Conan

[quote name='Protium' post='953122' date='Sep 11 2010, 08:34 PM']The 8ohm issue is worrying me too, as my amp classes as "totally weedy" according to the website. Good marketing there [/quote] True. And as two Compacts comes in at nearly a grand... it's an expensive way of getting the full 300 "Ashdown" watts out of it! Question for Alex - would it be difficult or inadvisable to market a 4 ohm option on the Compact?

[quote name='razze06' post='906915' date='Jul 27 2010, 12:01 PM']The handle on the compact is nice and simple and balances well. The metal corners could have been more flush with the sides, and the screws that hold them in place would have been better flat-headed. The rubber feet are a very nice touch, and I personally like both the logo and the silver cloth grille.[/quote] Totally agree with Marco on these points. The quality of construction is great, but a few of the details of the finish do slightly let the package down IMO. Having tried the previous touring Compact I think I prefer the metal grille plate to the "Fender-style" cloth (which could also be a bit tighter...). The painted coating on the cab is a bit "slippery", so you may need a non-slip mat or something to stop the amp being accidentally pulled off the top... Anyway, I used the Compact with my LH500 at rehearsals on wednesday evening. I enjoyed the sound a lot, and the best thing of all is that my 12 year old son could carry the cab in one hand into the studio!! How cool is that?! Once it was set up, it did look a bit small compared to the Ashdown stack that I am used to (No sh*t, Sherlock!) but the sound soon showed that size does not matter. Punchy but deep. Rounded and warm. Smooth but biting. Clear but raunchy... It certainly brought the mid-range to the fore far more than the 410s do, which was nice as I like a rather "mid-heavy" tone. Volume wise, it had no problem at all - even though at 8 ohms the amp would only be putting out around 300w. It would be great if the Compact was available as a 4ohm version as well. Our keyboard player (who is also a sound engineer) was very impressed with the sound. The guitarist thought the tone was great, and cut through well - but as he put it, he could "hear me, but not feel me". Which I take to mean that some of the real low end was missing. Not sure I agree with him, but he's entitled to his opinion I guess! If nobody minds (I think WoT is next in line) I'd like to use that cab again this wednesday as we try to nail some new tracks. The style of music, BTW, is mostly eighties rock and "hair-metal" kinda thing (Van Halen, Winger, etc), so fairly straightforward bass lines that really need to cut through and provide a sound foundation to the guitars and keys. So, all in all, a great cab that does exactly what it says on the tin. One or two minor drawbacks (finish quality and 8ohm impedance chiefly), but it's main advantage is it's mass. I just can't believe how light it is! And that quality pretty much outweighs the minor niggles.

I used to use TE gear, and I spent forever faffing on with the 11 band EQ.... The Hartke just sounds good. Plain and simple! It's very difficult if not impossible to find a setting on it that isn't useful and musical. It could maybe use a bit more boost in the mid-range - but I guess that also depends on your bass/cabinet arrangement... Through my Ashdown MAG410s it sounds a bit mid-shy, but through the BF Compact it just SHOUTS in the mids!! It may be bigger and heavier than MarkBass, Genz Benz and other such bonsai amps - but its far lighter than what I was used to! I haven't noticed the "hissiness" either - but I guess it depends on how and when you use it and what you are used to. For the price (I paid £180 second hand) you just can't go wrong. Oh, and it's bloody loud too! Can't comment on the Orange as i've never used one - but it's a lot more money isn't it?

[quote name='CraigPlaysBass' post='915663' date='Aug 5 2010, 09:41 AM']Another happy chrome user here [/quote] And here!

Unsurprisingly, this one has not been mentioned so far.... [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKXUNRrYQd0"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKXUNRrYQd0[/url]

It is now in Newcastle!! Scotland has been stormed and the cab liberated!! Cheers Gavin!

[quote name='Conan' post='916716' date='Aug 6 2010, 09:39 AM']Quick update to those on the waiting list... The Compact is still in Edinburgh. Marco (razze06) sustained some serious injuries recently and has not yet been able to arrange delivery of the cab. We are working on it so hopefully people can be patient and understanding in the meantime... More news as and when it becomes available. Geoff[/quote] Should finally be collecting the Compact and returning it to England this weekend!! Rehearsal on wednesday to put it through its paces at decent volume and then will pass it on to WoT....

Been looking at these recently... there is a big price difference between the GRAMMA (£40) and the Great GRAMMA (£80) - is it essential that the pad is bigger than the cabinet or would it still work if the can overhangs the pad by an inch or so either side?

[quote name='neilb' post='938427' date='Aug 27 2010, 08:58 PM']So, would a TE 300w head running a Compact be OK? Thanks neil[/quote] I'm fairly sure that the Compact is an 8 ohm cab, so you may only be getting around 200w of power from your TE head... It will certainly work, but according Alex's advice as I understand it, the Compact will "enjoy" a lot more power! Two Compacts will get you the 4 ohm load, still be very light, and come in well under budget!! If you wish to go down the BareFaced route, that is!

Depending on the tone you crave, you could do a lot worse than a Hartke LH500 (or even LH1000 if you need MASSIVE volume!) and two BareFaced compacts... especially if you pick the amp up second-hand! They may not be as versatile as other amp heads, but to my ears they sound great out of the box - and hugely powerful. The Compacts are unbelievably light for the volume and tone they pump out, and two will allow you to unleash the full power of the amp. They are an easy one-hand carry and the amp is very manageable if you get one in a rack-bag. There are so many ways of spending money on gear!! Options paralysis beckons...

Like several others, I've been away and/or been busy lately and just heard this tragic news today. Si was one of the genuine people on this forum - always helpful and willing to share his huge wealth of experience with us, with humour but never with nastiness. Although I never met him personally, I feel that I have lost a friend. Warm condolences to those he has left behind.

Giblin is one of my favourites! He played on Fish's debut solo album released in 1989. Highlights include: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_4Nl_qFF8o"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_4Nl_qFF8o[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5avmXNE59U&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5avmXNE59U...feature=related[/url]

Quick update to those on the waiting list... The Compact is still in Edinburgh. Marco (razze06) sustained some serious injuries recently and has not yet been able to arrange delivery of the cab. We are working on it so hopefully people can be patient and understanding in the meantime... More news as and when it becomes available. Geoff

[quote name='4 Strings' post='901394' date='Jul 21 2010, 10:25 PM']As an aside, his right hand and fingers are incredibly strong, even thumping the strings he makes it look like a graceful tickling of the the strings.[/quote] His hands are also seriously enormous! His fingers seem to have extra joints in them and go on for ever... that's got to be a good thing - especially on the upright. He is just a legend - and although some of his material leaves me a little cold, his contribution to the music world is immeasurable. Wish I could have got down for one of those gigs...

I will be up in Edinburgh and Fife in a couple of weeks time (up on July 30th back down on 4th August), so if we could arrange a hand-over around then, that would save you a bit of cash!

[quote name='deksawyer' post='893782' date='Jul 13 2010, 02:53 PM']Who's next on the list? It'll be available from next Mon onwards....[/quote] It's razze06 isn't it?

Weren't there people on here a few weeks back saying that a Precision sounds awful when played solo/unaccompanied? I think not...

[quote name='BassCat' post='884693' date='Jul 3 2010, 11:43 AM']All in all, this is probably the best amp you can get for under £300.[/quote] I think you'd have to spend at least twice as much before you started to notice any real improvement, but even then - sound/tone is subjective so if so many of us can get what we strive for from an amp costing so little, why pay more?

Go to "enhancements" and select "play speed".

If the guys in Fife/Edinburgh let me know when the cab is ready to make it's Southward journey I may be able to pop up to get it... if that's awkward (and our Edinburgh and Fife bolt-holes are let out for the Open) then the courier option may be required... unless someone fancies meeting up halfway? I guess that would be around Wooler/Jedburgh/Berwick depending on your preferred route!