Alfie

I've completed my last pedal build for the foreseeable future... "The Compressor", basically its an orange squeezer. I have also recently built the "This Belongs in a Museum", which is a LPB.

10 strings are for kids. [url="http://www.waterstoneguitars.com/bass_new_tp12.shtml"]http://www.waterstoneguitars.com/bass_new_tp12.shtml[/url]

You may well have already seen this, but I hadn't visited the Owen Electronics site for a few months, and now I find he has made this [url="http://www.owenelectronics.co.uk/9939.html"]beauty[/url]! Bloody expensive mind

My SX is a precision and has the classic wide and shallow neck. It plays quick and hasn't had problems with dead spots and hasn't needed any truss rod adjustment If I were to go high end on a short scale I would almost certainly go Gretsch. I reckon [url="http://www.duesenberg.de/"]Duesenberg [/url] are also worth having a look at. They do some juicy looking short scales.

What is your budget? I can certainly recommend SX basses, I got one earlier in the year and I prefer it to my Fender, however I can't comment on their short scales. I got a short scale last year from [url="http://www.waterstoneguitars.com/bass.shtml"]Waterstone [/url]and it is both beautiful and a delight to play, but the exchange rates being what they are now it probably wouldn't be such a good deal.

I have never been entirely convinced by compression, I can definitely live without it. That said, I have two compressors (an Orange Squeezer clone along with the DHA) and I am happy with both of them. I bought the DHA on impulse- I had wanted a proper valve pedal for a while but couldn't justify having another overdrive. I was surprised by its versitility and I really like the growly punch that it gives to my mids. I did consider a compulator a while back, but I decided that studio quality compression is not something I would use that often. It also seemed a bit dear and a bit boring. If I did decide I needed something cleaner, I would probably go for a Barge Concepts compressor, or I would build a compulator myself.

I think I am finally ready to leave my board alone for a while. The Big Muff was not to my tastes and it has been replaced by boosters of all variety.

This sounds like a pretty good deal and I appreciate your efforts to keep your fantastic product available to those on a smaller budget. I was wondering whether you had any tips about painting the encosure? How do you achieve such a thick and hard finish? Is it just a case of leaving the boxes to dry properly for a long time, or are there any particularly strong paints or varnishes that you would recommend? From the smell of it I would say at was some kind of enamel paint.

[quote name='dannybuoy' post='166971' date='Mar 31 2008, 04:25 PM']Looks like everyone wants something different, so what you need is a structured set of options, e.g. different models of pedal (VT1 Std, VT1 Mk3), PCB only, PCB + components (no case), all parts + undrilled case, all parts + drilled case. Granted it would be more of a pain for Dave to sort out and price the options, but it would at least keep everyone happy and he'd probably end up selling more that way.[/quote] I would be more interested in the VT1 Std

I think the most similar product currently available would be OLC's [url="http://olcircuits.com/olc_eclipsevalve.html"]Eclipse Valve[/url] which they sell for $108. With current exchange rates being as they are that is about £55, factor in shipping and it is roughly the same price as what Dave is offering. Also when you consider the relative value of the products within the domestic markets on each side of the pond, $108 for an American buying in the US works out roughly equal to £70 for a Brit living in the UK. So the pricing is about right. However the OLC kit has a pre-drilled enclosure. Personally I would prefer not to have a drilled enclosure so that I can add a bit more of my own personal touch. Or better yet, perhaps Dave could offer just the PCB and instructions in the same way that General Guitar Gadgets or Jack Orman do. When you look at, all effects kits are outrageously overpriced compared to how much it would cost to source the materials yourself.

I use Banzai as well. They are the only European based company that I have found that sell ready powder coated boxes.

[quote name='Beedster' post='162337' date='Mar 23 2008, 07:50 PM']Bought yesterday. 1983 Fender Fullerton '57 reissue. Maple board & 1.75" width at nut. The perfect combination and the best neck I've ever played. Pics to follow Very happy C [/quote] I think I saw that on eBay for a very juicy price... for about thirty seconds before someone snapped it up. Well played mate.

What halls will you be in? I was in Ramsay which had a practice room of sorts, so if you will be there then it will definitely be worth bringing a small rig. If you are going to be in one the Camden halls- Ifor Evans or Max Raine- then there are loads of good practice studios around where you can hire some useable kit. I had a Gallien Krueger Microbass combo, which was perfect for halls, small gigs and use in the crappy UCL practice rooms. Also having a bass amp is vital for winning noise wars against loud neigbours.

I quite like the look of a bass with a few battle scars- although I wouldn't actively relic a bass. However I think the finish on my Squier would survive a full nuclear war so there is no question of that gaining the mojo. I hate getting scratches on my cherry red Waterstone though, yet all I need to do is look at it and suddenly a ding appears. I could play naked and it would still get buckle rash.

£58 all together.

[quote name='vegas_hooker' post='148536' date='Feb 28 2008, 06:15 PM']Great looking board. Im not familiar with some of those (any details?)[/quote] I guess the harder to recognise ones are: The green one in the top left- "Alfie's Green Ringer", which is a Build Your Own Clone Armstrong Twin (compression and ring modulation). The green one in the bottom right- 3Xfx Fatman/V2, which is a crazy fuzz box with an integrated light sensitive oscillator control thing.

My re-jigged board

I am not sure if anyone will be interested in this, some of you will probably already have one, but I bought one last week and was so impressed that I felt I had to share my happiness with all of you. What I am talking about is a Boss DS-1, modified for bass by [url="http://www.pennypedals.com/index.php?page=DS-1-Bass-Mod"]Penny Pedals[/url]. Up till now I have been using a Fulltone Bassdrive, the comp-cut setting for a bit of boost and fattening and the normal or the vintage settings for a touch of overdrive. Basically I think the Bassdrive is a superb and versatile pedal that is pretty much always on. So I really wasn't looking for a new distortion/overdrive pedal, but when I stumbled across this one I was immediately attracted by the good old industrial Boss looks (I have always liked the idea of an orange Boss pedal in the same way that I am turned off by the yellow bass overdrive pedal). I was also attracted by the price, although the DS-1 is probably the cheapest Boss pedal, the mods by Keeley or Analogman are more expensive and not bass-centric. [b]Getting it over here[/b] Dealing with Matt at Penny Pedals was very easy, and as he had one ready to go, it was very quick too. It also went through customs very quickly [b] Plugging in[/b] The pedal basically works in two settings: Distortion (ie what the Boss pedal was originally intended for) and Overdrive, selected by a toggle switch added to the top of the unit (with the penny pedals penny). The pedal has also been modified to give better bass response and tonal control. Plugging in and using the DS setting, the first thing I noticed is that the increased bass response is very noticeable, in fact it is quite immense, and this gives a fun distortion sound. As you would expect, it is not exactly a natural distorted sound, more artificial with a bit of bass tacked on- which is exactly what it is- like putting your generic distortion pedal through a blend control. This was definitely the sound I was expect and the sound I intended to use the pedal for. But then I flicked the switch... [b] Overdrive[/b] The OD setting is frankly brilliant. This setting offers a warm, fat, creamy bass sound with a hint of crunch coming through, and when you crank-up the knobs this becomes a full-on growl with minimal loss of bass. Interestingly when the distortion knob is almost fully turned anti-clockwise and the level knob turned down, the pedal offers some useful clean boost. I used this pedal with my band this week and I didn't turn it off for the whole session (and it was a long session). I mostly play with a Waterstone semi-hollow, which has a pretty formidable low end, but this pedal blew everyone away. [b]In conclusion[/b] This is a very useable distortion pedal for bass, but more than that it is a great overdrive pedal and is deceptively versatile. Perhaps not as versatile as a Bassdrive, but the stuff it does well, it does better than the Fulltone and so may well replace it as my 'always on' pedal.

I have been considering a [url="http://www.bargeconcepts.com/rc1.html"]Barge Concepts RC-3[/url] for recording purposes. It has an internal switch to maximise bass response.

Bum, hope it's all OK. What a waste of beer.

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='136126' date='Feb 7 2008, 10:31 PM']Sorry boy you are talking out of your arse. British taxpayers like me have been paying all our working lives for the priviledge of supporting the EU - and in my case that is longer than you have been alive. Even the EU's own cooked books, that have not been signed off by an auditor for years cos they are so crooked show that. The good service you get from Thomman, The Gallery, Bass Merchant, Bass Direct, Mansons etc, or the lack of service you get from GAK, Bass Centre, Sound Control etc has got f*** all to do with it.[/quote] Sorry old man, but if you think that this thread is supposed to be a serious discussion about the pros and cons of European integration, rather than sharing experiences of good purchasing experiences, then I think you have missed the point. Maybe I will think like you when I have paid taxes for as long as you have, perhaps I shall have all those chips on my shoulder. I shall hope every day that I do not.

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='136072' date='Feb 7 2008, 09:17 PM']So why does getting great service from Thomman make eurosceptics fools?[/quote] You're right, eurosceptics are steadfast fools and have been for decades. Getting great service from Thomann doesn't make them fools. Just a little bit more foolish.

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='136064' date='Feb 7 2008, 09:05 PM']stuff and nonsense. The reason Thomman are so cheap is because they got a massive EU grant to set up in the former GDR, as indeed did Warwick. And who paid for it - the british taxpayer. Everything is so expensive in the UK because everything is so expensive. Would you work for former GDR wages? The stuff you order from GAK has to be delivered by vans running on expensive british diesel that is taxed to arseholes to pay for the EU and benefits. The price of diesel affects the price of everything. As the only european economy based on property ownership the UK will always be out of step with europe.[/quote] The difference in the price of goods between Thomann and the UK is neither here nor there. I don't mind paying a little bit more to buy goods from my friendly local store who put themselves out to help you, in fact I want to pay more for that service. But that service does not exist. The reason I started this thread was not because Thomann is cheap and we get bargins, it is because the experience of shopping with them is far preferable to what I have experienced in the UK. And I don't think EU grants, our taxes or the difference in our economies make German customer service better, it just [i]is [/i] better.

I have just recieved my new [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/rockcase_rc23010a.htm"]Rockcase RC23010A[/url] pedal board and I am impressed. Prices cheaper than the UK, with good customer service (I never thought such a thing existed) and delivered to my door within two days of buying... for €10. I can now officially declare that the EU is a good thing, and bring on the Euro! As for the product- it seems pretty big and sturdy, which was exactly what I am looking for. It may not be as user friendly as a pedaltrain, and the pedals look abit untidy on it, but it does offer great protection for under £50. I also bought one of their [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/thomann_bass_koffer_tweed.htm"]tweed hard cases[/url] while I was at it because of the ridiculously cheap price- and that thing seems a bargin now as well. While boths these cases are quite bulky and heavy and I doubt they would survive a BA flight from China, they suit my needs very well (driving down country lanes too fast in a car with a high centre of gravity and a large boot). So in conclusion... I am never again going to subject myself to the obtuse shop assistants, extortionate prices or limited variety of rubbish British music shops. Hooray!

[quote name='GreeneKing' post='134064' date='Feb 5 2008, 06:45 AM']Here's a link to the Waterstone Guitars site. It's worth a look. Expensive I suspect, very nice though, a black Indra, now that would look good. [url="http://www.waterstoneguitars.com/index.shtml"]http://www.waterstoneguitars.com/index.shtml[/url][/quote] When I got my Indra Waterstone recommened Bass Northwest, and they were very good. If you buy direct from Waterstone, the bass is more expensive but the shipping is much cheaper and overall it is cheaper to buy from Waterstone. I bought from Bass Northwest because they do a proper setup, and I don't think shipping the place to cut costs when dealing with a bass. Before taxes the bass and shipping cost me $844. Factoring in taxes, the whole thing cost me just under £600 and frankly that is a bargin for such a beautiful bass.