Dood

[quote name='MacDaddy' timestamp='1473768908' post='3132923'] because as a noob, the bell and whistles of non-restricted DAW's just serve to confuse the issue. Studio One Free, is a complete DAW without the frippery. [/quote] I think I'd still nudge you towards Reaper then Could be one of the least confusing DAWs I have used. Studio One (Free) I didn't actually get as far as recording a note as nothing seemed to do what I wanted. lol. Sibob is right though, if it works for you, it is all that matters. Everyone has their own preferences

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1473774313' post='3133003'] Can the poll have an "oh no, not this again" option? [/quote] I wasn't aware of a thread that specifically address the size of the bass neck, but yes I do know that 'tonewoods having an effect on sound' has been discussed. So, nope, that option isn't being added :oP

Poll added. Long detailed answers very welcome!

[quote name='MacDaddy' timestamp='1473762198' post='3132818'] Anyone else using this? I've finally got a decent laptop and interface and am going to try to use it, complete numpty and technophobe that I am. [/quote] I installed it, found it to be a massive faff and went back to Reaper. That said, I have friends who love it.

Mid punch = Dimarzio DP122 or DP146 for a bit extra.

I'm investigating the opinion that the outputs need to be separate. I'm a fan of active electronics, so I'm thinking about getting the tone right from the bass first maybe with some sort of custom filtering and certainly active mixing rather than a passive pan pot (yuk). As for the neck pickup, well, inside the casing of EMG pickup soapbars, they are all rail type, so that might be my way forward. You could stick a big fat MM pickup in the neck position and it wouldn't matter about string spacing. Even the passive EMG's, the HZ models are rails too if you didn't want to mess with active units. So I may test that theory. My other current fave is definitely the Aguilar DCB soapbar, just a beautifully sweet sounding pickup. Not surprisingly my ear likes it as the EMG sized model is pretty much the same type as the EMG DC, a big fave of mine. i.e. dual rails. The Aguilar I think has the nicer tone between the two - sweeter, yeah, that's the right word - but the DC is great for cutting through as it has a nice peak in it's top end. Mmmm decisions decisions! As for the Will Power - well, I really love the Dimarzio P style pickup and I have a Will Power P model here to install at some point so maybe it'd be logical to get the matched pair. If someone had a set of pickups from the BB714BS model, with the neck rail pickup, i'd probably rip their arms off as a great donor pickup. I like rails.. rails are nice!

It's alright! Don't worry, we're just happy you're all fixed again!

Nice! - I have a QSC power amp that I really like. A good performer, so something for bass specifically from 'Q'? Mmm very interesssssssting!

[quote name='HowieBass' timestamp='1473629415' post='3131884'] I'd also count a fingerboard as another lamination - there's a glue join there and often a difference in material and density/hardness. [/quote] Unusual for a manufacturer to count it, but you are so right! Just because it's not part of the initial neck sandwich, it is still part of the rigidity I guess!

[quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1473705071' post='3132446'] Agreed. The worst thing about Djent is the silly name! [/quote] Misha has a lot to answer for!

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1473694260' post='3132333'] I have to admit, I was shocked to see the development of modern metal bands flying the Dingwall flag. I know they don't just aim for that, but for me, I tend to see them as verging off that way now....and modern math metal is just plain dull. How many notes can you play? A lot....great. [/quote] Why shocked? Genuine question

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1473670848' post='3132033'] This definitely isn't a dig at you Dood, but it's funny how, in this this world of micro amps, we're used to talking about upgrading from 500w to 800w without batting an eyelid. This would have been pretty much unheard of when old-school AB amps were the norm, unless you were a touring pro. There was just no need for it. It makes you wonder what's [i]really[/i] going on under the hood of the Class D's. *cough* TC *cough* [/quote] No dig taken whatsoever! I think when it comes to D Class amp design though, Phil is on to something below. - In terms of power rating jumps, it's worth a mention in the thread generally that our hearing works logarithmically and thus to be truly double in volume we need ten times the power in Watts*. Hopefully I am right in saying this is a volume increase of +6dB. Which if this pans out in the real world verses theory, jumping from 100W to 200W bass amps is utterly pointless? Hmmm! (*Or, to be heard add more speakers) - The original Ampeg 8x10 cabinet I believe only had 35W cones in? So they had to use clusters of them to be heard. [quote name='Phil Starr' timestamp='1473673036' post='3132054'] This is getting to the nub of the issue I reckon. I've no doubt that if you took a 3000W class D PA amp through an 8x10 and drove it from a Sansamp then you'd be happy with the 'heft'. I really don't think there is a problem per-se with class D. There seems to me to be a couple of problems 'under the hood' though. The first is the problem with the power supplies, also switch mode and also lightweight. I think too many of these are probably underpowered and are unable to provide the 500W for more than a few thousandths of a second. Fine for a PA amp where you want undistorted sound but for a bassist regularly driving into distortion it'd feel like the class D amp was running out of steam. Of course there were class A/B amps with underpowered power supplies too. You get what you pay for here as well so it wouldn't be surprising to find expensive lightweight amps have better power supplies and seem punchier. The second thing is that going lightweight only makes sense if you trade in both speakers and amps. It's pushing it to get enough sound out of a little speaker and you need something fairly exotic to get enough sound out of a 2x10. You are going to get an awful lot more decibels out of an 8x10. With a mid-price 2x10 you simply don't have the headroom to start giving 6dB 0f bass boost for instance so if your preference is for that sort of eq you are going to have problems. So I think dood is right, it's the speakers that need some thought, or perhaps the speaker/amp combination or even the speaker/amp/bass interaction. [/quote]

Without wanting to stir the hornets nest, I'd first suggest trying different cabinets. Maybe the TH won't play ball with them because of their own short-comings. Speaking from experience of MarkBass 10's, I'm afraid that I found the 2x10 cabinets lacking in punch and nasal! Really sorry, I know that's not what you want to hear! Exceptional configurations I have tried with the TH500 include the Berg Cn212 that easily held it's own un-miked - a single Hartke 4.5XL and my current favourite and go to cabinet, the Big Twin II. My only disclaimer is that most amplifiers run out of steam eventually and if you are trying to get your amp to deliver more volume than the cabinets are actually capable of outputting (Sensitivity and SPL), then yes you will lack punch. Get more sensitive cabinets or add more speakers, because a bigger amplifier (say going from 500 watts to 800 watts) will actually only add a few decibels to your overall volume.

Massive thumbs up for the Zoom recorders. I've used the Q3HD, the Q4 and now Q8. The key thing for me is that they record in stereo and the audio is pristine, even standing next to a wall of Marshalls, unlike most which just distort and have mono 'congested' audio. Sure, these machines won't stand up to the top notch pro recording gear, but for the money you're getting some really useable recordings. Oh and a side 'plus' of having a Zoom recorder or video recorder is that the stereo audio feed is always live out of it's headphone jack (if you want) - in short tests I've found that the audio makes a really good ambient feed for IEMs too! I've not tried gigging the theory yet, but if you have a Zoom, then it could save a bit of hassle when wanting a bit of ambient audio in you ear mix!

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1473629051' post='3131876'] I seem to remember that there was an instruction somewhere that said you had to be careful with the dip switches on these. If you operate both at the same time it can cause a major malfunction which usually results in a squealy sort of noise [/quote] That sounds very familiar actually yes!

I've had whining/squealing from 'poor' SMPS power supplies and on occasion from having to borrow a naff guitar lead. So I'd start with both of those. Yes, try a pair of decent 9v batteries then also a really decent set of cables. Of course, naturally I expect you've tested a different bass and amp too.

[quote name='ikay' timestamp='1473620743' post='3131741'] Mmm, thanks for that Dood. To my mind that's really a 3 piece neck as far as any meaningful contribution to stiffness and minimizing dead spots etc is concerned (as the Dingwall blurb says). I'm not disputing the quality of the necks, but they make a point about the significance of a 5 laminate construction which is perhaps a little misleading. I still want one though! [/quote] Having just had a closer look at both, there's 5 slices down at the heel end too! So near the nut you won't see it due to the taper, but on the headstock and body end there definitely is 5 pieces!

I've reviewed the 304 and on eof my students has one too. Gotta say, for the money, it's a great bass. I expect the 5 to be more of the same, though I haven't tried one.

[quote name='visog' timestamp='1473613181' post='3131659'] Oh no... another manufacturer that obsesses with marketing to math-metal bassists like Dingwall and Warwick... [/quote] Dingwall have just one model, a signature model that is played by an artist who amongst other styles of music that he works with also plays in a tech metal band. There's no marketing by Dingwall that has ever said that the brand is specifically for metallers. So obsessing? The instrument works well in drop tuning environments and there are plenty of bands that do drop tune too. Some even play metal.

The headstock is wider than the neck width. The other two parts make up that. I can see the five on my Combustion as the headstocks are bigger than the AB. It's definitely there on both even if you just see the tip of another piece of wood though!

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1473587344' post='3131333'] after a weekend soul searching I've reached the conclusion that spending the best part of a £1000 on a bass that I would have no idea what it sounded like is something I can't do, I've tended to buy second hand in the past which means you stand a fair chance of getting most of your money back if you don't like it, the chances of picking up Marusczcyk second hand anywhere near the spec I'd want is pretty much zero, but I'll keep my eye out [/quote] As an alternative, why not see someone closer to you, in person and try out their stock? Don;t get me wrong, Adrian is a very talented luthier and I see no reason why his instruments wouldn't be any less than the comments made on BC. However, you're actually not that far away from Shuker HQ. http://www.shukerguitars.co.uk You could pop to see Jon Shuker at your convenience, try any basses he has in stock and discuss with the physical instruments on your lap. To me, the added trouble of jumping in the motor and heading up is completely balanced by knowing that you will get exactly what you want in a custom build. Shuker is of course highly regarded in the luthier world for his attention to detail and knowledge of instrument tone!

[quote name='dood' timestamp='1473195993' post='3127978'] I play to an audience of ~160k every month. No band, just me on my own. I never start or finish a song and I spend more time talking about what I am playing. It's a pretty big gig though! [/quote] [quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1473245217' post='3128259'] {snip} Just read your other post - I was in the band doing for an awards ceremony doing the stings for the walk-ons. So I was playing about 20 seconds of a song at most! [/quote] That's ace actually. At least if there were songs you didn't like, you'd only have to endure 20 seconds!

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1473245217' post='3128259'] And it was in the back garden if I recall? [/quote] Yes! That's right. I was on Come Dine With Me when it was on prime time TV. Crazy high ratings; every few months I'd get random messages saying "I've just seen you on TV again!" Ha! In a strange twist of fate I'm playing with the same drummer again for his latest band next month!

[quote name='NancyJohnson' timestamp='1473094382' post='3126886'] Don't particularly want to rain on anyone's parade, but I'd actually be interested to know the names of some of the bands you guys were playing in rather than, 'Oh, I played here, here and here.' [/quote] I play to an audience of ~160k every month. No band, just me on my own. I never start or finish a song and I spend more time talking about what I am playing. It's a pretty big gig though!

[quote name='blisters on my fingers' timestamp='1473195627' post='3127975'] Been listening to the playlist for an hour or so while reading Basschat great stuff thanks onlinedood then it struck me.... NO ADVERTS When did the adverts stop on Spotify ? [/quote] I've no idea, I've been using the premium version since day one!