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TJ Spicer

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Posts posted by TJ Spicer

  1. On 02/05/2020 at 21:16, HazBeen said:

    Yesterday we did a Nirvana set in support of a bar I have played a million times over the last 12 or so years with multiple bands.

    Clearly a live show on location was never going to happen at the moment, so we did a livestream from our studio using an iPad, 3 iPhones and a Shure MV88. This meant we could keep a decent amount of “social distance” as well, since our studio is pretty large.

    2 iPhones for visuals, 1 iPhone with the MV88 stereo mic for audio and the iPad to receive all signals and stream to Facebook. 

    A first for us all, and it was bizarre how well this setup worked.

    We streamed at 720p and 192kbps to ensure we didn’t have any issues. Next time we are upscaling and will add a signal from the mixer to just lift the vocals a little.... but from a mic in a room the result is pretty okay.

    In case you want to take a look, the stream starts 5 mins before the gig so skip that part, we were also a little rusty but that made it very Nirvana :).... apologies for all the Dutch, but then I have lived here for far longer than the UK.

    Enjoy :)

     

     

    This is great, and a pretty simple but effective setup too! Can I ask what you used to send the signals to the iPad and stream? I'm definitely going to give this a go when it's possible. 

  2. 19 minutes ago, nobody's prefect said:

    Well nothing else sounds quite like an MTD, there's a reason they are so popular with church boys.

    My only MTD regrets are 1) I had SO MANY boutique basses before getting my first MTD. And 2) that I couldn't keep them all :D

    As A Gouche puts it: MTD4Lyfe

     

    THIS! 

    And the fact that every single one is a gorgeous concoction of woods just tops it off. I can’t put my AG5 USA down. Unique tones but so versatile at the same time! 

    • Like 1
  3. 35 minutes ago, 4000 said:

    None of these videos are encouraging me at all. They all sound so nasal and weak to me.

    (Hate to say this but...) The lack of solid playing/technique and tuning probably aren't helping either! 😥 

    • Like 1
  4. 3 hours ago, Al Krow said:

    @TJ Spicer - also loverrly! Was that the one at Bass Direct that you had your eye on. Does that mean a certain white Sad PJ5 is about to come up for sale?! 😉

    Nooooo! That’s the AG5 I’ve had since 2018! I’m playing it a few hours every day right now, it’s really opening up, and sounding great. I wish the music I played wasn’t so commercial and traditional in terms of aesthetics, in a way, as I’m not sure I can get away with my AG5 on most country gigs, nor does every engineer enjoy the prospect of anything that isn’t “fender like”.  For anything else though, I don’t think it’s a problem and always gets compliments.

    I will say, every MTD going up in the for sale section has me thinking! The Lynn Keller looks like it would be great for those ‘bass in the seat next to you’ short hops to European festivals (as it’ll squeeze into guitar gig bag!).

    Then again, whenever I’m not gigging GAS is heightened, and it’s also a very bad time to make calls on gear. I’d like to make the MTD my go-to where I can when this resumes, but that Sadowsky is just such a reliable workhorse that’s never disappointed. I can’t complain, both phenomenal tools that keep me, and the people I work with, happy!

    • Like 1
  5. I've experience with the Starbass II Masterbuilt which I love with flats. The improvements Lee has made to the Sklar over the Starbass are pretty much exactly the things I would change about my Starbass, so I don't think you can lose with one of them. Those pickups have a really wide range of tones available, despite their simplicity, and no bass I have is quite as reactive to right hand placement as my SB. I don't quite understand how that's really possible, but that's how it feels. T

    • Like 1
  6. 1 hour ago, skidder652003 said:

    Just out of interest, why the zoom?

    If it was me I'd probably go for the behringer UMC22 with its midas pre amps (if you can find one)

    edit, I've seen how hard these are to find and the ebay prices for new and used AI's are going a bit silly at the moment with this lockdown malarky, a bit like gym equipment and pushbikes.

    The zoom is at least in stock

    https://www.dv247.com/en_GB/GBP/Zoom-U-22/art-REC0012645-000?campaign=GShopping/UK&ProgramUUID=HADAqJarPzAAAAFlea9yjI.G&gclid=CjwKCAjwqJ_1BRBZEiwAv73uwAMsByKYfrQzZpU3Gjq7Vs2uWvbVs9v801CYz_QYcI03BwWgMFvVghoCor8QAvD_BwE

    Indeed, just from the availability perspective on those listed. The Midas preamps are nice - agreed!

  7. 31 minutes ago, Jonesy said:

    Ta for the help! 

    There's one on the bay for £50 plus postage, but that looks a bit dear compared to what others have gone for. It looks a bit simple (which is good for me!), do you reckon it's best just in terms of quality? I should have said that I'll be using a PC instead of a Mac, so I guess I'll need the 96k version?

    No problem! 

    In that case (Windows) i’d stick to the Zoom. The Jam is really good quality, but it is simple. I think it’s easier to be routing everything through one device if you’re in windows, whereas Mac is a little more fluid with its audio routing, which is another point for the zoom! 
     

    T

    • Like 1
  8. 1 hour ago, funkyjimbob said:

    Hey! That's good!

    I find the preamp so powerful I have to be careful with the EQ! I play with the mid pot and bass pot just up over half way and the treble rolled off. I really don't like too hear too much treble at all when I'm playing so I have the mid range cut switch completely down for the lower mids. I absolutely love the sounds of this bass. It's absolutely killer! Playing it through a DB751 head too which is making it sound even more ridiculous! :)

    Nice! It seems most of the recognised MTD artists boost all of the EQ all the way up. That's led me to push the eq more than I ever have on any other bass, but I'm really satisfied with the tones. Bass and treble for everything pretty much live at 70-80%. I'm finding a a big mid boost for finger style at 250 (bottom pos.), same boost but at 400hz in a rockier context and then a big cut at 1k for anything slappy seem to do it for me.

    I'm also playing through a 751 and 2xSL112 so -6db pad is always in when I pickup the MTD. In contrast, I find that treble roll off to be too much to the extent that it makes the tone a bit lifeless, but at the same time if it's fully boosted, the treble seems to grate. Funny how the same electronics package gets treated so differently, but probably a testament to its versatility. 

    What's the wood combination on your 534?

    • Like 1
  9. I haven't put my AG5 down since the start of lockdown, and this thread was certainly part of that! How are you liking it now @funkyjimbob? What are your favourite EQ positions/combos?

    I've been really digging into the EQ and, post a restring, all my doubts from my earlier post have been allayed! I've very much remembered why I thought this was the one 2 years ago and sold a good chunk of my armoury for it!

    F2.jpg

  10. 1 hour ago, Al Krow said:

    Just had a play near the bridge and clearly the chap who had it in between you and I must have set it up differently (better? 😁) - the bridge poles are rock solid and notes sustain very well, as you would expect with a neck through.

    And actually the mid heavy nature you mentioned a few posts back with NE mid sweep off, is fairly easily dealt with by just cutting the main mid EQ a touch; and on that basis I would be very comfortable with playing the bass without the NE mid sweep engaged.

    So all is still well in the Krow household this evening...PHEW!! 

    It is funny, isn't it, how the exact same bass can find different wrinkles and reactions from different bass players? E.g. the BB735A you took off my hands was one I just couldn't gel with, but methinks you had it set up better than I managed and consequently coaxed a better sound from it than I ever did.

    @HazBeen will be along shortly to say it's all in the fingers... 

    Indeed! I like my action pretty high by most players standards, so the saddles were fairly “up in the air” compared to how I imagine most players would have it, which I doubt helped. I also probably made a habit of playing very fast Jaco lines very close to the bridge (as it was when I was studying that I owned the BBNE) and that no doubt exacerbated my perception. I think once I knew it could happen, I’d perceive any time it happened as much worse. 

    My TRB6PII had the same bridge saddles, but they sat lower and I never had that problem, so it probably was the height. But I didn’t like the NE2 super low for the styles I played on it in general. I did play a TRB6JPII the Nathan has played at Ronnie Scott’s and he likes his action super low, as in, I’d never played anything quite that low. That probably enhances the fact that the BBNE2 just wasn’t really the bass for me! 

    You’re right, I really dug that 735A and was amazed at the value it offered - all in the hands, and subsequently the ears! 

    • Like 1
  11. 24 minutes ago, Al Krow said:

    Now he tells me! 😂😂

    I'm gonna be looking particularly closely at them bridge saddles next time I'm playing near the bridge...😉

    You’re ready to move onto a Sadowsky now, so you won’t have too long to be driven crazy by it 😉 To be honest, I just assumed it was a me problem given I’ve got seen anything else on it online, but I’m ready to be proved wrong! 🙏🏻

  12. 4 hours ago, krispn said:

    I know it's a signature model and that's what Mr East wanted but it sounds like without engaging the 'scoop' it lacks some versatility? Was that a deciding factor on moving it on or was it simply a box ticked and moving on to other esoteric basses to try out ...cause you've had a few man! :)

    I understand that one good bass tone, the sweet spot setting, would cover a whole gig be that the BBNE or a P bass but sometimes all the additional EQ and twiddling can get in the way. I was asked to dep for a friends band and some of the feedback I got was the last dep kept fiddling with the tone controls on his bass the whole gig (and wasn't invited back) you just plugged in and played. I took a jazz bass with me as their regular bassist played one and I thought give them what they're familiar with which might have helped though to be fair I don't own an active bass!

    A few factors in moving it on! 

    1) There’s a lot of finish on the bass and I had a yin yang standard at the same time which was a satin type finish, and I loved the feel and resonance of that bass. The BBNE2 didn’t have that same feel. 

    2) The bridge drove me nuts, I don’t know if I was just setting it up badly, but I found if I played near enough to the bridge the individual saddles would move and cause the note to choke.

    3) There was a top end that I struggled to control in a way that I found satisfactory.

    4) I just discovered that through neck construction just doesn’t work for me.

    I learnt a lot from the BBNE2 in terms of what I really did and didn’t like from and instrument. It was my go-to bass for most of two years and it was as versatile as it needs to be. It always punched through a mix, and never got buried. Plenty of solid bass and definition.
     

    But, it was never quite my sound, and I’d always bought it as a place holder for my “session 5” whilst I searched for a PJ5 Sadowsky in Olympic white. If it had been a more organic finish on the neck, a different bridge system, and had a passive tone option, I think it would still be with me. I’ve always wondered how I would have felt if I’d put Aguilar electronics in it, but a bass of that price just needs to go to someone else who’s happier with it, rather than me start trying to tweak it.

    If I remember, both it, and the Fodera, were the basses that made way for my MTD AG5, which fills the role of both and combines many of their attributes (and removes the features I disliked of both basses) into one that I’m much, much happier with! 

    Finally - totally agree on the not tweaking too much. The thing I often get told after shows on Dep gigs is “sounds like bass should sound”, and “fat and warm sounding”. That’s normally a bass boost of whatever EQ is on the bass, and then tweaking treble or tone control as needed. The rest is just right hand position and a little shift of front pickup to back pickup blend depending on style.  

    That was longer than intended! 😅😂

  13. 12 hours ago, Kiwi said:

    I actually replaced the Smiths with the Spector.  But I ripped out the EMG's as I don't like them in basses and put some custom Wizards in instead, wiring the coils in each pickup in parallel. So now the Spector sounds more like a Smith but with a bit more midrange. (Although now I know the bloke who makes Smith pickups so could go back to him for an OEM set if I thought that might make much of a difference.)

    Do you use the mid cut much?  I have to admit that I didn't find mid cut very helpful on stage when I was gigging.

    I thought I’d just jump back in on this as the previous owner of the Krow BBNE2: I found I really struggled with the sound of the bass without the scoop EQ engaged. Even just having it turned on, but not dialled all the way up seemed to work for me, whereas without it, I felt the pickups had a LOT of hi-mid, to the extend that it just sounded too harsh. Without the EQ and with Dunlop super bright strings, the BBNE2 is a very mid heavy bass, especially for a jazz! T

    • Like 1
  14. 2 hours ago, AndyTravis said:

    My new mate Rog (he likes it when I call him that)...

    Just casually exchanging e-mails, discussing favourite ice cream flavours etc.

    He’s coming for a brew when all this lockdown business is over...

    70A55936-C775-4AD7-88EB-C38389B9344C.jpeg

    Have you had the FB friend add? I felt almost like I’d been knighted within the realms of Sadowskydom when that friend request popped up! 🙇🏼‍♂️🗡 

    • Like 2
  15. 17 minutes ago, Al Krow said:

    Yes, you're right! The MTD Saratoga 5 is a seriously much, much better bass in every possible way and it's really essential that you to stick to your one PJ5 policy.

    I can recommend some decent life assurance to take care of that shooting risk you mentioned.

    😁

    There were 5+ years of searching involved in the acquisition of this Sadowsky, in this colour way, mind, so that rarity value must be accounted for 😉

    1 hour ago, LukeFRC said:

    You just need to convince him to swap it for your sunburst one! 
     

    https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/14121216484116-956332--sadowsky-metroline-rv5pj-59-burst-m10209

    I’m not sure what’s wrong with this one! They’ve had it for about 3+ years - at one point I was resigned to buying it and getting it refinished as sunburst just totally isn’t me. 😅

  16. 22 minutes ago, chris_b said:

    I think a PJ5 and a JJ5 are a perfect combination.

    Gotta say JJ5s don’t really do it for me! I think it’s just quite widely done and I always like to be a little different. I always dig that bit of extra low-mid you get from the P in a PJ, even when they’re equally balanced. My second 5 is an MTD AG5 USA which has rocketed up in my estimations since lockdown - hence the PJ Saratoga GAS 😅. Those asymmetrical necks are phenomenally comfortable. 

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