mcnach

[quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1426950260' post='2723884'] I'm on a bit of a filter quest at the mo, having recently tried the following:[list] [*][b]Zoom B1Xon:[/b] I'd always loved the 'Z-Tron' model of the Q-Tron in this - this was my benchmark. For £39 for the B1on, I think this is the best value envelope filter going and I prefer it to everything else I've gone through except a real Q-Tron! [*][b]MXR M82:[/b] Sounds great but not as fat as the Mutron/Q-Tron lowpass filters. Clean blend makes it great as a subtle filter or for letting the original attack through with slap. [*][b]Keeley Neutrino: [/b]I thought this would be the one, but I found it wasn't as fat and squelchy as the Zoom, and the sensitivity control is actually a gain control that affects output volume, meaning when you turn it down to suit a hot bass, you result in a volume drop when engaging the pedal. [*][b]3Leaf Proton: [/b]A nice filter, just not as juicy or expressive as what I was used to from the Zoom. [*][b]3Leaf Wonderlove:[/b] I found this hard to dial in a good sound, and it just didn't float my boat. [*][b]EHX Enigma:[/b] Big volume spike with this at the low part of the sweep, plus a volume boost when turned on. Again not as fat as the Q-Tron model in the Zoom unit. Very versatile though with lots of control on offer. [*][b]EHX Mini Q-Tron:[/b] Not the current Micro Q-Tron but the older one, ironically the biggest pedal I own so not what I would call 'mini'! I saw one of these on Ratman's board in the post-your-pedal-board thread which peaked my interest, and after some research it seems this particular model gets a lot of love, some even preferring it over the original Mutron. Searched for one of these yesterday and was lucky enough to find one on the Gumtree, and it arrived this morning. It has everything I loved about the Zoom but sounds even deeper and fatter, so it's the current king for me. It does suffer from a volume boost so I will be modding it to fit a standard power connector and master volume control, and maybe even true bypass depending on how the bypass is (still need to test that out yet). [/list] The Neutrino and Enigma are going to be returned (I got the Enigma as B-stock from Thomann at a good price, so if anyone wants to try it for the same price I paid they are welcome). The M82 and might be going up for sale also. The only other combatant to enter the battle is the 3Leaf Groove Regulator which I nabbed from the classifieds which should hopefully be with me soon! [/quote] I'd look at the EBS Bassiq and the Aguilar Filter Twin. I was on a similar quest a while ago, and I ended up with the Filter Twin... but recently I finally tried the Bassiq (it escaped me before) and it's a really really nice pedal too. Additionally, if size is not a problem, the Source Audio Bass Envelope Filter, the first one, is really good. Some filters are hard to control with massive volume spikes, or they add too much bottom end, or rob it... The SA BEF is very well behaved and very easy to use yet incredibly versatile. I ended up using only a couple of the many different models it has, and it's my favourite. It only stays away from my pedal board due to size constraints, but I use it in the big one. It's quite cheap now, after they brought out the Manta pedal.

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1426864075' post='2722898'] How about... [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/247112-scratch-it-original-scratchplates-pickguards-to-your-design/"]http://basschat.co.u...to-your-design/[/url] [/quote] I don't think they do standard 3-ply types, but they focus on single ply special designs, afair.

[quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1427012822' post='2724571'] [/quote]

[quote name='Mr Arkadin' timestamp='1426991812' post='2724520'] Likewise. Is there a mute button for trolls like that? [/quote] There is... just don't read it ;-)

I took the Squier P to my gig tonight, through the little Markbass CMD121P combo (just as a stage monitor) and I have to say I am very very pleased with the transformation! These pickups are great value! I had my tone (passive) rolled off maybe a quarter of a turn, and that gave me a very nice smooth tone. Opening up the tone made it sound a little louder (those mids) and cut through more clearly, with lots of grunt... These pickups work very well with the passive P bass tone. Again, it's not the classic 50s Precision tone, but something a bit more... aggressive yet refined. Hard to describe . It's like using a jackhammer that was precision-build in Sweden or something Powerful, yet precise. I don't know! It's just a very good sound. Incidentally, I had three different people complimenting me on my bass (playing? sound? not clear)... I also have a set of veyr very very cheap strings on this bass, stainless steel, brand "Coban". £7 delivered, on eBay. Someone on BC was using them and I thought I would check them out. They're not the best strings I've used, and they felt a bit dead compared to other steel strings I was trying... but after a bit, I started enjoying the way they didn't have all that extra treble that I don't really like, and fellt smoother. Today they did a great job. I might continue using them after all!

[quote name='DarkHeart' timestamp='1426950025' post='2723878'] They are awesome pups. I can`t believe I never thought about changing the covers so they fit better! just done that and put one in my Dirnt Precision and its transformed it, think i`ll remove it from the for sale section now and have a proper go with it and see if I get the `Precision` thing [/quote] it was just a flash of inspiration... I've had other pickups fitted with the "wrong ears" and never thought of just changing the covers until now. So simple!

[quote name='The Badderer' timestamp='1426970220' post='2724342'] ^^^ Fair point. I guess it's a choice, some would prefer to lock the thread when they can see the topic is going nowhere healthy, others see where it goes freedom of speech etc. nothing bad seems to have happened so far.... [/quote] it's just... words... about... basses.

[quote name='spyder' timestamp='1426937873' post='2723656'] Come on. Stop this childish posting and go and play your bass. Someone lock this thread. [/quote] why lock it? I am having a look and don't like the thread (I don't care for Ricks, but Rick threads are sometimes amusing to watch ) but... why lock it? Don't like it? Don't read it. Sorry, I am not saying this as a personal attack but I have seen recently a few comments on other threads along the same lines "lock the thread"... I say let people discuss whatever they please. If they are not interesting threads I'll move on, but let those who want to stay in them do so.

[quote name='Chiliwailer' timestamp='1426925541' post='2723445'] Can I just say that you've wasted all your hard earned cash and should have bought an OLP [/quote] and I just want to say that Chiliwailer is not a second account owned by me

Sometimes a cheap bass surprises you. A while ago I found, by chance, someone nearby selling a Squier Mike Dirnt Precision for £115. I was curious as I was starting to feel a certain attraction for P basses after hating them for so long, so I went to check it out. The bass was very light, the neck slim (which I loved then, but now I wish it were wider and thicker), and it was quite nice. Then I was reminded the £115 price covered bass and amplifier... so I went home with them and later sold the amp for £20. Very comfy bass to play, and the pickup may not be the best but it sounded ok to me. I used this bass a lot for busking with my band using a battery operated amplifier... it worked pretty well and it was a bass I did not worry too much if it got wet, or dirty, or scratched... Recently I've been hearing good things about these Entwistle pickups, especially the neodymium one. At £26, it looked like a painless way to try to improve this bass. The pickups arrived, but the black covers have larger ears than the route on my bass... so I then ordered a set of white covers with smaller ears. They arrived today and fitted perfectly on the bass and on the Entwistle pickups... and it looks like this: ... I have not been able yet to play it with the band, but at home it sounds quite nice. Adjustable polepieces are cool, and I raised the G string ones a bit as the G string was sounding a bit weaker than the rest. The first thing you notice is that some of the "Precision" character is gone. It's not a traditional P bass sound, but it's a good one. It's got a lot of "grunt" but it sounds a bit more refined than a classic P bass. Hard to describe! Not a traditional P bass sound, but it's a good one, especially at £26!

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1426885681' post='2723232'] ...and has it arrived yet? Mine hasn't, and I ordered it three days ago. *drums fingers* [/quote] no, not yet, and I've been at home all day, running to the window everytime I heard a van parking on my street

[quote name='Mike2tone' timestamp='1426884219' post='2723215'] What did you go for Mcnach? [/quote] aaaaah, it's a secret! A Jake P/JJ with very slight differences from the one in stock I was looking at, but they are differences that will make me like it that much more. I'll post pictures in about 11 weeks

[quote name='Markolinni' timestamp='1426782251' post='2721907'] hehe. Congratulations 10 weeks will pass fast (or maybe not..) The first 2 will be the most difficult. I'm passing through the 6 week. hehe. I'm happy.. appear 1 photo on FB of a piece of my future bass Got even more ansious hehehe [/quote] Deposit paid... the wait begins.

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1426720561' post='2721352'] I feel your pain. I placed my order two days ago, and I'm still mailing Adrian to chat about changes. The poor bugger. [/quote] I made my mind up. I think. I'm placing an order fresh 10 long weeks! uf...

Ah, decisions decisions... Emailing with Adrian right now... Hard times for an impatient man: I can order something they have in stock and have it next week? or order something only slightly different that would be a *bit* more to my liking, and wait for a while (and pay a chunk more)... Hmmm. The difference is just the neck profile... a 4 string with a 40mm width at the nut and 21mm deep at 1st fret is certainly comfy and noticeably wider than a typical Jazz. But I'd rather have a 42-43mm wide one and slightly deeper too, maybe 23mm? If in addition I could get a glossy slightly tinted lacquered neck then it would be *perfect*. But... ah, what to do, what to do!?

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1426542328' post='2719229'] Alea jacta est... [/quote] aha! what did you go for? what did you go for?

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1426428107' post='2717933'] He's confirmed that the necks are clear lacquered :-) My order will be placed soon... [/quote]

[quote name='ubit' timestamp='1426422837' post='2717847'] I agree, anyone can become amazing if the are prepared to work, work, work at it. On the other hand , some annoying people, like my girlfriends brother, are just born with the ability to be just good right away. He didn't pick up a guitar until he was 13. Within three years, he was a virtuoso, who could play any Rush song you could name flawlessly, since then, he has become the best guitarist I've ever met in real life. It's so bloody annoying! [/quote] Yeah, I hate those. I'd round them all up in a field and shoot them... oh, wait, sorry, I thought this was the Clarkson thread

[quote name='piffle' timestamp='1425576261' post='2708776'] Hi guys, For sometime i have been looking for a GB streamliner head. Sadly i haven't been able to find one (except at a hugely inflated price). So my question is .. what thoughts people may have as to a similar sounding alternative thats as simple to use. I play a Warwick streamer II currently using a 1980's Trace Elliot AH500, with a shiny new Barefaced BT2. cheers folks [/quote] what's a hugely inflated price? I see them not too unfrequently for around £400 (the 900, or less for the 600 version). That's what I paid for mine more or less (I bought the Shuttle 9.2 new, but the Streamliner 900 was used). I am a HUGE fan of the Streamliner 900. My advice: keep looking. It's a terrific amp. I'd consider the Aguilar TH500 as an alternative, but it frustrated me i the way every control seems to interact with everything else. The Streamliner is almost plug and play. It's really hard to get a bad sound out of it.

Coban stainless steel strings, on eBay, £7 delivered for a set. They're not the best. But they work. For £12 I prefer Warwick Red Label stainless steel, but the £7 ones are not terrible