NancyJohnson

[quote name='ARGH' post='467140' date='Apr 20 2009, 12:46 AM']Pods..are made of plastic,plastic breaks onstage..[/quote] Dare I say it, have you actually even picked up a POD? The case is metal, the recessed button array is plastic, the knobs/controls are just like the knobs on a regular amp. They are very robust bits of kit. P

[quote name='bassman2790' post='467066' date='Apr 19 2009, 10:28 PM']With all the disillusion I've suffered recently trying to achieve a decent live sound, I am seriously considering getting rid of my backline altogether and investing in a Bass Pod XT live and a decent powered monitor. My rig is only really for onstage monitoring any way as it's DI'd into the desk. Has anyone else gone down this route for live work and do you [list=1] [*]Regret it? [*]Wish you'd done it sooner? [/list] Cheers[/quote] I wouldn't go so far as to say I would dump everything for a POD. I'd used one on and off since the Bass POD arrived on the market whenever it was, ten years or so ago. I've owned both the guitar and bass versions, both of which are very versatile pieces of hardware that I would certainly argue give you an immense array of sounds at the push of a button (or two) - they are both great for recording and certainly on the odd occasion I've used it plugged straight into a desk during rehearsals the results of which [albeit through headphones] have been quite pleasing. The Bass POD certainly formed the backbone of my sound up until six months ago (plugged into the effects return of an Ashdown). That said, I have never gigged just using the Bass POD, but I have using the guitar version (and never again either). What this would come down to really for me would be whether I got to the stage where I couldn't lug gear around (I did buy a trolley recently), but also the reliance on there being a house system for me to plug into wherever I was rehearsing/gigging. Let me say one other thing. There is no better thing than standing in front of your rig (irrespective of the size) and feeling the bass move through you and around you (and making that dumbass guitarist try harder to get his sound right). The POD doesn't do this. Like I said, it's great, but you're moving air by emulation. Finally, on the subject of live sound, it's taken donkey's years, but I'm pretty much there. It's taken a while and only really arrived with a new head six months ago that essentially gave me the sound I was achieving through the POD. My advice would be buy a POD and route it through your effects return, or if you don't have one, into the main amp input with everything flat. Best P

[quote name='obbm' post='466353' date='Apr 18 2009, 08:04 PM']Previously: [/quote] Well, that is just dreamy. Imagine it with blocks on the fingerboard. P

Here's mine. I've posted this before. Sorry... P

Gobble gobble. I always look at the headstock. I mean, look at the headstock. Wrong shape. Body is all wrong. The cutaways are too wide. P

I've got both and voted Jazz. The Precision (while it has been a trusty workhorse for about twenty years) is a one trick pony, fat neck and heavy with too much whomp. The Jazz offers so much more...better neck, less weighty, better body balance, more tone. One thing that isn't so finite is that you have around fifty years of both models with different levels of quality control and ethic, so it really isn't simply Jazz or Precision. Car analogy; a current Skoda would probably turn heads if it was transported back to the 1960s and would likely beat most of the high performance cars from that period hands down. P

Sounds good mate. Reminds me a bit of Rocket Summer. I found it interesting that the whole thing was done over the web. Sign of the times! P

Bass looking for band/musicians in the Reading, Berkshire locality. Something with a bit of energy and original material only please. It's not much to ask. At 44 I do not wish to go the convenience of the pipe'n'slippers covers route. No plan for world domination, just want to play some energetic punky rock stuff, write some songs, gig and record a bit before my back gives out. Audio/images/contact details on the the link below. So, if you give a damn, click here: [url="http://tinyurl.com/dn2scr"]http://tinyurl.com/dn2scr[/url] If you give more than a damn, contact me. P

I had the combo version of that head. Didn't sound too bad from what I can remember; I used to push in the 2nd and 4th buttons for a bit of extra tone boost. This must have been about twenty five years ago...it's certainly pre-dates me getting married (photo below was shot in my old bedroom at my parents) and that was twenty two years ago. P

Being an owner of both, I'd go for a Jazz if you're set on a Fender. The Jazz had a degree more panache than the P and it give more tonal variation. That said, also being an owner of a Lakland DJ5, I'd say go and get a Lakland. There's one for sale on the forum (not mine). P

Gone P

If you want them, PM me your address. P

Six tuners - unbranded - 3-a-side (a la Les Paul). No idea where these actually came from. Black. 9mm bore. Screws. Might suit a project guitar. First come etc. P

I've been using D'Addario strings for just ages (even on my 12-string), but with a new bass arriving (for the record a Geddy Lee signature Jazz) I decided to go the whole hog and not only replace the strings, but also try a different manufacturer, so with eBay booted up and my mouse hovering over the [i]Buy It Now [/i]button, I purchased a set of the Hellborg Signature series from DR Strings of Emerson, New Jersey. $29.00. For those that don't know, conventional string making involves taking a length of hexagonal profiled wire for the core of the string, which is then wrapped in circular wire (generally of stainless steel or nickel) a sufficient amount of times to build up the string to the desired gauge, or width, of string. What differs with the Jonas Hellborg series is that DR have taken a circular-profiled core then wrapped each string with a single wrap of nickel wire. I'm not one to buy into the DR bullsh*t about what this offers the player, I guess like most of the people reading this, I just want the string to sound nice, feel comfortable under the fingers and last more than one rehearsal. So I've had a new set of D'Addarios on my Geddy for less than 48 hours, it sounds peachy, but for the benefit of this review dear reader, the D'Add's are off and the DRs are on. First thing I notice is that the machine head end of the E & A strings doesn't reach the machines; there is a long piece or core wire exposed. This reminded me (kind of in reverse) of those old Superwound strings where the core was exposed so it went over the bridge. Looks weird. The D & G are more conventional. Tune up. The first thing you notice is how thick the wrap is on the E & A strings and how weird it is visually. There's a photo on this review showing the Hellborg against a conventional roundwound string. As predominantly a pick player, I have a little YYZ moment with my fingers to see how they feel. First impressions, nothing like the strings that have just come off for sure, just different. Left hand noise is very evident as you slide up and down the neck, clearly as the ridges on the strings are quite deep...it instantly feels not unlike running your finger up and down a zip. OK maybe that was a poor analogy. OK sound. Acoustically, a very rich piano like tone. Plugging in and the strings are very even across the whole range. Without changing my amp settings the clank and attack of the D'Addarios has long gone to be replaced by a phattish tone which reminds me of a set of half-rounds. Full, but a little muddy. The Geddy only really springs back into life when you start tapping, pulling and generally attacking the string with your right hand. After about ten minutes (and a quick retune), you begin to realise that the strings are very comfortable (albeit not as nice as the D'Add's), easy under the fingers and not at all like the running of your fingers over a cheese grater that you thought you would experience. If you're after a super bright tone you'll need to tweak your treble up on your amp. So worth the $30? For me, I'd say yes. I'd been wanting to try some of these for some time, so it's answered a question or two. Would I buy again? In all likelihood, probably not. They're a bit of a novelty and I've been using D'Add's for long enough to know what my comfort zone is. I think what you have here is a new approach to string manufacturing and while that in itself is to be championed, they're not wholly what I thought they would be. Best P