Dood

I've reviewed both in Guitar Interactive Magazine. Check out the video reviews for more details and to hear them.

I have an MB800 too. Thing is, channel two isn't really channel two. It is a separate gain stage yes, but only in as much as it's still controlling the same FET preamp which isn't really designed to go crazily 'over the edge'. Having said that, with the input pad set to off and driving it hard with my high output active EMG bass electronics, it distorts yes, but really not in a way that I like. If you are after more grit, i'd suggest using a bass distortion pedal like the highly recommended Darkglass B3k or B7k or the Catalinbread SFT.

Ahh cool! Excellent! It sounds much better through decent earphones/speakers.. Bit thin on my iPad! Lol thank you though. IIRC, i'd have added an 'only just noticeable' amount of chorus effect mixed in - usually about 15% wet to add a certain sheen from the TC G Major 2 in the rack. The rest is as you say, just the BSP dirt and clean channels mixed together. Thinking about it, I may well have taken the clean post valve signal and fed it back in to the clean fx return thus bypassing the clean channel EQ. I have a feeling I'd done that as I'd only be duplicating exactly the same passive tone stack plugging in to the front of the LH1000. [/geek] Yup, I'm yet to find one single pedal that can replicate what I need in a single box. If TC can fit a 5 minute looper in to a tiny casing and Mooer can domthe same with a whole range of pedals - i'm bemused why so many pedal makers spend lots of time cloning the same distortions for bass players all the time. He he!

I can see the vid ok, how 'bout you now? Changed the setting from private.

[quote name='chrismuzz' timestamp='1357765934' post='1928187'] Ah, it says the video is private. Thanks though man! [/quote] Oh? Hmmmm... Odd! Will see if I can change that!

Found it - this is the Ampeg BSP version, so it has 'that' character about it. I have more low mids in the clean mix now. This ad-lib is quite obviously ad-lib! Oooops!! http://youtu.be/wJPlsco2Eno

[quote name='chrismuzz' timestamp='1357763813' post='1928131'] Reading all that has really made me want to hear it! Have you got any samples? Or examples of other bass players who have a similar thing going on? [/quote] There was a clip on YouTube of an ad-lib solo I did with a cover band - FOH was a bit trebly so it sounded less smooth than normal. i'll have to see if it's out there still!

Yup, I agree with that too. I can get some really nice fat distortion tones with the B3 by using more than one 'slot' - that wouldn't be a problem if Zoom release an update for the B3 so we can have six effects at once, like our skinny stringed bretherin's G3!! I'm holding out for the MS-50B should it ever materialise - there's pre-release pics of it all over the net, so hopefully it will appear. 6 effects at once in a single pedal sized casing.. If it has a dry blend like the B3 i will be very very happy!

[quote name='chrismuzz' timestamp='1357686012' post='1926912'] Just how distorted do you go? [/quote] Ha ha ha! Well, it's hard to explain really! It's also down to the type of distortion too. The drive I go for in this particular case is a really fine distortion, more akin to that of the rasp of bowing a cello than adding aggression. Lots of sustain and very smooth. It takes a bit of sculpting with my gear - and I wanna find a way of doing it with just a single pedal - but amazingly, my options had been turned down by a few builders!

...and to add further fun to the pot, I'm going to mod one of the very cheap ODB-3 clones to boot. All in, I think I'll be lucky if I pay out £25 for the whole project!

[quote name='chrismuzz' timestamp='1357682119' post='1926814'] This is mildly on-topic... But my band was recently supported by a metal outfit with 1 bass, 1 guitar, drums and 1 vocalist. The bassist used an Ibanez SR505 through my Markbass rig... The only pedal he used was a Boss ODB-3. No mods. I can honestly say he had one of the best live bass sounds I've ever heard! It sat in the mix perfectly and sounded really natural and organic! [/quote] I also love the Karnivool bassist's tone too and as I understand it he used an ODB-3 stock and a Tech 21 XXL pedal. - Yes, I'd love the B7k, but should I pull my finger out, I kinda like the fun that a bit of modding may bring - especially if it turns out a killer tone. I *think* the ODB-3 will sound like it has more gain when modded. Though I can't say for certain.

Could you do a 'before and after' audio recording if you do? I'd be really interested to hear it.

[quote name='phil.i.stein' timestamp='1357341074' post='1921498'] i'm a happy b3k user. but, i saw this a while back, and think i'll do this to my old ODB-3 after listening to the clips. trust me. [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f36/monte-allums-boss-odb-3-tri-gain-mod-changes-everything-856593/"]http://www.talkbass....rything-856593/[/url] the mod : [url="http://www.monteallums.com/pedal_mods.html"]http://www.monteallu...pedal_mods.html[/url] [/quote] Ooooh! Interesting! I may well try this mod too - I'm liking the sound sample lots!

[quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1357592230' post='1925109'] I should never have sold my BSP! Anyway, I bet the pedal has gone to EBS because Hartke won't build him a new rack unit like the BSP. [/quote] Or is it that Billy is looking to travel light these days? I see he's using the MXR Bass Compressor in tandem with the pedal too. If, for example he's doing clinics, i guess it'd be easier to roll up with a pedal version of his rack system? No idea, i've not had a chance to talk to him yet. Ahhhh! The BSP! I made that mistake - I sold the first one I owned. Can't believe I was so daft. I did manage to pick up a second one here on BC and unless this new pedal is as amazing, i probably won't sell the BSP. I like the way that the EQs on both channels can be sculpted to get the mids to sit in the clean bass tone smoothly. That in a pedal would be great and so far, the Darkglass B3/B7 is the closest in a single pedal to do that, but lacks the amount of drive I need sometimes. Currently I blend and EQ pedal, Boss MT2 and soon a bit of compression via an LS-2 before feeding in to my B3. That works very well, but the MT2 will get customised when I have time again! A plan I started ages ago but never completed to add a blend in to the pedal as well as adjusting the 3-band EQ curves a bit. Maybe if this new pedal works out, I'll have a load of stuff to sell!

An endorsing artist no less, Truckstop! Congrats!

ha ha! It reminds me of my mate's 'DFA' control. He used to do monitor mixes for big bands on stage. Many an amateur band would 'gesture' him angrily to crank up the monitors or sort out their on stage tone problems - and indeed more often than not, on seeing him turn a control on the desk, it'd be thumbs up and a thank you. Which was funny as the control 'Does Feck All' - it, like the studio switch wasn't wired in!

Superb! Congratulations again! Look out for more competitions and news in the BassChat Blog!

I'm interested as I still very much love my Ampeg SVP-BSP. I don't use the 'Sheehan sound', which is very much to do with his basses too, but with my own set up, it sounds fantastic. I'd be very interested in a pedal sized unit and have seen the video already as well as a few other posting by Billy himself about the pedal. If it does the kinda drive I need, I can lose three other pedals on my board!

[quote name='Monckyman' timestamp='1357294329' post='1920400'] Coo! Well waddaya know. If the Hummer doobry fails then I`ll have a look at these. Do they need pro expertise to fit? MM [/quote] The can base will either need to be attached to the socket base or around it - you may even have to have a different socket fitted if it is too big for the can base to fit over. The shell is then correctly attached to an earthing point so that it does what it is meant to. So, yup, someone who knows what they are doing

You will all need to keep an eye on the BassChat blog for an exciting post and competition! Any Paul Chambers fan will want to win the exciting prize we have on offer!

Mr Foxen beat me to it with the picture posting! They are, as the name suggests a little can that fits over the valve and is 'earthed'. It screens the valve from electronic interference (hum) that can sometimes be picked up.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1357236795' post='1919626'] Do the valves in them have screening cans? [/quote] None of mine did! - A good suggestion actually!

[quote name='MacDaddy' timestamp='1356094952' post='1906733'] according to Billy Sheehan, when you are stood up the bass should be in the same position on your body as when you are sat down practising. That way all your angles are the same and you are not changing position. [/quote] I also teach the same for that reason. I like to teach efficiency as well as getting across the importance of good posture. It makes tons of sense to have your bass in pretty much the same place if you are stood up or sat down. If you practice at home with your nose above the upper horn of the bass - then play gigs with the bass hanging around ya balls - then you're undoing all of that practice and exercise on your hands. As an example, I've never seen a drummer practice all his moves with a kit set out one way, then change it completely for a gig! It'd be a disaster for most.