mcnach

[quote name='Patchbass' timestamp='1401479463' post='2464129'] So guys, I still haven't pulled the trigger on the Darkglass VMT as i'm still trying to be 100% sure and was wondering what it is like compared to the OKKO Basstard or the Roger Mayer TC Voodoo Bass and if anyone uses either of these and has any comments about them! I am after an overdrive that can go from breakup and a little hair to medium overdrive that will cut through the mix and sound vintage and similar to a valve amp, so are these pedals any better at this than the Darkglass VMT and are they capable of this and stand out in the overdrive market or are they ones to skip? Thanks for any help, Patch [/quote] The Darkglass may be suitable, but the OKKO Basstard is an entirely different animal. If you want valvey low gain overdrive, forget about the OKKO. I personally like the VT-Bass a lot for low gain overdrive (how valvey it is, it's up for debate), much nicer than the Darkglass VMT. The Xotic BB Bass preamp is a pretty cool pedal too for very low gain fattening overdrive sounds (although it does more than that, of course). The BB before the Darkglass, absolutely. I didn't like the VMT much myself, and find it overpriced.

[quote name='CMR Bass' timestamp='1402154113' post='2470521'] When I say they come loose, I don't mean they work all the way out, they just loosen up. You could only tell this by taking a screwdriver to the screws during routine maintenance. It's very common due to string vibration which is why I'm not a fan of bolt-on basses. [/quote] Is it very common? I must have been incredibly lucky

[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1402091146' post='2470080'] Something's gone wrong when you start spending more money on trolleys than on instruments. Or beer. [/quote] ha ha sadly true!

Not long ago there was a tasty offer at Maplin offering some foldable trolleys for a measly £20. They looked good and I can't find the thread that was started about them, but several people bought it and seemed happy with it. I have a gig tomorrow in an uncertain location with uncertain access (that deserves a thread on its own... it's supposed to be outdoors in a park, but it may be indoors as there are issues with power and appropriate stage cover... long story)... so although I only have to carry a couple of lightweight cabs (BF Compact and BB2), lightweight amp (GB Shuttle 9.2) and bass plus a couple of pedals, the idea of having to walk for an unknown distance (at the moment) with all my equipment made me run to Maplin and I bought one of those aforementioned trolleys, only now they were £30. They were supposed to carry up to 70Kg, so that would be ok. [url="http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/70kg-folding-trolley-n48jq"]http://www.maplin.co...g-trolley-n48jq[/url] It looked alright... but I have serious doubts about its suitability. The platform looks decidedly flimsy and bends noticeably when trying to lift my small MarkBass CMD121P combo. Hmmm. I stacked the BF cabs on the trolley and attempted to move it... I felt it was going to break. Once tilted it seems it could be ok... but it's not filling me with trust. And it's under 25Kg! Hmmm... not good. I have a number of other uses that this could be good for, so I might keep it, but I don't trust it for my original intended purpose. So, good people of BassChat, do you have any recommendations? I specifically want folding ones that I can throw in the boot of the cab and not take up much space. I met someone a few months back who had a Ruxxak like this one, and that one was definitely good. Sturdy, and reliable (he had used it for several years regularly)... The problem is they're not exactly cheap, but I'd rather buy one of these once than saving a bit and end up having to buy something else later because it was not good. This is the Ruxxac, at ~£128 delivered [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/RuXXac-Business-Folding-Truck-Capacity/dp/B002RB7XIW/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1402087197&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=ruxxac"]http://www.amazon.co...keywords=ruxxac[/url] However, I have seen another possible contender whose reviews look good and seems to be used by a lot of us noise-merchant types... Just under £60, the Wolfcraft Ts600. It looks a lot sturdier (in pictures!) than all the other ones at under £30, and the reviews seem good. Anybody has experience of these? [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wolfcraft-5505-Adjustable-Trolley-Ts600/dp/B0001GRVJQ/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top"]http://www.amazon.co..._pr_product_top[/url] Anybody have any other suggestions, or comments on the ones above? The Maplin one is definitely too flimsy...

[quote name='RockinRelic' timestamp='1402067491' post='2469762'] I live in the USA and bought one from a store in Germany last month -- purely for the surf green color. I couldn't find one anywhere in the states. It arrived within a few weeks, and it was in pretty good shape out of the box. First thing I did was turn the truss rod to correct the neck bow. I did mods on it, including Bartolini pickups and a Gotoh bridge. I also replaced the stock strings. My luthier (who can turn a log into a Stradivarius) worked on it and I did further work filing the fret ends smooth. I also painted the head stock to match the body. It now plays with the best of my other basses. I use it professionally in a surf band. I couldn't happier with the sound and joy of playing it. Amazing. Bottom line, the J&D bass is an amazing value for the money, and with a little work, it can be your main rig. [/quote] I am still amazed by mine! Like you I bought it mostly because of the colour... I wasn't expecting to like it quite so much!

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1402055345' post='2469565'] I'd get back in touch with DiMarzio in the US and gently mention that you still haven't heard anything from their UK distributor. That might get things moving. Otherwise, the UK distributer is Headstock and they can be contacted on 0121 508 6666 [/quote] Thanks! I'll give the UK distributor a call, probably best, and phone calls often work better than emails.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1402043924' post='2469416'] And what did they say? [/quote] They said, and I quote: [quote]" "[/quote] Well, that's not exactly true. DiMarzio in the US replied rapidly saying that so and so in the UK will get in touch with me with the info I needed. That did not happen. I tried again, and then I got nothing. I know some people have been able to buy them, something like $10 for a set. But they seem elusive. I am tempted to remove one and find a match from some hardware store, but most seem stainless steel and there are many grades, with many being poorly magnetic, and I would not know what to get.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1402035169' post='2469330'] Have you tried contacting DiMarzio? [/quote] yup... first think I tried.

Still looking... anyone?

Glad things worked out in the end, but all that hassle was unnecessary...

Ian just bought my MarkBass LM-III head. Pleasant communication, smooth and easy. I hope you enjoy this amp!

[quote name='Guinness21' timestamp='1401359126' post='2462740'] Hi guys, Me and my vt bass are very happy together. [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,]BUT, I like to add some grit sometimes, so I'm looking for an overdrive or possibly fuzz pedal that would pair well with the VT. An overdrive pedal that I would use every now and then, when the VT Bass would stay "on" all the time, since it's my amp simulation.[/font][/color] [font=verdana, geneva, lucida, lucida grande, arial, helvetica, sans-serif][size=2][color=#141414]What do you think? Was considering the b7k - b3k too fizzy for me - but everyone on talkbass seems to use it like a slightly dirty pre, and that's not what I'm after. Was looking at the vmt, and the ashdown nm2 as well because of the active input and being able to set 2 distortion sounds. The reason I say possibly fuzz is that, I probably am looking for an od pedal but I am considering one fuzz pedal. The black arts toneworks pharaoh really caught me off guard, can hit some great distortion sounds,[/color][/size][/font] [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVMe_BRrkVI"]https://www.youtube....h?v=EVMe_BRrkVI[/url] This is used with an active bass alongside a vt and I think it sounds good. So what do you think? Anyone have any experience of these pedals? Are there any pedals I haven't and should be considering? Any advice would be much appreciated [/quote] how about a second VT? I use two in my RATM band because they sound great at low and higher gains. I tried various others, but in the end I decided to get another VT. I had a B3K and the VMT... I just did not get along with them. The COG Darklighter might be interesting too. I have ordered one with a bunch of custom mods (loop, blend etc, but the sound will be the standard Darklighter) and I intend to replace my "dirty" VT with it when it arrives.

sweet basses. I have the butterscotch one... for £120, how come it's still there?

Did it work out ok in the end? eBay has gone downhill for some time now

I love that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1401615854' post='2465178'] It IS disturbing... I can't help but think there is one more guitarist than is necessary and definitely two 4X12 rigs more than is necessary... but looking at a pic isn't the same as hearing a band, so kudos if it's working out. [/quote] exactly! :thumbsup: I am sure that some sound guys also think I carry more stuff than necessary at times, when we play gigs with a couple of other bands and I show up, move aside the 1X15" combo provided and stack my two cabs, when I'm going to be DI'd anyway. But when I can carry both cabs, amp head and bass at once, I don't mind doing that and being able to hear myself on stage well and play happily. Once we were playing in a pub and the sound guy (PA for vocals only) sees my rig "oh, you're not going to need all that, you're going to be too loud and we can't be too loud here" etc etc, all worried. I listened, smiled and pointed at my volume knob "don't worry, I also have one of these, I'll only be as loud as you want me to be, just let me know if you want me to turn up or down". This was a St Patrick's gig and there had been two bands before we went on, with very little bass going... so with my right in my car I was not going to leave it there when I knew I could sound a lot better!

[quote name='MoJo' timestamp='1401614184' post='2465153'] Yeah....It is THAT loud, hence the extension cab under the combo. That said, we've never been asked to turn down and received nothing but positive feedback. We're not as loud as some local bands I've been to watch [/quote] If you are playing with people who can operate a volume knob, that set up can work perfectly well. It's just that in my experience those people are hard to find, but if you did... don't let them go!!! I often use two cabs in situations where I could do with one... but on the one hand, I'd rather have more than I need than being short (if transport is not an issue), and I like a vertical stack to get a speaker closer to ear level. Once I only had one speakon cable (forgot I had taken one out to try something at home), so one cab ended up being just a stand. Lost the floor coupling but close to the back wall it seemed to work fine. I've played with my share of extremely loud guitarists and that left me somewhat traumatised, so when I see a set up like that I tend to run away But I'm aware some people can still be sensible with volume (you say you're loud, not that you demolish pubs, so you must be doing it ok )

[quote name='MoJo' timestamp='1401554355' post='2464711'] See what I mean.....that's my rig squashed up against the wall [url="http://s1332.photobucket.com/user/markmojo1962/media/20140509_212859_zpsokegnfya.jpg.html"][/url] [/quote] Two guitarists with a 4x12" each, "playing predominantly tiny pubs"???

[quote name='Rumple' timestamp='1401018584' post='2459125'] Direct from the Status website, they are reasonably priced. I know some people have had issues with a dead string in a set, not something I've noticed but worth knowing before making a decision on whether to buy a set or not. [/quote] I did, and Status were not helpful whatsoever about it, therefore I never bought their strings again. The flats were nice, in a very "old school" kind of way. The half-wounds or ground-wounds or whatever they're called were promising but my set had at least two very dead strings and two bright ones, and I got rid off them. Hopefully that was a one off incident, but their response means I won't try again.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1400955451' post='2458589'] I'm not a great believer in the tonewood thing, but received wisdom has it that maple results in more 'top end' or whatever you want to call it - I don't know about that but I can reveal that the Squier Jazz V is all-maple and with the new Balls the result is almost [i]too much[/i] snap and top - I have to have the tone control at full treble cut just to get a 'normal' Jazz tone and avoid a shitstorm of string noise and clank! Nice to know it's there if I need it, I suppose! [size=4] Maybe I'll try some flats next up...[/size] [/quote] Just use them a lot. After a couple of weeks the initial zing will go and although still have a lot of treble, will be a lot more tame. I hate new new strings too.

[quote name='Mikey R' timestamp='1400956199' post='2458604'] Sounds like its just me then. I didnt find that with the SUB I owned for a while, but I did find it with the couple of new Rays I tried out last year. Or it could have been the amp I used in the shop? Youve got me interested now, I'll have to hunt down a new Ray to try out. [/quote] I wonder if the amp had some heavy compression engaged or something. The Ray and the old American SUBs are pretty much indistinguishable, tonewise (except that some SUBs appeared to be wired with the coils in series, and those have a bit more punch).