dannybuoy

I've just changed the neck pickup in my Yamaha Fretless for a Seymour Duncan quarter pounder, and it's the first time I've messed with my bass's electronics. Everything seemed to go ok but I have a small problem. The central pot is a pickup blend, fully clockwise selects the neck pup, fully anti-clockwise solos the bridge. If I have it fully on the neck pup then back it off a tiny bit, I get a crackle and the sound drops out; turn it back a bit more and the sound comes back. It's like there's a small dead zone in the pot. I'm hoping it doesn't get worse and start kicking in when the neck pickup is soloed, otherwise I'm in trouble! Has anyone experienced this before? I'm thinking maybe heat damage could've caused it? I might have to replace the pot, although I'm gonna have to buy a cheap backup bass first! Any help or advice appreciated...

Found one review for the Alba: [url="http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Electric+Bass/product/Alba/Precision+copy/10/1"]http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews...ision+copy/10/1[/url] Only 1 person to review it, but it was very positive. Only bad thing was that there was no foam under the pickup - but I was planning on replacing the pickup anyway. I originally said under £200, but I meant as cheap as possible! I am now swung between this and the SX. The SX works out twice the price, and have a lot of followers - but then again the Alba could be exactly the same!

These are on ebay for £50: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ALBA-4-STRING-BASS-GUITAR-NATURAL_W0QQitemZ150211618309QQihZ005QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]Alba P-Bass[/url] Natural finish which is unusual, and very cheap price. It might be absolute garbage, or it might just come form he exact same factory as SX, Richwood, etc in China and be the same thing with a different badge (or no badge, these seem to have a blank headstock). Tempted to get one of these, put in a Seymour Duncan and slap a Fender logo on the headstock! Anyone tried one, or shall I be the guinea pig?

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='132460' date='Feb 2 2008, 10:52 AM']How about a DHA valve compressor?[/quote] It's meant to warm and colour your sound more than a regular modern compressor, but it looks like that's what this guy's after. The link I posted above will have a review of the DHA soon, he's just received it apparently. EBS multicomp has a tube sim mode too. EHX Blackfinger sounds awesome and I love the clips on the EHX website, but is very noisy from what I've heard.

Sorry, added the link now, see above! Bongomania is the resident compressor guru over at the talkbass.com forum.

Check this out, this guy knows what he's talking about. I just bought an EBS Multicomp from a fellow basschatter based on this info. The Trace does look good though I've seen a few go for about £60 on ebay lately. But the best according to this guy are EBS Multicomp, Demeter Compulator, or BBE Opto Stomp. [url="http://www.ev-b.com/compressors.html"]Bongomania's Compressor Review Page[/url]

[quote name='Jono' post='132306' date='Feb 1 2008, 11:21 PM']total of 59...so far[/quote] Get yourself to hospital!

[quote name='OldGit' post='132073' date='Feb 1 2008, 05:18 PM']Join the SX club, mate. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=11397&hl=sx"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=11397&hl=sx[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=12081&hl=sx"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=12081&hl=sx[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=11567&hl=sx"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=11567&hl=sx[/url][/quote] Yeah, was thinking about those, only thing is paying £130 for a £55 bass somehow seems so wrong! You can get the Richwood ones here, but they work out the same price, maybe slightly more: [url="http://stores.channeladvisor.com/dangleberry-music/Guitar%20%2b%20Bass/Bass%20Guitars/Precision%20Bass"]Dangleberry Music[/url] LOL... Dangleberries...

[quote name='Leowasright' post='132062' date='Feb 1 2008, 05:09 PM']Surely a Squire Standard Precision should be in your sights at that price level. I'm sure they are readily available at £160 ish? David H[/quote] But apparently the 3 mentioned above are better made and sound more like the real thing, the Squiers aren't so hot (if Fender made great Squiers, they wouldn't sell any real Fenders!).

Been having a look around for a cheap P-Bass knockoff for under £200 and these look to me as the best 3 makes from reading reviews on Harmony Central - Shine, Richwood and SX. Shine is available in quite a few shops, and is made by the same manufacturer as Epiphone. Richwood are made here in the UK, and SX you have to get from the states. Tempted to get a Shine or Richwood P-Bass and whack a Seymour Duncan quarter pounder pickup in it to beef it up a bit. Anyone here able to recommend these or any other makes?

Not tried one myself, but they are meant to sound erally good, although not transparent. It adds a bit of valve warmth, not quite into overdrive territory though. Unfortunately the sounds on the website are only with guitar. Bongomania's review over at Talkbass says it's good but suffers from excessive noise. Plenty of people have reported no noise issues with it though, so it's likely that it's just sensitive to electrical and RF noise, depending on what other equipment and power lines are running nearby, explaining why different people get different results. Go try one out in a shop if you can! I know I want to...

[quote name='ahpook' post='127276' date='Jan 24 2008, 08:30 PM']plus the one[/quote] Get a blender and mix in some clean bass with the muff. Then you can also use other guitar fuzzboxes in the loop without losing your low end. Barge Concepts VFB-2 or VFB1-Jr, Xcotic Blender, DHA Bob The Blender

Cheers, I've just gone for the one from www.johnnyshredfreak.com, heard it's good and reliable and has a good 1.5A max on tap.

I've been looking for a power supply that can power up multiple pedals and saw this on ebay: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/6-Output-Power-Bank-9v-Effects-Pedal-Board-Power-Supply_W0QQitemZ270205707535QQihZ017QQcategoryZ22669QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/6-Output-Power-Bank-...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url] Anyone tried one of these? Or have a good alternative that's not too expensive?

Same here, just got mine today and now it's going to be a permanent part of my setup. My bass just sounds muddy, undefined and lacking low end punch without it. I was perfectly happy with my sound before, but now there's no going back!

I'm about to order one too! Not sure whether to get the VT2 over the VT1 though at this stage... I've done a lot of research over here and at talkbass and can tell you that the other pedals that can help you achieve that sound are: - BJFE Blueberry [i](sounds the best to my ears but hand made by some Swedish guy, so expensive and very hard to find) [/i] - Fullton Bassdrive Mosfet - Homebrew Hematoma [i](comparison of the above 3 complete with clips - [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=296888)"]http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=296888)[/url][/i] - Tone Factor / Mojo Hand Cream Pie [i](also hard to find, but loved by many - [url="http://www.grygrx.net/Pedal%20Reviews/Tone%20Factor/Cream%20Pie/Cream%20Pie.mp3)"]http://www.grygrx.net/Pedal%20Reviews/Tone...ream%20Pie.mp3)[/url][/i] - Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive [i](light overdrive pedal with a clean blend feature to let your clear bass signal shine through. No samples but supposedly awesome on bass. Review here - [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=395428&highlight=voodoo+sparkle)"]http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.p...voodoo+sparkle)[/url][/i] - BBE Green Screamer [i](built for guitar but works wonderfully with bass. No samples but read this - [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5135291)"]http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5135291)[/url][/i]

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='117896' date='Jan 10 2008, 03:16 PM']I like the idea of the Brite Flats... I might give 'em a go.[/quote] I only use the one bass and I need it to be able to produce a variety of tones, from rounded mellow to snarling mid-focused attack. The Brite Flats fit the bill perfectly here, but been looking for an easier to find alternative! They are excellent, but had to get them ordered in special and they set me back £25 a set. Those Status Hotwire halfs are only £17.95 inc VAT and p&p but I've never heard of em... Might give em a whirl and let you know how they compare!

Dave, I've been thinking of getting your VT1 bass overdrive pedal. Now, I am also looking at getting a compressor, but unfortunately cannot afford both! I only want the OD for very light on-the-verge-of-breaking-up tube warmth and growl. Would the compressor alone provide such a tone if set correctly, seeing as it's got a valve in it? Just thinking this because I've heard the soud clips of the Electro Harmonix Black Finger compressor (with guitar unfortunately, no bass) and it does sound like a very mild overdrive. cheers, Dan

I first tried some Rotosounds half-round / ground-wound (not exactly sure what type!) in a blue pack - they were ok, but the G and A strings were a lot rougher than D and E, almost like regular rounds. After researching the talkbass forum, everyone raved about GHS Brite Flats. They were impossible to find in the UK, but I emailed stringsdirect.co.uk and they ordered some in special for me. I bought 2 sets and they are perfect for me - silky smooth but still plenty of bite, you get a nice growling roundwound tone when pulling hard or using a pick, but can still sound like mellow flats if you alter your technique and roll off the tone a bit. Now my 2nd set is at the end of it's life, and I'm not sure whether to try and clean the first set, get some more ordered in, or try the d'Addarrio or Rotosound groundwounds (hoping for a similar but easier to obtain version of the brite flats).

Hi Dave, I'm seriously considering getting a VT1 bass overdrive. I saw the black with splattered red custom paint job and liked it, but wondered what other paint job options are available? Can we come up with our own suggestions and let you just go for it? Do you prefer to take orders through ebay, leaving any custom info/requests in the seller info box after winning the auction?