bassmayhem

I use four outlets from a Cioks DC7 connected in a parallel chain with their "link cables" feeding the Anagram 2A at 12V. You could do 2A at 9V too, but since the Anagram can use both, I prefer 12V. 2A is enough.

Today I got a response from them: "Hey Roger, Thank you for checking in and I hope you are well. After some testing we have verified that the Luminal block is working and there is no bug causing a malfunction. If you would like an aggressive compression with the FET compressor and especially if you are using a potentially low output bass, an additional boost with a Gain block or another one of preference might be needed before the compressor, in addition to turning up the Input control setting. Can you please verify if that is the case?" Well, I ain't that pleased with the answer. The BUS Compressor works fine in comparison, but the need of an extra gain stage, stealing place in the signal chain, just to bump up the signal so the input in the Hyper Luminal will work well feels a bit unnecessary. They could trim the input gain control on the compressor block and save some space. I got an answer. Or - we all got an answer, since it wasn't me who brought up the matter in the first place. And - I don't want an aggressive compression; I want compression. I think I'll stick to the BUS Compressor; it makes what I want it to do...

I got a reply from Darkglass concerning the bug: "Hey Roger, Thank you for contacting us and we hope you are doing well. This issue was brought to our attention and we are currently investigating the situation. As soon as we have further information on this matter, rest assured we will provide an update as soon as possible. We appreciate your patience."

No response so far concerning the bug in the Hyper Luminal Compressor block. More voices need to be heard, maybe...

I contacted Support. They use to be swift fixing bugs...

Changed it.

I gain nothing; just do Johan a favour. But I always appreciate a good luck wish. I haven't tried the basses myself; Johan lives in the south of Sweden, and we meet maybe once a year. I own three non PureArt Unicorns myself, but they are a different species. Johan has specified the PureArt after his own preferences: 30" scale and 17 mm spacing. I prefer 34" and up, and 18-19 mm spacing. So no PureArt for me.

My friend Johan Sievert has a joint venture with Unicorn Basses here in Sweden, who builds a nice model only obtainable through Johan's company Basstraders (basstradersweden.com) They release a new five string model - they had only six string basses before - and Johan asked me if I would be so kind to spread the word. "For anyone who comes through your posts I give them 10 % discount before I sell the basses on Reverb..." I won't get anything, only the buyer. Anyway, I've spread the word. If I break any rule, just delete the post, otherwise enjoy the video. Here is the link:

I tried to use the GAIN block to drive the AMP block, but it only resulted in "same but louder", not like an amp at breakup. I only use the gain stage to match my different basses output signals to the Anagram, by making three similar presets (on each bank) with unity gain, -9 dB and +9 dB for the different basses. The block HARMONIC BOOSTER is also very useful to get a nice tone. It really enhances what comes after. I start my chain: Gain - Harmonic Booster - Vintage Microtubes - Peggy Bass... all other stuff on scenes ... BUS Compressor and finishes off with an IR B15 cab from Shift Line. I also put a high pass filter at the end at ~60 Hz just to not make PA guy cry... Well, I do not really care HOW to get a tone that I want; the main thing is that I get the tone I want. Many modelers have "gain stages", but they tend to just sound harsh and kind of trashy in my ears when overdriven. The way I do it gives me the tone most similar to a tube amp - Ampeg or other - without using a tube amp. I have an Ashdown CTM-100 with a H&K Quantum 810 in the rehearsing room; it NEVER leaves the place. I get almost the same creamy-ish kind of tone out of the Anagram into my clean micro rigs and/or PA and studio monitors. I also put the BUS compressor block at the end of the signal chain so I can play with the dynamics into the tone shaping blocks at the beginning. This will surely be a long thread...

The use of an overdrive in front of the amp block is what make it break up. I don't drive that too hard, just to get some hair on the tone. It sounds very good; not at all that harsh or "crackled" than many other modelers sound when raising the gain on the amp block. It makes it for me, anyhow. I sold the Quad Cortex, I sold the Helix, I sold the HX Stomp XL. This one sounds so much better to my ears. Not at all as competent as QC, but I prefer tone and simplicity.

Well, I do not drive it extremely, just to get it creamy. I don't fancy distorted bass that much. Just a bit of attitude.

The SVT amp model is clean, but with all the SVT's tonal DNA. The remedy is to put one of the overdrive blocks in front of the amp block and just hotten things up a bit. There is also a gain stage block, but I haven't tried that to drive the SVT block. Anyway, it sounds way better than all SVT modeling devices I've tried so far. I also downloaded and installed the free IR's from ShiftLine; their B15 cab simulation is my favourite so far. It gives that creamy tone I associate to old school cabs. I used it on the Quad Cortex and HX Stomp too. I sold them; one was too complicated for a guy like me, the other was a bit outdated and felt like a modeler. This one feels and sounds like the real deal. So far I have made six presets (with scenes) based on the Noble preamp, the SVT and Gallien Krueger modelings. The poly octaver and envelope sound very good; all different octavers track very well. Chorus and flanger too. Better than on the other modelers I've used. Also I try to tweak all presets to unity level. I set a bus compressor at the end of the dynamic blocks, only leaving the delay/reverb and speaker sim's after.

Ooops! It is smaller than I expected... My compressor as comparison...

I all of a sudden stumbled over yet another Unicorn. I got that one in a trade, though. I actually got two basses in that deal. The Unicorn is a 10th anniversary, one of ten made. 32" scale and four band eq. My three Unicorns are totally different animals due to the custom building process. My main bass, my BRG Purist, is the "muscle bass" - a lot of attitude. The White Gem is like a very elegant Jazz Bass. The 32", kind of faded jeans coloured one, is the most "Alembic-ish" in tone of them all. The other bass I got the same day was a nice Gibson Memphis ES Les Paul short scale bass from 2017.

I've never tried a real Fodera, but this bass is a really good bass; well built, fun to play and sounds good. We have an expression in Swedish; furniture bass (möbelbas). This one is in that category. I got a wall of them now...

I just couldn't let this one pass. On profit or loss I bought a bass just because I liked the look of it. Not an original, but a copy(!) of another bass. The original is the Fodera Imperial - out of reach for most of us, at least for me - and this is a copy built by the Ukrainian luthier Stas Potokilo (or Potokylo) some years ago. He used to work at Fodera. I got it really cheap, didn't really plan to buy another bass, but you know the nature of bass players... (I sold a lot of stuff, just so you don't think my middle name is Musk... ) It arrived nicely and well packaged, took a while to get inside the wrapping, but what was in the cocoon was a really nice bass. New strings and a setup to my liking and we were ready to go. I used it yesterday at the school's Christmas party in the church in the village where I work.

Front and back against an ugly wall...

I have promised not to tell what I paid. But they ain't cheap. I bought this second hand so I got it at a very good price. Think Wal, Smith and basses like these. All wood is ecologically sustainable, as are glue and varnish. That's the Unicorn principle. All the instruments and speaker cabinets he builds are signed by Christian. Check the web site for info. https://www.unicornbass.se/

Check some of his recent builds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2Sfp2bYy0w&t=25s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AM3G8t-mP5Q Christian makes magic...

One for each situation.

Yesterday I bought a very nice 6 string Unicorn Artist. This is the third Unicorn for me; the first - a 32" four string - I sold to a friend. The 32" was not for me. My second was, or is, my jolly green giant, the five string in British Racing Green. This one is the most flamboyant of all basses I've ever had. Lots and lots of different wood species. The best thing is, it is solid as a rock, sounds like a HUGE Jazz Bass in my hands, and really demands me to wear a tuxedo... Anyway, I like it!