Cosmo Valdemar

There's no right or wrong way - it's whatever you're happier with. I briefly owned the VT but my favourite is the Leeds. I always use it in the effects loop when I can but on the occasions when this has not been possible it still performs admirably straight into the front of the amp. They are really bloody good though these pedals aren't they!

[quote name='Jazzneck' timestamp='1447710937' post='2909762'] Why Oh Why do they do this remix cobblers? Another great money making scheme - let's milk the cash cow - the mugs'll fall for it again, game. This remix, remastering cods really piddles me off. Who bl**dy cares if you can make it sound different? It's not what really happened. Just enjoy the original stuff, warts and all, as it occurred in real life. Yes, I've got all the Beatles stuff on original vinyl and CD. I think I've paid enough over the years and I ain't paying anymore for stuff I don't need or want, thank you! Rant over - Thank you for reading this and I wish you a goodnight! [/quote] To be fair, I think the main selling point with this new release is the Blu-Ray/ DVD. It's full of promo clips, lots of which I've never seen before. Also, not sure if I should mention this or not, the visuals have also been restored and they look glorious.

For the full effect of the pedal, plug into the amp's effects return. This way you'll be getting the tone of the pedal alone and won't have any colouration from the amp. Of course this only really works if it's going to be an 'always on' pedal. If it's going to be an occasional effect go into the amp's input as normal.

[quote name='Meddle' timestamp='1447535540' post='2908463'] Note the picks stuck in the pickguard. John used pick quite a bit back then, sometimes with palm muting (like the intro to Sparks), but people typecast him as a fingerstyle player. [/quote] I'll second this. At least 50/50 pick and fingers back in the day. His pick technique always gets overlooked which is a pity as it's pretty phenomenal.

It's recently been playing up for me too. Try flicking the little switch icon top left of your comment box, that worked for me.

[quote name='Wolverinebass' timestamp='1447249046' post='2906099'] Were it me, I'd be getting a Cataldo (and I have considered it in the past actually). Not that I've ever played one, but sound samples I've heard sound great. As long as they're put together right, I'd imagine they'd be very, good instruments. More than likely because the pickups have some serious kick. [/quote] Next time you're around SE London/Kent pop round and have a go on mine! Bring Buzzards

[quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1447289160' post='2906506'] Turn the bass almost completely off, leave the mids and treble set mid-way. On the bass, you'll want the tone set to about 75% zing. Tonnes of gain. Sounds counter-intuitive, but play lightly and let the amp do the work. Sounds pretty horrible solo'd but in the band mix it'll cut through like a knife. No need to use effects, just utilise the gain controls. [/quote] With all due respect I have to disagree with this. You've got the P bass - leave the tone wide open, without a doubt. You'll need the full beast coming through. It's a bit tricky to question the EQ setting without knowing what you are referring to - possibly the VT bass? I would start by saying the VT bass isn't going to get that Leeds sound - it will give you a nice aggressive valve sound but the Ampeg tone is very different to the Hiwatt tone. I'm going to sound like a broken record here but the Tech 21 Leeds is what you need. Use it as a preamp rather than a standard stomp box and with a P bass the tone is there. Don't take too much notice of the demos on Youtube as they go completely over the top - even the official Tech 21 demo. I have this pedal and use it all the time, and know from experience that with a P bass the sound is there. Of course a proper Slab would give you that extra push on top but it's certainly not vital. Definitley don't abandon the low end though!

[quote name='b'boom' timestamp='1447154883' post='2905273'] [color=#000000][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]I have never played through the Tech21 Leeds, but if I had to buy a Hiwatt preamp style, I would buy rather Shift-Line Olympic MKII because it's specially designed for the bass, it has a pure tube circuit and other option as headphone output + effect loop + ground lift switch. But it is true that it's more expensive than the Leeds.[/size][/font][/color] [url="http://shift-line.com/card.php?device=60"][color=#000000][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]http://shift-line.com/card.php?device=60[/size][/font][/color][/url] [color=#000000][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=3][/size][/font][/color] [/quote] Interesting! I've never heard of that before. Although I'm certainly not left wanting by the sound of the Leeds.

[quote name='The-Ox' timestamp='1447111101' post='2905051'] thanks! Great tone I must admit, I saw a few reviews criticizing the cataldo's but I like what I see so far how much did yours cost (including shipping)? I'm torn between the explorerbird or the jaebird, your thoughts? I appreciate your input [/quote] Their are a few harsh reviews online but they are for Carlo's very early attempts, which were a little rough round the edges but were also being sold for a ridiculously low price, it should be remembered. His current work is excellent and has a far higher build quality and far superior hardware and electronics. I've owned two of the JAEbirds, both purchased from here second hand, and the current one I own is a better instrument than the old one. I can't imagine there being much of a sound difference between the JAEbird and the Explorerbird so it's really just down to aethetics and playing comfort. My JAEbird is very light and balances perfectly - the Explorerbird looks cool as hell but I imagine it being a little cumbersome! The hardcase is huge as well.

[quote name='The-Ox' timestamp='1447079657' post='2904635'] wow never heard of that Jaebird, will give it a try thanks! Cosmo Valdemar, which era does the tone replciate the most for you? I'd imagine the 70s, but pre or post Quadrophenia? He played a P bass on Quad didn't he? [/quote] JE played a standard Thunderbird on Who's Next and, as far as I know, the Fenderbirds on Quadrophenia. It's difficult to tell by sound alone as they have the same pickups and guts. It's definitely the Gibson tone on both though. This was during JE's bassy phase when he was fed up with using so much treble. Like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QbCNVxBTNo Here's a clip of an early Cataldo bass being played, very well I should add, with a treblier, driven sound. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I17XWY3kBxk

[quote name='The-Ox' timestamp='1446741120' post='2901963'] how does this compare to a sansamp or a VT? [/quote] The Leeds is part of Tech 21's Character range, along with the VT bass. Essentially they both do the same thing, although the VT bass is designed to sound like an Ampeg and the Leeds, a Hiwatt stack. I've owned both but sold the VT - it's a superb pedal as many on here will confirm but I'm just not a fan of that Ampeg sound. The Leeds suits me to a tee. I'll admit I'm a massive Entwistle fan which is why I went for it in the first place, but it can do much more that the Leeds sound - it sounds lovely on cleaner settings, and can be pushed into something a bit more raucous too if that's your thing (see vid above). It sounds great as a standard overdrive pedal but it really shines as a preamp pedal - I run mine into an amp's effects return and just use the amp's power stage. I wish I had the means to make a video as the current Youtube clips really don't do it justice! It really is a beautiful pedal and has no problem with bass whatsoever. [quote name='The-Ox' timestamp='1446735462' post='2901872'] Entwistle's tone had changed by the time he got to Quadrophenia, can it replicate the growly tone of tracks such as The Real Me? that manual does say it can get a cruncy tone like in Won't Get Fooled Again I suppose [/quote] I would take the manual settings as a guide only - the 'Leeds bass' setting are way OTT for what is supposed to be (I assume) the 'Live At Leeds' sound. But that sound is well within reach - the secret is to go easy on the Character and Drive knobs - a little goes a long way. The chap in the video above is using quite an extreme setting. Also, Entwistle's tone on The Real Me and WGFA are, by his standards, very clean, although he recording of WGFA isn't the best recording of his bass. The Leeds pedal can certainly pull off a convincing Quadrophenia-style sound if you pull back on the drive.

[quote name='The-Ox' timestamp='1447062487' post='2904421'] Hi guys In your humble opinins, which is the best 'Entwistle' guitar out there The Hybrid bass by Dean Guitars: [url="http://www.deanguitars.com/query?upc=819998175542"]http://www.deanguita...pc=819998175542[/url] The Spider bass by Dean Guitars: [url="http://www.gak.co.uk/en/dean-john-entwistle-spider-bass-classic-black/98416?gclid=CjwKEAiApYGyBRC-g_jIstuduV8SJABCEzhZ71Zc_t5a5jFim-YujE6S02IzPOgvROSRmc3qCMmACBoCPIPw_wcB"]http://www.gak.co.uk...MmACBoCPIPw_wcB[/url] The Frankenstein bass by the Bass Centre: [url="http://www.basscentre.com/british-bass-masters/the-bass-centre-frankenstein-bass.html"]http://www.basscentr...stein-bass.html[/url] Thanks! Taran [/quote] I've never played the Bass Centre bass but it appears to be a tribute in appearance and nothing else. The Dean basses are just shameless cash-ins, both of which look vaguely similar to basses Entwistle used to play and are completely different on the electronics front. [quote name='Bigwan' timestamp='1447069075' post='2904499'] [url="http://cataldobasses.com/JAEbird.html"]http://cataldobasses.com/JAEbird.html[/url] [/quote] I'll echo this - I own a Cataldo Jaebird and it is utterly superb. An extremely close replica of Entiwistle's Fenderbirds, and the Thunderbucker pickups are just incredible.

Assault, surely?

Ooh, thought of another one - "Islands" by King Crimson. I was chuffed when they played some of it when I saw them recently. Perhaps it's having a resurgence.

[quote name='Dapper Bandit' timestamp='1446134662' post='2897223'] Never met anyone in person that even remotely likes this album. Which is weird because it blows most metal albums out of the water. [/quote] What is it?

[quote name='72deluxe' timestamp='1446069486' post='2896732'] sounds mellower than my Warwick but it's all good. [/quote] That surprises me! MInd you I'm used to the more common neck-through models. That's one incredible looking bass.

Gilmour gave him the sunburst stack-knob. Betsy used to belong to John Entwistle and now wears EMGs.

If it was his recent appearance I'm pretty sure it was Guy Pratt...

[quote name='Dan Dare' timestamp='1445963330' post='2895744'] Mr Blue he speak da troof. Reputable manufacturers don't put rubbish p/us in their instruments, despite what after market sellers (who don't have anything to gain from our changing p/us, of course...) try to claim. [/quote] Not strictly true... A lot of basses in the cheaper price range can be improved with better pickups or preamp. Not always the case of course but it's silly to assume otherwise.

I think the Legends have dot inlays, whereas the Euros have the more elaborate 'crown' inlay. edit: as well as everything else that's already been mentioned of course.

Ready To Go / Drop Dead Gorgeous - Republica Celebrity Skin - Hole Cannonball - Breeders

[quote name='colgraff' timestamp='1445880140' post='2895005'] Re Yellow Mellow: if we are going with the drug theme, what does "I'm just mad about 14 / She's mad about me." mean? [/quote] Further to my earlier comment, I now realise I have misheard that particular lyric all these years.

[quote name='colgraff' timestamp='1445798784' post='2894315'] Yellow Mellow by Donovan - widely considered to be advocating underage sex. [/quote] I've never picked up on this.

I always enjoy the way Ray Davies sings "The air pollution is foggin' up my eyes" on Apeman and the BBC merrily played it - especially considering the fuss they had made over the harmless "Coca-Cola" in Lola.