geoff90guitar

Ok, nice one, standing by Geoff

I’ve been a member on Basschat for quite a few years now and since I discovered the site I’ve been chopping and changing continuously, at times I’d wished I hadn’t found it! - but it’s a great site. Unfortunately at the age of 69 it’s getting closer to packing it in. I’m still out once every week. I feel I missed some time watching my kids growing up with so many gigs and private functions with 3pm to bed, I don’t want it to happen so much with my grandkids. Anyway, experience has concluded MY ultimate gear: 1971 Precision 1998-9 Fender USA deluxe Precision. Eden 400 and Trace SMX300 heads. I’ve owned the AH250 many times but it’s just the blxxdy weight. Cabs: For many years Trace compact 1x15 and 2x10, easy to drive with various Trace heads BUT, they did catch the paintwork on the wheel arch of the car when loading, so I later went for a pair of Bergantino 12’s with horn/without, which easily plonked onto the back seat. Disadvantage is that the Bergs need a lot of power to drive. The Trace SMX300 wasn’t quite enough hence a trial of class D amps, 500W and above. I went through most class D stuff persuaded by the hype and tripe - never again unless I’m in church. I’ve tried neo’s Markbass cabs, Celestion neo loaded cabs etc etc but na, ideal for bloating double bass but electric bass na, can’t get em to rock. The Bergs use 350W Eminence speakers (80oz magnets), very nice solid full sound but too creamy for my liking, I like raunchy Celestion. IMO I think the USA stuff is fat, sort of pretty sounding but the Celestions seem more aggressive and give me a better feel with drive. (I maybe mistaken but I recall Hammond organs were made in America and a few made in the UK and that the American Hammonds had a creamier Sound than the UK ones which were more aggressive sounding. Whether it was the EL34’s in the revolving Leslie speaker amp or Marshall 4x12s I can’t remember). Bit late in the day now but I’ve ended up with the best of both worlds and it works great. The creamy Berg HT112ER on top of a small Trace combo with the head cut off with a raunchy Celestion 300w 15 inside. Either of my two amps can drive this now. The cabs are roughly the same size. Very powerful and shoves onto the back seat without touching the car doorway. picture of my setup to follow

Just received a Trace SMX300 head from Dave. Excellent comms. Sent next day delivery Great packaging...as good as mine and I’m very thorough 😉 All working great. Buy from Dave with confidence Thanks Dave

Nice if you can get it! Gigabite'

I’ve tried the Ashdown ABM 300/500 heads and combos which break your back. To me lacking ‘spaciousness’ in sound compared to Trace heads of the time. However at one point I owned an ABM500 chrome face and it seemed to be slightly better than the normal face, but it still went.

In simple terms Ashdown ABM sounds better than the Mag, that’s why they cost more. It seems that Ashdown suits the uncoloured Barefaced cabs. Try an Ashdown ABM with the old 2x10 and 15 Celestions and it sounds constipated. Put a Trace Elliot SMX on the Celestion cabs and they become alive. I tried Vander 2 x1x12’s and a single V15 with the Trace and neither worked out. I think they need a lot of modern power. However as they are neo’s the ABM500 might work.