thisnameistaken

The Q-Tron+ might be the best low-cost choice, because it's got an FX loop. Stick your fuzz in the loop, along with an octave down, and you've got gnarly synth noises (the alternative with a lesser filter is to stick them infront of the filter, which flattens your dynamics a bit and you don't get as good a response from the filter). A gated fuzz is best for synthy effects. If you've got more money to throw at it: My main filter is a Meatwad, which is especially handy for this sort of thing because there's a couple of switches for selecting different bands - handy when you've got dirt in the loop so you can find the band that most brings the crunch out. You also get an expression pedal input, so you can sweep the filter with your foot instead of using the envelope follower. Alternatively, if it's specifically synthy noises and not a plain envelope filter you're after just get a Bass Micro Synth. It's surprisingly effective, and I'm not just saying that because I'm selling mine.

[quote name='jerseytrev' post='329348' date='Nov 14 2008, 07:14 PM']outside chance of a fender american standard but the fender seems from what i have read suffers from quality control.[/quote] My advice would be to not buy a new Fender. If you can find one that's done a few shows and still plays well then it's probably a good one, but I wouldn't want one fresh out of the factory. Was out buying strings yesterday actually and watched someone buy a US Std. Precision in the shop I was in. It's hard to believe they put those things out for that price. No offence to the Precision lovers around here, I like the sound of a Precision, but they're so basic, I don't see why they should be so expensive.

[quote name='Crazykiwi' post='329738' date='Nov 15 2008, 05:31 PM']I tend to use compression after the synth pedal to even out any cone-blowing peaks[/quote] Yeah I stick a limiter after my filters, but I've been thinking of putting a compressor in my Meatwad's FX loop, right before my OC-2 and Pulse Synth, see if it slows the decay a bit. I'll do a very scientific comparison if someone wants to give me a Compulator.

It might help a bit yeah, just to condition the signal a bit, make it more predictable, but those sorts of effects tend to perform badly when given a rapidly decaying source to work with (a guitar, for example. ) and any gains you make will likely be marginal. Get an eBow!

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='329236' date='Nov 14 2008, 04:40 PM']Or worse still, a 5 string NT that went for less... £522 [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=110297578068&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=001"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...A:IT&ih=001[/url][/quote] God damn it I wish I'd seen that.

[quote name='~tl' post='327762' date='Nov 12 2008, 05:14 PM']I'm a fan of Elites Players (the nickel ones) personally.[/quote] I've used a few sets of elites - whenever I've gone out to get strings and they didn't have rotos - and I never got on with them.

[quote name='rayfw' post='328774' date='Nov 14 2008, 12:25 AM']I've been down the Variax bass route in the past and whilst some of the models sounded great in isolation, they always seemed a bit thin in a band situation.[/quote] I have to confess I've never tried a Variax guitar beyond picking one up in a music shop but it always struck me as a particularly stupid idea. Let's do the processing outboard, eh? I mean, the potential with the Variax is to either like the bass but hate the modelling, or like the modelling but hate the guitar - it's never going to satisfy more than a narrow band of players and its remit is to satisfy loads of us. Really, really silly idea IMO.

I think I'll try Slinkys first, given that they're going to be readily available. I didn't even know they made bass strings...

[quote name='cheddatom' post='327597' date='Nov 12 2008, 01:57 PM']The loops can be run in series actually.[/quote] Hehe. Sorry. That's the mode I skip on my way between A+B and A->Bypass. I didn't even know what it did any more! The one thing I wish it did that it doesn't do is ( A or B ) -> A+B. 100% wet one channel, then blended both channels. I figured out a way to do it with the aid of a dual loop switch and some weird wiring but I think I'm just going to get someone to make me an LS-2 replacement instead.

[quote name='unimpressed alf' post='327484' date='Nov 12 2008, 12:21 PM']my question would be - is there a cheaper alternative to the LS2?[/quote] No. Not that does what it does. They come up used pretty often though - keep an eye on eBay. [quote name='unimpressed alf' post='327484' date='Nov 12 2008, 12:21 PM']i understand the functionality of the LS2 ... its having 2 effects loops plus a clean channel that interests me - the effects blending side of things is a plus but not essential[/quote] Hmm. The LS-2 is just two parallel loops, it doesn't have an extra "clean channel", and the loops can't be run in series, you can either solo one of the loops or blend both.

[quote name='Buzz' post='327571' date='Nov 12 2008, 01:36 PM']I think somone on here owns a late 60's jazz with blocks and a binded fretboard, all original iirc.[/quote] Wonder if anyone can tell me: Which years did Jazzes have blocks? I'd like a rosewood board / mop blocks, what years am I looking for?

I've been in the habit of putting Rotos '66 rounds on every bass I've had since I was 17 or so. I started feeling that they're a little bit too bright and snappy at first though (I think I'm getting old), so I'm thinking about trying some others. My main bass is a Thumb which I usually put 100-40s on. I don't really do any slapping, I play with my fingers, and I like a nice tight punchy sound. My other bass is a fretless Stingray which currently has 105-45s on, which actually sound pretty good but Rotos always feel really sharp to me and I'm a bit concerned that prolonged use of them might be bad for the fingerboard. I still want a roundwound fretless sound, but if possible with a string that's less harsh-feeling. Any suggestions welcome.

[quote name='Gamble' post='327236' date='Nov 12 2008, 01:22 AM']Not that I don't believe you, but how do you know the 2 loops run in a series? Is that just how that sort of unit works?[/quote] Yeah, I sold one a couple of weeks ago. If you've got two loops running in parallel and being mixed before your output, you'll have some control over the mix, for example on the LS-2 you get a level control for each loop. If all you see is stomp switches and one or more loops, they run in series. You could run something like that to choose between two different outputs (well, three - A Send, B Send or OUT) but you could only ever get your signal to arrive at one of them at any given time.

Do you already have a good knowledge of music, or is bass guitar the first instrument you've picked up? If you don't know much about music theory, you could explode your horizons by learning some. I saw a really good introductory tute-style thread on this very forum a month or two back[s] and I can't find the sodding thing now... Typical![/s] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=16422"]found it[/url] - give that a go, the information is really well presented. You could ask your teacher to teach you some theory instead of showing you tabs. He might not be up to the job, but it's worth asking. If he's not up to snuff, let us know where you're based and maybe you can get some recommendations from players in your local area.

[quote name='Gamble' post='326607' date='Nov 11 2008, 11:29 AM']Banzai have a dual looper pedal that might do the trick: [url="http://www.banzaimusic.com/Banzai-Dual-True-Bypass-Box-pr-17667.html"]Banzai Dual Looper[/url] Obviously it doesn't have the level controls on the unit, but I figure you can just set that with your effects units that are in the circuit, right? Also, can anyone tell me: Could I link the loop sends straight to 2 different amps (not back to the return) and use it as an A/B/Blend box?[/quote] No. The loops on that box will run in series: IN -> A SEND -> A RTN -> B SEND -> B RTN -> OUT. So if you send your signal into loop A but it never returns, send B won't get any signal (it will have left the building!). A Boss LS-2 would do it though. Its loops run in parallel (the signal is split and sent to both) so you could use send A and B to fire the signal off to two amps.

[quote name='Monz' post='314621' date='Oct 25 2008, 04:58 PM']I have the planet waves pedal tuner...[/quote] I've got the same one, but the fascia on mine has a habit of rotating, which means the blanking sheet doesn't match up with the LEDs - very confusing when it says you're tuned to P...

[quote name='funkygreega' post='326235' date='Nov 10 2008, 07:59 PM']Correct me if I am wrong but are you saying Stanley Clarke is not a great jazz bassplayer, as far as you're concerned?[/quote] I think he's saying he's a good bass player, but he doesn't like his music. Neither do I. I don't like his tone either. :x

[quote name='Huggy and the Bears' post='325838' date='Nov 10 2008, 12:15 PM']I use washing up liquid (diluted slightly with water) and a new sponge/scouring pad combination thingy (from under the sink).[/quote] I just use warm water and one of those green plastic dish scrubbers, works fine.