uk_lefty

Singer in the project I'm starting sounded AMAZING using a TC Mic Mechanic a few weeks back through a rubbish PA, and a bit flat and lifeless this week through a great PA with no technical help. There's a whole massive thread about why people who use such things should be stoned to death, but.... 😜

As long as nobody is trying to pull the wool on others, what they do with their own time money and kit is their business. My bitsa is based on Fender shaped parts and was going to have part of my band name in Fender script on the headstock. I don't see that as a crime, it wouldn't say Fender but it might look like it from afar. Some would say "NO! Design your own logo" but hey, I'm playing covers so originality isn't my priority.

I've been in your position. It depends just how bad they are. Are they a little flat and they could be having an off night, a cold, singing through a rubbish PA, just need a bit of Reverb or confidence? Or are they kidding themselves? Hadn't been in a band for years and someone contacted me doing country, loads of gigs and he's recorded ten albums several of which in Nashville. I said Yes, agreed a date and time to meet with him and his band. Only then did I do my research. Saw him on YouTube with an edited video and recorded vocals. The vocals were absolutely dire. My (now) wife absolutely wet herself laughing saying he sounded like kermit the frog. Actually kermit would be incredibly offended by that description. I pulled out because I couldn't do it to myself. Recently I started a band with the intent of doing lead vocals. However, it quickly became clear that this wasn't a realistic prospect and we brought in a singer, something I was open to at the start. No offence taken, I'd rather be in a good band than forever try to put one together with me as the weakest link that always broke the chain. Also, I can play much tastier bass lines if I'm not singing at the same time, win win.

Sorry if this is somewhere in the previous 61 pages. I'm having trouble loading up some 3Sigma Audio presets and one of their IRs I've bought on to my HX Stomp. Their help section on the website is fairly useless. Some of the presets contain IRs that cause an error, and I have no idea how to get the IR files, loads and loads of files, loaded on to the Stomp. If anyone can help please let me know! Thanks

Constant pedal buying and selling was why I went back to a multi a few years back with the Boss and then "upgraded" to the Helix Stomp. I bought and sold pedals all the time to try to find the right sound but also had to battle interference issues, pedal board space, more links in the chain for things to go wrong. Then when I got a good quality bass multi I realised that most of the effects were there for small parts of individual songs and really it was good solid bass tones, and by that I mean amp and cab and EQ sounds, that made it for me. Review how you use effects to see if one of these is worth it for you. Even when I was in love with my Boss multi I'd still do some rehearsals and even gigs without any pedals at all in the chain because my covers band didn't need it as much as it needed a big solid bass tone.

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)