paulo m

For myself compression is most definately at the begining of my effects chain...& used Sparingly' ( just to grab it..Not squash it) this is achieved by low release & attack thresholds...but it does fatten up bass tone & adds slightly more sustain...Also your feeding the rest of the board a uniform signal So' lets say your running that into an Octave' this kind of signal should in theory? Help with the tracking of the octave..etc'etc' But some folk place it elsewhere in the chain... its a subjective topic that will run & run...

In answer to your quandary.. COG T16' BOSS OC2' MXR BOD... all are good octavers tracking & synthy-ness.. is subjective' ive owned all three my personal choice ( @ the moment ) is the T16 for its flexibility & Great Sound.. but there are other choice's EBS' DIGITHEC' TC' AGULIAR' etc...

The GR2 is the 2nd generation pedal of this chain of filters' from Spencer @ 3 leaf audio"the Groove Regulator being the first..Hence the GR.. & the wonderlove the third & wonderlove deluxe the forth... & ive tryed them all!!! The GR2 stands out for its plug in & be instantly impressed by the sound ability) try & source some reviews of this filter.... In addition spencer also makes a proton series of filters that are equally impressive...they were based on the "Mutron"pedals..where as the GR series & wonderlove's are based on the "Lovetone Meatball" design.

If you can find one' a 3 leaf GR2 envelope filter is superb on bass' believe me.. combined with Octave ( i have both a Cog T16 & an original Boss OC2 ( the Bronze One) Before them a MXR bass compressor then after the GR2 in my chain a EBS microbassII with a overdriven channel....Combining all four of these pedals & i know it sounds a lot...Give's a gargantuan Synth Funk' Sound.. In closing check out the (Bass-Pedals.Com) site for invaluable info & brilliant sound clips....

Ive owned two Basic Black's each from the bass centre i still have one' the first had No right' to be still working' after the abuse that it was treated too'( repaired a couple of times for Capacitors burning out' & dodgy plastic input jacks" i Sold it on & its still going!!!!.. i still absolutley love the Sound that comes from this Second Generation Combo'... in a small setting' an electric can emulate an upright tone' I prefered it to the Redhead simply because of its weight & portability...

Nordstrand NJ4SE... work beautifully with John Easts Pre Amps... I have all three sets of his single coil p'ups they dont come cheap but for me'...they are Superb' Check out the reviews.

May i also add...that SWR only ever designed one circuit!! So when folk say this amp' sounds better/ different than that amp' they were all based on the same design..??? After the company was sold the quality control rapidly declined.. & when fender aquired it' they put it out of buisness. Also' they now have little if any resale value' being obsolete' for example' a buddy of mine bought a 800 stereo power amp...£20 @ a car boot sale... Owzat!!!!

Quality made equipment.. ive owned more than eight pieces of the SWR ENGINEERING stuff..& it still sounds great to my ears... had a few problems with capacitors & the like' over the years...but im still using a Basic Black twenty years on....

Nj4 will give you the Classic Single Coil Sound....Clear & Smooth from top to bottom....just excellent Nj4se is a Hum Cancelling'Hum Bucking' take on a Single Coil...More Mids & Beef...but muted high's.... It doesnt matter which Nordstrand Pickup you choose These are Stellar Pieces of Sound Equipment!!! & use in conjuction with John East's amazing on board jazz bass preamp... For a little over £400 you can transform about any Jazz Bass... BUY WITH CONFIDENCE!!!!

Yes those two pedals work very well indeed together' & if you...look @ bass-pedals.com they run an excellent insightfull Demo on just how to get the best out of em!! I would suggest you try the Xciter at the end of your pedal chain' as this is the companys recommended placement of it...& it Does make a big difference... But of course its all subjective' & about ones own ears.

[quote name='basshead56' timestamp='1485981971' post='3228302'] My signal chain goes tuner - MXR compressor - Bass Xciter - Chorus - Envelope - OD/Fuzz - Reverb - pre/out I love the combined use of the compressor and the Bass Xciter!!! Serious fatness!!! Sounds A1 recorded too! [/quote]

Fiddly things to get just right.. i find I use the MXR M87 & the metering is a big bonus... Switching from fingers to Slapping' shall we say. Yeld's a very big difference in sound. Personally i like to use them to just " Grab the Sound" Not Squash it... they do give a fatness & more sustain to the sound...& used in conjuction with a Aphex Exciter' or a Sonic Stomp" then you are in a different Sound measure!!

EBS Microbass II is streets ahead of the designs ' talked about here & has a multitute of applications.. Superior Built Quality' & Sound Quality.

Ive just aquired one of these...& im not overly impressed Bulky' & it doesnt supply & extra level of comfort...? & as for adjustability i feel its a faff On taking out those small screw like buttons...& its not totally accurate also. Infact my Neotec Megabass i feel' is of superior design & comfort. Awkward to transport also...Wont go in the saddle pocket of my Levys CM19 bag..it has to go inside with the bass? If Gruv Gear's other products are of this build quality.... I for one' will be looking elsewhere...first. I.M.O. of course.

Ive taken delivery of the Gruv Gear Neo 4in.....? & my first reaction to it is.. So' So.. even dissapointment in the materials used in its construction. @ this price' compared to brands such as Harvest' Levys' etc Who do use leather' this..its nothing special!!! I.M.O My decision to return this' is wavering...?

The SWR design was not without its faults or problems' i personally have always thought they produce a very accurate HI-FI sound that defined a certain sonic period. For myself' the SWR head is the SM 400... with all of its inherent problems' if you dont expect it to be all things... it supplys their Classic tone... Keep in mind that Rabe designed One Circuit....& that they work best with their cabinets...( Horns turned way down) The Engineering Stuff remains the higher quality gear for myself..& ive owned more than seven pieces of it... Now Obsolete' they are are worth little on the second hand market..& bargains are to be had.... as they are just no longer regarded as the brand to have.

The Comfort Strapp has that bouncey thing...going on.. also they wear out & become painfull ive found. I now use the Neotec Megabass which is far better for comfort & design. I arrived at this via' Levys Leather straps which are well made & expensive also...but not as comfortable as the Megabass Strapp for myself. Now im looking @ the Gruv gear Neo... which is expensive' plus they say it has faux leather?...@ nearly £50.00 that is a little trashy...i feel.

EBS microbass II One of the finest outboard preamp DI you will find. Exceptional build quality & a shedload of features.. There is one for sale on this site Grab it....you wont regret it.

A few months ago i landed a Boxed GR2 in pristine condition for a song. It is the best filter ive used so far' by a Country mile....& its extremely versatile also..

Jonny B Gayden...with Albert Colllins just fantastic groove & funk... Roscoe Beck with Robben Fords Blue Line... Brillliant!!! As a kid i used to watch Colin Hogkinson with Back Door.... He's an Original for Sure & deserves greater acclaim'... Verdine White from EWF.. just too many great' great players!!!!!!

EBS Microbass II...nothing comes close' functionality'build quality'Uncoloured Sound'in a 1st class design...