Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Here it is.

Interesting!

I only hear good things about those!

It won't be long before it's the size of an iPhone!

But actually all this small stuff is kinda cool, seeing as I get older and it's tougher to haul equipment. It's all getting smaller and lighter. Must be my generation behind the design and engineering desk!

Thanks Jeff - I was going to ask about these - a Sydney outlet is pushing them at a nice price....

IHeartRics wrote:It won't be long before it's the size of an iPhone!

But actually all this small stuff is kinda cool, seeing as I get older and it's tougher to haul equipment. It's all getting smaller and lighter. Must be my generation behind the design and engineering desk!

Class D amps have been around for about 20 years or longer. I first saw them being used in HIFI. They weren't well received and had a tendency to be harsh. I'm sure they have come a long way since then. I don't know if there are any companies with a HIFI application any more.

Weren't you one of the Markbass Army? Are you moving on? Or I am mistaken, yet again?

Happyface wrote:Weren't you one of the Markbass Army? Are you moving on? Or I am mistaken, yet again?

I still have my Minimark, greatest little combo amp in the known universe.

The LDS 2126 cabinet I got last September while coming home from GilFest® needed something different than the F1 so I started looking around and reading posts at TB. Years ago I had an Aguilar DB659 preamp that was really nice (I should have kept it ) so after considering a bunch of micro amps I decided to give the Tone Hammer 500 a try, and am very glad I did. The clean sound is really nice but when dialing the right combination of Gain and Drive I can get some wonderful grit/distortion for more driving Squire or Bruce type tones, too. I like the simplicity of it, plus it has some features that were either missing or difficult to access on the F1, such as a tuning mute switch, and DI pre/post switch (which was inside the amp, not the most convenient place for it.

My only gripe with the TH500 is that I wish it were a tad bit heavier so when I push the instrument cable into the jack it doesn't slide back. Probably grippier feet would help, here.

Eden has had similar for quite some time now.
WTX 500 - 500 watts, 4.3lbs
And this awesome amp which I own. WTX1000N - 500 x 2 watts, 11lbs.
Finally bass players can carry their own equipment without help from other band members.

Thanks Jeff. That's useful info!

I like it! I've been really happy with the mark bass/Tech21VT pedal combination,but really don't care to mess with pedals much,so this could be a nice way to get it all in 1 small package. What's the price on that bad boy?
Edit nevermind, I followed the links to MF....

Same price everywhere, so far.

I have run my basses through the FX return straight into the power amp (the Master control is still in circuit) and can get very nice tone from it, and pretty reasonable volume, too, probably enough for band practice. I just wanted to try that for kicks, but I can run my LA-610 Mk II into it if I want a real tube preamp in the signal chain.

Did I mention this amp can get LOUD?

jps wrote:
My only gripe with the TH500 is that I wish it were a tad bit heavier so when I push the instrument cable into the jack it doesn't slide back. Probably grippier feet would help, here.

I was always afraid that my cord would pull my 5 lb MarkBass F1 off the speaker if I strayed too far from it.

So...although I never went through with it, my idea was to put some hook and loop type fasteners to the bottom of the amp and the top of the speaker.

My SVT doesn't have that problem though!

I run my instrument cable through one of the side handles on the speaker cabinet as a strain relief, that takes care of any potential pulling issues.

The Tone Hammer 500 makes the F1 feel heavy.

This has me seriously thinking. Lugging the Marshall around is great exorcise, and it sounds great, but damn that thing is getting heavier all the time.