fretmeister

My absolute favourite compressor - even above the other posh ones I used to have.

Amazing thing!

Mark Bass really need to spec quieter fans.

It's not like it would actually add more than a few quid to the specs. Even going full beans and spec'ing Noctua fans would only add about £10.

I really hate it when they cheap out on components like that.

I have 30/32/34

If I'm seated for a jazz gig - it's always 30.

If I'm playing with a pick and Fronting / singing then it's 30 or 32. I can swap between those very easily. 

34 gets used the least these days, but I do love the tone of my Sandberg so it's not going anywhere, but it is now definitely last in line.

I've had 35 and over and I do not find them comfy at all.

I did have TI flats on it for a while,  but I developed a nickel allergy so I can’t use them anymore. Much to my dismay.

I now have Dunlop flats on it. I like them a lot,  but I would prefer the TI if I could. 

Lovely! Great colour combo!

6 minutes ago, Andyjr1515 said:

Hi, @paulo m

 

I have a block of ebony waiting patiently for @fretmeister 's next bass purchase (  ) but it is certainly a deep enough piece for two or three ramps assuming the overall length and width that you need is no larger.  So yes, I could probably make you one.  I'm tied up this evening but I'll drop you a PM tomorrow.

 

Andy

I really must get it to you! 

It was a few years ago and I don't know what inflation will have done so @Andyjr1515 should answer that directly.

Andyjnr1515 on this forum made me a beautiful one and at some point when I get another bass to him he'll be doing another one.

I also know that Feline Guitars in Croydon will make them, but will want the bass to measure it up properly.

I'd say Aguilars 1960s models - but they are now really expensive.

Toneriders or Oil City for something more price appropriate for a Squier....

But then again I put Aguilar's in my £100 shortscale and it sounds great.

16 minutes ago, peaveyorangegretsch said:

You prefer using the open 3rd string instead of the 5th fret on 4?  I seem to get better tone with the fretted note and easier to keep it from ringing out so bad.

That's just practice.

3 minutes ago, joel406 said:

 Quality IEMS beat any cab.

Unless your band doesn't use or need a PA. Bit stuck then! 

Digital stuff is always cheaper now.

Nothing can be done about that. It's just easier and cheaper to do.

Doesn't even need physical test units anymore - can do it all in the software that is going to be loaded into the pedal.

1 string at a time.

I do not clean off the baked in tone on the fretboard!  

On 13/12/2023 at 12:21, fretmeister said:

I did my last gig.

 

Funnily enough as I no longer gave a crap I think I played far better than I have for at least a year! It's not like Count Basie tunes are easy either, I usually have to concentrate quite a lot. Strange how the brain works sometimes.

 

 

Well, it's been about 2 months and I am missing playing with people - but I'm not missing that band so it was the right decision.

I'm actually starting to have more writing ideas now that the brain has cleared out a load of baggage. I've dug out my old lyric book and the 3/4 size classical guitar that I usually compose with. 

Hopefully I'll come up with the odd good riff.

16 hours ago, Wolverinebass said:

I don't care how it's worked out 600 quid for a pedal is robbery.

 

Now, bear in mind, the Darkglass ADAM, Photon and X versions are midi compatible so you can store presets. Most of the functions of the XB can't be accessed even with a pedal push as they're buttons. No presets. No ability to flip from dual rig to crossover on the fly. No dual outputs or inputs. See where I'm going with this?

 

Also, just for comparison, an HX Stomp is what, 500 quid? No, I'm not digging on this at all.

It's strange how format affects peoples' views.

If it was a rack unit then I suspect more people would find the price easier to accept even if it actually had fewer components like it wouldn't have footswitches etc. It would actually need more outboard kit to fully control it in a live environment.

I'm not convinced the DG ADAM / Infinity / Photon etc are valid comparators as they really are 1 single unit with different software and paint. I'm far more upset with that - for the same money those units could have the sounds from all 3 units. I'd probably buy one if they did that. Source Audio are completely open that their Aftershock / Kingmaker / LA Drive are identical inside and that each of them can load algorithms from the others. That's how to do it!

Tech21 refuse to make their stuff anywhere but the USA even though that makes zero difference to product quality anymore. They really are all about USA sales and as we know a lot of Americans would rather buy a "Made in USA" item (even though that really only means assembled in the USA) that is of lower quality than something foreign.

With low sales numbers for bass kit compared to guitar stuff it's entirely possible that the price is genuinely only at a profit reasonable level. I don't have those figures to look at though, but generally manufacturing industry profits are lower than we expect across the world.

That wouldn't be robbery - that's just me not being able to afford it.

I'm going to try and sell some stuff.

I'll start listing this week and hope for the best.

GK=Clank.

I think that is their USP really.

41 minutes ago, BassAdder60 said:

That sounds promising 

 

I’m using the Ampeg Optocomp which for  a low cost pedal works ok but tends to remove highs a little 

 

I’m hoping the Boss pedal is clean ? And does a decent job 

 

I’ve tried MXR before and Keeley and sold them both 

 

 

I didn't like the Optocomp.

The Boss is clean. It just affects dynamics and nothing else.

I love it.

I've had the Origin Cali76; Empress; DG Super Symmetry; MXR and loads of others and I rate the BC-1X over all of them.

I sold the rest.

The Boss just doesn't have a bad sound in it. It doesn't have that annoying dip and swell that others do - it just works all the time.

At some point I'll be buying 1 for each of my boards.

1 hour ago, Al Krow said:

 

Except I think someone said they are $499 in the US?

£50 probs ok if we include the £12 customs handling fee. In which case working through your numbers gets us:

 

$499 is currently £395 at today's exchange rate (which was Andy's calc)

£395 + £50 shipping = £445 

£445 + 25% (VAT and import duties)= £556 delivered to a UK address.

=> £43 for UK distributor and retailer

 

But is the $499 figure wrong because that's the US retail price, rather than US export price for Tech 21?

Ah - I had seen somewhere that it was cheaper in the US than $499.

14 hours ago, Al Krow said:

Add VAT @ 20%, customs duties and shipping and £395 Stateside is not gonna be too far off £599 over here? 

 

Well...

if we could order directly from a USA shop then the usual approach is applying 25% to the item cost and shipping to be safe to cover the VAT and import.

Let's say £50 shipping.

$395 is currently £312 at today's exchange rate.

£312 + £50 shipping = £362 

£362 + 25% = £452 delivered to a UK address.

As they are listed in the UK at £599 that basically means if it went via the distributor and a UK shop they are getting £147 between them. I suspect it's probably £100 to the distributor and £47 to the retailer.

This is of course ignoring the bulk savings available to businesses etc. They certainly won't be paying £50 per item for shipping by air. It will be something like half a ship container every year full of T21 products. Probably work out to a couple of quid per item. It's probably closer to £200 split between retailer and distributor, massively in favour of the distributor.

UK distributors really are taking the piss on so many products.

I tried one at my local PMT. I've been looking for a grab & go combo.

Sounded nice - but it was really heavy compared to other modern combos, so it's not on my list anymore.

I love the idea! Just needs to be done right.

Stolen.

A 1980s Aria Pro PJ in blue.

I have fond memories of it.

Full refund plus interest on the money from date of payment.

Nothing else.

Even if he builds you a Fodera level instrument you will never be happy with it. You will always associate this drama with it. It will sour the entire experience when it should be a happy one. And you could never be confident about any aftercare you might need.