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Ben Jamin

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Posts posted by Ben Jamin

    G+L opinions?

    in Bass Guitars

    Posted

    Every G&L I have played has been brilliant, from early '80s ones to modern ones.
    They sound good, play well, and the designs are well thought-out. Quality control is great.
    I own a USA L2500 and it rocks. :)

    Synth and FX Loop Question!

    in Amps and Cabs

    Posted

    [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1401445610' post='2463648']
    If you plug an instrument into the FX loop you are bypassing the preamp and EQ section, so you won't get a lot of signal
    [/quote]

    Well that's a spanner in the works! I had it figured it'd still be at the same instrument level, since the FX loop send is at instrument level - then I could use the FX volume control essentially as an input gain - the only place it gets amplified is at the power amp section after the pre-amp/FX loop.

    I really don't know though, Ampeg PF-500s like mine apparently don't have the most reliable power-amp, I'll definitely wait and see what everyone says before blowing things up! :lol:

    Synth and FX Loop Question!

    in Amps and Cabs

    Posted

    [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]This might sound like a pretty dim question, sorry![/font][/color]

    [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I'm looking into buying a synth next month to fulfill some baseline duties - band's gone a bit electronic recently![/font][/color]

    [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Anyway - I've never used the FX loop on an amp before - so I was wondering if plugging said synthesiser (mono output) into the Return input would allow me to play both bass guitar and synth simultaneously from the same amp? Bass going through the amp's pre-amp and synth just going straight to the power-amp? I have an Ampeg PF-500 which has an FX loop level which I could use to get unity gain between the two instruments?[/font][/color]

    [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Would that work or am I being silly?[/font][/color]

    [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]If not I can plug into the second input of my VT bass Deluxe, but then I'd have to dance on my pedalboard to switch instruments [/font][/color] :([color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] [/font][/color]

    Twin Humbucker Bass - Recommendations?

    in Bass Guitars

    Posted · Edited by Ben Jamin

    [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1399142544' post='2441510']


    D'OH!! :shok:
    What's the 'B'-string like? How did it compare with your G&L?
    [/quote]

    The B-string is good! It's not a Dingwall but it's perfectly usable. Finish and build quality is perfecto. Neck is a really nice shape - I normally like thicker necks but I felt really comfortable. Pick-ups are super fat and the 3-band EQ is well balanced.

    I prefer my USA G&L because of the character of the pick-ups and I love the way the controls work - they're different sounds really - but in terms of quality they're very close!

    I had a German Warwick $$ Corvette before the G&L and I'd take the Yamaha over that!

    I really want one now :lol:

    Royal Blood on Jools = WoW

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    C'mon guys, it's finally some good radio-friendly rock 'n' roll (it's been a little while). This kind of music isn't particularly about creating intricate songs with elaborate soundscapes. It's about creating loud angry riffs. They do that pretty well, with the added bonus of it only being two people, which is quite a cool little niche. I like 'em. :)

    Who needs guitarists anyway?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    [quote name='Diablo' timestamp='1397239732' post='2422197'] Pardon my ignorance, but the video makes me feel nauseous as it never holds a shot for more than half a second. Someone got a bit too busy on the edit button I feel. Anyway, it moves to quick for me to see, is he playing chords on the bass or single notes and using the effects to beef it up? Can't help thinking someone should buy him a strat for his next Birthday... if you want to play lead then why not play lead on a lead guitar? Its a bit like trying to play trumpet on a tuba to me. Very skilful, but ultimately a bit pointless. Cheers, Rich [/quote]

    Video's a bit mental init! Here's them live with a Fender Starcaster :)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub6Q0DWg-g0

    Who needs guitarists anyway?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1397039083' post='2419932'] No-one who hasn't seen them live or on video would know that it wasn't a "guitarist" rather than a "bassist". [/quote]

    I wonder if the average non-musical Joe would necessarily know it's a bass even if they saw them live? A few times people have commented on my great 'guitar-playing' when I've played in a big (multi-guitar and keys etc) band. Seems they didn't necessarily associate the different guitar sounds/parts with their respective instruments - when I asked them about it most of them say something along the lines of "I just listen to the song, I don't really listen to/can tell the difference between different parts". Just thought it was interesting, maybe it's a perspective we lose a little as musicians, subliminally caring more about each part as opposed whether the whole thing's actually good?

    Flat EQ

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I normally leave my amp generally 'flat' - the pre-amp on my G&L is pretty versatile so I just do most of my adjustments with that and with my playing style - better to get it right at the source I reckon! :)

    Sound in a Sports Hall

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    [quote name='CHW' timestamp='1391025974' post='2352466']
    Best sound I've heard in a sports hall was the levellers, basically the walls were completely draped in fabric. Is this even remotely possible for you?
    [/quote]

    I wish! It works though really well though - played a festival in a big cow shed - the team outfitted the whole place in a thick heavy DIY starcloth, looked pretty cool too. Takes some effort to put up though and some pretty big steps on wheels!

    [quote name='51m0n' timestamp='1391026319' post='2352472']
    You are screwed unless its entirely packed with meat acoustic absorbtion (ie an audience)

    Even then the R60 on that space will be huge, vary massively with different frequencies and there is likely to be unpleasant resonance with any bass from something in the room (sports equiptment, ducting, the ceiling) depending on the construction.

    Keep as quiet as possible and accept the fact that the audience are going to experience your band down a well..
    [/quote]

    Cheers, here's hoping it'll be well attended! We're not expecting a good sound but hopefully we can make it reasonable :)

    [quote name='essexbasscat' timestamp='1391026362' post='2352474']
    I'd be tempted to print the above post off and show it to the band, as a means of seeking everyone's understanding and agreement to keep the volume down

    Oh, also have a 31 band graphic with feedback detectors to hand

    Best of British
    [/quote]

    Thinking of just sending them all the URL to this thread haha. Hopefully we'll be taking a digital desk so we can high-pass and take out offending frequencies pretty efficiently :)

    Sound in a Sports Hall

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    [quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1391017663' post='2352346']
    Hmmm, watch lows - all instruments, and get anyone with reverb/delay/modulation, unless it`s an essential part of the sound to switch it off. Drums, maybe tune them up a bit higher than usual, and on the pa for vox again, drop reverb and get the depth by using mids not lows. Get all amps off of the floor.
    [/quote]

    It's going to be one of those rare instances where vocalists ask for LESS reverb haha :) Looks like I'll be high-passing everything! Getting amps off the floor is a good shout - could borrow a couple of X-frame keyboard stands; maybe some DIY gramma pads?

    [quote name='deepbass5' timestamp='1391018228' post='2352357']
    One trick I read and have successfully applied is reducing the number sound sources that are being reflected or reduce the chance of them being reflected. Sounds crazy but by putting both PA speakers together on one side of the stage works wonders. The other would be use a bigger PA and not use individual amps on the back line and use monitors. As I guess you are stuck with what is listed the main thing is keep the volume under control, don't push the hall beyond that point of intelligibility. Another - you could avoid facing the opposite wall, set up in the corner so the sound is going round the angles. Good luck
    [/quote]

    Those are some neat ideas, thanks! We should have the afternoon to set-up so we can try out some different speaker arrangements.

    [quote name='leschirons' timestamp='1391023609' post='2352428']
    Good luck with that.. that...that...that....that....that.....
    [/quote]

    :lol:

    Sound in a Sports Hall

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Next weekend's venue might be fun! Just wondered if anyone knew any tricks to make it sound good/alright/not completely awful as I'm rubbish at acoustics and all that! It's a full on sports hall - big high ceiling and sports hall floor etc. We haven't got any subs for the FOH, just running two QSC K10 speakers, so the bass will just be coming from my Barefaced Compact. There's also an acoustic drum kit!

    Is there anything I can do to make us sound less reverby/boomy?

    Cheers! :)

    Funky Bounce

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Very specific! :lol:

    D'you mean that staccato (short punchy notes) kind of playing with ghost notes and such? I'd try playing a bit nearer the bridge where there's more tension in the string and muting the note with either your other plucking finger or left hand after only letting it ring for a very short time. Muting notes slightly with your left hand for that percussive ghost note can sound funky but it can ruin a band mix if you over-do it!

    Reverends and others

    in Bass Guitars

    Posted

    I haven't tried any of their basses, but the guitarist in my band has a Double Agent and it rocks. Very well put together, plays very well, sounds great, looks cool. Can't argue :)
    A previous guitarist had a Warhawk and it was the same story there.
    Reverend have an excellent reputation for good reason.

    Fender Modern Player Dimension Bass

    in Bass Guitars

    Posted

    Hang on... two humbuckers and an 18v pre-amp with a 3 band EQ?

    Surely the HH model is literally just a G&L M2000/M2500? You could probably pick a G&L Tribute M2000 for half the price of the American Deluxe and I imagine it'd be just as good, if not better. And then you've got the USA-made G&Ls...

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