Dood

For now, I've just spotted the Fischer In-Ear stick! Looks ideal as a back up unit. Will accept either mono balanced or unbalanced XLR/1/4" or stereo unbalanced XLR/1/4"! Small, active and enough power to drive my in-ears. Will also be handy for other headphone amp jobs too. Pretty much what I am looking for before I get a wireless set.

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1476618603' post='3155631'] Dood - just go for the radio... by the time you have sorted all the units and the cables you still won't be happy. Bite the bullet and get a Sennheiser... or a G2 off eBay. [/quote] You know me so well The G2 is still a good system yeah?

[quote name='TrevorR' timestamp='1476573437' post='3155398'] Dood, I use a Fischer belt pack but our guitar player found it too bulky. Solution... a small Fischer passive in line belt pack from Thomann, and a custom cable from Obbm (normal Jack to mini Jack) as an extension from the bigger Fischer belt pack that now just sits on his pedal board. Sorted! [/quote] Thanks TrevorR! I have to admit to being a bit of a fussy pants and am hoping for a solution with as few additional parts as possible. Yourself and Russ I think are suggesting the best way forward so I think something like the Fischer, LD, Presonus or Millennium style headphone amp with a break out box will do the job nicely. It'd probably only be a temporary measure until i get a wireless pack anyway.

[quote name='alexclaber' timestamp='1476356362' post='3153553'] The original intention was to biamp our PA cab but we simply got better sound and performance using bridged modules into the cab and the existing BB2 passive crossover. I guess if you've put a lot of work into making a high accuracy 2-way passive speaker with great transient and polar response, very high resistance to thermal effects (the main problem with passive crossovers), protection on the HF driver, etc then the usual benefits of active crossovers and multiple amps are nullified. [/quote] One of the things that swayed me about the Big Twin II was how it sounds when you play full range audio through it. That's not being biased. That's listening to this passive cabinet and being genuinely excited by its sound with a range of sources. There's very few bass cabinets on the market that can do even similar. Adding DSP to tailor responses to an already amazing cabinet is a brilliant idea (or in this discussion the BB2). My experience having just reviewed Bergantino's B-Amp with integrated cabinet 'profiles' has cemented in my mind how important such a tool can be. ( The B-Amp can bypass these DSP functions to make A/Bing easy to demonstrate).

Oh and I'd prefer a powered (battery) system rather than a passive volume control.

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1476054216' post='3150931'] The P9HW still requires XLRs - it has a splitter cable that goes to two XLR cannons. I personally don't like it as I see it as a weakness that is bound to fail on you st some point - and you are unlikely to be able to source a spare easily. The EQ on the pack is fairly primitive compared to what you can do with a decent desk and the limiter is pretty primitive too - all it does is set a max volume on the volume knob so if you turn it up it doesn't get any louder. [/quote] Just coming back to this one briefly and apologies for derailing the current conversation; last night's dep was another great gig and I had the pleasure of using a Sennheisser EW300 G3 which did a grand job. It is still out of my budget though and I don't want to settle for a system that isn't fully up to the job for a busy function band. I'm still wondering about a 'wired' solution for now that isn't so clumsy as my external mixer. In short, I'd like something of the Fischer / LD HPA / Behringer P1 belt worn pack... but why do they have to be so hefty! It's ridiculous. Now, I do appreciate that a certain amount of room needs to be made for a pair of XLR combo jacks but the P1 practically pulled my suit trousers down! Is anyone making something which isn't a daft price essentially for a headphone amp with a pair of balanced line inputs? - I've found a kit type board for less than £30 so I can't imagine that the design really warrants spending 100's!

[quote name='Darkglass' timestamp='1474395574' post='3137703'] Hey guys! Thanks for all the interest and questions. It's been a hectic year to say the least, with the last 8 weeks being borderline insane, I love it, but am also constantly running around helping out the different teams regarding the amplifier, from manufacturing, to logistics, marketing and strategy. Keep posting your questions, I'm super grateful for all the interest and curiosity, I'll make sure to pop by as soon as my schedule allows and answer some of them! Now time for some dinner, hit the sack, tomorrow will be a big day! Doug. [/quote] Great to see you hear Doug! Looking forward to trying out this one. The Vintage Ultra is a superb pedal so the amp head is on the 'to do' list

I may well be wrong but to my eye it looks like one of those 'far-east' budget basses. Given the very little information available it is very unlikely I would sink nearly £600 on it. As I say, I could be wrong, but instead for that kinda money you can buy something that you know will be awesome. I really don't think that is a £500 bass, not close. Sorry.

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1476104931' post='3151294'] If you are worried about the physical size and mass of xlr cable, make up your own cable from some 2 way multicore. Should give you the function without two weighty cables. OR... you may want to use something like this - [url="http://www.jumpaudio.net/ixm.html"]http://www.jumpaudio.net/ixm.html[/url] - so you just get 1 cable going to you and your bass... [/quote] Ah yeah, my friend Neil uses one of those but I've not tried one myself... I also kinda forgot that he sent me details about it too.. lol. Sorry Neil ha!

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1476054216' post='3150931'] The P9HW still requires XLRs - it has a splitter cable that goes to two XLR cannons. I personally don't like it as I see it as a weakness that is bound to fail on you st some point - and you are unlikely to be able to source a spare easily. The EQ on the pack is fairly primitive compared to what you can do with a decent desk and the limiter is pretty primitive too - all it does is set a max volume on the volume knob so if you turn it up it doesn't get any louder. [/quote] You sir, are a star. Again. Very valid points indeed. I liked the idea of having one single small connector on the pack on your belt rather than two big XLR type and their pair of cables hanging down. Less drag - and as I am hardwired on my bass two, thats three cables that hopefully could have been replaced with a smaller IEM cable and single instrument lead. You are quite right about a point of weakness and that you'd always have to carry a spare with the same LEMO connector. The XLR's at the other end are no problem of course. I've looked in to the limiter and you are quire right! Not what I was expecting. I suppose my thought process was that if I were and will be doing more dep gigs with kit I am not familiar with, then having an additional brick wall limiter or EQ if necessary would form some extra belt n' braces should I get the wrong thing sent to my lug'oles!! I would of course hope that the IEM mix, from whatever source would be configured well and an enjoyable experience but kit and user experience can vary wildly. This week's gig it has to be said was an absolute joy to listen to though the '64 A8's!

Has anyone had any experience with the Shure P9HW Wired system or similar? I like the look of this as the wearing on the belt, you haven't got the weight of two XLR cables and connectors. I found some talk of a P4 & P6HW too. On board parametric and limiter also sound convenient on the P9 without the additional cost of wireless kit. Thoughts anyone? Alternatives?

After an excellent night last night depping for a band who are using the Allen & Heath Qu-16 (and obviously knowing how to set it up properly) I think I will look at going from a hard-wired set up to a making my in-ears wireless!

I'm a huge fan of Positive Grid's BIAS and BIAS FX apps for all of my guitar tones. BIAS is an amazing app that allows you to also 'profile' any real amplifier and use that as your sound without having to keep borrowing your mate's 5150mkII all the time heh heh! BIAS FX I'd say is the one to start with as it has a range of pedals in too. Any 'studio processing' I do outside of the plug in, such as 'room sound' delays and reverbs, but PG nails it for drive pedals and amp tones.

Oh and Frost's Experiments In Mass Appeal is just brilliant too.

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1475851362' post='3149249'] Actually there isn't much more Frost* to listen to. They all do other projects and bands so there are only 2 other authentic studio albums and an 8 year gap between second and third (which only came out this year)! [/quote] You answered what I was going to say anyway about the 'other projects', so it seems like there's way more to listen to than just the main releases from *Frost. - And I'm not just talking about Jem Godfrey's hand in writing 'Whole Again' by Atomic Kitten (selling over 1 million copies). John Mitchell gets a mention already above and I suppose if one has got as far as *Frost then John's other band It Bites will have already been spun many times. I love The Tall Ships album. Very cool. Previous member Dec Burke has a few releases to his name under past band titles, he's just releasing 'Book Of Secrets' right now. It's a great album, I'm really enjoying it. Some awesome musicians on board that one too. I was just reading he'll be gigging next year! Audioplastik's 'In The Head Of A Maniac' is one of my [i]favourite[/i] albums, also featuring Dec. He's one half of a dynamic duo! The other half being the insanely talented Simon Andersson who used to play bass in Pain Of Salvation. He plays guitar, he plays bass, piano and programs like a beast! Craig Blundell is just an incredible session/clinician drummer. I'm not sure if he is adding more to the Dr Oktopus material, but again another branch to the big *Frost family tree. Nathan King.. There's a tough one. His brother is I suppose more used to being the low-ender in the band, but I gotta say Nathan is one tasty M***cker of a bassist. I like his playing [i]a lot[/i]. The right balance of groove and tech. Great work on a Status 5er. S2 Classic I guess?

If you really must keep exactly the same gauge, you could talk to a boutique string winder who will know how to adjust the core(s) in order to create more tension. It will of course be more expensive than just going up a gauge or following the advice above, but it is do-able. Case in point, Newtone Strings actually would me a very special set of strings for my 7 string bass (tuned down to F#) BEFORE any of the 'big' companies were making them available in the Uk - this was of course over ten years ago though. It worked and they managed to get a string not much bigger than a heavy B string to sound out an F#. Needless to say, now the materials are more readily available, then that particular string can have the big gauge it needs to scare guitarists away. Have a chat with D'Addario on here, they will no doubt be able to help in your quest

I know there are one or two preamps out on the market that have them but I'm just seeing if there are any I haven't seen. Just looking at that age old problem of swapping between basses that have different level outputs. Given the I prefer active circuits in my basses (mostly) I'm looking to 'level' all the basses at source rather than faff with switch boxes and other pointless gubbins. Having a trim pot on board to add boost or maybe cut back a bit (I'd rather not attenuate) will make life a bit easier.

[quote name='darkandrew' timestamp='1475777192' post='3148731'] I have a Warwick Streamer Stage 1 which came with MEC PJ pups. I swapped these out for an EMG PJ-X set, hoping to find a bit more bottom, more punch and the elusive "warmth" that you refer to. Unfortunately I didn't find any of these and after about 6 months changed these for a standard EMG PJ set. Comparing the PJ-X to the standard EMG PJ, the X series J is a lot lower in output and very neutral in character - no extended bass or highs, just flat and boring. The X series P is a louder than the J but still not as big or as full as the standard P, it's a little brighter than the standard one but lacks its punch and heft. Overall I'd say the standard series is a lot more compressed and "full on" than the X series which to me sounded weak and unexciting by comparison. [/quote] Ahhhhhhhhhh! At last! Someone with actual experience! You are a gem! Thank you! Funnily your comments do support my feelings about the non-X versions. I think I'll look out for said PJ set and not worry about the X series. Cheers!

[quote name='winterfire666' timestamp='1475594776' post='3147219'] Does anyone use c# tuning on a 34" scale 4 string bass? I usually prefer 40-100 Sadowsky blue label steels and love the feel on my standard tuned 33" scale Xylem ( not too much tension and bright and zingy) but I'm setting up a bass in [b]standard[/b] c# tuning and wondered if anyone can help many thanks. [/quote] I feel I missed an important word as I jumped to the assumption you were in Drop C# rather than up in fourths... [quote name='D'AddarioUK' timestamp='1475747846' post='3148365'] In my best Bane voice "Speak of the devil and he shall appear" Your best options in ProSteels would be either EPS160 (.050 .070 .085 .105) or EPS230 (.055 .075 .090 .110). The aforementioned EXL160BT (.050 .067 .090 .120) is part of our balanced tension line which is currently only available in nickel plated steel. We've got a great tool at [url="http://www.stringtensionpro.com"]www.stringtensionpro.com[/url] for working out string gauges and tensions. [/quote] ... that said, I'd still be inclined to but a 120 on the bottom for a C# through experience to get the tension back up to the same as standard tuning. What do you think Andrew? Using Pro Steels EPS 165 as a starting point, dropping each string down three semitones for C# standard, I make the new gauges as .125, .100, .080 and .055 to get the tensions back up again so they are the same as standard tuning. The next set of gauges down, so slightly less tension than standard are: 120, 95, 75 and 50 in the Pro Steels. That seems to be a good place to be and is also very close to the Balanced Tension gauges mentioned earlier. Unless I've missed something, is that still not the best set for the application? I call upon your expert knowledge!

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1475672098' post='3147801'] If they do I'm converting... I love prosteels and I'm running out of my custom sets from Newtone from my ACG in Drop C [/quote] They do, see above. Tons of string choices available and all listed on the D'Addario website!

[quote name='Johnny Wishbone' timestamp='1475673459' post='3147819'] I await this response with interest! I still prefer the sound of the Pro Steels but the tension on these is so good I've been prepared to make the sacrifice for now. A steel version would be a win/win for me! [/quote] Well, Pro Steels have always been available as single strings and those gauges are available, so it looks like a win/win day! You can also use their string choice app if you want to adjust tuning vs gauge vs tension too.

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1475671545' post='3147792'] They're nickel though [/quote] It's ok, I think it'd be possible to have a Pro Steel set made up with similar gauges! Maybe D'Addario will be along to chime in shortly

I'm trying to find reviews and quality video/audio clips of these sets of pickups to actually hear the difference. The only descriptive offerings I can find so far talk of 'added warmth' and 'headroom', which is pretty meaningless. Needs review videos I've a set of 'non-X' PJ's in a bass as a starting point and would love to know how these compare.

[quote name='winterfire666' timestamp='1475651564' post='3147578'] i was thinking of trying 45-105's but was a bit concerned about them being too light with dropping 3 semitones, thanks for the input folks i do prefer light gauge strings so i might try them and if im not happy going up to some kind of 50 - 110/115 set, a 120 i think might be too much for me. [/quote] 120 won't be too much, honestly if I had the cash I'd send you a set as I'm that sure you'll end up liking them after giving them a thorough try out

[quote name='Johnny Wishbone' timestamp='1475655367' post='3147617'] Yes, these. Will even handle going down to Bb if that's your bag. [/quote] They are a pretty awesome set!