ratman

Gaz, I'd say the TK-421-X is an extreme pedal. It's brutal with the gain up high. If you don't like dry signal, just dial it out. The blend is definitely more wet oriented than 50/50 wet/dry anyhow. There are also internal dip switches that select differend diodes for clipping (Silicon Symmetrical, Silicon Asymmetrical, LED Asymmetrical and LED Symmetrical) and dip switches for the dirt LPF (Standard "RAT" tone roll-off, Standard COG tone roll-off and Deep COG tone roll-off). Also internally is a Dry Level trim control. I got mine with the addittional dirt HPF and I'm glad I did - having a LPF and HPF on the dirt means I can dial out some low and/or high end if I choose to. I personally like some dry signal in there as I like a deep low end anyhow, so the TK-421 wasn't really going to be my cup of tea. But the TK-421-X, having the extra filter, blend and internal options was right up my street. And having six knobs on isn't really confusing. It's easy to dial in changes quickly and intuitively. Also, the TK-421's jacks are side mounted and the TK-421-X's jacks are north mounted, so if pedal board space is an issue I bet they'd both take up about the same room anyhow. The TK-421-X will do low end whallop by the bucket load. And the distortion will have your guitardists running for cover. Hope that helps

[quote name='bakerster135' timestamp='1423221845' post='2682326'] I'd recommend that you go for the Knightfall 66 over the standard model. [/quote] I agree. For an extra £60 over the price of a standard Knightfall you get a lot. A second channel for a start. Also, the Blend and Treble controls. The Low control isn't a normal bass boost/cut, what it does is send more or less bass frequencies to the distortion. It's a great feature. The internal diode selectors give you a choice of 5 different clipping diodes - on each channel. And there's an internal clean level trim too. The 66 is one very versatile pedal.

[quote name='Old Man Riva' timestamp='1423173753' post='2681929'] (First post, so here goes...) Really like Don't Interrupt the Sorrow off Joni Mitchell's Hissing of the Summer Lawns. It's played by Wilton Felder and sounds like a P-Bass with a pick and flats. Or is it a Jazz Bass with fingers and flats. Or... He also played the great bass line on I Want You Back by The Jackson 5 and is a top sax player.. An annoyingly good musician. [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6Wsdkll5-s"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6Wsdkll5-s[/url] [/quote] He also played bass and sax on the Crusaders song Street Life. Awesome.

No worries countjodious. Do let us know what you get and how you get on with it

[quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1423085642' post='2680647'] Pedals respond in very different ways to different players and basses (and ears!), so expect a long journey ahead of trying different things out you see what works for you! [/quote] Agreed. You can read all the reviews on the web, watch all the you tube video, but you won't know how any gear sounds objectively until you plug it into your set up. You have to start somewhere so pick a pedal from your list and try it out for yourself. It is a journey of discovery. And it's fun

I can comment on three of those pedals. But as always, it's just my opinion. Just to be clear - I like my tone bassy. I don't do thin zingy twangy bass, I do rich, deep, punchy bass. Some pedals that work for other people just don't cut it for me if they cut my low end. I guess if you like a brighter tone then you may prefer pedals that I don't like. Horses for courses. The Beta does that valve type distortion and can get really gnarly but even with the tone knob full up it's still quite a dark sound. I'm waiting on a blender coming soon to tame mine a bit. But I won't be selling it any time soon as even with that dark tone there's something about it i really like. I have a Streamliner too and the two together sound huge. You're right about the Darklighter, it's not as saturated as a Knightfall, but they're both lovely. And as it's your choice where you set the gain, both will do a wide range of valvey overdrives and distortions really well. I reccommend the Knightfall 66 as it has two channels and loads of switchable diode options inside. So much choice of sound, it just rocks. Talk to Tom at COG about your needs, he'll help you out with good advice. The VMT was one I had high hopes for but upon arrival it didn't work for me. Whatever I did with the settings I lost loads of low end. For me it didn't live up to the hype. I ended up doing a trade with it. Besy of luck on your quest

I remember how Yolanda Charles got inundated with replies when she came on here. No wonder she's gone quiet, I don't blame her. I guess this would have happened on any music forum. If I were a big name pro and I wanted to use a forum, I wouldn't do it under my real name.

I saw this on FB and thought it was worth sharing. Enjoy. http://www.independent.com/news/2014/nov/19/dating-musician-i-recommend-bass-players/

I prefer to be up front as I do BV's too, but I don't mind it at the back either. Either way I promise my bass will be heard loud and clear.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1422742431' post='2676443'] I would go with something with room for expansion. A 16 channel digital mixer with as many sends as possible. [/quote] Exactly right. I'm looking at buying a Mackie DL1608 soon. 16 channels and 6 sends.

The Zed60 and all Soundcraft mixers do have monitor sends. It's only the really cheap (sub £50 ish) mixers that won't have an aux send.

[quote name='UglyDog' timestamp='1422718278' post='2676003'] Behringer might have a bad/cheap rep in places but their mixers are very good. We have used one live for ages. [/quote] +1 to that. I've been using a Behringer desk for 4 years now and it's never let me down. I know quite a few people who use them too, and no reliability issues for them either.

Most of the songs on the Foo Fighters Wasting Light album have a killer bass tone. There's a lovely depth to Nate Mendel's bass that underpins the songs, but it cuts through a treat too. The whole thing is really well mixed. Butch Vig at his best, again.

I took the plunge a few years ago and replaced the pick ups and wiring on my bass. It really wasn't hard, it just took a while as I didn't want to rush it and mess it up.

I could get it from London to Brackley, South Northants next weekend. Maybe someone else could help getting it further North?

There are a couple of things to point out with the mixers you are looking at - when you say 10 or 12 channel, be aware that some of those are stereo channels. And you don't sound like you're using a big stereo keys set up on your gigs. So, as it sounds like you'll be using the channels in mono on a gig, the 10 channel mixer effectively becomes a 7 channel, and the 12 becomes an 8 channel. The Macke is only 8 mono channels. Something like this [url="http://www.dv247.com/studio-equipment/behringer-xenyx-x1832usb-18-channel-mixer-with-usb-audio-interface--71180"]http://www.dv247.com...nterface--71180[/url] will give you 10 mono channels at a decent price. I would say you should always get a mixer with a mid EQ on each channel, not just bass & treble. The mids are where the nice (and nasty) sounds are and you need control of them. Sweepable mids are even better, ie a parametric. You don't need loads of effects either, reverb and delay will be fine. The more aux sends you want (for monitors) the bigger the desk you'll need. Most smaller desks will have 1 aux only. It's usually the cheaper mixers that have knobs instead of faders, and no mid control. Same as everything really, you get what you pay for at the end of the day.

I saw this the other day and it confirmed my suspicions, bass players rule! http://stevewitschel.hubpages.com/hub/Top-10-Reasons-Why-Bass-Players-Rule

I got mine too!! It's amazing isn't it? Surprisingly versatile too... [URL=http://s1343.photobucket.com/user/bassboyherms/media/COG%20TK-421-X%20HPF%20mod_zpsyo56s2bd.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1343.photobucket.com/albums/o798/bassboyherms/COG%20TK-421-X%20HPF%20mod_zpsyo56s2bd.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

It's always nice to hear about somebody's first gig. Welcome to the club

Well said chris b. I can't imagine going on stage, and thinking 'nobodys going to listen to me anyhow' or any rubbish like that. Stuff that. This is how I approach a gig - I'm the bass player and I'm proud of that. My job is to rock/groove/swing the t*ts off this gig. And the rest of the band had better be up for it too. I'm not one for simply going through the motions on stage, I try to play to the best of my ability every time.

I play lots of Bowie in various bands, but the one personal favourite I haven't yet gigged is Blue Jean.

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1422346362' post='2671316'] The audience notices when you come in. They notice when you drop out. They notice when what you play doesn't sit correctly within the arrangement [/quote] Agreed. they don't neccessarily know or understand what they're hearing, but I believe they usually know when it sounds 'right'. I wish the same could be said of some other musicians lol. [quote name='spectoremg' timestamp='1422346453' post='2671320'] Turning it around a bit, I've seen a few guys miss the root note cos they're 'doodling' up the neck, that really grips my sh*t! [/quote] I know a couple of bassists who regularly start w*nking off up the dusty end at inappropriate moments (during choruses, other peoples solos etc). It's not just badly timed widdling, it's disrespectful to the other musicians and the song being played.

I remember that awesome trombone solo at the end too. Cracking song.

[quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1422093540' post='2668554'] NAMM = Not Available, Maybe May lol [/quote] Lmao