Al Krow

@JohnDaBass excellent! Do you reckon the that the VT Bass and the MS-60B will continue alongside or can you see the B1-4 becoming a one stop shop for you?

I've finally identified the culprit who transformed me from a contented passive chappy to an active knob puller. I hope you're proud of what you've done?

Congrats - sure you'll love it! But your need to replace the Delano pups and Glock pre used as stock by Berg summarises ALL my Berg hang-ups in one short sentence!

Apologies if this is teaching anyone to 'suck eggs' but as you said you were not sure... Class D is solid state. It's not 'digital' which is a common (and reasonable!) misunderstanding given the 'D'. The Quilter absolutely is Class D. Class A/B is also SS and the precursor to Class D. It tends to be a heavier power module than Class D and a lot of folk attribute it to having more 'heft'. Then there is the 'Trans class' (Mosfet) SS which my Mesa M6 is, but I lump that in with Class A/B to keep it simple in my head! I guess the key feature of Class D is the clear combination of light weight and power. Which is why they have taken the amp world by storm and left bass valve amps and class A/B amps to folk who appreciate the finer things in life. And I'm definitely not knocking them, but my back has had a big say in things...

Are the Zoom B1/X-4 & Zoom B3N multi-fx 'good enough' for live use? (Or should I stick with / step up to a Helix Stomp?) "The Zoom workflow and simplicity is just what the doctor ordered...preference to play my instrument more and menu-dive less." "the more sophisticated modelling multi-fx are capable of certain routing configurations and real-time (and/or automated) control of individual/multiple parameters...boxes like the HX Stomp and HX Effects are truly marvellous at their price point" I got asked by a mate earlier why I was moving my Helix Stomp on? My sense is this little B1X-4 is going to be sufficiently on point for live use that I can use it in place of my Helix Stomp. I love the fact that it's so user friendly. The Stomp is undoubtedly the 'better' / more sophisticated piece of kit, but I really think this will be plenty good enough in the mix with my bands and I'll be surprised if anyone in the audience will notice any significant difference on most of the usual classic effects - and that's the litmus test for me. @jimfist who has far more experience of multis than me was coincidentally arriving at the very same decision to move his Stomp on and his reasons are very much what I was feeling, but just a lot better articulated! This is what he had to say (over on TB): “Essentially the same modelling set, but I've come to the same conclusion with my B3n, and I'm prepping my HX Stomp to go off for sale to someone who'll use it more effectively than I will. I've dedicated hundreds upon hundreds of hours programming multi-fx modellers over the years and have grown fatigued of the process. The Zoom workflow and simplicity is just what the doctor ordered. It's not a knock on the more sophisticated pieces of gear (of which I've owned many), but more a knock on the work flow and preference to play my instrument more and menu-dive less (let alone having to be tied to a computer for more robust editing). That the Zoom box(es) get the job done is all that matters, even though the "big boy" modellers are so much more capable. The audience I cater to now would sooner notice 10% better musicianship than they ever would care about a 20% subjective improvement in tone, especially when that "great tone" can be totally screwed a dozen different ways in a live performance situation (a great equalizer). I geeked out on the Fractal AxeFx for years. Then on a whim I got the old B3 and used it for a couple of gigs. Nobody noticed or cared. That's when I started re-thinking my priorities...taboo on a gear forum!! The big caveat here is that the more sophisticated modelling multi-fx are capable of certain routing configurations and real-time (and/or automated) control of individual/multiple parameters, which the current Zoom boxes aren't able to do. If your needs are simple, then no worries. Otherwise, the more specific and sophisticated your needs, the more likely you'll find the "big boy" modellers more attractive and necessary. In that respect, boxes like the HX Stomp and HX Effects are truly marvellous at their price point. Still, there's no denying the value you get from the inexpensive Zoom boxes, limited though they may be.” Perfectly put. Thank you Jim.

Well that's good to know that we're thinking on the same lines! I agree the Jaco is fun. I think you mentioned you also like 42 Motown = Ampeg B-15N ? Try as I might, I couldn't quite get myself into that, I guess largely because I can get a really good treble-rolled-off vintage tone on my Yammys so it had quite a high bar to reach! Are you going to be keeping any other original patches besides the 10 in common with my list that you like, plus Motown?

Ok back in harness! The 10 original patches which have made the Krow-cut and will get through to Judges Houses are... 44 SMR400, 40 AMPG SVT 31 Octave down, 30 A Wah 29 Crazy Fuzz (Fuzz + octave up), 27 Wah Dist (only 'cos I have the 'X'!), 25 Dark Crunch 17 Jaco Bass (fretless), 11 MX Clean (this played through an amp and cab epitomises 'heft' for me!**), 10 Sans Clean That will leave 20 free patches for stuff I want to cobble together and then another 20 that can be song specific. Plenty to be getting on with methinks! Be interested to hear which patches you guys decide to keep? ** does anyone else come close to agreeing with that when they play through their amp and cab?!

I'm kinda feeling the same about my £85 Zoom B1X-4. It's definitely got a sense of 'good enough' / 'this will very adequately do' about it! But it's obviously not as good as the Stomp, so I'll only be getting rid of some pedals!

Congratulations. The 1805s are really nice. I had a 1800. I actually prefer the less varnished look they have compared to the newer 1825 which I traded my 1800 in for. Either way, the light weight, fast necks, 3 band EQ with variable mids and those lush big single Nords make for a fabulous bass. I'm sure you will love it!

Looking like that's going to be you! 😁 Whereabouts are you based? If you're close to East London you're very welcome to try mine (and the Yammy store in Central London will definitely have one in stock). PS does your 615 Aggie pre enable it to be used in passive mode, or is still purely active?

That was my understanding too. Now we know why we have our 735A's ...although I'm guessing that if you're dropping a new preamp in, then a passive / active switch will anyway come as 'standard' with some of these? PS I've also just noticed that the 615 has the same B string bridge 'extension' that is there on the 425 (and I presume also the 415?) which has disappeared in the newer '3 series' range (blimey that sounds like a BMW, which is probably about right for the modern Yammy basses 😂).

But the possibility of refi in white and dropping in an OBP3 as suggested above, or in my case a John East Uni Pre with para mids. Hmmm... now that is tempting! Chris - do you know if the 615 is purely active or does it have a passive switch?

^^ exactly this for me too!

Wow is that a brand 'new' BB 615? If so, that's a good price!

So unless you've moved this on, if I've done the math right you've had this nearly 6 months => the honeymoon period should be over by now and you will have had a decent chance to put it through its paces. Still going strong and the GM still taking a back seat? Be very interested in getting an update from you!

@operative451 of the three 'Dr Funkenstein' was my fav

Aha, thanks. And here's the point: you've kept (and really liked?) the 615 with OBP3 pre for nearly a decade! That speaks quality to me.

How is he your 'mate'? You've been keeping that particular relationship very quiet 😉 Besides the dUg's biggest fan, who unlike me can do clever things like spell his name right, is already one step ahead of you...

And following hard on the heels of Mick's timely thread divergence, there are a couple of Glocks in the FS too, right now including a Blue Rock. Modern = hi-fi?

Dang! Now regretting not picking up the one in the FS! Do you have the v1 or v2 of the BB and is there much difference between the two?

If you don't mind me asking, how much was the whole upgrade for the OB3 plus fitting (or did you manage to get that done yourself)?

A bass you've never owned... yet! 😄 If you're making admiring statements like that, it won't be long.