Graham

I think it's more important to find a producer/engineer who knows how to mix your music well - different genres present different challenges, which someone who'a specialised in your genre will be aware of and will have experience in mitigating. If you can find someone who is both good and likes your music then all the better as they're more likely to take an interest in what you're playing and if it's working well. Case in point when we were recording my old band's album: Guitarist: "was that take alright?" Producer: looks up from Ebay "don't know, wasn't listening"

One thing, are these not Basswood bodies rather than Ash? I could be wrong

I find the EBS Multicomp brings out the top end nicely, not compared it to many other compressors but it works well for me.

I think it was probably Sweet Home Alabama or 500 Miles on Friday, it was that sort of band and that sort of venue

That's quite an elegant cab

Saw Opeth there back in 2006, from what I remember the sound was very good; the live album/DVD from that show sounds superb, but of course you never know what mix was done in the studio.

[quote name='steviebee74' timestamp='1425471947' post='2707636'] [font="Calibri"][size="3"][color="#000000"]Thanks everyone for your suggestions! [/color][/size][/font] [font="Calibri"][size="3"][color="#000000"]Having read through them, I think Graham’s Behringer V Amp & quality headphones suggestion might be the route to go down as that way, it’s total silence and Mrs B won’t complain at all! Fortunately, there’s a very good PA place round the corner from where I live so will try and pick up some good headphones on the way back after work tonight. [/color][/size][/font] [font="Calibri"][size="3"][color="#000000"]I really don’t know what we ever did before online communities! [/color][/size][/font] [/quote] Cool, let us know how you get on

I think that would be probably be best, however if they were to record an album it might lead to a song about a dog defecating razorblades, whilst engaging in the sin of Sodom

I'm looking forward to watching some of the footage later on, so long as this doesn't lead to the demise of Alkaline Trio then all good.

[quote name='Dapper Bandit' timestamp='1426758876' post='2721555'] Whitechapel Murders, got some links in me signature down there. Don't know if you've seen them as yet but make sure you invest in [i]good[/i] earplugs, they use 2 full stacks [i]each[/i]. The organiser was handing free foam cheapie ones out on the door but I bumped into people days later who were still ringing! [/quote] Ace, I'll give your stuff a listen. Yeah, I've seen Conan, loud doesn't cover it

[quote name='Dapper Bandit' timestamp='1426698682' post='2720993'] Played with Conan a few weeks ago. Immensely loud. [/quote] Awesome, what's the name of your band?

Not necessarily guitar, but I think at least having a bash at a chordal instrument is important, for the reasons the OP outlined.

You might like Anaal Nathrakh who are one of my favourite bands, apocalyptic black metal/grind. The new Behemoth record - The Satanist - is a belter I'd give that a spin, some good bass playing on there too. If you're into doom, Electric Wizard and Conan are spectacular.

Who do you already like?

I get to post in this thread again! Last night was Carbon Skyline at The Jolly Farmer's in Croydon, went really well. The band is myself and the guitarist from our main band Naked Bass, with the dep drummer from Naked Bass and another singer, we play a similar set list, but not exactly the same. I've not gigged since New Year's Eve, and we've not played with this lineup in over a year, however went really well - we lost the structure in two songs, but managed to get it back together pretty well. Other than the that the whole band played preally well, plenty of happy, dancing punters and probably a wedding booking off the back of it. Great to be out playing again, was buzzing afterwards. First time I've gigged my new EBS cab too, I'm really happy with the HD350 / Neo 2x12 combination - so pleased I went back to EBS, there's so much clarity, you can hear every note. There is however, no hiding any poor technique or duff notes Next Friday I'm off to Woking for the first of a couple of dep gigs with hard rock/heavy metal covers band Sent Her Mental, so no letting up the practice regime this week

I think I was lusting after this very bass on the Bass Direct website a month or so back, look forward to hearing your thoughts

Check your pickup hight and angle (if your bass allows that). But thinking back to your question, would an octave pedal triggered by the sidechain of a compressor work? It's been a few years since uni, but I think that could work?

Got a gig next week and the singer wants to have a go at Figure It Out by RB. That's the only track of there's I've heard, decent enough, though I thought the Brit Awards video he sent me was much better than the album version, just sounded clearer on the bass. It's making for some interesting playing; as he's playing bass like a guitar, it's pushing me in a different direction to how I'd normally play bass which is a good learning exercise if nothing else.

[quote name='AndyTravis' timestamp='1425568979' post='2708707'] That's not as fun an option though is it? The Aguilar does sound better than the Duncan for what I play though, and as its my main 4 string it made sense. [/quote] That is true

If you're finding the pickup is too hot/aggressive, you guys know the volume control turns to the right as well? Seems a cheaper option than a pickup swap

I use a Behringer Vamp (Line 6 POD copy) and a decent set of studio headphones for home practice and it's great. The Behringer has an aux-in for plugging in a phone/tablet etc for Youtube or Spotify and a built in tuner. I don't really use effects, so one decent amp sim (I like the Gallien Kruger simulation) and I'm away - nice little one box solution.

I currently don't have a cover for my cab, which means I have to shoo the cat away from using it as a scratching post - I don't really get carpet covers on cabs? Aside from the problems for cat owners, tolex has always looked so much better and more hard wearing to me? My head's in a rack case, so that's covered - I'm surprised more guitar amps aren't rack mountable, It does strike me as the best solultion.

[quote name='stubass' timestamp='1425242353' post='2705534'] My one gripe was that the bridge pickup was not near as hot as the neck pickup, on both models. Not really usable in its own right. [/quote] I`d agree with that, the bridge pickup is definitely quieter than the neck and you`d struggle to use it solo`d

[B]Lack of tone knob[/b] I don't miss it, you can vary the tone dramatically by altering the relative pickup volumes, I think because the pickups are so powerful and have a lot of clarity it gives you a good starting point for varying the tone. If you found you really needed a tone control, there's a wiring mod that can give you that, which you can find over at the Basses By Leo forum. [B]Neck profiles[/b] These can vary, as American G&Ls are semi-customable when you order, so you can have any neck profile from the range they offer, I think there are maybe six different neck profiles/fretboard radiuses you can go for. The default neck profile is a jazz width, I`ve played two US SB2s - mine, a `95, which has a pretty standard jazz width, with a radiused board and a 2013 model at Bass Direct which had a very slim and shallow neck, more like the Lakland Duck Dunn I had before I got the SB2. Up until around the turn of the century, I think, they had three bolt necks with a micro-tilt, they now have six bolt necks, which I think is much better; when I took mine im for set-up after getting it, they need to re-align the neck, which I think is common of three bolt necks. [B]Weight[/b] I can't give you a specific weight, but as the bodies are undersized they are quite light; I found mine to be lighter than my tribute L2000, and dramatically lighter than the Duck Dunn I`d had previously. I used the Duck Dunn New Years Eve 2012 and found my shoulder in a fair bit of pain the next day from the long set, I`d moved on to the G&L for NYE 2013 at the same venue and was absolutely fine the next day. That all said, I don't know how representative that is, as the Lakland in question (OBBMs old PJ) was quite heavy. [B]USA vs Tribute[/b] I`ve not played a Tribute model SB2 unfortunately, so can`t comment specifically, however both American and Asian models have the same US made MFD pickups, but with Basswood instead of Ash/Alder bodies and Chinese rather than American made hardware. I do also own a Tribute L2000 and it is a very good instrument, only slight gripes with it are the neck pocket isn't quite as tight as I`d like (not that I can tell if this impacts the tone) and the control cavity isn't as tidy as I`d like. That's me being picky and looking for issues, on the whole it`s a very good instrument and the Tributes are generally regarded as being pretty close to the American versions. [B]Solo`d neck pickup[/b] With volume on full it`s very hot, clear, almost brash and aggressive sounding, you`ll need your input gain lower lower than other passive instruments if you don't want the pre-amp to clip. Rolling down the volume makes it smoother, though still clear across all four strings and you can get to an almost Motown style thud (though obviously not equivalent to an Alnico P with flats) with the volume down low, but as it's so hot, you`be got more headroom to turn down - if you see what I mean Sorry for the rather rambling reply, but I`m quite a fan of these instruments, let me know if you have any other questions