SumOne

I do really like the FI, but there must be some reason (other than I'm very fickle!) that I think I've bought/sold the v3 twice and the v4 once. It's difficult to put my finger on exactly what, but for me there is just something about it that ends up frustrating me and thinking 'time to get back to playing'! The octave jump tracking warble thing annoyed me with v3 (I think it's sorted with v4), and v4 I dunno but it took me many hours trying to connect it to my Laptop and in the end I gave up. That was almost certainly an issue with my Laptop, but I haven't had that issue with any other pedals or interfaces (other than the NUX MLD Preamp) so in a way it is an issue with the FI - It'd be like not being able to start a car and the manufacturer saying 'ah yes, but did you open the passenger door first - because it won't work if you do that, and did you remember to put your seatbelt on before putting the key in - because it won't start otherwise'. I think that hands-on, low-fuss elements are what is making the MXR so popular particularly for live use.

It seems to me that more often than not it isn't the ones that are 'appropriated' that get offended - it is other people getting offended on their behalf. I think the biggest risk is if it is a straight-up copy (including accents and clothes etc) it starts to obviously not be genuine and seems a bit naff. 'Keep it real' and all that.

My latest ad on joinmyband: Reggae players assemble! I'm a Bass player aiming to put together a Reggae backing band - something like Soul Syndicate, Upsetters, Roots Radics, Soul Vendors, Friendly Fire Band, Taxi Gang, Uppercut Band. The ambition is to support guest vocalists (live and studio). So if you play Reggae and have a decent knowledge of it (know what someone's on about if they ask for 'Baltimore', 'Heavenless', 'Full up', 'Stalag' etc.) give me a shout. I'm in Chichester, but play/rehearse with bands in Worthing and Brighton so don't mind a bit of travel.

Nice one. Since that first post in 2021 I've moved house to Chichester. I'm now in a ska/reggae band that plays local pubs/small festivals about once a fortnight, and in an original reggae band that is just doing rehearsals and recording to try and get an album and gig amount of songs. So I'm all good for being in bands right now..... although come to think of it, I would like to put together a decent reggae backing band to support guest vocalists, ambition being to one day back some of my reggae vocalist heroes.

Yeah I wish more companies got onto it. I tried doing it myself with sparkle rattle cans, and then tried again with glitter and clear coat, but both times were a bit of a disaster!

You're right - that is a great Reggae bass tone. Lloyd Park and Robbie Shakespeare and both credited as bass players on that 'chapter 3' album. I'd guess that particular one is a Robbie bassline/tone.

I'm working my way through the Joe Gibbs 'African Dub' albums today. Chapters 1 & 3 are probably my favourite:

Thanks (sorry for the late reply - I've only just seen your response). I've still got my eye on getting a Ray 34 Purple Sparkle: I've got to admit though, it is almost entirely down to the paint-job that I want one. I've always wanted a purple sparkle funk-machine! (What's more funky than Purple Sparkle Stingray? Nothing!....well, apart from perhaps a Purple Sparkly Bootsy Space Bass, but I don't think anyone apart from Bootsy can pull off that level of funk!) My main 'wants' for a Bass = Light, Passive, front facing jacks, headless, Purple Sparkle. ....so it seems that the paint job might make up for the other things!

Linval Thompson Meets Lone Ark - Marijuana Sessions in Dub (also called 'Linval Thompson meets Roberto Sanchez At the Ark' ....seems to be a running theme of Linval Dub albums having multiple names....but don't get Scientist started on that!). https://alonereggaeshop.bandcamp.com/album/linval-thompson-meets-roberto-s-nchez-at-the-ark-marijuana-sessions-in-dub-lp "After having backed Linval Thompson during shows in Spain, France and Portugal in 2009, the link between Jamaican producer Linval Thompson and Roberto Sánchez of the Lone Ark Riddim Force has become a strong one. They have collaborated on various recordings and releases for multiple labels. Linval also shared original material he produced at Channel One in the late ’70s and early ’80s, including a lot of material that hadn’t been dubbed. Among the files he sent was a significant portion of the riddims recorded in the sessions for his self-produced second album, I Love Marijuana, released in 1978. This album is a must-listen for any serious roots reggae enthusiast! Therefore, it was inevitable that some day a project featuring dubs would be unveiled. And here it is. Entitled Marijuana Sessions In Dub, this 10-track dub album was mixed by Roberto Sánchez out of Linval Thompson’s original 1978 Channel One/King Tubby’s tapes. Most of the riddims come from his first self-produced sessions for the I Love Marijuana album. Only a limited number of tracks from that album have been previously released as 7-inch singles, alongside their dub counterparts, or as part of other albums. This compilation marks the first time that many of these tracks have been officially dubbed for an album. The album features a lineup of renowned musicians from that era, including Aston “Family Man” Barrett, Leroy “Horse Mouth” Wallace, Carlton “Santa” Davis, Earl “Chinna” Smith, “Ossie” Hibbert, Ansel Collins, and Sly Dunbar. Marijuana Sessions In Dub features seven dubs of tunes included in the original album. Although some of the songs were dubbed before on 7″ or dub LPs, some of them are dubbed here for the first time. Included are dubs of I love Marijuana, Big Big Girl, Not Follow Fashion, Just Another Girl, Dread Are The Controller, Roots Lady and Starlight. The three last tracks of the set are dub versions of songs from the same Channel One period, including Cheater Dub, which is a different version of Lion Dub from the Negrea Love Dub album. Linval’s classic album remains a cornerstone of the reggae genre, and Roberto Sanchez’s dub edits are of equally high caliber, reflecting the exceptional quality of the original material. Each track has been mixed while honoring the original sound and adhering to the dub tradition. This was achieved by utilizing an analog delay and spring reverb on an MCI mixing board, along with the use of an original Altec low pass filter. One for fans of vintage dub music."

I think this bit is the end of a boutique bass:

Yes, I bought a MegaPara from them and all was good.

Someone recently gave me their band 'card' which was also a sticker with a name/logo and a QR code. It looks good enough that it is stuck on my amp case giving some advertising and a more permanent reminder than a card sat in a draw.

Pablo Gad, Trafalgar Square (Album)