Lfalex v1.1

As per the title, really. Supposing I might want to control the (tap) tempo of two separate pedals or multi fx at the same time, would it be possible to use a mono to 2 mono splitter cable from my Boss FS5U into the 2 fx units? That way, for example, I can preserve the integrity of the delay on both halves of the Chapman Stick without re-combining the signals. Means I can use separate amp models and EQs, too whilst keeping things like Flangers etc. in sync. Has anyone else done this? (Surely they have?!) Thanks in advance Alex.

I could never get the AX7 in my Trace SMX to even vaguely distort, no matter how hard I tried. All it did was soften the sound and made it slightly warmer sounding. The SMX was awesome otherwise, just lacking in power against the QSC PLX1202. The aforementioned SVP Pro, however had a dedicated Overdrive valve/circuit which did exactly what you'd expect. Want more? Overload the gain tube and it'd do a wall of distortion.

Valve pre and Solid State power amp? I had an Ampeg SVP-Pro pre which I used with a QSC PLX1202 power amp. That was quite a good combination, but both together in a 4u case with a rackmount tuner and cables was neither small nor light.

Re: recording, yes, the options are useful. The Stingray 5's implementation of coil switching (plus the phantom coil) made it good enough to use live due to the built-in level matching. Come to think of it, my Warwick Infinty has a coil tap on the twin jazz that doesn't affect the level, and nor does the vintage sc / modern sc / attack coil switch on the Ibanez EDC715. The Status version of events was so skewed that if you ran the bridge pickup in series and the neck in parallel, the blend pot could barely even the two out- Nor could the eq find a way to tame the series pickup's harshness.

Spot on. I didn't realise the differences (detailed above) would be so pronounced on my Status Streamline , which I specced with Series/Parallel on both pickups. There was no way to accurately compensate for the level change, so it made the custom order pointless. The reality of the matter was that my previously owned Stingray 5 fretless had spoiled me; Musicman put a resistor in the signal path for Series and Parallel to bring the level down to match the single coil option. The Ray also had a phantom coil so the single coil mode was noiseless. This could be done in your case with a trim pot/s (inside the cavity) to adjust the hotter signals to match the lowest output option. As you have TWO humbuckers, you could use the two opposing polarity coils in each unit as the S/C to hum-cancel each other... Have a look at a schematic of how the Warwick $$ does it... that's quite instructive.

Thanks for the heads-up. I'll be super-careful when I change the strings. Shame you missed out on the Triple-coiled EDC, it can be a bit of a monster! That pickup was good in its ATK application, too. It's the EDC 700/705 that's escaping me at the moment. I'm watching one (an EDC700) on Ebay, but I'm not sure on the condition. If I can find another EDA, there's a danger that I might de-fret it or have it made into a fretless with a 'board change. I get the feeling they'd make a good fretless. I believe that EDA900/905 "F"s exist, but I don't think I've seen one in the flesh.

Once (and only once!) a band I was in played locally to us. It was my second gig with them. Determined to do better than my previous outing, I ultimately played right out of my shoes, and I think it raised the whole band's game somewhat. The rest of the band knew a lot more people than I did (I don't really do the scene thing), and just about everyone said; "Wow! The new bassist is really good!" Next day, I was sacked. No reason given. At the time, I had 4 basses and a cat.

Definitely this. My 300w head was barely enough into 4ohms (2 cabs) into 8, it was only just enough for practice. When I started using a 600Wrms power amp I had more headroom to play with, despite using the same cabinet/s. Edit- Perhaps I shouldn't mention that the 300w head was a Trace SMX/1153 & 2103H cabs!

For the amount that they cost, I'd want SOLID GOLD polepieces... except that probably wouldn't work.

A Black head like that needs a good squeeze if you ask me...

I think I have a (slight) grasp of this one.. I think with some combinations of strings/bass/bridge there are TWO points at which the saddle achieves the correct position to deliver accurate intonation. In some cases there's only one, but almost two; the saddle won't quite go back or forward enough. The issue occurs when we start trying to chase the position where it's not quite in range. There are fixes; cutting the springs, heavier B strings. Maybe a "reset", as detailed above, might help. The science? No idea, but I've a gut feeling that it might be to do with nodes/anti nodes?

Under my corrosive, sweaty mitts; Chrome pits and tarnishes Gold wears off/goes green Nickel pits and goes crusty Rust just comes off on my hands Black survives best. So black it is.

Hmmmmm.... What's next? Seems like an EDC700 or better still, a 705 is in order to complete the Ergodyne set. The EDA's performance is tempting me to try and obtain another and have it de-fretted or have a new 'board made. I note with interest that the Afirma has a separate (stacked) Bass and Treble pot for the Magnetic Pickup. Perhaps that's a sensible alteration... But I think the piezo bass bass control should stay on the back. It's safer there!

Unusual to see a bass with a vibrato. It was doing well until I read the price tag. Its got some serious competition at the £3k price point.

It's the Magnetic Bass & Treble that's causing the misunderstanding. Both are on the same (single-knob, not stacked) pot. (Viewed as though playing)Turn it clockwise, bass and treble decrease. Turn it anticlockwise, bass and treble increase. It works, but it's weird. Stacked B&T Eq for both Mag and Piezo might've made more sense. I'm convinced that one of the reasons they weren't more popular is that no one could make any sense of the controls in a shop environment, even if the explanatory sheet of plastic was still present. Furthermore, if some of the rear pots weren't properly set, the whole thing would sound broken! No one would buy a bass they couldn't coax a decent noise out of!

I deliberately didn't say, as I try not to infuence people one way or the other regarding bass purchases- what's right for me mightn't be right for them. As we're a way down the thread now, it was (and still is) a Vigier Passion 5 series 3 standard. So that's a neck-through 10/90 carbon& maple neck, alder wings, 18v semi-parametric eq in a solid colour (black) Schaller tuners and a Kahler bridge. Excellent instrument.

On reflection, I can't help but to think that these would make excellent instruments for beginners, but for 3 things; The aesthetic really isn't for everyone The EQ would surely bamboozle those new to bass Having played one, it might be difficult to transition to heavier instruments with (much) chunkier necks Otherwise, they seem to tick all the boxes, particularly the lightweight, comfortable ergonomic aspects.

Definitely. Thanks, Paul And Alcytes for the EDC after The Gallery let me down on an EDC700...

Thanks to @PaulThePlug, my latest addition; An Ibanez EDA900. Weird and wonderful, but lightweight and well-balanced. The ergonomics really are very good. Controls are bonkers; Magnetic Vol, Piezo Volume, Magnetic Bass& Treble (twinned, not stacked!) Piezo treble. 'Round the back... 4 Piezo saddle level matching pots, 1 Piezo level trim pot and set & forget piezo bass level control. The magnetic pickup seems to be the same as the ones used in the EDB and EDC700/705, but the piezo is the real power house in this instrument. If it's not kept under control, it can dominate the tone. Mixed in conservatively, it works well with modulation effects, and solo'ed it does a passable impersonation of a plugged-in electro acoustic. It got very close to the bass tone on "Alice in Chains Unplugged" and Sevendust's "Southside Double-wide Acoustic Live" In summary, an idiosyncratic oddity, but quite versatile. The EDB605 is more jazz-like and the 3band eq can deliver a decent selection of tones. The EDC915 is a bit of a one-trick-pony, but like a 2EQ Ray, it's quite a trick.

Bought an Ibanez EDA900 from Paul. Rather than ship it, we agreed collection after lockdown eased a little. I collected it today and it's in great shape. Paul's looked after it for ages until I could go and get it, which I really appreciate. He gave me the opportunity to look the bass over and try it out, too. Top man. I'd gladly deal with him again. Thanks, Paul.

More fantastic plastic joins the family.. EDB605 Newly acquired EDA900 (courtesy of @PaulThePlug) Recently acquired EDC715 (courtesy of @Alcytes)

Try out everything you can get your hands on. Just because it's unfamiliar, doesn't mean it can't possibly be any good! My first decent bass cost a goodly sum of money at the time, and was made by a manufacturer I'd never heard of before. It just felt and sounded better then everything else they had. 24 years later, it's still arguably the best bass I own. It's tough at the mo', but when the shops re-open and/or you can meet other bassists and try their stuff, it'll help give you an idea what you do and don't like. Needless to say, your budget will go much further second-hand.

I have two favoured security methods when gigging if required; Keep bass in a case, out of sight, in the car. A long cabled bike lock. Wrap around the case (through the handle so it can't be opened) and secure to something sturdy/ of structural significance. Not perfect, but prevents opportunistic theft if I'm not around.

(Back in the day) My Trace cabs came without the aforementioned plugs. I called them and purchased a pair for a tenner. Looked nicer, but in reality were no better than the tightly rolled-up small towels I'd shoved in them previously. 🤣

Try a bit of EQ? Don't head for the fundamental, though. Most equipment can't reproduce 31Hz adequately. Try and boost the second and third harmonic frequencies at 62Hz and 93Hz respectively- or the nearest that any preamps/amps/eq pedals etc. may allow.