Ancient Mariner

[quote name='daz' post='1047017' date='Dec 4 2010, 01:28 AM']Just out of interest what on earth are these hyper sensitive [i]European Americans [/i]? [/quote]

You can get a compatible spline fit knob at Maplin (www.maplin.co.uk for choices). I would have thought any compatible 2 unit or larger rack case would fit - you'll need rack ears (the rackmount tabs) if it doesn't have them already, plus bolts. I'm not aware of upgrades outside of fitting different preamp valves, but that doesn't mean too much - I like mine, but haven't fiddled inside yet. What would you want to sound different about it?

Obvious question, but you've re-seated the valves and tried a bit of (audio) contact cleaner in the pots, haven't you?

A while back someone on Harmony Central tried to organise a group buy from China. I didn't follow the thread because it was US only, and then I got banned (for using the word 'Jap' - European Americans don't like it). I could be interested in being part of such a thing though, depending on what was ordered.

I managed to miss this (not been around too much recently) where did the raffle take place? Truckstop - good man - I'd hate to see BC disappear too.

Mary Maclean - Beyond.

It's as much about who we are on the inside as how cheap we can get shiny toys.

It was a church gig, but good fun. I've hardly picked up a bass since August, but it seemed to be OK and actually sounded decent. Now I have slightly tender fingers.

I've got an old Hartke 3500 head - Somerton (3 miles from M40 J10). PM me if you want t make arrangements. What's wrong with the Trace?

There's ways of hiding it like that, but if it's staying here then legally you'll have to pay duty, even if it's a trade deal. I've bought a few in the US, and you always have to pay duty above a certain value (got a MIM strat for $200 when it was $2=£1 and didn't have to pay for that one).

[quote name='dazza1414' post='1008229' date='Nov 1 2010, 09:57 AM']It has small castor wheels and i 'pushed' it twenty yards across the car park so maybe the vibration highlighted a problem...[/quote] Most likely the vibration has loosened a component or fractures a solder joint. Check the pre-amp valve is seated properly. However if something does require resoldering then unles you can see it easily (unlikely) then you'll need someone to look at it. Just one more thought - clean up any sockets that you plug into, and especially anything like a loop on the back that doesn't get used much. Could just be a bad earth on a socket somewhere.

FWIW I've owned a *slightly* less well known old British head, and in comparison to the Bugera equivalent, tone wise it came off significantly worse. Sure it could be tweaked and modded, but so can most valve amps, and you still have to worry about 30+ YO components failing. It's all a bit of a lottery, but at least a new amp carries a warranty.

Much better to jam the cocktail sticks & wood glue in, let it set and then put the screw back in. You just never know when you'll need to remove that strap button.

I've had a couple of these, and they work well: [url="http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=35016"]http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=35016[/url] 30 quid now, but they put them on 'special' at £10 every few months - worth a look to see if they're cheap in the store. The tip is quite fine (although it certainly doesn't feel like a 50W iron) and the variable temperature is nice. Cheap fixed temperature irons can be badly regulated and get much too hot, burning the solder and overheating components.

One likely difference between the J & P is that a thin J neck may be a little less stable than a thicker P neck. It shouldn't be a problem, but might be something you notice in use.

[quote name='umph' post='989191' date='Oct 15 2010, 01:54 PM']83's do work but they're high gain rather than high current like the 82 which isn't ideal for driving valves cleanly up to their full power, saying that though 84's don't need a huge amount of grid current to get up to full voltage.[/quote] Sure, if high current is what you need for your design, and as you say '84s need less to push them.

Revolver. I don't listen to music at home really, and tonight's the exception.

[quote name='umph' post='972608' date='Sep 30 2010, 12:52 PM']83's really aren't the ideal valve for the drive section in any amp, 81's do a much better job, 82's an even better one and 12bh7s / ecc99's even better than that![/quote] 83s are fine if the maker designs the amp correctly. It's not necessary (or even desirable) to make a valve produce all of its gain, and it can still be attenuated afterward to prevent distortion in the next stage. And multiple non-distorting stages can add a very pleasant compression. Having said that, I like the tone of 12AU7s in some (guitar) amps, and the reduced overdrive doesn't do any harm at all.

They were quite fun for a small tranny amp. Not a *great* tone, but certainly usable at lower volumes. I'd like to get a blown one to gut and replace the innards with one of my valve amps.

Thanks guys - I was really pleased with this - makes me think of the early 80s, but I can't quite place the band it reminds me of. Gaf - the logo adds to the 'cool'.

Back at Christmas I picked up this vintage white Johnny Brooke bass from Gafbass. But y'know how it is with these things, and much always wants more or better. The pickups sounded a bit... anaemic, the bridge had previously had some 'issues' with screws and was just a BBoT anyway. So after a fret level and set up, some Fender Geddy Lee pickups (eventually) arrived, a used BA-style bridge came of the 'bay and someone offered an interesting J type scratchplate for very little money. New strings seemed a helpful addition to the mix as well. At some stage the yellowish lacquered control cover will need to move on and some sensible knobs with graduations replace those too, but I like this much better. Pickups are now punchy at the neck, clanky at the bridge instead of being a little flat sounding - I've not found any burp yet, but haven't spent enough time looking either. It now owes me more in parts than the cost of the original guitar, but I kinda like it. Disappointments? That I didn't place the bridge a little further left, instead of foolishly putting it where the original was. Now I'll have to try and acquire a better pickup for that P-Encore (now THAT sounds weak in comparison) and maybe a black scratchplate. Cheap, of course.