CameronJ

Ah yes, lest we forget that bloody handling charge! Good thing I asked... Thanks for the heads up about Thomann stock though.

Given the breadth of suggestions here I think it's safe to say that there are a ton of mics out there which do a better job than an SM58 and cost less. It's just the stubbornness of sound engineers which has kept them on the pedestal of being "The Industry Standard"...

...but what will the customs import fees bump the price up to?

[quote name='NoirBass' timestamp='1497165514' post='3316172'] Just completed this: https://soundfly.com/courses/synth-bass-for-bass-players Really helpful information on the instrument and many helpful tips too. [/quote] I've just gone through the course - very good. And free which is always welcome. Now, if you have a couple of hours to burn: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rrn1T9tpljo

Turns out the high pitched whine was coming from/being exacerbated by something elsewhere in the signal chain... Still a big thumbs up for my Smooth Hound!

Glad to hear you have a keeper! Has she had any gigging action yet?

A bargain indeed. I shall resist...

How about this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tiger-Heavy-Duty-Laptop-Stand-Projector/dp/B01MRMF2TQ/ref=sr_1_19?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1497282748&sr=1-19&keywords=Laptop+stand A much smaller footprint if square-footage is an issue in your playing environment?

I think pickup switches can be excellent. I'd hazard a guess that 95% of us, like you, only use blend pots in 3 positions anyway so a switch just makes life easier. I'm a bit in love with the switch on my Yamaha BB.

[quote name='Woodinblack' timestamp='1497260589' post='3316806'] I used to use a PG58, which is shures cheaper version of the SM58. But I was using a voicelive so I wanted some control on it, so I went for a TC Helicon MP75. Quite expensive in the UK, but remarkably cheap in the US, so imported one and it has been loads better for my voice and feedback control. [/quote] I was actually going to suggest th TC Helicon mics as they're (to me) a step up in clarity over the AKG but the TC is hypercardioid and you really do feel the volume dropoff when you aren't properly on axis. Excellent feedback rejection though! I'd heartily recommend them for a solo or lead vocalist.

Well the Novation bag is easily obtainable for £30 from a few places and it looks to have a decent sized front pocket which is nice. I'd definitely be investing in one, but I do have a bit of an obsession with making sure everything I own has a proper case. It can/does affect resale value though so that's my excuse...

[quote name='Cuzzie' timestamp='1497244935' post='3316707'] The demo by Roey Haviv on you tube is prob about the best one out there on this pedal [/quote] +1 to this. Roey Haviv's demos all seem to be very useful. His DOD Meatbox one basically inspired me to spend a lot of money completely redoing my pedalboard though so beware!

Hmmm. Have you tried the Source Audio Aftershock? Watch a couple of demos online. You can get pretty much any OD/distortion/fuzz sound imaginable out of that thing. I've barely scratched the surface of mine but I'm pretty sure I'll never need to buy another OD pedal again.

To be honest unless you're planning on singing a foot to the side of the mic and expecting it to sound great, which I doubt you are, you should be fine with an ordinary D5. The off axis response isn't life-changingly different from a standard cardioid but you'll appreciate the feedback rejection.

Ah I thought you might have been bidding on that one - I was watching it but didn't bother bidding this time. Hope you enjoy it!

What about them is a pain in the arse?

Wow, very nice. Never heard of Paul Everson but he's on my radar now!

AKG D5 for me. Cheaper than an sm58 and, in my opinion, much better/clearer sounding.

[quote name='dood' timestamp='1497173540' post='3316242'] I'd have to try it, but the Digitech won't play ball with any other pedal daisy chained to it, even off of a battery pack, though I haven't tried a 'semi-isolated' supply (the type that isn't galvanically isolated) . [/quote] Hence why I'd have a Timelord isolating the Smooth Hound. That way neither the Smooth Hound nor the Digitech will "see" each other, and your Digitech will have a full 1A of current available at all times.

My "in progress" board is being powered by a couple of Rockboard Power LT XLs. They each have 2 9v outputs which run at 1A apiece. I've dedicated one output to my Smooth Hound (with a Gigrig Timelord and polarity reversing adapter in between) and have daisy chains running from the 3 outputs I have left. I could have gotten away with just the one Power LT but I decided 2 would be best for battery life. Having 2 power sources isolates my effects into 2 completely separate groups by default which is a nice bonus even without the Timelord With my setup, you could dedicate one Rockboard LT XL to just the Digitech and the Smooth Hound - The Digitech plugged straight in and the Smooth Hound with a Timelord feeding it. The second LT XL will then happily power your remaining pedals. The whole setup costs around £140 and leaves you with just a single cable running from your board to your amp. You won't look back!

To be honest I wanted a Ultranova for ages. I've used a mininova in a show before and it sounded good but a part of me is enamoured with the idea of an analogue synth even if it means losing the option of polyphony...I may end up eventually getting both, who knows! BS2 first though I reckon. Basses & leads are more my thing synth-wise than pads etc.

[quote name='Woodinblack' timestamp='1497086223' post='3315718'] I was actually looking for a Roland VR-09 but they seem to have disappeared second hand since they have gone up. [/quote] If you're within striking distance of Derby there's a used one on gumtree at the moment.

Definitely sounded a bit fishy. Oh well, I'm not in any major rush to buy so I'll just patiently wait for other deals to come up. In the meantime I'll have to satisfy myself with as many BS2 YouTube demos as I can find...