dave_bass5

Ive not really read much about these but this seems a steal. Almost less than half price and its the limited edition version. Includes a built in wireless system https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/B-Stock-Ashdown-B-Social-Wood-75W-Stereo-Amplifier/292617311563?hash=item442159d54b:g:Ce4AAOSw5cNa~Uhf

Came out yesterday morning. So thats two things you didnt notice yesterday. Works well. I already had the Apple kit so had a play last night. Not much use for it to be honest but its a big step up form the old version.

I always record everything we do. That way i have real evidence to back up any comments i make. They might not be the right comments, but at least i can show what im talking about and then everyone can decide. It works especially well with fast drummers IME.

Just a heads up. Not tired it yet with a pedal but it looks interesting. I know there are some beta testers around so hopefully they might chip in with any tips and tricks. At least it seems like it doesn't check for on line content when its started. That was a real pain when i didn't have a connection as it mean i couldn't use the app.

A few shots of the Darkenss.

null Yeah. The audio isnt great in this but i only had an old camera with me. Not too sure how to share video from Smugmug. Hope this works.

Went to see the Hollywood Vampires / The Darkness / The Damned last night. Fantastic gig, although i was surprised that the Damned were my highlight of the night. I didn't realise how 'rock' they are. i also thought they had the best sound fo the night, but they aosl only had 1 guitar so the mix was cleaner. Although i saw the Darkness on their first tour i was disappointed with them last night. Cant stand Justin's voice any more (2nd rate Geddy IMO), but what annoyed me was the amount of guitar changes.Every song involved a guitar change, either one or both guitars, yet it all sounded the same out front. I guess they are just living the dream. Hollywood Vampires were surprisingly good, considering i haven't listened to any of their original stuff. Johnny Depp's version of Heroes was really good. His voice is good, although bland. Enjoyed the Alice songs, loved their version of Schools out/Another brick in the wall.

and what if you want a different tone, or have just got the FX and are still looking for the 'right' tone? What if you find (for example) a filter sweep is way too deep on that boomy hollow stage and needs backing off, or the room is so bright your carefully set up distortion sound is way to bright. Just leave it? The Helix doesn't look like it has a lot of real time control, especially if you are trying to balance 2 or 3 effects at the same time. Even the Zoom B3n seems to have more. I have no experience of the Helix, im just going by the photo in this thread. A 'live' situation doesn't just mean during a gig, it can easily cover sound checks and even setting up. I hate seeing musicians bending down and fiddling with things, especially during songs, but if something is wrong with the tone during the gig then i just find it easier to have real time control of everything so i dont take longer than needed. In over 800 function gigs over the past 15 years believe me when i say i have never kept anyone waiting between songs. What is the difference between 'getting it wrong' and trying to get it right? By that i mean how can you get it right without turning the knobs until it is right? The way a lot on here go through pedals could show that maybe more tweaking is needed. Of course then there are those with pedal boards so large they spend all night doing a River Dance impression.

I like tech, so im fine with digital stuff. Im not sure i could tell the difference between analogue and digital anyway, and i think there is too much stigma attached having old or vintage gear, i dont fall for any of that emperors new clothes syndrome. Saying that, i do like an easy life, and having the ability to tweak my settings in a live environment is a bigger issue than if its digital or analogue. So for me, id happily gig with all digital, but i must have easy access to the most important parameters. So far that would leave out the multi FX boxes. My board includes 3 TC Electronic boxes and an SA Aftershock. All digital but with knobs. i like that. i dont care how the sound is processed, as long as i can fiddle with it easily.

I only use a Tascam DR5, which isn't a 4 mic recorder, but it picks up the whole band fine. Our rehearsal studio is a rectangular room, with the PA in two corners facing us. I place the recorder on a tall stand (camera light stand) between them, and in line with the backs of them (so all against the same wall) and i find i can fine tune how much of the vocals gets picked up by how high its placed. Low down and they get drowned out, too high and its all vocals.

Cant tell if you like something until you try it though. I watch it every week in the hope i will find something i like. Normally i will find one or two act's i enjoy, but there seems to be so much dross its hard to look at the program as being representative of the music scene. IME a few of the the 'alternative' acts dont even deserve knocking, let along screen time or a name check.

Ive only ever had one cab that had 10's in it, the BF Retro 210. I have played though a few others though and have always liked what i hear/feel. I noticed the other night how uncompressed my tone was. Same amp settings etc, but the upper strings were much more prominent than when i use my 1x15. I think id really get on with the VK210LNT though, although id love to try one of the Vanderkley 212's (my guitarist has one but he wont bring it along for me to try lol). If my gigging future looked more promising id sort out a new cab, but as its all up in the air at the moment i dont have much enthusiasm for changing cabs.

i am seriously thinking of getting rid of my Vanderkley 1x15 though. As much as i love it i still miss the sound of a 212 cab.

I would love one of those, but it looks heavy and i live on the 3rd floor without a lift 😞

Another vote for the Schroeder 1212L. I never found a gig that it wasn't enough to supply all the bass i needed, without PA support. Its a very loud sounding cab. I really wish i had kept mine now (or could afford another), as ive realised 212's are really what i love best.

I started off on guitar and ended up on bass. Playing with a pick was never something i thought about, it just seemed natural. After using a pick for all these years i really wish i hadn't now, i love finger style playing much more, but just cant do it fast enough to keep up with the band (any band). Even at rehearsla when im going to make the effort i slip back to using a pick within the first song or two. Funnily enough Duran Duran's Rio is the only song i can play finger style all the way through at gig speed, which is crazy considering its not a slow song.

Haha, he was kidnapped and replaced by a man on a quest. To think, this all started when i got the Cali, who’d have thought it would end up like this.

I spent all my life without needing a pedal board. At Christmas i got a PT Nano+, and now I’m on my second board this year. This one is pretty much going to stay as it is though. This collection of pedals offers me all i need. I may swap ther Qstrip out for my Zoom 60D at soem point, but only when I’m bored.

Saw the live version of War of the Worlds at the O2 a good few years ago. Herbie Flowers had his blue Squier on stage.

Well its more a trim pot. Its for adjusting the overall output level when in active mode. Very handy for balancing out the passive and active levels. Im not sure this is in the manual Maybe they updated it since they first came out. Its the little blue box.

Ah, i was talking about the 7 on the front and the one inside. Yes, too many knobs.......giggady. Or maybe its just the knob that is attached to mine when i play it lol.

Hmmm, ive only got 6 knobs on mine. 3 for active only and the other 3 work in both modes. Are you counting the duel knobs as 2? if so that's 8. I must admit i only use the mid/sweep knob in active mode when i use the preamp, and that one is easy to remember as its a dual knob. Way more easy than the P-Retro i had for a while. I'd be happy with a passive Sire, i like the new and feel of the bass. Active is just a plus really.

While i too use mine mostly passive, because I find it to be a really nice tone, i find it surprising you have to keep looking up what each knob does. Low, mid with sweep and high seems pretty simple to remember IME. Each to his/her own though.

I love the pre amp in the Sire basses.

Well if you haven't used it yet, you dont need it ;-)