Phaedrus

I sold my ME-50B because of the lag when switching patches. It's only milliseconds, but it mattered live. Does the B2.1U suffer any lag when switching patches? Would the B2.1U with its XLR output serve as a replacement for my VXL Bass Attack (I use it as a DI live)? I love my VXL, and would be happy to keep it as well as a B2.1U if I did get one, but if the B2.1U can function as well as the VXL as a DI, [i]and[/i] has decent tone control, it'd be a simpler set-up with just one machine. How's the tuner in the B2.1U? I assume it has one? Would it be a match for my DT-10? Is there a compressor in the B2.1U? Is it any good? Thanks, Mark

This KBA210 combo does seem an attractive amp for an amateur/semi-pro on a budget, specially if they DI into a PA live. Musicstore have it for under €320 including delivery to Ireland (where I am). I don't see it reviewed on Harmony Central or anywhere else. Have any of the magazines had a look at it yet? Mark

Hi All, Haven't posted in a while - haven't been in a band for a some time, so not playing much bass. Looks now like we'll be getting a pub covers band going again (probably Green Day, U2, Killers, RHCP, AC/DC etc, with some heavier stuff for good measure - QOTSA, Metallica, RATM . . .) it'll be me & guitarist from previous band, with his brother on drums and we'll source a singer once we've got the music nailed & smooth. I'd been using a TNT 150 BW together with my previous drummer's Trace Elliot BLX80, but was on the brink of getting a Tour 450 + TVX 410 just before we split up. I'd like to have some "decent" gear to rely on, and have always trusted Peavey - perfectly useable tone & features, and definitely built to last. The Tour 450 + 4ohm TVX 410 would be €719 delivered from Thomann, while the ProFet 5.1 + 4ohm WCA 410 would be €766. I won't be in a position to try-before-I-buy, but am happy to assume that I'd be reasonably impressed with either rig, but have read that the Tour 450 can seem to be lacking in power. The Peavey rig would be my first choice, but if someone can convince me that the Warwick rig would be "better" in any way, or that any other head + 4x10 set-up would be "better", I'd apreciate any comments & opinions. I'm also looking for a compressor & chorus - I'll post over in the effects forum. Thanks, Mark

Hmmm . . . This guy ( [url="http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=UBcBroMunCQ"]http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=UBcBroMunCQ[/url] ) seems to be peddling it, and to me his cover sounds closer than the other youtube guys covering it, who all seem to be pulling off . . . Example: [url="http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=bwQYmq_2NqM"]http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=bwQYmq_2NqM[/url] Mark

Powerful pull-offs! His pull-offs have as much power as his right hand plucks - the fluidity of the line almost makes it sound like it's peddled. Yay Sam. I love this intro. Mark

No, you're right - aparrently he's got his D tuned down to B and does the "pull-off" bits up at the 12th or so, using the open "B" in between. mark

If that's your own bass in your avatar then you're probably a far more serious player than me. In fact, even if it's not, the same holds true . . . But to me a pull-off is using the finger fretting the upper fret (12th, for example) to effectively pluck the note sounded by the fret that's being pulled off to (10th, for example), rather than the note fretted at the 10th being plucked by the plucking fingers. My left hand (fretting) technique isn't good enough for my fretting fingers to get the same power and tone as if I plucked the note with my right hand (plucking) fingers. But nor is my overall technique good enough to smoothly pluck & fret the notes at the speed needed (though it's by no means "fast") to make the bassline in question sound fluid. Not yet anyway. I'm just dicking around with this intro cos it's so cool - not in a band ATM, so no pressure. Mark

It all sounds plucked to me, but youtube boyos are all saying pull-offs. What say ye? [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLmtgWW9KXo"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLmtgWW9KXo[/url] Skip to 1:00 to escape the "artistic" sh1te. Mark

[quote name='Stylon Pilson' post='380145' date='Jan 14 2009, 11:59 AM']In my opinion, it sounds like you should avoid turning the volume up to match the drummer, and instead make sure that the drummer knows that you expect him to match his level to the rest of the band. S.P.[/quote] +1 If you were a rockier outfit, a bigger PA might be necessary, but for jazzier stuff, what you have could be enough. If the drummer is able to use "dynamics" (fancy name for being able to play lighter or harder as necessary), he'll be able to match the rest of the band. If you can manage it, the only sources going into the subs should be the kick drum, some bass if you DI (in addition to your backline), and some keys if you use them. Obviously all vox should go through the tops and not the subs. Mark

94 Corolla with 230,000kms on her, basses listed in sig - no contest. I still like my car. Mark

Fondly called (for the moment) The Gerry Coleman All Stars. Well that's what Gerry is calling us. We don't really care. Can't really put a category label on it - light, melodic, poppish-rock, maybe? Snippets at [url="http://www.gerardcoleman.com/"]http://www.gerardcoleman.com/[/url] Blogs & other trivia at: [url="http://www.myspace.com/gerardcolemanmusic"]http://www.myspace.com/gerardcolemanmusic[/url] Dood - that's some hefty gig you've got going, man - good luck with it! Mark

Welcome Adam. Bass is great, and this is a great forum. I've been playing for years and I'm still crap. But... Sorry if I seem like a prude or a killjoy here, but am I the only person that finds pissman an inappropriate username? Savoury language in a post is one thing (go for it - I think I may have), but this seems a little wrong to me. Have things been changing as I've been a less frequent visitor over the last few months? Shoot me down if I've got this wrong, but I had to mention it. Mark.

[url="http://www.gerardcoleman.com"]www.gerardcoleman.com[/url] Some small tidying up to be done, but looking like being released this November. Recording can be tough, but it's fun. Mark

[quote name='Norris' post='227649' date='Jun 26 2008, 10:15 PM']The ME-50B can't do this, as it has a moment of silence as it switches between patches.[/quote] That was a problem for me too. FWIW, my guitarist's GNX4 doesn't have this lag, nor does another mate's GT-6. Mark

I plan to put the D'Addario Half Rounds as soon as I get the chance. Is it strange to fit round wounds on a fretless? Mark

Any opinions on the Marshall SV-1 SuperVibe? Mark

Neither of my active 5s have anywhere near this hum - in fact they are both practically silent. The hum on the VMJ only goes away when I touch the strings, not when I touch the bridge or the control knobs. It's still acceptable - it's by no means too loud to render the bass unusable. Live, no-one would know. In a studio, I'm sure fancy noise gates would eliminate it. Mark

DT-10. Fast, accurate even on B, tough, available in black. I got mine before I knew they came in black. Dang. Mark

I know it's only a cheap bass, but the excitement is still there. There was a bad mains hum when I connected it up first. Tried a few different cables and routings, but it only mysteriously stopped after reconnecting back to the initial way. But there's still a slight hum when I'm not touching the strings - do they "all do that?" I'll have to keep an eye on it over the next few days. I got really nice tones from it. It's my only passive bass, bar my Westbury Track 4, which I never use now. Tuners seem really tight, so hopefully it'll hold tuning properly. I got a Minotaur bass strap with it and a set of Warwick lock-nuts and a set of D'Addario ENR71 half-round strings. The strap is lovely soft leather and it's 11cm wide! I'll update on the noise in a few days. Mark

FWIW: Knowing the ME-50B would alter my tone even without effects applied, I used it to create my main tone - some compression, some eq and a small bit of hi-band drive. That was my tone. Never didn't have that patch turned on, so my main tone was always consistent. For the few different sounds I needed, I set them up as new patches and always came back to my main tone patch. Mark

I'm re-assessing my effects set-up. I've sold my ME-50B. I know that I want the following: Tuner, overdrive/distortion, chorus, compression, DI. I'm keeping my Korg DT-10 and Hartke VXL Bass attack, so that's the distortion and DI covered. I'm pretty sure I'll go for an Aphex Punch Factory and/or Bass Xciter as the compressor. I'm wondering what chorus pedals folk on here like. Do regular chorus pedals sold for guitar work okay with bass? I thought the EBS UniChorus would be worth looking at, but one review I read said it was really noisy, with a lot of hiss. Thanks, Mark

I found the hi-band distortion on my ME-50B great. All the dirt I could want but still beefy clean bottom end. I sold mine (buyer collects tomorrow) because I came to realise I don't actually use the "effects". And I needed the cash to fund my fretless purchase. Not to imply or suggest you haven't already, but have you really played with the ME-50B's distortions? Mark

[quote name='Paul Cooke' post='218618' date='Jun 13 2008, 09:37 PM']amusingly, then I'll have a bass that matches my avatar...[/quote] Good grief...

Just back from summer hols today and have agreed sales of my ME-50B and RBX375, which neatly nets me E300. I'll probly order a fretless VMJ tomorrow if no-one can convince me not to. All reviews and comments seem very good and a mate has bought a fretted one which he's well pleased with. Mark

I love his playing. Real strong powerful riffs - angry and aggressive. He's a decent player without needing to be a Myung or Wooten. I love that I can play most of his stuff. Mark