converse320

I'd be interested in having a go at this project as well if you go ahead with the flat pack guys.

My PF20t exchange unit arrived today. It is different in two respects. Hum has almost completely gone - its perfectly acceptable now, in fact barely audible. The amp overall is also noticeably louder. There was clearly a fault on the first one, though the character of the sound hasn't really changed. Big thumpy tones on tap. I still can't get much in the way of change in tone with the gain turned up though - no noticeable change in tone regardless of the level of gain, just makes it louder. Cab still MB 1516B - deafeningly loud now if you want it to be.

Mines back to Kenny's because of the hum. New unit on its way that is guaranteed not to hum, so fingers crossed. But it's plenty loud enough for anything i can ever imagine doing, thats for sure.

This came with an amp I bought, but doesn't really fit the amp as its a full length sleeve. With some mounting bolts and nuts. I really don't have time to parcel this up I'm afraid, so collection only, from near Horncastle in Lincolnshire. Its old, but looks decent quality, and is in pretty good nick.

Not mine, but serious cabs for someone with space and a crane...... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mesa-boogie-Bass-cabinets-Diesel-4x10-and-1-x-18-USED/192614390266?_trkparms=aid%3D777003%26algo%3DDISCL.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D20160608105753%26meid%3D28a69ae18a6a4c56ab6aba2e370e936f%26pid%3D100012%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D132796673309%26itm%3D192614390266&_trksid=p2047675.c100012.m1985

Welcome on board. Im old as well, and really only started when I was 60. For me, I found the structure of doing graded exams very helpful, so thats what I'm doing. For me, I need to find something that gives you external goals - like a band, or a performance or an exam.

Hello, someone from my way at last. I'm just outside Horncastle. Lots of good stuff and helpful people here....

I can't remember exactly, but think John said he built "about three" fretless basses when he first started out in the late 70s when he was in his early 20s. So this bass is one of a very small number. His main business now seems to be building copies of the Django style Selmer gypsy guitars. Its nice to have found someone local to me who knows their stuff.

Met the man himself today when he sorted a few things out on my bass. What a nice guy - super helpful and really knows his stuff. His acoustic guitars are incredibly beautiful instruments.

Its a shame all the discussion on fixing hum is relating to the 50T. Nothing on the 20T that I can find.

I've just got the pf 20T from Kenny's. Didn't like it much initially, but like it a lot now apart from hum, which I'm pretty sure I'll be able to get down to manageable levels. Took me a while to find the sounds I wanted, but think I'm there now. If you genuinely want a studio/home practice amp, I can't see how you'd need anything bigger than this, as long as you have a reasonably efficient cabinet. No disadvantage of having more power than you need though, so if you can afford the pf 50, I'm sure it would b great.

My 20T arrived from Kenny's. Well packed, everything as it should be, and very fast delivery. Can't fault them. Some immediate comments, using it with a 4 Ohm Mesa 1516. Its noisy, quite a lot of hum coming through the speakers, which actually gets rather annoying after a bit when you are playing quietly. I'm not sure this is a fault, or my bad mains. Secondly, the gain knob doesn't really seem to do very much other than make it louder - doesn't really significantly change the character of the sound.. I was looking for that overdriven clanky sound - maybe its in there but I can't find it. Finally, it goes really loud. So, a bit conflicted really. On paper it looks like everything I need, in the flesh its a bit uninspiring so far. Maybe it doesn't like 4Ohm cabs. As an update - I've left it on overnight and its got a lot better - punchier and sounds much more interesting. Still hums though. I'll try some different mains cables, and maybe ask Kenny's if they'll swap the valves out if it doesn't resolve it.

I've been looking for something small and practical like this for ages, so have ordered the PF 20T based on the positive reports on Kenny's. I'll be using it with an old MB diesel cab so that should be an interesting comparison. New bass and new amp in the space of 2 weeks............😃 I'll report back when it arrives.

I spend some of my working life finishing wooden kitchen worktops, so I think I'll be OK. The dents are much better after the steaming. I have also bought some Ronseal varnish that looks like a close match, so all I need now is some time.

Just picked up an Alesis Nanopiano on ebay which I think will work out. Thanks for all the help folks.

Thanks Rich, I'll give it a go. I've got all the dents out using the technique you suggest, though I didn't sand the varnish off, just pre damped the exposed gouges/dents/chips and steamed gently. I'll try the ronseal - the original just looks like a dark brown poly varnish to me.

Thanks for all the replies folks, very helpful. The finish is definitely not Nitro. Its completely impervious to acetone, so all of the nail varnish overlays have been removed. I've also tackled the worst dents with the steamer, which have come out pretty well. I will give it another go tomorrow after its had time to sit a while. The bass seems to have been finished with a dark coloured poly over the side wings which complicates things a bit as I'd really like to colour match the varnish. I'll post some pics when its all done.

The nail varnish tip is very useful. Turns out that much of the nastiness was actually nail varnish smeared badly over holes. Comes off very easily with nail varnish remover, leaving the original surface untouched. I'll have a go at steaming later on today - I've done this a lot on oil finishes, but never with such a tough varnish. Luckily, the varnish is pretty smashed up over the deeper dents, so I think I'll be able to get them wet and they'll come out. Yes, cool bass, only cool bass I've got.

I get the MOJO thing. I wouldn't want to lose it. But would like to maybe moderate it just a little bit in places. I was thinking that where the varnish had been smashed off it would probably be possible to steam the dents out a bit before touching up the holes. But yes, its a great bass as it is. Needs a damned good clean - bits of former owners all over it. I found some serial number info and think its October 1980.

I have just bought my first very good bass. Its an Aria Pro Batwing SB700. Well, pretty sure it is - please tell me if I'm wrong. It is generally in great condition, meaning that its all original, with nothing missing apart from one strap button. But, it has been pretty beaten up in a couple of areas of the body. I've tried to photograph these with no great success, but what we have is a very thick gloss finish over ash (?think so), with some very bad dents and holes through the varnish. Most of the rest of the bass is fine, but I'd like to do some small localised repairs to the worst dents and gouges. Any advice on this? I really don't want to have the whole thing refinished, as the areas are limited to the bottom of the bass, and the back - its almost as if it was being slammed into a badly built homemade stand with bits of brick of brick sticking out of it. This is it below - I'll try to get some competent pics of the damage for advice. This

I'm just outside Horncastle. There are local bands, but thin on the ground. I think you're going to have to travel. Open Mic nights Weds and bands on Saturday at Old Nicks in Horncastle. http://www.oldnickstavern.co.uk/ Other than that, there's the arts place in Lincoln - sort of music school/studio space/practice space. That's all I know of. Must be something going on in Hull though, surely? City of culture and all.

woodinblack, you are exactly right - the endless possibilities of a computer next to her means she spends 5 minutes playing and an hour messing about.

Thanks for replies. We don't have an ipad, but she does have an ipod touch which i think runs ios. I'll check out the Ivory 2 Piano to see if that would work. She's using my old macpro laptop at the moment, with the included Ableton live. Connects to pc with a single usb cable. I then run the computer into a bass amp for sound. The set up it is not working too well for her as there are too many distractions available on the computer - Dan Tedium in particular. Functionally (if you don't care about cables etc), its great. Great sounds, and she can record and play back with Ableton. .