krispn

In clean mode the spark can be an effective 2 band EQ option as it’s voiced a bit higher in the bass frequency than most bass specific pedals (I think it’s in and around 80Hz-100Hz instead of the more usual 40Hz) which in turn likely places it high than most folks amp Bass control. The treble can get bright but that can be set to taste/style. The mid setting in conjunction with the gain and level is a great place to push the very usable mid frequencies and begin to dirty things up especially in a mix with other instruments. Fat setting is at quite as pleasing to my ear but that will again depend on the bass/style etc. As ever it’s easier to try these things yourself depending on your bass, amp and how dirty you want things to sound. It might be a bit of a balancing act between your amps input and and how much you want to push it or how much you want coming from the Spark. The bass control does a good job off adding back some lows (without being too low so as to get flubby). My settings are similar to Supernaut’s above but I mix it up.

Oh yeah I understand but if the tone you heard was bang on the sound you were after the easiest way to get that sound would be with the same gear. I just sold a Red Witch Zeus which is a octave/fuzz and it can do a great synth like tones. If I were buying a fuzz for that synthy thing the Doom2 would be top of my list.

Or just get a Fuzzistor if they’re still being made?

Cheers fellas

had a look but only saw the Model for ipad and iphone Thanks for that. I think I might need a Lightning-usb3

Is it available to run on mac or just ipad/iphone If i could add it to Logic as a plug in that could be really handy - I don't mind the ipad version but I like to have physical keys as I'm still a little clumsy without a real target... plus I have the notes written on my keyboard which helps me a lot **Actually if there was a way to hook the keyboard to my ipad that would be even better. Are any such interfaces available which would allow me to use my little Novation keyboard to my ipad? I should really google myself but I'm out and about just now. I'll do a proper search later!

Cali76TX and I think there’s one for sale on here 😉😉

I think it’s the same with the Spark. It’s voiced in a way which aids the bass but by not being a bass specific EQ boost (which is usually way down at about 40Hz) its likely more naturally voiced for guitar and set in and about 80-100Hz which is much more forgiving but has enough make up bass in the EQ to keep the lows in a place which still works. I did a little basic snooping via my DAW and that’s what I was finding.

Most gear purchases after the essentials are vanity, curiosity or a combination of both. I’ve owned some high end gear and it’s always been used at gigs so while it might have prestige status it’s also been bought for its attributes. I’m under no illusion that the crowd have little idea what a bass is let along the signal chain I’m using. I’ve had more than one “Why am I playing an ££££ bass/amp when a squier would do in this sh*t hole” type moment. That’s not to say folk can’t enjoy their nice high end stuff at home and many of us have gigging gear and Sunday best gear (err I don’t but I’ve read the accounts). I’ve just been in a position where I’ve been able to buy some nice kit but it was the only kit I then owned as I had to shift everthing else to afford it 😀 but it’s usually been gig specific. I’ve done some local circuit original gigs where I’ve used cheapie basses and on one cringeworthy occasion a new to me squier cut out at sound check and the other bands bassist offered me his bass… it was a Wal! I was petrified of damaging it and literally didn’t move for the whole set! Times like that I wished everyone took crap on the road! I also thought the perception of me would have been one of I didn’t care about kit or gear not in a lack of knowledge but as a general he couldn’t give a f*** which is certainly not the case and that I didn’t have the basic common sense to make sure it worked pre gig. A comment above said “I’ve no interest in your gear so don’t be so interested in mine” (paraphrasing) yet the whole basis of the thread is to show what gear we got, if it was a hit or a miss and importantly why to inform others and, I presume, how/where we use it and if it’s fit for purpose. For me the real test is on a gig. Can I get it to do what I want or was the marketing just that. I hope my explanations above are helpful. I meant to say I nabbed a bass too, a BB424x. It’s a good bass for the money, needs a touch of eq to even it out a bit for my tastes but it’s maybe I’m more used to my P bass which doesn’t need a lot of additional eq whereas the BB has a lot of lows. While not a traditional sounding P it does have its own sound and it’s been nabbed as much for the 80’s look as the sound but I have eq option across the signal chain if needed. I’ve been enjoying playing it live at volume and I’ve had no issues ‘taming it’ or coaxing what I need out of ir. I do prefer a PJ and while my cheapie jazz was great the PJ feels more at home with what I’m going for plus if it was good enough for Tony in No Doubt (I know it’s not the same model but…)! As others have said I tend to buy gear for a particular gig and once that stops being a thing I know I’ll keep my trusty P bass ahead of anything else. I have another pedal or two incoming that might replace the stomp but I really need to try them out side by side before deciding. These days I need a very simple but tweak-able signal chain and if I can get it all in one box that’s perfect. The stomp does that of course and works but I fancy trying something else. hijack over as you were.

Ueah I have been messing with some of the UAD stuff and the iPad app. I’d I were to gig with an acrual synth my keyboard player assures me he has heaps of stuff he could bring along for me. He’s really rather dead on but for home practice I think the plug in would be great for nailing those classic sounds. Logic ain’t bad and I’ve a couple of workable sounds for now too.

‘Yeah that’s the thing the keys player is basically I’ll not do any left hand parts so it’s all up to you what you wanna play. I have been using logic and a keyboard and working on all the songs where I might be able to play synth - as for actual bass synth I’m not against the idea and think it would be cool but I’m enjoying the phat bass sound I have just now. It’d be cool to have a SubPhatty or some Moog type sounds set up to switch on the fly but I’ll see how I get on with the mac. I have used Moog plug ins which sound great via my Apollo but then it’s more gear to schelp - a synth into my Basswitch when I can just A/B makes much more sense on a practical level but not a financial one - if we make any money and it become a decent gigging venture I’d invest but the set list would also need to justify it 🙂

Well it’s only a best of/worst of thread but it’s sometimes good to get context. I’ve had a main pub band gig for ages but I like to have a second project on the go too. Did a C&W band for a bit which was great fun but now it’s an 80’s thing and I get to try out a different sound. It’s half the fun!

Swift payment and good chat. Top bloke!

Such an easy transaction. Cheers fella!

I tend to change my rig every 4 years or so as my gigging needs change and post lock down it’s been nice to make some adjustments to my gear and get a chance to hear them in rehearsal and gigs… Fender Rumble 210 combo - bought this after doing a ‘back line provided’ gig which had one supplied and I was really impressed with the sound, not just how well it took my pedals but more importantly with the variety of sounds I could coax from the amp itself. It really is a cracking and very capable unit. If it came with a foot switch it’d be just about the perfect no nonsense gigging combo (I got mine used locally and it came with a cover so was pretty chuffed about that). Most of my gigs are iem these days but it’s still really nice to have some bass on stage as I know I enjoy it and the drummer always prefers it too so the Rumble is a great sounding way to get that on stage presence in a portable package without compromising on sound quality. Why more folks aren’t using this combo I’ll never know. I’d honestly consider getting the matching 210 ext cab but I’m unlikely to need it! Darkglass B3K - I’m not a DG fan boi but the updates to this pedal have made it way more useful IMO for my needs and I was specifically after something which would play nicely with synths. The addition of a mid button and the tone control and how it’s voiced make this quite a practical unit. I’ve joined an 80’s band and thankfully we all agree that powerful, supportive bass tone is better than me trying to sound like a synth. We already have keys in the band and this prompted me to try the B3K. From what I can tell after some early testing in the rehearsal room is that it’s a great choice for bolstering the low end, adding enough supportive mid range so as not to get lost when I switch it on but also controlled enough in the high end to be heard but not brash or harsh in any way. Rehearsal earlier this week was great as the guitarist wasn’t there so I was playing with a bit more gain than I normally do (to be fair it wasn’t really that ‘aggressive’ per se considering usual DG standards) and it was a great fit. Doing tracks like Material Girl which was probably a synth or bass/synth doubled the B3K got a nice approximation which just seemed to lock in and sit really well with the kick drum - this was all going via the rumble combo which having 210’s might just be a bit more of a punchy sound than I’m used to with my regular 212 cab. Looking forward to having the guitar back and hearing how we can make things work to fill out that mids range and both have our place along with the keys. Spark booster (4 knob version) - total low gain dream pedal for me and one of the best voiced 2 band eq’s for bass too IMO and in conjunction with the MID setting it really pushes the low gain/low mids thing. For me this is a damn fine always on type pedal to allow the bass to sit right where you want it in the mix. I have A/B’d with the Rumble built in drive and both do the low gain always on sound really well. Had the Spark at the pub band gig and would switch between it and the built in drive on the Rumble - both worked a treat and did a similar thing but it their own way with either being a brilliant solution to getting that sound.

GB call it an eq and it’s their pedal/design so I’ll stick with their definition. I have a preamp/eq pedal which can drive a power amp and I think of that as a preamp.

Jesus lads it’s an eq pedal! 😂

So he must have a really good job 😀