Lfalex v1.1

Quite outside of the band, the thing that struck me about the audition footage was how under-rehearsed some of the bassists seemed. Trujillo being the notable exception. I believe that I read that Newsted learned the entire back-catalogue before he applied. Best bassist for Metallica? Cliff. For no reason other than that he had the respect of the rest of the band, and could rein in James and Lars when necessary.

I've no experience of the Stingray version of events, though I DO own 2 basses with piezo bridges. I was concerned that the SR might not be a full-range piezo (such that it covers only the higher frequencies), but according to TB, it is full-range. I've found full-range piezo pickups to be a useful addition. Not entirely necessary, but nice to have. Some designs are built around them; •Many EUBs and Acoustic basses. •The Ibanez Affirma and EDA series, which mix magnetic and piezo. They certainly work. My NS5 CR EUB has the potential to sound massive if required, yet humble if not. The Ibanez EDA is intriguing because of its adjustability. There's an ability to adjust the piezo bass and treble independently of magnetic EQ. The controls of the Stingray (vol,pan, B,M,T) suggest this isn't the case. Furthermore, the 'Ray has a strong sonic identity. Does it need a piezo? The piezo component has the potential to sound more airy and "acoustic-like" Is that what you need from the bass?

As requested! ZoomB3 doing Tremelo, Chorus and Reverb duties to good effect.

Yamaha SBV. Because.... well, why not?

After some further messing around, I've found that sacrificing "stereo" for mono and using a valve preamp pedal for just the slightest bit of drive really helps some of the duller patches come to life. I've also pressed my Zoom B3 back into action for Reverb, Delay and modulation fx duties. That's proven to be similarly interesting, but it'd be great to have a user-definable stereo "fx loop" to which a given sound could be assigned, subjected to various FX, then blended back into the overall mix. I guess you just buy a more expensive keyboard with onboard fx. Or a second keyboard.... GAS. Is it like this for all instruments?

Dart 3? If it's like Tony Levin's 3 string Ray, count me in! If not, then Meh! 🙃 Ooh...Can I have the (non-existent) 3 string Ray in Kiwi w/ black hardware..

I'll have a Bongo 4HH in Kiwi Green, please. Black Hardware, of course.

How else will they get that "Weak G"? 🙃

In an attempt to diversify a little, I purchased a Roland GO:Keys61. Well. It would be 61 keys. Because they don't do a 76 or 88... I have, of course, taken to it like a fish to air, with my embarrassment only being spared by judicious use of a headphone socket. The keys are nice, it's solid and functional enough, and I'm sure I've barely scratched the surface of what it can do. Nonetheless, there a degree of tactile response and immediacy that's lacking compared to bass guitar, and I don't think that weighted keys would address that. Furthermore, it feels like they've held back all the quality tones and sounds for the better models (Juno, Jupiter, Fantom etc.) Have I been spoiled by too much contact with good basses, I wonder?!

Well said. Therein lies the real danger.

Interesting how the grain patterns are so very similar. Are the images photoshops or are the tops photoflames, I wonder? I'll have a look for more (different) images.

A NUX Mighty Plug or similar and decent headphones is great for such things. I've been known to try out instruments in Cash Converters etc. with it, much to people's bemusement.

I'm fairly sure it'll not be an issue, but I'd like to try a keyboard amplified through my head/cab. My understanding of such things is that it ought comfortably to withstand it. I'll be running it via my Zoom B3 as it has provision for better reverb control, delay and a limited HPF facility. I realise that the keyboard out will be line level, and therefore "hot", but that can be addressed via its own volume control, and I'll wind the gain up gently. I don't intend to play LF sine waves through it for hours on end, and overall levels should be modest at most. I've not missed anything important, have I? For reference, the equipment is keyboard >> Zoom B3 >> Markbass CS450 >> Schroeder 21012L. Thanks again in advance.

I recently used the DI out from my Two Notes Le Bass preamp for a bit of recording work with a band. I engaged the cab sim that it offers, settled on a tone that I liked and just got in with it. What came out the other end was most gratifying. I used my head/cab for monitoring on that occasion.

Quite apart from judicious use of the master volume control, some sort of compression and possibly an HPF (or something that acts like one) can be a worthwhile addition. Tames nasty peaks, and prevents unwanted low frequencies that the cab can't reproduce from making it past the HPF.

(on Reddit) r/bass Is ok for general info. r/basscirclejerk Can be quite funny, is frequently irreverent. And often rather rude. You have been warned! ⚠️

Nice to hear positive feedback on retailers, but I've never been to Peach Guitars in spite of driving past it quite frequently. The whole appointment thing is just an absolute deal-breaker for me. What if I want to just pop in and grab some strings, have a look for a strap or maybe grab a couple of patch cables? Or even just browse some instruments. If it is a response to a major theft, it's understandable, but I still find it off-putting. They're not the only retailer I avoid because of a policy like this.

Thanks for that @tauzero I'll give it a go!

I have a Zoom B3, and have (whilst rummaging) found a Roland EV-5 expression pedal. It has the "usual" ¼" TRS jack on the (fixed) lead. Before I take the nuclear option and just try connecting them, does anyone have any experience of their inter- compatibility? Is there anything else I need to watch out for? (An Internet search or 3 has yielded nothing, btw) Thanks in advance!

If it's what you want (and it sounds like it is), the relief will be tangible when you're done. It was for me when I realised I didn't have to go to the browbeatings that "band practice" swiftly became. Personally, I'm not selling up. I've started to enjoy playing again. But you've got to do what's right for you.

I used the configurator. $600. Nice spec, though. Roughly what MM would use; AAA Bird's eye Maple. Ebony board. No lines or front dots. Considering that you've then got to do the dirty work at the headstock end yourself, that's quite expensive.

Almost definitely. There's an outside chance you might be able to source an original fretted neck more easily than a fretless, should you wish to do so.

Theoretically You could get a neck made with a different profile, nut width and headstock design that just so happened to fit in the neck pocket of the said Musicman. Finding a luthier willing to do it is potentially challenging. The cost might prove to be equally challenging.

For everything else, there's the older MM designs. Oh. And G&L...

@NAS Bass Thanks for reminding me of Graham Maby and Carol Kaye. Omitted from my list for sure. Carol Kaye's playing on the Dirty Harry opening section.... amazing. Given that it was sight-read.... doubly so.