dave_bass5

Ive not done a side by side comparison, but the B1-4 sounds more solid to me. Less digital than the B1-on. Its a better engine, and the B1-4 has the two Drakglass effects that I absolutely love on the B3n. Talking of reset, ive just reset mine. I seemed to have mucked up the Motown patch. I dont mind starting again as first time around i wasnt too sure what i was doing.

I can see how that works for some. My thinking is ill overwrite the default patches as and when i need to, but ill also have some possibly interesting patches to play with when i get bored. I’d rather that then to end up with most ‘Empty Patch’.

Never say never, thats why I’m not going to wipe anything just yet. When i had my B3 i never saw the point in the drives and dirt settings, now its very much my flavour of the month.

Nice post Bas. I agree that the B1 is more than up to the job for those who want to keep it fairly simple. Its easy to get bogged down in routing, splitting the signal in to 7 different OD’s along the chain, getting something that sounds like a toy keyboard etc, but i think for the majority of those wanting a simple multi FX, with the ability to combine one or two tones in the traditional stomp box method the B1 is going to work very well. My only concern is that in the heat of the moment on stage, a box with limited footswitchs like this can easily go tits up. Its very easy to hit the wrong, or both pedals at the same time and get all manor of weird noises. This is where feel the B3n is better, although maybe not as convenient for transportation. If anyone is moving their Helix on i have a brand new B1-Four I’m willing to do a straight swap with 🙂

Yeah, thats what i was told.

Wow, great post and yes, very helpful. To be honest i dont need a thumpinator anyway, but i do understand what it can (help) do the the signal. Good to know there is that little bit of extra cab protection in the T21 stuff. I do also have the Q/strip which has a switchable HPF, as that doesn’t have a cab sim type of tone, but i like the Sansamp effect on my tone so dont really use the Q/strip Thanks again.

I like the Motown patch more because i play with a pick and it sort of rounds the tone a bit, takes the edge of the top end but still has a nice thump. Sort of what you would get with fingers anyway. So far i only need one patch so the rest can stay until i need to change or use them. I dont think ill be using it live just yet so its just for learning songs etc.

I love all those patches, other than Sub Boogie, as i have no use for it. Ive had a surprising amount of fun with the Jaco preset. Not something I’d use live but its good in a sound like a fretless.....sort of way. For me Clean Sans is the one i use the most. Ive added a pitch shift at the start for leaning songs in different keys. Not had a lot of time editing stuff, although its way ahead of the B1-on as far as editing goes.

Ive switched from a Line 6 G30 to a set of Xvive 2’s and love that there is no PSU to worry about. I got them cheap, but also my guitarist recommended them to me. Its strange but i also great glitches at home, but never at rehearsals, and neither does my guitarist. In fact he used his (against my wishes) for our demo and there were no issues there either. Still to gig them but so far very happy. They do seem to work better with passive basses apparently. Less interference from on board electrics.

I had a set of Schaller S locks on mine. No issues putting them on. Maybe they did widen the holes when i put them on, i never took them off afterwards though. i got a pack of those rubber washers but never got around to using them, as i dont tend to keep straps on my basses when I’m not using them, and the washer system just seemed like more hassle (even thoug hi know others swear by them).

Wish i had known about this before i brought my Thumpinator 🙂

Nah, never owned one for a reason 😉

Yep, for me Moving Pictures is my fav Rush album. I saw them on the Moving Pictures tour, and was just getting in to them at that point so that album brings back very good memories when i hear it. Also agree about the Rick. Just something about the fullness and character of the upper notes that no other bass can match (IMO of course). A bass ive never owned.

Yep, 80’s Geddy is my fav period as well. I’m definitely interested in how the new pedal does the less dirty stuff.

Well let’s hope it lives up to it. Im sure it will sell well. I’ll wait and see more demos. Not interested in the Geddy tone as such but to does seem to be bringing something new to the table.

Which pre amp and which album 🙂

Wondering what people are expecting from this pedal that other pedals cant do. After all , Geddy has never used one AFAIK.

I always thought the way JC wears his bass would be a bit too low for me, but once i had it strapped on it actually felt its the best way to wear it. Low and to the side. In my usual position I found the edge would cut in to my forearm after a while. I could have used it for everything in our set, but my P bass just seemed to fit better for most things and I’m not one to change basses during a gig.

Its not just lack of varnish, they actually blast some of the wood away. At the moment ive got a Lakland jazz neck on it and its even lighter than with the stock neck on it.

I got mine for £700 for a dealer in 2015. Very, very lucky to get that.

Well it didnt in my case, and i too play 100% with a pick. Maybe you have your bass slung lower than I like it quite high. it was never a real problem as such, just noticeable and needed correcting. What i found more of a problem was the way it would tilt forward, away from me. Although my forearm would rest on it it still felt strange at first.

Interesting you never had any neck dive, as its a known ‘feature’. I got a very wide grippy strap and that fixed it, more or less. I will get one again, maybe when i give up playing in bands.

I love it to bits. It’s an acquired look I suppose but one the plus side you dont have to worry about surface scratches 🙂

My Sandblasted P weighs around 7.8lbs. So nice to play.

I too was pleasantly surprised when i got mine back in Nov. A lovely red 20th anniversary edition. Surprised that the bridge popped off when i tried to tune it after opening the box, surprised at the neck dive and surprised at how un comfortable, and painful it was on my right forearm. Also surprised at how much i loved the look and tone, and how nice the neck played :-). I really wish i could have kept it but it just wasn’t for me. The one bass i really regret getting rid of but i know it went to a good home.