MichaelDean

I've been very tempted by the Blackheath too. From the demos it sounds right up my street. The 85 sounds like an excellent pedal too. I feel a bit like Laney are on a good streak. My Digbeth head is so good. 

My Zilla 212 is a lovely "traditional" style cab, but it does a lot of things well. 25ish kg, neo speakers, no tweeter. I've had mine made as purely vertical, so it has two heavy duty handles either side. I'm not a slap bassist, but I've used it in a function band and my current doom band. It handles everything with ease. Sounds great with loads of drive. Sounds great without. Really nice balanced bass sound. My current head is a Laney DB-500H, but I've also had an ABM-600 and a PF-500. It worked well with all of them.

As far as I'm aware, they aren't currently being made. Your best bet is to try buying second hand. There's a couple on the marketplace here.
 

I love my GX-100. The new update gives you all of the preamps from the ME-90B, but it's so easy to configure and add multiple instances of things if you desire. I've added an overdrive going into a fuzz in the fx loop, plus I've got an FV-500H acting as a second expression pedal. All probably unnecessary. There aren't any synth sounds in it though if that's what you need. 

I'm using it into an amp, so no DI from it directly.

I tend to use it as a pedalboard rather than as presets for things. My current chain for my doom band is:

Compressor

Volume 

Wah

EQ (used as a shaping boost)

Always on dirt

Dirt level 1

Dirt level 2

Effects loop → Mojo Mojo→ Bass Big Muff

Noise gate

Harmoniser: -1 octave is always on with switchable +1 octave

EQ to filter out the really high content and add a LPF at around 30/40Hz

Delay

Reverb

The internal foot pedal controls the wah when you press the toe switch down, or does all sorts of crazy stuff with the delay if that's on. The FV-500 is controlling the volume block as I prefer the taper on it. 

Reach out to somewhere like Flightcase Warehouse who make cases. I imagine they'd be able to custom make something. Or Zilla if you like a nice tolexed option.

Just now, Bigguy2017 said:

Try a buffer pedal first in line

 

The BrightOnion Micro Buffer Pedal, TC Electronic Bonafide or Fender Level Set are all small, inexpensive boxes

The TU3 has an always on buffer built in. Shouldn't need another.

Have a play with Stompenberg on Thomann's website. It tweaks the pedals as you play with the knobs. You can also upload a recording of your bass, connect your audio interface to it to play live or use their backing tracks to see what sounds good. Don't forget to try some guitar pedals too. I've got a Mojo Mojo on my board at the moment and I've had the Joyo Ultimate Drive in the past (a Fulltone OCD clone).

https://www.thomann.co.uk/stompenberg_devices.html

8 minutes ago, peteb said:

 

To be fair, it's just one guy saying "she's a girl and she isn't as good as Marcus Miller, it's all woke innit"! Everyone else is saying that it's a positive thing that she's up there as an potential inspiration to young female bassists. 

 

If your niece (or nephew as well for that matter) is going to make their way as a musician they will need a much thicker skin than allowing themselves to get upset by this type of nonsense. 

 

I know. I just don't quite understand where those opinions come from. Possibly went a bit overboard...

Just have a look at her Wikipedia page.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu_DeTiger?wprov=sfla1

She's been playing since she was 7, was touring with bands before COVID, during which she's exploded on social media and has now made a solo career out of singing and playing bass. Why is anyone getting upset about it? She's currently popular with millions of streams on Spotify and has great chops. No-one should be surprised someone reached out about a signature model. If it inspires people to start playing bass, that's super cool. 

Bass lines also need to fit the music. Maybe she's got mad jazz skills, but doesn't need to use them day to day in what she wants to do. 

Has Mikey Way from My Chemical Romance set the world on fire with his playing style, or is he in a popular band? A signature bass is a popularity contest. 

My niece is starting rock school next week at 6 years old and has been allocated bass. I really hope she doesn't come under fire like this if she ever becomes a well known player. 

Played at The Gryphon in Bristol last night as a part of Gryphest. After battling Bristol traffic to get to the other side and being a bit late, it actually went very well. Sound checked quickly, but it sounded great. I was running my Combustion and pedalboard into my new Digbeth and an old Trace 410 that is the venues and I'm really confident that my new head was the right move. Just looks and sounds the part a bit more. We've also finally managed to convince the guitarist/singer to use an amp instead of going direct with his Valeton unit. It just sounds better like this. We have a more cohesive sound. Also, it's doom. Amps are expected. 

We (Hora) opened up the evening. Godless Suns were after us, telling tales of how the gods have betrayed us with crushing riffs. Battalions then tore the house down. Wasn't entirely keen on the vocals, but they were tight AF. Witchsorrow then finished the night with a very polished set of face melters. 

On 18/09/2024 at 20:14, Salt on your Bass? said:

Oh sweet I'll have to check you guys out. Say hi to riff monkey in godless suns (from Andy in gévaudan)

Pete was a gent! And he said you're such a nice guy that he'd happily have sex with you, so it looks like you're in 😜 That guitar of his is a lovely made thing. They played a great set too. I really like the storytelling over the course of the set. 

Back to the amp, it did a very good job indeed. Looks the part better than the ABM too. I'm very pleased with my latest acquisition!

A Joyo Ultimate drive could do the job nicely, or a TC Electronic Mojo Mojo. Both have worked nicely for me. You can get them to go into a very overdriven/distortion territory, but they also do a nice breakup tone too. 

I'd also take a look at the Laney Black Country Customs Blackheath. Different modes to try and sounds great on demos. 

On 28/08/2024 at 18:22, hiram.k.hackenbacker said:

Just a reminder should anyone be considering buying ACS Custom Plugs, Basschat code BASS15 will get you a 15% discount.

Massive thanks for the code! Just put in my order. Need to book in for the appointment now. 

Depends on the budget! I don't think anything under £300 can do parallel signal chains though (happy to be corrected on this!). Boss GX-100/GT-1000/GT-1000 Core, Line 6 Helix family are probably easiest to find under £400 that can do it.

Mod Dwarf is a fairly niche product, it is super flexible in terms of signal routing, but you have to do all of your editing on a computer. Don't know if that's a deal breaker. 

Form factor will be something to think about too. How many foot switches do you want? Is an expression pedal useful?

If you have an audio interface for your computer, you can try out the Helix plugin for 15 days to see what you think of parallel processing too. 

I found that I didn't like splitting by frequency on my GX-100. I couldn't find the right frequency to make it sound good to me. I much prefer having a bass effect and a guitar effect layered. Ive mixed back to pedals for my fuzz tone though. I've put a Mojo Mojo into a Bass Big Muff in blend mode in the effects loop of my GX. Sounds massive. 

Looks like the HB-50 has finally been released. 34" scale, cherry or vintage orange. @neepheid anything look different to the prototype you had?

https://www.thomann.co.uk/harley_benton_hb_50_cherry_red.htm

I think I might be the only one using one on here, looks like a good update for bassists though. All of the new preamps on the GT-1000 are now on the GX along with the slicer and feedbacker.

UPDATE HISTORY

[Ver.2.00] SEP 2024

Additional Functions

3 original BOSS high-gain amp types have been added to AIRD PREAMP.

X-ULTRA

Χ-ΟΡΤΙΜΑ

X-TITAN

6 types of bass amps have been added to AIRD BASS PREAMP.

STUDIO BASS

SILVER TUBE

CLASSIC BLUE

SOLID STACK

FAT TUBE

DARK DRV

4 types of microphones have been added to AIRD PREAMP and AIRD BASS PREAMP.

RBN121

BLEND A

BLEND B

BLEND C

7 types of effects have been added.

SD-1

DS-1

SLICER

HUMANIZER

FEEDBACKER

SITAR SIM

AUTO WAH

Preset patches that use the new types above have been added in P04-1 through P05-4.

Please refer to the "GX-100 Parameter Guide" info in the [Owner's Manuals ]. Functionality Improvements

Memory name is displayed in Play Screen when Control Mode view.

When changing BANK(in WAIT1 or WAIT 2 mode), the memory name and the BANK number are displayed as destination.

COLOR MODE has been added to HARDWARE SETTINGS.

The default value for Auto Off has been changed to 20

I've actually got my first gig with it on Saturday alongside Godless Suns, Battalions and Witchsorrow (we're Hora). Really looking forward to using it live. 

2 hours ago, andytoad said:

Just Eat. The uk has a thriving independent takeaway industry, call direct get a delivery, maybe a small charge.

 

Then this uneeded middle man comes along and tries to stifle the industry and whack an admin fee for their unwanted service. People use it unbelievable.

They also have their own drivers. If a takeaway doesn't have dedicated delivery staff and doesn't want to deal with hiring/firing, it means they can reach a wider audience. 

1 hour ago, DGBass said:

Just out of curiousity, does the Digbeth 500 have a tube in it? Or is it a tube emulation thing? 🤔

There's no tube, I'm assuming that it's like having a fancy pedal in your head. I don't personally care though. Less potential for breakage and still sounds great. 

Just adding my bits...

scrumpymike - everything he owns unless he sells it between now and then

Rich- Shuker 5-string, something else (will toss a coin on the day), Genz Benz Shuttle 9.2, Barefaced Super 12T cab.

Kateplaysbass - Ashdown CTM-100 and LB212, Pawn Shop Mustang, medium scale ACG Finn, and maybe also ACG Recurve and Bass Collection 5 string fretless, since I'm thinking about offloading both of those

Woodinblack -  Bongo, because its lovely and uncommon, Acrylic bass, for shits and giggles, Chapman stick, Lava Me guitar

Richard R - Brawley 5 string, as usual, HB 5 String thing with Roland hex pickup and V-bass COSM synth.

BreadBin- something interesting

chyc - Double bass, Ashbory Bass, GSS 06B400MKD combo, BC 112mk3 cabinet, and on the request any of Warwick Streamer fretless, Sandberg Custom 5 with Delano XTender, Sandberg TT Marcus Miller rip-off, BC 110T cabinet, , Acoustic Image Coda

TRBboy - Frost Custom Basses PJ5 (my first build from scratch), Sandberg California TT5 Passive, possibly my customised Yamaha BBN5, Markbass Stu Amp 1000w, GR Bass GR 410+ (1200w, 4 ohm), a fairly unexciting pedal board 😅, & converted Trace 1x15" cab, if it's in a satisfactory state by then

Stub Mandrel - Joyo BadASS & PJB C2, American Vintage II 1960 Precision & Squier 40th Anniversary Precision for side by side comparison. Teisco/Kay Tulip for sh*ts and giggles. Sire P10.

obbm - '71 Jazz, '73 Precision, Sadowsky HPJ, Genzler Magellan 350, BF One10 x2, Pedals plus TBA plus raffle donation.

Chienmortbb - Fender Aerodyne Jazz Bass, Sire Marcus Miller M2, Bugera Veyron. LFSys Monza Cabinet, Zoom B2Four.

JapanAxe - Fender Precision 1973, Fender Precision 1963 RI, Dingwall NG2 5, Dingwall D-Roc 4, Demeter VTBP-M-800D, Fender TB600, Barefaced Super Twin, Barefaced One 10, DIY Ampeg B15 clone, deal to be done on for-sale EBS HD360 30th Anniversary

MichaelDean - Dingwall Combustion 5, 76 Fender Mustang, Revelation RPJ-77 (maybe? Still haven't finished that build 😅), pedalboard, Laney Digbeth DB500H, Zilla 212

My brother bought a b stock Taylor acoustic from Thomann. The frets were cut a bit too deep and the ends hadn't been filled. He liked the guitar so kept it, but probably spent the same money as a non b stock one getting it put right plus a setup. 

@Tech21NYC might hopefully be able to help 🤞

16 minutes ago, fretmeister said:

Markbass announced their new 2x10 combo today. No doubt it will be about a grand, but it’s also 6.5kg lighter.

 

I bet Boss gets feedback from the shops and are working on a V2. They’re mad if they don’t.

The heads are class D, so they've clearly got a new version that works. I'd also be very surprised if they don't update the combo soon. 

I'm just listening to The Stranglers (not sure I've given them a listen before, but as an '87 model, they were a bit before my time...) and I'm doubling down on my Digbeth recommendation. I think you'll be able to get right where you want to be with it as a one box solution. No, it isn't the smallest head out there, but it's not massive either.

13 hours ago, Fil1ip said:

This is great news, what's your expectations on price 

The grabbers are coming in at £929, I wouldn't be surprised at £1200+ for a signature G3 based on their recent prices. 

https://www.pmtonline.co.uk/epiphone-grabber-bass-natural

I'd suggest trying a Digbeth head. I might be biased as I just got one, but the distortion is tubey in nature and the tilt control is a bit of magic. You can make it light or dark sounding with a twist of the knob, then fine tune with the EQ. 500W RMS too. It's plenty loud enough in a loud band. Seriously good bit of kit.