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Just took receipt of this from Bass Bros. Growing up on late 80s / early 90s rock my first bass was a Squier HM bass, pointy headstock PJ pickups. I’ve got other “quality” basses: American Standard J and P, a selection of Thunderbirds, Spector, Rickenbackers and as much as I love them, this just feels and sounds right!! Great bass, love it.

So, this short-scale thing.....? Never owned one until last week, in fact AFAIK I'd never even played one. But then @d_g listed this baby and I really found myself drawn. OK, I expected to be able to play things more easily, essentially like having larger hands which is nice. But the tone is awesome, full, fat and fast, helped along by buttery flats, Nordies and a rather nice tone circuit. A 60's Motown/70's funk machine, easy to play, looks great and weighs about the same as a bag of Walkers Salt & Vinegar. Only problem is that the neck is so bloody thin and short I'm not sure I will ever habituate fully. But I'm going to give it a damn good try

I don't want one, as I am happy with my amp and I also have a spare TC450. And a BAM200. So I dont need one. So mine is due next week, because I am a deeply weak and flawed individual and am holding stewblack entirely responsible. The 180 day money back thing seemed a no brainer.

Ah, lovely. It's so nice to return the favour. I came here when GAS was starting to bite after a long time free from it. The good people here were literally no help whatsoever.

I played a gig this Friday past. IT WAS AMAZING. I’ve never sounded better, I could hear everything. Crowd was loving it. Actually had someone come up and say my bass tone was the best he’d ever heard 😂😂😂, the band after were dumbfounded that we were on before them and apparently crapping it following us. Even had someone ask for my setlist… like, we’re a crap band from Aberdeen! But sure - go wild! My singer posted on his channel (we need to do more with our YT):

Got from fellow BCer yesterday - who did an extra mile in packing it to me i love the Byrds so to get a Hillman bass is for me brill - I don’t like signature bass’s per se - did have Bruce Thomas and keep looking at the Bass Centre possible Deacy PB. Also I find the necks on most semi acoustic basses too narrow- and this is 38mm but the curve of the neck is really great. The position of the pick up is perfect - the bass is woody thump but clarity of the notes is just super with a touch of growl. The stock flats let you glide around. The action is low. Intonation pretty good. The E string struggle a wee bit past 12th note but I don’t play notes there - it’d be on the A string on a strap there’s a fair bit of neck dive like the Jack Casady but with a leather strap it’s fine the looks of this bass are a dream - attention to detail and build quality are superb- I’ve owned a few semis and this is the best

Rather a long time since I've done any work on this (or indeed done much at all; serious bout of depression following the impact of the fire and some other life affecting stuff, but it's clearing). I stumbled across another audio unit called Proteus so will be referring to this as BOME until a better moniker comes along. I've done some playing over the past couple of weeks and I think I have closed out on the tech stack for the BOME prototype. Hardware Raspberry Pi 4b - I have one that I salvaged from the fire and whilst they are in short supply at present, this should hopefully change in the next few months. It is a cheap unit and well documented; it also supports the software stack I have selected. HiFiBerry DAC+ADC Pro - This is a good quality, reasonably priced, Pi add on board to allow stereo (or two mono) audio input and outputs (Again something I was able to salvage from the fire). It is supported by the software stack I intend to use. Touch Sensitive Display - This will allow for configuring BOME without needing a computer to do so (Tho BOME will also be configurable using a web browser) Rotary Encoder/Switches - Used to supplement the touch display when configuring BOME as well as tweaking pedal settings on the go. Footswitches - To allow handsfree control of BOME whilst playing; select defined pedalboard layouts, activate/bypass 'pedals', load setting snapshots, activate tuner, etc Expression Pedal In - Allow connection of a 1/4 Jack TRS expression pedal to control pedal effects. Pi Pico - A low cost microcontroller that will be used to interface between the Pi and the various input controls; It will offload some of the load from the Pi as well as providing some capabilites the Pi does not have (such as ADC for the expression pedal) USB Host Port - Allow the connection of a USB MIDI Device to control any plugins. USB Device Port - Allow connection to a computer to allow BOME to act as an audio capture/playback device. Software Elk audio OS - This lies at the heart of BOME. It is based on linux (so allowing the use of linux capabilities and development tools) with some added goodness: ElkOS has a realtime element that interfaces with the HiFiBerry Audio card that has an extremely low latency, this means that the likelihood of experiencing audio artifacts like jitter or dropout is significantly reduced Elk Sushi is basically a DAW and allows for the use of both LV2 and VST3 (linux based) plugins. Sushi hands over all responsibility for the user interface to BOME, allowing for both touch panel and remote web control. BOME-APP - Bespoke code running on the Pi that ties everything together and provides the logic and user interface for BOME. BOME-IO - Bespoke micro-controller code running on the Pico to make the various switches and controls available to BOME-APP. With my 3D printer still being out of service (The fire melted most of the plastic elements and I've yet to replace them) I resorted to a heath robinson approach using cardboard and duct tape to construct a prototype enclosure. Currently 250mm wide (constrained by the spacing required for the footswitches) 140mm deep (Driven by the 5 inch touch sensitive display) and 60mm high, not counting the knobs. I may lose one of the footswitches to allow me to reduce the width to 195mm, but I'm going to run with this setup for the time being. Thus far I have been able to assemble the Pi, HifiBerry and some audio in/out; install the Elk software; configure a pedalboard with both a MIDI synth VST3 plugin and a guitar f/x chain using LV2 plugins for a compressor, chorus and room reverb; with a bass guitar plugged in and a midi usb keyboard attached I've been able to play both synth and the bass, driving a bass combo cab ... and it sounds pretty good! I've been able to use an app called Open Stage Controller running on my laptop to send OSC commands (A bit like MIDI but much richer) to change pedal plugins settings over a WiFi to the BOME unit. Next to start on the BOME-APP, to allow web based management of pedalboards (A set of effect plugins connected together), pedals (An individual plugin that provides a single pedal type of effect such as compression/overdrive/chorus/reverb/etc), connections between them (Virtual equivalent of patch cables). In parallel to this I need to start looking at how to achieve as many of the same capabilities using the onboard display and controls, Elk does not provide any display libraries so I need to figure out how to incorporate them to drive the touch screen as well as accepting input from the rotary and foot controls. S'manth x

No. Sorry. This is the wrong place for that kind of help.

You've only had the bass a few days, you haven't even had a full volume go with it and you're asking about replacing the pickups? Give them a chance to impress you before you decide they're somehow lacking! I've been where you are - it's an expensive business and leads to more sideways moves than actual upgrades. At least give it a few weeks and a fair go before even thinking about such things...

A Maize In Grace Lots of people

...aaaand purchased. Can people please not post bargains just before Christmas? I just can't afford to keep buying things people post on here.

Here's a couple of pics of my Bugera.

Well, my BRG wonder is ready for delivery after a long, long wait. It'll be a long weekend... https://unicornbass.se/

Warning: If you get sent a link to listen to the new Ed Sheeran and Elton John Christmas song, don't open it. It's a link to listen to the new Ed Sheeran and Elton John Christmas song.

Picked myself up a 2nd generation Sire V7 vintage this week. Looking forward to giving it a whirl through ABM600 and Barefaced Big Twin 2 tomorrow night!

In The Flat Field ～ Bauhaus

There is power in a union - Billy Bragg

And it’s done! The electronics worked first time! Which has blown my mind! My first ever attempt at wiring active electronics (other than idiot proof emg and East!) The set up is spot on, and it’s even lighter than my other SR500. The sound isn’t as good right now as the strings I put on are an old set, and the artec preamp isn’t as good as the stock one - but it’s not that far off!! I’ll keep an eye out for a better one to go in now it’s all together ill need to make a better back plate too. At the minute it’s a rough one cut out of an ice cream tub lid and wrapped in vinyl!!

Hell toupe. Five finger death punch

I dropped mine face down on asphalt in a parking lot. Couple of dings but know other issues. I gig mine allot. Blue

Mine has finally arrived and I’ve had a 15 minute play to compare it with my tube version. The front end at first seemed more intuitive than the T with just a gain knob rather than gain and volume. Having said that the gain didn’t seem to affect where the clip light comes on (short of pressing the pad button) and it didn’t seem to make a huge difference to the tone, although I do need to spend more time with it. I can coax a load more top and high mid out of this than I can the T and it reminds me a bit of an old Trace SM 300 I used to gig with - which means I’m liking it lots and will probably use it in preference to the T. As others have reported, I have the scratchy volume pot, as I did on the T. I lived with it on the T but it started to get worse until recently when I think it was affecting the actual volume. I took the top off and gave the inside of the pot some servisol which seems to have cured it so will do the same to the new one when I have a moment, I’ll try and report back with further findings after Saturday’s gig.

I set "Shape of You" by Ed Sheeran as my 7:00 alarm. Now I wake up at 6:00 so that I don't have to hear it.

So I recently picked up the Fender FullMoon distortion pedal to try out as a bass preamp as it features a 4 band eq BMT and a High Treble control which works like a LPF. There’s a switch for symmetrical or asymmetrical clipping and a bite switch which adds more gain/drive to the upper eq frequencies to help stand out in a band mix. Oh and it features a foot switchable boost function which is basically just a level boost rather than feeding more gain into the drive stage. At a basic all at noon setting and the gain down at about the 0900 position the pedal sounds great. Starting with the mids cutting or boosting works as you’d expect - it feels really well voiced for bass guitar. The scoop isn’t overly pronounced but helps sculpt a nice slap tone. Pushing the mid fills out that zone where the bass feels present and powerful without the honky or nasal quality some bass-specific mid eq points can emphasise. The treble sounds like it’s set at a ‘musical frequency’ none of this super high ‘unusable’ stuff at 12kHz but very mix friendly. The high treble allows you to fine tune the zing but honestly even with the treble dialed up and the the high treble ‘wide open’ it’s not shrill or unpleasant. Turning the hi treble down just tames the higher frequency in musical way and from what I can gather this is a feature designed to help fine tune the pedal to different the types of amp’s. The bite switch add more gain to the upper mids/high to help the sound stand out and for my taste both the bite and texture switch engaged delivered the most pleasing sound - I should add I’m doing all this tweaking with a passive Jazz bass and it’s a really good match sonically. The texture switch is a clipping selector as mentioned above. The Bass control also sounds like it’s in that musical frequency range (likely in about 100Hz rather than what you’d find on a bass specific preamp which tends to be in about 40Hz-80Hz) and keeps the bottom end intact with out being too flabby. I’ve a little bit more more tweaking to do in relation to the lows at volume and will definitely give the pedal a try out live this weekend even if only at sound check to hear it at volume and refine some settings. I have a TC Spark Booster and find it to be a very versatile two band bass preamp - voiced at frequencies which are bass friendly. I see this pedal as being a similar utility pedal with a four band eq which can work very effectively for bass without pushing the usual ‘bass specific’ frequencies but ones which compliment the natural voicing of a bass guitar. For a pedal which can be found used for £120 give or take a bit of a haggle it’s a very competent and complimentary unit which many bassists could happily use as an alternative to units specifically for bass costing much more. I’ve not really use the pedal for high gain sounds but I do have access to a clean blend and having the ability to add in the clean bass tone really takes the pedal to new heights certainly on the settings I’ve been trying. I’ll be trying out with some low gain sounds basically one with a slight mid scoop and a second setting pushing the mids to about 3 o’clock to hear how the fits in with the band with the other controls fine tunes accordingly. I’m quietly confident it’s gonna work a charm!

I’ve just picked up this morning a super light Ashdown Studio 210 combo. I already have a lovely Ampeg B200r combo but it weighs about 70lbs/32kg and we just started rehearsing in a place that has stairs. No thanks. Saw this the next morning on eBay. Usually sell new for about £550 but managed to snag this s/h for £180!!!

Free but collection only from Hove. It's a "Bristol by Blueridge" BD-16, which came from Hobgoblin at a vastly inflated price (£200?). Other than the severe damage to the headstock, it's in near-perfect nick. Had it as a campfire guitar but managed to slam the headstock in a van tailgate. I'm led to believe that this apparently catastrophic damage is in fact repairable with glue and clamps. First to turn up on my doorstep and say the magic phrase "I've come for the broken guitar" can have it for nowt. Drop me a PM if you're at all interested, but please note I will not be beaten down on price.

I used to have a Monique preamp. It did LOVELY saturation. I fancy a bit now. My SSL plug-in does it very nicely. But lugging a mac book and interface around seems excessive. I do not want grind or distortion or grit. Just that saturation. This is new for me. What does it? I know that the obvious answer is another Monique, but that is not going to happen. I cannot play without earplugs so am not dropping a £grand+ to entertain other people and not get the goodness myself. But I could happily get a pedal which would do it. I am sure the super-dooper multi FX would do what I fancy. But I just fancy a footpedal on my tiny FX board.

Hello and welcome! Have a badge

I use this.

curious corn - ozrics

Grab your Kia-Ora for this big budget sci-fi extravaganza.... warning. Involves a Mustang not sounding like a Mustang.

Very nice. Looks tactile...

That's my lot - the special guests!

Actually I do have one issue with the transmitter for my WL-50 - I have a bass with a recessed output jack and it won't fit in tightly enough to engage, the shoulders hit the dish of the recessed bit. That's just one bass in an embarrassingly long line of basses And, frankly, the fault of the bass, not the transmitter.

The Boss WL-20 and 50 automatically seek the best of 14 channels. I have never had a clash happen with the WL-20. The WL-50 receiver will power other pedals as well when you are using the power adapter (it can also run on batteries). They claim the rechargeable batteries in the dongles will last 12 hours. I have certainly got over 6 hours continuous use out of my WL-20 (I’ve never tried to go longer without recharging). Worth considering IMO, if you can’t source the Line 6.

Happiness (Piece at Last) ～ The Blue Nile

Cross The Road Again ～ Willie Nelson

Staring at the Sea: The Singles will give you a good overview of the evolution of the band from young post punk type oddballs to miserable alternative bleakness and beyond to weirdo popstars... and that's just the earlier stuff. I love 'em in all variations.

If I was gigging an Ampeg head of any variety and needed a backup, the Mosfet Veyron at this price would be a no brainer. I'm gonna talk myself into buying one aren't I....?

I’ve heard that said about me 😁