Practise set-up question

[CPF]

OK, i'm thinking about a practise set-up after having to practise silently for the last 9 months.

I want to..

- play with tone to figure it out. So i want it to sound relatively nice, and be configurable/play-aboutable

- practise silently as far as neighbours are concerned, and also along to cd/computer etc.

- have a line out/output suitable for recording on my computer. Also be able to go round my mate's house to record there, and sound nice.

- use effects (my own, but more are always welcome)

I WAS THINKING....
- of getting a small mixer (like this [url="http://www.behringer.com/502/index.cfm?lang=ENG"]http://www.behringer.com/502/index.cfm?lang=ENG[/url] ),
- and a pre-amp (like this [url="http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/TubePRE"]http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/TubePRE[/url] - i use this link becuase the pre-sonus site doesn't work at work, flash huh..).

it should sound good (assuming the pre-amp is any good), can play around finding the best setting etc, take the pre-amp round my mates, and of course whack effects before/after the pre-amp. and the mixer will have headphone amplification.

[u]I basically want to know if you guys have any better ideas.[/u] Of course money is an issue. but temptation for nice kit is also an issue. I've been out of touch with whats about for a while. and i can't tell you how sick i am of playing 'acoustically'. i should have moved on this earlier.

thanks for any help.

Edited July 1, 2008 by CPF

[ahpook]

i got a small phonic mixer a month or so back and it's great for the kind of thing you're describing - i use it for the same myself.

[BassBomber414]

One piece of kit which comes close to your spec is.....

Tascam MP3 Bass Trainer MP-BT1 - around £134 new via the net.

This is a portable MP3 device which takes a normal phono input for your bass and has a line out for earphones/headphones or out to whatever.
It's main function is to allow practice against an MP3 track. It allows you to enhance the bass , to work out a track or remove the bass so you can play that part yourself.

It has banks of effects, a bass tuner even a metronome.You can slow tracks right down with no change in pitch for practice and insert repeat loops easily in parts of songs you wish to keep trying.It charges via the supplied USB or by a mains charger which is a standard 5v in DC charger connection.You could use your own effects between the guitar and this unit , but I have not tried this.

If a song is recorded sharp or flat you can adjust the player to play in normal tuning.

One slight problem for you is that it only has one 'line out' socket so ,if you are recording, you might need a split cable out so you can monitor on headphones.

It's built like a tank and sounds great and I now use it almost exclusively for practice.
It does not come with a mains charger (But a Sony PSP one fits fine) or headphones.You get better volume levels with decent earphones rather than a big pair of headphones.These work really well, Sony MDR ED21LP [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_ce/026-3136059-4251663?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=sony+earphones"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_ce/026...=sony+earphones[/url]

Edited July 13, 2008 by BassBomber414

[Lfalex v1.1]

[quote name='ahpook' post='230725' date='Jul 1 2008, 05:47 PM']i got a small phonic mixer a month or so back and it's great for the kind of thing you're describing - i use it for the same myself.[/quote]

I have one, too.
It's an 8 track and also has Phantom power.
I feed it from any of the following;

Ampeg SVP Pro
Peavey Bass Max
Hartke VXL Bass Attack
MXR M-80

Mix in backing from a CD player or iPod,
And monitor through a pair of Sennheiser HD 215 headphones.
Sounds great, whichever way you use it.
Phantom runs the MXR and Hartke, so no PSUs needed, either.

[Happy Jack]

You should also check out the Bass Buddy by Phil Jones Bass (pjb).

It does everything you describe, and a lot more. Very nice piece of kit.

The Bass Centre (now an on-line store only) sells them for about £200.