Japhet

Not come across anything with a dedicated blend option but generally speaking a low to mid drive pedal maintains more of your clean signal the less drive you add. Anything that does a decent job maintaining the low end should work well enough. I'd recommend the Joyo American Sound, the Caline Orange Burst and the TC Mojomojo for starters.

I've never tried to copy or create a particular sound from a bass, amp, cab, pedalboard or whatever. There are a myriad of sounds that I like and dislike in equal measure and a whole load of stuff in the middle that is my playground. I've played a load of different styles of music in different bands from funk to swing to rock to soul and I hope I've managed to come up with a sound that fits each particular bill, but if I didn't, nobody ever complained. I like my Stingray, my Precision (Tokai) and Lakland in equal measure and the same goes for the 4 completely different amps that I own. I'm also fully aware that lots of people adore sounds that I would never choose to listen to, and if those people watch me play they undoubtedly think my sound is awful. I'm happy in my 'playground' where I can noodle about and try stuff out at my leisure, safe in the knowledge that the vast majority of punters don't know or care what the bass does as long as the music sounds good.

Tecamp 212 if you can find one. Brilliant cabs that are usually overlooked.

Step into the light. The truth will set you free.

I like the Spectracomp too. Not heard any toneprints that float my boat but the sound straight out of the box works for me. I do however use a Keeley Bassist for gigging which is a cracking pedal, but I'd have no problem using the Spectracomp if I needed to.

I think you're right. Rubbish joke either way.

Nice pedal. Had one and can't for the life of me remember why I moved it on.

Used to play with a keyboard player whose favorite joke was; How many bass players does it take to play a bass line? None. The keyboard player can do it all with one hand. I used to add 'BADLY' on the end if he ever wheeled it out on a gig.

Joyo American Sound on the way to try out on the cheapies pedal board. Looking forward to this one. Hopefully it will work as an 'always on' source of mild break up. Can't resist giving this a try for under £30.

I use one of these. Been good for a couple of years. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tiger-Guitar-Stand-Lightweight-Folding-Guitar-Stand/142799770722?epid=22011372461&hash=item213f879462:g:P3oAAOSw-FNb1C5x:rk:13:pf:0

Orange Swarfega in the bath. There's a water shortage you know.

I've never liked the idea of running cabs with different Ohms together. Everything (power consumption, output, volume) would seem to be out of balance. Just doesn't seem right to me.

Tell him to fit a Kickport in his bass drum and leave the bass amp at home. Bass frequencies are very susceptible to cancelling themselves out so not surprised his bizarre idea is causing problems.

This (and Part 2) might give a flavour of what modes can do and how they make a major scale sound totally different, even exotic depending on what the root note is. The key thing is that it all depends on what chords you're underpinning the mode with.

^^ Excellent bit of info there Bill.

If the fat, vintage sound is what you're after, the Rumble delivers it in spades. It's also a versatile amp that can produce all sorts of sounds. I've only played through a MB a couple of times and (in my experience), it delivers the GK sound but doesn't have the versatility of the Rumble (or the power).

She obviously knows nothing about 'heft' though.

I'm partial to a chunky neck. Thinner necks are a bit easier to play quick stuff on but I find they make the palm of my fretting hand ache on a long gig, especially with a short front to back profile. I've never noticed much difference in necks with different radius to be honest.

I'll never forget the weekly experience of packing away after a gig and going to pick up my Trace 4x10 combo. Every time it felt like somebody had screwed it to the floor. I don't really care what a head weighs - it's all about the cab, and the one I've had for quite a few years now (TechSoundsystems 2x12) is a magical thing that weighs next to nothing, sounds fantastic and easily handles whatever is thrown at it. I'm never going back to the dark ages.

I have a Weber Mywatt 200 which is a copy of the Hiwatt DR201 200 Watter. Fantastic sounding amp that doesn't break the bank or result in trips to the chiropractor. Highly recommended.

Almost a week gone by since we went to see Nearly Dan at the Stables, Milton Keynes. Great gig (as always) tinged with sadness at the recent loss of Pete Bacanin. I'm really not a 'tribute' band person, but knowing that the very slight chance of seeing the real thing would undoubtedly mean some atrocious massive venue, I'm more than happy to watch superb musicianship in the fabulous comfort and acoustics and viewing experience offered at The Stables. Highly recommended if you get the chance.

How's this for an iconic intro?

There's a bunch of stuff in the F/S section for you to browse. Some really nice stuff in there too.

The way I see it, the only way to properly try an amp out is to play a gig with it. It's highly unlikely that I'd get a chance to try out all the stuff I'd like to so the only way is to buy them, try them out and then keep or sell. I've got lovely stuff but still peruse the F/S section for stuff I have absolutely no need for. It's my only real vice though since I don't drink much or smoke or go on holidays.

Ha ha!! For a moment there I thought you were saying you got people dancing to Goodbye Pork Pie Hat. Now that would have been quite an achievement. As it happens, I'm a big Jeff Beck fan and as with everyone who pushes the envelope, some of it misses the spot, but he's a totally unique artist and innovator who never followed the crowd.