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TRBboy

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Everything posted by TRBboy

  1. [quote name='hen barn' post='1342192' date='Aug 16 2011, 06:02 PM']Just got new deluxe jazz with the option??? What's best??[/quote] Manufacturers generally say that string-through will give you more sustain, and top loaded will give more attack........ there can't be THAT much in it though, although I have always found top loaded basses to have a little more bite and attack. It's a little bit like bolt-on vs thru-neck.
  2. I put on a Wilkinson bridge with brass saddles; £15! Made a great difference to the tone and sustain but wasn't disproportionate to the cost of the bass. In fact it made more difference than a Gotoh which I put on a previous Yamaha. The only place I spent more was the pickups because I knew that they would have the biggest impact on the sound.
  3. I went for Dimarzio Model P/J set, and they are awesome! Because the J is split coil humbucking , you don't get any unpleasant noise when you solo the bridge pickup. They sound monster! There is a thread on here somewhere from when I did my RBX270 project called Best £200 bass ever!!!
  4. I've always felt that a case which is a very snug fit is worse than one which is a bit loose. If it's a very snug fit, a serious impact will mean that the force of the impact is transferred straight through to the bass. If the bass is a looser fit and can move a little, the force will be dissipated more quickly and allow the bass to move instead of absorbing all of the impact. Hiscox STD EBS cases are great (and pretty much industry standard) but not shaped at all inside. Never heard of this causing a problem. Just my thoughts......
  5. TRBboy

    Compresser

    [quote name='BeLow' post='1327823' date='Aug 4 2011, 09:29 PM']TRB Boy - In answer to your question about whether a compressor will help you it is a bit difficult to say as we don't know if you have a fairly uniform playing style or not. I have watched the answers as they have come through on this thread and some tend to add more heat than light on the subject. Using a compressor is not right or wrong, it is a choice - which ends up being an individual decision, most sound engineers who are recoridng or using big sound rigs will often use some compression on your bass to 'tidy it up' the signal, whether you are aware of it or not. I think compressors are useful tools when playing live, as they allow you to operate your gear to operate closer to the peak capacity of your amplification without overloading. It usually also allows you to sit better in the mix especially if you go through a PA and the sound man is worrying about you maxing out his system's headroom with your bass playing spikes. They can also be quite good at 'thickening' up your tone, but this is more subjective. I note that some people dismiss compressors, this is maybe because a well applied compressor is quite a subtle effect. Some basses and rigs seem to have a level of natural compression, and some players either have very good technique (or a limited dynamic range depending on how you look at it) so may benefit less. I tend to rehearse without a compressor but record and play live with one. Perhaps mistakenly I believe in rehearsals it is good for me to be more aware of the changes in my playing, whereas when people are potentially paying to hear good quality reproduction I add the additional quality control. One of the reasons I think that bass players debate the topic is that the audience subconsciously hear the benefits more than bass player, they might say things like 'the bass sounded clear / loud tonight' but are less deafened by the wasted energy of the amp spiking and distorting unintentionally. As the bass player you will tend to be 'homed in on your sound' in isolation and hear it less well in context than maybe the audience. When people say that you can't hear the best units working what I think they mean is that they are not so crudely set up that it is obvious the signal is being compressed (usually referred to as 'squashed'). Some people actually like this effect, but others prefer a natural sounding processor which evens out peaks. Setting up a compressor always involves a degree of compromise, the unit has react quickly enough to catch the very fast volume increases which the 'front' of a note (bass guitar signals are notorious for this) so that the spike of energy does not ‘get past’ the processor. However if the signal is 'capped' to aggressively the intentional variations in your playing style can also get compressed, and it feels flat. The simpler units generally set some of the parameters for you. If their sound suits what you need that is fine but given that we all have our own preferences that is quite limiting (could make a compressor joke there but won't). I think at the end of the day you do have to go and try some out. It is tricky as I have said we are not always aware of the benefits and honestly it is difficult to assess how the unit sounds set up in isolation and how it will work in the context of the live band. The website in the link above is good, but it does represent the views of a single individual testing in some cases single units which might actually have faults. I use a boss CL50 which has adjustable parameters and metering very similar to the rather impressive looking new MXR unit, it gets pretty well panned by the website owner but it works for me at the moment in the band context, as did the optical compressor on my floor pod when I was doing some recording last week. So if you can try some units out then it is worth a go. Might be worth trying a search on 'how audio compressors work' I found this which might help you get a bit of background. [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_range_compression"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_range_compression[/url] if you can get the basics by reading up a bit it will probably help in the long run.[/quote] Thanks very much for that, probably the most well balanced and informative post so far. I like to think that my technique is pretty good, and I have experience in quite a lot of different styles and situations (live/recording/musical theatre), but I'm always quite concious of the differences I perceive in the output(?) of the three main techniques. I generally find (and I'm sure that most other players do) that fingerstyle is fuller and punchier, pick style seems a little louder and obviously cuts through better, and slap never seems to cut through well enough and is quieter. This usually results in me playing far too hard when slapping in a band context because I feel like i'm not being heard. Obviously I adjust the eq and pickup selection on my bass, but I feel that it's more the changes in dynamics than the tonality. I really don't like to have to fiddle around with loads of settings live though, I set my amp up and then don't touch it, and I don't like to have to fiddle around with pedal settings all the time. That said though, and despite my previous post, I am now favouring the MXR because it has a greater level of control and is specifically designed for bass. I would like to just find a setting that works for me to cover all techniques and then leave it set. Interestingly, I was reading about Flea's pedal board yesterday, and he just uses an MXR micro amp as a boost for slap parts. I might try doing something like this first as I can do it without buying any more gear!
  6. I've always pronounced it [i]basewood[/i], I figured that [i]basswood[/i] was more of an Americanism. I say tomato, you say tomato
  7. TRBboy

    Compresser

    Thanks again everyone for all the useful info! After thinking about it some more, and although I don't doubt that the right compressor can make a positive difference to your sound, I'm wondering if it's actually worth the investment when I play in a pub/club rock covers band at the moment? I definitely think it would help to even out the dynamics of finger style/pick/slap and probably help me cut through a little better. Has anyone read a proper review of the MXR M87 yet? I've looked around but can't find one.
  8. TRBboy

    Compresser

    [quote name='dmccombe7' post='1325033' date='Aug 2 2011, 11:07 PM']Thanks for posting TRBboy I was interested in this area too but new it would create some "mixed" feelings to say the least. There has to be a common ground area between the two extremes of the compressor debate where most people probably slot in. I use the compressor on my GT6B and can hear the benefits when used although they are very slight. I'm no expert either and basically set it up as suggested in the manual and it seemed to work pretty well for me. I'm looking to move to seperate pedals as not using the GT6B to its full potential during live performances and its a bit of a handfull to carry around for rehearsals too. Basically all i need is a tuner and some basic compression for gigs. Amp (and bass) does everything else i need. Some good advice all round with some really helpful links. Cheers Dave [/quote] Thanks Dave, this has been a very interesting thread! Ovnilabs is such a useful resource; I know it's only one guys opinion, but he's tried so many he must have a good idea of what's good and bad. I really want something that's simple, transparent and quiet, that I don't have to fiddle around with settings. I just want something to help balance out the perceived output from the dynamics of different playing styles. I really like the look of the Rothwell Love Squeeze at the moment, because it ticks all the boxes and is very high quality, but not as dear as some of the others (and it's made in the UK!)
  9. [quote name='Dubs' post='1324756' date='Aug 2 2011, 07:48 PM']Used to get mine with Endsleigh when I was a student - pretty comprehensive insurance up to about £5k worth of stuff for about £40 a year IIRC. Amazingly, mines now covered on our contents insurance - specifically listed and didn't cost much extra - think we're with More Than, have to check.[/quote] That's interesting, I'll check with our insurance broker to see if I can do the same.
  10. Just wondered if anyone had any srecommmendations for Instrument insurance? It would be to cover my gear when out gigging and in transit to/from. Thanks.
  11. TRBboy

    Compresser

    [quote name='dannybuoy' post='1323580' date='Aug 1 2011, 09:39 PM']You need to read this site mate, loads of compressor reviews written by Talkbasser Bongomania: [url="http://www.ovnilab.com"]http://www.ovnilab.com[/url][/quote] Many thanks for that mate, what a useful site! He reviews one that I've been looking at - Biyang CO-8. It's dirt cheap but uses quality parts (in fact, it's apparently the same circuit as MXR Dyna Comp and Ross compressors, but apparently less noise!), and would probably do for my experimentation with compression! I know it's not full-featured, but as he says, it just enhances the tone and sustain, and will probably help to even out the dyanmics of different playing styles a little. £42.99!!!
  12. Should have mentioned that I'm open to offers on both pedals! BUMP!
  13. TRBboy

    Compresser

    Does anyone know if your standard sort of compressors like MXR Dyna Comp work OK with bass? I know people use them, but are they any good?
  14. Mmmmmmm love the PJ! Never played, seen or heard of them before though so no use sorry!
  15. Thanks for the help guys. The thread above, and all the opinions I've read, suggest that they're both good and it's just down to personal preference. My gut feeling is that th MXR is going to suit my needs best.
  16. Selling my [b]Radial Bassbone[/b] as I don't really have a need for it any more, and haven't used it for quite some time. It's in immaculate condition with the PSU, box (although I have lost the outer sheath!), manuals, stickers, and I'm also throwing in the TRS Y lead that I had made for the effects loop. It is a fantastic DI box and live performance tool, as it has two inputs and EQ on both channels (one with three band EQ, one with preset shapes), a boost switch which can also be used to trigger the Effects loop, as well as other features. I bought it mainly because I was using both an active and passive bass live, and could balance up the volumes and tone, and switch between the two without having to plug/unplug any leads. I have also used it for recording straight into a desk and it worked a treat! More info: [url="http://www.tonebone.com/tb-bassbone.htm"]Radial Bassbone[/url] It really is a great little box with loads of flexibility, and used by a lot of pro players. [b]PRICE £110[/b] Also selling my [b]BOSS ODB-3 Bass Overdrive[/b] pedal, mainly because I fancy a change. Great pedal, I've had more expensive overdrives that I haven't liked as much! Does everything you would expect, from slightly overdriven, warm tones, to face-melting, saturated hi-gain overdrive! Again, it it is in immaculate condition and comes in original box with manuals, etc. More info: [url="http://www.bossus.com/gear/productdetails.php?ProductId=155"]BOSS ODB-3[/url] [b] PRICE £55[/b] Any questions, please ask. [attachment=86043:IMG_1208.MED.jpg]
  17. Just wondered if anyone has any opinions about these two units? I'm leaning toward the MXR at the moment, just because it looks more logical (to me), and seems to do exactly what I want. I know the Sansamp is very popular, but have any of you had chance to compare the two and could enlighten me further? Thanks.
  18. TRBboy

    Compresser

    Anyone know anything about the Akai Analogue Custom Shop Compressor? Looks well built, true bypass, and same sort of controls as EBS Multicomp etc., but much, much cheaper!
  19. TRBboy

    Compresser

    I'm assuming that the Boss CS-3 isn't worth looking at? It seems to have all the controls you might need? If I get a compressor, will I be able to set it up and leave it on the same setting for all styles, or am I gonna have to keep tweaking it all the time?
  20. Just ordered some stuff from proaudioshop.co.uk. Very reasonable prices on Van Damme cable and Neutrik connectors, and loads of other stuff. Just to add my two pence worth.... Soldering jacks onto a cable is very easy (even if you're not very good at soldering like me!), and it probably only takes me about 10 - 15 minutes to do one.
  21. TRBboy

    Compresser

    [quote name='dannybuoy' post='1320923' date='Jul 29 2011, 10:42 PM']It's only just come out, but there some very positive reviews on Talkbass. It has all the controls and metering of a rack compressor too![/quote] Yeah it does look pretty good, and versatile without being too complicated. Anyone have opinions on the Aphex Puch Factory?
  22. TRBboy

    Compresser

    [quote name='51m0n' post='1320598' date='Jul 29 2011, 04:14 PM']No I am saying that you dont know what you are doing so you need a tool that will help you see what it is doing when you are changing parameters. Simple pedals very rarely offer the metering required to help you learn what settigns do what, the result is they will actually confuse you, and make the situation worse not better. This is offered as advice, take it or leave it. The Trace Dual knob compressor suffers the same failings of any single knob compressor, just twice as much, in that it has a large number of fixed parameters (ratio & threshold of the lower or higher component of the sound being all you can play with, and they are connected in the circuit IIRC). That actually limits its use massively. I've been fascinated by compression for years, and even now I cant hear it accurately enough without some metering to help, so if you aren't absolutely superhuman, you wont hear it when its helping, instead you will hear it when its more than just helping, but also changing the timbre of your sound. You may like that change or not, thats not the point, a good compressor, set up properly should be transparent if you need it to be. I am not saying you need a £3000 bass to start playing at all, Silverfoxnik payed about £25 on ebay for his dbx. I am saying you need a bass with 4 strings each that can be tuned independantly, adn pickups that work with electronics that work. It can (and probably should) be a Sue Ryder bass if you are just starting out. What wont do the job properly is a one string bass with no tuner![/quote] Thanks again for the advice, and I can see what you mean, but at this stage I think I just need something simple to get to grips with the basics. I think I will be able to hear well enough whether it's having a positive or negative effect on my sound. I don't think at this stage that I've got the time, patience or need to learn about compression in great detail, but I bow down to your superior knowledge because it's far beyond the realms of my comprehension at the moment! If I want to explore it in more detail in the future i'll be sure to get in touch! My analogy wasn't great; what I was getting at is that a £3000 bass would far exceed the needs of a beginner, and they would possibly not be able to realise its full potential. I wasn't trying to suggest that the equipment you recommend would be prohibitively expensive. Thanks again, and I do very much appreciate your input. Thanks to everyone else for all the suggestions too. I imagine that something like the EBS, Markbass, or Aguilar is going to be most suitable for me at present. Anyone know if that MXR one is any good?
  23. TRBboy

    Compresser

    [quote name='51m0n' post='1319914' date='Jul 29 2011, 12:04 AM']Honest answer, you dont know what the heck you are doing, if you dont get a device with proper metering you wont get the most out of it, and you will end spouting nonsense like "compression crushes dynamics". Hell you wont be able to tell if its even doing something until its doing too much! You need a full feature compressor, cheapest sort of thing is an [url="http://www.alesis.com/3630"]Alesis 3630[/url], its not the best compressor in the world by a long way, but its about a million times more useful to you than some pedal that you cant tell what it is doing because it has no metering, and you cant actually tailor to what you are trying to do because it doesnt have the rght controls. Another good starter option if you can find one is a dbx MC6, its a desktop kind of design, proper features, sounds great, I set up Silverfoxnik's one at last years SE Bass Bash for him, and he loves what it does for him in a live situation now. Compression, learn how to use it properly, or just dont go there.....[/quote] No, I don't really know what the heck i'm doing which is why I posted on here asking for advice. So you're saying that unless I'm going to have complicated, pro-standard equipment, I shouldn't bother at all? My Trace head used to have two knobs; compression low, and compression high. I found that these made a subtle difference to my sound and had the desired effect, and as I'm not a complete moron, I was able to judge how much compression to use without killing the dynamics of my playing. I appreciate your advice, but I just find it a bit like saying that unless you buy a £3000 bass there's no point learning to play.
  24. TRBboy

    Compresser

    Oh dear, I can see I've opened a whole can of worms here! It would need to be pretty simple to use, or I'll just get bored with it and not use it. Is it possible to get something half decent without spending a fortune?
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