bassbora

I got the Jam Pedals Ripply Fall and I liked the phaser side enough to get the Ripple as well when I need to save pedal board space. I do have Boss PH3 I got for guitar years ago but I have not used it so if you are interested pm me for details.

I am just curious if any of you guys are using reverb pedals when playing. If so when (what application, gig and what type of music)? I had not really ever thought about reverb with bass but I got TC Infinite good few months back for a project and to practice and that has a reverb function which I actually quite like in that ambient/slow music kind of way. So really just curious what others are doing.

I have seen you mention the Demeter before and I had seen them few years back and they are one of the only amps I would be seriously tempted by. I think one came up for sale here some months back and it did not stay long. I did not really need it so I managed to resist

Very interesting responses. I have no idea why I thought people would have either gone ampless or had 1 or maybe 2 amps. I myself decided when I was looking for a gigging rig quite a long time a go to try and have it modular (not combo) so I could mix and match depending on the circumstances and if an amp would break I only needed to replace the head and not worry about the cabs. And also keep it light so it would be easy to store and transport. I had a GenzBenz Streamliner 600 for few years and it was great I have no idea why I sold it, probably just wanted a new toy. I have been using a Mesa D800 for many years and it has always served me really well. The older it gets I guess I am not thinking in the back of my head it would be a good idea to have a backup. Or maybe I was using it as an excuse to find a new amp.

I did think of that. I am gigging with two different bands and two other projects on the go. I dont see anyone of them going for IEM but I have certainly thought about it. I have seen few discussions on here about going ampless and thats also why I thought about asking what people were doing with amps. I do DI in some venues and I have been tempted to just show up with my Class D head or just a preamp pedal but not been brave enough yet.

You quite often see guitarists have few different amps for different flavors/things. It just made me think if bass players do the same thing? I only have one but have often thought maybe I should get another (backup for gigs). So if you have more than one, why? Is it to get different sounds? Is it backup for gigs? If its backup is it the same model or do you have one of these small heads Elf/Gnome. Just curious what people think and maybe its me just trying to justify to myself getting another amp.

When you said you had never seen him with a Fender type bass it reminded me of the Dont go away mad video from Dr Feelgood album and he is using a Fender P (is it 51?) with the Telecaster headstock. I have not seen the video since the 90s so I actually had to check it out to see if I remembered it correctly. I have not heard that song in years but there is some tasty melodic playing there I have to say.

Very late to the party. Another Thumb owner here. I bought my 89 NT5 back in 97 and was my only bass for many years. I was studying at the time and I spent so many hours with that instrument. I do agree with most of the pros and cons that have been mentioned already. It is is heavy and the reach to 1st fret is long but I am tall with long arms so this has never been a problem. I did have a student years ago that loved my bass but he was a lot shorter than me and when he tried it he knew he could not get on with it at all. I do want to say though that I have used it in so many different styles of music and I have found it really flexible. I was playing a lot of jazz and classical music as well as Motown and rock/metal and I found it great for all of it. The 26 frets are great and having the easy access all over the upper part of the neck was brilliant. That makes chords very easy in the upper register and soloing if you are doing that kind of music. My Thumb has the really thin neck profile which I personally love and EMG pickups and 2 band eq. I found that you could get so much tonal range from either pickup and in later years I have started to use the neck (if you can call it that) pickup more soloed than ever before. Maybe my tastes have changed. I have also found how much impact cutting the treble can have on the sound so you have broader range than I ever explored in the early years but I guess you can say all with in that Thumb sound which I love. As has been said that B string is quite something. Crystal clear and totally sings. I have only played my Thumb so I have nothing to compare it with like so many that have replied so maybe I just got lucky with mine. When I moved into fretless I started with a Stingray but I did not like it I think it was the neck and upper access so the only thing I could think of was Thumb. So I do have 89 NT6 fretless. Again its heavy but I have gigged it quite a bit and the neck is even better than on the 5. And its one of the best sounding and playing bass I have ever played. This is of course just personal preference. And finally just to add to the discussion about other models. Even though I have almost exclusively only played Warwicks since 97 I have not had that many of them or different models. I got a FNA Jazzman which I had for few years and it was a very solid and good bass but I always had this notion of trying out Stage 1 and 2. I traded the FNA for a Stage 2 and I have to say that bass has taken over as my main bass for the last 8 years. Its very different from the Thumb and that body shape might be easier to get on with than the Thumb. There are a lot of different Stremer options NT and bolt on so might be worth exploring that. I do rotate between these two basses between practices but I would say 80% gigs I go with the Stage 2. I did get a Stage 1 but have to say that doesnt suit me as well. This again is 5 string like the others but the difference is its broad neck and I have to say I am not a fan. I find the other neck profiles better but I will keep it and I do use if for practice and I have gigged it few times but I have to say the other two feel more natural. I hope your search for the right Warwick will bring you the right bass for you.

I will have to look at few demos, thanks for the link 🙂

I am looking for some experiences of loopers and freeze pedals. I have always been curios about loopers but always talked myself out of them. When I was studying in the 90s I recorded on tape jazz standards and then as usual melody, solos and walking bass lines practiced over this. Looper would have been invaluable back then but I have not really needed it since. I have been practicing a lot last few months more like I was doing in the 90s and I saw the other day Janek Gwizdala talk about important practice gear. He mentioned loopers and freeze pedals. So that sparked my interest again and I thought it would help with my practice. Also the singer in my band has suggested we do duets just voice and bass so I thought both loopers and freeze pedals would be a great aid to fill out the sound. Any advice if these pedals are worth the investment or not? Good, bad and possibly brands to look at and to avoid. I have obviously seen the Ditto and RC from Boss and the Freeze from EHX. It would be great to hear what people think.

Great to see pink torpedo Robin here. I see that you have added Just around the corner and I thought you were on my side. Brilliant I will be going through those. Do you have Big Country Look away?

Warwick Streamer Stage 1 broad neck has the string spacing. But probably not the specific weight and budget.

I kind of thought that was what you were talking about. When you reach a certain price point the instrument is going to be good (most of the time you do get the odd lemon) and then it is mostly personal preferences. You do get people doing amazing things with a 4 string but I see what you mean so probably a 6 string would be better to have the greater tonal range (people will of course have very different opinions on this). I was always interested in Zon as well but that was in the 90s and I have never be one to buy and sell instruments to try out different things. I was lucky that what I got suited me so I just stuck with it. Warwick might not be suitable for you just to keep that in mind since it divides opinions so much. But a modern 5-6 string should do the trick (I say modern meaning not P or J basses and I mean that in the most respectful way) so I personally would seriously look at Ibanez and possibly Dingwall depending on budget. Good luck with it and let us know what you go for.

What do you mean by solos? Is that playing solos in a band setting (live) or is it solo as in you on your own? Live or at home? What is the budget? Also why 5 or 6 string? Is the 5 string with the high C or the low B? I guess you are going to get people mentioning their favorite brands. I think Ibanez would be a sound advise, good quality and not too pricy. I would always recommend Warwick because that is my preferred choice but that is just a personal choice. I studied music in the 90s which included the usual classical music and jazz and improvisation. I got an 89 Thumb 5 NT and I found it extremely good for all of this. Upper access was easy for the soloing in that area and for chords especially having 26 frets. I liked the sound and how it responded to right hand technique and I found it flexible with sound. These basses are quite marmite and split opinion but I personally love it and I still have it and gig it regularly. I do have a 6 fretless Thumb and same its great for exactly this. I have found Streamer Stage 2 5 also be good for this but as I have said this is all personal preference and has suited me and my playing style over the years but just searching on this forum shows you Warwick splits opinions and everyone has their favorite.