paul_5

[quote name='Geoff' post='994760' date='Oct 20 2010, 01:23 PM']I dont know if this is the right forum for this, but i'm currently making my own distortion pedal, just as a little project to get my electronics back up to scratch, however I cant find a box to house the circuit in. Has anyone here ever made thier own stompboxes and knows where I can get the boxes from? Another question ive got is whether Germanium diodes are really that much smoother sounding distortion wise, then a Silicon one?[/quote] I've bought cast metal boxes from maplin before now, but there are cheaper places to shop. On the subject of Ge vs Si diodes then yes. I first fell into electronics by modding a Russian Big Muff (replacing input cap etc..) but the BIG difference was swapping the stock diodes for germanium ones. The difference was like night and day - a really smooth, rich fuzz. Careful though, the germanium diodes are housed in a little glass case of Arsenic. My better half wasn't too pleased when I cracked one at the kitchen table...

Hey Y'all my pedalboard is now at the point where either replace my huge Qtron with something similar (expensive option), buy a bigger board (again, more expense) or have a stab at rehousing it in a smaller box (some expense, but not a lot). Does anyone have any experience of stuff like this? I'd appreciate any thoughts / advice / jokes.

[quote name='Chris2112' post='984847' date='Oct 11 2010, 08:21 PM']I happen to know that a 5 string Alembic Epic fretless has just come up for sale for £600 on the boards...! [/quote] My first fretless was a cheap (75 notes) chipboard that I defretted, filled, sanded and varnished. Cheap and cheerful and also 'disposable' if I didn't take to it. This might not be for everyone, but it worked for me. If Jesus played bass, then it would be fretless.

[quote name='Rayman' post='981947' date='Oct 8 2010, 07:46 PM']One of my favourite players Yolanda Charles swears by her Blade Jazz, not sure of the model, but having had a quick go on it I can confirm it's beautiful. I really don't know much about Blade basses, but I'd love to know more.[/quote] Their website is here. [url="http://www.bladeguitars.com/bassgallery.html"]http://www.bladeguitars.com/bassgallery.html[/url] Currently only 4 models in production and not every music shop stocks them (or can get hold of them). I bought mine unseen from HW music in Bolton, Lancashire who deal with their distributors. Have never regretted taking such a risk. Hope this is helpful Paul

In complex matter like this it often helps to delve into the wisdom of the ages, namely one Joe Meek who put it like this: "If it sounds right, it is right". Just play bass, if it works for you, then great, buy it. If not then look elsewhere.

Started with a Hohner short scale 'P' bass thing 5 string headless hohner (Steinberger copy) Hohner 5 string with a head and active EQ (at this point the first P bass copy was defretted) squier 5 string P bass (changed the pickups for some DiMarzio ultra jazz - made a world of difference) Current basses: Hohner BA2 acoustic bass (since defretted) Levinson Blade B15 5 string - a brilliant bass. A 'Frankenstein' bass - the neck from a Yamato P Bass copy, and the body from an unknown Hondo bass (ebay). I defrettd the neck, got new pups, bridge etc... more of a building project than a proper instrument, sounds beautiful but the action needs some attention.

[quote name='RhysP' post='980684' date='Oct 7 2010, 04:31 PM']I still have a Blade guitar (a pre-lawsuit Texas Standard strat) & that is also wonderful - far better than any Fender I've ever played. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=46075&hl=levinson+blade+b4"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...vinson+blade+b4[/url][/quote] +1 on the fender comparison. When I bought this I wanted the fender Jazz sound palette and the playable Jazz neck contour, but not the high gloss finish on the neck or the active electronics which seemed mandatory for the price bracket I was in. I simply wanted a passive bass with higher grade woods to give a better fundamental tone, rather than trying to create one artificially. I've gigged this bass loads and done all of my studio work with it. It has made such an impression that I have sold all my other basses. Probably worth noting at this point that I don't actually work for Gary Levinson, neither am I a shareholder, just a very happy customer.

I'm currently loving playing my Blade B15, but can't seem to find any other Blade players on this forum, I'm surely not the only one. Stand forth and be recognised...

yeah, looks a bit dodgy, but it was a spur of the moment thing at a gig and I've just kept it 'cos it seemed to work.

I've been active on an American forum similar to this but to be entirely honest I've forgotten my login details. Thought it was time to join a UK one since that's where I live. I've been playing mainly 5 string basses for 17 years through a variety of amps and cabs. Currently I've got a Hartke rig (LH1000 and Hydrive cab) for live, and an old Ampeg SVP PRO preamp for recording. I'm into composition and mainly 'do' rock and prog / avant garde stuff. I also sing a bit and dabble with a variety of other instruments, but my SERIOUS instrument is the bass.

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='979950' date='Oct 6 2010, 09:58 PM']What's with the taped-on lumps on the Boss pedals?[/quote] they're used 9v batteries to make the footswitches easier to 'hit' mid song, particularly the ones at the back.

Here's mine. probably changed a little bit since this photo but the main ingredients are still there.[attachment=60713:P8190123.JPG]