Pentode

[size=4]Hey! Are you gonna tell us all what the origional topic title was????!!!!! We're all going crazy out here!!![/size] :wacko: :wacko: :wacko: :wacko: :wacko: :wacko: :wacko: :wacko: :wacko: :wacko:

[quote name='Zerofret' post='266650' date='Aug 20 2008, 09:53 PM']Because we are talking BASS here, there is a difference to the normal argument of solid state vs valve. In a domestic Hi-Fi situation, a well designed valve amp can be inderscernable from a well designed solid state amplifier. In that situation extremely low distortion figures along with a linear response over a wide frequency range combined with very low noise characteristics, are what matter. It's true however that most valve amps in a hi-fi situation introduce a warmth that is to be encouraged rather than designed out because it sounds so damned good. Output power in most domestic situations is relatively low and equipment remains static and not subjected to a rough ride in the back of a van every night! OK let's move on to guitar amps. The electric guitar is predominently mid range and the demand that a player puts on his or her amplifier/speaker is usually out and out volume and as the volume increases so does the distortion. On a big HiWatt or Marshall, your ears can start bleeding before you start to hear any distortion (unless you overdrive the first stages and back off the master volume). With smaller amps, the audible distortion starts earlier and gets progressively 'dirtier' as you crank up the gain. Unless you're a C&W or jazz player most guitarists want distortion. They want volume and distortion and become deaf before they're 60. Pardon? So the argument for valve vs solid state is usually quite straightforward - valve amps sound great with guitars when they distort - even bad ones. Solid state amps sound crap when they distort. Guitarists wanting a clean sound only are probably better off with a solid state amp unless they're looking for a particular signature sound of something like a Fender Twin Reverb for instance. So now it's the mighty bass, a punisher of all amps valve or solid state. Bassists seldom want distortion, we usually want 'punch' or 'tightness' or 'depth', maybe even something 'stomach moving' - it's a totally different vocabulary to guitarists and a totally different requirement for amplification. Unless you are prepared to spend a small fortune on a valve rig, there is generally more punch for pound in a solid state rig. It's easier to tightly couple an output stage to a speaker and achieve a high damping factor with a semiconductor amplifier than it is with a valve amp. The higher the damping factor (Zsource = Zload divided by DF), the greater control the amp has over the speaker movement and with bass this is really important. Valve amps usually have a much lower damping factor and lack the speaker control but nevertheless sound 'warmer'. There is much more need to audition bass amps and speakers than any other set-up because there are so many pros and cons in either camp. Personally, some of the best bass sounds I've heard have come from solid state rigs and that's coming from someone who's a huge valve fan! Also there's always a lot of focus on amps but choice of speaker is equally important with bass. The cone, and therefore coil excursion, is much greater at low frequencies and as the coil moves outward away from the gap the magnetic field is reduced. To some extent is self governing if the peaker can handle the power - however this results in a kind of compression which affects the punch. Using smaller drivers (that's why multiple 10" drivers are used a lot) rather than one massive speaker can minimise this, but you need more of them of course. Some drivers are designed for bass very much in mind whilst others are more generic, even though nowadays they're usually capable of handling the power. Beware the cheap bass cab! Actually, I don't think that there is an argument for solid state vs valve; it's more 'horses for courses' and there's good and bad in both camps - I've started to use my ears more and be less biased towards the technology used to produce the sound. After all anything is better than what I started with - a Rosetti bass played through a rather inadequate hi-fi amp of the era into a couple of Wharefdale 8" speakers. I blew the speakers regularly and eventually used the bass guitar as a bow and arrow. Steve[/quote] Thanks for that Steve - really interesting and useful stuff! ^_^ Cheers Grahame

So how'd the gig go? Hope everything held out ok......! Cheers Grahame

[quote name='d-basser' post='272081' date='Aug 28 2008, 10:00 PM']haha, I am trying to get a punk band going, doesnt quite fit the six string Dingwall bass aesthetic [/quote] Hey! You could always thrash some chords out on that and really loosen some teeth! Hope it comes together for you. Cheers Grahame

I took the plunge with an unlined fretless only after a few months playing bass. Sure it was pretty touch and go to start with but with practice and a [u]lot[/u] of [u]careful[/u] listening to myself, things seem to come together. Mind you, a lot of my early practice was described as 'An imaginative use of sharps and flats.....'! I suspect that as with a fretted bass, with enough practice, muscle memory will allow you to spend less time looking at the fingerboard. Cheers Grahame

To be fair - I did have to import mine from the States where you can't move for them! You can pick them up over there for a reasonable price but by the time you've paid shipping and duty........

[quote name='Merton' post='261442' date='Aug 13 2008, 11:13 AM']Your cabs will be wired parallel I imagine. Speak to OBBM about getitng a special lead made up to do series instead [/quote] +1 On this - OBBM is currently making me a series cable to allow me to plug my 2 SVT15E 8 ohm cabs into the 16 ohm output on my B25 ^_^ Have a word with him - I'm sure you won't be disappointed! Cheers Grahame

Hi all! I've a '69 Ampeg B25 which IMO is a cracking little amp - anyone else out there using one? They appear to be a bit thin on the ground in the UK... Cheers Grahame

Hi all! Thought I'd better make myself known. I picked the Bass again a couple of years ago (I played for a few years when in my late teens) and have been having lessons for about a year with the fine and most talented Mr Maurice Cope. My first love is fretless (tho' my playing has sometimes been described as 'An imaginative use of sharps and flats.... ). My current gear is - Dean 5 string fretless with Bart' pups and preamp Dean Vendetta 4 string with fretless ebony board, Bart' pups and preamp Charvel Jackson fretted 4 string '69 Ampeg B25 (lovely tone!) Early 70's Ampeg V4 (I do like my valve amps...) 2 SVT15E cabs Love the forum and looking forward to getting to know some of you. Cheers Grahame