Conan

A great opportunity for EBS freak, Stevie, Toasted and JTUK!

Like most of us, I could come up with dozens... but I've been listening to a lot of Thin Lizzy recently and rediscovering just how good some/most of their material was/is. Narrowing it down to one is just about impossible though - so I will suggest two from (IMO) their best period: Jailbreak and Johnny the Fox As well as the well-known rockier tracks there are some heart-achingly beautiful mid-tempo and slower songs on there too. Even from a bass-playing point of view (and Lynott is a far better player than he ever gets credit for) there are some great lines - often harder to play than you think!

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1423747608' post='2688543'] I have an SWR SM400 which is over 20 years old. If the model is pre Fender/SWR sell-off, then it will be a top quality unit, IMO. Bombproof and stellar is my opinion.. [/quote] Cool! Thanks for that!

Just to further complicate matters, I may have the opportunity to purchase a used TC Electronics RH750 for the same budget!! I've added this option to the original poll. Should make things interesting...

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1423744597' post='2688481'] I'm a fan of the Streamliner [/quote] Really? It doesn't come through in your post...

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1423701784' post='2688202'] GB Streamliner!!! [/quote] OK. Er... why? Actually it's funny. The last time there was a thread like this, the opinions were very much in favour of the GK. Now not so much... I wonder why? Did a few people get GK amps and feel underwhelmed by them? I might just keep an eye on the for sale section and see what comes up in my price range!

[quote name='Matt P' timestamp='1423657902' post='2687482'] i'm assuming that it's the SM-500 that you're looking at ... i'm guessing that you're not too worried about how much the amp weighs then?[/quote] It was indeed the SM500. Apologies for not making that clear in the link... [b]SM-500[/b] [b][/b] The direct descendant of the legendary SM-400, the SM-500 was a mainstay of stages and studios for over a decade. The SM-500 featured the original SWR tube preamp and a four-band graphic/semi-parametric EQ, plus a side-chain effects loop, stereo master volume control and Transparency control for crystalline highs. [b]Production Period:[/b] 1999 to 2010 [b]Final Retail Price:[/b] $1949.99 Heavy then are they? Weight isn't a huge deal-breaker - but a nice light amp that fits in my leads box would be nice! [quote name='Matt P' timestamp='1423658172' post='2687487'] i've just been looking at the mids mod on the bdi21 and it seems to be within my technical ability, i might pick one up and mod it myself, if it goes well i'd be happy to mod one for you as well. [/quote] That would be fantastic! You are indeed a fine fellow Matt!

Another amp has come to my attention - the SWR SM500: [url="http://www.swramps.com/en-GB/support/vintage.php/"]http://www.swramps.c...rt/vintage.php/[/url] There is a used one for sale on this very forum, and bang on budget! It would certainly seem to offer the mid-range control that I am after... but I have no experience of SWR gear. Opinions anyone?

Steve just bought my Hartke LH500. An excellent deal on my part, and he showed a great deal of patience when dealing with my inability to read numbers correctly... Payment was made very quickly and painlessly (for me!) and in good faith. He also sorted out the courier from his end - saving me a lot of hassle. Excellent communications throughout too! A five-star basschatter and I would thoroughly recommended dealing with him!

Does it [b][i]have[/i][/b] to be a combo? Separates would give far more options (and there are a lot more of them about in the for sale section!).

[quote name='machinehead' timestamp='1423428160' post='2684683'] I'd say get in touch with the owner, Alex, for the best possible advice. [/quote] This. Nobody knows the range like Alex, and his advice is very good.

Remember that "500 watts" (even if accurate) is a measure of the maximum power output of an amplifier, or power handling capability of a cabinet. It is not a measure of volume! Volume is affected by many variables... Many of us use 500W amps now as it has become a kind of industry standard - but how many of us ever need the full power of that amp? I have never got anywhere near that, even into a single 8 ohm cab. Even through one decent 8 ohm cabinet (and stated impedance is an estimate of the true picture too!) a 500W amp should be as loud as most people will ever need.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1423483964' post='2685243'] There's a Puma 900 in the classifieds. [/quote] There is - but it is well over budget.

[quote name='artisan' timestamp='1423492319' post='2685435'] How about a GB shuttle ? [/quote] I used to have a GB cab - which I wasn't impressed with... but I am unfamiliar with their range of amps. Tell me more about it...

[quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1423488379' post='2685354'] When I got my Carvin BX500 (well in budget) I A/B'd it with the Tonehammer and much preferred the Carvin, even without taking the price differential into account. I did see Molan post that they are not going to carry on stocking them at BassGear but worth checking one out if you can. [/quote] Just looked at the BG website and they appear to be out of stock...

[quote name='alexclaber' timestamp='1423486416' post='2685305'] Sadly it's impossible to change the grill type once they're built, as the mount for the steel grill takes up the space where the frame for the cloth grill needs to go. [/quote] Purely from a cosmetic point of view... could some silver cloth be glued/velcroed/attached over the metal grille? Not that I would do such a thing - but could it?

[quote name='Matt P' timestamp='1423485889' post='2685290']it has been the venue for the last 3 North East Bass Bashes [url="http://www.gingermusiccompany.co.uk/"]http://www.gingermusiccompany.co.uk/[/url] [/quote] Cheers for that. I've just been looking at their website and a trip across the water in half-term week might be on the cards! I've never been to one of the NE bashes though.. Hence my ignorance of their existence...

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1423483897' post='2685235'] Well I`ve had the MB500, the MB Fusion 500 and have a Tonehammer 500... Lastly, I heard another bassist using my rig on Friday with his Jazz and it sounded so good I`m now looking at Jazzes myself, so the Jazz/TH/BF gets a thumbs-up from me. [/quote] Thanks Lozz - that's a really good and useful post mate!

[quote name='Balcro' timestamp='1423483238' post='2685221'] Maybe you also need this: - There's a thread on here somewhere about the BD121 sucking out the mids and this fairly simple mod. [/quote] Yeah, I've looked at that before. Looks like a very useful mod but way beyond my electronics skills! TBF, the mid-drain from the pedal is a small issue as I don't use it all the time - but thanks for the reminder!

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1423481682' post='2685184'] The Fusion is more than worth the extra cash. [/quote] [quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1423483395' post='2685222'] At 8 ohms I'd get the TH500. [/quote] [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1423483964' post='2685243'] TH500. No point in buying a lower powered amp for this cab [/quote] [quote name='Matt P' timestamp='1423484497' post='2685257'] i'm saving for the TH500, [/quote] I thought this might happen! At the moment my budget is pretty strictly limited to £400 as we have other big bills... The TH500 is about £200 more than the TH350, and I just can't stretch that far just now. I am also rather dubious about how much louder it would be in "real world" terms. The cheapest I've found the MB Fusion 500 is £525, which is (again) significantly over budget. Now if I could source either of these heads second-hand... Even then, I'd have to wait until next month before pulling the trigger. Still, thanks for the suggestions!

[quote name='Matt P' timestamp='1423484497' post='2685257']they usually have both the 350 and the 500 in stock over at the Bass Base in Pelaw if you want a proper go, [/quote] Believe it or not, I've never even heard of that place! Might have to have a look...