ern500evo

[quote name='seashell' post='1344552' date='Aug 18 2011, 04:18 PM']I so agree about how going into a music shop can be nerve wracking. I would sometimes browse round local shops for ideas for presents for the Ex, and I always felt as if everyone could tell I wasn't a musician and was wondering if I had wandered in from a WI meeting by mistake. However I have now discovered a lovley local shop run by 2 great middle aged guys. I offer you this genuine exchange for your amusement.. ME: Have you got any kazoos HIM: Sorry love I'm afraid we haven't ME: That's a shame, I was looking for a stocking filler for my boyfriend HIM: Well how about one of these little drums? ME: Thinks.. 'BF is a drummer, we've got too many percussion instruments already' But actually SAYS 'No thanks, I've got plenty of things to bang, I was looking for something to blow!' The words were out of my mouth and hanging in the air before I could stop them. Gusts of laughter ensued from everyone. You wouldn't get THAT on the internet!! (But I might have got my kazoo!)[/quote] Priceless!! Could be straight out of a movie called "Carry on music shop"!!

I remember when i was younger and had just started playing, a trip to the music store should have been a happy occasion. The reality though was that it was quite nerve wracking, because most of the guys who worked in all the local music stores were assholes! Stores like Treblerock, Pro Music and ABC music, full of condescending pricks who looked down their noses at anyone who wasn't part of their little clique or a "face" on the local music scene. Here's 2 examples of the wonderful customer service and advice these places were willing to offer a beginner, Example 1: ME: "excuse me can i try that black ibanez bass please?" HIM:(without even looking up from his venue magazine) "Do you have the money on you to buy it?" ME: " not on me no, i'm just getting some ideas for my first proper bass" HIM; " Come back later and i'll try and find time to get it down"! (there was no-ne else in the shop, not like he was rushed off his feet) Example 2:(Different store) ME: "Excuse me, can i try the blue ibanez bass please?" HIM: (Literally laughing in my face) "Really? I mean, even if you could afford that bass, which you probably can't, would you really want it in that colour? why don't have a go on that black precision copy instead"! And then just carried on chatting to his mate, without even getting up. Now they weren't all quite as bad as that, when Guitar workshop was open there was a guy in there(I think his name was Kit Morgan) who was always really friendly. On the other end of the scale, when i saved enough hard earned cash to buy my first brand new amp, i headed off to the bass centre in Wapping to buy a Trace rig and the guy in there couldn't do enough for me, loads of advice and help and did me a cracking deal! I'm sure there's some genuinely nice guys in local stores, but my personal memories aren't quite so rosy and nostalgic! Rant over!!

[quote name='KingBollock' post='1340916' date='Aug 15 2011, 05:45 PM']'88 was when I got mine too! Mine blew up and I threw it away. It didn't occur to me to get it repaired. A real shame. I also ended up with an Amp I absolutely hated, a Carlsboro Stingray. I ran the Klipp through an old 60's Marshall 4x12 but I swapped that for a crappy 1x15 because I couldn't lift the 4x12 on my own (I was only a kid).[/quote] I had the matching Laney 4x12 with mine, i remember my parents paid £60 for the pair from a friend who's son had given up playing guitar to take up drums. I certainly wouldn't mind finding one for that price now!! I did the exact same thing, traded mine for a Marshall 1x15 combo which to this day is still by far the worst amp i've ever owned/used! I think i kept the Marshall about 2 months before i developed enough hatred for it that i had to go get something else!

[quote name='markinson' post='1341185' date='Aug 15 2011, 09:10 PM']Yeahh!!!! I've got a couple of warwicks cabs (WCA 211 Pro + WCA 115 ND) and I think it is good stuff.[/quote] I'm certainly impressed with it so far, it is good stuff,and the fact the majority of people are going lightweight means you can pick up some real bargains. Happy days!

[quote name='KingBollock' post='1340877' date='Aug 15 2011, 05:05 PM']I think that if I was tempted to try this I would try to track down a Laney Klipp for the guitar end. From what I gather they were really popular with Bassists back in the day; I owned one as my first 'proper' amp and can see why.[/quote] Wow, Laney Klipp, now there's a blast from the past! I also had one of these as my first "proper amp" back in about 1988. I listened to some old recordings of it a few years back and it actually sounded really good as a bass amp, wish i'd kept it. I traded it for a marshall which was utter sh*te!

I used my complete Warwick rig for the first time at rehearsal yesterday and am completely GAS free this morning! I ran it flat, with the second tube stage switched in for most of the stuff and with the Tonepump on my spector flat, and was amazed by the lack of tweaking needed. I had so much clarity i may need some extra practice on my technique as there was nowhere to hide! Even without using my Hyperdrive pedal my Spector had a lovely growl to it. One thing i did notice though was the volume difference. It wasn't much of an issue as the Warwick cuts through so well, but if i'd used the same volume settings on my ABM500 it would've probably taken the windows out! After what seems like months of looking/listening to amps and cabs and going through the whole "Should i go lightweight" debate, i am very very happy with what i've ended up with. Only problem i need to address now is do i part company with the ABM and 8x10, or keep it as a spare and to use with my USA P bass when i do stuff with my mate's blues band. Not a bad problem to have i guess!!

I've used a mate's Bass terror through a 4x10 and it was very very loud! But as for the ABM being quiet, i'm not so sure about that, i own an ABM500 Evo RC and Ashdown 8x10 and i've never once been in a situation where it wasn't loud enough, even in a band with a psychotic drummer and 2 guitarist's both using marshalls. A similar volume comparison was in a thread recently, and as i said then, if a full ABM500 rig is struggling to be heard in a rehearsal/gig situation then a) the band is phenomenally loud, the amp has a fault or c) the band are all hogging the same frequencies and its a "cutting through" problem rather than a volume problem.

I'd say my two rigs keep me pretty happy! [attachment=86471:ashdown_rig_pic.jpg] [attachment=86470:new_rig.jpg]

I'll let you know when i pick my new one up this weekend!!

[quote name='Kes' post='1324562' date='Aug 2 2011, 05:25 PM']I used to have an Escort estate, the amount of stuff you could cram in that with both back seats folded down was fantastic. (still an Astra ain't bad at all and has more power so i'm not stuck doing 50 on the motorway with all the kit while bandmates blast off into the sunset with light 3 door cars. haha)[/quote] When i had my Astra van i used to dread the saturday afternoon phonecall from our old drummer "Alright mate, can you chuck my kit in your van when you pick your gear up from the rehearsal room, that way i can take my motorbike tonight"!

I've just been spoilt recently, the band travels to gigs in a van together and my rig lives at our rehearsal room so i've forgotten how to "cram"!!

Excellent, cheers guys! Just gotta hope the purchase goes through now!!

[quote name='Thurbs' post='1324308' date='Aug 2 2011, 02:39 PM']I would just compare the total wxdxh with the 810. Should be simple to work out.[/quote] Laid flat on their backs the 2 cabs are approx 135cm and the 8x10 i fitted in is approx 115cm. I can't remember how much spare space i had with the 810 in there, and i don't own the Focus so i can't go measure it, so just wondered if any other BC'ers fit 2 full size cabs into a Focus.

Hey guys, bit of a strange question but do any of you know if 2 Warwick cabs (411 & 115) would fit into a Ford Focus? It's only for collection purposes, so no basses/amp heads involved (they definitely won't fit in my saloon car) i would normally have access to our gig van but its away on a camping trip and the biggest thing i can lay my hands on at short notice is a Focus. I've fitted my 4U rack, 2 basses and 8x10 in it before but just wanted to see if anyone had had 2 full size cabs in one before i head off on an almost 300 mile round trip!

As i've posted on another thread about the same amp, you need to be doing some serious venues for that OTB500 not to be loud enough, they are insanely loud, i've played one through a 4x10 and believe me it puts out some serious volume! I did an outdoor biker rally the weekend using my Ashdown ABM500RC and 8x10 and even without going through the PA it was plenty loud enough! The 1000w Orange will be an absolute monster!

As waynepunkdude says, you'd have to be in a monstrous venue for the 500 not to be loud enough. I've played one through a 4x10 and it was unbelievably loud! I play an Ashdown ABM500 RC through an 8x10 and i've never once been in a situation where that wasn't loud enough(including an outdoor biker rally the weekend where i wasn't going through the PA).

[quote name='thodrik' post='1305207' date='Jul 15 2011, 09:30 PM']I tried a 5.1 a while ago. Very nice head, lots of power and fairly easy to dial in a tone. I though about getting it but nothing about it screamed 'I need to buy this amp!' so I decided against it.[/quote] Was there anything you particularly didn't like about it?

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='1304811' date='Jul 15 2011, 03:27 PM']I had a 10.1. Very nice amp... very loud, nice EQ. It has a 'proper' tube pre like the Mesa stuff (and, I believe, the Genz Streamliner). Things to be aware of - It's heavier than Jupiter, and IME it's quite dark sounding in character. You could probably EQ that out, though. (Incidentally, a year or two on, my search has ended at the Streamliner. It eclipses every amp I've had, which also includes a SVT-3pro).[/quote] To be honest the weight isn't really an issue for me personally, my amp tends to be kept at our rehearsal room and when we gig we all travel together in a van and theres always plenty of helping hands available. I'd never really taken much notice of Warwick amps but now he's brought it to my attention i have to admit, i think it looks fantastic and looks like it has some really cool features. As i said finding a used one may prove to be a bit of a task, a new one keeps coming up on the bay but i'm not really in a position to fork out £850 on a head at the moment. Damn it, why did my friend have to go and complicate things!!

Hey guys, I'd more or less decided that my next amp head would be an Ampeg SVT3-pro, i've played through one before and thought it ticked all the boxes. However, when i mentioned this to a bass playing friend of mine his response was "Do yourself a favour and keep your eyes out for a second hand Warwick tubepath 5,1, i've owned both and given the choice now i'd take the Warwick every time, it does everything the SVT3 does and more". So, have any of you guys owned/used one, and is he right, are they that good? The sticking point could be that used Tubepath's are like rocking horse s**t! Not that i'm in any drastic hurry, i'd need to shift some gear on first anyway. So, opinions please ladies and gentleman!