Al Krow

Agreed. Also I've not really figured how you play synth keys and a bass at the same time! And, more importantly, whether as a bass-player, there's actually much demand or expectation for any of us to be a keys player with a different skillset? Maybe surprised at hearing this from me, but once the next software update goes through on the FI v4 VIP (not sure when that's planned - waiting to hear from @Quatschmacher re. timing), I've got a feeling from the comments @LukeFRC has made in his recent excellent review that the FI could actually be the better pedal with better display, many more presets, and midi connectivity. So, if you're getting frustrated waiting for a MXR that's maybe another option and only £20 more new.

No massive rush - the plan is to see if I can pick up the XS-100 used too, when one becomes available. And then upgrade for an all in cost of maybe £90, rather than £130 via Andertons and get a bit more use out of my XS-1 which is barely a month old and already much loved! I've got a midi pedal to get to grips with in the meantime and I'm a complete novice when it comes to midi!

Do you think you might end up going down the synth keys route at some point then? What were the pros & cons that made you all decide to stick with a bass pedal instead?

Well it's somehow already the start of November and following on from the same topic we've successfully run since 2017 - a chance for some useful hints and tips with Xmas goodies still ahead, and, of course, nothing to stop us changing our minds between now and year end! As with previous years, the only "house rules" are that it's bass gear and something you bought (or at least arrived) in 2025. Here's the last thread in the series from 2024 as a reminder of some of the goodies we bought then. Obligatory GAS inducing pics please!

Nah, Andertons slap on a £25 "courier charge" for the privelege of doing an exchange.

I'm going to put a wanted ad up for an XS-100, so Woody may end up getting my XS-1 after all 😅 PS, yes please do change the thread title for us to "XS-1 & XS-100"

@Serginhobass - excellent demo, thanks!

Very tempted to get a sE V7 and Lekato 5.8GHz wireless combo, as a back up. SM58s are now officially banned from our gigs: I'm done with needing to sort out unwanted feedback from non-directional mics!

XS-100: 30 presets - of which I'll likely need no more than 5 or 6, but be very handy for quick changes to keep songflow going mid-set. The ability to combine with an expression pedal to e.g. glide in octave up is a very nice to have. Midi could be useful XS-1: You get to choose 3 presets OR expression pedal from what I understand. But XS-1 plus expression pedal ain't too far off the pedal board acreage of the XS-100 (although I may just wait a while and see if one comes up used once the first movers have decided they don't need theirs!) Presets do make all the difference for me where you have more than one setting on a pedal you want to use live - the exact same reason for switching from the SY-1 -> SY-200, although the SY-200 does have 50 more built-in sound options than its smaller sibling. I was originally thinking this would be just a (finally!) decent detuning pedal, but already finding I'm wanting to use it in different ways to what I had originally intended.

I'm leaning towards the getting the XS-100 for its ease of use, presets and built-in expression pedal and have just realised I'm still within the 30 day exchange period at Andertons. It is pricey, but the octave up is an unexpected boon on the pedal and in a 4 piece outfit with just one guitar as the other instrument, I can see this getting quite a lot of use to fill out the sound when the guitarist is soloing.

Did you not like the Boss EV30 (which is also my one as it happens)? I've not really had reason to use it much before, but am liking it so far - well built and very cool that it has dual output!

Gotcha. What I'm feeling is a really neat live effect (just from home use so far) is sliding in the octave up rather than punching it in so it's simply off/on. Bringing a smile to my face which kinda would be sufficient, but I suspect my bandmates will have a grin on too!

Oh I've done worse and had it set to 100% wet for octave up, as I was too distracted by other things to remember mid set to also change the wet/dry! However, someome on TB has pointed out I can access 3 different settings on the XS-1 using an external footswitch so I may not need to upgrade to the XS-100 after all!

^^ this 100% Have to 'fess I'm actually really enjoying the octave up and bringing it in with an expression pedal (same one as Neepheid is using above, as it happens). Having it set 40:60 wet / dry for octave up and 60:40 for octave down, to make allowance for the higher frequencies cutting through more easily, seems to be a decent mix. Obviously when de-tuning you'll want it 100% wet. Making me think I probably don't actually need my OC-5 anymore! The issue I've now got, is that I'm seriously thinking about upgrading the XS-1 to the XS-100, as I want to be able to quickly switch between songs from: 100% wet, detuned to -2semis or -3semis (depending on the song) 40% wet for octave up 60% wet for octave down And as the XS-100 has it's own expression pedal, possibly either taking the expression pedal off board to free up space or use the dual output with a couple of other pedals. So @Woodinblack if someone wants to sell me their XS-100 used, you may well (finally!) actually end up getting first dibs on mine, haha! But I'll be holding onto my XS-1 until then, for sure - great little pedal and as @neepheid has said, best pitch shift performance either of us have had from a pedal.

3 semis down/up is passable (and a lot better than on any multifx I've used)

Yes but they are. Check online - you'll be pushed to get the original version new from many retailers.

Looks like the 'old' BB has now been discontinued i.e. Singular Sound is going to clear it's old stock at $379 for both the BB and the 10th anniversary edition - could only find the latter being sold elsewhere. Managed to pick one up in good nick on fleabay for £175 - and see how I get on with it. Didn't fancy forking out £400+ for the BB2 - not sure the upgrade makes it worth double? Many thanks for your tips on how to get the most out of it!

We've just sacked SM58s from our band! Had a couple of gigs recently where we struggled with taming feedback during the first set but switching over from SM58s to the more directional AKG D7 eliminated the issue and we had a much better band performance in the second set when we and the audience weren't on edge because of feedback creeping in. A fellow bass-player & BL I know well has said he's recently done the same thing in getting rid of SM58s in favour of sE V7s in his band, which while not quite matching the D7 for overall quality, come in at half the price at £75 and also provide a big improvement over the SM58 in terms of feedback performance. I did a quick test of the difference the mics made at the break and the AKG D7 gave us an additional +6dB headroom before feedback kicked in! The two singers in our line-up with SM58s are swapping over to either the AKG D7 or sE V7 depending on their budget.

Thanks - if this identical to the Joyo adaptor, then may as well get the cheaper one? PS...she's gone for it! Thanks all!

Thanks @BigRedX. So many good points there! Agree in particular that: - we want bass synth pedal performance that is suitably glitch free, which for me is as important live where you only get one take, not the multiple you get on YT! It was actually the main driver for me opting for the polyphonic 'tracking' of the Boss SY-1 and now the SY-200 with its preset options, and choosing to sacrifice not having the richer synth sounds available on the FI. Delighted to hear that FIv4 has substantially improved tracking and it's definitely back on my radar as a consequence. The MXR is also getting a lot of plaudits and being enjoyed by basschat mates who are gigging with it regularly. - there's a set up difference between adding keys vs adding a pedal to a pedal board. I've updated my note, I did for John, to reflect the mono vs poly tracking on the various pedals: Synth pedal review (25-10).pdf

That's very helpful, also, thanks. I'm guessing the Joyo is the original and Lekato the clone? But they are the exact same product?

Brilliant, thanks Woody! Think I'll recommend she puts that one on her Xmas list then!

I'm not denying that any of us who can ride a push bike could learn to ride a motor bike, if we wanted to? Just like we could take up keys, or any other instrument for that matter, if we wanted to. And I suspect most musos already know that synth keys are the premium product in the synth-tone space? No debate from me on that, and respect to you for doing both. But it's why when bass players ask about bass synth pedals on a bass forum I don't immediately jump in and suggest they take up keys! And very much also vice versa if I was ever on a keyschat forum or thread.

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That is super helpful thank you. Singer started out with the Gear4Music SubZero UHF Wireless XLR (863–865 MHz Ch. 70) - so we will take that off the list! I had already suggested going for 5.8Ghz and avoiding 2.4 GHz. Just as a rule of thumb it would be great to get a wireless bolt-on that comes to no more than 2/3 the price she is investing in the microphone itself, in terms of the incremental benefit of the wireless vs wired to her performance on stage, so that would suggest a budget of around £100. Currently the JOYO 5.8 GHz looks like a decent contender that seems to tick quite a few boxes? If anyone has experience of this or similar, please do share.