fretmeister

Hipshot USA Ultralights will help, but how much depends on what the current tuners weigh. If they are old fashioned large plate tuners then you can save 1/3 lb, and at the end of the neck that’s a big difference. On a 5 string it can save 1/2lb! USA Hipshots are lighter then the licensed ones, and they are reversible left and right for use in other basses if you ever sell.

The Tech21 Steve Harris is very good for this.

Very fast delivery and I have some Black Beauties. They sound good and feel great, hopefully they will last!

I had one as well. It was ace.

I might give them a try then. I do like other DR strings.

I have never tried any coated strings. Most seem to be nickel, to which I have a nasty allergy - so how long does the coating last? If it starts coming off in a month or two then I would be exposed to the nickel and they'd have to go in the bin. I'm looking for strings with low string noise but are a bit brighter than flats. But not too bright like steels would be. I usually have 40-100 gauge and alas Elixirs only do 45-105 as a steel coated, but I could try the nickels 40-95 if the coating lasts. If not then DR have some coated steels but I've never seen them mentioned on here. Any ideas?

I stand corrected. I don't have a problem with digital. I went 100% Helix for my guitar rig many years ago.

It's multiband so applies compression differently to different frequencies to give an even result instead of more compression on low notes like a traditional compressor does, it reacts to specifically to the incoming signal in a way that no analogue pedal can, and there is absolutely no dip and swell that affects even the best analogue ones, particularly with high output pickups. It has an incredibly low noise floor. Changing a control does loads of stuff behind the scenes so there isn't a bad setting in the box. It's not really a digital pedal, it's digital control over the compression of the analogue bass signal. It's the most natural sounding compressor I've ever used. It ups the voltage to 18v internally so there's loads of headroom too. The only slight downside is that it will eat a 9V battery in 2-3 hours, but I always use a power supply. It just works, with every bass and at every setting. I haven't found a single compromise.

£100 will barely get you a single good double bass string... A set of Pirastro Eudoxa are £700!

I need to get to a shop to try one - the nut width is much wider than I'm used to and will need to make sure it suits me. I have a great BM patch for my helix, took me a long time to get it right, but I never play Queen songs with it, I just view it as a great guitar tone. It's only instantly recognisable when it's Brian doing the playing. When it's me it's just some hamfisted bloke!

Order the amp and then use the return period to give it a proper run?

I love that. I'd really like to try a BM guitar. I like shorter scales.

All of them, one of them, whatever feels comfortable for the passage of notes at any specific time.

The AO type pedals and amps are far closer to fuzz than clank. I used to get a good clank out of a V1 MT900 so I see no reason why the V2 wouldn't do it. I have not tried the X series stuff, but the drive section seems to be voiced a lot more similar to the B*K series than the AO. Why not buy a X7 pedal and run it into the FX loop on your AO900? Or straight in the front with no drive on the amp? That would be a lot cheaper. Or have a good audition of the X7 to see if the X series will do it - you can always return the pedal after trying it out.

I've got a Thumpinator but I'm going to get the Sine FX one when I can. I really like the Thumpinator but sometimes I'd like to be able to set the frequency.

He doesn't do flats though. The Dunlops are my favourite flats in the world. They used to be priced at about the same as Ti Flats, but after lockdown they went mad. I have no idea why. When the price went up I tried a bunch of others - ironically that costing me far more than just getting a set of Dunlops - but for me nothing else was close, particularly for P type basses. I've got EB Group iv flats on my J type. I've never got less than 5 years out of a set of Dunlop flats. I will say though that Strings Direct are the most expensive place for them by a long way. I got a set of short scale for £70 from Amazon - so that's £25 cheaper than Strings Direct.

Fake strings are a thing. Always buy from somewhere you trust.

No. Classical orchestras are just big covers bands. Non writing members of original bands are really playing covers too. Not parasites, not a lower class of musician in any way.

that's a shame. It's will probably come off my list now. I might just have to save up for the Berg HP Forte and be done with it.

I really want to try one of the Laney heads. The demos sound great. But I really don’t care about looks.

I was not impressed by the GHS Pressurewound B string. The others were very nice, but the B was bloody awful.

Prices are on Thomann V12 - £1098 V7 - £789 V3 - £499 Cab prices for the 2x12 and 4x10 are within £50 of Barefaced equivalents, but the power handling is only about 50% of BF. But then again 500W/600W handling isn't inadequate for 90% of gigs.

The Pacato ones are not a patch on the proper ones. But it's quite normal to take plugs out when talking and put them in again when playing. If you do get the proper ones then having the optional extra of the grips makes that a lot easier than without. All ear protection of any type is a compromise as no matter the method it is something in the way of the original soundwave, but the ACS are the best passive option. Dynamics are reduced no matter what passive method is used - that's part of the needed process to provide more protection from high pressure transient sounds. The active option is to move to IEMs where your ears are blocked and you get a personal monitor mix set up just for you. but that's quite a bit more money and equipment to buy and carry around with you. It really is a simple choice between protecting your hearing or not. But if you don't then it won't be long before everything sounds awful and you need to lip read when watching the TV.

Also - I really hope that any fan system they use is actually a silent one.