Skinnyman

[quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1358868255' post='1946289']
I use fender flats on my Rickenfaker. Sounds luvverly.
[/quote]

Fender flats? On a Rick? Is that like, legal?

Interesting idea though - I hadn't even considered Fenders. Do you use the standard gauge? (.045 - .105)

I had the "Flats Epiphany" a couple of weeks ago - LaBella FS's on my SG and every day they're just getting better and better. I only restrung the Rick with rounds just before Christmas (so it's another couple of years till they're due a change, lol) but I'm really tempted to just say s*d it and swap them out for flats. Any recommendations on flats for a 4003? I like the LaBellas but willing to experiment - sounds like Laklands have a lot of fans, but thinking Chromes might suit the Rick better? My BH500 and BC cabs have a VERY strong bottom end so I tend to EQ the bass down and the mids and highs up to compensate and I get the impression that Chromes are quite bright which could help even things out a bit. Anyone used them on a Rick?

I have a little Blackstar practice amp - only one watt but it's a big one - more than loud enough for living room duties - and I also use it for bass when I can't be bothered to get the big rig out. Obviously, I keep the volume down to reasonable levels and cut the low frequencies but it sounds really nice....

Oops - forgot to update this - I pulled the trigger on the B9 (my views on it are elsewhere) which I'm loving to bits... I'm sure the B3 is brilliant (there's a lot of love for it on here) but I'm happy with the B9.

Hmmm. The one you've got [u]should [/u]work.... whether you've just got a dodgy unit (sorry, but at £4 I can't see QC being that high a priority) or there's a more fundamental issue is hard to say. What operating system are you running? And, stupid question, but have you tried swapping the MIDI plugs over? The MIDI IN plug should go to the MIDI OUT port on the B9 and vice versa which is counter intuitive to say the least!

Apologies if this is all basic stuff you've already checked but....

When you say it doesn't work, what happens when you try to start it up? Have you set the MIDI parameters in the Librarian software? Mine defaulted to MS Wavetable and I needed to select the MIDI port for my interface. And do you have any other MIDI units that you can try the lead with to rule that out (or in) as the issue?

I got the M Audio UNO MIDI - USB interface for £20 from DV247 which arrived today - plugged in and worked straight out the box with no issues. The only minor gripe I have is with the Librarian software which crashes on exit - I've read somewhere that this is a known issue (sorry, "undocumented feature") running Windows 7 64 bit. It's not a major problem - I just have to make sure that I save any patches I've edited back to the B9 before I exit.

I agree with you though - this is a keeper. I'm not sure I'll use the wilder effects in a live situation (that said, we don't have a keyboard player so I can see the synths being quite useful from time to time to add a bit of atmosphere) but I like the flexibility and, used discreetly, it'll allow me to tailor a sound to match the wide range of covers we do. Just as importantly, I can see this adding a whole new dimension to recordings.

I'm currently playing around with the Live Sound1 patch to tailor it for my gear/playing style and see if I can also add in the PedalSynth (see above for comments re lack of keyboardist) - I need to try it at rehearsal but once I have that set up, I can see it being the go-to patch I use for the majority of live stuff

Agreed. I've noticed that there's even a big difference between playing through an amp and cab versus headphones or through the Audio Interface into Sonar. Some effects work in one environment but not others and vice versa.

I've got what I think are some reasonable patches but I fully expect to have to fine tune them at rehearsals - but at least I have a start point. I'm also wondering how usable the stereo effects will be live unless I put the unit through FOH so that's something else to try in rehearsal - but again, I have an idea of the ones I want to try out.

Really, my point in posting was to share my experiences in the hope that it might give a quick start to those who are thinking of getting one of these and maybe getting put off by the "it's very complicated" discussions. Or those just opening the manual for the first time and facing the hump that we've all had to climb for ourselves! There's a lot of useful discussion on this and several other forums about the unit but I wasn't able to find anything anywhere that would have helped me get the concepts straight in my head before I powered up......

I spent a good afternoon with this today and here's a few thoughts in no particular order which may answer some of jimwin's questions...

1) Like so many pieces of kit these days, the manual is really good - if you know how the unit works and just want it as a reference manual. What's missing (and this isn't just Zoom, I find it with almost everything these days) is the Concepts guide that talks you through the basic principles of operation so you can get your head around the approach they've taken.

2) Once you've sussed the above, it's fantastic!

3) Some of the effects, especially the synth-based "special effects" are stereo and, while they work ok through an amp and cab, they really sound best through a stereo output. Not a criticism, just an observation - don't expect the stereo chorus or synth sounds to be at their best without a two channel output. They work brilliantly for recording though!

4) "Play" mode and "Manual" mode are, at first, quite confusing terms - I think of "Play" mode as "Select" mode in that it allows you to quickly navigate to the bank you want. "Manual" mode I think of as "Performance" mode - once you've found the patch you want, you hit F2 (in most patches anyway) and now you have the relevant effects loaded into the individual footswitches and you're good to go. Once I'd sussed this (and maybe it's obvious to everyone else but it took me a while. I am a bear of little brain...), it became much easier to use!

5) Yes, there are loads of patches and lots of parameters to fiddle with but my view is that each patch represents a "virtual" pedalboard that you can configure for your own performance - and to get you started, they've set up a bunch of them so you can find one close to what you want and then fine tune it for yourself. Once I've set up two or three patches, I have, in essence, two or three different pedalboards that I can swap between during a gig for specific songs. Once I have this set up, I don't really envisage making many more changes unless we add more songs to the setlist of I'm doing something a bit different for a recording project. Again, once I'd got my head round this idea, stopped trying to get to grips with all of the parameters that could be changed and instead picked some patches that I liked, modified them and then set them up close together in a user bank the whole unit became much easier to use.

So, in summary, my main criticism is that the manual is missing a "Basic Principles" section but once you've sussed the above, it's a phenomenal piece of kit and I can see myself using it a lot....

Of course, this is only my experience - everyone's different and will have different needs - but if you're as cinfused as I intially was and trying to make sense of it all, I hope the above helps in a small way.

Enjoy

Wasn't going to say a word....

There's a rubbery pad under the pedal and I'm wondering if on some units, this gets squished too far in shipping (given that the unit comes from Japan with the pedal in the fully down position) Anyway, I've taken a leaf out of Jaybass' book and stuck a small rubberised washer onto the existing pad and it now works perfectly. The only minor gripe I have is that the function switches 1-3 are assigned differently in different patches - but there's nothing in the reference docs to say what they're assigned to for each patch. Hopefully, that'll become easier to work out when I have the Librarian software working properly. My current thinking is that I'll end up with a few user patches that I've created for specific songs or groups of songs and then just swap between these as needed. So my current occupation is going through each of the songs in our setlist and working out whether they'd benefit from any effects above and beyond the raw sound of the bass and amp and, for those that do, what kind of effects will work best. It's great having a unit like this that will give me loads of effects - but I also think these things are most effective when used sparingly. Just because I can have a stack of overdrive, a ton of delay and a big fat chorus on every song doesn't mean I should, right?

Off to play some more now.....

Thanks for that - the main thing is that it seems like it's not me going crazy.....I've emailed Zoom support although I'm not anticpating a speedy reply, if at all - but if they do respond, I'll update here.

Got a MIDI interface on order so I'll have a crack at the Librarian software next week and see how that goes - fortunately, I've now got all weekend to play with the board and see properly what it can do.

Cheers!

[quote name='pete.young' timestamp='1358448836' post='1939474']
Mine has just gone back because of a dead PSU, but before it went I also discovered this switch. It won't switch by hand, but if you are standing on the foot pedal and put some body weight on it, it switches just fine.
[/quote]

Interesting - on mine there is no way that you can press this with the expression pedal - the bump stops prevent it going down. I'm surprised Zoom QC is that variable....I'm wondering if they've deliberately "disarmed" the switch for some reason

Jaybass - the rubber stop sounds like a neat idea - I wonder if there's meant to be one in place from factory? Did you use the Editor Librarian software to change the function?

I've just bought myself a Zoom B9 (at the price GAK are offering them, I just couldn't say no....)

It's taken me an afternoon of playing with it to get my head round it but I'm getting there - and so far, I'm very impressed. It seems to do everything I wanted an FX unit to do and quite a few other things besides.

However, I can't decide if I've missed something in the manual, if I'm going crazy or if this is just a really odd feature....

Underneath the "toe" end of the expression pedal, there's a push-switch, identical to all the other footswitches. From the placement, it looks like it should be activated when the pedal reaches the full extent of its travel - but there's no way that the pedal can ever be pushed down far enough to actually activate the switch owing to the two bump stops on the bottom of the pedal. There's a soft rubber pad on the bottom of the pedal directly over the switch that looks like it's there to cushion the activation - but it's too shallow to actually make any contact.

I've tried pressing the switch manually but it doesn't appear to do anything. There's no reference to it in the manual that I can see (although, I could easily have missed it).

So it appears that they've gone to the trouble of fitting a switch that can never be pressed and which has no apparent function.

Has anyone else noticed this? Have I missed something really obvious? Is there a key piece missing from my unit that would magically allow the button to be activated? Or am I just going crazy?

As it stands, I'm not that bothered- the unit seems to work fine - I'm just intrigued as to what this thing is there for and what it might do....

I'm thinking of getting a multi-fx unit and was initially attracted to the Vox Stomplab, largely on the grounds of price. But then I'm also looking at the Zoom B3 and wondering whether it's worth the extra. I have a Zoom R24 recorder/audio interface which I think is brilliant so I'm a fan of Zoom kit....but do I really need to spend the extra on a B3?

I've had a Digitech unit which, to be honest, did very little for me - I found it a pain to use and wasn't that enamoured with the sounds I got.

I'm not too bothered about the DI or Audio Interface capability or a looper (although they're nice-to-haves). This is primarily something to use when gigging so I'm also not too bothered about cab simulation - I just like the idea of having one box that contains a stack of separate "pedals" from which I can quickly and easily select a couple to use in specific situations. The main fx I can see a use for are chorus, delay, a Big Muff soundalike and possibly something to give a little overdrive/valve tone - but not all at the same time. Ease of use is a big factor for me - once I've played around with parameters and got a sound I like, I want to be able to call it up again quickly and easily without having to tap like Fred Astaire on speed....

right now, I'm leaning towards the B3as I'm pretty sure it will do what I want but it could be overkills so if anyone with experience of the Stomplab can tell me whether the Vox will do the job I'm after, then I'm hapy to go with it and save myself a stack of cash.....

I've read good things about the B3 - people who have them seem to love them - not a lot as yet about the Stomplab so I'd like to know if anyone has used both of these units and what were your impressions?

Bumped. Price reduced to £150 prior to putting it on fleaBay

In case anyone's interested, I stuck a pair of LaBella flats on the SG today. Wow. What a difference! I love it - this is just what I've been searching for. Of course, the acid test will be to see how it sounds when I gig with it up against two (loud) guitarists - but first impressions are really good.

As thing's stand, I've just saved myself the cost of a precision.

Which is not to say I won't get a Precision but that's only because you can't have enough basses - and I really miss the Squier fretless I sold a couple of years ago in a fit of madness....

But for now, I'm loving the LaBellas

[quote name='fender73' timestamp='1357826249' post='1929032']
Squier Classic Vibe P-Bass. #simples
[/quote]

That suggestion wouldn't have anything to do with the fact your sig says you have one for sale, would it?

Actually, it's a good thought - I tried one in a shop yesterday alongside a Mexican FSR and was very impressed - I thought it was every bit as good, if not better, than the FSR.

At this stage, I'm just trying to get a shortlist together before I start looking seriously - and let's face it, this is half the fun!!

That said, is your CV listed on here?

I'd ruled out Fret King on the grounds of price but the Fret King sounds interesting. I'll do a quick search of the forums and try to find out more....

Thanks!

Thanks all....linteresting how the consensus is for the Japanese P-bass rather than a Mexican. Any other suggestions for a decent P-bass copy?

It's not that I don't like the SG - I just don't think it's sonically different enough from the Ric so Paul's suggestion of sticking a set of flats on it to see what they sound like has a lot going for it. So my next question - what flats would you suggest? ~I'm thinking about LaBellas but they seem to be hard to get hold of in short scale.

Sorry if this seems like a dumb topic to raise but I have a bit of a dilemma and I'd like to pick a few brains because mine is over-tired....

I have a Ric 4003 which I love. Perfectly happy with it, don't want to change.

However....

Last year I did my shoulder in and just couldn't stretch my left arm properly, to the extent that the weight and size of the Ric pretty much killed me every gig.

So I bought a lovely little SG standard bass - light weight, short scale - which was a perfect solution while the cortizone kicked in.

But now I have a dilemma. I've gone back to the Ric as my "main" bass and just drag the SG along to gigs as a spare (which seems like a waste of a really good bass in many ways). I'd play it more but it doesn't do anything that the Ric doesn't - this may sound stupid, but it's just not "different" enough.

However, there are times when I'd really like to get a nice smooth, mellow kind of a sound so I'm thinking of going with flatwounds and I'm wondering whether to put a set of flats on the SG or whether to sell the SG and get a P-bass (MIM,or one of the VM Squiers - any other suggestions?) and stick a set of flats on that.

So my question is - what would you do? Will flats mellow out the SG? Anyone tried that combination? Or what else would you suggest? P-bass? Alternatives? Bearing in mind I should get about 400 - 450 for the SG, I'm looking to get something at the same price - something used for preference.

Thanks!!

[IMG]http://i46.tinypic.com/2lkcplc.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i50.tinypic.com/300tfzm.jpg[/IMG]

I'm selling one of my BC212 cabs. Its in excellent condition - working perfectly with a minor scuff on the protective metal plate on one corner and some scuff marks to the vinyl covering on the top of the cab where they've been stacked (pics to follow when I've worked out how to upload them!!). The cover is a Roqsolid cover, black vinyl outer with red binding and a felt lining.

I got the rig a couple of months ago and have gigged with it about three times - Ive been so impressed that Ive just bought the 410 cabinet which I'll couple with my other 212 but that leaves me with a 212 spare - hence I'm selling it.

If you already have a BH500 and a couple of the twin cabs, this will go perfectly with them and give you a HUGE sound (TC Electronic say that you can put up to three of the 8 ohm cabs with the BH500).

A quick Google search says that typical retail on these is £265 and the covers are £40 so I'm looking for offers around the £175 mark. I'm near Peterborough and would prefer not to post the cab. You can either collect from me (in which case you can check that all is in order before handing over the cash - plus, you can take your pick of the two cabs) or I'm happy to travel a bit to meet up and /or deliver.

[quote name='Chris Horton' timestamp='1349905530' post='1832216']
Welcome

The Phil jones gear looks great,
I have never been able to try any of the range out yet
It's on my wish list to play

Anyway ........
Hello , and welcome to BC
[/quote]

Thank you - and I heartily recommend the Phil Jones stuff. The build quality is excellent and the sound is really clean - it doesn't suit everyone but I if you get a chance, you should give it a go!

PM'd. Very interested....

[quote]not too many Gibson EB1 players around these days. Is yours the late 60s reissue?
[/quote]

Whoops. Not an EB1 at all. SG Standard. Sorry....I'm easily confused.

[quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1349792054' post='1830592']
A band where you can make the drummer turn down?! Excellent idea

Welcome
[/quote]

Isn't it? Of course, he can only hear what we choose to send to his monitor, so he thinks he's really loud....

The big challenge is the second guitarist who hasn't got the hang of turning knobs anti-clockwise yet and gets progressively more painful through the course of a gig. Problem solved temporarily by the singer threatening to give him a Telecaster enema but I doubt it'll last.

thanks to all for the warm welcome!