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I thought i would start a new thread after my previous one requesting suggestions for a tube based DI.  Ive previously owned a few Ampeg SVT Tube DI's but they were sold after sitting unused.  Typically i now have the need for a decent DI and the ampegs are impossible to come buy and have also shot up in value!.  One such suggestion on my old thread was a DHA valve DI which themselves are hard to get hold of.  However, i chance google search revealed a used one, in stock, at Johnny Roadhouse in Manchester for what appeared to be a bargain price and it was immediately ordered.

Now i'm a simple man and very much like 'plug-in-and-play' stuff. My set up is a simple P bass, flatwounds into an old ABM.  I like a slightly driven/valvey tone with lots of bottom.  The DHA will be used mainly in the studio where rehearsals tend to be amp-less for me and i go straight into the desk/PA.  The DHA will hopefully give me a little more control and also that grainy throaty valve tone.  The only issue i foresee is the amount of knobs - as i say, i like to plug in and play and certainly dont like knob twiddling (!) so this box will take some getting used to.  Buttons like IP and HP, Q and colour are already bending my simple mind but i will do some online research and try and track down some form of operating manual.  The PSU should arrive tomorrow so ill get chance to fire it up properly.

Id be interested to hear from any other regular users for hints and tips.  In the meantime, here is the object in question...

So its arrived. Still waiting on the PSU so cant try it out as yet. Lots and lots of knobs to experiment with so any setting suggestions appreciated. Im love for a low gain growly valvey tone using a P bass and mix of fingers and pick.  Looking forward to a good play with it. Thing i did well with the price for under £70 delivered

So, after trying to get a deep growl without the tone being muddy at rehearsal last night i accidentally engaged the ‘shape’ button (by engage i mean button out, ive always used my abm with the button in to iver ride the shape)…..holy moly! There’s that sound, huge bottom, growl on tap and a nice top end but no mud! 

Will report back. I know it needs a 12v PSU with a decent MA rating (?) but is there also something about it having to be centre positive? Im a complete newb at pedals, all I’ve ever really had in my rig is a boss tu2 🤣

On 22/09/2023 at 21:15, NAS Bass said:

Maybe try looking out for a s/h Dave Hall DHA EQ/DI - best I've used. 

So to update ive stumbled across a ridiculously cheap DHA VT1 EQ DI that is currently winging its way to me. Need to source an appropriate PSU but looking forward to putting it through its paces

£35 delivered in UK for this brilliant sansamp clone. Miles better than the Behringer clone and this doesnt massively scoop the mids. Lovely growly valvey type tone to be had, very Ampegy. Small enough to chuck in your cables bag as a spare or even as an always on effect to warm up a

solid state amp.

knock a £5 off if you can collect from Bolton

Bit of a trek but Roland Lumby based in Manchester is known locally as The Ampeg Whisperer.  Often has a waiting list and every time ive been in he has loads of famous bands amps in!

Hot covers are very good, tend to be cheaper than roqsolid and their basic covers are more akin to roqsolids 'extra's' covers

I love Elites and was a regular user of both their flats and grounds.  Only reason i switched brands as i always felt the E went dead much earlier than the rest and rendered the set very unbalanced.  Their flats in particular were as close to perfect as ive found on the G, D and A - old school thumpy but with something going on in the mids.  Would be interested to hear how you get on with the grounds going forward

Just wanted to post my thoughts on these after acquiring a set from old slapper of this parish.

They were bought to replace what i assume are the original pickups in my 1985 Japanese 57 reissue bass.  Nothing particularly wrong with the originals but they were just a bit...dunno - boring/bland.  I was maybe looking for a little more growl or complexity in the mids but didnt want to sacrifice any low end.  They arrived this morning and i soldered them in and fired up my ABM.....

SWEET BABY JESUS AND THE ORPHANS!?!?!?!?!  There is more of EVRYTHING and they sound positively HUGE.  Certainly louder than the old ones but also a real beef or weight to the sound.  Definitely of the vintage vibe (which obviously my flatwounds will help with) but just a glorious roar of a sound with no shrillness or thinness to it.  Very impressed seeing the price they go for!  Cant wait to try them out in a live setting with the band

Ive had pickups before i my P's where i feel like i needed another quarter of a turn to be available on my tone pot despite it being fully open.  i guess one mans 'dark' is another mans 'muddy'?

Bought a set of Tonerider P bass pups with harness off John in an effortlessly smooth transaction.  Nae danger here

So to follow up with a quick ‘just unboxed’ picture. An Ashdown ABM from before they were called ABM’s. Looking forward to firing it up properly 

So im a big fan of Rupert Breedons leather straps (bear straps) but recently at hotter/sweatier shows ive noticed my sweat is leaving dark stains on the shoulder of the straps.  These straps are hand carved and the bag is not lined, it is just bare suede.  Ive seen online about leather conditioners/sealants that suggest they waterproof leather and as such could stop sweat stains.  Has anybody else had this issues on leather straps or any experience of using one of the many conditioners out there?

Im in a band at the moment that is not too full on commitment wise but so many times recently ive been tempted to sell EVERYTHING bar my main bass, buy my dream amp of a B15 and just noodle away at home from time to time.  I think since becoming a dad 11yrs ago my time is much more taken up at weekends with things like taking him to his football, going watching matches, days out etc all of which i love way more than sat trying to learn a song i dont even like for the sake of a band

Ill be rejoining the ABM club shortly.  My last actual ABM was an old UK made 300 effort which i loved.  My favourite ABM-ish was a spyder 550 which is the ABM power amp with a tube pre. 

Incoming this time is an old 90's pre-ABM Klystron 400 from the days when Mark Gooday was probably still making them on his dining table   Looking forward to getting back into ABM's even tho technically this is a Klystron albeit basically an ABM

1 minute ago, andydye said:

I have a terror bass but I don't know whether it's mk1 or otherwise, how would I know please?

 

...also glwts

The MkII have a 'clean' switch on them and also the cosmetics are slightly different

My main and favourite bass is a 1985 MIJ 57 RI P bass that is completely stock.  However, every now and then i consider upgrading the pickups for something a bit hotter but still vintagey.....resisted the temptation so far but that itch never goes away.....

There is the possibility of an incoming new bass in the next week or so - as such i POTENTIALLY may have posting options...

Fully working and functional. Couple of slight cosmetic flaws but nothing major. Comes with usual gig bag although it is slightly tatty.  Collection from Bolton but could travel within reasonable distance or could probably get a postage to UK quote.  Only trade would be an Ampeg SVT Tube DI with cash top up from me

im absolutely not a vintage fender expert but that tort doesnt look right, looks almost 'cheap' compared to the wonderful deep dark red plates you usually see on 60's fenders?

You sure that's not a Wizard Trad rather than Thumper?  That DC reading would suggest so, Thumpers usually hit around 14dc!  Either way, both are great pickups

Flats wise I've tried pretty much everything - finally settled on Elites for years but the dead E's started becoming more of a problem.  Eventually switched back to Fenders.

Rounds wise for years i switched back and forth between DR Fat Beams and Rotosound Solo's.  Eventually when i do use rounds its normally fender 7150 pure nickels

so, this has failed to sell on here or ebay.  One last offer then i guess - £425 cash on collection?

ooh, missed this first time around.  Lovely bass, if my Cabronita eventually sells ill be in touch