PauBass

I'm quite tempted to go for a POD X3 Live as a solution for my effects needs but after reading a bit on previous threads I still have some doubts. For those of you that use or have used one, please: My idea is to replace all my pedals with the X3 Live but, how good are the effects? Do they sound like the real thing? Can you get nice overdriven, distorted, fuzzed tones? I'm thinking of running it with my Aguilar DB751, what's the best way of connecting it, front of the amp, effects loop? I don't want to go into the power amp as I really like the sound of my amp. Is it too complicated to use? I mean setting it up to get good tones out of the unit. OK, now looking at M9/13s too. I have read that on these units you can use 3-4 Effects simultaneously but not sur if you can turn them on at the same time? I mean, can you combine a few effects, save them and then recall them with just one click?

[quote name='73Jazz' post='1283281' date='Jun 26 2011, 07:52 PM'] i stopped discussing about that issue with others. It is like discussing about the waves of an ocean with one who likes or (has only seen ! ) the river. Everyone should believe what he wants. I owned several p basses modern to vintage. I now own mostly 60´s and 70`s Fender basses. You can hear the evolution of sound even from pre-cbs to early 70´s and late 70`s. Better or not doesn`t exist. how could left be better than right?They are different and it is up to you, to choose what fits your needs best. For me personally..the best choice and best bass i have ever played in my life ( and i played a lot) is my pre cbs 64 p bass. Lightweight, gorgeous playability, amazing neck and a tone which is heaven for me. There is no modern bass that can compare to this one in my terms of validation.[/quote] I couldn't agree with you more. [quote name='4 Strings' post='1283282' date='Jun 26 2011, 07:53 PM']Do they sound 'woody' because they have a nice, open pore wood finish? Bit like maple fingerboards sounding bright because they are a light colour?[/quote] Mate I don't know what it is about the wood and I don't mean I can tell/hear which wood is the bass made of, I think you know where I'm coming from. I can tell you I've played a PJ bass that had the electronics from a Warwick bass and it sounded completly different, didn't have that distinctive sound. I have rosewood and maple boards an no, the colour has nothing to do with brightness on the tone.

Of course electronics, pickups preamp play a major part in the sound of the instrument but wood also affects the tone. I mentioned Warwick basses because, at least to my ears, they sound really woody and I don't think that's down to the electronics. If you were to have the same set of electronics in another bass it wouldn't sound as a Warwick, would it? I think I was quite clear when I said "I'm not sure what it is, wood, time...." Again I'm not trying to convince anyone, if "yes" or "no" is going to be down to each person, I just said what I think from my own experience.

[quote name='redstriper' post='1281307' date='Jun 24 2011, 05:50 PM']Thanks for all the replies. It seems 100% unanimous that the old ones do not in fact sound better.... ....I'm not surprised by the response on here, but I did expect there might be one or two people who thought the old ones sound better than the new and I had hoped some owners of early models would have given their opinion. The market for vintage Fender basses must have very little to do with their sound and more to do with collectibilty and investment value.[/quote] A bit late to the discussion but I do think that old Fenders sound better than modern ones. Not all of them of course, there's always been and will be really bad ones, that happened 40-50 years ago and it happens nowadays. Why do I think they sound better? Not sure if it's because the wood used was better quality or that now after so long it has settled, or the time is been resonating.... or just magic but I do think there's a difference. For those who think that wood has no effect on the bass sound, listen to a Warwick bass and you'll see how it really affects the tone. [quote name='redstriper' post='1281332' date='Jun 24 2011, 06:17 PM']But none from anyone who thinks old Fenders sound better than new ones and I am surprised by the strength of that opinion.[/quote] I firmly believe the good ones do sound better. [quote name='Happy Jack' post='1281434' date='Jun 24 2011, 07:59 PM']I'm a recent convert. Having been through LOTS of basses (see my sig) I finally bought a 1966 Precision at Xmas. Astounding. Outstanding. I've had Alembic and Wal, Lakland and Status, Shuker and Goodfellow, etc. They were all great basses, all far more competent as instruments than I will ever be as a player. But the 1966 Fender simply nailed THE sound, effortlessly. Flat EQ, no pedals, simple rig, game over, Fender wins. Bear in mind that I am realistic enough to know that this vintage & rare, multi-£000s instrument is actually a mass-produced basic tool, bottom of the range at the time, put together by a bunch of low-paid guys who could never have guessed that it would still be around 45 years later and worth silly money too. It doesn't sound good because I want it to, or because it cost me a lot of money, or because people tell me that old = better. It's just a genuinely excellent bass. Maybe that's because it's old. And then again, maybe it's not. [/quote] I have been there too, many top of the range basses, all great but in the end I went back to my old Fenders. My '66 Jazz is the one that has THE Sound too This is all just my opinion, I'm not trying to convince anyone, and I won't be convinced by anyone either, each to their own but I can tell you, that without people knowing about the age of my basses they have all agreed the older ones sounded better to their ears.

As said, on stage at 9.30pm at the Fiddler's Elbow in Camden Town, it's gonna be a good one...I hope. [url="http://www.thefiddlerselbow.co.uk/"]http://www.thefiddlerselbow.co.uk/[/url]

If anyone is interested we'll be playing at the Fiddler's Elbow in Camden Town, London, this Friday, June 24th. We are on third so we'll be on stage around 9.30pm. 4 bands on the night: DMG [b]Killing Vegas[/b] Feral Sun Death Valley Nights Venue: [url="http://www.thefiddlerselbow.co.uk/index.html"]http://www.thefiddlerselbow.co.uk/index.html[/url]

I use a Protect Contego all the time, it's a great semi-hard case which offers good protection...plus it has lots of useful storage pockets and it's very comfy to carry around.

51m0n very helpful info, thanks! Quick question, have you had a chance to try the Aguilar TLC? [url="http://www.aguilaramp.com/products_tlc_compressor.htm"]http://www.aguilaramp.com/products_tlc_compressor.htm[/url] If so what's your opinion? What would you consider to be a good setting with those controls?

[quote name='I am not excane' post='1252310' date='Jun 1 2011, 04:26 AM']It's the same difference as using fingers vs pick without using FX.... of course it will sound different, but the tone of the pedal will still sound almost like the clip with the pick. The pedal retains all of your playing dynamics and is very sensitive to your attack. That's a big plus with this pedal PLUS, it doesn't start to "fart out" or get fuzzy like a lot of overdrive pedals do when pushed. You can get some fuzzy tones out of the B3K, but it's the only pedal I've used that still keeps the "grind" without getting mushy or fuzzy. I'm in the process of getting a Zoom Q3HD to drastically improve the sound quality. I purposely want to record these videos by NOT going direct into a board because I feel you get a more real-world sound of what it will actually sound like when you plug in and play live in a band situation (unlike a pristine studio recording)[/quote] Thanks, I have already order one...can't wait for it to arrive!

[quote name='cheddatom' post='1253686' date='Jun 2 2011, 10:39 AM']Excellent tone, but I wouldn't really call that Fuzz, would you? More like overdrive IMO EDIT: maybe not, I haven't listened to it in a while, i'll put it on when I get home[/quote] No, it's not fuzz but the post is: [i]Can anyone point out a good example of fuzz/distorted bass?[/i]

Ok, that's it, I'm ordering mine today I already liked the video from "I am not excane", playing with a pick, now listening to the fingerstyle tone of this unit, I'm conviced it's the one I've been looking for a long time! Thanks for the demo, nice work.

I love Jon Stockman's from Karnivool tone, listen to this:

[quote name='I am not excane' post='1249687' date='May 29 2011, 09:24 PM']I will be doing more clips of the B3K and will definitely include fingerstyle.[/quote] Thanks! Looking forward to those clips. Before I order one I'd like to hear what it sounds with fingers, sound differs a lot when usin a pick, what's your opinion?