fretmeister

I ordered a Big Head. Always wanted one.

Helix is amazing. The biggest problem with the trying out process is that 99% of shop people don't know how to show you how it works properly. Join the big Helix group on facebook - lots of questions will already be answered there and you might find someone with one close to you who might let you have a play https://www.facebook.com/groups/line6helixusergroup/

My gigging rig is currently a DG M900 head and a pair of Barefaced One10s with a compressor. Using my much modified Stingray PJ-Ray. And I'm playing big band / jazz / swing. It sounds superb. Sits in the mix under the 'bones and gives a really thick bottom to it all. Rehearsals are from 9.30am on a Saturday morning and I actually get up early to make sure everything is spot on. I love it!

It’s not a review though. Its just a basic demo. But yes, the guy who does them makes every bass sound the same and there is always a load of fret buzz. I can’t believe all the basses are like that so I’m guessing the technique needs some work.

For some reason BEAD hurts my brain! I don't know why. Maybe I just need to only play on a BEAD for a couple of months and see what happens.

I wouldn't buy a new ray for this project. I'd find a used one with a well battered body and good condition neck.

I've just sent him an email to ask.

I hadn't thought about routing into the back of an existing body and then laminating over it. Nice idea! I like the idea of a Status neck - but I *think* they are more of a D shape profile like their current neck shape for other models - those have quite obvious "shoulders" that I don't like. I really need to get one in my hands to have a good feel of it. I'm not fussed about aesthetics as long as the balance and weight are right. My existing much routed Ray balances fine - I removed the big plate tuners and put hipshot ultralights on it. But if a new body had a different shape then the top horn could be a bit longer too. I;d love a thunderbird (well a Lull one anyway) - but I play in a Big Band and I use the low B all the time!

I'm thinking of my lightweight needs. My favourite 5 string neck is the Stingray 5 neck. Alas even the new ones are going to be heavier than I want. My existing one is 8.6 lb, mainly because I've replaced the pickups, ripped out the preamp, and cut a load of wood out from under the 'plate. But I wouldn't want to do that to a new instrument. So I'm thinking about getting another Ray 5, taking it apart and keeping the body safe for future re-assembly and sale if necessary. (Or maybe just getting a Status MM5 neck - depending on the profile) Then having a lightweight body built to go with the neck. I've always thought the Ray 5 body was unnecessarily thick, and it could be chambered too. Doesn't even have to exactly the same shape as long as the balance is right. Anyone done this? If so - which builder did you use? ta

Dingwalls are for tension and for longer speaking lengths on lower notes. Doesn't really help with intonation as such except give greater room for error on the longer scale side - like it's easier to be in tune on a double bass than on a violin. I suppose ideally you'd have a fan fret and then those frets would be temperament wiggly as well.

Keys are in perfect tune. Other guitars won't be.

Perfect. Straight frets simply can't be perfect intonated for the entire board. Depends on how picky you are I suppose. To me it makes more sense for guitars as guitarists are usually playing more chords.

Frank Gambale is a big fan too.

True temperament frets. Perfectly intonated across the entire board.

Get a used Helix.

Fire him. Or quit. Life is too short to fill it with utter nobbers like that.

Looking forward to a proper review!

Fishman. I had one with my NS Wav and it was very good.

EQ pedal in the fx loop.

I had an old red front MAG400 head when they were Uk built. It was glorious. Thick, chewy, and really loud.

Lovely!

Brilliant! Thank you chaps.

Anyone got a good transcription? The usual tab sites seem really inaccurate. Standard notation is fine. Don’t need tab, but I’ll take anything accurate really. ta.