Dood

[quote name='ratman' timestamp='1455132258' post='2976318'] That'd be right up Tom's street. A Tubescreamer with bass/mid/treble/presence, blend, and maybe a HPF on the wet signal too? Hmmm, could be tasty!! [/quote] My creative juices are flowing!! I've had contact with Tom before chrimbo but that was to do with Guitar Interactive Magazine, so I have his contact details. Something to think about! I'm off to experiment on my 'test rig' now!

[quote name='danbowskill' timestamp='1455125375' post='2976216'] Ive had a few monkeys (mod'd and stock ) thought they were ok.also had the Cm2 ,although it sounded great i had a real problem with the volume knob......... using it as a dirty stomp i wanted the volume slightly louder than my clean , at a slight turn the knob goes from to quite to too loud ( was why i sold it) Having gone through a few tubescreamer variants theNobel ODR-1 is really peaking my interest, John K (the highly regarded overdrive king ) over on talkbass is very very impressed with them (cheap as well £59 :-) [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6TWdIEUZGE"]https://www.youtube....h?v=a6TWdIEUZGE[/url] ill be getting one on the weekend if anyone wants any feedback? [/quote] Thank you! I'd seen that you have had adverts in the For Sale section for Monkeys etc. I am interested to hear about the ODR-1 too so yes please! Today, I've been messing with my pedals. I currently have managed to get a TS to do what I want, but the arrangement is a faff. I am using an EQ pedal as a boost that also includes a massive treble boost and low cut (Brian May Treble Boost idea). I'm plugging that straight in to the TS which is then being followed by a cab sim pedal to shape the tone a bit as well as getting rid of the top end fizz. The whole lot is in the loop of a Mosquite Blender giving me my low end back along with the rest of the clean signal. Ideally, I'd like this to all happen in as few boxes as possible. I think a custom build is on the cards

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1455108320' post='2975932'] I'm just gonna sit here drop feeding stuff in... [/quote] You know me well, that's exactly what I am after Gonna need to hear the new Sheehan pedal. I have the now 'old' version and I need a little more from it. I'd love to replace the tone controls with an HPF and LPF on it.

Replied below: [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Dood, I always set the amp input gain so that it's just below the point where the pre-amp clips when I really dig in (I was under the impression this is the optimum setting?).[/font][/color] [i][font="helvetica, arial, sans-serif"][color="#282828"]​That sets the signal going in to the front of the amplifier - the 'preamplifier stages', but does not dictate that the effects send is still running at instrument level though. It could still have a much higher signal at that socket.[/color][/font][/i] I didn't realise that fx loops have a stronger signal. Any reason for that? Surely they are optimised to work with all fx units (am I right in thinking that the implication is that some units work on different signal levels???) [i]Effects Loops in most cases are designed in order to match the levels required by 'outboard' signal devices, such as studio rack effects that accept a higher signal level, known as 'Line Level'. Although modern effects gear is often capable of switching between the two levels. The B3, as a 'pedal' I'm afraid is not.[/i] I'm happy to try the B3 both in-line and in the fx loop, but my preference would be for the B3 in the loop - if it can be done without issue - as it just seems like a better option to me. Yeah, I know that's hardly any justification whatsoever, but I just don't like the idea of having pedals between the bass and amp [i]The B3 is optimised to go between bass and amp rather than in an effects loop.[/i] For information, I have been using a Mark Bass super booster as an amp top pedal in the fx loop for years without issue. [i]Yup, hence my use of the word 'may'. I'm certainly going with my experience of the B3 that I can easily distort with a bass loaded with EMGs and an 18v circuit - and not near line level. YMMV as they say.[/i] All the RH450 manual has to say on the matter of the fx loop is that "[i]This break point can be used as a regular serial effects loop for inserting e.g. modulation effects or other external devices.[/i]" [i]It certainly can, but again, if the device is unable to handle the dynamic range then it will distort. The TC HyperGravity for example is designed to be able to handle line levels as well as instrument levels.[/i] Do the input/output spec figures mean anything in regard to the fx loop signal strength? For example, the RH450 manual says that the pre-amp out is - [i]1/4" Jack, Balanced Output, Max Output, Level = +8dBu[/i] Whereas the B3 manual says of its input - [i]Rated input level -20dBm, Input impedance 1MΩ[/i] [i]Yes - So certainly the above would suggest to me that the output level of the send is capable of being way higher than the Zoom input can handle. 'Capable' that is, but if you wind the amplifier gain control down to the point that you are not distorting the B3, then you'll be fine. However, you may then find that the amplifier is expecting a good strong line level signal, but the B3 is only outputting an instrument level signal. It could appear that your amplifier has lost it's volume somewhat.[/i]

[quote name='ratman' timestamp='1455105306' post='2975863'] From my experience, the stock Bad Monkey doesn't retain much low end. It may work for you if you're thinking of blending though. [/quote] Exactly what I am after actually, yes - I'm not a fan of forcing too much low end through a distortion path. it creates a mushy character that I really don't like. I always prefer to distort mids and above, then treat the low end separately. Thank you!

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1455101913' post='2975822'] so there are about a million similar pedals. [/quote] I guess my question is, out of the million similar, which are regarded as the most flexible. I'm not necessarily looking for one with a massive bass response, as I will blend anyway - but one with a tight low end, definitely not sludgy.

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1455102383' post='2975829'] [url="http://forum.music-group.com/showthread.php?6287-XR12-as-bass-preamp"]http://forum.music-g...-as-bass-preamp[/url] ;P I will get you to buy one. [/quote] So, I missed the bit where it will run plug-ins too... Gonna need to give that a bit more attention I think!

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1455101913' post='2975822'] The Bad Monkey is basically a Tube Screamer with a bass control so there are about a million similar pedals. Annoyingly the Bad Monkey (in its current form) has recently been discontinued so prices have risen slightly. [/quote] Yup, interestingly I have a TS (Mini) here but I think the BM is capable of more gain? The single tone control is slightly limiting too and I want to (hopefully) not have to use an EQ pedal to sculpt. Yup, I'm hoping! ha! I don't want to add more low end to the pedal input so won't mod that. but those smooth mids and no-fizz top end is what I would like to achieve.

I've always known about this pedal and I do own a few different drive pedals already, but a new band on the horizon is pulling me towards a particular sound. I've just watched a review for a BM with the 'banana mod' which looks handy and online, people have mentioned the Digitech Hard Wired CM-2 is a suitably upgraded Bad Monkey? So, If I am after this sort of pedal - Stock seems good as I will blend it anyway, but who makes variants of the pedal? I'd also really love to hear comparison recordings and see videos too as there doesn't seem to be a great deal online for bass. Oh - and yes, I saw that a BM was sold on BC yesterday. It was only this am I decided I needed to try one ha!

[quote name='Callumjord' timestamp='1455048495' post='2975471'] Would love to hear how it handles during a gig, I have been looking into a new compressor and this is in the top 3 [/quote] With the blend control on board, I think it will gig with ease. I've a review on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkzxSWhPsHo

If it's a bolt-on neck bass that is a donor (of the Fender variety) then I would go for a replacement neck, hopefully a good second hand one. It *might* cost a bit more but at least you can pop the original neck back on, sell the fretless and get some money back if it doesn't work out. If you have a neck-thru bass, then a defret is the only option and I'd recommend having the slots professionally filled OR having the whole fretboard lifted. The latter being the better option as you can have a good solid and high quality fretboard added for fretless work - whereas I have heard that a few people have pulled the frets out only to find that the board wasn't suitable. It needed more work to level it on top of filing in the slots and a set up. Your mileage may vary depending on the instrument. If you're lucky, you can pick up a second hand fretless on basschat which ends up being a super little bass for the money, less than that of a new neck.. in the basschat marketplace.

I'd maybe suggest that unless you keep the gain on the RH [i]really[/i] low, you may overdrive the input of the B3 as it is designed to run at a conservative instrument level - FX Loops tend to have a much hotter signal which can cause the input of the B3 to distort - and not in a nice way. Better still to make a patch with all effects set to off by default and plug the pedal in to the front of the amp. This will give you your 'bypass' mode.

"Wow, cool, I didn't know you had a Saxophone player!" "That's a Fire Extinguisher.

EON - The Book Of Gates https://powerprog.bandcamp.com/album/the-book-of-gates-special-edition Section IV - Superhuman https://section-iv.bandcamp.com/releases

Absolutely great pedal in my all time top 5. So easy to get a great sound from it. Nice one!!