ped

I saw this very unusual really pale green FX25 for sale and jumped on it. I had one like this which was a bit older and a darker green which I didn't like much, so it made perfect sense to buy one(!) Happy to report that this 1983 model has all the quack and rubbery feel of the sparkle version, but it's easier to 'overdrive' the low end (and by that Mean push the filter into a fat burpy warble).

I think everyone needs at least a P, J and MM in their collection, as an acknowledgement of the story of our instrument over time as well as for changing things up and keeping them fresh. I very much have a ‘go to’ but sometimes play one of the others for weeks on end before getting a craving for the other. Every time it feels like getting a new bass! Of course if you don’t have the space or need to free up the cash that’s a different story and it’s kind of nice just having one bass, too.

You’d be better off buying a 400+

Sorry I didn’t mean not we’ll recorded in that way, the audio is clear and sounds fine, but the slapping examples could use some compression/limiting because they top out and make the comparison of the finer characteristics a bit harder to hear. I get that’s not the point of the video though but it might help you make the point. No offence intended, I like all your vids!

I'm pretty sure you can order them with the normal headstock now, direct or through a dealer. I think. @Ricky Rioli might know?

You could try a G&L Kiloton bass (although you might not like the headstock if you don't like Sandberg. I don't know if they ever made them with the normal headstock but guess not as they are a more recent design I think)

Meanwhile I also enjoy popping a G string at my desk and honing in on every aspect of the sound to a minute degree until its perfect 😆 The ONLY consideration in my book is 'do you have fun'

Thanks!

The cover photo displays in your profile page. Your avatar is separate and can be uploaded in the same way in your profile page.

Weird - I searched 'as you' and it came back fine...

Got a link? I might get one as a spare

Odd is right - it does one thing, but when it likes the instrument going into it, it does that thing well! PersonallyI like having both trim pots as low as they go and it sounds like a phaser with a bit of a rough edge. I went back to my actual phaser afterwards and couldn't hear it as well.

Me too - it's weird, somehow it just worked yesterday. It actually came up after the keys player was trying out some sounds on his awesome rubberised keyboard synth (Roli Seaboard?) and I thought 'that sounds like the baseballs' - I dug mine out and it was really similar. I've had difficulty getting my other envelope filters to sound their best on a P with flats, so I kind of assumed that there was something about flats that didn't 'envelope' well - but the baseballs just works really evenly and with girth and poise across all the strings. A video would be interesting to see some comparison. Even though the variables are magnified especially with an envelope filter, it would be good to hear how it sounds alongside the USA pedal in state same hands. Thanks. I'll post a wanted ad for a Russian version shortly...

Looks brilliant. Great colour combo what strings are you using on it? Lots of fun to be had experimenting!

I think it might help, but there’s no getting away from the influence of pickup location. The lightbulb moment for me was when I was playing with the ‘virtual pickups’ on the Roland VB99. Basically you can use it to place pickups anywhere on the bass body and choose type, phase and all sorts. There are some basic models built in (60s and 70s placement included) but upon building my own and manually shifting the rear pickup it was immediately apparent how moving it back further gave that sledgy bite to the sound. Before that I honestly thought it was down to the pickup type. I sold all my 60s spacers (although I do like them still) in favour of the wider spacing and haven’t looked back. Since then I’ve watched millions of YT videos and the difference is always apparent (there are quite a few comparison vids out there - sadowsky did one with a back pickup which switches between the two locations which is pretty clear too.

Yeah I do, thanks - Always handy to have around.

Yeah I’ve heard they sound really good and it’s nice and small. Wish it took a battery though

Its one of those things - basses and effects come and go, and now and then you try a combo that just works. For example my FunkULator sounds amazing with one bass but just doesn’t suit another. Good thing is they’re cheap!

Hi guys Had a band jam today and I took my Bassballs pedal as I haven’t used it in a while. It sounded amazing with my passive P. Growly, full and syrupy. I’ve modified the frequency pots a while ago and it just felt like the range was bang on. It started to sound like a phaser without losing any ‘balls’. It’s one of those things that sounds great live for some reason. I had an old 80s version a while back with ‘elephant skin’ texture side and back panel. The one I have now is more of a matte finish. Is the Russian version worth trying out? Some people seem to think it’s a bit harsher sounding. I’ve also seen some green paint versions. Any experience with those? Cheers

Cheers! Yes it does have a nice raspy sound. The difference is in the upper range - slightly more honky on a 60s. The best example I have of a 70s slap sound is in my bass comparison video. That said, for a long time I bought and sold lots of jazz basses looking for that elusive sound - swapped pickups and all sorts. But as soon as I tried the 70s spacing the penny dropped

Let’s hear it! There’s something unmistakeable about 70s spacing slap sound that you can’t do with 60s. It’s like trying to get a Stingray to sound like a Precision

I haven’t yet - I think I need to change the heating element but was hoping to put it off for a while. Unfortunately the part arrived this morning even though I chose super slow postage 🤦🏻‍♂️

I showed my wife and she said have you fixed the oven yet

Anyone is welcome to come and show me how to play my basses! I’m just outside York so if you’re in the ‘hood’ let me know!