ped

I’ll try and do one for you!

Yesterday we were contacted by the family of Martin Berry, who you may know better as MB1, and informed of his passing on the weekend at the age of only 59. Martin was a moderator on Basschat for as long as I can remember. Like all of us, he was here because he had a passion for music. His family are well aware of the extent of his 'wheeling and dealing' and how much he enjoyed being a part of this community which he helped us create. As a moderator, his style was forgiving, and always combined with a sense of humour so left-field that it often left me scratching my head. Now and then, when he could remember his login, Martin would get a taste of blood and go on a 'moderation bender' and moderate the hell out of BC for a few days before resuming his buying and selling habit. All the time, his interest was in keeping the forum fair and fun, and everyone he dealt with was on the receiving end of his sharp wit and kind nature. His family have promised to share information about his funeral in due course. I will update the thread with details for anyone able to attend, or perhaps set some time aside at the time to contemplate how short life can be, and how we should all take a leaf out of Martin's book and enjoy it whilst we can. Please raise a glass for MB1, rest in peace mate and remember, even valve amps are weightless in heaven On behalf of the Basschat team Martin Berry playing an Alembic Epic he probably bought and sold on Basschat

Straight into amp normally when playing ‘loud’ (although depending on the amp I often use a compressor). At home playing along with stuff and when playing in the studio through the desk I will often bring a couple of pedals for fun and inspiration. I will also audition pedals that I like in a live setting so I know they sound good in both situations. I like battery powered effects because if the way I use them - no faff, just grab one and plug it in and before you know it you’ve inspired a certain groove or matched a sound you’ve heard on a track. I also don’t have a pedalboard because I prefer to use them individually and pick up one or two at a time depending on what I want to try or what I’ve bought since the last time!

More accurate colour in this one

It's still my favourite amp, I think - and at least it meant the drummer had to help move it after I helped him carry his sodding hardware bag

That's why eBay charge you more for anything but a super low start price auction format - they make more money, in general. It's also the reason the eBay forum here is for 'weird and wonderful' as opposed to 'eBay bargains' because the latter is either too early to tell or extremely unusual, and, by sharing, even less likely. (that's in reply to @gareth's question elsewhere on the forum)

I saw this very unusual really pale green FX25 for sale and jumped on it. I had one like this which was a bit older and a darker green which I didn't like much, so it made perfect sense to buy one(!) Happy to report that this 1983 model has all the quack and rubbery feel of the sparkle version, but it's easier to 'overdrive' the low end (and by that Mean push the filter into a fat burpy warble).

I think everyone needs at least a P, J and MM in their collection, as an acknowledgement of the story of our instrument over time as well as for changing things up and keeping them fresh. I very much have a ‘go to’ but sometimes play one of the others for weeks on end before getting a craving for the other. Every time it feels like getting a new bass! Of course if you don’t have the space or need to free up the cash that’s a different story and it’s kind of nice just having one bass, too.

You’d be better off buying a 400+

Sorry I didn’t mean not we’ll recorded in that way, the audio is clear and sounds fine, but the slapping examples could use some compression/limiting because they top out and make the comparison of the finer characteristics a bit harder to hear. I get that’s not the point of the video though but it might help you make the point. No offence intended, I like all your vids!

I'm pretty sure you can order them with the normal headstock now, direct or through a dealer. I think. @Ricky Rioli might know?

You could try a G&L Kiloton bass (although you might not like the headstock if you don't like Sandberg. I don't know if they ever made them with the normal headstock but guess not as they are a more recent design I think)

Meanwhile I also enjoy popping a G string at my desk and honing in on every aspect of the sound to a minute degree until its perfect 😆 The ONLY consideration in my book is 'do you have fun'

Thanks!

The cover photo displays in your profile page. Your avatar is separate and can be uploaded in the same way in your profile page.

Weird - I searched 'as you' and it came back fine...

Got a link? I might get one as a spare

Odd is right - it does one thing, but when it likes the instrument going into it, it does that thing well! PersonallyI like having both trim pots as low as they go and it sounds like a phaser with a bit of a rough edge. I went back to my actual phaser afterwards and couldn't hear it as well.

Me too - it's weird, somehow it just worked yesterday. It actually came up after the keys player was trying out some sounds on his awesome rubberised keyboard synth (Roli Seaboard?) and I thought 'that sounds like the baseballs' - I dug mine out and it was really similar. I've had difficulty getting my other envelope filters to sound their best on a P with flats, so I kind of assumed that there was something about flats that didn't 'envelope' well - but the baseballs just works really evenly and with girth and poise across all the strings. A video would be interesting to see some comparison. Even though the variables are magnified especially with an envelope filter, it would be good to hear how it sounds alongside the USA pedal in state same hands. Thanks. I'll post a wanted ad for a Russian version shortly...

Looks brilliant. Great colour combo what strings are you using on it? Lots of fun to be had experimenting!

I think it might help, but there’s no getting away from the influence of pickup location. The lightbulb moment for me was when I was playing with the ‘virtual pickups’ on the Roland VB99. Basically you can use it to place pickups anywhere on the bass body and choose type, phase and all sorts. There are some basic models built in (60s and 70s placement included) but upon building my own and manually shifting the rear pickup it was immediately apparent how moving it back further gave that sledgy bite to the sound. Before that I honestly thought it was down to the pickup type. I sold all my 60s spacers (although I do like them still) in favour of the wider spacing and haven’t looked back. Since then I’ve watched millions of YT videos and the difference is always apparent (there are quite a few comparison vids out there - sadowsky did one with a back pickup which switches between the two locations which is pretty clear too.

Yeah I do, thanks - Always handy to have around.

Yeah I’ve heard they sound really good and it’s nice and small. Wish it took a battery though