dave_bass5

Cuzzie. Maybe its the slight compression in the BDDI that does make it appealing to me. My one is the current verisobn with the mids so its quite versatile, but still has quite a heft to it that just doesn’t seem to need compression as well. I will have fun with it, and i cant wait to try it out with the band. I know ill sell it on at some point, and i do still have an old BDI21 that i can use rather than buy another BDDI if it ever comes to that. Hopefully it wont for a long time though. Ill report back on Friday to finish the thread. Danny. Yep, i had thought that through. The plan is to use the much better EQ on the Ultra to shape my clean tone, than just add a very small amount of dirt with the other button as and when i need it. With the DG pedals ive had before i dont think ive ever run the blend higher than 10 o’clock. Obviously ill need to put this in to practice, and i might even find the Ultra is used always one with both buttons engaged and I use my Joyo OJ or VTBass DI for the extra stuff. I still have the toggle switched to play with that I assume are only used for the drive section. It’s going to be interesting and i cant wait to try it all out. Funny how my simple threads turn out to cost me loads of money lol

Cheers guys. Al. I use a Markbass F1 head, and also have a GK MB800. I like to alternate these but I think as far as heads go I’m going to stick with them. Ill never sell the F1, as i like it too much (plus is a red version), but i do find the Eq lacking. It’s actualy the VMT tone i dont like, at least, not without being able to EQ it better. I’m with you on the Compressor comments. Ive had about 5-6 over the years, always based on me reading comments on here and TB about the magic they will add. Always struggled to find this and quickly sell them off. The spectracomp came about because i was using my Jazz bass and found the two strings a bit lacking. Plus the band kept telling me to turn down at rehearsals, so i figured a comp will keep me in the mix at a lower freq. It worked fine, and i have no really issues with that comp, other than its lack of tweak ability in a live situation. Although i know what the main knobs do on a comp the Spectracomp seems to go way beyond that, and I found i needed to set all that before heading out. Quite tricky as i dont use a cab or rig at home. The preset stuff worked fine but there were times i really wanted to tweak aspects of the comp, and couldn’t. The Cali came about after reading another thread on here and thinking this must be the one for me. Faily simple to use in a live situation, well regarded and with a bit of ‘cool’ attached to it (pre Xmas GAS after getting my bonus). But then i read if I’m using distortion i may not need a comp. This i find to be true. I tend to turn it off if using the BDDI and VMT at the same time. Thing is i dont use that much distortion and not all the time. I find when the BDDI is off the Cali works better for me. When the BDDI is on the Cali seems to make everything a bit ‘less good’ tone wise, although it does allow me to turn up without jumping out of the mix. Thing with the Cali is i can keep tweaking it at rehearsals until i do get it working better, plus now the BDDI is going i might stand a better chance with it as an always on. I do find it a lot more transparent than the Spectracomp, which is a good thing i guess. It also helps getting closer to an old recorded bass tone. Gimmie some lovin for instance. I turn the comp level up and i get a really nice compressed bass tone, just like the recording. As i play mostly with a pick it also helps even the atatck out and i can get closer to finger style with it, so it has its uses. Bottom line is i dont need compression, never have, but I’d like to get the benefits from using one, now i have a good one. I do get why they are used and how they can be an asset, its just so far ive not hit the sweat spot with it. I definitely feel it works more with my Jazz bass than P bass. If i was to sell it I’d put the Spectracomp back on the board. This is my first ever board and what I find is I’m now keen to use the pedals i have. Before i was too lazy yo use more than one or two. Cuzzie. Good point about the different DG boxes. I started with the VMTD and loved it, but got rid of it after about a year when i was lent a VTBass. I switched to using a VTBass deluxe for a while, and loved that as well, but i was forever fiddling with it. I sort of missed the simplicity of the DG so got the VMDT II. Big mistake. I hated it and quickly sent it back. I felt the lack of the Vintage knob was a step back. I ended up getting a VMT. Used it for a while but sold it to get a VTBass DI. Loved the DI (still got it) but then realised i needed a bit more dirt from another pedal, so brought my VMT back. Started using the two together but went off the idea of using the VMT as I still didn’t like the tone much. I also found the VTBass wasnt quite what i wanted, and that the BDDI was. Now i i brought a BDDI to use with it and while its an ok combo i still dont like the VMT much, although it works for what i need. So here i am getting another VMT. I realise this one also doesnt have the Vintage knob, but I’m now at a stage where I don’t feel ill need it. i like to set and forget my pedals as much as possible. Ill get a nice clean tone from it, set the right amount off dirt from the top row and bobs your uncle....in theory. Ill have the ability to get a bit dirtier without changing the character of the tone with one foot switch. If i need more dirt i can turn up the drive without the overal level chaninging, more or less, so it makes tweaking this part of the tone less hassle than doing it with my BDDI, which would increase the volume quite a bit if i turn the drive up, which then means turning the level down, then back up etc. I spent a good few hours last night listening to a lot of You tube videos. I know, not the best thing to do but other than the over the top distortion ones i found a few where the drive was used ina very subtle way, and this appealed to me. I tend to use my VMT with the Vintage knob right up and the drive almost off. This is the sort of tone I’m looking for but with a much greater EQ range. All this in a box that will fit my board and take the place of two other boxes. Yeah, GAS struck hard this weekend lol.

Cheers Al. I think engaging the two together would have gotten easier but it looks liek I mighty have had to mount the Le Bass sideways on the board. Mighty have been a bit tricky hitting both together that way round. I have size 11.5 feet, and if I’m not wearing trainers it can get a bit cramped when using switches on my tightly packed board. Ive gone ahead and ordered the Ulta, it will be here Monday. Ive got a rehearsal on Thursday so i can test it out. If i dont like it ill send it back and start again. I have a feeling i will like it a lot. I’m looking to just warm up the amp, and with the same tone but a bit hotter for when the guitarist is soloing (so probably used on all the time lol), plus a bit more dirt for punk/new wave songs. There are a few pedals that can do all this, but the DG seems to have the best control over how the two parts work together for me. I love the DG level/blend implementation, i find it very versatile. I had considered the AO or Ao but i wanted one pedal with two switches on it, rather than something got run along side the BDDI. As much as ive always loved the BDDI i feel its not a tone that is working for me at the moment. It’s funny but when i got my latest BDDI a couple of months ago it felt like an old friend had returned and we would never again part. Funny how things change so quickly.

Guys, ive had a rethink and am going to try and get a Darkglass Vintage Ultra instead. As much as i love the look and sound of the Le Bass two things dont quite appeal to me. I feel that channel A just doesnt have enough EQ to warrant me using it as an always on. My amp has more EQ. Now, if i could use Channel B as always on, and switch in Chanel A to boost and drive channel B harder that would work, but unless I’m missing something you have to hit both switches at the same time. This seems a bit fiddly to me, and not something i want to think about. The other issue is size, although i could live worth that if it wasnt for the above. Looking at the DG it seems to do what i want, in a box that will fit my board without issues. For clean or slightly warm the EQ options seem better, and the ability to just add a bot of drive over the top is ideal. It a lot more money but from all the demos ive seen of both pedals the DG ones seem to be closer to what I’m looking for. This can definitely replace the BDDI and VMT, and leave me with space for something else. Cheers for all the advice though.

Yeah your’re right, i dont need to get shot of it, only if i do stop using it. It’s stasying put for now anyway. I find it more useful with my Jazz bass than my P bass, and I’m hoping to start using my Sire 5 Sting next week so maybe it will make a difference. Either way, it looks cool and i cant imagine me finding anything better.

The issue i have with the Cali is that i dont need it. I don’t need a compressor at all, but every now and then i buy one only to sell it soon after. I really, really want to keep it and i probably will, at least for now. I know i can get by with the Spectracomp, but the Cali is really nice. I’m just not sure i need to keep that sort of money tired up when i could easily sell it and still have a good comp. I love the BDDI but i only use it with the blend hardly on. I use it to ad a bit more depth, weight/warmth to my tone, so I’m not depending on this box to colour the tone in a certain way, as long as i have some sort of pre amp on the board. I think Channel A of the Le Bass will easily replace the cleaner tone of the BDDI, and having the same tone with a bit more dirt is preferable to adding in another new tone from a second pedal. I’m not adverse to getting a larger board, although it would be getting a larger board for less pedals lol. I did like the idea of using the Le bass at home for silent practice as well though.

Thanks for all the replies. Sorry im a bit late responding. Didn’t get notification emails. I had read that the box will just take as much as it needs, so in theory I don’t have to buy a new cable, but at the end of the day i guess i will to get the most out of it. The only concern i have now is that it will be too big for my Pedaltrain Nano+ board. I hadn’t looked in to this aspect when i started this thread. I put the board together to skip all my boxes neatly together, so I’m not going to go back to multiple boxes on the floor. Saying that, maybe It would fit well enough, even thoug hit will jut out. At the moment i have my Line 6 receiver, Cali 76 CB, BDDI, VMT (or sometimes Joyo OJ) and Zoom 60B ( running as a tuner and chorus). The BDDI and Cali are on all the time and i just need a dirtier tone without sounding like a OD for some songs, without tuning the BDDI off. I find the VMT is a bit dark sounding (although works in general), and the OJ a bit bright sounding. Both good, but not what I’m really looking for. I might get rid of the Cali as i dont find i need it as much as i hoped (still got a Spectracomp) and my thinking is to get rid of the BDDI as well. The Le Bass could cover the BDDI and VMT duties in one box....in theory. I just like the idea of the two tones in one box and fancy giving the Le Bass a try. Not really interested in the other boxes like the MXR etc, nor the DG stuff. I want dirt all the time, then a bit more of it as and when needed. Al. The Origin will be too expensive to consider just now, and i know i wont really need all those knobs. I could happily live with what i have now, but the Le Bass is just something i have GAS for. I also have a VTBass DI that i dont on the board, use and of course all the OD’s etc in the Zoom to try. Ill keep an eye on the classifieds for one of these. I’m in no hurry. Worst case scenario i can use it for headphone practice at home instead of my B3n.

Im thinking about getting the above pedal to replace my BDDI and VMT on my pedal board. Im powering my board with a Cioks DC5. I know ill need a splitter lead but can anyone point me in the right direction as to what one, and the easiest way to get it. I dont have the Le Bass yet, as i want to see how easy it will be to get the power side sorted first. Cheers.

Ive been using one for a few years. Never had an issue with it.

Not sure what bells you are asking about. I guess he was in the right place at the right time back then.

GK also recommend having the master up high and adjusting the input stage, at least for the MB800 head i have.

Ive never actually owned a Laptop. I actually got the bag for the amp and cables. Now that i want to start using a pedal board i guess im going to need something larger to carry it al in.

On a slightly related theme, i was just reading that Harry Shearer gets $300,000 per episode of the Simpsons. I appreciate he does a lot of the voices, but thats a huge wage.

All my gear other than bass and cab fit in a laptop bag. Even the amp. I just wish I could find a laptop bag that would also fit a 1x15 lol.

Mine as well. The rehearsal studio we were using up to a year had one that i had to keep moving out of the way to fit my (back then) Markbass F1 and BF BB2 rig. One day i couldn't be bothered so plugged the Peavey in. It was 10mins after that point i decided the BB2 was going. Even the band, who never really comment on my tone said dont dare plug my own rig back in.

Im right in the middle of London, by the Southbank. Thanks for the invite but its not really my cup of tea if im honest. I try to stay away from things i dont have or cant afford, for the obvious reasons :-)

Ive seen this guy a few times. love his playing. Very talented IMO.

I would prefer the VMTD over the OJ, its a lot more versatile. I would only use the OJ in conjunction with something else, and not as an always on pedal. I had the first version of the VMTD with the character knob, and this did replace my BDDI as my always on pre amp/dirt pedal for a while. To me though it just lacks character and i found it a bit bland. That may well be a good thing for some but i was more used to the BDDI tone. I did get a VMTD II a couple of years later, but didn't like that at all. I missed the Character knob too much. Ive also got a VTBass DI, and thats much closer to the tone i want, and i really should put that on the board again.

The OJ is brighter and more lively, and more musically pleasing my ears. again, to my ears it sounds more like an amp breaking up compared to the VMT, which i find seems dark and a lot warmer. It does subtle or out right nasty. Obviously these are my ears and my descriptions, which could be the complete opposite of what others think, but out of all the dirt pedals ive used the VMT is my least fav. If i had the room no my board i would use my VTBass DI, although i think that would be overkill for me. I had the VMTD which was much better for me, as it has EQ, but i just missed what the BDDI gave me.

Well im still going to be slightly interested in it. Having recently got a Cali and been very impressed with the quality i think its worth a look. I must admit at the moment my Joyo OJ is doing well, its already pushed the DG VMT off the board, and at £45 it makes others seem a bit overpriced.

and the rich :-)

Actually Tomastik have quite a bit of info on their website. It seems they do a super long (36") set of TI's, inc a low B, so id expect them to be fine for string through body on a standard Fender style bass.

I cant see why not, assuming the length is long enough.

Same here. I love these strings and im so used to them that when i play a bass without the balanced set on them it feels strange. Also didnt get on with the NYXL's, and was quite disappointed in how quickly they lost their tone. At the moment im going through a flats phase, im on TI's at the moment (P bass ), but i have a new set of XL's waiting to go back on soon.