Mikey R

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1411846242' post='2563313'] The popularity of line-level valve studio gear supports the idea that preamp valve colouration can be a pleasing thing in its own right. [/quote] Just playing devils advocate for a second, that may be a function of marketing - perception rather than the actual quality of the product.

I know it's a bit late now, but it's worth noting that with the LH amps, with the eqs all at noon, you'll get a slight boost to top and bottom, with a cut in the mids. That passive eq isn't for everyone though.

[quote name='Chienmortbb' timestamp='1410216124'] I should add that as an electronic engineer of 62 years, no valve will find its way into my pre amp or power amp. [/quote] Could your say why?

My guitarist and I have some duplicate kit between us. I had an idea to plug the LB30 into the first 2x10, then run the DI out into the Hartke driving the second 2 x 10 and the 1 x 15. Never got round to it though, but that would have been the rig of doom.

The Orange amps have a very different EQ to the Ashdown amps. I wonder if thats what youre experiencing?

[quote name='Pow_22' timestamp='1404334245' post='2491753'] Yup, i know Oli well and done a few deals with him. Had a SC200 MkIII not long ago and loved it. Could never get on with the two 120's i had tho, lacked balls. Ideally im looking for something in the smaller side of things [/quote] Unfortunately, if you want a valve output stage, then it'll come with a minimum weight per watt - thats just the way it goes when putting bass through an output transformer. There are some big valve amps out there that have lightweight power supplies, but if you want old school then that means mass. Otherwise, like you said you need to be looking at hybrids.

Sold my BF Compact to Wil, within hours of the first PM the cash as in my paypal account - so quick and easy, no fuss. Cheers!

Are modern Rays the same as the classic Rays?

Sounds like its just me then. I didnt find that with the SUB I owned for a while, but I did find it with the couple of new Rays I tried out last year. Or it could have been the amp I used in the shop? Youve got me interested now, I'll have to hunt down a new Ray to try out.

No-one else has mentioned this - when I tried out a Ray, I found that you get the same sound whether you play soft or really dig in. I can see how this would be useful, but I didnt get on with it, I like to vary my sound by varying technique, which the Ray didnt respond to. But the Sterling really is a nice beast.

[quote name='winterfire666' timestamp='1399115056' post='2441152'] some really cool stuff, that orange rig is so ott, its gotta be an acoustic nightmare though [/quote] notice the disco ball

your pedals might be rolling off the low end?

Its very unlikely you would notice much difference in output volume by increasing the output power by only that much. It was rated at 200 watts by the manufacturer for a reason, most likely a max current rating of the output transistors. The power supply was likely overspeced to make sure the bottom end wasnt compromised at the rated output. If you wanted more output, as you said a second power amp would probably be the way to go. You could slave a second amp from the DI out, rather than cut up this classic amp.

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1397750428' post='2427095'] I believe it is gold metal-flake in a compote of translucent red. [/quote] Tasty!

Its not just bass players - at uni, one of my drummer friends quit her indie folky band, and was replaced by a drummer hooked on drum and bass. It didnt really work out for them.

i didnt see an effects loop in the specs, you might need one to put your modulation and / or time based effects post dirt EDIT: doh, missed it - youre going for a buffered loop, good choice

[quote name='Sean' timestamp='1395084683' post='2398519'] I've never had the need to play clean. I've read that the 2061x packs a big punch. Is that 1.25 dB based on through the same cab? How do you calculate that? [/quote] All things being equal - which they never are - the increase of decibels is = 10 x log(ratio of ouput power) So, if you had an amp that could deliver a clean 15 watts, and another that could deliver a clean 20 watts into the same cab, the decibel increase would be 10 x log (20 / 15) which is approximately 1.25 dB. In reality, the complexities of the distortion characteristics, compression, and frequency response, coupled with the way that the ear and brain respond to these things, means that maximum power output is only one of a ton of variables. And like you said, thats before we even consider the cab. Its very likely that the 15 watt amp could sound fuller and punch harder than the 20 watt amp. Even a clean amp isnt really that clean. So, the difference in volume between the 15 watter and 20 watter might not be what you would expect. Saying a 15 watt amp is too quiet and a 20 watt amp is just right isnt really useful. I tested this theory over the weekend, by taking two of the output tubes out of my Little Bastard and plugging my 8 ohm cab into the 4 ohm socket. There really wasnt much in it, I wanted to believe that the tone was a little thicker that closer to saturation, but I doubt I would notice unless I knew in advance I was only putting out 15 watts. Thats kinda why valves are so awesome.

[quote name='Sean' timestamp='1395083466' post='2398488'] So what are the alternatives out there to the LB30? There's the Marshall Treble and Bass 2061x which is 20w but I'm unaware of anything else in the sub 50w all tube bass amp category. I know Ashdown do a 15w one but that really is a bit small. Is it time to commission someone like Matamp or MJW to make one? [/quote] I doubt you would tell much difference between 15 and 20 watts, its only a 1.25dB increase in output. It might make a small difference at breakup levels, but if youre playing clean you really wont notice.

[quote name='Sean' timestamp='1394825623' post='2395739'] Nice review, Dan. It sounds nice and gritty on the video but obviously that's not doing it justice. There's no way to post a link to the review but it's worth going to the site and doing a search, it's pretty comprehensive. [/quote] http://www.iguitarmag.com/magazine-editions/iguitar-magazine-issue-11/reviews/laney-nexus-tube-head-and-nx810-cabinet/ I cant get the video to play I did try out the big valve Nexus a couple of years ago and I remember being impressed. If youre used to a well featured preamp then you'll probably get on with it. Right now though, I think I'd prefer a simpler master volume with two to three band EQ. Tastes change.

Bought a pair of pickups from Dan, dead easy no messing about. Would buy from Dan any time!

If youve got a woodworking clamp handy, you could try clamping it to your headstock. Use a couple of cauls of soft wood to stop the clamp denting the laquer. The extra mass should (may?) reduce your dead spot, or at least move it elsewhere. It will make your bass neckdive like crazy, so its only a diagnostic tool. But if you like the sound of your bass with extra mass on the head, you can get specially made lumps of brass that fix permanently to your bass for just that purpose.