Bankai

We've just taken a bass in as a part exchange. It's a early 2000's Fender MIM Jazz. Nothing special, except for the fact it's Sage Green. What is this? I don't even... I already have exactly the same, but in a different colour. But something draws me to this. I didn't even know they made them in this finish!

I own a Behringer mixing desk. A month after I bought it (brand new), it stopped working and I had to send it back and get a replacement. The replacement worked and still works fine, but the quality of some of the components meant that when the opportunity came, I gave it away and got something else!

Polytune would be an option, however it cannot be used for drop-tuning such as C. I'll try it though when I get a chance

The advantages of working in a guitar store are certainly wonderful. Today I decided it was time to have a look at Stage Tuners and which one would be the best for bass guitar. In order to really test these pedals I walked passed the Laklands, Fenders and Sadowsky basses, and instead opted to use an Epiphone Thunderbird Pro V. A Thunderbird produces one of the deepest responses you'll get from bass and this 5 string would definitely test the tuners with it's Low B. Pedals are rated on: Usability (How easy it is to read and use) Functionality (The function itself, does it tune well!?) Build Quality (How durable is the thing? If I miss the switch will I take the screen out by mistake?) So first up; [url="http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/tuners_detail.asp?stock=08062617320138"][b]Korg Pitchblack.[/b][/url] I wasn't originally going to include this in my test however on the recommendation of a colleague I tested it as well. The first thing that struck me on taking out of the box was the build quality. This thing felt like if I stood on the wrong part of it, it might break on me! Moving on to the display, it was easy to read and shouldn't be too much trouble on a dimly lit stage, however the tuning display steps aren't quite as precise as I would have liked. But on to the big question, how does it tune? Well, it handled the G, D and A strings alright, but really did struggle with the E and B. It would constantly bounce about the display, change the displayed note as it tried to find which one was being played and sometimes not sense it at all. I wasn't that impressed really and I had definitely hoped for better. Next, the specialist; [url="http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/pedals_s_detail.asp?stock=10092411143228"][b]Ashdown Bassometer.[/b][/url] This specialised bass tuner was the pedal I was first interested in and at first glance it was absolutely perfect and it looked very good (for a pedal!) as well. In theory this is the one specifically designed for tuning bass guitar, however that was what let it down the most. The build quality was amazing, absolutely amazing, built like a tank! Out of the all the tuners I tried, this was definitely the easiest to use and the easiest to read as not only do you get an illuminated dial reading of the note cents but also an LED readout of the same PLUS a sizeable display showing the note being tuned. But this thing just couldn't tune bass. It did the G, D and A strings ok. The B and E strings, well that's another matter. After a minute or so I still didn't have the B tuned! The Bassometer wouldn't sense the B so wouldn't give a readout at all, however it would read the E, but would take about 2 seconds to do so. Definitely not one for the stage. Finally, the standard; [url="http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/tuners_detail.asp?stock=09112511032028"][b]Boss TU-3[/b][/url] The world's best selling stage tuner eh? Well for a start the build quality was what I've come to expect from Boss stompboxes, good and sturdy! While not as rugged as the Ashdown, I'd still have a hard time breaking this and I'd be confident that it'd survive the rigors of a tour. The display? Precise, although perhaps not as easy to read on a stage as the other two, although I doubt it'd be hard by any means. Ease of use? Well same as the other pedals, if you want to just tune, it'll just tune. However you can make the thing extremely complicated if you wanted, with several different settings and types of mode. But the main thing, can it handle the B string that has tripped up so many other tuners? Like the Pitchblack and the Bassometer, it didn't have any trouble with the G, D and A. But when it came to the E and more importantly the B, it jumped straight in and gave a static reading without any trouble at all. No wobble like on the Pitchblack, and no sensing issues like the Ashdown. The results? Pitchblack - Usability 4 | Functionality 3 | Build Quality 3 Bassometer - Usability 5 | Functionality 2 | Build Quality 5 TU-3 - Usability 3 | Functionality 5 | Build Quality 4 The winner? Boss TU-3. I'd buy one, and after completing the test, I did! So if you're thinking of getting a stage tuner, the leg work has just been done for you

You don't get left handed pianos..

Not mine, but this price is definitely tasty! [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AMPEG-SVTII-PRO-400W-FULL-FLIGHT-VALVE-HEAD-1510-CAB-/320727732598?pt=UK_MusicalInstr_Amplifiers_RL&hash=item4aacdcd176"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AMPEG-SVTII-PRO-400W...=item4aacdcd176[/url]

[quote name='JimBobTTD' post='1304006' date='Jul 14 2011, 09:22 PM']Why? Anyway, like I said, I just clip it on my belt. I feel more comfortable having it on my body rather than on my strap.[/quote] Basically what mcnach just said. I usually work with a lot of metal bands, the kind that go flying into the crowd and such. A knock to the transmitter could crack your screen, or break it otherwise. The sweatband neatly fits over the transmitter and protects it from the kind of wear it'd get whilst gigging. Plus it's another barrier against liquids and we all know beer will inevitably end up on you whilst playing!

[quote name='JimBobTTD' post='1301907' date='Jul 13 2011, 08:31 AM'][url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Levys-MM4-Wireless-Transmitter-Holder/dp/B002OEF3ZW"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Levys-MM4-Wireless...r/dp/B002OEF3ZW[/url] £14!!![/quote] Pro tip. Get one of the above and then get a sweatband as well. Slide the sweatband on to the end of your strap and then up so it covers the transmitter and holder. Job done.

Precisions don't have humbucker type pickups?

[quote name='robdowall' post='1297503' date='Jul 8 2011, 06:36 PM']Hey Guys after your knowledge My band are about to record our 3rd CD. We are looking for somewhere to record Drums over a wkend. Somewhere good value, and somewhere in the general Surrey Area Then the rest of the recording will be done at another place we have arranged. We dont need an engineer (or anybody else taking money ) either as our keys player does production cheers[/quote] Skyline Studios in Epsom might be what you're after!

My first bass was a Shine Extreme Series 845. Made in China. Loved it, very very much. Never would sell it and it's still with me now!

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' post='1300086' date='Jul 11 2011, 04:50 PM'] is Surrey not in the South West as opposed to South East?[/quote] Surrey is definitely considered South East England South West would be quite far over. Counties such as Cornwall and Devon.

Ashdown Bassometer maybe? Specifically designed for tuning basses so I'd expect it to perform fairly well!

[quote name='Ed_S' post='1299426' date='Jul 10 2011, 11:16 PM']You have to get used to the very slight time-lag if you go walkabout off stage like I do, but it doesn't take long to compensate.[/quote] And just to clarify, that time lag is down to time it takes the sound to travel from the stage to your ears. Wireless systems transmit at the speed of light, literally!

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' post='1299429' date='Jul 10 2011, 11:20 PM']are you the the strawberry blonde geezer?[/quote] That'd be me! I like this wording...

Hi. Good to see you're enjoying it! Didn't know you were on here, you should have mentioned -Alex GuitarGuitar Epsom