SuperSeagull

I think I'm sorted. I've picked up two TE 1 X 10 cabs from @fleabag Each weighs 7kg or just a bit more than my cat. I needed an amp with more headroom than the Elf but didn't want to spend a fortune so grabbed a B stock HB Bass Block to use as a power amp after my sansamp. Tried it all at rehearsal tonight and sounded excellent, bags of headroom, clean and very punchy. I'll hang onto the MB gear until I've had a chance to gig test it all but I think it's going to work. Thanks also to @Calex for his advice as a user of the same cabs.

Nice. Need to track some of those down.

My B Stock HB Bass Block 800 arrived yesterday. Looked brand new to me. Took to rehearsal last night and ran my Sansamp into the fx return. Initial impressions are - very quiet, very loud so ideal as a power amp when I need more headroom than the Elf can give. Minor gripes - the knobs and switchgear are cheap and nasty. Can't do anything about the switches but need to find a source of smarter looking knobs even if I only plan to use one of them!

No idea what that means 😄 but it sounds a good thing.

Although 1/4" is the only speaker out on my Elf. I guess that is a space compromise.

Its choice I guess. The pickups on this bass are generally considered to be excellent, they are no longer available to purchase from Fender and even if they were they would come in pairs at considerably more than a rewind. Aaron wanted to know the spec for the pickup before he rewound it. I'd rather fix the original than throw it away.

Just to conclude this, I received my rewound pickup back in very quick time from Aaron and at a cost £48 which I think is very reasonable. Back in the bass and works but I just need to recover the pickup screws left on the repair bench at Badlands in Brighton (doh!) to complete the job.

Perfect. Thanks. Just ordered a B Stock one.

Did you get the HB Bass Block and if so what impressions?

How have you got on with this? Having the same thought process as you.

They said Kent Armstrong. Exchanged some emails with Aaron Armstrong and I think I'll be sending it off to him later today. Thanks for the other suggestions and input - always appreciated.

Thanks. My local guitar shop have had it on their bench and concluded it needs a rewind.

Had it checked by my local guitar shop.

The bridge pickup on my Flea Jazz has gone, first time 47 years of playing I've had a pickup fail. Ideally I'd replace with another American Vintage 64 but they don't seem to be available now so plan on getting it rewound. Other than Kent Armstrong, any recommendations as to who to speak to?

I too have been very confused by the names now given to MB cabs so that is really helpful - ta!

Ah, if I'd known about this (and I wasn't in Tenerife 😄) I would have made the short trip from Burgess Hill to see you. Plus I've a passion for work with the homeless and I spent 18 years working in Horsham. Next time.

Just by way of an update on this. I've been chatting with another supply and install business with a good understanding of church needs. They are going to do a site visit next month but have already suggested we look at a A&H Matrix system which gives a one switch on and off solution with auto volume on the mics, plus an A&H mixer for when we want more flexibility for live music and have an operator.

My P Lyte comes in at 7lbs, two pounds lighter than my Status S2. When my back is struggling I'll use the P Lyte at rehearsals but always default back to the Status for a gig.

That's great. As you say, very visual. Thanks.

Would have loved to have joined but I shall be grabbing some winter sun in the Canaries. Would be interested in the outcomes from the PA shootout. Re acoustics - the natural reverb isn't bad but can always be improved - eg we have no window coverings at all.....yet!

My youngest son has a PhD in Acoustic Engineering and 3D sound systems - he is going to call by the next church next time he is visiting his old man, he just doesn't know it yet.

Yes, the question of how much do we value someone else doing all the heavy lifting of supply and install, in some cases literally heavy lifting, is a good one. Is it worth £3k? It’s close I think but would mean sacrificing spend in other areas but it’s always about choices I guess.

Great input already, many thanks. Just to clarify a couple of points. Most importantly, that chicken curry sounds lush. Typical Sunday doesn’t have a band, just speech and MP3 playback. There are enough folk I’d judge competent to run a well set up system - couple of musicians, another person who looks after the current tech set up and does the same for a big local school - nobody is going to be mixing live for Def Leppard anytime soon but based on my many years in and around churches there is enough capability. Building is pretty much a box shape, 13m from the front of the platform to the back, 15m wide and 4m high. Plenty of banners to help with the hard surfaces but yes, can always use more - I’d judge it not a particularly difficult place acoustically given other places I’ve been in but plan is to get carpet under the band and I think it’s a good reminder to look at how other surfaces can be softened. We have a wooden slatted ceiling which may help. IEM - feels like overkill given relatively little use of live band. I used IEMs at a much bigger Church so appreciate the upside and the downside but I don’t think right for us at the moment. Stick type system, interesting thought. Whatever we do, nothing needs to be packed away after a service. Having spent years at a Church where everything came out of a container pre service and had to go back afterwards this is a massive benefit. Current system is a simple one power switch on and a variety of mics come on at something like the right level. I was thinking the same simplicity using the capability of a digital desk and better quality speakers etc but with more inputs for the wider range of signal sources we now have and more flexibility for the wider range of events that we are now happening. But get the comment that a well meaning but unskilled person can make the best kit sound rubbish - you’ve obviously heard me play bass 😂

Thanks. Happy to pop over and chat over that meal you are cooking 😃 Alternatively, yes further thoughts welcome. Speech is the priority - currently delivered via three small ceiling mounted JBLs at the front of the seated area.

A familiar venue for us in Crawley on Friday. One new experience, one regular. New - drunk woman wanted to sing one her songs with us and had a chord chart ready! It didn't happen. Regular - drummer messes up anything with a rall at the end, just doesn't listen or watch 😡