Kev

I also have a desire to support my fellow countryman wherever possible. Why commission someone thousands of miles away when we have such incredible talent here? When I picked up my Alpher Mako bass last year, I enjoyed the moment of being handed the bass and shaking the builders hand, as well as an afternoon of bass chat. You don't get that from the UPS guy.

[quote name='Guinness21' timestamp='1452960089' post='2955108'] I wish thomann stocked pike pedals, at some point I will be buying the b7k, new vmtd and t bass di and will return two. I'm 99% sure for a designated drive I'd get a vmt, I'm just looking for something to provide a hair of drive and to warm up my sound a little. [/quote] Contrary to many people opinions, the B7K is capable of very warm gritty drive, there is an early demo video somewhere showing what it can do. It's not all about heavy drive and fizzy top end, you just need to know how to use a 4 band eq and the switches and see how they interact! However, if warmth is your main goal. A vmtd does make sense, and the new version looks superb

[quote name='Guinness21' timestamp='1452954019' post='2955023'] If the era affected the clean side that would be the 1 pedal for me. As it stands, I'm not too bothered about the completely clean sounds from either the b7k or the vmtd. [/quote] Doug has said that you can achieve everything the Era knob could with the two mid controls. Not as simple as turning one knob, but the sounds are still there

Buy second hand and you will get a quality comp for £100. Keep eyes peeled

No-one?

Nothing, some pedals do it for some and not for others

[quote name='Bigwan' timestamp='1452781935' post='2953457'] An improvement... [/quote] But it's only the preamp section that has changed, the drive circuit is unaltered so a change, or improvement as you put it , was always bizarrely ambitious!

[quote name='Bigwan' timestamp='1452779517' post='2953405'] The clean stuff all sounded great (actually VERY useful sounding preamp pedal!)... then the distortion went on and messed it all up! Yuk... [/quote] Given that you don't like the B*K drive sound, what did you expect?

Yup, sounds like a P bass

[quote name='project_c' timestamp='1452688308' post='2952397'] Anyone see this? I never use distortion personally but the EQ section on this thing sounds very good for those who like a clean tone. [media]http://youtu.be/eFPCg9a5_mo[/media] [/quote] I was resisting until I watched that. Preordered...

Having recently took delivery of a custom Alpher Instruments 5 string, I would love to put a 5 string set through its paces. These strings sound very interesting indeed!

[quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1424628679' post='2698491'] I can't tell. Are you saying it's the finest instrument in the universe incapable of being bettered? Or are you saying that you can't polish a turd? [/quote] Haha!

[quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1452372691' post='2949420'] This or a vintage P? [/quote] You would get change with this in many a case. And when you compare the build quality... Still, each to their own. Vintage P's do look pretty on a wall, or in those rather fetching tweed cases Alternatively, buy a Squire Classic Vibe, stick a Aguilar P in it, and lets be honest you will be 3/4 of the way there

I was about to get myself a Polytune tuner, but then I saw this. Anyone any experience with it? Never seen or heard of it before??

I like it Price seems bang on compared to other 'Super' P builders too.

I think you are going to be somewhat surprised at how much more you can do with iOS Lots and lots to explore! But for a tuner, the Polytune App I have found the best and least glitchy for me

[quote name='Dread Bass' timestamp='1452294185' post='2948735'] That said I do use my B7K as an always on and with only a hair of overdrive. I am surprised to see some describe it as harsh but then maybe I like harsh? [/quote] People who describe it as harsh are not using it properly. It is capable of far more than that

[quote name='Bigwan' timestamp='1452287932' post='2948638'] Good to see you here Doug! I don't know what happened in the whole Darkglass/Spencer affair, and I don't want to know. If I've spoke out of turn I apologise. But... I DON'T think the term CLONE should be being bandied about as there has been development in these pike pedals... even if the visuals are, ahem, questionably familiar! [/quote] Agreed. Thread title amended as appropriate.

Alpher Mako Elite 5: ACG Finn Custom 4: And a little shot of the pair:

[quote name='Bigwan' timestamp='1452268923' post='2948340'] Err... How do you work that out then? [/quote] I said why I thought that in my post. With regards to Mark, he has pretty strong views on bass equipment as any who have dealt with him would know, I wouldn't be surprised if he made the decision not to sell them himself. However, I personally think him removing them from sale is more likely due to the hullabaloo about them at the moment, albeit a little odd as it is mainly on Talkbass, given that most participants in this thread have been defending Pike. Although, I think Facebook has been quite bad for Spencer, he is deleting an awful lot of comments. I may well be proven wrong if it comes out, but I repeat I do not think Doug (the only one at DG who would make the decision) would go this route, as he simply doesn't need to. Pike are not a real threat to DG sales, certainly no more of a threat than any of the other high end drive pedals out there at the moment.

No point in trying to force yourself to like something. If you have a lot of money in it, get rid