Quilly

Ive had both the TB 500 and the SP212. Here are my thoughts. As per Cat Burros message, you can simply replace the 12AX7 with 12AT7 tubes with no modifications. this reduces the gain stage by about 40% giving a much cleaner tone. The SP212 cab I didnt like at all, found it to be very muddy (and heavy). I regret selling the TB-500 and would get one again in a heart beat. My advice would be to get the TB-500 and a decent 2x10...if you can afford it a Barefaced two10.

I'm finding that 'up to 10 or 0' seems to be the best way with this amp. My inner 'solid state' instinct screams 'you're gonna break something' 🤣

Funny , my amp seems a bit dark. I tried using an eq pedal at the effects loop stage and this is a workaround. But I’d prefer to be able to get it from the valves themselves. My valves maybe getting a tad old

Any ctm users out there that could offer some tips in getting a fairly clean punchy tone from this amp with a smidgen of highs? The passive controls are strange, for example if you turn up the treble you lose the lows? Been struggling a little while to get a consistent tone from this amp. When it’s good it’s sweet

Another aspect that a puts people off is the surly failed rock star behind the counter that acts like he’s doing you a favour serving you a set of strings. I’ve experienced ‘attitude’ on more than one occasion.

That place in Clonmel that replaced premier music , music minds , has already folded. I spoke to the guy that owed the business when he was emptying the premises. He said he just couldn’t get committed staff and the foot fall was too light. To be fair to them they serviced 2 valve heads I dropped in , took a while but they did a good job

I’m in Waterford and John Palmer is the main man. I dunno how he does it but he’s been in business for 25years. He stocks fairly decent gear and does repairs etc. In cork Pro Musica is the last decent place left there as far as I can tell .

The thing that makes me sad is the reduction of serviceability of gear , especially amplification. Let’s face it a lot of gear is ‘domestic appliance’ grade . Cheap and effective for sure but their innards are packed with the same quality of circuitry as a Samsung microwave oven. Once broken (and beyond warranty) it is destined for the recycling centre.

There’s a great store in Waterford city and he’s been there for 20 years. Prices are competitive, has decent stuff and they can compete with Thomann most of the time . Yer man there told me to get rid of my old Trace mosfet monster and get a nice new class d thingey. I wasn’t happy 😆😆

Where I live there’s a store that sells everything from washing machines to cassette tapes (still) , high end power drills and musical instruments. He has a keen eye for decent budget brands like ‘vintage’ and sx, honer etc. always stocks 3-4 different brands/gauges of bass strings, usually straight forward round rounds but good brands EB, Darrios etc . So I’m lucky I guess. He doesn’t accept electronic payment though, and if you ask him why expect a 30 minute lecture on those bastard banks ! but if you don’t have the cash that’s no problem , you can sort him out when you have it 😆😆

And another thing ... just kidding. But seriously I don’t need some patronizing teenager telling me what the difference is between a precision and Jazz is , like he’s some old timer that played with the wrecking crew 🤣

Are online stores killing small music stores? Where I live (south of ROI) guitar stores barely last a wet weekend before folding. There’s about 4-5 establishments in the south east that manage to stay afloat . Is this the same in the UK?

I had to look that up , not a good condition if you play bass for a living . I feel bad now 🙁

If I have to watch another Jazz vs Precision bass video I think I’ll go postal.

He’s a great player and good teacher, but... what’s with the glove ? And this ‘I’m zany me, right mad I am’ persona isn't half tiresome.

With good musicians you don’t need to rehearse too much, just do your homework and come prepared . Some bands rehearse every week and still sound terrible

I’m in a band that plays about 4 gigs a year because there’s like one decent drummer to go around in my hometown and he’s in about 5 other bands , projects etc. We tried replacing him (with his blessing) but we just can’t get a decent available drummer. We tried one and it was a disaster. I hate that my bass playing career revolves around the availability of said drummer , a really top bloke btw. Around a gig a month would be perfect

Agree, I'm in my 40's now as are some of my band mates, so there a 'Mens-shed' aspect to it for us LOL!. Even if you know the nut and bolts of the songs there's no substitute to playing with other musicians to get the cohesion down, and tweaking your sound, technically. I cant understand why musicians beach and moan about rehearsing, like its a big chore. surely you like playing music as much as possible even if its just for reherasal? Beach and moan - very clever BC.

I say a brand new(ish) 1048h go for sale in Dublin for €300, that about £250..absolute steal.

I bought an Ashdown CTM-100 from a lad in Wales for £500, not exactly bargain basement but well below the going rate and a cracking amp.

I was running an 8 ohm valve amp into a 4 ohm cab for a while with no issues (the amp also has 16ohm outputs), I stopped because I'm just nervous of damaging the amp. I bough a 4/12 ohm switch for the cabinet in question (8 ohm isn't possible for the configuration of cab). My question is : Is it better to run 8 ohm amp into 12 ohm cab OR use the 16 ohm amp out into 12 ohm cab. My hunch is the latter is probably better for a valve amp to prevent damage to the transformer. Still not ideal for the valves but better than the current set up.

I bought a burgera SVT Clone for peanuts. It was an amazing purchase. I only sold it because it was silly heavy

Ed Friedlands videos were the best IMO, wasn’t shy on calling out gears flaws. Played a variety of styles also , a fine player but you knew he wasn’t just showing off his chops

The cabs are going for a pittance these days