bigjohn

Anyone got any ideas? I'm not sure of the year or condition - will find out tomorrow as I'm going to give it a go. Will be from someone I trust (I'm bigger than him) and will have been serviced by him. Just want to know if the price he wants is fair. I'm not really that experienced in buying amps - and I've never bought a valve head before. Anything? Anyone? Cheers John

[quote name='3V17C' post='134181' date='Feb 5 2008, 11:11 AM']i've got a fender precision special deluxe - p bass body, jazz bass neck, P+J pups - a pretty good all rounder though not sure if they make them any more but i'm sure s/h ones turn up. c[/quote] I've got one too. Great bass. The pickups are American standards so as long as you get a good example I reckon they beat the Jap basses. The neck on mine as good as any newish MIA or MIJ I've tried in shops. [quote name='eude' post='134223' date='Feb 5 2008, 12:06 PM']They've got one here, or so it seems anyway >> [url="http://www.rockingrooster.co.uk/product_info.php?PID=364"]http://www.rockingrooster.co.uk/product_info.php?PID=364[/url] Looks real nice in Black/Maple with a gold anodized Pickguard. Fender's lineup doesn't include the Precision Special Deluxe or the Active version anymore Some shops might still have stock though... Cheers, Eude[/quote] Yeah, they don't make em - the active ones come with the gold scratchplate, and the maple 'board, the passive ones with silver and rosewood.

You can do it by ear - although easier if you check the harmonic against the 12th fretted note. And even easier with a tuner Just adjust the length of the string by moving your bridge saddles to get each one right.

[quote name='barneythedog' post='124935' date='Jan 21 2008, 07:16 PM']I've been looking at upgrading from my old Ampeg B3 (used for rehearsals) to something with a bit more power (and maybe try a tube pre-amp). I love the Ampeg I've got, and I much prefer the sound to my main Warwick rig so I have been looking at the afore mentioned combo's. The thing is, I'm confused - they are both made by Ampeg, both have 12AU7 preamps, 220W output and 15" speakers. But the B200R is €100 more on Musicstore.de Is the only difference the Eminence in the 200R, and if so, is it worth the extra cash? I remain confused [/quote] Email Dino - [email protected] I'd imagine the difference is the speaker and the styling. Rockets do sound different though - although I've not tried a b200r - I've got a b50r and played a b100r. Both had the same distinctive Rocket bass sound which is quite old school, and punchy. Neither of those have the valve pre-amp - but sound more valve like than normal B series ampegs.

[quote name='jammie17' post='107384' date='Dec 20 2007, 10:52 PM']Dino Monoxelos Global Ampeg Product Specialist LOUD Technologies Inc. [email protected] [email protected] www.ampeg.com Got to give this guy, (Dino) a well done. He has always returned my emails, helped with a defective circuit board, (which turned out to be a loose tolex) and is just an all around good guy.[/quote] Dino, and his mate Dave Ryan of LOUD inc. Both top guys - Dino is great - dead helpful. You can see him on youtube demoing ampeg stuff. Last time I emailed him I got response in about 2 minutes flat! Dave Ryan correctly identified fault with my ampeg by me vaguely describing symptoms over email. He answered my emails over weekend, and then remembered unprompted to send me a parts list and a circuit check chart for my ampeg. Which was second hand any way out of warranty. Top men.

A new twist in the plot... I've blown the head in my B3158 requiring a rebuild of the power amp section - for which I've been quoted £110. So there goes the option of selling it then!

[quote name='stingrayfan' post='122968' date='Jan 18 2008, 04:48 PM']Get yourself a small mixer for £40, then run it through a spare hi-fi or some active speakers. Plug the output of your bass and your PC/ipod etc through that. [b]Will sound much better than any amp at home[/b] and takes up much less space too.[/quote] Not sure about that! My little 50w home amp is lovely. Much better than I'd get running my bass through my nice hi-fi... My b50r was £120 I think second hand. Comes in useful for acoustic gigs and some recording too.

[quote name='bremen' post='122957' date='Jan 18 2008, 04:38 PM']Have you looked at www.billfitzmaurice.com yet?[/quote] Aye. I'm on there now.

[quote name='Bill Fitzmaurice' post='122949' date='Jan 18 2008, 04:28 PM']Cabinet design is a far more complicated process than deciding on an arbitrary cabinet volume and then stuffing as many drivers as possible into it. Not that it isn't done that way, most commercial cabs are in fact, but it's not the right way. The best place to get specific answers vis-a-vis my cabs is on my forum.[/quote] I've just had a look round, where do I start?!! Ok - I've registered. I am very interested in doing things the right way. I'm always have the same conversation with my own clients and customers. Right way or the highway

[quote name='alexclaber' post='122919' date='Jan 18 2008, 03:40 PM']If I were you I wouldn't get an SVT3 because I think they're way overpriced. I'd look at the various rackmount Ampegs preamps (if that's your preferred tone) and a lightweight power amp. If you buy used or hunt for new bargains you'll get lots more power for less money than the SVT3. The maximum dimensions are too small for a 2x15" IMO. However you could make a nice 1x15" plus midrange (I'd use the Eighteen Sound 6ND410) which would be both very light and compact enough. Alex[/quote] I've been thinking about a 2nd hand one - They go on here for £350 - £450 usually flightcased. Which I think is ok for a 450W ampeg with a 5 valve pre. They're also reliable - they've been making them for ages and they're ampeg's best seller. I do like ampegs, I always have - I like the tone, like the build quality. When I think bass amp - I think ampeg! perhaps I've been brainwashed! the SVT3 might not be the loudest, but surely 450w sould be loud enough to compete with a non-mic'd drummer? What I've gleaned from this thread, it seems to me it's about cabinet efficiency anyhow isn't it?

Ampeg b50r. You can't get them new any more, but they're a lovely amp. headphone and line out.

[quote name='alexclaber' post='122904' date='Jan 18 2008, 03:11 PM']This suggests that in smaller venues you are fighting the acoustics. Get the combo backed up into a corner and then tilt it back so the 8" mid is pointed more towards your head. Try that next rehearsal, you may be pleasantly surprised! Also, where is the drummer positioning himself relative to the rest of the band? The closer he is to the guitar and bass amps, the louder he'll play. You'll get more SPL from intelligent use of acoustics than from doubling the size of your rig. Alex[/quote] I do back it up against a wall in rehearsal - and I've put it against the wall behind the drummer - so he was about 4 foot away from the 8" - he complained he couldn't hear it - and to honest neither could I. I've done no gigs with this drummer yet - so I can't comment on that situation. In smaller rooms it seems to struggle. We used to rehearse in an old cinema - in rooms with high ceilings it produces a much "bigger" sound.

[quote name='Bill Fitzmaurice' post='122902' date='Jan 18 2008, 03:08 PM']'Getting full power from the amp' is by and large a wasted effort. If you double the amp's output you'll at best get an additional 3dB, which is audible, but just. Buggering up a combo will only make it valueless. If 150 watts into 1x15 isn't enough 300 watts into 2x15, or the equivalent thereof, is the minimum you need to make the change worthwhile. Either sell the combo and get a big rig or get the drummer the aforementioned smaller sticks, and perhaps a whack or two upside the head.[/quote] Hi Bill, Do you think a cabinet of 21" wide, 35" high, 15" deep is big enough to get 2x15s in? If I was to build one or have one made? I think your website answers me there... [url="http://www.billfitzmaurice.com/Omni10.html"]omni 10[/url] is 16"x20"x26 26" high, 20 wide, and 16" deep? Which should (just) fit in my boot? Is a 2x12? Is there any point me loading one of these with 2x200w 8ohm 12" and powering that with an svt3-pro? Would that be "louder" than what I've got?

[quote name='alexclaber' post='122883' date='Jan 18 2008, 02:28 PM']My drummer uses a huge Vistalite with 26" kick for gigs because it's so loud so I know what you mean. But for rehearsals and recording he uses much smaller quieter kits.[/quote] No such luck! although we've only rehearsed a few times - He's the replacement. I do know he's not using any toms with us - which he usually does - so everything is snare, kick or cymbal. It's loud. I really like it though - don't mind it being like at all - just my amp doesn't keep up! We're a 3 piece so it's easier to get quite loud and aggressive without it getting messy. [quote name='alexclaber' post='122883' date='Jan 18 2008, 02:28 PM']Not a good idea. The reason your combo is loud is because the 15" woofer is operating in a large air space - compromise that by squeezing other speakers in there, which will have to be in a separate cab with its own port, and you'll lose all the benefit.[/quote] I catcha drift. My boot space is the real problem. As it is - I'm only gonna get one cab in it. And even the smallest ampeg cab - the b15 will require me to take out the parcel shelf. Is 8ohm - so I'll only get 275w out of the head - into a 200w speaker What about squeezing one 10" in there?

[quote name='alexclaber' post='122845' date='Jan 18 2008, 01:37 PM']It isn't curtailing, it's learning about dynamics. I bet, if he's as loud as you say he is, that his hands are drowning out his right foot anyway.[/quote] I know what you mean - He's been playing drums a long time though - a lot more of an experienced and successful musician than me. His bass drum isn't drowned out - it's a huge Ludwig thing. Just that when he's loud, it's so very, very loud! Very appreciative of your input here. What about modding the cabinet and fitting 2x10s along with the 15?

[quote name='alexclaber' post='122788' date='Jan 18 2008, 12:32 PM']I'm not really sure what to say. Whatever speakers you put in there, you will need to run them with a crossover, so the 8" is a mid and the 15" is a woofer. There are practically no 4 ohm 15" woofers on the market so your SVT3 will be driving an 8 ohm load, combine that with the SVT3 being a particularly quiet head for the money and any gain in SPL is likely to be minimal. Because your combo is biamped and is pretty big it will be a lot louder than a normal 150W combo. The combo is not the problem - your drummer is. Buy him some lighter sticks or offer him the alternative of helping buy you a louder bass rig. Take advantage of room acoustics to make your combo louder, by always placing it against a solid wall or preferably in a corner. If that fails, consider an 8 ohm 15" extension cab - I presume the LF amp will drive a 4 ohm load. That'll get you another 6dB which is a useful amount. Alex[/quote] I defer to your greater knowledge. I have little on these matters. My thinking was this though. The 15" is the same as a b15cab Running a 15" and a 2x10 would get full power from the amp - 2x10s are 16ohm 100w speakers - isn't that the same load as an 8ohm 200W 8" speaker? Are you saying that running bass through an 8" speaker will just sound sh*t? I understand an 8" and a 15" wouldn't be anywhere anywhere near as loud and a 15 and 2x10s. But it would be far more portable. New drummer is really good - Don't want to curtail him! Not sure the LF amp will drive an extension - Only thing I know about impedance is that you need the minimum!

[quote name='bremen' post='122780' date='Jan 18 2008, 12:21 PM']Might work. But I imagine the existing 8" unit would be in its own compartment, so there's no telling what it'd sound like with bass going through it. sure, you could always restore it if it didn't work. What did you have in mind for the new 15? Bill recommended these [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/eminence_kappalite_3015lf.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/eminence_kappalite_3015lf.htm[/url] and I haven't been disappointed. Amazingly lighweight too. I use one with an 8", a crossover and a pair of 220W amps. It just fits in a car boot. I have a second 15" that I add for those occasions when trousers must be fllapped. I reckon bi-amping is an efficient way to use power.[/quote] Was thinking about a 200w ampeg speaker [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/ampeg_ersatzbasslautsprecher_ba115.htm"]b115 speaker[/url] to try and keep it ampeg - but I hadn't thought that far...

I know a place in Nottingham - The Music Inn, that does free problem identification and quotes. Not used them (about to though)

Thanks for replying! - I had a horrible thought this would be something that no-one would have anything to say about! [quote name='bremen' post='122740' date='Jan 18 2008, 11:25 AM']You wouldn't want to be putting half the amp's power into the 8" mid range speaker though, it's designed to be used bi-amped and would probably die if you fed it big bass.[/quote] What about if I replaced the 8" with some thing like this [url="http://www.bluearan.co.uk/menu/index.php?id=BAC8PS21&product=B!amp!C_8PS21_8!dquote!_200W_Low_Frequency_Driver_8Ohm&browsemode=category"]8" 8ohm 200W low frequency driver[/url] ? [quote name='bremen' post='122740' date='Jan 18 2008, 11:25 AM']It seems a shame to butcher a piece of kit that you like anyway.[/quote] Totally - I don't want to do anything irreversible - and it's either this or selling it. The amp slides straight out and my well be the right size for a rackmount head - if not it could just be empty. I'd be able to change the speakers back if I wanted.