JonnyM

So, have had a reply from Barge: "Adding the vari-Z circuit is not an in-the-field modification. Just adding the impedance circuit is a fairly complicated procedure., modifying the stock feedback option to manipulate impedance is even more complicated - traces would need to be cut from the board, a significant amount of off-board wiring would need to be added to use the stock pot to control the vari-Z circuit, plus adding the additional components needed to make vari-Z possible, etc. Having us mod your current unit is possible, but not necessarily cost-effective - modding a unit after the fact usually ends up being more labor than building a new custom unit from scratch. Our recommendation would be to either add a GLZ to your current signal path (which would have the added benefits of being footswitchable, as well as having gain and level controls, options that wouldn't be feasible when modding your stock unit); or to replace your VFB with a VB-jr and GLZ or a custom built DVB with the vari-Z option." But having chatted with another forum member - which I should have done in the 1st place, DOH! - I now know that the Hyperpak & Pickle Pie don't really mind what impedance they are given, so that solves that then!

[quote name='beerdragon' post='518062' date='Jun 19 2009, 06:10 AM']Three ladies who are suppose to have a line up of two basses and a drummer, although i can only see one in this vid. [url="http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=46667579"]http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseacti...ideoid=46667579[/url][/quote] I've seen them live and they do have 2 bass players - they just don't play at the same time! The band do the "all change instruments thing" during their set and sound...exactly the same! They're getting a ton of press at the moment and live are - IMHO of course - jaw-droppingly awful Now, if they DID have 2 bass players playing at the same time, they'd be... no, they'd still be terrible... So yeah, not really a big fan

[quote name='umph' post='518523' date='Jun 19 2009, 04:09 PM']the pickle pie would see the same impedence if the hyperpak was off[/quote] Ah-ha... the only problem is that directly after the Pickle Pie in the loop is the SMMH, which I believe needs a low impedance signal... Thanks for that link dannybuoy - interesting...

[quote name='umph' post='518491' date='Jun 19 2009, 03:39 PM']ever consider making a little impedence box?[/quote] Not until now! But wouldn't I need 2: one for the Hyperpak and one for the Pickle Pie? Sorry, am not sure how impedance works in a pedalboard, but if the impedance box was before the HyperPak in the loop, but the Hyperpak was off, would the Pickle Pie "see" a high impedance, or does going through a pedal knock the impedance back to low again?

Thanks for all the replies! Yes, Higgie's custom Barge would indeed work, but it's too big for my board (see pic) and I think kinda overcomplicated for my needs - unless I can be convinced otherwise - what the heck would I do with all those knobs n stuff in my set-up As for the dirt sounds, I did some recording recently and plugged straight into the Hyperpak - sounded really great and figured it must be to do with the impedance of the signal it was getting. (I usually run my bass in passive mode, so the signal goes from bass to MultiComp into the VFB2 and the Hyperpak & Pickle Pie. I'm guessing that the signal from bass to MultiComp is high impedance, but by the time it gets to the Hyperpak it's low impedance?) I'm pretty handy with a soldering iron, but wouldn't know where to start here, unless it's nice & straightforward

My sig. shows my current set-up: I've been wondering whether it'd be worthwhile, desirable - or even possible - to have the VFB2 modded so the feedback control (which I don't use) is a variable impedance buffer instead? (I'm guessing that the impedance of the signal running into the distortion & fuzz isn't optimal at the moment, ie is too low). Thoughts?

Blimey! I can't top that HJ! I was in the opposite end of that blood 'n' guts situation last week: just down the road in a brand spankin new, rather genteel studio in Limehouse... My setup was: Bass (see sig.) into Summit Audio TD 100 (valve DI), DI signal to desk, Mark Bass LMII and Compact on an Auralex Gramma Pad and Neumann M147 valve mike, fairly close & slightly off-axis (see pic below). The studio people were very impressed with the instant great sound, really helped by just having one speaker in the cab - no problems with mike placement. The first thing I said when listening back to the 1st take was, "...and this is the flat cab sound...???". Yes, the straight un-equalised cab sound was right on the money and no need to have it stupidly loud to get a good tone, no moving around of the mike or radical eqing required either - the producer was one happy bunny . I can honestly say this was hands-down the best cab I've used in a studio. So whilst The Compact is advertised as as loud, live cab, it works very well as a studio solution too, mission accomplished. (I've edited my review in the umm, Reviews Section to include the above).

[quote name='Merton' post='462496' date='Apr 14 2009, 09:15 PM']The Compact will win EDIT: and I don't even know what they're fighting (tone/volume/portability/low frequency extension...) [/quote] Yeah, having owned a Peavey 4x10, the Compact will win hands down, on all fronts! I was in the market for a new cab back in November last year and fancied an Epi UL310: * 3 x 250w RMS Cast Aluminum Frame * 100w RMS Tweeter * Freq Response: 40hz - 16khz * Power Rating: 750w RMS (1800w Peak) * 5.3 Ohms * Suggested Wattage: 200w - 1000w * Sensitivity: 103db SPL @ 1w 1m * Dimensions: 23" H x 21.5" W x 16.5 " D * 47 lbs. * £960 The Compact: 25.5" high x 19.5" wide x 13.5" deep / 32lbs / 8 Ohms / 100dB / F3=63Hz F6=51Hz / £400 Tried the Epi with my amp & bass (see sig.) and of course it's a pretty good cab: fat-sounding, punchy etc. but I could get it to crap out when it was pushed and not very hard either. So, having followed this thread and contacted Alex, thought I'd take a punt on a Compact... Compared to the Epi, it's smaller, 15lbs lighter, has less top end and on paper, can't handle as much power. All true, except the power handling part and it's £560 cheaper! It can also handle anything I throw at it, without crapping out, where the Epi was struggling at the same volume levels. I know this is all subjective, but for me the Compact works in the real world of gigs, rehearsals etc. - and I didn't need a loan to get it

[quote name='Stylon Pilson' post='430143' date='Mar 10 2009, 09:51 AM']I need to go and change my underpants now. Oh, and more pictures please. S.P.[/quote] Yes, pictures are needed. We want the carnage: the melted ER15s, the birds falling from the sky... all the good stuff! BTW, any news on the cab badge - my Compact is looking naked...

Here's a YouTube video - pretty good vid., beefy-tone-tastic! [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxQRMoMv_5s"]Click here![/url]

[quote name='dannybuoy' post='417604' date='Feb 23 2009, 05:13 PM']That RRP is ridiculous![/quote] I'm with thisnameistaken - am guessing the street price'll be around the £100 mark...

JHS say delivery is expected "some time in April, £239 RRP..." I imagine the street price will be much cheaper...

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='415908' date='Feb 21 2009, 12:22 AM']Yeah I'm looking forward to trying this. It will have to be a bit special to knock my OC-2 off my board, but we'll see.[/quote] I'm feeling the same about it: I'll be interested to find out if it's more versatile sound-wise than my Octabass, which it is on paper. In reality, it could be pants though

More info: due for release in the US mid-April, coming in at $149... Quite fancy some Growl & Girth of an evening

Wondering if anyone has any news on the new MXR Bass Octave Deluxe, like when it's due out here etc... This from Harmony Central: "The M-288 Bass Octave Deluxe is a dual-voice octave pedal from MXR Bass Innovations that offers organic analog tone, true bypass, and a wide variety of tone-shaping options. Powered by a single 9-volt battery, MXR's 18-volt Constant Headroom Technology(tm) (CHT) provides studio-performance headroom and superior tracking. Use the Dry knob to mix your direct bass signal with the octave effect, or hit the Mid+ switch to add up to +15dB of internally adjustable low-mid punch (400Hz) or midrange pop (850Hz). Bass players will love the two separately processed and individually voiced octave controls Growl (for throaty, midrange octave-below tone) and Girth (for deep and smooth octave below). The Bass Octave Deluxe comes in a durable, lightweight aluminum casting and has the same high-quality jacks and switches that have made MXR pedals the road-ready standard on pedal-boards around the world for over 30 years." See YouTube link, post 10

Great bloke to do business with: pedal was well-packaged and in perfect nick - cheers!

[quote name='alexclaber' post='406900' date='Feb 11 2009, 08:11 PM']...Have also started work on a modular PA system for DJs and bands. Should be righteously fat and loud and will continue the theme of hilarious lightness. Alex[/quote] Blimey, you don't sit around do you?! And I think you should use "hilarious lightness" in the blurb... Barefaced cabs are... the new comedy

[quote name='Toasted' post='392632' date='Jan 27 2009, 12:25 PM']... on that subject, I've yet to see him give anything a bad review.[/quote] It could be New Magazine Syndrome - I write the occasional review for my sister's website and one was originally a stinker for an expensive restaurant, which I had to re-write. It wasn't a conflict of interest due to advertising, more that as a new venture, it couldn't go in too hard at first - putting the serious boot in has to be earned apparently. (But I suspect it does have something to do with potential advertisers ) He does get to see some pretty amazing gear too...

[quote name='Merton' post='392531' date='Jan 27 2009, 11:05 AM']Good point - a one-size-fits-all is so much more cost effective. And to a degree I prefer your subtitle too...[/quote] How about having the logo [b]vertical[/b], that way it should fit any cab neatly and more importantly, look distinctive at a distance. (Don't have access to Photoshop/Illustrator at the mo, otherwise I'd show you what I mean ).

Thought I'd say this to add to my review [topic="34439"]HERE[/topic]: did another gig with The Compact a couple of days ago where another aspect of it's design revealed itself. The load-in was via a narrow staircase but I was still able to carry all my gear in one go, due to the shallow cab design and handle placement. When I think of the problems I used to have carting gear around I raised my rig off the boomy, hollow stage and got an excellent sound: fat but controlled, with plenty of clarity. (The sound engineer asked me to turn down during sound check though...bah!). This cab really is ideal for the gigging bass player who doesn't want to compromise on tone and it continues to impress - good job Alex! I'm sure your other cabs will find their niche too.