Lozz196

Bought a cracking Tech21 VTDI from Luke. Good comms, item arrived very well packaged indeed, recommended.

Recently got myself a Tech21 VTDI again. I’d forgotten just how good this pedal is, and how unlike pretty much any other I’ve tried it has that “spongey” valve feel to the notes when the drive is bumped up a bit. For the classic rock that I’m doing at present it really is ideal, select an SVT style sound, Jazz bass on neck pickup only and I’m back in the 70s. No flares or kipper ties were harmed writing this post.

I can’t think of anything, other than to say congratulations, Stew.

Dunlop Tortex Wedge for me, started with 1.14mm, went to 1mm, now on 0.88mm as am trying to temper my heavy hitting style. I’d like to use the 0.73mm but although I find them the most comfortable to use there just isn’t the attack with them that I like. Ah well, who knows, maybe I’ll get there.

I had an Ashdown ABM600 and it was a good meeting in the middle of valve and Class D amps. 13kg, pre-amp valve, into Class A, 9 band eq, on board compression. It had that extra feel to the sound that just isn’t there on many of the Class D amps, and was portable enough to not make life difficult. Best amp I ever owned, and if I was still in a gigging band I wouldn’t have moved it on.

Our drummer mics his bass drum with some sort of gear, no idea what though. He doesn’t do it to make it louder, but so that he can hear it better as the speaker is like a monitor in how he places it. He says it helps his playing, and given that he’s one of the tightest drummers I’ve ever been in a band with I’d say he’s right.

It’s funny, and probably more an indication of my (lack of) understanding of compressors but I’ve always preferred single control compressors on amps to separate dedicated compressors.

The one that comes in US case-candy for adjusting the saddle heights also fits these on US models.

Just before the world turned upside down I left my originals punk band and started jamming with some old mates, doing classic rock. Fast forward to now and we’ve started rehearsing again - no singer so no raised voices or greater spread of air from our lungs etc. All going great, really good to be playing again and I’ve both learned some great songs and become a fair bit better on the bass, and finally found a band that I can use a Jazz bass in (this for some reason makes me think I’ve progressed).

I have in the past just used a preamp pedal with the band getting the bass from the monitors. So long as the levels are worked on properly at soundcheck then it’s fine, it’s just a problem if soundcheck isn’t long enough (or you don’t get one) or if the sound person is less than co-operative - have seen this, with point blank refusal to adjust “his” on stage mix.

Nail/head for me, Jack.

Yes the first buyer was me, but I found the neck much chunkier thank my US Professional Jazz so my bad fortune is your good fortune. I preferred the sound of the CS pickups in the 2015 to the V-Mods in my Professional but time will tell if I replace them, at present I don’t think I will.

Oh and my pet hate, from a promoter or stage manager: “The headliners won’t move their drums so you’ll have to set up around them.“ This makes me want to urinate or defecate over said immovable kit.

Punk covers band Drunk bird says “play some Bon Jovi“ I play some BonJovi Drunk bird says “no, play some Bon Jovi” I diplomatically yell through the mic “I just ferkin did” Rest of pub laugh, drunk bird decides she can’t work out what’s going on, but that we're obviously rubbish so leaves the pub

I’d be tempted by the blue one if it didn’t have matching headstock, for some reason I just don’t like those.

That was my experience on the originals circuit too, much more pleasant crowds and environment.

Not in my area, but Maf of Dirtbox Disco & Spunk Volcano & The Eruptions is an amazing drummer. He hardly looks like he’s even tickling the kit but the amount of sound that he generates is amazing. Additionally he’ll swap hands on the hi-hat every now & then, and when I asked him about it he says he does it when he gets a bit tired. Quality!

Nice, @Dov65 was that the one at Bassdirect?

I like nickels on my Jazz basses, tames the highs a tad and makes the sound a bit fuller, but go for steels on my Precisions. For P/J basses I still go the steel route.

Buy a Hiscox case for it, when you get here sell the case, you’ll probably get half, maybe two thirds of the money back.

Their DBS amps were great (no experience of the DBS cabs), and the VB range were also pretty impressive. Problem was their quality bass gear was heavy as anything, great sounds though, I loved my DBS4000/VBC412 rig, whilst I could manage to cart it about.

That’s exactly my thoughts too,.

Looks good, having just got a Professional Precision mk1 if the mk2 is an improvement it will be a heck of an instrument as I’m very impressed with said mk1.

That’s a great point, and probably why although I loved the playability of the Stingrays I’ve had I just don’t get on with them that well, as I’m so used to playing a certain way to get that focused attack on passive basses.