thisnameistaken

Yes but they're all digital and the sound you'll get will be a bit thin and warbly. The cheapest option is the EHX Micro POG. There are lots of videos on Youtube demonstrating what it sounds like. There's also such a thing as an 'octave fuzz' which creates a dirty sound one octave up, but the octave effect is quite subtle and probably isn't what you're looking for.

I've been keeping one eye on the used market for the past few months but I'm not seeing anything that fits the bill. I'm after a bass with a bit more of a woody sound and more sustain than my current laminate bass. I'm keeping the laminate because it's loud and deep but it's quite thumpy so I'm after something with more of a lively pizz sound. So far the best option looks like a new bass from Thomann, but I would rather have something old with a bit of character. Budget is around £1k. I haven't seen anything much under £3k. Anyone know of anything anywhere that might work for me?

[quote name='Jono Bolton' timestamp='1335878960' post='1637415'] Yuck! Because I'm using my work computer, a lot of pictures wont load up if they've been posted using Photobuckets and the like, so I had to do a wee Google search to find a picture. Needless to say, I was really disappointed, I was hoping for something like the old Squier Supersonic: [/quote] Never seen one of those before, that's a sweet guitar.

Looks terrible. I'd rather have one of those Eastwood Mosrite re-makes.

My Octavius Squeezer can do it.

Give it a try anyway, you will probably find you land on your feet. Everybody has to take that step at some point and you'll quickly improve if you're playing with someone who's better than you in situations that are new to you. I often go busking in a duo with a guitarist/singer with me playing double bass and singing harmony, we do old rocksteady and reggae tunes, it's good fun. Would recommend.

[quote name='TheRev' timestamp='1335361109' post='1629821']The one thing that worries me about these basses is the quality of the components. When my friend dropped off her bass, it was a tone below concert pitch. Tuning back up to concert pitch was a terrifying experience as the bass creaks and squeaks with every turn of the machine head. It really sounds like the whole thing is on the verge of folding up under the tension to the point where I'm almost afraid to touch it in case it implodes....[/quote] The first 'Archer' model I tried (the carved £850 one) on their showroom floor was tuned a tone or three flat, so I began to tune it up using my phone and the bridge literally started bending like a banana towards the ceiling. I tuned it down again and walked away!

It would be best to take it to a dealer for an appraisal. Where are you based? Perhaps we can recommend someone local to you.

[quote name='chrismuzz' timestamp='1335349135' post='1629546'] I use 8 pedals, one of which is a tuner. I've never had anybody come up and compliment me on being in tune every song so does that mean I shouldn't use it? [/quote] As I've said before, nobody needs a tuner. If people can tell you're out of tune then you're not using enough effects.

[quote name='pietruszka' timestamp='1335347292' post='1629507'] My point is if you have several of the same pedal. When we've done don't upset the Rythym iv played it with the distortion and with out. He distortion was loud enough to hear and iv never had any one actually tell it was there so I've never bothered, again, it's less to go wrong. [/quote] Just because nobody talks to you about an effect you used doesn't mean they didn't notice it. I don't think I've never had an audience member remark on a fill I've played but it doesn't mean it didn't have an impact at the time. To say there's no way a guitarist (who you've never heard) needs 16 pedals or that effects are only ever heard by the person using them is, frankly, a lot of silly bollocks.

[quote name='pietruszka' timestamp='1335345140' post='1629452']No I'm not, I know how to use an effect pedal.[/quote] If you switch one on and nobody can hear a difference then you're doing it wrong. When used correctly they make things sound different, so if you're not getting any difference in sound you must be doing it wrong. For the record I agree you (just you) shouldn't use effect pedals.

[quote name='Chris2112' timestamp='1335299561' post='1629044']When you have too many pedals you're just tap dancing and focusing on what effect you'll use next, rather than truely playing well.[/quote] Yeah I spend all my time on stage focusing on what effect I'll use next, sometimes I forget to play any notes at all. I sometime forget to breathe actually - they're always having to slump me against the backline and give me oxygen.

[quote name='pietruszka' timestamp='1335296341' post='1628956']I've used pedals live several times before, but it's pointless as it has no noticable affect on anything.[/quote] You're doing it wrong.

No effects. Save your money for tattoos.

I've been turning up to rehearsals and gigs with anywhere from seven to fifteen effect pedals for years now, never taken longer than anyone else to set up, never stopped a rehearsal to tweak anything or chase a problem, it's a simple matter of knowing how to use your own gear. The problem is your guitarist, not his gear.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1335275187' post='1628430'] It didn't go to the design team![/quote] Beat me to it. It's an Ernie Ball bass, apparently they're worth a lot of money. Like Rickenbackers.

I like anything but maple. My fingertips sweat and it means maple boards feel either slick or sticky, both being pretty unpleasant. I've currently got a rosewood board and a wenge board on my two basses which I much prefer. Ebony is fine, but I would only want it on a fretless, it has a tendency to get a bit sticky like glossed-up maple does, although not as bad. As for 'tone', I don't know if the fingerboard makes a difference but if it does I don't really care - I have electronics that make a much bigger difference.

It seems most of the people with mid-'70s Jazzes want to sell them for approaching £2k now. And that's with stuff like battery routs done to them and lots of damage to the finish. I think they're mental, to be honest. An entirely original one in excellent condition? Then maybe £2k is more sensible, but honestly I think it's a matter of whether it's a decent bass or not. Fenders from the '80s are starting to see inflated prices now and those are the guitars that were notoriously bettered by cheap Japanese copies. The whole business of 'vintage' pricing is nonsense once you get out of the 1960s, IMHO.

[quote name='Clarky' timestamp='1335087667' post='1625459']My bass was born the same year as me, nuff said[/quote] Wow you must be getting bored of those telegrams from the queen.

There's one on eBay at the moment that nobody's taken much interest in. It's a bit expensive for me at the moment but looks a nice bass.