vsmith1

I did try mine with my Barefaced Midget. It's my gig set up! Though that is now a historical statement!

Next gig is 1 Nov. I'll let you know how I get on.

I visited my local store, Promenade Music in Morecambe, and tried out the following with a passive Yamaha BB with a MarkBass cab: MarkBass Little Marcus 500 Ashdown MAG RM420 Ashdown Retroglide 800 (Ashdown RM500-Evo II - not available) GRBass ONE 800 I mainly focussed on the Little Marcus, which sounded great, but I was not getting much from the Millerizer control. But I could have gone with it. But I tried the Ashdown's and they felt nowhere as full-bodied as the Little Marcus. I guess I'm the sort of person that has to make huge changes on the EQ then I'm less keen. I tried the GRBass as a last minute and was impressed. So impressed I went back the next day after some additional research and bought it. Gary in Promenade had picked up GRBass after the show in London as he'd been impressed. So a quick view on what I like: The sound was full - and back at home with my Ashdown MIni15 cab - just as good. I have to try it with my BB Midget. Not needed to have much EQ fettling to get a great sound Nice set of EQ - with switches for the frequency of the Low-Mid and High-Mid And switches for extra Low and extra High A mute button with indicator light A built-in tuner (including up to 6-string) EQ-bypass switch with indicator (they call it Pure) Light, small and well-built - ie metal case And a 9V power outlet for some pedals Pimp-my-amp LEDs! What I would like to see: Built-in Limiter/Compressor Foot switch controls Some will want rack ears Not a lot really. It came in white and you can get black and custom colours as well a range of cabs.

Saw Lynyrd Skynrd with Status Quo and Massive Wagons last night in Manchester Arena. When Skynnyrd started the sound was awful, no bottom end - so no kick drum, no bass and the piano and cymbals were just too penetrating. Most things sounded thin. However, three songs in and things were much better. Strange though, as SQ and MW sounded pretty good. Maybe the bassists of both SQ and MW had more mids and crunch in their sound but the LS bass was mostly lost.

Is that to also test the delay and the looper?

I'm thinking that sometimes they just have to design something different - just to be different - without any benefits of being different other than not being sued for making a copy. Not my cup of tea.

In my opinion, there is so much variety and so most simple points won't cover all the diverse views. At the risk of using buzzwords, there is a gestalt thing (ie total is greater than sum of the parts) going on with a band and all of the timbres, tones, mix and there will be those that work and feel right and some that feel very wrong and most will be in-between (the acceptable zone). As far as individual bass tone then, I agree that most of the time, most of the public won't notice or care if it is in the acceptable zone. But some songs, some genres, some players (I'm thinking of covers here) are so critical to the performance that the acceptable zone is smaller and harder to achieve. For example, Mick Karn's fretless tone on Japan or Chris Squire's on Yes. There is also the personal aspect, if we feel our tone is good or even great then we have more confidence, we are more relaxed and we play and perform better. But I hesitate to imply that just searching and buying the best bass, finest rig, pedals to find that tone will, without practice, skill, feel, emotional engagement, etc. mean that we play at the top. (Another buzzword alert) it is a synergy thing: in the words of Kraftwerk - The Man-Machine.

I've used the Line6 Sonic Port as an audio interface to an iPhone or iPad. Bass and head phones plug into interface, then on the iPad I can use a variety of apps, including Garageband, but I also have used Capo which allows you to change the pitch (to suit a key change), slow down, loop sections and apply EQ filters to allow you to hear your playing better or hear the original bass line better. The neat thing about Sonic Port, other than being a great interface is that it comes with both Lightning and 30-pin cables to attach it to both more modern iOS devices as well as the older iPads. It works on both iPad and iPhones. I've even used it in rehearsals with a TRS output socket on the Sonic Port going to the PA/Monitor.

My last gig as the stand-in bassist as they've now found a permanent player. Well I had a good night, thinking at times "I won't have to play Footloose again" and then some oik thinks he can grab my tambourine off my mic stand and wander off shaking it! Not even in any sort of rhythm. My missus who was present to witness my last night with them, went after said oik and with some help did retrieve it. We put it back on top of my amp this time to prevent anyone else having the same thought. But the neat thing is that all of the guys in the band thanked me for the 6 months of work in getting up to speed with their set list and learning with minimum rehearsal time so their band could keep some gigs they'd organised before forced personnel change.

I've just sold my BX700. I'm in two minds whether I'm sad or relieved.

For me, preparation is key: firstly prepping my knowledge of the songs, set list etc. any rapid segues. Then it is to remove the obstacles: get my kit prepped, driving, parking, etc. all to remove those stress points which can be fixed. I think that mental prep is also important as knowing who's coming (especially if I have specifically invited or had word from them). But to both let my mind relax and focus and try not to let little niggles get in the way - such as the other band members foibles. Finally I have a routine of a change of shirt from the lugging in and set up to a gig. Also helps with the change to my mind mode. Focus, smile and go. I don't like a big meal beforehand - I feel that it sits like ballast. I drink water and usually Vimto or Mountain Dew. I use cycle bottles, helps minimise any spillage risks and easy to take sips.

The Carvin BX700 amp I have goes down to drive a 2 Ohm load. This is selected with a switch on the back of the amp from 4 Ohm loads. It is lightweight with 2 EQ sections (switchable) and a valve (switchable) in the pre-amp stage. I have mine for sale here on Basschat: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/310949-carvin-bx700-amp/"]Carvin BX700 Amp[/url]