Kiwi

None of his albums - I've found a lot of his songs are a bit meh (and I say that as a Prince fan). His live jams are what do it for me so I've only got DVDs. Live at the Aladdin is the best, shortly followed by Y2K (let down by the cringeworthy sermon half way through). Sign of the Times DVD is (ironically) a sign of it's time - its a bit self conscious and doesn't show Prince's band leading talents to the same degree as the other two.

He had ankle problems too, according to the Mail. He did have hip surgery but presumably not to an extent that would have required a transfusion. He must have been in a huge amount of pain and yet he still pushed himself. It sounds all too familiar given the road Michael Jackson went down with his own health issues and painkillers. BTW: Card carrying Prince fanatic here. Not for his stadium concerts which are relatively structured but for very much the less formal, improvised stuff that was seen at after show parties and (unfortunately) on bootlegs. A taste of it is on the Live at Aladdin and Y2K DVD's. Seeing him at the Indigo in 2007 after the main concert was life changing. He was arranging songs on the fly in his head while performing them at the same time and cueing the rest of the band. At one point he went around to the keyboardist and showed him how to play a specific phrase, then jumped on the drums...it was jaw dropping and awe inspiring in every sense of the word. He totally owned that stage and the 1300 of us in the audience.

Gosh, even with no bass synth going in, it still sounds promising. It's a real shame Boss don't do a separate arp pedal...buying one of these just for the arp function would be a real PITA. Thanks for sharing that clip, really helpful!

I never knew the 336 and 339 existed!

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1460995205' post='3030487'] Can you claim the mileage back?? [/quote] Good point, well presented, Sir. Unfortunately our company has been taken over so we don't need to pay any company tax now (until at least we start the next one) and we don't get charged personal income tax either where I am...

I've heard it has one of the best arpeggiators in pedal form under the 'Autoslap' patch and it can be programmed (unlike more recent pedals such as the Pitchfactor). I'd be really grateful if someone could post some examples of the arp in action just so I can hear what the shifted sounds are like.

His loss, I owe him a pint.

[quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1460962891' post='3030083'] Ah, finally I know what made Milwaukee famous [/quote] Yeah but when he was three, the family moved from Milwaukee to California. His parents are both STILL alive and in their mid 90's too.

Seriously?!! YOU GOT HERBIE TO COME?!!! I'm planning a return to the UK around that time any way...there's a lot on my list of things to do but I wonder if I could slide this in too...?

[quote name='vintage_ben' timestamp='1460878563' post='3029422'] Just received an email saying mine will be ready to ship within days. From what I've seen on heard (physical niggles aside) this is an amazing (sounding) pedal. I'm thinking of hooking it up to my recently purchased Eventide pitch factor, so I can control some of the filters via midi using an expression pedal. Running before I can walk perhaps, but sounds like it could be fun. [/quote] I tried the Pitchfactor with my Deep Impact - it was OK but the Pitchfactor tended to compress things a little making it sound slightly less analogue and rich. The arpeggiator was fun though but its a massive faff to get around the factory arpeggio presets so I sold it. Really wish someone out there would make a non MIDI programmable arp pedal...a couple like the Pitchfactor get so close but there's always something that detracts from useability with bass synth.

I've been messing about with mine this week. Patch 85 is Thriller's bass! Anyone found the knobs a bit wobbly compared to the Deep Impact? Has anyone tried editing patches in the software editor yet? Also, the edit/patch knob isn't indented making it easy to overshoot the desired patch. All niggles though. Where the Deep Impact was a pedal that made bass synth noises, the Future Impact is an authentic bass synth in pedal format.

Bubinga top is really unusual! Nice purchase.

[quote name='Deedee' timestamp='1459709066' post='3018843'] Just to give you guys an update, I've this afternoon pushed the button on a Hexavalve so once it arrives, I'll let you know how I get on. In the mean time, if there are any specific tips and tricks regarding one of these particular old heads, please let me know. [/quote] Well done! Wouldn't mind one myself in an ideal world.

120kg of tone! Incredible weight saving. How on earth do they manage this magic?

[quote name='ras52' timestamp='1459335557' post='3015497'] My thoughts exactly! Pentabuzz - all five strings are too low! [/quote] Play one and you won't think about it any more.

[quote name='Dazed' timestamp='1459305021' post='3015322'] Is the pentabuzz sustain largely down to the polyester coated fingerboard? [/quote] It's down to the hard rock maple through body neck, ebony fingerboard and the stainless steel rods inserted under the fingerboard. The polycoating adds to the singing character in the treble frequencies

[quote name='pmjos' timestamp='1459252648' post='3014737'] I think want something that 'sings and growls'.[/quote] I'm surprised that the suggestion of a Pentabuzz hasn't recieved comment!

Status Groove 5 basses are well worth a look - squarish neck profile and slightly offset body but the built quality is outstanding and there's plenty of growl on offer.

I have a Pedulla Pentabuzz and it knocks everything else mentioned here so far into a cocked hat with perhaps the exception of a Wal which sounds woodier and, with a matt finish, FEELS nicer to play. The key thing about the Pentabuzz is the mid response and ridiculous amounts of sustain (due to the super stiff construction). Cranked on stage, the Pentabuzz will feedback like it has a sustainer on board if you stand within range of 2x12 or larger pointed at the bass while going at full tilt. If you play lightly the poly fingerboard coating won't need replacing for many many years. (I got mine in 2005 and the board is barely marked). [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKAE2o4oA2Q[/media] I've played Warwick Thumb fretlesses after seeing one being played by [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvgXF_8-gds"]Tears for Fears at Knebworth[/url] and loved the sound they got but in reality found them a bit unresponsive in character. I found the Ibanez GW boxy sounding and lacking in sustain. Stingrays are nice if a little raw sounding and it's important to find one without deadspots - I suspect that Pino's has an ebony fingerboard as it looks too dark for pau ferro. Status basses are very nice but again its important to find one that isn't too bright sounding so bolt on necks are a safer bet (but there are always exceptions - like the one I own). If you are looking for a more traditional sounding instrument, go for single coils, if you like an assertive sounding parp from the bridge pickup go for a bass with humbuckers. Also worth considering is the Godin A5 - very reasonably priced and huge sounding for the size, thanks to sympathetic brass rods in the chambered body. There is a slight tendancy for the headstock to dive but a [i]really[/i] nice sustain and easy on the back. If I played fretless more often, I would have an A5 too for more upright sounds. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNYc8Pg5yXA[/media]

[quote name='andytoad' timestamp='1459039158' post='3013126'] I have had a V6, Quatra and now have a Hexa. The V6 lacked top for me, but others may tell you different. It had immense power with a Barefaced Super 15, proper vibrations, deep and heavy! The Quatra was great, 8/4 ohm, about the right volume to push it when live (sold it like an idiot when I needed dosh), my thoughts are it would probably sound 'thinner' compared to the V6, I now have a Hexa, 4/2 ohm, a little too much power if I am being honest. Still sounds great. The preamps on the Quatra/Hexa are far better (IMO) that a V series, a lot more versatile and what it sounds like you are used to! If I had a choice, Id go for the Quatra. All are heavy, with the V series being the heaviest (that also put me off after a while with the realities of lugging the gear around). [/quote] As an ex-V8 owner, I can't add anything more to this. My V8 had monstrous low end - perhaps too much for pub/function band stages. The eq was also a little simplistic and the mid control was almost useless. I've had a play through a Quatra and really liked it but it wasn't as pleasant to listen to as a Mesa Boogie 400+. But that could be down to speakers, room acoustics and perhaps a whole load of other reasons. Hard to make a call with just one try.

[quote name='Highfox' timestamp='1458852637' post='3011654'] This one still gets me today Always banged out loud at our school disco's. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yURRmWtbTbo[/media] [/quote] I should have added that one to my list along with Shake Yer Body Down (incidentally which has a bassline which is a LOT of fun to play for the attention it gets). [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgUGKTRFVKY[/media]