Bankai

I just acquired a fridge which has seen a hard life. So I thought I'd start a thread in here for those wonderful bits of kit which have been 'hardcore aged' the old-fashioned way. If you've got something that looks like it has seen better days but it's still going then please contribute, but anything that came out of the shop pre-aged is disqualified!

Another head has been added to the collection, so a new photo is warranted I say. The Orange is bigger but the Ampeg is much much heavier! 2008 British made Orange AD200B 1997 American made Ampeg SVT II Pro Not pictured: Barefaced 210S and Ampeg SVT810E

I am in the early stages of planning to open a grassroots music venue. One of the things I’ve resolved to do is ensure the bass amp is actually decent for a change. Whenever I’ve been to a small music venue (except for Krakatoa, Aberdeen), the Backline is always terrible and the bass amp is usually the epicentre of that, an afterthought if you will! To that end, I have acquired an ex-touring Orange AD200B and Ampeg SVT810E. Both are completely battered aesthetically (I like to think of it as hardcore aged), but fully serviced and ready to perform. They shall reside in my storage unit until such time as we locate a suitable building to take over for the project.. The AD200B was chosen because it is such a simple user interface, that when someone turns up to play through it who has never used one before it means there’s no faffing around trying to work things out. It’s just; Gain, Bass, Mid, Treble, Master. Job’s a good’un. Whereas on the other hand, if I were to put my SVT-II Pro on the backline, I think the abundance of knobs and graphic EQ may be a bit intimidating and confusing for someone not used to it! Still, I’ll keep the SVT-II Pro in the storeroom to be available on request for the more experienced player..

That is very tempting. I couldn't find anything that was trying to do the 'sandberg VM' thing so bought the real deal about two days ago instead. I'd be interested to see how one of those Harley Bentons plays as it may prove a useful backup. Any chance you fancy being Patient Zero for me and picking one up?

When you sat down to play it and realised how great it was, did you say Bingo Bongo?

I used to work in GuitarGuitar so had hours to extensively try some exceptionally high end bases and importantly all in the same room with the same amps so I could hear the difference in the bass rather than other variables. Sadowsky, Laklands, Custom Shop Fenders, Rickenbackers, etc. I’ve tried them all. And the Sandberg VM4/5 were my favourite by far, with Rickenbacker 4001/3 coming second. However, I never managed to afford to buy one. I didn’t really like any of the standard finishes so would have had to custom order an all black with black hardware and hardcore aged. Then I discovered Ollie’s signature this week. On a discount. I was sold a thousand times over. I am a Rammstein fan too but that aside everything about the model I like. California II (the updated version), VM4, uprated ‘hotter’ pickups, black nickel hardware, hardcore aged, black headstock and body, zero fret, active, gosh it has everything I would have specced given the option to do something completely custom. And, I got it brand new for €500 under standard price.

I had that exact colour combination on a USA P I sold a few years ago. God I miss it

Great prices right? I was very very tempted by the £250 sunburst one they've sitting on..

Sandberg California II Riedel Signature. I did just buy it so I am slightly biased Black headstock. Metallic black hardware. Black everything. Except the pickguard, that's clear perspex.

Very true, but it would have been in a similiar vein I feel. Anyway, with the barracuda out I did the only natural thing and picked up the signature Oliver Riedel Sandberg instead..

As you know, Coronavirus at this stage is a worldwide situation but Italy and Spain appear to have suffered exceptionally compared to the rest of Europe. Spain (Madrid) has a specialist Bass only retailer called 'Todobajos', one of the largest bass only shops in Europe. They've stayed open for online orders but like all stores are struggling. Their website has their full range of products, but they have a selection of their higher-end and pre-owned stuff on the Reverb website which also gives you the ability to use the 'make offer' function on what they've got listed. Prices on both platforms have been lowered with some heavy discounts. Shipping to the UK is free. There's two ways to look at this; either it's 'vulturing', or it's supporting a struggling business/country (yes, I know we are struggling too but not as bad). I've taken the decision to consider it the latter and have bought a nice Sandberg from them that no UK retailers had in stock, and that Todobajos had for a very good price. Worth a look either way. They've got some really nice basses in-stock. Fender Custom Shop, Sandberg Custom, Spector USA, etc. https://reverb.com/uk/shop/todobajos https://www.todobajos.com/en/

https://guitarvillage.co.uk/products/music-man-sterling-s-u-b-ray4-vintage-sunburst-satin-maple-ex-demo-rrp-369

Looks like people have already scooped the best steals but there’s an (un)healthy amount of deals still on there! Case in point: Someone beat me to this: https://guitarvillage.co.uk/products/rickenbacker-4003-midnight-blue £1760!

And the answer is; out of stock. I’ve been sent a refund and he said it shouldn’t have been available to order. Likewise, the Renegade is sold out. He said there may be another run late this year but it’ll depend on the virus outcome.

Right you are then, patient zero reporting in:

Everything suggests it’ll be a Sandberg VM4 on the cheap. And the Sandberg VM4 is my favourite bass of all the ones I’ve tried. At £225, I think it’s worth a punt?

And it looks on paper and in photos to be very very competent.

I had a search but can’t find anything on the forum about these. Some of you may know Retrovibe as the company that did a decent but now discontinued Rickenfaker. They now have an active P/M model under the moniker; ‘Barracuda’. Before I become the test case, has anyone already tried one? https://retrovibe.co.uk/product/retrovibe-barracuda-bass-white-or-black-with-mm-p-pickups/

A small, but big, but lightweight, but heavy rig. Mid 90s USA made SVT II Pro.

Unfortunately, most of the places I go to haven't opted for the agreeable ABM series kit which I think would be a stellar choice for a venue, but instead usually one of the small MAG units or even the EB combos which aren't really anything more than an entry level amp. I've previously owned multiple Ashdown units. Some were good, some were bad. None were what I'd consider top notch.

I just remembered another venue I've played which I'd forgotten about. Krakatoa in Aberdeen. Their house bass amp is a Hiwatt 200 complete with a very large 8x10 or similiar. Magical! But that venue in general is the most highly specced small venue I've ever come across. Full Funktion 1 FoH and Mons even!

I'll start it off; once I encountered an Ashdown ABM instead of a MAG or EB! It was a good day.

You've got a gig booked at a local music venue, and the night has arrived. Eager to get started, you turn up for sound check a couple of hours before doors and as you enter the room you spin the wheel of fortune as you find out what the house bass amp that you're going to play through will be this time. Shock horror, it's yet another Ashdown combo. Well it doesn't always work out like that, but usually it does! Which begs the question; what's the best house rig at a local/small venue you've ever come across? To clarify, it doesn't count if it was brought by one of the other bands, nor if it was hired in backline as you often get with events. I'm asking purely about the house backline at permanent music venues.

Louder than a 410HLF, better sounding than a 410HLF.. You’re already lugging enough weight with the SVT, you don’t need a cab that adds to those woes! Consider either the BF210 or 410