uk_lefty

My watch-out would be this... Do you sometimes use different basses? Some pre amp pedals sound amazing with a passive P bass but dog dirt with an active jazz, so if you like to rotate between different instruments you need to really get hands on to understand what settings are best. Also, some pedals don't play nicely with others, so it can be a bit of a lottery getting them to work together on a board without unwanted noise and fartiness (IME, I'm no pedal-head). And finally what sounds great on online demos might be awful when you get your hands on it, the way you attack a note, your string choice, the pickups, your EQ, all these things can wildly change the sound you're getting from a pedal, if you can try before you buy, or have the patience for trial and error on the second hand market then you should be ok.

I think I've seen one or two years back, never in that colour. But I thought, and could be completely wrong and can't be bothered looking it up, these were the cheap bottom of the range basses. Might even just be a guitar pickup in there? Obviously a few people know something I don't or want these so much they'll throw more than a grand at it... Or both!!

They should call that the P55. And the four string version, you guessed it.... Go and get your P45, bassist!

My 2019 MiM neck has a smooth finish, it's not thick gloss.

Depends on which models and when from I guess? As a right hander you've got a lot more options, but my simple way of looking at it is this: I've got a 2019 MiM precision neck on my Bitsa and it's lovely, very very good. I tried out a new MIA Jazz in a shop a few months back and it was light years ahead. It feels like there's no finish on it, and I think from looking at the woodgrain it must be this "quarter-sawn" business that gets spoken about. It felt like there was no finish on it at all, nice and thin, very fast. The MiM neck is a huge improvement on the rubbish they made in the 90s but the MIA feels premium. Hope that helps

We need a thread of recordings of good settings....

It's great isn't it? Speeding up and slowing down the sequencer, altering the pitch, it's great. I used a few settings with the band the other night and it was great. The synth sits really nicely under the guitars, it's not in-your-face, and the bass guitar sound still pushes through very clearly and nicely. I'm impressed. Going to use it on my next gig on Fri, hopefully can record it and see how it goes.

So far I've not found that sort of thing but I've been digging into the strings synth bits. But this is a synth pedal and not an envelope filter so a dedicated envelope filter might be better for what you need? The SY1 is sensitive to playing dynamics, it behaves differently in different settings but I'm yet to work it out.

Hi there, I went for the MarkBass wedge thingy. It's worked out pretty well. I've only used it in rehearsal so far but my gig on Friday has good PA support so I may use it there so I've only got to take one cab. I wasn't to sure about some of the amp stands, taking the weight and handling the vibrations.

Yowzer. Sold for over £1,400. I know it's old and you don't see many but seriously?! Can you imagine a Squier Bronco you can get for £200 now going for over a grand in 30 years?

Jeez the previous two posts have made me try to find a vomit and crying reaction thingy...

Hi Gaz. Only had mine a while but I like it a lot. Used it with the band first time last night. I think putting a driven signal through it helps on some settings, just roughs up the sound a bit. My signal chain has a Helix Stomp, followed by a Full Boost, then a bass Wah, then the SY1. It is happy at the end of the chain. A bit of chorus going in to it is good on some settings but not all. I've not yet tried the SY1 at the start of the chain.

My bands of recent years have done Weddings and Functions for good fees but also do the pubs because playing two sets in a pub is a doddle in comparison. You play for less time, set up is quick and easy, you can test out new songs, it's fun, you take a lot less money but if you're good people remember you and ask you to do their 50th birthdays, Weddings, etc. Unless they're turning away functions paying fantastic money every week then I don't see why they'd turn their nose up at pub gigs.

I saw Tankus the Henge in the centre of Kingston back when I lived there 2012ish. They were amazing. I've seen lots of originals bands live but they are one that grab your attention and are memorable still 10years later.

Suppose I shouldn't ever mention on Facebook that the only times I've ever depped (3 in total) it's always been for £0. Can't recall even being bought a pint, actually. Still, I enjoyed it and it helped out some friends, and that's why I did it.

That's brilliant.

Yeah that's a bit sad. Surely it's easier to ignore it rather than be rude to the guy, he's just trying to get a dep in.

The real issue I suppose is would you as a dep either be experienced enough to just turn up and play (v experienced player), or have the time to put in to learning a set (different keys, song endings, etc. Time spent depends on experience as a player and of the set list) just for £50?

No, £250-£300 for pubs in Hertfordshire IME.

All pedals are "right handed"... Wait! Let me explain. You input on the right side of the pedal, output to the left so the signal flows right to left, the opposite to how you *should* be reading this. It's just wrong. Also, it means I have to do my wah pedal with the wrong foot. Unless o want lengths and lengths of cable to wire it up so I can lay it out in a way that feels right to me. I think this is because I'm left handed, it seems backwards, though right handers may feel the same? I dunno.

They can't be accused of a Fender rip off... Interesting designs, would be interesting to play one.

I've just hooked up an abandoned expression pedal..... Holy moly. This is fun.

The Desert Penguins play The George in Hoddesdon on Friday 21st January. Expect guitar driven pop, big drum noises, a fantastic singer and frontman, and a left handed bassist.

Interesting one here.... Why do some basses sound much clearer playing harmonics? What is it that REALLY influences good, clear, bell-like harmonics ringing out long loud and clear? Obviously fresh round wound strings help, but I'm hearing big differences between my basses. The clearest of all is my five string fretless. It's wearing stainless steel round wounds but it always sounds good for harmonics even with old flats. Is it the massive rosewood fretboard with no speedbumps, the very stiff maple neck (dual truss rod), the swamp ash body? If P basses don't usually produce good harmonics why did my MIJ Fender P sound so good for them? Alder body, massive thick maple neck, Steve Harris signature SD pickup? Curious as to thoughts on this. Not that I do more than mess about with harmonics but when I play my fretless I just can't help but throw in harmonics a lot because they sound so good on that bass. On my Jack Casady, no chance. My Stingray is just ok for harmonics, it doesn't inspire me to throw them in when I go off on one despite it being my "best built" bass.

Your hat is very much safe.