dmc79

@Matt P @TrevorR Cool to see the EHX Bass Soul Food on your boards. I need to give this pedal some more time. I had one before, only played around at home, and can’t recall why I never actually tried it on a Sunday. I bought another a while back as wanted to give it another try, this time during a service. Guess what, I still haven’t done! I’m not really an effects guy, but I am on a bit of a wild goose chase to find an overdrive I like, for that bit of extra grit / mild breakup / crunch, thats not too nasty / fizzy / ‘wasp in a tin can’ like. Something fairly transparent and not too dark / coloured / baked-in (Darkglass style). Interested in suggestions, and I’ll have another fiddle with my Bass Soul Food, it seems that blend & drive fairly cranked & some taken off the treble are popular for getting the most out of this. It’s a real Marmite pedal on Talkbass, but its popularity there seems to have risen since it’s early days. I’ve had a go with the Darkglass VMT, which I know some love, but I can’t seem to get past that ‘baked-in’ sound it has. Also playing around with a One Control Hookers Green Bass Machine, nice micro pedal with some good driven tones especially when digging in with a pick, but still not totally sold on it. Does anyone use a drive as an always / often on thing, or something you stomp on for a certain song / bridge, etc?

@TrevorR Sorry to hear about what you've been through the last couple of years. I thought you did a sterling job bringing together all the online worship stuff during the lockdowns, and enjoy your posts both here and on Talkbass. I hope things become more steady for you and that you settle into a new church. The guy at our church who did most of the donkey work for the online services (alongside a busy shift job and raising a young family I might add) was I feel sadly underappreciated. Perhaps not many people knew it was him who did a lot of that, but some did, and I feel more honour should have been given to him for that. Sadly he & his family left the church a while back, and to this day I bet not many people realised how much he did over that time. Not that we are in it for being patted on the back, but I feel it's right to show our appreciation to people like that. After last Sundays carol service, I went and spoke to everyone I could find who took part, to thank them for their hard work and congratulate them on a job well done. I've played in them before and appreciate the time sacrifice that goes into the rehearsals (which start early Oct), so felt they should all be thanked. Several people, including singers, a musician and the sound man, were doing the carol service for the first time, so I wanted to encourage them. Two ladies did a vocal solo, just them and the keyboard, they were incredible and had never done anything like that before. When I spoke to both afterwards, they said they'd been very nervous, one hadn't even sung on a Sunday yet, though will be doing soon. Changing the subject back to gear, I am curious if any of you have a Compressor on your pedalboards. . . I've never used one, but it's something I'm always curious about. I've read examples of people who swear by them, whilst others don't like them, so I thought I'd gauge opinions on them, in the context of worship. I have a space on my Nano board which I feel I'd be best filling with something that will improve the overall sound, rather than something like a modulation effect which I may use once in a blue moon. I have a tuner, overdrive & preamp/DI box, and keep thinking about putting a compressor in the space. I have a very basic understanding of what they do, if I'm wrong I am open to correction, or if I've missed something out here, please add. As far as my limited knowledge goes, a Compressor evens out the sound, prevents volume spikes / rounds off peaks if you dig in too hard / smooths out any heavy-handedness. Does this sound right? I know there is a colossal thread on Talkbass about them, but I don't plan to read all 400+ pages of that anytime soon! Also, for those who use them, are there any you recommend buying or indeed avoiding? These are ones I've seen mentioned a fair bit which I keep being drawn to, but I know others are out there too: Keeley Bassist Limiting Amplifier, Diamond Bass Comp (& Jr version), Xotic SP, MXR M87 & M282 Mini. I'd want something fairly simple, so maybe the Keeley or Diamond Jr which only have 3 knobs. The M87 looks more complicated with 5, then there's the single knob TC Spectracomp too. Whilst footprint is not a major deal, a 1590A size mini one would free up space for another pedal, meaning I could squeeze 5 onto my Nano (my overdrive is a mini too) and thus have the option of 2 different levels of drive. . . I'll be honest, I don't even really understand what the knobs actually do on these things, so will try to educate myself. Looking forward to some thoughts, I'll try and scour the forum outside of this thread too. I just can't get it out of my head that a Compressor would be a good thing to round out my board and improve the overall sound. Thanks all

Great stuff. I upgraded from 9V batts, to a One Spot & daisy chain, then an isolated supply in the form of a used Cioks DC5, and will never need anything more (honestly). At the time it seemed like a really boring thing to spend over £100 on, but I never felt happy with the One Spot; I had a pin snap off the mains plug as I removed it from the socket once, and there was always some noise through the IEMs, which I attributed to the One Spot as it’s never returned with the DC5. If anyone is on the fence with power supplies, I highly recommend an isolated one. The DC5 allows you to choose from 9-12V for each output, with a sliding switch on each. I’ve only ever needed 9V but it’s nice to know there’s 12V option if needed. DC7 allows up to 18V too.

Thanks everyone. After a good look at this article: https://www.guitarworld.com/features/best-beginner-electric-guitars and the positive comments on the Pacifica, we've gone for a Pacifica 120H in black. Basically the hardtail version of the Pacifica 112V, which came out top in that list, with Squier Classic Vibe Strat close behind. I get the point about resale value, but he just wasn't sold on the traditional Strat/Tele route, this seems like a decent guitar for the money, and no tremolo arm / wonky bridge tuning issues. As we didn't get a bundle deal in the end, I'll need a practice amp now. Am I right in thinking at a push he could use my Ampeg bass practice amp (you just don't do it the other way around - bass through guitar amp)? I may just get him one anyway. Probably one with some basic built in effects, like a Roland Cube, Orange Crush or Line 6 Spider, and definitely a headphone input! Any thoughts? I had a Roland Bass Cube once, so am leaning towards a Cube 10 GX. I know in time a Zoom or similar multi effects thing may be up his street, but I figure it's best to at least have a bit of drive / crunch, etc on tap from the amp rather than one that doesn't have anything like that.

Thanks, I had to look up what Hardtail even means, I haven't bought an electric guitar since my cheap Strat copy over 20 years ago!

Back on the Affinity series, would this FSR be ok do you think, as it doesn't have a floating bridge / tremolo arm? https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/220708388710008--squier-fsr-affinity-series-stratocaster-h-ht-laurel-fingerboard

Thanks, a lot of love out there it seems for the Yamaha Pacifica. Liking the look of this one, just not sure about the side jack https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Yamaha-Pacifica-120H-Black/G5J

Thanks everyone. I’ve not shown him Epiphone Les Paul yet but I’ve heard that the Affinity range isn’t that good, so rather than be frustrated right from the off, perhaps it’s worth forking out extra for a Classic Vibe Strat or Tele. Will chat through the options with him tonight as I want to order something tomorrow

So the Squier strats don’t stay in tune well, have dodgy tremolo arms & an action thats not very good?

Thanks for the offer. Any pics of the Les Paul? Thanks for the replies everyone, will think about it some more next day or two. Haven’t got too long to hang about especially with the postal strikes

Wasn’t sure where to post this. My son who is 14 is starting to show interest in learning the guitar. He’s started getting into similar music to what I was playing in the 90s which I find pretty funny. My knowledge of electrics is pretty basic, I once had a cheap strat copy which was a decent starter, I didn’t pursue it any further as I took up bass after that. I am guessing a Strat or Tele is the way to go. He spotted this starter pack himself: Strat, Fender practice amp, strap, bag, etc. Seems decent value. The only thing I’m not sure about is whether to still get the Strat on its own, then a different amp option such as a Roland Cube with built in effects. Otherwise as soon as he wants to get dirty it’s the rabbit hole of pedals. What do you think? Thanks. This is what we’re looking at: https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Squier-Affinity-Stratocaster-HSS-Pack-LRL-Charcoal-Frost-Metallic/3SZ8

Gorgeous bass. I have the same colour scheme in a Player P. In the past I’ve never been crazy about the thought of a white bass, especially having seen the yellowing of them a few years down the line. Recently I’ve grown to love the tort on white look, my Player is actually called Polar White, not Olympic white. It is very white indeed, I have no idea if it will yellow the same as oly white, I hope it doesn’t as it looks great the way it is. I’m yet to try flats on a long scale bass, only ever briefly tried some on a short scale Mustang, they felt really nice but just not what I’m used to (nickel plated steel rounds). I’ll have to try flats on the P someday. What does your bass weigh? I’ve heard that the 2013-16 line was relatively light

Recently replaced the stock electronics in a Mexican Player P bass with a KiOgon loom. Sounds superb along with the CS62 pickups that went in at the same time. Excellent service as usual from John.