Dood

Yup, sounds like an earth issue and also agree an earth-lift could have helped. The only thing I can think to do is to insert an external DI box in the signal path. I'd suggest if you're not using the effects loop to take a lead from the send in to an external DI as this will pick off the signal including your EQ settings. (Look for a DI with a ground lift switch)

I used a laptop bag! Cheaper than an 'amp bag' but had more storage pockets for cables and accessories!

I think you've asked two different questions. The title of the thread: My first answer, like SuperClive would be to say that it is when you are earning a living from being a musician. I am lucky to be able to support my family doing such, ehich is a great feeling. However, i think the question you asked in your text i would answer differently. One word. Experience. i love Nathan East's 'moto' that I subscribe too as well- 'Attitude + Aptitude = Altitude'. Knowing your stuff and having the right attitude to apply it is the first place to start in my opinion.

I'd be an interesting test actually - I've not had a chance to compare amps on damping factor alone and how much of the 'feel' of the amp will be noticed when A/Bing them. I wondered if a higher damping factor would be better for ported cabinets and lower for closed non-ported types?

Thank you Steve, very kind of you to say so! - Just updated some text and refreshed my advert.

The 115XL and 210XL make a great little rig and yes, if they are each 8 Ohms at 200W, that'll give you a 400W at 4 Ohms combination. Yes, the 115XL and 410XL do sound different - again you can use them both together. Yup, I have a 4.5XL and a 410XL. The 4.5XL wins every time. Deeper lows and that 5" midrange is wonderfully clear and way nicer than a tweeter chucked in to a cab with little thought for crossover design. The 410XL is a great cab though. Kinda wish they'd put a 5" in that too. The 4.5XL as a stand alone cab is louder in the lows than a single 115XL. I'd love to pair a 2.5XL with a 4.5XL to make a cool 6x10 rig, but the 2.5XL is no longer made and very hard to locate these days.

You MUST watch this though: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBWY8oAnnww[/media]

I recall seeing an old video where the original bass player was using a normal P or PJ, but wasn't the actual track all synth'd?

Cheers Oscar, I've got the page open ready and will have a good read later hopefully!

Miki, this is great! Thank you for taking the time to post. I'm going to make this thread a sticky as I think it's an invaluable resource.

Hey all, I'm always keen to see where the 'lightweight vs high power' debate is heading and to see what gear is currently available. I had a review of a GT1600FX power amp the other day - and in terms of being both of the above, I thought I'd start a thread about 'em to see who else is using Matrix power amps for their PA / Bass / Guitar rigs. Interestingly, they're not D-Class and I'd be keen to find out why they're staying with AB class. Hmmm, I'll have to learn a bit more about AB and D class topology! Anyone know if AB has some sort of better performance in say, low end for subs etc? I see that guitarists are loving the GT range for pairing up with Fractal's AxeFX processors and PA companies see to really love Matrix's gear for driving everything from tops to subs. I figure that they'll be good for Bass too. Mainly though, they're British - A rare breed these days it seems. There's a bunch of 1u and 2u poweramps on this ere page - the GT1600FX being the one with the most grunt [url="http://matrixguitaramplification.com/products/"]http://matrixguitara...n.com/products/[/url] I had a look 'ere too, [url="http://pa.matrixamplification.com"]http://pa.matrixamplification.com[/url] and some big beasties here at 3500W per channel! ha!

Keep 'em coming!! Definitely videos and pics included too!

Awww! Bless you Mark, very kind words, thank you - I'm really pleased you love the amp. I'm wondering if I was a little hasty letting it go but at the same time very pleased it has gone to a good home! Honestly, having reviewed a good few of the current crop of D-Class heads, this is definitely one of the punchiest and loudest without a doubt. Combined with GK's FET preamp, it delivers. Thank you for your feedback for Guitar Interactive Magazine too - I'll suggest it! I do very much agree, it's really difficult to demonstrate kit that is designed to go loud in a quiet studio. Generally, the volume in the studio is loud enough to spill in to the vocal mics, hence you will never see me play and talk at the same time. Spill is cut out in post-prod as well as mixing etc. It is difficult to get a feel for the volume and tone of an amp within the constraints of digital media, especially I guess with a lot of readers viewing on say, laptops or computers with built in speakers. I always suggest a big set of decent earphones or a suitable HiFi. Once again, thank you

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1375537811' post='2162664'] Thanks for that, dood - I think I'll get one. After all, it's not exactly a major outlay, is it? [/quote] Gone are the days of coughing up lots of money to get an accurate tuner that's for sure! I suspect that I'll end up putting one on each of my basses. They can be left in situ'. The only thing I do have to figure out for a headstock tuner...... Where to clip it on my headless bass!

Hey! Hi everyone! Dood your *favourite Admin here! So, spurred on over another thread, I was thinking that we do spend much of our time being modest and quiet about our achievements as musicians. I really want to take the opportunity to say that I bloody love watching bass players, even my young beginner students bring much to learn from. Yet, we seem to spend so much time 'reviewing' others yet not celebrating our own finest moments for fear of being commented on. Here's what I'd love to do: Be bold and shout out loud what you feel is your best, favourite and finest moments in music. Tells us about what you are proud of. It doesn't matter if like me, one of your favourite gigs was actually playing to three people when all that could possibly go wrong had and that you made good of a bad situation, or that you've done 250,000 in Rio. If you want to add a 'most embarrassing or worst' moment too, then go for it!

[quote name='TomRichards' timestamp='1375452231' post='2161614'] Hey Bass Dood! Congrats on your new baby! I'll say that here in case the Basschatters didn't know you are a new dad! Miss you Dan, I am planning to come back to the UK in the fall. We will jam (and do other things rock stars do......) [/quote] Awww Thank you Tom! Indeed, yup, my lil girl is doing really well bless her! six weeks old today and it really does seem like yesterday she was born. I mean, through the lack of sleep, it does feel like one day started and hasn't quite ended yet I'm falling asleep at my desk right now. Yup, we'll definitely have a good catch up soon. Just lemme know when you're on the way! - For those who may be taking Tom's post out of context a bit, please, don't be unwelcoming. - Tom is a good guy, proud of what he's achieved but at the same time is just being honest before he gets leapt on about where he's coming from. We on this forum are a bit reserved and don't like shouting about what we do - I guess it's a british thing? You only have to look at the recording forum to see how little material there is posted when the forum is rammed with 'busy' bass players eh! Maybe we could all use the opportunity to offer up and be proud of our achievements. I might just start up a thread about that!

Ok! Mine has arrived too! I can see some significant improvements on the previous model! The ratchet that locks the clamp is way easier to release now - and those buttons on the top of the new unit are much clearer and easier to see. It's definitely faster at tracking and although I've only tried it on my guitar so far, it's as smooth and doesn't wander too much like some clip-ons I've tried.

Hey Tom!

I've one on the way too! I've got a couple of Minis - I use them for bass as well as guitar and am looking forward to having a play with the new smaller Micro!

I'd also add that although I use Planet Waves cables; my choice of interconnect, I have had cables from OBBM too. I trained as an electronics tech myself and thus I can tell you that his handiwork is A1.

[quote name='mart' timestamp='1375229476' post='2158704'] Yes, after discovering problems in practice, I went googling and found that Neutrik admit they might not work for active set-ups. It's fair enough. I just wondered if the PW breaker cables would be any better. I have this stupid thing that I often have to play one or two songs, then nothing for twenty or thirty minutes, then another song. And I obsess that the battery is going to give way in that twenty/thirty minute gap. So I would prefer to unplug the cable during that time. That's ok if I'm using an amp with a mute switch, but that's not always convenient. But I'm forming the impression that it is impossible to have a silent mute switch without some power, be that from the amp, or from a 9v battery. I don't understand the electrics of why that should be, I just observe that all of the unpowered switches seem to have some sort of caveat like with the Neutrik silent plugs. But the PW cables seem to buck that trend, hence why I asked if anybody has used these with active basses. Alternatively, if someone can explain why you need some sort of power to enable a mute switch to work without any kind of popping, I'd be interested, although my brain is probably too small to take it in. [/quote] The Switched plugs from Planet Waves work perfectly with active basses and truly mute the cable whilst plugging in ( as long as you remember to unmute manually afterward!!) I've a number of active basses using Planet Waves cables with no problems.

It sounds like you might not have enough space to do so, but in the past I have used a rack shelf (2u height available) with good ole cable ties or velcro to hold pedals in place. I'm assuming that you'll be setting up just one patch on the pedal left switched on? I think other than that I'm not sure as the pedals are taller than a 1u space. Now, if only Zoom did a half rack version with MIDI connections...... ... oh wait, they used to do the 9050S back in the 90's that did the job nicely, but in comparison to todays effects, it does sound a bit pants!