Al Krow

May be a while off, we're still at F1-4 VIP methinks? 😅

1 hour ago, Baloney Balderdash said:

Here's a sample of the Boss XS-1 used for obtaining an effect somewhat similar to that of an 8 string octave course bass, using my 28.6" scale Ibanez GSRM25 Mikto Bass, tuned to E standard tuning (E to C).

 

Just random noodling through my "amp-less" setup, directly into my Zoom H4n handheld recorder, with nothing additionally done post recording, other than clipping/cutting some parts out:

 

 

Thanks for sharing that! Would you say it performs better at 8 string emulation with high rather than low notes?

Or, if you're desperate for one but haven't been able to get your hands on one yet, start at 4 and work backwards?

1 hour ago, Quatschmacher said:

Why? Are you looking for another excuse to not buy it?😂

I'll take that as a "yes" then? 😅

I think I'm maybe excused from needing excuses, having bought (and subsequently moved on) 5 of these FIs over several years (starting way back in 2018)?  You know, a bit like getting lifelong immunity from having had a course of vaccines? Risk is that HMRC will come after me for trading in FIs...

Sounds good! Is that what the new VIP model looks like with a light shone on it?

I've caved. I'm in a band where certain songs can be done in up to 3 different keys, a few semis apart, to suit the vocal register of whichever of our singers is taking lead on a particular night, so this could potentially be a game changer and has rightly pushed itself to the front of the queue, ahead of a couple of more exciting/fun pedals on my wish-list - but which would have been more icing and less cake. Should be arriving next week, fingers crossed.

18 hours ago, Paddy777 said:

 

I’m back in the club again - got this BBP35 with Nordstrand pups last week, plays beautifully and has a great PBass sound on the front pup. I can see what all the fuss is about with these now I’ve got it in my hands, an amazingly comfy neck and the quality is ridiculously good all the way through. My main bass is still an active J but this is a fantastic alternative when the P Bass is needed, gonna stick some TI flats on it once I’ve got a spare £80 😖

Looks great!

With you on MXR Bass Synth as a wish list item! Can recommend the EBS IQ as an excellent and really good value filter.

PS and my only variance (given how well our multifx does general modulation!) with your expanding wishlist would be to trade the Boss RE-2 for an SL-2 😉

1 hour ago, SumOne said:

Sounds good. Could replace an Octaver, Chorus, and a hipshot drop tuner, and things like the Digitech Drop, I'd find it useful for stuff like blending in a shifted up 5th into a fuzz.

 

It could even convert me from a 5 to a 4. He goes 2 steps down in the video but I wonder how good it'd sound switching 4 steps down (EADG to BEAD), there are a couple of songs I'd find that useful for with a 4 string and mentally that just feels like it'd keep things simpler than mucking about with different semitones for different songs. One problem I have with pitch shifting is potential for getting confused (I was in a band with a guitarist that kept getting caught out by his pitch shifter being set to the wrong amount, or engaged/disengaged at the wrong time - it wasn't technically the fault of the pedal but I think they can easily lead to confusion if the player hasn't really mastered it live). I'd reduce the risk of getting confused if I just used it to switch to BEAD for whole songs that need those lower notes. 

Re. chorus - I think he was using an external chorus as I can't see anything on the pedal itself that does chorus? But if I missed that, even better!

He goes 4 semitones down (= 2 steps in his terminology) at 01.40 and says it get "flubby", although it sounds way better than on my multifx!

Going down from E --> B is 5 semis i.e. 2.5 steps (not 4) using his terminology - he's actually open to requests (see the equivalent post on Talkbass), so you could ask him there? (If you're on that, if not I can gladly ask him on your behalf?) My sense is it won't be awful, but probably not great either?

And maybe worth mentioning a big plus of the XS-1 is the Drop is a one way street: only down. 

Word on that same street is that the XS-1 not only up-shifts, but has one of the best octave-ups in the business. If that's the case, looks like my OC-5 could be heading for the exit!

26 minutes ago, cetera said:

Think I'll have to drop into Andertons and do a test between the Digitech Drop and this for accuracy/latency. I will never need it much below dropping to D standard anyway but I've never been 100% satisfied with the Drop pedal...

Yeah same re. the Drop - disappointingly didn't find that much, if any, improvement over my Zoom B1-4. Look forward to getting your thoughts!

1 hour ago, tayste_2000 said:

Yes it does, it comes with a Royal Blood style preset all down for you

How good is the pitch shift on the Anagram for bass?

Generally loving my GT1000 Core as a serious quality step up from my previous Zoom multi, but its pitch shift is pretty meh!

Bass demo finally out, and a decent one to boot. It sounds pretty darned good to me and obvious use as both a pitch shifter and an octave pedal. Well done (again) Boss!

4 hours ago, 0175westwood29 said:

Ok so couldn’t resist! Managed to get a  XS-100 

 

it’s turning up on Monday!! Hopefully able to have a bit of a play at practice!!! 

Nice one! And the good thing about your pedal purchases is that they're usually followed by some decent video footage! Looking forward to it - if this thing can pitch shift with tight tracking and lack of glitch-iness (I guess the best test is playing intervals with the clean sound underneath?) then its baby bro the XS-1 is getting added to my (growing, haha) "must buy soon" pedal list!

Currently no video footage with bass as far as I can see - all guitar clips. So could be a world premiere for you, as an incentive! 😉

48 minutes ago, Phil Starr said:

Spellcheck on my tablet I guess.

 

That can't be right? 😅

Thanks Phil - typo? "Hum can be transmitted..."

Just to prove I read your comments word for word, haha!

Been getting hum through the PA speakers (RCF 932 and previously 912s) at certain venues. Assuming it's down to the electrical interference from the wiring. Is there anything that can be done to minimise?

My mate has 4 of these to put around the band, he's using a cheap keyboard case to transport all 4, but agrees it's not particularly protective.

I would have thought a pole bag with as many slots as you need could work and not break the bank?

9 hours ago, paulmcnamara said:

The detune mode is beautiful on fretless and the possible harmonies on bass look promising........... 

In my band many of our songs are capo-ed and to change pitch accurately is a real boon!

Sounds good! Nothing currently online featuring a bass, so if you're able to record a couple of clips for us that would be awesome!

12 hours ago, matybigfro said:

It looks pretty good although there's a side by side vid with a Digitech whammy I think I prefer the tobe of the DigiTech. The boss is almost a bit too perfect. Saying that I have a boss gt-1000 core and have been happy with the whammy in that.  The drop tuning in it seems very very good.

 

Will be interesting to see if this and the new algorithms they used on the plugout turns up in a new multi at some point. 

The physics of bass notes being an octave lower than guitar means they are more difficult to track and I've not yet found a dedicated pitch shift pedal that works really well on bass, particularly moving more than a couple of semitones. And multifx have, in my experience, been significantly less good than dedicated pedals - certainly the ones I've used.

As you say, the drop tuning seems to be excellent for guitar!

If it gets comparably close on bass, colour me super interested - having singers who have different vocal registers means that this could be ideal for use with my crew! Although £195 for the XS-1 is going to be a decent chunk of change to part with.

18 hours ago, Bill Fitzmaurice said:

PA subs go as much as an octave lower than bass cabs, while PA mains don't have the rising midrange typical of bass cabs. Try high passing the desk bass channel at 60 to 80Hz, if it has that capability, or cutting back on the bass EQ if it doesn't, while boosting the mids in the 2 to 2.5kHz range. 

 

If you want to be more precise get this app for your phone. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dom.audioanalyzer&hl=en_US&pli=1

You can use it to see the frequency response of your rig. Play an open A and take a picture of the result, C weighting, slow response. Save it and compare it to the same test through the PA. Comparing the two will show where the PA EQ needs to be adjusted. 

Hi Bill, excuse my ignorance but could you elaborate on what you mean by "rising mid range" for me please?

10 minutes ago, Rayman said:

We were originally a 4pce, but the original bass player left. The remaining 3 of us are original yep…. I was the singer, but also took over on bass when the original guy left around 20yrs ago. 

Love that fact (and loving your music too!) When was the Friday rock show?

18 minutes ago, Rayman said:

Crisis…. 3pce original heavy rock since 1980….. we’re in the process of recording a new album “Homecoming”, which should be done by early next year. Three old men, pretending to still be relevant. 

Wow, you guys have been rocking solidly for 45 years - respect!! No line up changes in all that time?!

10 hours ago, Kiwi said:

@Al Krow is this the correct thread?

It is indeed! Congrats on getting an SY 200! I know you're particularly interested in the arp feature - 18 different presets provided on the pedal and you can tweak both pitch and tempo. I've managed to dig out a YT clip of it in action: 

Boss SY-200 arpeggiator & pitch shift via expression pedal

On 14/10/2024 at 22:42, Owen said:

Boss slicer does it and you can sync it via midi.

 

Not that I EVER found a place I could use it. The one time I tried, the keys player humoured me for about 30 minutes and then did it with his left hand. 

Been looking into arps a bit more since finding the Boss SY 200's arp fx pretty decent and usable live (e.g. on songs such as Green Day Broken Dreams). The SY 200 has relatively limited options for tweaking the sounds of the provided preset arps, albeit it gives you 18 to choose from!

This does sound like another interesting use of the Boss Slicer and I feel an SL-2 ought to make its way into the Krow household in the not too distant future!