MoJ

Oh,and dont think Id have the guts to do all that or have it done to my baby! Andy

Hey,good call on that. Had wondered for a while,as a Ric owner what a 5 string would sound like. I know they used to do the 4003 as a 5er,and there's always the current 4004 5 string but Ive heard that thats a different beast to a 4001 or 4003 due to the humbuckers.Apparently you dont get the same growl. If anyone's interested,my 4003' taken quite well to B E A D tuning,and I dont miss the G string either.In fact,having tried a stingray 5 string at band practice tonight(1st time Ive used a 5 properly for sometime)I actually realise I think Ill always be a 4 string slinger. Still,wouldnt mind trying a modified Ric 4003.The necks pretty chunky as it is but Id rather that than a matchstick-like Jazz neck..Ill just run and hide..... Andy

[quote name='presoulnation' post='10008' date='May 31 2007, 04:48 PM']Good informative review that is. Any chance of sound clips?[/quote] Hey there Presoulnation. Thanks.Glad people arent bored to tears by it Well,Ive yet to get round to photoing it yet let alone sound clips.Not even sure how I would get them posted up here.The other main problem is I only have Audacity which in itself isnt a problem,but I dont have the required plugins to convert files to wav or mp3. Looks like thats my Sunday gone!Nah,no problems.Ill see what I can do as I think people desrve to hear what these pedals sound like. Andy

[quote name='nedsbeds' post='7999' date='May 28 2007, 11:10 AM']We still need some pics of the finish..![/quote] Ah...yes...urm...actually,I dont have any batteries for my camera at the moment and I wouldnt want to do it on my phone,as that just wouldnt do it justice. Will see what I can do this week. [quote name='DHA' post='8000' date='May 28 2007, 11:11 AM']Hi all, I am glad you guys are all talking to each other about your settings and I find it very useful too. On the 2>1 or 1>2 thing - I changed the signal path on the latest pedals so that channel 1 is always first in the chain and drives channel 2 when in 1+2 mode. It used to be channel 2 drove channel 1. You will still be able to get the same tones but your settings may be not the same. The treble boost or bright switch adds a 500pF cap across the level pot this is an old Fender trick on their amps. It only has an effect when the level is not on full and removes the muddy tone on lower level settings. Many guitar players add mod this to their guitar's volume control for the same reason. The fat switch adds a tad more gain and increases the bass response, if your bass EQ is set high then you won't hear it so well. It's great on guitar. BTW, get your band's guitar players to try them as the bass versions work great for guitar as well. Dave[/quote] Thanks Dave. See,this is a great example of Dave's service he offers.No BS and enjoys seeing users of his product get more out by knowing more about it themselves. I do find the treble boost really useful.Does make the overdrive a bit fizzy but I EQ that out on my head now that I dont turn the pedal off.The cap you use seems to me to be just in the right part of the spectrum and as you say Dave,it stops things getting too muddy. As for the guitarists using it,well,they'll have to get it from my cold dead hands 1st!But,I had thought about getting them to try it and see what they thought.Being as we all tune to B the bass version may be more appropriate for them and they both use tube amps too so they that could be interesting. Andy

[quote name='brycebites' post='7709' date='May 27 2007, 05:09 PM']Andy, what valves are you trying? FWIW I'm now using a NOS General Electronics 12ax7 in my VT1 Mk3 (the GT12ax7m in the Mk1). My amp still has Mullards in all 5 preamp positions. [/quote] Ah,so you cant escape the mighty Mullard then? Well,I asked Dave to fit some cryo's in mine,after some things I read on Bassworld posts regarding his 'Ice' range,and also what Watford Valves desribe them as too. Initially I didnt see what all the fuss was about and was also excited to get experimenting too.As it happens I swapped the EH cryo's back in and am loving it. Very bright indeed so not sure(bearing in mind your valve comparison sticky - something I based my choices on and found pretty accurate)that they'd be your thing.I do like a transparent and 'grindy' kind of tone. When I can afford some I still want to try some Mullards just to see what they're like.Natural curiosity n all! Did see some on Ebay kinda cheap but still dont have the money.May try a Groove Tubes remake or something. [b]Brycebites[/b],how do you find the NOS GE? Andy

[quote name='umcoo' post='7757' date='May 27 2007, 07:16 PM']Hey MoJ. Just wondering what settings you have your DHA set to? I have boost on full, gain 1 just over 9oclock, gain 2 about 4 oclock and 2>1 about half 8. Lets me have nice clean valve tone then a really warm fuzz when i kick in the 2nd channel. Cheers[/quote] Right,well after palying with valves again last night,the settings Ive got it on now are based on having the cryo valves back in(just something Dave said that got me thinking). The only switches I have on are the Fat switch(not sure its doing much and Dave said it works better on guitar but its called Fat,why wouldnt you want in on??)and the treble switch,which just pulls my original tone through the overdrive.The extra 'fuzz' that creates I just EQ out on my head.I dont turn this thing off now! I/p pad incindently is set all the way on.Gain 1 is around 1:30,and this varies up to about 2/2:30 depending on how much grit I want.Anywhere around there allows me to get a really nice transparent 'grit'. Gain 2 isnt too dissimalr to yours and thats around half 4.Dave's labeled mine 1>2,and thats about 10 o'clock.Its about as much OD as I can get really before that grinding edge of my tone gets lost.Not that anything above that doesnt sound good,I just dont think I need anything more. All thats then matched to my 'clean' level when bypassed. I have to say,if you like what I can only describe as a glassy tone,then try the cryo's [b]umcoo[/b].Especially if you like the standard EH valves Dave's put in yours.I say its galssy,because its like my normal clean tone and very transparent,but with a bit of extra shine too it. Ill see if I can try out your settings if I have time before my gig tonight. Thanks [b]umcoo[/b]. Oh,and thanks [b]Finnbass[/b] for your comments Andy

Ok,quick update. after speaking to Dave via email(the man knows no bounds where customer support is concerned!)I now realise that it was the EH valve in position 1 I liked all along. Still,not gonna stop me from trying out different valves.I still want to see if I can refine position 2 a little more. Andy

[quote name='Timface' post='5408' date='May 23 2007, 10:20 PM']Hey MoJ (andy) whats the difference when you swap the valves?[/quote] Hi Timface, looks like sugden beat me to it. Basically you either change the amount of drive you get or the tone,or both depending on what type(12AX7 or 12AT7 for example)or brand(Electro Harmonix,which is what Dave Hall fits as standard or Mullard,Bryce's favourite). I did make the mistake of confusing which valve position related to which 'channel' in my VT2,so I now realise that it was the EH valve I was liking the tone of all along. Been fun trying different valves though,if you dont mind spending a little time,and Im going to be swapping valves around again this eveing now I know whats what and have a more informed starting point! Andy

[quote name='MacDaddy' post='5964' date='May 24 2007, 07:01 PM']Does anyone have experience of these? ...'future proofed' via software downloads seems too good to be true. Is it?[/quote] Afraid it is. I have one myself and although Ive not checked recently,in the 2/3 years Ive had mine Ive not seen ANY sign of Yamaha updating the guitar Magicstomp,let alone even putting up a page for the bass version. I did even send Yamaha an email asking about when there would be a site available and as yet ahave not recieved an email.Not a single acknowledgement. Having said that,if you dont mind wading through pages of sub-menus on a tiny screen if you want to adjust settings 'on the fly',ie not near a laptop or PC,and you can handle the delay in switching between banks in multi mode(or whatever it is,not the up/down mode anyway)then it really is a great pedal. The extensiveness to which you can alter any of the effects is as much its downfall IMO as it is its selling point.Im not sure what half the parameters are on some of them,but Ive found with patience and time you can get some really good things out of it.I did eventually get a great sounding overdrive from the preamp patch,but still can quite get the level to match my clean sound properly due to it being digital and the knobs are still set as in 0.1,0.2,0.3...1.1,1.2 etc and I need it to go between those.May sound petty but the jump betwen 0.1 and 0.2 is pretty big in volume terms. Also,because of the way the edit function works on the pedal itself,I find it just plain annoying after a while.That would just take way too much time explain properly. I also have a patch which is delay and pitch shift,where the pitch ascends an octave(I guess you could set that to any pitch)and I think its meant to just be a pitch shifter so Im not sure how I got the sound,but I manage to weird people out with every time Id say,check one out before you buy it and spend some time trying to get your head round it. Ive not much experience with multi-fx units,though the last band I was in the guitarist had a Korg something or other and he had a delay problem between banks too.I was sold on the updatability(so I could hopefully correct the delay thing)and huge array of parameters,and I was fairly against having any multi-fx,but if you get bored easily,this aint the pedal for you. Im still fairly against multi-fx and the overdrive patch I had was a 'tube' fatcory setting that I messed with and now I have a DHA pedal for that.Analouge is way easier to set up! I think Ill keep the Magicstomp though for those 'special' sounds.Its useflul to have but I wouldnt rely on it for my entire set up. Anyhoo,sorry for the essay.Hope that was of some help! Andy

All I can say is,I love mine more everytime I play through it!Its serioulsy excellent.Ive got a VT2(review in the um..review..section..). Been busy swapping valves around and loving it! Andy

I should probably add,as Ive said to Dave,that the more I use mine the more I love it. The 2nd rehearsal I used it at I noticed that our sound just seemd tighter,and I sounded much clearer in the mix,and that was just a mild,'grit' setting of channel one.Remember,your choice of valves will affect the sound,and I think its worth the time trying different ones out. Like Brycebites,I'll hardly EVER turn mine off now! Of course,like Isaid in my previous post,I dont know the other two pedals,so by all means try them out,but I doubt that the DOD would sound as fat for sure.The DHA is probably better/sturdier construction than the Muffin. Andy

I have a custom Dual Bass(not the Dual Bass Custom,as I had Dave customise a standard VT2 for me a little)and can honestly say its the best thing since sliced bread. Not tried either of the two others you mention,and although DOD are generally quite good,I wouldnt bother after having this.Its perfect and I cant see ANYthing coming close to the sound Im after,nor yours Id imagine. The Muffin I know has valves too,and was a contender but I don't know anywhere I can try one(though the same can be said for DHA...),but the VT2 you can have two types of tube sound and switch between them,so that was the decider for me(read my review in the review section). Honestly think you cant go wrong with any of Dave's pedals.If you dont like the tone,swao the valve out for something else.Ive swapped both the originals out of mine and have just swapped one of those to try something else too. Also,with my 1st channel it cant get pretty wild before you max out too so you know you'll have some good range from the VT1 from clean upwards,along with the colour control which will make things even hairer and the two diode optons too,of which niether features on the other two pedals so you've definitly got more choices for the money. Oh,and you're supporting a good ol' British product too.Not that Im anti-American but hey,when you have the option! Andy

[quote name='MoJ' post='2667' date='May 20 2007, 03:06 AM']I havent noticed any coluration of the tone or lack of it.Having modded my Ric to BEAD tunning Ive not noticed any low end roll off either.[/quote] Scartch that.I decided to take it out of my signal chain today(the TE compressor)at band practice and I noticed this flood of bottom end come back. Hmmm... Shame,as it really is great at doing its primary job.You cant hear it doing it(except when I play higher up the neck where strangely things get ultra loud and it seems to keep that in check),which is perfect,but I can tell on my heads input display that its compressing every thing.However,it does seem to lose the main part of any bass tone,the [i]bass[/i] feqeuncies. Looks like Ill be looking into something else. Andy

Great idea!I could possibly be up for that. Very interested in building an Omni 15,but wouldnt mind trying out a 10 and DR250 before I do,and while Im at it I would therefore like to be able to compare to the 15. I start a new job tomorrow so I dont know what date I could make as of yet,but so far Im gig free at the least. Will keep my eyes on this thread. Andy

[quote name='Crazykiwi' post='2436' date='May 19 2007, 08:52 PM']The Trace Elliot dual band compressor is the best I've tried so far but I still don't want to use it in my rig because the tone still isn't right.[/quote] Have to say Ive just nabbed me a TE dual band compressor(well,its actually Trace Acoustic but for all intence and purposes its the same thing)and Im loving it.I havent noticed any coluration of the tone or lack of it.Having modded my Ric to BEAD tunning Ive not noticed any low end roll off either. Just my 2p on that... I assume(and hope) Crazykiwi that you'll be posting a review of the DHA compressor?Just nabbed me a VT2 and I want more now Compressor would be perfect Martin,if you can find a TE dual band compressor (Ebay's a good shot) Id say try it as Ive found it to be really sublte,yet I can just tell its there on really high settings.I tend not to do that personally though. Like JPJ,I wanted something to keep the levels in order so as not to clip my amp yet still get the best signal to noise ratio possible. Andy

[quote name='umcoo' post='2141' date='May 19 2007, 11:30 AM']Excellent review my friend! You've got me interested in swapping valves in my VT2 now! I was surprised when you said your pupil's 10 watt amp with everything maxed. My 300 watt amp clips like a madman when i maxed everything, not to mention nearly deafens me! Good call on Dave being a nice guy too, makes the pedal seem even better when the customer service is top notch![/quote] Glad you liked it Even better you got all the way through it,if only for my cr*ppy spelling!Really bad but Im blaming it on my cold and I havent got the energy to go back through it and change it all. Its thanks to Brycebite's [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=42"]Preamp Valve Comparison[/url] list that I had some vague idea of what valves may suit the sound I wanted.So thaks to Brycey It really is easy to do,especially if someone like me can do it.And its worth it just to se what other sound are available. One bit of advice though,which was given to me(Bryce again I think)is to not touch the valve directly as the oil in you skin can shorten the valve life.I just used kitchen paper towel to grab hold of them. Worth noting that although Watford Valves arent cheap,they do have some good descriptions of the valves,as in some places do Hot Rox. Worth checking Ebay for valves too. As for maxing things out,its fun but I doubt Ill ever need to.Just nice to have the option though and if anything,coupled with a compressor after it my Trace head didnt clip once.Even without a compressor the VT2 actually seemed to even out my playing.Awesome! Thanks for your comments umcoo! Andy

[attachment=620:VT2_2.jpg] My review of a DHA VT2. Apologies for the quality of the pic. I used my phone as it was more a case of remembering settings as Ive finally got 'the sound' that Im after (11/6/07) If you're new to these,then a brief decription. This is a bass specific twin valve,twin 'channel' pedal enabling the user to get a variety of overdrive and distortion sounds,with options to change the sound within that remit via some diodes and a colour control which adds slight compression,and also to 'tone' switches.One for treble(bright) and one for bass(fat).Also,for those with differing outputs on basses there is an input volume control too. 1st things 1st,its true what peole who have dealt with Dave Hall say,in that he is a 1st class man.Always ready to answer any questions(well,anything relating to his pedals thats for sure..)and really does know his onions! After many months(and we're talking an age here)of indecision and financial inadequacy,I got round to ordering a pedal from Dave. Id seen these things up Ebay before I knew about Bassworld,and even from then Dave was willing to help guide me into the right choice,but it was fom a post in Basstalk that I finally plumped for the VT2 Dual and stuck it on my credit card. I have a Yamaha bass Magicstomp,and though I have(finally) managed to tweak a great overdrive from that,I can never quite balance the level of it right,and having to go through so many sub-menus is a nightmare.Added to that I get bored easily if I cant find a sound easily.So,I wanted something that I could replace the overdrive side of it and make things easier.The patch I use on it is based on a tube preamp,which added to my reasoning in getting a DHA pedal. What I have is number 0361 in black,with silver righting and the cryogenically frozen valves you may have heard of. 1st got to try in a lesson I was giving as it came in the morning before work,so thought Id do a "creative tools" lesson!Basically "can I try my pedal out while we're here,Ive been waiting soooo long for it"... I couldnt quite contain myself upon opening it,and my initial thoughts on this,before Id even plugged anything was that this thing is solid.I mean,its the size of a brick(which I dont worry about as I dont have a pedal board)and Im fairly certainly you could kill someone with it(in fact I think I could take out the 1st 5 rows at a gig with this thing sonically).Because its in black too it just looked even more solid.Dont get me wrong,the paint jobs Dave does as standard are fine,but all my pedals are black and I just wanted one in black. On top of it looking solid,I should add that it IS solid.The control [kitchen hob]s all firmly fixed to the case,and there is no wobble and they turn smoothly,but with resistance so there is no overshooting the mark or chance of moving something with a slip of the foot. Robust So,onto the sound.Even through my pupils tiny 10 watt amp,this thing sounded wild!Everything up on max on 1+2 and if you're not playing anything the feedback is just unbelievable.Even when you are playing,nothing became indestinguishable unlike some overdive/distortions Ive tried. Backing off the gain I could start to here the sound I was after,and could only imagine what this thing was going to sound like through my set-up. Fast forward a few days(if only for the sake of [i]trying[/i] to keep this short!)and Id been messing with through my computer speakers via the headphone out on my Magicstomp.Knowing that the speakers arent the best thing for an accurate sound its all I have at home as my rig stays at the bands rehearsal space,but the speakers allowed me to hear the top end of the sound which is what Im most interested in.I like having fairly transparent overdrive,in that I like hearing some of the sound of my strings through it,at whatever setting I have it too,from just 'grit' to full on Timmy C outrageous.Playing a Ric 4003,I like the chimey(some may say clangy) sound I get with steel roundwounds,and the overdrive just helps accentuate this and sits around that area too.As one of the guitarists in my band said during a recording session of my Yamaha pedal,it gave it a more metal sound.Yes,we do play metal but Im sure he meant as in you could hear the metal strings.Make sense?No?Good! Sadly,with the cryo valves I wasnt quite getting the grind I wanted.It was defintiley fat though! Armed with the fact that valves are replacable and will alter the tone,fast forward to yesterday,the 2 valves Id ordered to try out had arived.A JJ Tesla ECC83s and a standard(non-cryo)Electro Harmonix 12AX7(which is what Dave fits in all his pedals as standard I believe). Now I know nothing about electronics other than as a kid I used to take a lot of toys(even an old computer at one point)apart.I may not have got round to putting them together but Im used to seeing PCBs and wiring at least.When I got inside the VT2 this thing is tidy.No unneccessary wiring and its pretty jammed packed too. Also,its worth noting that these pedals arent just essentailly 2 VT1's,they are 2 VT1's.The PCB even said on each one VT1 MK3. The two valves were swapped about,trying them in both positions and with the original cryo's too. Ive now arrived,if only with the JJ ECC83s,at the tone Im looking for,which is the transparency,so thats now happliy residing in postion one.I may just get another to go in 2,but Im stilll going to try out a few more,especially the Mullards I hear Brycebites rave on about The pedal is now fully tested through my rig and a band setting,as I promised Dave I would wait to do this until that had happend so I could get a propwer opinion. I have to say that the time its taken me to get one of these,Im not dissapointed.Its still not quite what I wanted and couldve expected,but in all honesty(as I think some other reviews have said)its exacley what I needed. On all settings this thing has a full sound across the range,and even brought me through the mix that little bit more.Only for the very quiet bits did turn the pedal off,and had channel 1 set for just a bit of grit and to bring out that 'chime/clang'.Going a little up from there brings you into more crunch area,which is what I have channel 2 set for,and I cant wait to get another valve in that position to try. There is no loss in bottom end what-so-ever either,and the overdrive you get isnt harsh or brittle,but a nice soft kind of sound. For those looking to get a warmer sound,then I would suggest looking at changing valves around to match the sound you want.Ive found its not that hard and some valves really arent expensive either.Ive found some Mullards on Ebay going for less than a fiver! I should add a couple of things at this point. Firstly,I personally havent had the need to use the silicon or germanium settings yet.Nor the colour either.The valves on their own do more than enough Secondly,there was initially a significant rise in volume going from 1 to 1+2 which Id spoken to Dave about and is quite natural,and I guess is to be expected with a rise in gain.Dave suggested yo control that with a higher gain setting a using my bass's volume.However having changed the valves,I dont get it to the same degree.Still there,but barely noticable.It may all change with changing the 2nd valve,but I guess thats half the fun of valves! My only gripe(and its a very small one)is that maybe I shouldve have gotten the custom version to have the EQ section,but now that Ill be leaving it on for the most part of my playing,I can just adjust the EQ on my head instead. Sorry for the long-winded review.I can only hope that with some of the background you have a more informed opinion/decision. For any doubters,basically this pedal will do any sound you like.Just swap out the valves,its easy enough.And if you dont require the extra grunt of a 2nd valve,as I said above,these things are 2 VT1's put in the same box so you'll get the same sound from any of Dave's pedals,I guess including the Fatguts. Right,I should leave it there as no doubt you'll all have fallen asleep or dies of boredom. Andy PS,I am in no way affiliated with Dave or DHA. Il try get some pics up over the weekend if I can.... Edited for spelling

Will definitley let you know! Really wanna do as many gigs in as many places as we can.If you know of any bands in your area that would like/need support slots filled let us know.Not sure how we'd get to Scotland with all our gear or get the time off work but damn,where there's a will there's a way! Andy

Cheers,glad you like. Yes,our drummer is a demon.No,seriously we have to chant and do some ritual sacrifices to summon him for practices and gigs... ..ahem.. Thanks for checking it though.I have to admit Im not even playing on those tracks as I only joined about 3 months ago,so all praise and credit goes to the guys that have welcomed me in.I will mention it to them This'll be my 3rd gig with band Im soooo looking forward to it.I think the line-up is pretty damn good. As for gigs up north,well,maybe someday.We've just ben offered a distribution deal Andy

Hey,yes,we have more gigs! [url="http://myspace.com/mojudas"]Mask of Judas[/url] Reduced to Ashes Oblivion Thanks Andy

[s][url="http://www.myspace.com/mojudas"]Mask of Judas[/url] (yes,my band again) supporting Septembers Emotion and some other bands we're not sure of yet.Its all a bit last minute.Yay! Andy[/s]

[spoiler][url="http://www.myspace.com/mojudas"]Mask of Judas[/url] (my band ) are supporting [url="http://www.myspace.com/Interlock"]Interlock[/url] (on Anticulture records) at the first night of a live metal night at notorius Brixton club Mass... with [url="http://www.myspace.com/thedefiled"]The Defiled[/url] and [url="http://www.myspace.com/dyscarnate"]Dyscarnate[/url] followed by DJ between midnight and 2am. DIRECTIONS- Get Victoria line to brixton- last stop on the line. Turn left out of the station and walk for 1-2 minutes. Numerous busses run along Brixton hill or through Brixton road. Tix are £6.00 in advance or £7.00 on the door. Thanks Andy[/spoiler]

I have heard that Foxton(and please dont quote me on this-its late for a start...)didnt use a 'real' Ric,but a copy. But thats not important.You're asking about overdrive. Having just bought meself a fine DHA VT2 Dual,I can happily say that it does warm OD to a tee.Particularly with the cryo valves I asked Dave to put it in it.Perhaps a little too warm for me.Its at the expensive of loosing the sparkle I like and that suits my Ric(thats what I think anyhoo).Its just not got the grind Im after but Im hoping to change that with some valve experimenting. I know,its starts off as dabbling here and there then before you know it you've formed a pay-draining habit... Anyhoo,IMO the DHA VT2 will do outragous warm fuzzy fizz if you want,but modest settings keep things 'warm'. Im sure Brycebites will chime in when he gets over here. Just thought,although its more money,you could get the custom dual,as its got an EQ section in it that Dave told is basically the Fender Bassman/Marshall Plexi circuit.And its switchable if you dont like it. Andy

Hey,*phew*,managed to get here..just..nearly didnt see it. I gotta admit,I thought the post over in Basstalk was just a joke to start off,but I saw this thread and realised what was happening. Props to the guys who have allowed to keep going.Your hard work will be paid off Im sure. Shame to lose Basstalk just as we were getting comfy but I think the mods etc have all done sterling work to make this 'easy'.Course Im sure it wasnt easy to do though. Thanks guys.. Andy