uk_lefty

It is the easiest multi effect to use that I've seen. I bought a zoom 708 back in the early 2000s, had some other zoom models for guitar and bass, and most recently had a Boss GT10B which is an awesome bit of kit. I get a bit lost with a lot of effects talk but what I loved in the boss was the amp and cab preset effects giving you tones to sound like Jack Bruce, Mark King, Entwistle, etc. The Helix Stomp does all this stuff and more, it's tiny, lightweight works for electric and acoustic guitars and keys too, and has endless possibilities with the effects types. The drawbacks for me are that all the bass presets assume you want a dirty driven sound, when sometimes some bassists like a clean sound. However, research around enough (ask on BC!) and you may find solutions to other tones you're searching for. Integrating it with other pedals... Well, I've got a bass wah that I don't use in the fx loop of the Helix, and I may add some kind of synth pedal in to the loop as I'm not keen on the Helix bass synth sounds. Again it assumes you want some wacky distorted noise that for me wouldn't be usable, instead of subtle squashy synth tones you hear on pop records from the 80s. The Helix Stomp only has two usable buttons, I can't see how to change the third out from tuner, but you can buy additional buttons from bright onion and others. PC editing is a doddle, really really easy. There's not many big minuses and I'm sure they can be overcome over time and with more people making their own patches to sell.

Once retailers get their stocks replenished I'd recommend buying/ trying a handful of Sire basses if you want something loosely based on a jazz. Sire have so many options: maple, roasted maple or ebony board. 4 or 5 string. Active or passive. Alder or Ash. PJ and JJ. I bought one off Thomann and quickly learned: maple boards look great but sound brittle to me, I rarely used the low B and so I'm happy with D tuners on a 4. I can get on with active electronics as long as they're well made and not the nasty 2 band rubbish I'd used in the past. I don't like gloss finish necks. If I was right handed and had the option to go to a retailer with loads of Sires I could have tested out PJ configs and allsorts to find what really works vs what looks best or what I think will be best.

Thanks! I've donwloaded their bass presets pack and got the Trace IR. Having trouble loading it to the Stomp though, and then I read the manual and it says to buy their IR Loader!!!! Is this essential or is there a way round it?

I think the argument put forward is if they are both identical spec stats why would Jimi's be worth more than Smith's? I wouldn't go out of my way to buy something with provenance myself. But I'm from Yorkshire and I'm tight. I can understand why people do and fair play to them. However, I'd much prefer if having a coffee with Paul McCartney and he offered me a go on his Hofner bass I would be delighted to, but even if I had the Euro millions winnings to buy it I don't think I would.

Ebay.

Mick, as a Trace connoisseur do you think you can get the sound from a head paired with a lightweight cab?

If only someone could make that for the HX Stomp. And an SWR sim while they're at it!

Have never got a good sound out of it unfortunately. Am happy enough with the standard EQ options. I've tinkered with it but just never really seen the point.

Awesome!

Last night I played my "new" Washburn Status with my new 80s band for the first time. In the rehearsal room was a Trace Elliot 2x10. Absolute 80s sonic heaven. Full, clear, punchy, loud but not boomy or pain inducing. Hardly any EQ tweaking, just plug and play with a bit of compression from my Helix. Amazing how you can find a perfect match. Tempted to find a Trace head somewhere now...

A bass, a tuner, all my "cheat notes" so I can remember how certain bits of songs go.

You don't have to use each preamp. Not sure about your amp but I can bypass my amps EQ and I used to do this when using an active Sire bass and amp sims on a Boss pedal board.

I think it is. I got it fitted by a luthier because there were other jobs required and a final set up so got him to do it. The jazz cover slips off nicely and did many a time, so who knows if it's upside down or not?! Whereas the P covers are held on with kryptonite. I've already had to correct some wiring mistakes too, luckily the kiogon set up makes it a 2 second job. The issue I have on the P pickup is that when in humbucker mode I lose all tone on the E and A, but when normal its fine. So would turning the pups upside down but in their current routs be sufficient or would it be a swap of which bed they're in AND turning them upside down? Either way, still after some better quality pups as the bass is a joy. The body is very light and the MIM P neck is very skinny compared to the MIJ 70s reissue P I had, so I'm having fun exploring it.

There's a B stock one in at Thomann 148 before any other charges

Looks like the Geezers are in front. I've had my eye on those for a while and I love Sabbath. If the GZR users could point to a couple of Sabbath tracks they think this pup set nails the tone of that could sway me!

I've got a pickup blend pot rather than separate volumes so hopefully this negates the problem. Know what you mean though.

Having completed my Bitsa I'm very keen to replace the cheap pickups. The body and neck feel great, it will be a perfect backup bass and it's fun to noodle around with, so now I want more! I'm looking at the following matched PJ sets and would welcome experience of these in the £150 and below bracket: Fender Yosemite EMG GZR DiMarzio DP126 Kent Armstrong PJ Tonerider (cheap wildcard option) I've discounted some other sets like Aguilar due to cost and the EMG PJHZ is tempting but it has a weird 5 wire connection thing that I don't understand or want. What tone am I aiming for.... I've not got a fixed idea. I've got a Kiogon loom that takes me from traditional passive PJ to then engaging the series/ parallel to transform it in to the ideal Stingray backup. I'm happy with vintage or modern as long as its quality, sophisticated tone. Pups at present are Alan Entwistle. I'm happy ish with the J pup but not the P, I think it may have a small defect on one of the halves. I'm just remembering the sheer quality of sound I got from an old MIM jazz when I put Bartolini pups in so I want quality of tone again, just not at Barts price!

Ha! Well I did need help getting it finished. The email to the luthier started "Terry, I've done it again..." because he's used to me bringing him beaten up second hand basses. When I collected it from him I said I was a bit embarrassed by it and he said "I'm surprised it wasn't in a box, people usually buy kit guitars and don't even get as far as screwing the bits together. I get hundreds of them a year" that made me feel a bit better!

Car seat base and Graco baby seat. Very good condition, just a little dusty from being in the garage for a few months. Collect from AL4 postcode (between St Albans and Welwyn GC). PM me if interested

So I always wanted the Duff McKagan style fender PJ: solid colour body, no pickguard, black painted neck and headstock. They don't do them left handed. I've also always fancied assembling a bass so I set to. I've got a thread in the build diaries about this as it was my first serious attempt. While the result is pleasing it has taken months, been expensive, still needs some improvement, isn't what I set out to make, and probably cost more than a Sire PJ. Still, I think she looks alright and sound pretty nice, though a pup upgrade can't come soon enough. Here she is and a screenshot of a Boxer for comparison. The neck is genuine a Fender P MIM before anyone raises the issue of sticking on labels... The parts are: Ash body, rear routed from Guitarandbassbuilds.com Wilkinson Bridge and tuners Kiogon loom Alan Entwistle pups... For now Fender MIM P bass neck Various bits from Northwest Guitars (neck plate, strap buttons, knobs, etc)

She's done! This was supposed to be a learning experience. So what did I learn.... Nothing ground breaking, some I already knew, but here goes: Not all "standard parts" are the same. For example the tuners for an MIM Fender are different to any standard replacements. And even then its not just the screw holes but also the overlapping of the metal backing. Should have got direct replacement tuners then I could have fitted myself. Also pots, jacks etc. No such thing as standard, there's minor variations that make the difference between fitting and not fitting. Buying necks and bodies from different suppliers is a faff even when the measurements should be right. It took me three necks bought to get a good fit, spending more than I expected, and even then I was compromising on the exact spec. Pre drilled bodies may need some more drilling. They also may need some holes tightening up as they are pre drilled too wide. Setting off to create one thing will probably lead to making something different. Some positives, some negatives. If you don't have the time, skill or tools to do this kind of thing YOU DO NOT HAVE THE TIME, SKILL OR TOOLS TO DO THIS KIND OF THING. There's cheaper ways to learn. If in doubt, get a professional in. I'd have spent less buying a Sire PJ and had the option to send back if things aren't working properly. Cheap pickups are cheap because they aren't very good. Modern MIM Fender P necks are amazingly thin. But better quality than 90s MIM necks. Anyhow, I think she looks and plays quite nicely.

Tune up, yes, but don't be one of those bands where each song ends and there's dead air for a minute or so while everyone double checks their tuning. Once every three or four songs is OK unless you feel you are out. It's nice to have loads of flashy gear, and cheap versions of flashy gear, but really a good bass sound can be produced by bass, cable, amp. More items in that chain means more things can go wrong. And usually the cheap effects pedals are where the interference comes from. Venues never have enough space or plug sockets. Travel light but take a load of extension leads. Have a good time. If you're not enjoying it your audience won't. Or if you think standing looking miserable is going to be your "thing" then you WILL be approached by people asking if you're OK throughout your entire set (lesson learned from my first ever gig!) Don't go over the top apologising to your audience if things go wrong or aren't quite right, laugh it off but don't ever give it the "we're a new band and we're a bit stinky poo and we don't know this song so if you want to drink up and go that's OK..." They haven't paid for tickets to see the Rolling Stones, they've come to a pub with live music on. They'd rather see local people having a good time and making music for their entertainment and won't expect a fully professional production.

And do the experiment ends.... I reached my limit and took the bass to the luthier who does my set ups and repairs. The bass needed a lot of finishing and setting up. Work included: Replace the jack for one with a longer fitting to go through the body, Dowels used to fill oversized control holes, Tuners needed some metal grinding off so that they all fit the rear of the headstock (Wilkinson tuners on an MIM Fender neck), Pickups fitting to wiring loom and bridge earth wire installing, Neck shim, Set up A lot of work to finish but my goodness the bass looks ridiculously good. Very light, action is perfect. Pictures to follow.

Amazing how Sires can be shipped from the far East to Europe, stored for ages, shipped again and arrive perfectly set up... Yet a big retailer selling a Fender for nearly 2 grand doesn't bother to just check it and tweak it.

Thanks, I didn't get that from the original clues, must have been autocorrect or something. Lots of big blowouts going on at the moment, will keep my eye out for more deals coming up....