Greg Edwards69

According to wikipedia, ITV, STV and S4C are also members under the UKIB umbrella. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Broadcasting_Union#Members

Nice job Huw. Love that synth sound and the playing. I wonder how close I could get with the Helix now it has more synth options.

FWIW. It’s worth keeping an eye out on thomann’s b-stock bass page for bargains. There’s a sunburst JP-45OP on there right now for £167. Not a huge saving, but still, it’ll help pay the energy bills!

That would be an issue for me too. I don't use a real amp, just an frfr speaker. At the moment, I send XLR from my helix to FOH and 1/4" from the helix to my frfr speaker. I'm guessing Origin Effect expect people to use this in conjunction with a real bass amp and cab on stage. Without a cab sim on the 1/4" going to an frfr it would sound rather fizzy. I suppose you could send XLR to an frfr and then another XLR from frfr to FOH as a workaround, But I love having discrete control over each. FWIW, I don't use cab blocks in the helix, I prefer a simple eq to top and tail the signal with high and low cuts. But the same logic applies here.

Absolutely. If I hadn't of gone down the Helix route, I may well have gotten the B|Amp instead. It really does appear to be the quintessential bassist's bass amp.

If you're playing a lot of melodic parts, you may want to investigate multi-band compression. It's more transparent than single band and high note don't get "swallowed" by the low end. The TC Spectracomp is highly regarded for multiband and single band compression. (To be honest, if I was in the market for a comp pedal, this is what I would buy).

My only concern is ergonomics, having never played a single cut bass design. I like my top horn strap button to reach around the 12th fret which not only improved balance, but brings the nut a bit closer (my old Warwick Thumb was terrible in this respect). But I notice the gretsch button falls somewhat short of that around the 15th fret, so I wonder if the gains from the shorter scale (shorter reach to the nut) are somewhat lost from the strap button positioning.

Also, FWIW, I'm quite intrigued to try one of these basses, humbuckers or not. Seems like a good platform to start exploring short scale (this or the Sire).

FWIW, there's a new thread continuing the saga, since Gretsch corrected the specs https://www.talkbass.com/threads/update-to-the-g2220-saga.1559805/

It depends on the quality of the amp’s built in compressor, and it’s settings IMHO. Most built in compressors are single of the single knob variety with a preset ratio (often quite conservative), attack and release. If you want more control or a different flavour you will be better served by an external pedal. The only way to find out is to try it.

I've never tried it myself, but I hear you can remove (or reduce) dents in wood with a wet cloth and a soldering iron and steam it out.

I wonder if an aria plate would fit without too much trouble? still, as you say, there’s plenty of places now that will make a custom plate these days.

And ironically, the original aria headstock is very similar to HB’s usual design. Perhaps they changed it to avoid a potential lawsuit.

I like having the choice. I've yet to find a definitive 'do it all' bass (although I had a play with a cort gb74 gig bass that is tempting), so I choose the bass I feel best fits the type of gig we're playing. Heavy rock at a biker bar - Yamaha Attitude. Function/party set - G&L JB2. Either way, I'll take the Squier 50s P as a backup. Unless it's a little, short set somewhere, I always take a spare bass, even if it lives in a gig bag. I've had a bass fail once and only once at a gig (dodgy jack socket) and was so glad I had a backup. Likewise, I had an amp head fail during a 20min set at a showcase event. Markbass head in padded case fell out of the boot when we opened the boot door. Seemed fine at first but must have had a microfracture that caused it to go into protect mode after 10mins. Got it fixed and bought a new amp and started taking both so I had a backup. These days, me and the two guitarists each use a helix and an frfr speaker as backline monitoring (with multiple inputs).. One of them also brings an HX Stomp as a backup with patches loaded for each of us, so if one helix dies, we are covered. Similarly, if an frfr speaker dies the others have spare inputs. Regardless, we all go direct to FOH as well. Heck, in a dire emergency, I could probably use my Nux Mighty Plug, or my G10s wireless (receiver has XLR output) straight into the desk. Our drummer's kit is in immaculate condition and he takes great care of it (he does actually bring a spare snare drum sometimes). He also has a roland trigger module device with two pads and bass drum trigger. So even if he had a catastrophic bass drum/bass pedal or snare failure he's be able to work around with with the trigger. Our old drummer came back after a break as a co-lead singer. So we even have a backup singer if one can't do it!

Admittedly I didn't even know about the Aria bass. I wouldn't mind betting they are all likely made in the same factory, with the same tools, machine and people. But I do find it amusing that the original aria headstock design is very similar to the usual HB headstock design on their other basses, unlike the 2+2 HB have employed on this new range.

Aha, I missed that. That'll teach me for not using the search feature!

And in contrast to one of my previous threads, I'm pleased to see 4 and 5 string versions are available in the same four finishes.

Just seen these come up in my Feedly newsfeed. I'm quite liking the look of these. Decent price too A modern design but still classic looking. Not sure how comfortable they will be to play whilst seated however. https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2022/04/19/harley-benton-launches-jj-basses/

IME the biggest technique factor in bringing out the mwah, (or restricting it in this case) is how you press the strings down on the finger board. Using the pad of the fingers brings out the mwah more than finger tips.

I accidentally trod on and pulled out my lead at rehearsal last week. We’ve been learning a raft of new songs so we’ve been concentrating on our own parts more than listening exclusively to everyone else. One of my band mates said it wasn’t until I accidentally unplugged my bass and plugged it back in that he really started to pay attention to what I was playing and how well it slotted into the mix.

Gaffa tape is like the Force. It has a light side and a dark side and binds the universe together.

Sounds like your keyboardist need an hpf. On of my guitarists doubles on keys. Both his keyboard and helix for his guitar go into his Yamaha DXR10 frfr speaker on stage and then a mix out to FOH. Cruicially, he engages the hpf on the DXR10 and it's low cut again on the FOH mixer. I have no problems being hear down the low end.

the only thing I've seen that comes even close to this is the guitar to short-scale bass conversion necks by Retovibe. But these are for converting strats and teles etc to shortscale basses, not for long scale to short scale bass.

Awesome. I completely forgot about that feature. It does use up an effect block though. I kind of wish I had kept one of mine now (I had two of them). It would make a great backup if my helix ever failed.

IIRC I don't believe the MS60b is capable of doing what you want. You can either use it in stompbox mode, where you can only switch the displayed effect on/off, or in preset mode, where the footswitch will scroll up through a specified list of presets. The only way I can think of to do what you want it to have duplicate presets with the same effects, one with the specific effect engaged and one without them engaged and switch between them in preset mode. I used to do a similar thing when I had mine and cycle through them. Having duplicates of my main, clean patch between each effected patch work like an on/off. For example A - main patch B - duplicate main patch + chorus C - duplicate main patch D - duplicate main patch + drive Otherwise, an upgrade my be in order. I believer the B3n and new B6 have the same effect and are more geared up for switching mutiple effect on and off within a patch. Or if you want to get your hands dirty, I believe some enterprising users manage to work out a way to use and external usb midi swticher to give more control over the MS60b.