paul_5

My first 'proper' bass amp! Loved it. Gerrit fixed. Probably the filter capacitors on the power supply given its age.

Go with the mic level output.

FUNKBOX (aka filter). I've just fallen in love again with my home-made Nurse Quacky. It's a variant on the Doctor Q (EHX) and when it's in a parallel looper it's AWESOME!

Here's some recordings I made with a Jazz bass into a Chord BCH-50 bass chorus pedal that I really liked, but thought a little bit too noisy for my tastes. As it's an analogue unit it's ripe for upgrading components, particularly the opamps. It uses 2 LM4558 opamps - but only 1 is upgradeable as it's using one of them for more than just a gain stage, so I replaced just 1 of them with an NE5532; identical pinouts mean that it's just a simple swap. The audio files (DI'd into Protools) are here: https://soundcloud.com/paul_5/sets/chord-chorus-modifications

You might want to attenuate the output of the synth just to be on the safe side. My old Kawai had two output jacks; one for -10dB, and one for +4dB. Erring on the side of caution I always used the -10dB one, and kept the volume quite low on the synth. The signal voltage is different from the power supply voltage though, too much PSU voltage and you will definitely, 100% guaranteed fry at least a part of the pedal. Too much signal voltage (going down the jack lead from the synth to the pedal) won't damage anything, but will just sound sh*t. Or not, depends on what sort of sound you're after. Most FX pedals have a high input impedance (typically 1MΩ), so there are unlikely to be any problems on that score too. Using an SVT as a keyboard amp shouldn't be an issue - bass amps tend to make great keyboard amps because they (and their associated speaker cabinets) are designed to handle the low frequencies put out by basses. You may experience a little bit of the extreme top end missing, but a cabinet with a tweeter will be your best friend here. Using a guitar amp as a keyboard amp isn't really recommended. Not because it's dangerous, but because guitar amps are designed with a particular sound in mind, and the tone shaping part of the guitar amps are generally engineered to flatter the fairly dull sound of an electric guitar. Also they can't take the extreme low frequency output of bass guitars (or keyboards), and will distort at much lower volumes. They might also (if you're really lucky) start walking as the entire cab vibrates - good fun! In short, go for it.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1402831908' post='2477066'] Yes, you are going a bit mental. [/quote] You're not wrong...

To be honest I've done this before. Currently my 'Bitsa' Jazz has a MM Humbucker next to the neck PUP that's switchable (currently on/off) that works in parallel with my normal J pickups. It'll do standard Jazz, P bass and MM tones really rather well, but I'm wondering about a mud-bucker next to the neck that's also switchable (on/off) with a preset trimpot inside the cavity, so I keep the look of a Jazz control plate. I've just done a mock-up using images from GAK's website and I reckon it might be a step too far. [url="http://s1221.photobucket.com/user/paul_510/media/JazzBassMonster_zpsbcbdeebd.png.html"][/url] Tonally I foresee it being unbeatable - rather like having an active 'bass boost' knob without the electronics. I could combine the Jazz bridge PUP and neck bucker for a really biting snap with a dubby low end, or any other combination. Might need a LPF on the output of the neck-bucker though... Aesthetically it might look better with a white pickup cover on the neck-bucker, a bit like Billy Sheehan's old Attitude basses, but without the dual output. Or am I just going a bit mental?

I'll have a look at what we've got in the shop tomorrow.

I seem to remember reading somewhere that Bernie went direct into the board in the studio.

[quote name='skej21' timestamp='1402590882' post='2475125'] Steinberger... [/quote]

Poly box caps and them fancy orange Electrolytics - Nice work Sibob.

Paul bought my TGI gig bag and from start to finish the whole thing was easy and pleasant. Not as nice as gigging at Hugh Hefner's pool parties, but still a positive experience.

[quote name='cheddatom' timestamp='1402320623' post='2472060'] Without volume the low frequencies won't vibrate your balls, and surely that's what everyone wants? I mean, it's why we all play bass, right? [/quote] THIS

Nice project. Subscribed!

I'm [i]really[/i] fussy about noise and playing loud. My current band are LOOOUUUDDDD - 2x100W valve amps and a drummer to match. All good players, and I (and the drummer and guitarist) rehearse with plugs, but it's ever so loud. Hella fun too.

Oh, and excellent bladder control is de rigueur...

+1 for the pencil and rubber, a muting tuner (like the pitch-black) are highly recommended.

If they plug their lead into the amp before their guitar, sack 'em If they spend more time tweaking their sound than playing, sack 'em If they try to tell you how to play bass, sack 'em etc... have you thought about keyboards...?

[quote name='Protium' timestamp='1402148094' post='2470448'] A screw terminal block removes the need to solder and insulate any wires, and it can be screwed down to stop it moving around [/quote] This. Makes it easy to reattach should you ever decide to sell the cab on too.

I use my finger nails on the downstroke, sort of raking it along the strings. Only when I'm doing big, distorted power chords, but it saves me trying to grab a pick and means I can enjoy making massive amounts of filthy noise. Which is nice. Closer inspection reveals noticeable wear on the nail, but I've been doing it for years, and it's never been a problem. I catch all kinds of hell when I go for a manicure though...

I might just replace the knobs on my mod core for those little rubbery ones, they just feel better and don't look too shabby either.