CameronJ

Exactly what I was going to say. As an example, the Tecamp Puma range of heads (300, 500 and 900) are all the same size and almost the same weight. I have the 900 and one excellent cab. I can (and do) happily use this setup in my bedroom or on a pretty large stage. The head is so compact it will fit in the front pocket of almost any gig bag.

@ped have you tried out the SY300 and if so, how does it compare to your GR55 system?

Actually, take a look at the 3Leaf Doom. It’s labeled as a “Dynamic Harmonic Device” and can get quite synthy. Might be just what you’re after. I run it after my Pork Loin on my board and they complement each other quite nicely. The Doom has a tighter response than the Pork Loin but driving the Loin into the Doom gives me some of the Loin’s looseness with the tone of the Doom which I quite like as a flavour.

Try an Ibanez BTB 5er. Wide string spacing and they all look great!

I feel like @0175westwood29 may be able to point you in the right direction re: fuzzrocious pedals that would tick your boxes

There's a full fat Helix on Facebook selling for £850 with the official backpack case. I don't think it comes with the original box but that backpack costs £127 new on its own! Thats a pretty good bargain right there.

This. All of this.

Glad to be of help! You’ll need a USB to lightning (or 30-pin) adapter to be able to hook the pedal up to the iPad.

Dunlop Big Stubby?

Also, the suggestion to buy used is a very good one. Unless of course you happen to stumble upon the bass of your dreams and the only option is to buy it new!

@meltedbuzzbox, where are you based? I can heartily recommend a trip to Bass Direct in Leamington Spa, as well as the Bass Gallery and Wunjo Guitars in London. They’re all likely to have the Stingrays in stock, as well as a number of other options for comparison.

The ‘Rays tend to be great sounding and feeling instruments. The only thing I’d say is try one before you buy, as the string spacing may be somewhat narrower than you’re used to. I now exclusively play 5s but it took a good long while searching and trying stuff out before I took the plunge on my first one. String spacing at the bridge AND the nut, fretboard radius and neck profile are a complex combination of factors that all interact with one another to influence the feel of the instrument in your hands. For example, I wasn’t a massive fan of 19mm string spacing (at the bridge) until I played my first MTD 5er with an asymmetrical neck. By comparison, I’ve never much enjoyed Ibanez BTB 5s - they also have 19mm string spacing but their fretboards are so flat and wide that, to me, they feel like aircraft carriers. And I’m a very large man with very large hands! I do, however, own an Ibanez BTB33 which is the only 5er in the BTB range with 17mm spacing. Tuned EADGC rather than BEADG. It’s incredibly comfortable to play. Play them all!

Oh wow, that’s lovely.

This looks amazing!

Ah! Grim. You’d be surprised how quickly that’ll start healing and you’ll be able to get playing sooner than you think. Unless of course you tend to grip the neck of your bass like a baseball bat, which I know you don’t!

Yep, for everything but Bluetooth functionality a PJB Cub is probably the better solution. Built like a proper amp (with protection for the drivers), 2 channels with independent EQs, Aux input, headphone out and the ability to chain an extension speaker. I can’t imagine the B-Social sounding better than the PJB Cub or Double Four tone wise, either.

True, the Bluetooth version is pretty important. My Bose Soundlink Mini (original version) for example is perfectly fine for video-synced stuff like YouTube/Netflix as well as gaming! Quality of components is key. Still, wouldn’t want to be playing bass via Bluetooth.

Out of interest, which brands of bass have a conical (or compound) radius?