BigBeatNut

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='875784' date='Jun 23 2010, 07:49 PM']Bloody horn soloists can't leave the key alone it seems and I'm struggling to find recordings in the right key and would rather not spend half my time transposing when I could be playing.[/quote] Perhaps slightly less applicable to DB than it is to BG, but ... a Korg Pandora will transpose the stuff you're playing along with into any key. My Pandora PX4B does it, and I'm pretty sure the PX4D and the '5' model must do it too. I think the '4's are now very reasonably priced on eBay. But if you can easily find what you want on spotify as per other recommendations, no need. Andy

Looks increasingly unlikely that I'll make it, so you'll be down one Rob Allen Deep 5 and Markbass 121P combo.

[quote name='Belinda' post='873906' date='Jun 21 2010, 09:30 PM']... am currently playing a Fender Jazz (not an actual Fender unfortunately) with a Mark Bass combo amp. .... am I right in assuming that my combo amp will be fine with the Aria??[/quote] The EUB and DB I have haven't been gigged to any extent so I can't really comment. However I do know of one classically trained DB player who also plays BG and DB in blues bands, and he says that the markbass 121P combo he has is the only amp he's found that works well with both DB and BG. Suspect that (like me) you've luckily made the right choice. Andy

Not sure which Aria you have, but if you take a look at [url="http://www.guitarandampshop.co.uk/acatalog/Aria_SWB-04_Upright_Bass_Guitar.html"]this one[/url] it has two pickups, so it's a reasonable theory that you have a pre-amp that is fitted to both basses, and you do have a socket for another pickup there. Andy

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='866890' date='Jun 14 2010, 11:51 AM'].... and a piezo bug mounted next to the f-hole. It sounded most acoustic with the latter pickup blended in. That's the one that made a difference.[/quote] Is that something you buy (and if so where could I get one ?), or was it more a DIY thing ?

[quote name='Faithless' post='865377' date='Jun 12 2010, 05:29 PM']But, if Palatino's and HB's price is actually almost the same, how can quality 'machines, and finish' differ much, if they're made in the same factory,[/quote] That's just speculation on my part. Speculation that the manufacturer offered to make the batch for Harley Bentons with (say) machines sourced from a different supplier (for either a cost saving, or improvement in quality). I'm just guessing, based on the kind of things I've read about how this kind of operation (manufacture in Far East, branding in UK or USA) works. I could also be wrong, and your original assumption (that they're a copy) could right ... but I think that's a bit less likely.

Can only offer a little advice on the Palatino/Benton. From what I've read of the way the industry works, that Harley Benton most likely comes from the same factory as the Palatinos. Possibly slightly different spec (machines, finish) and then a different badge slapped on it. That's my guess. I did consider a Palatino, but after trying one, I decided it offered nothing more sound-wise than a stick bass such as the Stagg, and in addition it was very heavy. I read something about them being hollow or chambered construction, but from the weight I would have guessed it was a solid slab of wood. I eventually went for something Palatino-sized, but with a sound chamber that did contribute to the sound (BSX Allegro, outside your budget I think), but if I was to go for a 2nd EUB, it would almost certainly be the Stagg, on the grounds of portability (less bulk, less weight). Andy

[quote name='Colledge' post='863974' date='Jun 11 2010, 08:04 AM']has to be one of the coolest setups ever... have to admit that the LM3 placed like that scares me though[/quote] You know what, I must have looked at that picture for a full minute, thinking where's the LM3. My brain must have filtered out that vertical thing as simply something that couldn't possibly be an amp.

[quote name='RIM Basses' post='752705' date='Feb 21 2010, 01:18 PM']Hi Guys, .... Robbie.[/quote] Robbie, are you going ? And are you bringing this ? A fretless one of those might suit me very nicely Andy

Okay, I hope to be going but can't make a definite commitment at the moment (free weekends have been a bit of a rarity recently). If I come, I'll bring my Rob Allen Deep 5, plus Markbass combo (121P ?) and probably one other bass. If you like, take a look at the gear link in my sig and tell me what I should bring. Very interested in basses that are some combination of fretless, 5-stringed, and hollow ... don't know if there are any more of those coming besides my RA ? Andy

[quote name='51m0n' post='848916' date='May 26 2010, 09:02 PM']Ooooh, these two:- Aguilar Octomizer 3Leaf Groove Regulator Would be really interesting![/quote] Same goes for me.

If it IS a pedal steel, Stingray5 got there first: [quote name='Stingray5' post='837861' date='May 15 2010, 04:03 AM']Pedal Steel (twin-neck? or possibly a single?)[/quote]

Never seen the undersides of one before, but I think that must be a pedal steel.

I finally gave in to curiousity and found out what the pingray was ... not disappointed, looks like a fine bass ... and I bet moving the D/G part of the P pickup neckward has fattened the tones nicely hasn't it ? Now to find someone to build me a 5-string version with a Nordy MM5.4 with all the switching options Andy

[quote name='TPJ' post='831203' date='May 8 2010, 08:29 AM']Louder is one thing, I doubt it has the warmth or low end.[/quote] The website says: [quote]... produces higher volume than a standard double bass with prominent undertones akin to a mellow vintage bass. The sound projection is also increased and a clear tone is evident across the whole range of the instrument.[/quote]

This is louder than a conventional upright ? .... veeerrrry interesting . Sounds like a winner, assuming there's no downside. Wonder why it's not been done before ? (Looks too radical I guess) Andy

[quote name='chriswilliams666' post='829113' date='May 5 2010, 11:03 PM']Quite possibly... I use a Bass POD Pro. The old school rack-mount one with a more hands on interface. I haven't had any issues with it. You can pick these up for around £120-£150 (possibly one on this forum) I know these are used by loads of session musicians in the studio. Other than that you're looking at the SansAmp or even a Rocktron Blue Thunder?[/quote] I thought you might have something there with the Blue thunder, but I've just checked it and its a rackmount. Space is usually at a premium at the gigs I do, so I'm not really looking at a rack solution at the moment ... and the same issue really rules out floor-based PODs (the 'POD Live' ones at least). Really, the sansamp or something similar with 3 or 4 presets, valve emulation, and maybe a compressor, is all I need. I've not seen the sansamp progammable or deluxe in the flesh, so its possible that even the deluxe is going to be pushing it for size. The rocktron Utopia (bass mode) might just do the trick. Or possibly I should switch to an amp like the [url="http://www.tcelectronic.com/rh450.asp"]RH 450[/url] .

Am I the only one in the UK that uses a Bass PODxt in a live situation ?