fretmeister

I agree that most "could be done" that way - but so many PA systems are not up to the task.

I've done originals, pub covers, wedding / function stuff. Most genres from metal to jazz. Even with a semi-pro function band I needed the amp. Irrespective of the band / gig situation, often it was only vocal in the PA, or vocal and some drums, mainly to get the snare, kick and hi hat in the monitors. I think I'd struggle to remember more than 10 shows in 30 years where everything was in the PA. Don't get me wrong - everything in the PA is definitely superior for the audience (and that has to be the main thing, especially if charging them), I just think it uncommon. I wonder if my view is skewed by age though. What is the experience of the 25 year olds? Modelling and in-ears for weekend warriors is relatively new tech for us veterans, but it's always been there for the younger players.

I think your experience is a minority one. I've been gigging for about 30 years and I reckon I've done about 5 gigs in that time where I could have done without an amp.

I had one of those. Wasn't a fan of the tone really, but also the fan noise was distracting - I often play with just woodwind instruments and the fan is noticeable to the audience on those. When it came out I thought it might be the ultimate amp for me - but, alas!

I've wondered about the built in tuner too. I would quite like to upgrade my M900 V1 to the V2 because of the built in compressor. But as I'd still have to take a tuner I'm less fussed and it's easy to have a small board with a compressor on it as well. But if the V3, if / when it comes had a tuner and a compressor then I wouldn't need to take anything else for 95% of things I do. I'm not fussed about having the tuner display on the floor. It only takes a few seconds of facing backwards anyway. I'd rather have the stage clear of anything if I didn't need any other effects at all. The power outlet would also be great. Then I could just pop my wireless on top and have it powered by the amp. Maybe Darkglass and other amp makers should set up an IdeaScale page so we can vote on this stuff. Crowd Sourced market research has been a big thing for the Helix and has helped the devs pick the stuff that a lot of punters want.

Me and my kids have a practice playlist of about 24 tunes that we are adding to. they play sax and clarinet. We play it on a big screen and can then read the notation. It’s big band arrangements of various tunes. Help yourself if you like!

That interesting - I hated my real BDDI!

The Sandberg VS4 passive is a wonderful bass. I'd still change the pickup though But for your budget - a used Fender American Special Precision would be perfect. Neck is a little slimmer than a regular US standard / pro etc and it has the risible Grease Bucket tone control (easy enough to turn into a proper tone control with a new capacitor and a soldering iron) but they play really well, and tend to be a little lighter too for some reason. They are effectively US basses with mex hardware, like the slightly larger / heavier tuning heads etc. All of which can be upgraded in time. I got an immaculate one with a case for £600. It was only 8lb when I got it, now it has Hipshot ultralites on it and is now 7 3/4 lb and has a comfy balance. Well worth looking for.

I quite fancy one of these as well. Demos sound really good.

Lovely!

Missing a Stingray. And short scales or EB0 type things. School Report: Must try harder!

I discovered the "No Amp Bass DI" model that for some reason is in the Distortion list. It's a bit quiet so I added a gain block after it - it's lovely. Tweak of the mids, P bass with some foam, and I'm right there for "Sitting on the dock of the bay"

Thorpyfx Fat General. So good it made me sell my Cali76

You can’t do it live. internet lag is too large. drummer plays and you hear it 0.25 seconds later. You play, and you drummer hears it again only now it’s a full half second out from the original. Best you can do is record your parts separately and email the file.

I love the idea of them, but the fan puts me off. How loud is the fan noise? Can you hear it at TV watching levels?

This. Or start with a regular P neck and get a good luthier to shave it down? I know Jon Shuker has done that sort of work for people in the past.

I've got EZdrummer 2 and an Akai pad, but I'm having a lot of trouble programming the pad to do what I want in terms of layout. I'm sure it's user error but that doesn't help!

Cedar and paulownia are the future! Loving my Sandberg Superlight. Slowly saving up for a 5 string. And then probably after that a VS (precision type). There isn't a VS superlight in the catalogue but I'm informed by their marketing dude that they will make one if asked. Ability to save up is somewhat hampered at the moment though!

No one else will notice. Not your band mates and certainly not your audience. They don't even line up at the bottom on double basses

Measure from the ball end to the start of the silk. Then cut some off the silk end. Then measure from the ball end again to the start of the silk. It will not have changed at all. When you install them they will change because different gauge strings stretch at slightly different rates. You got lucky with your existing set. Nothing more than that. You could go through 100 sets and never get them lined up again. I have to say though, I've been playing 30 years and I've never heard of anyone be worried about it, and I have terrible OCD!

Not trimming the strings - I mean trimming the silk covering a little to make it match.

The length it was trimmed at is irrelevant! That's only the bit that wraps round the tuner. The remains of the string would be the same - the effective speaking length plus the extra between the nut and the tuner and the saddle and the back of the bridge. You just got lucky. Even so - the A string isn't level with the other 2.

Is trimming them a good idea? Are the silks part of keeping the string together?