Tripehound

Here we are at The Castle Inn in Castle Donington the other week. Playing a Dingwall SP4 through an Atomic Bassbox for the first time (replacing my Helix) straight into the PA. This is probably one of the few places where anyone would care about that information!

9 hours ago, jimfist said:

Excellent!  Glad things worked out for you.  It's refreshing to not have to menu-dive just to get a simple, solid bass tone going, or make a quick adjustment. Good old knobs and switches. 

Full circle from pedal to digital and back to pedals...

It's a journey not a destination as they say.

Home from the gig and buzzing. Helix never even got fired up and the Bass Box just acquitted itself with honour. I managed to immediately get a tone every bit as good as my best efforts in all this time with the LT and it's now going to be used on a regular basis.  I still think that the Helix is an amazing bit of gear and it's only the weight and effort of carting it around in its flight case that I need to dodge now (arthritis - boo) and the ABB is going to do a job for me. Happy boy - and thanks to Jimfist for advice.

2 hours ago, jimfist said:

 

 

What are you using for stage monitoring? If the tech staff allows a few extra minutes for bass-check time to iron out any possible issues, I'd say go for it.

They've got house monitors but I'll probably use one of our Alto TS212s which sounded better to my ears (considering whether to get a QSC K12 ATM) and playing my Dingwall SJ5. I'll take the ABB along and give it a go if the opportunity presents itself after setting up the Helix.

Will report!

Got the ABB yesterday and although I've only had a quick dibble at bedroom volumes the initial impressions are very encouraging. I've found that the 'valve amp' c/w the 8 x 10 fridge gives me the most pleasing result - I've not mastered the overdrive/boost yet but that's not a shop stopper. This could probably replace dragging out my LT in its bombproof flight-case - should I risk it at tomorrow's gig where we'll be playing through the venue PA with a good sound guy?

Playing an LT straight into the PA with an Alto TS212 (the older 550w model) as floor monitor in my covers outfit that plays pop, R&B, rock and disco, everyone direct and electronic drums. It does the job.

I've just joined a second (classic rock) band with 'proper' drums and one guitar-operator where at some point I'm going to need forward-facing amplification (hired rehearsal room has a rig).

Is it worth the considerable expense of getting a QSC K12.2 which seems to be a popular choice amongst the FRFR community?

Will it be noticeably better as a monitor and will it cope/sound good as a powered speaker for bass in a conventional rock band or will the Alto (or two Altos) do?

I'd really welcome any opinions, experience etc!

7 hours ago, jimfist said:

The B6 landed today, and I had some time to wrestle with it this evening. As expected, it's a mixed bag of pleasant surprises and the foreseen problems with DSP and 6 slot maximum limitations. I'm late for bed, so I'll just say that this is the best sounding bass pedal I've heard out of Zoom, in terms of core sounds for drive pedals, preamps, amps, and cabinets (IRs). The DI selections flavors are very cool.

 

With respect to the Atomic BassBox, I'll be doing some side-by-side listening to see what my ears tell me. 

Looking forward to hearing that.

45 minutes ago, jimfist said:

 

I was hot for the Quad Cortex until I saw how the initial roll-out went, and then with supply chain difficulties, delayed firmware updates, etc. etc. That's cooled me off for a while, until I have a better feeling that the QC is more mature.

Cool that you're willing to go with the BassBox. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions. There are some operation things that you might want to explore with the software editor, as it also does adjustment for the gain/OD, and has an overall mix/blend feature. It also allows you to do signal path assigns to the main XLR and 1/4" outputs.

Apologies for this, but over at TalkBass, there's a whole forum thread on the BassBox that goes pretty deep. 

 

I hear you re: the B6.  Zoom is.....Zoom. I've had good luck with the B3, B3n, and mostly the G5n (with the hack to port B3n blocks into the G5n). 

It's not world-beater gear, but for simple operation and bang-for-buck, it's been good to me now that I've got less demanding gigs WRT crazy effects programming.

With the B6 being a steeper price tag, I'm likely to be more critical of it than, for example, the G5n which cost me $299US in 2017.

Thanks for the advice and yep - I've noticed you need to be very much an early-adopter to get a QC just yet hence no rush!

11 minutes ago, jimfist said:

Don't worry...I won't mince words or couch my opinion on the B6. I've owned the HX Stomp (flipped it after a couple months), and gigged for many years with the Fractal Audio AxeFxII.

It will be the good, bad, and ugly as I see it, albeit as a Zoom fan and user for many years.

That seems to be the feedback. Seems not a lot there in the B6 that the LT does albeit in a smaller format and I'm suspicious that it might be a bit - dare I say - tacky? 

You've persuaded me! I've taken the plunge and just ordered the last ABB in Andertons. Will give it a go and maybe later get in a B6 (they're out of stock but in soon) to evaluate returning whichever doesn't convince. Longer term thinking of parting with the Helix and getting a Quad Cortex for home, guitar playing etc and the ABB or the B6 for bass gigs.

59 minutes ago, SumOne said:

It does look good, as an 'all-in-one' Helix alternative won't you still need a tuner though? And if it doesn't take batteries you'll need power. 

 

Considering those things I got the Fishman Platinum Pro as a backup/all-in-one. If you want something convenient to carry about which covers most of the important things then it does them well: Tuner/mute (with footswitch), boost (with footswitch), compressor, EQ (including sweepable mids and a HPF), line out and DI XLR with ground lift and pre/post switch, FX loop, analogue, and can run on battery power. No drive though, and it's quite big. It covers me for practice sessions, and if my power supply or other pedals die on me at a gig it'll cover the essential things. 

 

Zoom type multi FX things will do more FX in a cheaper and smaller size but I didn't think I would choose them as my main 'all-in-one' utility pedal for gigging: No separate DI/XLR with ground lift and pre/post, to boost isn't as obvious as the Fishman's 'boost footswitch' with a corresponding LED, need to scroll and look at a small screen to adjust things like EQ for the room, not always obvious if something has been clicked on/off in the background etc. I'd use them as a backup, or for practice sessions, or in the FX loop for effects though.

 

 

 

 

I'll definitely have a look at the Fishman - thanks for the lead. If I had to name one feature on the Helix that I don't think is up to much it's the tuner! I carry a TC pedal in my bag rather than use the one on the LT. The apparent attraction of the B6 is that it has all the things that the older Zoom units don't have - the DI, ground lift, touch screen etc. On paper it looks great because it offers many of the features of the Helix but in a smaller footprint and aimed squarely at bassists but responses I've seen thus far are lukewarm.

8 hours ago, jimfist said:

I got one of the first ones. And I just ordered the B6, due for arrival this week, I'll have opinions

 

I think the Atomic BassBox is a really nice multifunction bass pedal, and yes, it's as good a pedal as Pete Thorn makes it sound IMO. Totally different animal in the way it's designed compared to a typical digital multifx modeler. 

 

Not sure what to make of Atomic right now, though all my experiences with them have been good. Very, very small outfit, and guessing they've been having supply chain issues for key components like everyone else. 

Be very interested to hear that - opinions on the B6 seem mixed at the moment.

Looking for something to use as an alternative to lugging around the Helix (I use one sound and rarely employ effects!) I came across some videos of this pedal. Sounded very good in the demos (don't they all?) but is it going to be trumped by something like the Zoom B6.

I'm also wary that it might not have been a success and will get dropped fairly soon - it's clearance price at Andertons and the Atomic site says sold out...

Has anyone had a go with one of these?

On 09/02/2022 at 17:08, stewblack said:

Anyone understand the technical side of things? I'm wondering about the improvements, if any, made to the effects from previous (inexpensive) Zoom model.

Are there figures you can quote to prove the new effect has another 2000 gigawatt reactor added for each pedal simulation?

Having just perused the effects list it reads very similar to all the previous Zoom offerings. 

As much as I like the touchscreen and expression pedal and new shiny package, at the price point I'd like to think it actually sounds better too.

A side by side comparison with a B1_Four would be absolutely ideal of course.

I've followed this discussion with great interest - I have an LT that lives in a flight case (it's up for sale ATM) and I'm looking for something to replace it that's at least as good for my simple needs (one SVT amp model, a bit of chorus, distortion and octave) and much smaller/lighter. I thought this could be the answer but I'm definitely not getting that vibe here and form factor apart, sounds like it would be a retrograde step. 

Beautiful bass - I had one exactly the same (the Korean made edition) and it too had flats. I deeply regret selling it. Deeply regret not having £780 as well...

Now that I only play Helix straight to PA (and through an FRFR speaker for rehearsals) I'm aware that I'm vulnerable to it lacking out on me on a gig and that I should have something in reserve. Just a straight bass tone would do - classic SVT or GK etc for a pop/rock/disco covers band.

I keep looking at the Atomic Bass Box which looks good in the few videos of it and is now heavily discounted (is this significant?) - there don't seem to be many reviews. The GK Plex is also a possibility if I could pick one up used.

I know the obvious answer is probably a Stomp but cheap git that I am I'd like something less expensive.

Any suggestions? 

21 minutes ago, jazzyvee said:

I am curious about these things, do you actually hear your bass through bone conduction or is it just pumping the dynamics into your feet  as punches and you are not experiencing any sound. For example if you used it without in-ears or any other speakers, do you hear anything from the transmission of sound through your body to the inside your head?

The one I used didn't make any discernible noise although I'm not sure whether the vibrations would be heard in a room below. I doubt it because it doesn't have to vibrate that much to get the desired effect! You feel the vibration through your whole body rather than just in your feet - I had a Backbeat pack for a while and my impressions  that it seemed more localised in effect than the floor boards. They really are very impressive but I was put off because of a) it's a hell of a thing to lug around, b) you'd probably want the bigger model (see point a) and c) not being the tallest of people and being at the front singing, well - standing on my own little platform would be too much for some...

That would be quite the head turner for playing Mr Brightside down at the Dog and Hammer next Saturday.

Seriously - worth giving up both kidneys. Beautiful.

Fender Rumble Stage 800 Combo Modelling Bass Amp c/w Footswitch and Slip Cover

SORRY FOR THE STOCK PICTURES - WILL BE REPLACED ASAP

Fender Rumble Stage 800 Combo Modelling Bass Amp complete with Fender Slip Cover in excellent, almost as-new condition.

Include multi-function foot switch.

Fearsomely loud (if you want), expandable, models loads of great amps, loaded with quality effects and a one hand carry - what's not to like?  Wifi and Bluetooth enabled.

Selling as I have to go Helix/DI all the time now and this is too good to sit around idle.

Would readily trade (plus cash of course) for a Wilcock Mullarkey but what are the chances of that eh?

Collection from Belper, Derbyshire or packaged for collection by your courier. Also prepared to drive & meet up within reason.

3 hours ago, CJPJ said:

I'm really liking this unit - I've ordered the BT adaptor as I think this will be the quickest and easiest way to edit patches and move through the board on the fly. The pre-set patches are actually pretty good - I'm really impressed with some of the filters and synth sounds. Still messing about building some patches that I can use 'everyday' with simple effects (like the HX effects) I can just call on like Chorus and Fuzz. Need to get my head around what specific pedals they are emulalating but I'll spend a bit more time on fine tunning specifc sounds in time. I'm not back in the studio for practice until Thursday week so won't be able to hear it in the mix or at volume. I've got a gig on Thursday but not going to try this live for the first time there......

 

Great review - I'm getting very interested in these. Could you compare it to a Helix in terms of the quality of the models?

The RCF line array PA is a marvellous thing - I should probably look at the ARTs as well as the QSC speakers. Farting out has been an issue with the Alto but I think that may be curable with a HPF in my Helix patch. When it comes to IEMs - well I've tried repeatedly (even had a Backbeat for a while) but just couldn't get on with them. If I was doing this for a living then I'd probably persist but they took the joy out of it for me. A bit like Wintermute I like 12" speakers as well but suspect it may be one of them plus a sack truck...

I'm running a Helix LT straight into an RCF line array PA (the rest of the band are also DI including drums) and use an Alto TS212 as my monitor. As I (try to) sing as well I have a personal mix of mostly bass, vocal and drums - I can hear quite enough of the others thank you!

Of late I've been wondering whether I should invest in something better as I'm playing a bass that cost about 10 times what I'm listening to it through and QSC seem to be very highly regarded. 

I'd thought in terms of 12" but have recently found that QSC recommend the 10" version - and I'm not sure whether the return is worth the investment. I'd be really grateful for any recommendations, advice, experience etc.

Helix LT with matching Thon flightcase to provide bombproof protection whilst out and about.

Now Updated to Firmware 3.15.

Helix is in excellent condition because... well, flightcase!

An amazing bit of gear but selling because I use one amp sound and rarely employ effects so overkill for me.

Would consider trade for a Stomp + cash if you're finding you haven't got enough buttons.

Posted for £25, collection from Belper, Derbyshire (15 minutes from J28 of the M1) or your courier to collect. Meetup also possible.

On 09/01/2022 at 17:38, CJPJ said:

Is it even released yet?

AFAIK there are some in the USA according to Talkbass posts but very limited and may not even be a proper release.

Sorry - it's just sold!

On 22/11/2021 at 18:08, stewblack said:

What a stunning instrument.

Good luck with your sale.

Thanks - it's an immaculately-constructed instrument and the colour really stands out. It's also very comfortable to play for longer gigs.

Here's the bass in action.