fretmeister

I use a Line 6 unit for magic shows. Works very well.

Quick update. Have done 2 rehearsals now. Once with the Mark Bass and once with the Tech21. The T21 seems to suit it better. I’ve swapped strings to DR Pure Blues and I really like them. A fuller less twangy sound than the Prosteels. It is one of the comfiest easy to play basses I’ve ever tried. It’s a real joy to rip all over the neck. Very pleased. Pickups. I thought I would be happy with them. But when used in anger in the wall of noise of a big band they are a bit crap. Flubby at the bottom and the mids are wrong to cut through all the brass and reeds. To get the sound I really wanted was beyond both the amp and the bass controls and I needed to use my EQ-200. Then I got it sound very much like the demos I’ve heard of the Aguilar DCB pickups. The EQ-200 allowed me to sort the lower mids, cut a little at 800hz, boost a little at 1.6 to 6khz and stop the low flub with a tiny 30hz cut. I think I’m going to spend the money on the Aguilars. The bass itself is very much worthy of that expenditure. Changing pickups is something I’ve done on most instruments so I kind of expected it as I’m really picky about them. It’s just a lovely bass to play. No wrist pain ever, and at only 7lb even my surgery addled body has no complaints. I might even get another one for flatwounds!

I like the plastic knobs! They might be cheap but they are really light weight, and that will do for me.

I’ve been listening to sound samples. The Aguilar DCB sounds nice but doesn’t have the single coil tones I tend to go for. In an ideal world I’d have EMG J but that would need a fair bit of routing, and with the quick connector I don’t know of routing deeper would interfere with any body chambering spaces. I’m now actually wondering whether to get a set of Nordstrand single coils. I’ll have to email them and ask for a quote. Hopefully won’t be too expensive as they make the perfectly fitting ones anyway for the other EHB models.

Has that Ibby been modified? it looks like there is tape on the pickups in the bottom right edge if the bass was pointing at the sky. Pickup swap they didn’t want to admit?

What is the correct Aguilar model for an upgrade please? I think I’m going to do it too.

I’ve never used my PC to set up the spectrum!

I sold 99% of mine when I got my Spectrum. It just does everything! Brilliant pedal.

All of them. Just arrange them well. Like Phil X’s band. Loads of 3 piece versions of big tunes.

I use everything. But I can do everything with my fingers. So I usually stick with that.

Wildhearts in October

I'm hoping there will be a superlight option. I'd love that!

Looks like there's a Stingray type on the way...

Plenty of options for similar money, especially if you buy used. Mark Bass, Darkglass, Tech21 etc.

The hydrive cabs are great. Unfortunately the heads are a pile of derrière. Lots of underwhelming reviews and annoyed users. Can you send it back for something else?

I have a TU-3 and the Polytune and I'd stick with the polytune. Never tried that Korg.

Can you list the pedals? Can't really help without knowing what you've got.

I use picks for specific songs but I'm mostly a finger player. I'm far quicker with fingers than a pick so I only swap when it's for a tone change. Although if I'm also the main singer then for some reason I prefer to play with a pick. Possibly a throwback from fronting bands as a guitarist / singer. The co-ordination is already there.

Interesting thread. Funnily enough I was moaning about my Boss TU-3 the other day. It reacts far too much and too quickly particularly on bass. The TU-2 was smoother and although the specs say the 2 is less accurate it was easier to get the bass in tune because the indicator wasn't jumping all over the place. And considering I usually play with a load of brass and reed players "close enough" will definitely do! (I really don't like it when the oboe players turn up!!)

If the hall has those old really long curtains over windows and over storage areas then make sure they are extended. Can make a fair bit of difference in a reflection heavy room.