uk_lefty

I bought this cheap and cheerful distortion/ fuzz and took it straight to rehearsal. I've seen recommendations to stay away from this pedal on this forum but never a review... So here comes a review! Yes, better pedals will exist. However my criteria were cheap without being "too cheap" and using as little space as possible. I wanted a distortion of some sort as my band has gigs where I may be using a provided backline so can't rely on my amps built in overdrive. I had heard that this pedal is a clone of the ehx bass blogger, which I used to own, so I had a good idea what I was getting tonewise but with a fraction of the pedal board footprint. The distortion and fuzz... Not massively distinguishable from each other I'm afraid, but I keep the gain low for a gritty sound rather than a full buzz saw effect. I used this with both a p bass and a headless hohner in to the rehearsal spaces Orange amp. The sound was what I was looking for, not the warmest and most natural sounding but effective under two guitars for adding the grittiness I wanted. I can't see me playing around too much with the settings. Running an envelope filter before the distortion combined the two effects well, and despite its tiny size it was easy to find with the sole of my boot. If you love heavy distortion and it's an integral part of your sound invest in a different pedal, you'll appreciate it more. However if you only need the odd touch of distortion now and then you won't go wrong with this one as a live and rehearsal tool, for recording you may want something more lavish to get a warmer sound from. For less than fifty quid I think this is good value. Having had cheap bass overdrives before this is definitely a step above the bottom of the range guff you can get, but there are many many more upward steps if that's your style of play. The case seems durable and the tiny size is a blessing.

[quote name='Roger2611' timestamp='1462987431' post='3047637'] They may be worth a go on my fretless, I love the sound of rounds on a fretless but not the damage they do to the fret board, I will give some a go [/quote] Me too! Got standard Ernie ball flats at the moment but a but more of a roundwound tone would suit me better

I have the Steve Harris Sig. Pickup in my MIJ P bass and the sound is HUGE. It's a big, open clear bass tone. I also have the Steve Harris sig. Strings. They're heavy and take some getting used to but it is such a big and clear tone, can't think how else to describe it. I'm not a Steve Harris fan either, but I will be keeping the pickup and strings as long as possible.

If it happened to me I wouldn't find it funny... But thank you for sharing, it made me chuckle a bit. Hope your bass appears soon!

I have the toneman 300 combo. Very good value.

Massively under played song that is unmistakably RHCP!

These look amazing!! Anybody have a rough idea of how much a lefty conversion would cost... And whether it would be effective?

Went for less than 150????!!!

Not a musician but I once asked Tracey Emin for directions to the bass centre (??) Near Liverpool street station. She didn't know. I realised it was her the next day. I also stood on her friends foot by accident.

Hi Phin, love the ambition and hope you make it!! You certainly know a good bass player and good bass music already so now it's just about finding something comfortable for you. A PJ bass sounds like good solid advice, as you start playing with more musicians they may not always appreciate your Larry Graham repetoire so having a multi functional bass where you can just whack on the P pickup and play 90% of all rock music with a solid tone that cuts through. Have a tickle on a few basses and see what feels best to start you off. Best of luck

Hi. I had a Brice six string about nine years ago. It was HEAVY, really really heavy. I found the neck manageable but the pickups and overall tone were poor. The top was a very thin laminate on a very thick body. I sold it on quickly. Had it been a four stringer I'd have said it was no more than a nice looking beginner bass. Having said that I would consider their jazz bass style six stringer but would ideally want to try first. It looks pretty and the pickups would be easier to replace. No experience of Ibanez but from reputation I would expect it to be far superior.

The Boss bass limiter enhancer has a recommended setting for slap playing... These are quite cheap second hand or for really cheap I think that Behringer (and possibly Harley Benton?) Do a "clone" of this pedal. TBH the pedal helps but technique is probably the best solution.

[quote name='Chownybass' timestamp='1462092984' post='3040130'] I don't think the game has changed either. People like Scott and I are never going to be able to make - for instance - a jazz bass and compete with Squire. They make a solid instrument at an economy of scale that we could never HOPE to compete with. What we can do - is fill up the niches with well thought out and soundly constructed instruments. When making stuff in smaller runs, the things you'd cut to save money when manufacturing thousands, don't really matter. Want a bone nut? Sure why not. Doesn't affect my bottom line particularly much. So with no distributors taking a margin, and doing our own distribution, it's perfectly feasible to make a musician friendly instrument at a good price and of good quality - as long as we work in the niches. That's not to say we're not going to try stray outside them from time to time. It's not for the faint hearted though There is a gap in the market for us at the moment to get stock into independent stores, as a few don't want to deal with the major brands at the moment. Agile brands like us, that can be flexible on stock levels, price and so on will always find a way to wiggle into the gaps. I've often considered blogging about what it takes and took to get Chowny off the ground. But then I think I'd be the only one interested in reading it. [/quote] I'd read it!! Would love to hear about the journey. Something I often dream of (in another hobby) but am not brave enough to do.

[quote name='Jebo1' timestamp='1461662536' post='3036473'] I'd suggest buying a genuine vintage instrument, not a limited edition reissue. Personally, I have about the same amount of money in my instrument collection as I do in my personal pension (work one is slightly different). [/quote] My point was I could buy, for arguments sake, this year's limited run fender or Gibson or other whatever that may be, solely for the purpose of investment and not to consider playing it, just leave it in the case. Agreed a reissue won't have the value of the original, but what of a 2016 original limited run instrument? What would that be worth in mint condition in 20yrs time? It's a gamble but probably better than +1% year on year

Because of the awful rate of interest from banks I have toyed with the idea of buying (even a right handed) limited edition Fender or Gibson and just locking it in its case for twenty years to sell on in future or pass on to my kids if I have any... Bit of a gamble, the vintage guitar market may be dead in twenty years, or I may need to "relic" it to make it sellable. Not the worst financial idea...

Thank you both... Off to b&q today

I have B&Q's cheapest drill. It's ok for putting holes in walls but not sure for delicate works like this... Would I need a hand-drill rather than electric, or a better quality drill?

So my 90s MIM Jazz came second hand with nice light Schaller tuners. I wanted a more authentic look so bought some gotoh machine heads. Come to fitting them and the pilot holes for the screws don't align. I don't have a small enough drill bit (anyone know the size needed?) So have tried to pilot with a tack and a hammer but reluctant to do this. Straight screwing in to wood with no pilot only gets half the screw length in. So the question is what is the best way? Drill pilot holes? Anyone know what size drill bit and where I could buy? Thank you

Sold at 356. I'd have been tempted if it was listed as left handed or lefty, or something someone would search for... Now adding L/H to my list of search terms...

Custom... Meaning bodged together in my garage because nobody in their right mind would ever dream of making this sh*t.

Not sure mate but I have a similar issue with a five string that has a huge headstock. Some hard cases will be ok, but for gig bags I'd maybe try one for a thubderbird or other larger bass? What do right handed sire 5 string users carry then round in?

[quote name='Malcspring1' timestamp='1461226242' post='3032548'] Hey folks, As a newbie to the forum and also a relatively new bass player I was wondering if there any effects pedals that can mimic a fretless sound? I know that it would be near impossible to do it totally, but I was just curious as I love the fretless sound, but do no have the technical ability to play a fretless bass. Any pointers would be helpful. [/quote] Go for a zoom BFX708 cheap as chips second hand. That has a "Jaco p" setting and a fretless emulator. To be fair though when I was still relatively inexperienced on bass I used these after hearing Pearl Jam 'ten' and they didn't cut the mustard. I bought a lined fretless next birthday opportunity

[quote name='FuNkShUi' timestamp='1461316276' post='3033557'] Sounds like a success! Excellent. I take it the "handshake and welcome" means you got the gig? [/quote] Oh yes