fretmeister

It has loads more low end than the Darkglass. Very impressive.

Not really. When I play without a ramp my finger hits the string at about 45 degrees. So not flat with the board like a plectrum would, and not a vertical impact like slap. A ramp changes the angle of attack - it's like pulling your finger across a flat surface and there just happens to be a string in the way. It's very much a horizontal interaction with the string. If you look at different players fingers, without a ramp the plucking finger comes to rest against the next string, sometimes causing a bit of a thump and the joints are all are gently bent. With a ramp the next string doesn't need to be touched at all and the finger geometry is a bit different (for me anyway) in that the proximal phalanx stays straighter with the main part of the hand, and the middle phalanx bends down more to allow that more horizontal movement. It does need a bit of technique adjustment - just hammering away like Steve Harris won't work with a ramp - the angle of approach to the string is different. It's easy to try - bit of old smooth wood and double sided tape. Don't worry about curving the top, just get the idea. It's definitely not for everyone, but I like it.

My little Tonehenge I got the VT500 in the Thomann blow out. £159 + vat and courier charge. Amazing price. Only had a 5 minute play to see if it all worked ok and it does. It's very different to the Darkglass and the Markbass. It actually has higher OD gain levels than the DG - gets a bit noisy when cranked fully and with the Character all the way to the right (and with a compressor in front) but it's a great sound. The thing that really surprised me though was the almost complete lack of noise when using a clean or lower gain sound. No hum, no fan noise (reactive fan control! at last!), just quiet. Perfect for playing with woodwind instruments. I used to do that a lot before the plague. Input gain appears to be very high so even on a loud passive instrument it's better with the Pad engaged. I'm looking forward to going through the Sample Settings in the manual later on. Also hoping that my big band manages to start up again in September!

I like them. I don't have them at the moment, and I don't need them, I just find them very comfortable. And I'm not convinced that Gary Willis or Billy Sheehan could be accused of having poor finger technique and needing a crutch.

Yes. Just like all those DB players playing over the fingerboard. Clearly a crutch.

@Stealth Dunno if This is your thing, but it's cheap - has to be ordered though https://www.andertons.co.uk/bass-dept/bass-amps/tc-electronic-bass-rig-bundle-bh800-amp-head-k410-cab

Assuming that already has a great monitoring system... just a Helix. (And I'd remember to get my jeans over the top of my cowboy boots).

I love the SH1. I can get any sound I want from it. Lovely old RnB all through to modern metal. If it had a compressor in it (and ideally a 9V battery option) it would be perfection.

That's a bit crap - especially as you ordered before I did (I only went for the head).

As expected from UPS my delivery today has been delayed until tomorrow. Ah well, I have too much work to do today anyway!

I nearly bought a heritage Ampeg when they first came out... 84lb No frakking way.

Thanks. I'll stick it on the list!

My word that looks heavy!

It does appeal I have to say. Do you find the EQ a bit limiting?

He uses so much compression he wouldn't notice.

This is amazing https://music.apple.com/us/album/bach-unaccompanied-cello-suites-performed-on-double-bass/468820668

Seem to be significantly over my £1000 limit, alas.

If it's got a volume control then there is no such thing as too big.

I'd like that Aguilar as well! But it's too heavy for me.

I had an Ashdown MAG400H about 20 years ago when the MAG were still built in the UK and it was very good. I used it with a Marshall VBC412. These days it would go with a Barefaced Supertwin. I tend to like a beefy clean sound maybe with a tiny tiny bit of grit to enhance harmonic content rather than any actual amp drive.

I've had Class D amps since they've been available - back to the MB F1 I think. But I'm about to sell a couple of basses and I'm thinking of an old fashioned hefty amp Obvious choice is an Ashdown ABM600 evo-4, but what else is good these days? No more than a grand though. I'll get in trouble! ta.

I ordered the PJ set. It did need a little routing - it was just a bit too tight to get it in.

Carrier. I got an email from UPS and used their payment system. They also have 'pay the driver' available in some areas. It was a little more than expected - I accounted for VAT and the courier admin charge but had forgotten about import tax as well. Total paid about £214. Still a massive bargain.

Paid my vat / import / handling and it should be delivered on Thursday. That's far faster than I was expecting. I was thinking about selling my Darkglass head as I almost always use my Mark Bass, but now I can have a 3 way shoot out.

IIRC at the moment I have TI Flats (P bass); EB Group 4 flats (Sandberg); Dunlop flats (5 string Ibanez Mezzo); D'Addario Nickels (the rest). So that list is completely wrong!