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[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#000000]S[/color][/font][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#000000]o I managed to get my hands on one of these small desktop amplifiers. This is the original version although they have now introduced a B Social Lite, which is a smaller, one speaker version. [/color][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#000000]The build quality is great- it feels very solid and the external components don’t feel cheap and plasticky. [/color][color=#000000]It’s bigger than I remember and also heavier. The sound quality through either the active or passive input is excellent and setting the optimum level is easy with separate level controls for the two instrument inputs. It’s then also very easy to balance this with the separate eq section that controls the stereo input.[/color] [color=#000000]It’s not going to go ear bleedingly loud, but then that’s not the point.[/color][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#000000]It accepts a Bluetooth stereo feed in (from a phone or similar) as well as accepting a regular 3.5mm cable input. [/color][color=#000000]The sound quality from Bluetooth streaming is also very good and will connect automatically after the initial device pairing. [/color][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#000000]The Apptek functionality works fine, using a four pole 3.5mm lead in to the headphone out of my iPad. As your bass is plugged in to the B Social not the iPad there is some latency but it’s not huge. You don’t need to use Ampkit though; Amplitube, Bias/JamUp and other iOS apps work just as well. To be honest I’m not using these as the sound quality from the amp itself is excellent. [/color][color=#000000]Oh and there’s as stereo line out too in case you needed it. [/color][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#000000]The unit also allows you to connect a bass (or guitar – guitars sound good through this too) wirelessly, using a dongle with a ¼” plug on the end. The dongle is rechargeable via micro-USB. [/color][color=#000000]It’s bloody ugly mind, especially if you compare it to the design of other transmitters such as the SmoothHound wireless system. [/color][color=#000000]Sound quality is not as good as with a lead, but it works fine and in tandem with Bluetooth streaming provides convenient wire free playing.[/color][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#000000]Also impressive is the quality of the recording in to my laptop via USB. Noise levels are very low, latency is virtually zero and no specific software is needed. [/color][color=#000000]If you want to monitor via headphones, a switch on the back disconnects the speakers.[/color][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#000000]Any niggles? Some minor. [/color][color=#000000]The speaker cones are not covered – the new B Social Lite has grilles so maybe these can be retrofitted. [/color][color=#000000]I’d like a tuner and also maybe an accessible mute switch.[/color] [color=#000000]And the manual could cover more around connectivity, Apptek setup and recording.[/color][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#000000]This really is a great desktop solution with loads of features, some I will use more than others. It’s portable, looks good and delivers excellent sound quality. The only issue remains around price. I’d really struggle to justify spending £600 on this, even though I can understand now why Ashdown pitched it at this price point. [/color][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#000000][/color][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#000000][/color][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#000000][/color][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#000000][/color][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#000000][/color][/font]

45-105 sunbeams

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1485166548' post='3221615'] I've took delivery of the Boss Katana 100 and it is SUPERB. The best value amp product I've ever experienced. [/quote] That's very interesting. Boss seem to be going down the effects modelling route (as you would expect I guess) rather than copying Vox's amp modelling focus.

[quote name='Japhet' timestamp='1485173182' post='3221703'] Obligatory mention for Fender Rumble. [/quote] Good point, though not many Rumble mentions of late - has it fallen out of favour...?

[quote name='CameronJ' timestamp='1485167892' post='3221628'] The old saying "you learn something new every day" springs to mind! I have to ask though, is the effect any different to actually turning the tweeter level knob on the back of the cab? [/quote] Yes and no. It's designed to replicate the tweeter control that many cabs have, but doesn't actually control the cab itself, rather it reproduces the effect of turning the control with TCs own interpretation. It works best if you turn your cab tweeter control up, then use tweetertone on the head to adjust. If your cab has no tweeter or if you have turned the tweeter control on the cab down or off then the tweetertone is of limited value.

I cut my nails short to avoid catching the strings with them and alternate between the D'Addario XLs and DR Sunbeams. I find the D'Addario's a bit too bright in comparison so I go down the Sunbeams route whenever I can afford it.

[quote name='markstuk' timestamp='1485110748' post='3221190'] Can you illuminate how the tweetertone only works with TC cabs ? :-) [/quote] I was going to ask the same thing! Works fine with my headphones........

Dave sold me a small Ashdown amp in excellent condition and it was delivered very promptly. Great service. Steve

Pedal looks great, although the 'showtime' switch kicks in a 'smiley face' EQ apparently? I'd be interested to see how that sounds in a mix. Nice to see a DI out on it. 18v power though. Could be a serious Sansamp competitor? I wonder also what the pricing on the B Social Lite will be? Good to see they've put a grill over that 5" speaker this time!

[sup]Are these the same as the ones that initially came in a movie film canister type tin with a VU meter picture on top? The strings were awful, but the tin was nice - still got it![/sup]

I turn the tweeter off in the cab AND have bypassed it completely (not disconnected it, but bypassed it) in the combo.

Charity pay to play?

thanks - I'll try to borrow one - I'm using a Sennheiser MD421 that I like a lot with this combo.

I like mine and it's very useful. Headphone noise is unacceptable with the supplied power supply though and neither Tech21 or the importer could give a toss about helping me sort it, both referring me to the other. A regulated power supply sorts the problem. Comp is surprisingly good, boost is good, tuner is excellent, chorus is useable unless you rely on a very coloured chorus for your signature sound, Sansamp section is brilliant (naturally). Still can't get to grips with the octave/fuzz section. Best bit is the size and build quality.

I find it great for recording too - very tight bass sound that delivers results. Do you know what microphone your engineer used? Every time I've been in a studio the engineer has always taken a mic and DI feed.

Never a bad thing to have a professional media pack - it can make the difference between you or the next band getting the gig, but I'd have a got at it yourself if you can. I'm always amazed by the skills of some of my friends and acquaintances in terms of photography, video and sound production etc. Now when it comes down to 'agents' and what they do for you (or not) that's another story...!

I'm finding more and more that with 'charity' events the people that tend to lose out are the bands (assuming they normally charge a fee) and the charity themselves. People selling food and drink and other merchandise tend to come out of it quite well. Don't get me started on the rise of the 'charity' pub sausage and beer festival..... I think it's a cheek asking you to shift tickets as well as playing for free.

These are not particularly complex pieces of technology - there's only so much that can be wrong. I'd set everything back to standard and work from there. Check out the 'intonation (roughing it out)' section here [url="https://support.fender.com/hc/en-us/articles/214343843-How-do-I-set-up-my-bass-guitar-properly"]https://support.fender.com/hc/en-us/articles/214343843-How-do-I-set-up-my-bass-guitar-properly[/url]- Don't rule out dodgy strings either.

Are the strings getting stuck in the nut slots? Are the frets in poor condition?

Just so I understand, you're tuning your open strings to standard pitch then your note at the 12th fret is still sharp regardless which way you move the saddles? Given that you've changed strings, are they seated correctly in the slots at the nut?

If fretted notes at the 12th are sharp compared to the harmonic or open string you should be lengthening the string by moving the saddle back surely, away from the pick ups?

It worries me that a shop can have stuff on display that they have not taken the the time and effort to at least set up to some sort of default specification. Surely they lose sales this way as we leave the shop thinking that the guitar itself is no good. Maybe I'm just spoilt by my local [independent] guitar shop....?

[quote name='therealting' timestamp='1484262321' post='3214255'] I have a fantastic, lightweight Japanese Fender FSR Classic 60s Precision up for sale at the minute that is within your budget. It's in the For Sale section. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/295819-2015-fender-fsr-classic-60s-lacquer-precision-olympic-white/page__pid__3211938#entry3211938"]http://basschat.co.u...38#entry3211938[/url] [/quote] I rest my case. That's a lovely Precision.

At the risk of stating the bleeding obvious -you're in the right place already surely? Often good Precisions at great prices from reliable sellers here. I know you'd prefer a shop, but this place is great.

Second hand bass, second hand strings.