Al Krow

I likely won't have found the 'on' switch in that time. Be realistic, give it three...😀

What I would say in passing though, is that: the additional level of control (particularly attack / release and side chain filter) on the Stella does seem to add quite a bit over the Becos Mini and I'm really glad I went for this fully featured version; two big thumbs up from opticaleye (in particular) and less importantly from a numpty compressor user like me, but who is already sensing that this is the best comp he's managed to get his hands on (and I've been through a fair few, as you know krispn!) ... will hopefully be an encouragement to others to check this rather excellent piece of kit out.

Well I'm kicking off with these, although I suspect will only be of interest to other Becos Stella owners, of which there is just one other BCer as far I'm aware! (1) Comp at 9 o'clock = 2:1 light touch compression (2) Threshold at 10 o'clock (3) Gain set to ensure no increase or decrease in volume when engaged (although less of an issue if this becomes always on) (4) Auto Fast - for attack / release (5) Soft knee (vs hard knee => which is more suitable for limiting rather than 'musical' compression) (6) EQ pivot set 'Low' at 330Hz for bass (vs High / 1kHz for guitar) (7) Side Chain Filter ('SCF') set 'Low' (but not all the way to 'Deep') giving a more fulsome low end. (8) 60 wet / 40 dry (9) Saturation and dry level - currently off / min [I should maybe boost the clean dry level a touch] That may change over time and with experience!

See if you can join a 'hobby band' that just like to meet up to jam and have a beer? Maybe trickier where you currently are based to find like minded musos, but worth a try? Personally I love gigging, but a hobby band is what the guitarist in one of my covers bands does for his other musical outlet. They also write and record stuff - so it's a different focus but one that they all really enjoy.

Discovering bass was a passion later in life but being too old / inexperienced to ever have a hope of getting through an audition, I took the leap of forming a band. That was 5 years ago and we're now playing weddings as well as pubs. Loving the fact that I've managed to keep up with a talented bunch of musicians; that all of the existing line-up have been together for over 3 years now and that bass is still my passion!

Brilliant! Any video clips?

Wonderful story. Glad you left that to post 42 'cos if that had been the first reply we would have seriously needed to think about closing the thread - gonna be very hard to top that!

I've currently got all the pedals on my board set up in series. Simples! How about you guys? Any of you using any of your pedals in parallel loops on your boards (or possibly even in your amp's fx loop)? If so, be really interested in your thinking behind this and what improvement to the sound it's delivering; what pedals you have in parallel and what you've left in series and what your board set-ups look like (pics very welcome!)? Are you just using the effects loops on existing pedals or have a separate dedicated pedal (e.g. a Boss LS2)? Cheers, AK

Any tips on what you're using for Attack and Release settings / timings? I'm thinking of simply using the Auto Fast setting and avoiding needing to think about this too much to start with(!) but I'd be really interested to know what you have settled on as your default? With regard to the other selector switch settings, I've gone for the more 'obvious' choices of: (i) soft knee (vs hard knee => which is more suitable for limiting rather than 'musical' compression) (ii) EQ pivot set Low at 330Hz for bass (vs High / 1kHz for guitar) (iii) Side Chain Filter set Low giving a more fulsome low end. I'm guessing you may landed on something similar for these?

I did indeed...but now I know you've got pdf editing software I'll be getting you to do the updates in future 😁 I've also just posted it on the OP for ease of reference, so folk don't have to rummage about to find it.

Whilst the other half will merrily still be gigging with their basses direct --> amp + cab (bit like yours truly) still eh? 😉

Here you go buddy, just for you... L6 HX effects & models (2.80).pdf

I think there were a few more added with firmware release 2.81 but Cato's lists are kinda 98% there / very useful thanks.

Yeah ditto. 'Fraid I've been properly Spector-ed - completely left field - while I wasn't looking! I guess that means the only Jackson 5er I'll be involved with for now is this one...

Wow - you've really taken to this multi haven't you?! Looking forward to trying your whammy patch out soon

Oh please do share what you picture you had in mind for this slightly ancient bassist?

Well the chap who sold me mine also (incorrectly) described it as a neck-through and I only spotted that wasn't correct after I'd bought it! But set necks are pretty cool too - Jon Shuker's are particularly lovely. But at the end of the day, the Spector Legend Custom has the look, feel and quality of a £600 to £700 used bass to me. If any of us manage to pick one up in vgc for less than that, then we definitely don't have anything to moan about!

I'm pleading the 5th on that 😁

Bought a pedal off John. This is my second purchase from him and, as before, I couldn't be happier with the transaction and I have no hesitation in recommending him to my fellow BC'ers (again!)

Got my hands on a Stella this morning. I guess that folk who know me will be aware that I'm a bit (ok a lot!) of a skeptic when it comes to compressors, although I did quite like the 'devil's one knob' Spectracomp as I could finally hear a compressor doing something useful / positive to my sound. The Stella is clearly quite a step up from the Spectracomp in its feature set (and a corresponding hike in price). I've a got a fair learning curve to get up to speed with this comp, but my 'day 1' impressions of the Stella are very positive. Subtle but positive impact on tone** is immediately there to hear and in line with expectations of a VCA compressor which are supposedly fast and relatively transparent; really good metering and multi-faceted control including wet / dry mix and side chain filter both of which should aid in preserving a fulsome low end. Already had a BC buddy wanting first dibs on this pedal when I move it on - but I've got a sneaky suspicion I may have finally found "my" comp so it could be a while before he gets his hands permanently on it! ** not yet clear to me is the inherent character of the pedal and how much is down to compression, though!

@WHUFC BASS having been on a crash course about Spector basses since the start of this thread, it seems to me that you've picked up an almost ideally spec'd model! Euro 5LX with EMG BQC pre-amp and soapbar EMG 40J (bridge) and 40P (neck) pickups. Is yours a 35" scale and neck-through also? The EMG 40P5, which turns this into a tasty PJ bass, I think is a 'reverse' P config - I was initially confused by a statement online that it was like a 'Spector or Yamaha' P config. Well actually they are the opposite way around! i.e. reverse P (Spector) and normal P (Yamaha). A reverse P, should provide a slightly tighter low end and warmer treble compared to a normal P, which is another plus. http://www.emgpickups.com/media/productfile/4/0/40_bass_0230-0128rb.pdf

@mangotangoI think I've managed to pin down the make / model of the preamp in our Spector Legend Custom - it's the EMG B30-S which came out in 2004 and would appear to be precursor to WHUFC's much liked and more recent BQC preamp. The description of this I've found on-line is that is: "a 3-band equalizer for bass guitar, which can be retrofitted snugly beneath two tone controls. Both bass and treble equalizers are mounted on a stacked pot, while the mid-range control mounts separately. Bass, treble and mid EQ's offer 12dB and feature a central detente. The new EMG B30-S can be used with either active or passive pickups and is powered by a 9 volt battery." That fits the description of what's on our basses perfectly. Also turns out that our Legend Custom basses are not neck-through but actually set necks

@oZZma great result! But we defo need a better picture of your rig as clear and rich as the higher fret G notes you're now playing! 😀

Did they also tell you that for free? 😄

That's very kind of you to say! You say 'predictably' your band folded; sounds like you've had a bumpy road - really sorry to hear. Hope you manage to get yourself back into something fun soon.