 you see the start of all the types of bass strings like nickel, steel, flatwounds etc. I reckon it still applies to most brands of string IMO...

If it helps, Ive restrung my Ric B-E-A-D with no problems at all. Other than what others have said about re cutting the nut (I filed mine down with NUT files), the only other adjustment I needed to make was the intonation. Thats something else you'll need to do and is really easy to do. Ive played a few (though not many) 5 strings before and after, but I just cant get on with the string spacing. Im sure Id get used to it eventually, and I know its not the neck because the Ric's neck is pretty chunky, and I actually prefer say the neck of a 5 string Stringray to a 4, but 4 strings just feels right to me. Oh, and you've gotta keep reminding yourself that the lowest string isnt E anymore, four or five string! Even worse when the guitarists are drop B and Im 'standard' B... Andy EDIT: dumbass mistake on tool naming!!

Oh, I shouldve asked you Hooky too, being as you own a Pro 500, how do you find the 8/4/2 ohm rating thing? Do you find the head has enough power? After all, I do have to comete against two 100w Marshall half-stacks and the brutalist drummer I know! Thanks Andy

[quote name='hookys6stringbass' post='25300' date='Jun 30 2007, 02:35 PM']I use one, it's a fantastic amp well worth the money. The Parametric EQ's not that hard to get to grips with and the manual has a few suggestions to help you on your way. what i love about it is that you can turn the effects loop (and mute it ) on and off via a two way latching foot switch. I use an old Electroharmonix Clone theory which is a noisey effect pedal on it's own, but when put in the effects loop its's just the effect you hear and no hissing, superb.... no idea why that works. The one thing that i did was to change the pre amp valve as it sounds a bit sh*te (can't remember what was in it) to a vintage Mullard valve. Job done fantasic warm overdriven tone.... I use it with an old Trace 1153 cab (300 watt ) or two 1518 Trace cabs depending on the size of the venue. BUY BUY BUY you won't be disapointed.[/quote] Excellent! Thats a glowing report if I heard one. Well, I didnt get to take it home laat night as there was no band practice, but I have tonight (plus 4 ohm Peavey 4x10), meaning I have the whole of tomorrow to get to use it. I did see that manual has some suggestions for settings, so Ill refer to that for some help. As for the preamp valve, Ive got a DHA valve overdrive and I got Dave to fit the cryo EH vavle ( I understand the Pro 500 comes with a standard EH), and Ive tried the standard EH too, so Im not too fussed about that. WHile Ive got for the day it should give me some feel for the head anyhoo. Thanks for your insight Hooky! Andy

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='24633' date='Jun 28 2007, 10:05 PM']Well the full parametric EQ will probably be a little daunting at first but if you set the freq and Q to what works best and forget about them unless fine tuning you should be able to get the hang of it - plus you can [push in the truck] about with it in the shop first. There are some other cabs that come in 4 ohms but a lot of Peavey cabs used to come in 4 ohms cos their amps went to 2. EBS cabs are often 4 ohms but I'm not sure about any others.[/quote] Cool,cheers for the info. Ill look into both the Peavey and EBS cabs, though to it makes sense to match the cab to the head via Peavey cabs. No band practice tonight so it'll have to wait to be tested till another night. I guess the parametric EQ will just take some getting used to and adjusting (me not the EQ) to really get used to it, but Im hoping that I would get closer to the sound I want than with a graphic EQ. Thanks. Andy

Hi guys, just wondered what and if anyone on Basschat has any viws on the Peavey Pro 500. I currently have one of the new Trace Elliot heads, and you know what its like, sometimes you start to wonder if the grass really is greener on the other side n all that, and I've had my GAS eyes opened for a little while now. The guitar shop I work in has one of these heads in at the moment, at quite an attractive price and being as I work there, I get to take it home if I like. Well, when I say home that'll mean band practice, and when I say if I like, that'll be tomorrow! I know Peavey generally get the thumbs up round here but just interested in peoples views. How do you get on with the parametric EQ's? Thats my biggest hurdle as I dont like to fiddle too much. Just not sure Id know where to begin. What do I boost and cut etc. Also, does anyone find the wattage a problem? I mean, how many companies make 4 ohm cabs (though Id like to have four cabs to get to 2 ohms it aint happening for various reasons). This is less of a problem as I hope to be going the BFM cab route soon. Thanks Andy