hubrad

Just get new pots. Not worth the hassle if it needs more than a squirt of cleaner.

If it sounds good, use it. If not, change settings until it does. If I actually wanted a Ricky through an Ampeg, I'd have got one ages ago. If the model sounds useful then QED, whether it actually sounds like the 'real thing' or not. VB-99 part-timer.

Victor Wooten. End of.

Also consider whether you're after smoothie smoothie kinda fretless tone (probably what most folks are after) or more attacky sound (like me!) so you can play fretless in any context. I recently put a set of EMG into my Overwater Jazz; it was brilliant with the Barts, but the EMGs really slice though yet with tons of power! This is about the best recording of it I've heard so far.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ew3NMmtYH3M Your ears, your choice. Have fun experimenting.

Yonks back, I had a Trace pre and Peavey CS-1000 power amp, racked up in a box of my own making. Even with the cabs separate, it were fookin' ridiculous! :-D How do you transport your gear, rather than keep it? Unless it gets wheeled up a ramp into a van and back out onto an easy access stage, keep it portable! All IMHO..

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1454927726' post='2974162'] I don't see it a 'learning to play the fretless' as much as 'playing the fretless'. A fretless is just a fretted bass without frets. It is not a 'new' instrument. A guitarist who plays six string doesn't need to 'learn' how to play 12 string. You need to explore the potential of a new voice but 'learning to play the fretless' is setting up a psychological barrier that isn't there. [/quote] Post Of The Week (so far, at least) for me!

[quote name='Rikki_Sixx' timestamp='1454584433' post='2970988'] Crikey, I grew up in Cleckheaton! Was there just a few days ago in fact. Didn't expect to see a mention of it here, haha. Bought my first bass there at Music Room, which I think moved to a much bigger premises a few years back - though I haven't been in the new shop. [/quote] The very place where I work! I hope that first bass was decent for you, as it could well have been me that sold it to you.. We've been in the 'new' place over 10 years now, bottom corner of the car park by the doctors'.

I did it, most successfully indeed! I did spend [u]alot[/u] of time first checking as suggested above that there was enough clear wood. Here's my story.. http://basschat.co.uk/topic/44673-ibanez-roadster-megacustom/ Dazed, I see you're over round Manchester.. I'm in W.Yorks, work at Cleckheaton, only 1 mile from M62 Jn.26 if you fancy a look at it.

[quote name='ped' timestamp='1453225806' post='2957633'] I think the GR55 is the only GK system still in production which is a shame, maybe wait a bit and see if they do a VB100! I wonder... [/quote] I just spoke to Roland UK, who confirmed the VB-99 to be discontinued. Sadly nothing in the pipeline, so the best current one is the GR-55 and GK-3b. On another note, I've just been having some fun with the VB-99 as an effects unit - bass pugged in as normal rather than 13-pin into the modelling side. Excellent quality in there, esp. the modulation part of things, where you can use 3 different modulations in series (should you wish!). Onwards and upwards!

[quote name='Wonky2' timestamp='1454272548' post='2968171'] Listen to them, A lot. [/quote] This^^ I usually play the next gig's material on random for as long as possible, wherever I go. For me, it's on my phone plugged into the car stereo. You might use a walkman or whatever. I sometimes drive the missus nuts by playing it at home; sometimes she really likes the tracks ('you're playing with this guy? He's really good!') I rarely get round to actually playing the bass along with the listening, but by the time of the gig/rehearsal (do push for one of these) I'll have the shape of the songs in my head, so the actual key doesn't entirely matter. How many times have we done gigs where the singer says 'Oh, I don't sing it in that key any more; that was just on the album'? Enjoy!

I think a few folks have gone for the Weich for the lighter feel thus easier to press down. Go Medium! Stunning volume on those.

I made a couple in the past, including one for the DB made from a 3/4" socket with a slot cut hacksawed it! About a month after that I was introduced to that Planet Waves one with the cutter, and I now have four of them including the bass peg size one! Brilliant piece of kit.

I've never looked closely at the 3, but I would assume the string spacing to only work on guitar.. certainly on the 3b you have to set the spacing on the pickup, and even narrow bass spacing is way more than guitar.

Could well work with the right other folks. Had a bizarre effect on one of our cats, who jumped up and started inspecting the computer speakers very closely!

Been hanging round any dodgy airports?

Is it only me..?

Well, obviously neither of them needs to do it for reasons of finance or exposure, so they must think it works. Probably a brilliant vibe onstage! :-)

I have one, although not tried recording with it. Used USB for laptop controller software - brilliant! :-)

[quote name='bluejay' timestamp='1452935767' post='2954791'] Tweeted. [/quote].. and FB'd.

I picked up the Akai Headrush.. does various things incl. tap and tape heads stylee. Brilliant! I'm not mad into looping, so can't really comment on that side of it, but I think it's on the short side loop-wise. http://www.akaipro.com/product/e2headrush

[quote name='TrevorR' timestamp='1452611386' post='2951636'] +1 for the tip on setting the input level right. The old trick should work of setting the input gain at 0 and then playing as hard as you can whilse increasing the gain knob. Do this until it only just starts to flash the clip light on the loudest notes. Then back off the gain knob a tiny smidge so that the clip light doesn't light and you should have pretty much the optimum match between your guitar signal and the input gain stage of the amp. [/quote] + another 1.. mahoosive difference on Trace gear!

You'll be needing either a single pole or double pole, ON-ON-ON type. Alternatively go bigger and just fit a pickup selector switch in a slightly enlarged hole. This kind, probably available far more chaply locally! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-On-On-On-DPDT-Round-Bat-Mini-Switch-BLACK-CHROME-/360866610681?hash=item5405537df9:g:xT8AAOSwnDZUIXu6