Dood

I'd be interested to hear about what models weren't performing as expected and hopefully an idea as to who is making the best of the bunch in terms of a workable solution that can deliver real bass. The discussions so far seem to centre around floor monitors made of ABS plastic with either a 12" or 15" driver and some form of DSP on board. Some possibly suggesting massaged output figures? Given how much we spend on basses and backline (heads and cabinets as a combined investment) what's the next step up?

I was heading over armed with links to post this morning but you've done it for me! Awesome!

I think you just answered your own question It's all about adding colour. Pickups, tonewoods, strings, effects, one amplifier choice over another, etc etc. Actually using an accurate cab sim can do a great job of helping to sit in the mix. Take for example the lovely fridge 8x10 with it's big roll off below 50hz (cuts sub frequencies) and the bump in the midrange (adds warmth). If distortion is the order of the day, then the natural top end roll off (no tweeter version) saves hassling with DSP EQ to make it sound nice FOH rather than if you have ever plugged a guitar distortion direct into a PA, a nasty fizzy sound..

I have the Fender rebadged version of one of these (actually I have two) - which do a rather nice job of creating a simple Cab Sim EQ curve. The curve is supposed to be a 4x12 guitar cabinet but the lows are definitely there as well. http://www.hotroxuk.com/mooer-mdi1-micro-di-box.html?utm_source=GoogleBase&utm_medium=organic&gclid=CjwKCAiA15vTBRAHEiwA7Snfc1Hd8vl3nZaSRcNW7irNUFtEB4FkwDtEwNCrrstnbaJ2UZS84ayFDhoCgocQAvD_BwE

This whole thread reads like something I was asking for 20 years ago and we still haven't really got there! The phrase FRFR hadn't made it into everyday use, but still, I had been banging on about a Bass capable combo that acted like a PA with DSP to control its performance. My gigging gear at the time had to be all manner of rack compressors and EQ's in an attempt to create what we are essentially talking about on this thread. Still, we're moving forward and the RCF's and the QSC's of the world are making our life much easier. Interestingly though, last night I took out my Helix and my set of IEMs only. That also works well.

Holy sh**balls!! Nailed!

Maybe keeping a mini board would be a wise idea, but get rid of everything else. My EBS deluxe actually is part of my Helix board I love it that much. Which means I’ll need to buy another deluxe for my short board!!

On later performances The Ox used a Digitech 2120, you can clearly hear the chorus effect in there too. The 2120 and it’s predecessor the 2112 had a pair of valves in the preamp to create ‘real valve drive’. At the time it was very good.. but by today’s standards, Helix makes a mockery of the tones available. Anyway, I digress. John used a parallel signal path where the drive sound came from the Digitech and the clean sound direct to amps. (More or less). I’d suggest the EBS Sheehan Signature Drive Deluxe in boost mode with the drive all the way down with the clean blended in equal measures, compressor set to mid.

Exactly. ‘Ohmage’ suggests DC by the Collins definition.

Often the differences are attributed to the way that a synth’s attack and release can be almost ‘on’ or ‘off’ in comparison to the electric bass. To get that gated effect, bassists often use say a Fuzz pedal that is suitably biased that the transistors literally gate the audio signal on and off. Off the top of my head I can’t think which in particular, but I know that I’ve certainly reviewed one such that had a very profound effect without destroying the bass signal altogether. Next I would drop it in to an octave pedal and then finally an envelope filter to reshape the chopped signal. It’s a great way to create a keyboard sound. I have a feeling Adam Neely alluded to this method in a recent blog too.

I bought the house, where ever I damn well want.. oh oh sorry babe, I’ll move them right away... 😵

I have a '76 Lawsuit era Aria. It's battered and bruised but oh my is it amazing. Aria, in my opinion, were actually producing the most accurate clones of the time (out of the Matsumuko factory). Indeed, I bought a replacement pickguard for mine from Fender and the screw holes lined up perfectly. I mean, there are Fender's own that won't even do that ha ha ha!!

Helix has won me over. I think unless I have a sudden change of heart, i’m selling a bunch of pedals tomorrow!!,

I still have my first amp - it was the Marshall Bass 12!!! - I sealed the cabinet at the back with a single piece of 18mm MDF which improved things greatly. I then popped the amplifier out and tapped the output of the preamp for running into a 400W power amp and a pair of 15's. You'll be surprised to hear that the preamp actually sounded very good! I think it was just a pair of 1458's and a passive tone stack.

I wish the Helix was around ten years ago or more. I was doing the OTB stuff with a 24 band programmable EQ in my rack! I had about ten different programmes matching a range of different speakers - I actually have the same EQ out at the moment, which is fun!

If the Peak District isn't too far away then www.shukerguitars.co.uk run various courses. Jon Shuker, of course, is one of the very best in the UK so you are in the hands of an expert.

Genuinely, the shortest amount of time I've done a new band start up was just 7.5hrs before a headline set. No one in the band had played the songs together before and the guitarist was a jazzer who didn't even know how All Right Now went! - No rehearsal together either lol. The gig was a huge success and months later we formed a band with a different guitarist. There's something very exciting about flying by the seat of your pants. Not for the faint-hearted though. I should just say that between the four of us we'd notched up many, many years of playing. On the flipside, me and a very good friend of mine, a top session drummer, have been trying to do a band together for about ten years lol..

Maybe a company that specialises in the shipment of musical instruments and other goods that require handling with real care is out there somewhere.

If anyone is opening the current issue of Guitar Interactive Magazine (out today) you’ll hear lots of my Shuker bass featuring fresh D’Addario strings! Pro Steels this time. I love the NYXL strings, but I can’t say enough about the whole range. Literally something for everyone.

p.s. yeah, of course, it's a chameleon flip paint finish!

What?? You mean I haven't contributed to this thread yet? Or did I? This is my dream bass. It took lots of dreams actually. More emails and long telephone calls into the evening, Ten years later and as seen here she has had a complete refinish, some new hardware and a few updates ready for another ten years of service. Everything about this bass has been measured to fit as it were. Some of teh features are now standard order options over at Shuker Guitars.

Playing the bass line verbatim is no hassle at all, it's a pretty straightforward affair. I just sometimes struggle with wading through the overwhelming amount of cheese in songs like this one. I know the audience will love it and we'll end up doing something cool with it, but even so! ha haha!! My Loggins troubles were a Danger Zone.