bakerster135

[quote name='notable9' timestamp='1401781385' post='2466677'] And just to be controversial.. Worst bass for me was my 77 Stingray. No way you say? Yep. It was sooo heavy... gawd I could just about pick it up and that awful three bolt/tilt adjustment maple neck never seemed right somehow, I was always looking at it and fiddling with it. [/quote] I'm not sure this is too controversial, it's quite well known that there are plenty of stinkers about from every era of Musicman construction (Fender/Charvel/Ernie Ball). I've played lots of crap pre-EB and EB Musicman basses, and there's huge inconsistency (even despite the supposed infallible Ernie Ball quality control!...). Luckily, mine's not one of them

[quote name='Nibody' timestamp='1401716562' post='2466084'] Stupid question but did you try changing the strings? [/quote] Yes, it wasn't the strings...

Mine was a sunburst 1973 Precision, got it when I was 16 (now 30!) for £300! It looked beautiful and had the ashtrays, but it was absolutely devoid of any tone, acoustically and plugged in it sounded totally dull, lifeless and awful...I was distraught. Eventually took it to Music Ground in Doncaster, and did an almost straight swap for a Stingray, which sounded absolutely amazing in comparison! I later sold this for university rent money, and I've always regretted it... First bass was a Columbus Jackson/Charvel style, which was actually not at all bad and well worth the £30 I paid!

[quote name='plunkrock' timestamp='1401370975' post='2462899'] There's a cheap Rat Tail in 'Effects for sale' at the moment (not mine,) it's a popular Rat clone for us low end lovers [/quote] Not sure how I could neglect to mention the Rat Tail! Awesome RAT clone, great demo [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_6Rd0dFH2A"]here[/url]!

I play a Stingray, and a Jazz. They sound ridiculously good through my COG Knightfall 66, in fact I have the low gain channel always on. I also sold my Catalinbread SFT after I got this, if that's any indication? I had a B3K and sold it. Liked it initially, but after a while I found it too fizzy and artificial. Not tried the VMT, it's popular but I personally don't like the sound of any of the demos I've heard at all. Also, I understand it's not particularly high-gain, may be slightly overpriced too(!?)... If you want a nice, gnarly distortion, that also does lovely aggressive low gain, you can't go wrong with a RAT-clone. Tom (COG) effects does an awesome one called the TK-421 which is a custom order at the minute I believe, or there's the Idiotbox Blower Box which is also insanely good! These both keep your low end, don't buy an original RAT unless you have some sort of clean blend or you will lose all of your bottom end!

Can anyone tell what's going on here? http://ameblo.jp/repair-works/image-10888083019-11220836329.html Am I right in thinking that's TWO metal can op-amps in there? Can anyone make out any of the other components, and suggest what their role in the circuit might be?

[quote name='thisnameistaken' timestamp='1401127530' post='2460374'] There is no chorus on that track. [/quote] I think people are suggesting chorus, probably after the filter, as it will provide a bit of movement and a Unison/doubling effect and make the whole thing sound a bit fatter. I do this myself with a TC Corona after all of my synthy pedals! Loads of people put chorus on SH-101s in the 80s/90s for this reason, as they lacked a 'Unison' control (info courtesy of Liam Howlett!...) I assume that when people mentioned chorus you were looking for a Peter Hook "warbley"/cheesy 80s guitar-type sound, which certainly isn't there!

[quote name='Mikey R' timestamp='1401009865' post='2458956'] Are modern Rays the same as the classic Rays? [/quote] Not quite, the pre-amp's slightly different on the Classic, based on a pre-eb 78 'ray. There's quite a difference in the treble sound between the two. Also the Classic has through body stringing, though the jury's still out on whether that makes any difference...

[quote name='topheteatwo' timestamp='1400859501' post='2457683'] I got my Beta for all the subs and power I need! But I might just give it a go out of curiosity! [/quote] Aye, give it a go. Think you'll find it a wee bit brighter than your Beta Drive!

[quote name='topheteatwo' timestamp='1400859501' post='2457683'] I got my Beta for all the subs and power I need! But I might just give it a go out of curiosity! [/quote] Aye, give it a go. Think you'll find it a wee bit brighter than your Beta Drive!

[quote name='topheteatwo' timestamp='1400858839' post='2457672'] TFR is just mind blowing. [/quote] That it is! Just out of interest, have you tried the RAT and TFR other way around, i.e. TFR going into RAT? I've found it sounds great this way, TFR subs and power, but with that aggressive RAT top!

That looks disgusting to me! But then I do hate stonewash...

Seriously tempted by this, I love a good rat clone! Any of you guys know or reckon that I could get close to a Human Gear Animato sound with the Blower Box?

Nice long plate-style reverb is what you need. Check out the Neunaber Wet, Strymon Blue Sky or even Source Audio Dimension 2.

^ Definitely this. I have never found that to be the case with my Stingray, or any other that I've played!

[quote name='topheteatwo' timestamp='1400276331' post='2452650'] After all the stuff that I've read hear, it's making me want a Knightfall 66, especially all the stuff about it stacking well with other pedals [/quote] Just get one. I was using it this weekend, after the TK-421 (Tom's Rat clone) and/or the Wren & Cuff TFR, and it sounds totally brutal but just sits so well with a band. Especially effective against two noisy guitarists with JCM 800s! ;-)

[quote name='topheteatwo' timestamp='1400276331' post='2452650'] After all the stuff that I've read hear, it's making me want a Knightfall 66, especially all the stuff about it stacking well with other pedals [/quote] Just get one. I was using it this weekend, after the TK-421 (Tom's Rat clone) and/or the Wren & Cuff TFR, and it sounds totally brutal but just sits so well with a band. Especially effective against two noisy guitarists with JCM 800s! ;-)

[quote name='Mexicola' timestamp='1400240232' post='2452141'] Sounds promising! Is the 66 the same as the stock Knightfall or is that a custom variation? [/quote] Custom variation. It has five selectable clipping options for each channel, plus I had him give my second channel stupid amounts of gain. You should give him a shout though, he could probably make you a spot-on clone of the Rusty Box with extras if that's what you wanted!...

Not a pre pedal per se, but I'd definitely have a gleg at the COG Knightfall 66 if I was you. Been through B3K, SFT and BDPG myself and this is the best always on "grind" pedal I've ever had, gets really trebley/grindy but never harsh. Plus you get another channel which you can use for high gain. It also happens to sound awesome after ALL other dirt pedals, just gives them an extra something special. It might even make your ODB3 sound good! ;-)...

[quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1399639870' post='2446164'] Ooo, this is totally turning into a 'share your 66 clipping choices' I'm currently on Germs for low gain and LEDs for high gain Si [/quote] I was messing round with the rectifiers (silicon 1n4001s) on the second channel last night actually, and they sound REALLY good with high gain, 2 o'clock blend and boosted highs. Really meaty! Might stick with this and keep MOSFET on the first channel for low gain, they're completely different sounds. 1n4001s don't seem that popular as clipping diode choice generally I've found...Wonder why that is?

[quote name='topheteatwo' timestamp='1400161953' post='2451335'] I love the idea of Darkglass releasing a phone "With the Era knob, you can go from [s]Nokia 3310[/s] to iPhone and everything in between in the twist of a knob!" [/quote] * Motorola DynaTAC, "for the complete retro Zack Morris vibe!"

[quote name='topheteatwo' timestamp='1400157662' post='2451278'] The VMT looks a great piece of kit but I don't know about Darkglass stuff, I know people who like it LOVE it, to my ears it just sounds so manufactured and fizzy. I know a guy who swears by Darkglass gear and I just can't get my head around the hype at all, but hey, that's just me! Although, if I were to join some sort of hi-fi metal band, I'd probably get one to fit the sound, seems to me that's where a lot of their market is! Nolly lovers! [/quote] Definitely this, I just could never get a very natural, organic sound out of the B3/7K. Maybe I just wasn't doing it right, though I tried probably every possible setting!...I did enjoy it for Takeshi Ueda moments, though none of my current bands have any particular need for those!

I'm very keen to try the VMT now, though I'm not sure I need it...I got sick of the character of the B3K pretty quickly, tried a B7K as I thought the eq would give me the versatility I needed, but I realised that I just don't like the nagging (and rather unnatural) sound of either unit...It just sounded like Meshuggah or something, whatever bass I put through it!

[quote name='GazWills' timestamp='1399983566' post='2449553'] nice just found a post office missed delivery slip in my mailbox at home - my neunaber WET has been sat at the post office waiting for me for almost 2 weeks! dead excited to pick it up tomorrow night!!! [/quote] Cheers! Very keen to hear your thoughts on the Neunaber, I hope you love it as much as I do mine! Please, first time you plug it in, hit a high chord with the Mix at 3 o'clock and the Depth control on full...beeeautiful!!!

[quote name='Bolo' timestamp='1399916279' post='2448942'] Oh wait no, those are for the stRingray >< [/quote] Haha! Surely "Ernie Ball UK" should've got at least that right!?...