Dood

I can't think of anything off the top of my head, unless you used a small powered mixer - but the size of the box maybe a bit much. However, I would whole heartedly recommend asking someone to do a custom build for you. A great example would be Max over at http://sfxsound.co.uk who can build..well, pretty much anything your heart desires! He'd also be able to make something small hopefully that doesn't eat up loads of gear space!

Theres a few 'how to' videos on Youtube, including ones by the rather crazy and talented Devin Townsend!

Have you looked at Cort, Schecter, Spector, Yamaha, Ibanez, ESP (LTD), Aria Pro and Warwick for their mid priced fretless basses?

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1446301184' post='2898458'] It should be me thanking you Dood. It really helped clear things up. I also got my BF Retro two 10 based partly on your review, although unfortunaly that didn't quite work out. You win one you lose one lol. Compressors are some thing I buy when I have GAS but not sure for what. Over the years Ive never found one that was worth keeping. Guess that means I have never needed one. With this one it's different as I can actually hear a change in my sound, for the good. I got it as I was starting to play finger style (after so many years of using a pick), so it seemed like a good idea. It works for that but this one see se to do more. It does seem to change my tone for the good, due to the blend knob. For me it's set and forget, I don't find I fiddle with it at all, and I guess that's a good thing. Saying that, Im going through a lot of tonal changes at the moment, and I can see the comp will not be here this time next year. [/quote] I agree with all of your points about the Studio Bass. It's a great 'set and forget' pedal that has a really nice character to the way it compresses. Oh, you might not want to read the 'other' compressor thread I've been posting on.... lol! Thank you for the kind words! I have to say I love my job and it means a great deal that a review has been of positive use for others

[quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1446311240' post='2898536'] my compression collection will grow again! [/quote] Well, I don't think it hurts to have a spare lol

[quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1446311240' post='2898536'] I think I want one - just to play with the editor! And I recently got a Super Symmetry as well! Oh well, my compression collection will grow again! [/quote] I spent over two hours last night just messing with the editor! It's brilliant. I have come up with a whole bunch of TonePrints that I've saved to A/B with my gear. Dare I say it, I've found a clever way to add heft back in to your bass sound without use turning up the bass control. I think it is safe to say that TC Nova Dynamics has been shunted off my board and Hyper Gravity is taking over parallel compression duties!

I've just spent the evening hooking up all of my new toys. I can't wait to plug in the Big Twin tomorrow to see what it all sounds like. I've treated myself to a QSC power amp to drive it with masses of clean power. I may have to warn the local police station before I turn it on!

[quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1446386745' post='2898939'] I bet that sounds crap! Are you dead set on a rack? Lots of people are turning their backs on rack setups these days to go the iPad route. Easier to tweak, less to carry, tons more flexibility and cheap to upgrade. Certainly worth investigating if you haven't even considered it! Apps such as BIAS FX, BIAS Pedal, and BIAS Amp already offer more than many rack units. If you happen to already have an iDevice you are halfway there, you just need a £65 interface and some apps from the store. Check this blog out for starters: [url="http://www.tayste.co.uk/2014/02/24/the-ios-bassist-pt1-an-introduction/"]http://www.tayste.co...n-introduction/[/url] [/quote] Yes to BIAS FX, BIAS Pedal and BIAS amp but also look at another of Positive Grid's absolutely superb apps, Jam UP (Jam Up Pro) - I love these apps. I've been using them since PG first appeared. I'm even tracking bass for a worldwide release at the moment and BIAS is doing all the hard work for me! Love it, but appreciate the OP isn't using IOS kit.

I'd say that if it's effects such as chorus, phaser, pitch, delay and reverb you are looking for rather than distortions, then my money for a rack solution is with TC Electronic. I realised that I've been using TC gear for the best part of twenty years and I don't expect that to end any time soon as I've just added the G System to be live rig. Specifically for a rack I'd look at the G Major 2 and a step up, the G-Force but the G System is very cool too though more than you are looking for? Unfortunately, board rules mean that I can't suggest where to find a great second hand TC GM2.

Make your own! I know that sounds like something which would be difficult, but I would whole-heartedly recommend ToonTrack's EZ Drummer 2. Not only because it is an amazing piece of drum software for getting great sounds in to your compositions - it has a really cool feature: For instance, you can search the library of loops for the sort of beat that you want, then drag and drop it to a standalone time bar. So, I'd plug in my midi keyboard, find the kick drum and snare sounds, then use the 'Tap2Find' function by physically tapping out the sort of beat I want. EZ Drummer 2 will then list all the beats in it's library that match or are similar, also giving a percentage rating for how close to your groove they are. OR you can just select loops and drag them to the timeline anyway. You can edit the loops and choose different kits or parts of kits to play the rhythm, something I do in my DAW of choice. One of my favourite parts of the software is to replace one single drum part of one loop with another's corresponding drum - such as just the kick drum. Especially If I had a part that followed a bass line specifically but I wanted to change the whole drum groove instead. EZ Drummer 2 is worth every penny and you can buy more loop packs to go with it's already pretty cool library.

It's here!!!! I have one!!! Within two hours of early 'trying out' I have to say that it is absolutely astounding. I've got lots to tell even though I have only just scratched the surface of what it can do. In all honesty, yes, out of the box it appears to have a guitar-like focus, but still works fine on bass. BUT!!!! You MUST get the TonePrint editor, as the pedal can be turned in to an absolute monster! There's no point trying to explain what it sounds like unless we're all talking about the exact same settings and parameters, but it is very clean with tons of headroom. The manual says that the pedal will accept up to line level signals as well as instrument, so it will go in an effects loop happily too. Things I have found already: Every parameter of the triple band compressor is editable. All of the knobs on the outside of the pedal can be reconfigured to do what YOU want them to be. For example, the Sustain nob could be the threshold control for both the Treble and Mid compressors and the level knob the level for just the low end! It's possible to split up the attack and release for each band. If you are the kind of person who sets the compressor then tapes up all the knobs so the settings don't change, well, you won't need gaffer tape. It appears I can unassign the controls to lock them to a setting! You can set how much parameter a knob controls. You can even make it go the wrong way if you're a bit of an 1176 fan! The compressor can be set to 'very subtle' OR absolutely ridiculous amounts of boost! Saving patches in to your own library is a doddle. HyperGravity's manual explains the simple stuff, but you'll need to understand how compressors work to get the full thrill from this thing! Right now, I've got a patch that is making the pedal behave like a cranked SVT power amp! Very exciting! The pedal can do true or buffered by pass and you can decide which you prefer.

I absolutely wholeheartedly recommend the Roland range of interfaces. I've been using the Quad-Capture version for pro recording for a couple of years (maybe more) and it hasn't missed a beat. The drivers are rock solid and the latency figures are amongst the lowest for this type of interface. I've even got the Duo-Capture EX which will plug directly in to my iPad as well as desktop and laptop. It is normal for me to track in Reaper or Logic Pro X with an average of 40 tracks all running plug ins including those on both input channels of the interface. It IS a USB 2 device and my machine's ports are all full, but I am yet to notice any problems. The interface features MIDI in and out, SPDIF, Phantom Power for my big mics and the ability to mix in a direct monitor to the signal going out of the interface, wherever I may channel that. Each of the front inputs can receive XLR or 1/4" inputs and there's the option to switch between low and high impedance. If you can't be bothered to set up your levels each time, well no problem, the Quad Capture does that for you and you even have the option to save those settings between sessions so they are ALWAYS the same even when you come back after a few days. Nothing worse than someone twiddling your knobs without you knowing! I picked up this 24bit 192Khz capable interface for just over £100 and I would buy another without hesitation if anything happened to this one. I suppose I should also say that I'm running a Mac and no, it's not a new machine by today's standards.

Positive Grid are an incredible company! I've been using their apps since the very first version of Jam Up on iPhone arrived. I'm currently recording album bass tracks using BIAS desktop and BIAS FX desktop due for release next year with some world class musicians on board. The tone matching support is a brilliant feature: Gone are the days of having stacks and stacks of amplifiers, microphones and 'treated rooms' to capture that illusive tone? (Not that there is anything wrong with that mind!)

Ahhh very nice! Here's my Jap law-suit beauty. It's a '76 and every bit as wonderful as it looks. Matsumuko have a lot to answer for. I'm going to need another! Before make over and then after: I adore this bass - and I've played so many P basses in the past.

I'm using the Big Twin II and as many BCers know, I've owned way too much kit for my own good! I think that those unfamiliar with the cabinet may find that the low mid humps and baked in bass bumps of other cabinets missing in the BT2 a turn off at first. Spend some time re-EQing your amp and I am sure that you will be very pleased at what it is capable of. Dispersion is great - balanced sound is great. Don't expect to be able to hide your mistakes though Yeah, it's light, it's powerful and clean and clear like a really nice PA cabinet. It will happily go loud too!

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1445627496' post='2893017'] It was your video review that sold me on it :-). Until I watched it I couldn't understand why the blend control was there, but you explained it perfectly and I ordered it as soon as I had finished watching it. [/quote] Thank you Dave! That's brilliant. I am really pleased to hear that! 'Parallel compression' otherwise known as New York compression is totally my thing. It's a great 'more of everything' type of effect for hyper driving your bass on higher settings. The Hyper Gravity from TC has an extra string to it's bow too. it's a full 3 band multi band compressor which is controllable via the tone print software AND that lovely blend control is in there too! Perfect!

I'm borrowing a JamMan Solo XT - I'm going to see how I get on with it!