dave_bass5

I thought I had getting another SBMM out of my system until that popped up. Nice isn't it?

Ive been using a BDDI fo ra few years now. It just seems to bring my rig to life. A bit like having an active bass....but not lol. I tend to keep the bass and treble more or less in the centre, Blend (the most important knob on the device) at about 9 - 10 o'clock, presence off and gain about 9 o'clock. I dont have it for any amp sim or distortion, just to being things to life a bit and give a bit more depth. Its on al the time and if i need to tweak my EQ i tend to do it on this rather than my amp most of the time. Ive never noticed the lack of mids, but then i dont have the blend up too high so im still getting a lot of the un effected tone mixed in. My rig is also quite pokey so the BDDI actually helps smooth things out a bit. Its also nice having the XLR out, and it being powered off our desk. You cant do this with the BDI21. I recently started using a Zoom B3 and lately a Zoom 60-B. These have a BDDI sim, and Zoom has even included a mid control for this. I still find myself not using that knob, just dont have the need. Ive also got a BDI-21, which i never use but i started out with this. Slightly different tones but all really in the same ball park and all are very interchangeable IME. Saying that, for me the BDDI is the first choice, not least because it has a very slightly warmer and fatter tone, but i really only hear that with headphones on at home. In fact the digital versions produce less boom on some of our stages. As a side note the Zoom pedal's come with simulations of a few of these devices, BDDI, MXR etc, so i can almost test each one out without having to buy individual boxes. To me the BDDI is still the best, but as you can see i dont really use it to its full potential (and dont like OD/distortion on bass anyway). EDIT: Getting back to the mid cut thing. Its not a mid cut as such, its just that you can only boost the low and high, and so the mids do become weaker the higher you go with the other controls (and they are very powerful, and interactive). Adjusting both high and low slightly to the left brings the mids back. At least, this is how Tech21 explained it to me.

[quote name='Lord Sausage' timestamp='1388613851' post='2324135'] Nice one. thanks guys. [/quote] Not being funny but have you looked in to any of the many Squier threads on here yet? I'd have though there was already more than enough info about the current Squier's on here already to give you the answer you are looking for. My opinion, for what its worth is these are more than just back up/home basses. Ive gigged Squier's exclusively for the past 4 year now and have no intention of spending any more than these cost on a bass in the future. I just don't see the need.

Hmmm, I've just started to feel pain in my fretting wrist, and this coinsides whith me raising my strap. Timely thread and food for thought.

just seen this on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/SterlingbyMusicMan/posts/10152129056542302:0 I've always hated the look of the traditional 5 string MM, but this looks right up my street.

Thanks again Steve. That video you posted really helped, and we now have sound, although im not sure thats a good thing at the moment :-). Yep, youtube all the way for now. I have a Peterson stroboclip tuner that works very well for this sort of thing, at only 9 years old he doesn't have a phone yet.

[quote name='spacey' timestamp='1388437066' post='2322051'] What I could not get on with was, I could have 3 stomp boxes or put it in memory mode, where it did not display the boxes, the only way to cycle up the stomp box displays was to bend down and use the up arrow buttons. I really like the idea of having multiple rows of 3 effects and scrolling up and down them, but it is either one mode or the other or bend down every song. That and every effect needed toning down and volumes evening out, in the end, I decided the the old 708 mk ii with its simple edit and store and just go up a tach was far better live to use. So i agree, it needs an urgent firmare upgrade to make it cycle the patches in stomp box mode from the footswitch. A loverly pedal, but just too hard to use live beyond the three stomp boxes you have down. Could have been great if they had just thought the display through more on the patch mode. [/quote] Are you talking about the B3 or 60-B? As already said, one of the big advantages the B3 has over the 60-B is that you can scroll trough the different patches without having to bend down.You press foot switch 1 down so a sec and then you can scroll through the patches (as opposed to turning the individual EX on and off) using the other two foot switches. Agree with the posts that say you really do need to get the many level controls balanced correctly. I've found what sounds good at home is way off at gigs, but the B3 is very easy to tweak and once set it al sounds good to me (and my audience). I do find the Zoom boxes sound more digital than both my BDDI and Boss Chorus, but really only in isolation. At a gig i really cant tell the difference, and its nice to have a mid control on the BDDI. My one big issue with the B£ for live use is that my fett are a bit too wide to hit just one foot switch unless im really careful. Quite a few times i went to turn Chorus on and ended up with both Chorus and Filter, or turn Filter on and end up turning BDDI off. Thats not really a fault of the B3 though, and its something i could get used to.

[quote name='oggiesnr' timestamp='1388422617' post='2321810'] As far as strings are concerned, go to any decent music strings and ask for a set, they'll quote a range of prices and pick one in the middle. Personal preference is for D'Addario Preludes which run to about £15 a set which is towards the bottom end of the market for decent strings. Rosin is strange stuff and not all rosins are created equal. The traditional way for a first application was to crush some rosin onto a hard surface, take the frog off so the hair is all lose and work the hairs through the crushed rosin. I've only ever done this once, long ago, nowadays the following seems to be the norm. Have fun Steve [/quote] Cheers Steve, that's exactly what I'm after. I feel lost in all this. I never realised D'Addario made these strings, I'll definitely give them a try. That video will be a big help. I did notice the Rosin was very shiny and had a feeling it wasn't going on the bow as it should. I'll give that another go. The violin has been pretty much left alone over Christmas but it would be a shame if we didn't give it a chance I guess. My son has said he doesn't want lessons, he just wants to try it himself, so I'll get it all set up for him and see what happens. SS. Good luck with the sale. It does indeed seem a shame to keep something of that value just sitting around unplayed . That's my thinkng with basses, if I'm not using them then get rid of them if they are of a decent value. I keep a back up of of course.

Rather than start a new thread I hope no one minds me asking a couple of basic questions here. I got my son a cheap violin (£50 off Amazon although I got it in the Black Friday deals for a lot,less) and neither he nor I have any clue about these things. Even setting the bridge up was a shock. Anyway, I managed to break the low string when tuning it up so need to get a new one. Rather than just 1 string I figured a new set might be in order, but have no idea what to get. Any recommendations on a new set for a beginner would be most welcome. The other, more embarrassing question is how on earth do you get any sound out of these things lol. I followed the instructions and spent about 20 mins rubbing the rosin on the bow but still it just seems to slide over the strings rather than grip them and make a noise. I am going to do some more research once we have a full set of stings but seeing as quite a few members here know what's what I thought I'd start off here. Cheers.

Life's to short to argue, I'm know what I hear and I like it, that's good enough for me. When someone comments on my tone, without ever hearing it, well, can't see the point but hey ho..

I must admit I wouldn't really like to use mine through a large PA, I do hear a few artifacts and a bit of noise, so in that respect I do agree it's not a top grade professional unit ( and the guys over on TB in the B3 thread seem to confirm that), BUT, for me, through my rig it produces a tone I've had compliments about, and I do find it does the job well enough to be more than usable at any of my gigs. I dont use the amp sims, and would never want a 70s or vintage tone, I really can't stand that tone, so my needs aren't great, and I'm not a purist in the tone dept. Each to his own I guess.

Unless you have heard me playing live an can show me how bad my tone is i stand by my comment and i dont intend to ague with you about it.

All of the above, plus some sort of interface of course. If it were me (and it was two Christmases ago) I'd get a JAM, although I've just spotted he new version and it's now well over £100 :-(. My fav app for bass players is a Amp kit. It has some pretty good simulations of some pretty big name gear, including Ashdown (without wooly emulation) and Trace Elliot. Well worth the asking price IMO.

I just got a 60B for Christmas, and have owned a B3 for a while (and have some good comments at gigs so at least one post in this thread is way off the mark and complete nonsense). The one thing that really stuck me was how more usable the default presets are. All those synth/ over drive patches in the B3 never interested me at all, but the ones in the 60B seem almost useable. I guess with the B3 there were a lot of fillers, due to having all those slots to fill. Of course that's just the presets and no real indication of how the two units really compare but it's a good start. Tone wise I hear no difference on headphones through my PC.

I got a Zoom 60b from my other half. It was something I've been meaning to buy for a while now so well pleased (although not a total surprise). Can't wait to test it out at the next gig. Although I've already got a B3 I don't tend to use that for gigs, I don't like the foot switch spacing. Hoping the 60b works out better. I really only need the BDDI and chorus sims so I'm sure it will.

[quote name='patrikmarky' timestamp='1387281816' post='2310121'] Anyone recommend a good wireless system that's not silly money...????? [/quote] Yes, in all the other existing threads about wireless ;-)

I'd normally pick it up by the middle first :-)

In my quest to replace the buzzy stock bridge pup on my Squier VM PJ i came across the above. Ive done searches, both on the net, here and TB, but it doesn't seem that many people are using them. Most of the comments are positive so ive taken the plunge, but until they arrive i thought id do a bit more research. So, anyone using them?

[quote name='gapiro' timestamp='1386596240' post='2301899'] I have a Roland r-05 Brilliant fantastic piece of kit [url="http://www.roland.co.uk/products/productdetails.aspx?p=1077"]http://www.roland.co...ils.aspx?p=1077[/url] The batteries seem to last forever, and accepts huge amounts of memory at a staggeringly high volume I especially like the function to press the "rehearsal" button and the device will listen to the music etc over the next 5 minutes so that the mic gain is set appropriately. I can upload some examples if you want to hear some recordings [/quote] That looks pretty cool. I have, and love, the older RH-09HR, but this cheaper version looks tempting. I use mine all the time to record gigs, best portable device ive ever owned, but at over £200 its not one i would recommend in this thread.

[quote name='LITTLEWING' timestamp='1385919313' post='2293626'] Most low-enders don't stand any more than 2 metres from their rig. Why would anybody want wireless at 200 squids a go?? Jeez!! [/quote] For those moments when you have to go out front and sound check your band, for those moments when you do have to cross the stage for whatever reason (normally to do with mixing from the stage), for those other moments where the singers guitar lead crossed yours and gets tangled up, for those moments when the cheap curly lead starts to crackle and break up, for tho....... Agree it can be an excessive expense if you really dont need to move, but eve on very small, cramped stages im glad of my wireless system. I too have used the white Fender coiled lead, in fact i have two of them, but even with home use only they can be temperamental. Then again, they are low cost leads.

[quote name='steve-soar' timestamp='1385596890' post='2290238'] Basschat has lost its soul. Si was a good lad, now we just have a load of talking heads. Good work Wayne. [/quote] Si wasn't unique on this website. While he was everything that's been said there are others who are just as kind, helpful etc.

[quote name='rOB' timestamp='1385541770' post='2289377'] Yep, another vote here. [/quote] One more vote for the BDI-21, if on a budget. Although i have one these days I use a BDDI, as to my ears its a bit warmer sounding. Also another vote for the Zoom B3, although if only looking for warmth it might be a bit overkill (although cheaper than the BDDI it can emulate)

What about just turning the patch levels down, and leaving the output level where it is? I found all the patches were very loud when i got mine, and i was overloading our desk. Rather than turn the output down i just adjusted the patches. I mainly did it this way as i was also overloading my ears when using headphones.

[quote name='jamesbass116' timestamp='1385316397' post='2286807'] I can sit how I want thanks... I'd have preferred a snarky comment about my poor right hand position than one comparing me to a girl! Thanks though.. It is a nice picture. [/quote] Gotta love internet humour, and how easy it is to miss read it.

My band did a gig for one of his friends weddings a few months before he went. I was really looking forward to meeting him to say thanks for getting us the gig. He seemed a really nice, genuine bloke, very friendly and helpful.