Al Krow

That's weird, the manual online and the review by Ed Friedland both also say 500 Hz for mid EQ centre. And the predecessor VT Bass has the same EQ points as the VTDI, which you might also expect. So I'm struggling to think that Tech 21 would put out a different version of their best selling VTDI pedal without labelling it as the Mk2 etc.

Oh I missed the obvious one - I should really have started the list with this! you can do everything on a 5 string that you might be able to on a 4 string, but not vice versa.

Here's the Krow list... Some key reasons for playing a 5 string: allows you to play a number of songs an octave down, as compared to a 4 string, particularly those in Eb, D and C (I've not come across too many in the key of B); it makes swapping to a different key a whole lot easier; there are a bunch of fretboard positional benefits from a 5 string and you'll be surprised how often you make use of the notes on the low B string further up the fretboard as well, not just the low Eb and below; avoids needing to get a drop D tuner or retuning the bass mid set; you can spend much less time faffing around looking for the perfect octave-down pedal; the low B string provides a thumb rest and avoids unsightly wear marks next to the neck pup; your band-mates (and of course the audience) won't notice you're playing a 5 string and not a 4 string unless you actually point it out to them. Key reasons for not playing a 5 string: 4 strings can be slightly cheaper (but usually by no more than the cost of a set of strings); 5 string necks tend to be a little heavier and can result in additional neck dive and the basses also a little heavier overall as a result (but there are plenty of lighter weight 5ers and a decent strap should deal with any difference between a 4 and a 5); 5 string necks are a little wider or string spacing can be a little narrower to compensate; you may be considered to have joined a deviant minority.

Right you have me completely stumped now! 😂

Another VT Bass DI user (and fanboi!) here - love the way it "peels off a blanket" from the bass tone even with rigs where you might not expect any blanket to be present! You sure about the mid centre point freq? My understanding is that the centre points on the VT Bass DI are: LOW (±12dB @ 125Hz), MID (±12dB @ 500Hz), HIGH (±12dB @ 3.2kHz)

It's my pleasure to start a formal feedback thread for Gary. Just bought a pedal from him which was in the excellent condition he described. The whole transaction was very smooth, with great comms from Gary. I'd have no hesitation in buying from Gary again and I'm very happy to recommend him to fellow BC'ers. Cheers, Bas

Dunno if any you are able to point Alex in the right direction? My old Spector Euro 5LX - Items Wanted (NO TRADES) - Basschat

Well I've been intrigued by the whole HB value / price point and done a bit more research on these basses. The one that got my attention was their flagship BZ 4000/5000/6000 NT range - around £300, partly because it has a classic Peavey Cirrus design with that lovely neck through. This was a really helpful "warts and all" review (albeit of the 6 string sibling). Few comments worth noting - it's a heavy bass with no passive tone control; the finish a little less than perfect (air bubbles / some wonky frets) -although that does not impact its playability. Vol spike when switching from active / passive. Tuners come for a bit of stick and weakest piece of the jigsaw from comments elsewhere seems to be the preamp. But actually that is all weirdly reassuring: as a lot of us have been wondering how HB can make such fully featured basses for the prices they do! If it had been a little lighter, it could make for a fantastic project bass. Still looks very good value, but I'd hesitate to fork out on one despite the bargain price.

But all this talk of HB basses though (and not just here)...very tempted to get the flagship BZ-5000 with it's lovely neck through design, B stock delivered to my door for < £300. Seriously?!! Here's the 4 string version for the OP: Done a bit more research on these basses...this was a really helpful "warts and all review" (albeit of the 6 string sibling). Few comments worth noting - it's a heavy bass with no passive tone control; the finish a little less than perfect (air bubbles / some wonky frets) -although that does not impact its playability. Vol spike when switching from active / passive. Tuners come for a bit of stick and weakest piece of the jigsaw from comments elsewhere seems to be the preamp. But actually that is weirdly reassuring: a lot of us have been wondering how HB can make such fully featured basses for the prices they do! If it had been a little lighter, it could make for a fantastic project bass. Still looks very good value, but I'd probably still make a bee-line for that Yammy TRBX 304 in the FS.

I've owned both a Sire (P7 Mk2) and a few Ibby's and can recommend them both highly as brands. If that's a key criteria for you - I'd suggest worth also checking this out: Yamaha TRBX 304 White - Basses For Sale - Basschat - and, personally, I'd be tempted to go for that in preference to both the basses on your shortlist, but I don't think you're going to go too far wrong with the either the Sire or the Ibby as your first bass.

Yeah - very good shout about the Boss RC pedals. But then where Boss lead...

Excellent news!

Fixed? If so, excellent get out of jail free card!

You've pretty much nailed it right there for the neo-luddite faction, of which I'm a founding member 😁 The other deal breaker for me is not knowing which of the presets you're on mid set without a separate midi and having to remember which order you have your presets in - there's enough going on when playing live not to have remember that! For me the strength / beauty of the SA pedals is that they are essentially multi-fx's and all the multis I'm using from my Zoom B1-4 (at just £60 plus P&P) upwards have very decent UI. Hoping that SA are going to provide a fix to this at some point, at which point I'll be making a bee-line back to their products.

Yeah filter spikes are definitely worth keeping an eye on and the Fwonkbeta had some potentially fearsome lows which needed taming! I've resorted to using my compresser as a limiter at the end of my signal chain exactly for the reason you mentioned ie to protect against filter spikes.

But didn't the C4 have enough other "good stuff" to make it worthwhile keeping?

Ah okay. I had blithely been assuming he was in the UK until now! Tbf the only other Hauser I've come across was a dastardly character in Total Recall 😁

I found the M82 a little harsh / shrill compared to something like the Fwonkbeta or my current fav the Proton v4 which is on a par with the best of my previous filers including the 3 Leaf GR2. It's a bit pricey though! Intrigued that the C4 didn't hit the mark for you though - I've only heard positive things about it (but I've managed to develop immunity to SA pedals for other reasons!). Did you not manage to try out some of our very own @Quatschmacher's patches for it?

This one should be a treat for all of you glass half empty brigade - enjoy! End of lockdown in UK.mp4

Following a hugely successful vaccination programme that folk across Europe and the rest of the world are looking on at with a degree of envy, announcement of a road map out of lockdown, gigs starting to reappear, music festivals being announced...the stream of negativity from the usual suspects above, reminded me of your comment back last November, Douglas. Ah well, c'est la vie, as you very well might say 😉

Not sure I follow Paul - only a new issue if you are buying used goods from the EU. VAT and import duty has always been there on purchases from the rest of the world. No "additional" costs on purchases from a UK retailer such Bass Direct i.e. we always had to pay VAT on new goods, and nothing extra on used goods.

Entirely fair riposte if that was the only reason, but when it's one of a much larger package of reasons, then every little helps! I think that just deserves two fingers. 😁

Fantastic new addition, Paul - congratulations!!

That really is interesting that they are getting a great tone without any mods to the bass. If you manage to pin down what they are doing differently to get such a great tone eg different rig or pedals that would be a useful insight - so please do let us know. Or maybe it really is all in the fingers 😁

I've got a Euro LX5 and it's right up there with any bass I've ever owned or played. Word on the street is that the preamp on the USA models are even better, but I'd personally struggle to justify the (hefty) premium. I was very lucky to get my Spector new at a decent discount in a sale, but it was still a multiple of what a HB or a Sire would cost. But do I think it's worth every penny? Absolutely. And at the end of the day isn't that all that really matters i.e. are we happy with what we got for our money and being inspired to make music with it?