Dood

John Deacon!

I think the Zoom B3N sounds like it's going to be quite a contender when it drops next month. I'll do my best to get my hands on one to try out and report back.

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1487759760' post='3242458'] Dunno... he needs a haircut. But it sounds pretty good [/quote] I think he's going to have one, a full on chop.

The BxK and Vintage models are two different types of drive and there are a number of 'updates' shall we say for each model. For example Vintage Microtubes - Vintage Deluxe - Vintage Deluxe II - Vintage Ultra. Each in turn have an enhanced feature set, but essentially start with a similar voice. It's similar for the BxK range too. The B3K doesn't have the full EQ section that the B7K does and the Ultra version is the latest update of the B7K, if that makes sense. Like the MXR M80, if you turn off the drive section, the EQ (preamp) sections of the B7K, Deluxe and Ultra versions are all still running. You'll only switch that off if you disengage the pedal completely. Having a B7KU and a VM would probably be a really nice mix, though I'd be tempted to put a B3K in front of the Vintage Ultra, simply because I would kinda set the VMU to be my 'amp on the edge of break up' all of the time, then use the B3K or similar to push it over the edge. Ultimately, I've not tried both ways round and the only way for knowing what works for you is to try it out. I know that's not going to be easy unless you can get to somewhere like Bass Direct and try out all four!

I like this guy. He seems like fun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Im0ZWHwaFHA

There's some tasty examples there. I'm reading it right, the non-relic'd types are $200?

It's this minefield of scams and 'dodgy' eBayers surrounded by red tape that doesn't really protect the seller that has put me off listing anything for sale on eBay. Last time I did, a guy broke the amp I sold him and then tried to get me to pay for the repair. Never again!

Seek out an enthusiastic teacher! Find someone who really loves their instrument and is excited about teaching you the dry stuff in an informative and engaging way. Just recently a student told me that she'd manage to learn more about theory in one hour than in six lessons of extra school coaching!

[quote name='TrevorR' timestamp='1487533305' post='3240577'] I've often wondered about this. I've always used bronze or phosphor bronze strings on an acoustic bass for either acoustic or piezo pickup playing. This has been on the basis that I've known a few acoustic guitar players who have used steel or nickel strings on their 6string acoustics and they have without exception sounded absolutely awful either acoustically or electrically. [/quote] It seems that enough people wanted them that D'Addario managed to find a way to make that happen without the issues associated with using 'normal electric strings'.

[quote name='Kevin Dean' timestamp='1487512661' post='3240326'] I have my suspicions , I'm going mount a camera above his amp [/quote] Know any farmers? An electric fence will be of use round the amp controls too

[quote name='T-Bay' timestamp='1487455656' post='3240005'] Thanks :-) [/quote] Pleasure! Sorry for rail-roading the topic a bit!

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1487454993' post='3239994'] it is odd isn't it - I wonder how influenced we are by American forums and press that the US versions of our luthiers are revered but ours less so. Some of it is the size of marked I guess - [b]but if I compared Sei to Fodera, or overwater to sadowsky would I find a massive difference in the end product?[/b] [/quote] Having compared, the answer is no. We have some ASTOUNDING talent over here in the UK. That said, like the US, I am sure we have plenty who are also over-hyped too.

[quote name='T-Bay' timestamp='1487446996' post='3239920'] Do you know if they work well with the pickups on electro acoustics? I have been after some decent strings for mine. [/quote] Yes, mine is an electro with a Fishman system. I'd expect it to anyway as piezo pickups work on vibration rather than the material that the string is made from.

[quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1487446064' post='3239908'] Nah, but they're not 18,000 good old British Valve or Trace watts [/quote] Ha ha ha!!! Ahhh yes, those heady aromas of smoke filled venues where sweat condensation dripped back down on to our heads under hot lights and people went home with mild tinnitus after a night out. Those British Valve Watts... Now, where are my IEMs?

Slightly related to the topic, 'the other way round', has anyone tried the Nickel Bronze Acoustic Guitar strings from D'Addario? These: http://daddario.com/DADProductFamily.Page?ActiveID=3768&familyid=150 I've got them on my Faith acoustic here. They are (of course) Nickel outer wrap rather than the all familiar Bronze acoustic strings. I gotta say, I *really* like them.

[quote name='markstuk' timestamp='1487419250' post='3239643'] But do they have hefty thumpiness? [/quote] [quote][color=#575756][font=HelveticaCondensed, Arial, sans-serif]The [/font][/color][b]K20[/b][color=#575756][font=HelveticaCondensed, Arial, sans-serif] impresses with up to [b]18,000 W[/b] in a single rack space, making it probably the most powerful amplifier at its size, and definitely the most powerful model within the K Series, the most advanced line of power amplifiers from Powersoft. [/font][/color][color=#575756][font=HelveticaCondensed, Arial, sans-serif] [b]Ideal for subwoofers[/b] requiring relatively high continuous power and ample headroom, the K20 is the unique result of smart design, attention to sound quality, and extremely high efficiency with reliability, portability, and adaptability in mind.[/font][/color][color=#575756][font=HelveticaCondensed, Arial, sans-serif] In use worldwide by leading touring and event sound companies, K Series is preferred among the top ranking system designers, sound engineers, and system techs on the road for making their lives easier, giving them reliable premier-grade power and headroom in the smallest possible package size.[/font][/color] [color=#575756][font=HelveticaCondensed, Arial, sans-serif]Fully digitally controlled and with a serial PC communication port as standard, the K20 is also available with KDSP board and KAESOP Ethernet/AES3 interface: the [/font][/color][b]K20 DSP+AESOP[/b][color=#575756][font=HelveticaCondensed, Arial, sans-serif] amounts to a fully integrated, highly sophisticated yet easy to use power source including state-of-the-art sound shaping and system management capabilities, remotely controllable via Powersoft's [/font][/color][url="http://www.powersoft-audio.com/software/armonia-pro-audio-suite"]Armonía Pro Audio Suite™[/url][color=#575756][font=HelveticaCondensed, Arial, sans-serif] (Interface available for [/font][/color][url="http://www.powersoft-audio.com/software/plug-ins-nware"]MediaMatrix[/url][color=#575756][font=HelveticaCondensed, Arial, sans-serif], [/font][/color][url="http://www.powersoft-audio.com/software/macros-crestron"]Crestron[/url][color=#575756][font=HelveticaCondensed, Arial, sans-serif], [/font][/color][url="http://www.powersoft-audio.com/software/moduli-amx"]AMX,[/url][color=#575756][font=HelveticaCondensed, Arial, sans-serif] [/font][/color][url="http://www.powersoft-audio.com/software/plug-ins-q-sys"]Q-SYS[/url][color=#575756][font=HelveticaCondensed, Arial, sans-serif] control and monitoring systems).[/font][/color][/quote] Not so much "hefty thumpiness", more, well you know, a sort of "looking for body parts flung far and wide across the venue" type ability to move air..

GK MB series, Markbass F1 or F500 and Demeter also do a 1u amp. Then of course there's a multitude of power amplifiers in the same format. Powersoft being one of the very best with truly astonishing output levels (real RMS not silly over Inflated marketing figures).

[quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1487350826' post='3239241'] Hahaha, you know what I mean Si [/quote] I do buddy I do! lol

[quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1487348329' post='3239211'] Same as always, getting people to list their own preferences probably isn't going to help (although experiences of the process might). Basically, here is a (not necessarily exhaustive) list of popular luthiers in the UK, talk to them all! Yup, ALL of them ([b]unless you totally hate the look of them[/b]). [snip] Si [/quote] I know Luthiers are not cat-walk models (mostly) but that's a bit harsh dude!

[quote name='Graham' timestamp='1487313420' post='3238803'] Who else is in Audioplastik? I remember seeing it advertised as a side project of someone I liked, but can't remember who, and had completely forgotten about it until now. [/quote] The very talented Dec Burke from *Frost, Darwin's Radio and his own solo band and also Simon Andersson from Pain Of Salvation who is a bonkers good composer and producer. He wrote and played 90% of the keys on the album I think.

There's a couple of albums, well, an album and an EP that I played on that I really like, but the group isn't known over on these shores. The album, The Book Of Gates is by the band EON and there's an EP bonus disc which is really cool too especially as it has some truly incredible musicians on board. Gavin Harrison, John Macaluso, (me lol) Russell Allen, Amanda Somerville, Kevin Moore, the amazing talents of Elia Monsef and Danny Bou-Maron. Amadeus Awad heads up the project and demonstrates some world class guitar playing.

[quote name='TrevorR' timestamp='1487277223' post='3238635'] .....prog-metallers Threshold (tho Rich did give them a fantasy band shout out just now...). I'll add a video by each in the next post in case anyone's interested in checking them out. [/quote] Richard the keyboard player from Threshold added some piano to one of my favourite albums written by two dear friends of mine: In The Head Of A Maniac by Audioplastik. I highly recommend purchasing that one. The second album is going to be awesome!

On a related topic, I recorded video footage for the Retro One 10 yesterday, there's a picture on my Facebook page and Instagram - @DanVeallBassist

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1487264454' post='3238501'] Thanks Dan, I did not know that. [/quote] I can't remember if I mentioned it in my video review, but you can tell the difference up close anyway!