ern500evo

Did anyone catch Skindred set on Thursday night on the Truth stage? Haven’t been able to watch it yet. Skindred are one of the best live bands I’ve seen. Benji Webbe is a great frontman

The gig was at a venue with notoriously bad acoustics, it’s all wooden floor and masses of very large windows. The sound just seems to bounce everywhere. I’ve played there many times and it’s always been a bit of a battle to get the sound right. The GK just sounded wonderful with very little effort. Sat beautifully in the mix, had a nice aggressive tone without being obnoxious. I will say, I had a GK MB Fusion 500 for several years and I loved it, so was quietly confident that this amp would impress me, and I wasn’t wrong. For me personally, the Fusion amps have that trademark GK growl and bite, but the tube front end means it’s easy to tame that down and warm It up if you so wish.

If I break my list down into two sections, before joining BC and since being a BC member, it’s quite alarming how long the second list is! Pre BC: Peavey Mk3 Trace Elliot AH350SM Ashdown ABM500 Since Joining BC: Warwick Tubepath 5.1 TC RH450 Markbass LM2 TC RH750 GB Shuttle 9.2 Aguilar TH500 GK MB Fusion 500 Darkglass M900 EBS TD650 Ashdown ABM600 GK Fusion 550 My current rig is the Fusion 550 into a Barefaced Big Twin 2, and it sounds absolutely fantastic. In truth, I’d happily have any of my last three amps, the Fusion, ABM600(which I still own) and the EBS. They are all cracking amps. Of the class D amps I tried, the MB Fusion was my favourite by a country mile. I kept it way longer than I kept any of the other class d amps. The Darkglass was a bit of a surprise, with DG being known for their distortion and drives, the M900 is actually a very good clean amp. Honourable mention for the Warwick Tubepath, such a lovely sounding amp. I only moved it on as I wanted to try some class d amps.

Used the Fusion 550 for the first time last night. I used one at a shared backline gig many years ago, and was really impressed with it. Never actually owned one until now. Have to say, it sounds bloody marvellous! I was, and still am, very happy with my ABM600, but this thing is just outstanding. Paired with the BT2 it could knock walls down.

First outing for the GK Fusion 550 tonight. I’ve loved my ABM600 and I really didn’t need a new amp, but I’ve gassed for one of these for so long I couldn’t turn it down. All I can say is Jesus H Christ, this thing is just incredible! Wish I’d bought one years ago!

They’re great basses. I’m on my second one, I had an early V7 in the antique white with rosewood fretboard, and now have the white V7 vintage with maple neck and block inlays. I love them.

Got the rare opportunity to really push the ABM600 last night. Played a fairly large venue and on a stage with a lot of space. Pre shape engaged, which is unusual for me, 340hz boosted, valve drive at 11 o clock, gain at 12 o clock, master up at around 1-2 o clock. Man this thing is thunderous when you really push it! Signal chain, Sire V7 vintage>Darkglass vintage Microtubes>ABM>Barefaced Big Twin 2.

They are great amps. Still kick myself for trading my 5.1 when I wanted to delve into class D amps

These two, and seeing them in the same pic makes it even worse

I did think that once I’d posted, that maybe he’s saying they’re done with the Hyperdrive altogether. As you say, we’ll stay ever hopeful! A Lomenzo Hyperdrive in an enclosure the same size as a vintage Microtubes or the old Boss pedals, and I’d be handing over money immediately. Please @Ashdown Engineeringput us out of our misery either way and give us a yay or nay on a new, small footprint Lomenzo

Bit of a thread revival, but I thought I’d post here as I recall there being some fans of the Lomenzo Hyperdrive here. Going by a comment from Mark Gooday on a post on their FB page, it would appear we are about to get a new Lomenzo pedal. Please let it be as good as the original bit in a much smaller enclosure! edit to say this is in reply to a comment asking for a new Hyperdrive.

Charles Berthoud playing ability blows me away

This was the advice I got when asking about fitting the Warman to a Harley Benton with VVT controls. The control plate I’ve got does have a jack socket

Having recently remembered that tucked away under the spare bed I had a OLP MM2 with the electrics removed, I thought I’d maybe bring it back to life. I’ve stripped the body back to wood to refinish it in Seafoam green to match my Yamaha Attitude Ltd. I have a Warman pickup that I bought to put in a Harley Benton bass, but now I’m thinking that I could put that in the OLP. Controls wise, all I have is a bare plate and the knobs, no pots. If I recall correctly, the controls were V-V-T, so my question is, if I was to get a @KiOgon loom made up, would that, along with the pickup, knobs and plate I already have, be all I need to make it work. As you can probably tell, bass electrics are not my strong point! TIA for any info and/or advice!

Fingers crossed for you. Hope you get it back. If they refund you, is it worth asking if they’d sell it to you as spares or repair? A decent amp tech may be able to sort it for a reasonable cost

I had a Tubepath 5.1, I bought it brand new. Wonderful sounding amp, I used it with a Warwick WCA115 and WCA210. Had a lovely rich tone to it, and was pretty versatile. I only got rid of it as I had my head turned by the whole class d thing so I traded it for something a lot smaller. Without a shadow of doubt, the stupidest musical decision I’ve ever made. Followed closely by trading my MM Bongo Stealth. From what I remember, early 10.1 versions had some reliability issues, but that’s only from what I read on forums, not personal experience. Enjoy the amp, they are for sure a bit of a hidden gem

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175596859591?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=2Kavy7ytQ9W&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=oWU6BdMXQRy&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY The body on this bass looks very familiar!

The Evo4 is a big leap forward, but having used a very early ABM500 for several years, I can honestly say the one it didn’t lack was bottom end.

Great basses. I had a 4HS in stealth black, which I traded at Bass Direct for a Dingwall. I miss that Bongo. Enjoy your new purchase!

The Bongo 6HH?

Ordered. For that price, well worth a go for that price!

Am I looking at the right pickup, are they really only £22.99??