tonyf

Take em both. Gig bags are cheap and you'll soon have some lacky to carry em round as you're all "rich and famous". lol

If you're after just effects rather than cab/amp simulation, look at the Line6 M5/M9/M13. They're amazing sounding stomp box modellers which offer fairly powerful tweakability but near idiot proof simplicity. True bypass when not in use so you maintain your tone. Having owned and used a GT6B, a Bass POD XT Live and numerous stomp pedals over the years, I've gotta say my M13 is the best sounding, most flexible and easy to use multi-fx so far for me. [url="http://uk.line6.com/products/stompboxpedals/"]http://uk.line6.com/products/stompboxpedals/[/url] T

[quote name='J.R.Bass' post='1324222' date='Aug 2 2011, 01:37 PM'][url="http://www.exit45.com/VaxIV"]http://www.exit45.com/VaxIV[/url] Just in case anyones interested, this is a great site about someone who transferred the guts.[/quote] Just spent most of my lunch looking at that. Just amazing.

Took the Funker Derision bass to rehearsal last night. Sounded absolutely fantastic. Just like a Precision. I'm so pleased. Still got some snagging to do though. The scratchplate feels a bit unsubstantial around the jack socket (hey, surprise, it's a cheapo single ply one and there's a screw missing where the plate doesn't line up) so I may need to go back to the original plan of using a ply one. More importantly, it still needs a serious setup. I briefly tweaked it to get it ball park playable but it's a bit "agricultural" at the moment. Will have another play tonight. However, just tweaks. Will rehearse with it again on Thursday and then make a call on whether or not to gig with it on Saturday and record on Sunday. T

I've just got back from rehearsal where I've used my recently purchased Classic 450 with my RS210 (I've also got a RS212). Sounded massive with two loud guitars and a pretty loud drummer. Think Moos3h maybe right, perhaps it's just that the Classic 450 doesn't "work" with the Ashdown cab. Nothing wrong there, lots of gear doesn't sound that good with lots of other gear. Guess that's part of the fun. Regarding the "hi-fi" sound of the TC head, TBH I've found that far from my mind as I'm getting used to mine. I downsized from an EBS rig to my Classic 450 and the two cabs. I've found that the TC's reasonably articulate if that's what you want but it's hardly what I had with the EBS gear. In a good way. The Classic 450 feels a lot more "old skool" now. The TC cabs really do sound great with the head. I know it's more expense but they really do match each other and I'm glad I went down the route of matching the heads and the cabs and can recommend them wholeheartedly. T

[quote name='bartelby' post='1307525' date='Jul 18 2011, 10:22 AM']I'm currently refinishing an old Dean bass. Hoping for it to be purple sparkle in the end. It's been a bit of a pain in the arse, with the metal flake layer reacting with the base coats. So I have to sand it back a bit and redo the base coats. But I have found out that one of my mates has recently acquired a proper spray booth and a proper metal flake spray gun. He told me to get the bass ready and give him a bell and I can use his stuff to do the flake properly. As I now have access to proper equipment I may sand back to the wood do a decent job.[/quote] That was what I discovered when I was researching the sparkle finish. Think you can buy large metal flakes if you're mixing your own paint and using "proper" spray guns with varying nozzles but because rattle cans have much smaller outlets (and nozzles), there's a limit to the size of flake you can buy off the shelf. Sorry to hear you've had a nightmare with the basecoat. When researching the painting, it was such an eye opener looking paint types and how they can react with each other if you get it wrong. T

[quote name='EdwardHimself' post='1307563' date='Jul 18 2011, 10:51 AM']Nice screwdriver . Seriously though great job well done.[/quote] I love it. It was an impulse buy ages ago whilst standing in the queue at B&Q but we've been inseparable since! T

[quote name='bartelby' post='1307500' date='Jul 18 2011, 10:04 AM']Very nice. But I still think you shold have gone sparkly...[/quote] <DEEP SIGH> I was thinking the same thing. Shoulda stuck to my guns and done it but I bottled it, thinking it was a bit too tricky to get a large enough flake spray in a can. Hey ho.

Then, after the bridge was on, the final assembly jobs and then stringing it up. [attachment=84992:100_1212.jpg] Gave it a rough (VERY ROUGH!!) setup and it's sounding surprisingly good. Well chuffed so far but it needs a bit of work.... [attachment=84992:100_1212.jpg] [attachment=84994:100_1216.jpg] The obligatory sofa pictures.... [attachment=84995:100_1217.jpg] [attachment=84996:100_1220.jpg] [attachment=84997:100_1225.jpg] [attachment=84998:100_1227.jpg]

Measured the scale length based on matching my Lakland JO and then positioned it using string on the E and the G sides of the neck. [attachment=84991:100_1208.jpg]

Next step was the shielding. Again, necessary but my, what a phaff! [attachment=84989:100_1202.jpg] Then the exciting bit. Installing the controls and electronics. The EMG P pickup I'd brought was the quick connector type, the first time I'd used EMG's with these connectors. I've used EMG's in most of my recent basses and love them, hence the choice, but this was the first time I'd had the quick connector type. Briefly connected it up, checked the wiring based on a downloaded PDF and it all made sense. Went upstairs to do a quick check before screwing all the scratchplate screws in and NOTHING. Unplugged, checked the jack and fine. Double checked the diagram, all looked fine. Tried again. Nothing. Blinking heck. Finally, decided to check all the connections, pulling everything apart and lo and behold, realised that one of them was back to front. Phew. Checked it and it worked great. Then, as I screwed the scratchplate down around the controls, the sound disappeared again. Agggggghh. Another ten or so minutes of phaffing and discovered that the volume control was compressing onto the battery in the compartment. Simply turning it 90 degrees fixed it. Odd. But hey, it's done it. [attachment=84990:100_1205.jpg]

So, that's the paintwork and logo done. With a deep breath, in I dived earlier and commandeered the kitchen table. First up, decided to ease myself in by attaching the tuners and hipshot. [attachment=84986:100_1189.jpg] Next step was the neck. BIG STRESS. Logically, decided to position the neck plate and drill the holes in the body before positioning the neck and tapping the holes. All seemed to go well but I discovered early on that the scratchplate needed a bit of tweaking and semi-disasterously, I needed to position it in an EXACT position to cover the generous routings for the control cavity. TBH, the CH guitars parts seemed not to come together quite as accurately as I'd hoped and there was a fair bit of tweaking needed. In fact, I needed to dremmel the scratchplate a bit round the neck. If you look closely at the second picture of the scratchplate round the controls, one of the screw holes doesn't touch wood at all :-( [attachment=84987:100_1192.jpg] [attachment=84988:100_1191.jpg]

The monster lives! Yep, the final bits arrived from CH guitars on Thursday but after a lot on over the weekend, finally had chance to get the tool box out and crack on. Anyway, stepping back a few days, I'll do the "this is what I did and when I did it, in the order I did" thing. Completed the logo after getting some transfer paper and printing it off. First go went well but I managed to then scratch it as I pulled the backing paper off the headstock. Doh! A quick raid into Mrs F's bathroom cabinet and away it went thanks to nail varnish remover. Second attempt and job's a good un. In order to protect the logo, I then sprayed three thin coats of clear lacquer over the face of the headstock. [attachment=84984:100_1187.jpg] I spent a tedious few hours on thursday night sanding and buffing the body. Hateful job. However, as the shine started to come up from the front of the body, guess it all made the hard work worthwhile. [attachment=84985:100_1186.jpg]

+1 to all the above. Simon recently brought my EBS cabs. He's a really top fella, great comms and it was a pleasure to deal with him. Thoroughly recommended. Regards Tony

[quote name='allighatt0r' post='1300916' date='Jul 12 2011, 12:51 PM']You need to clean your keyboard, that's gross!!![/quote] Oh yeah, only just noticed it. <BLUSH> Getting the cleaning thingies out. Won't happen again. Honest guv'nor! :-)

[quote name='Doddy' post='1301838' date='Jul 13 2011, 02:47 AM']You're not familiar with Bobby Vega then? He's a really funky pick player-he subbed for Rocco with Tower of Power.[/quote] +1 Bobby is just awesome. Total monster player....

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='1297057' date='Jul 8 2011, 12:29 PM']With 'scene latch' mode, one stomp changes scenes, rather than turning one individual effect on or off, so on the M9 you could have 6 collections of effects available to switch between with one stomp. It's all in the online manual if you want to have a nosey.[/quote] Flipping hell. Thanks for that. Just shows, you learn something new everyday! I've really gotta stop this "fiddle and mess first, read manual last" approach to new kit! Tony

[quote name='PauBass' post='1296971' date='Jul 8 2011, 11:28 AM']T, thanks a lot for your advice, I see how the M13 works now, you've been very helpful. You have owned both, the XT Live and the M13. Are the effects on those two units of similar quality? Basically, I'm after something that allows me to save presets of various effects combinations, as mention in one of my previous posts and switch them on with just one click. Are there any other multi effects units worth considering for this purpose?[/quote] Quality wise. the XT Live and M13 are both great sounding units. Built like tanks too so reliability is great. Sounds wise, I must admit the M13 sounds better and more transparent to me but that could be because it's true bypass and there's no amp modelling getting in the way. Re saving your presets, yep, you'll be able to do that with your M13 or M9. Put your effects into your combination of banks, do all your mucho-tweakery-styleee, save the scene, then it's good to go whenever you turn it on. Maybe if you do a couple of bands, save 2-3 scenes for each band so you've got them organised into a logical order. If you go down the M9/M13 route, make sure you get an expression pedal or two as well. Cheap to buy but because you can then assign ANY parameter of any pedal to one of two external expression pedal, it so opens up the possibilities. Other effects units? I've had a Boss GT6 before and that was great. Typical Boss quality and sounds, brilliant bit of kit. They've updated it to the GT-10B I think so that's worth looking at. However, the GT-6B/GT-10B is more akin to the Line6 X3 and XT Live being a true multi-effects rather than a stompbox modeller as the M9/M13 is. As always, my opinion is just that, an opinion. Go out and try some, see what sound the best for you and work the best in your circumstances. Hope this helps Tony

Last update of today. Spent FAR TOO LONG last night in Photoshop doing the logo. Decided I wanted something fender'y to keep the vibe of the bass typically precision'y. However, having seen the "fecker" logo's kicking around, decided to experiment a little. What'dya think? T [attachment=84221:Funker_E_Bass_1.jpg] [attachment=84222:Funker_E_Bass_3.jpg]

I've started to pull together the parts now. Got myself an EMG P with all the harness and pots which I'll run at 18v. Love EMG stuff, I know some people trot out the same old "it sounds too clinical" stuff but hey, they've always worked for me. Got some tuners the other week and a HipShot d-tuner. Not sure at the moment about the tuners, may invest in a better set at some point but they'll do for the moment. Got the neck plate and screws too. Need to get myself the scratchplate, a suitable bridge and odds and sods like screws and strap buttons etc. Bridgewise, there's some really good Gotoh ones out there. T

[quote name='PauBass' post='1296876' date='Jul 8 2011, 10:11 AM']A bit confused on how this unit works What do they mean when they say you can use 4 simultaneous effects? I thought you'd be able to switch on any combination of pedals you had saved. I always have compression on together with an effect or a combination of effects. For example: - Comp + Distortion - Comp + Overdrive + Chorus - Octave + Filter - Comp + Octave + Distortion Is it possible to do it with the M13?[/quote] Yep. You have 4 banks of 3 effects in a scene. Maybe program three distortions in one bank, three comps in the second, your filters in the next and then your octavers etc in the last. Save it as a scene. You're then able to have one of each in each bank. If you've a completely different set of effects, create another scene and then you can swap between it. Try YouTube. There's LOADS of great stuff on there regarding the M9 / M13. HTH T

[quote name='escholl']If you don't need the amp simulation, you may be better off going for one of the M-series (M5, M9, M13) as they are a bit more compact. Supposedly, the effects modelling is better as well, although I've not heard it myself so can't say.[/quote] That's the whole reason why I went for a M13 which replaced my Bass Pod XT Live. I was happy with my amp setup, didn't need any modelling and wanted only quality stomp box effects. The M series fitted the bill perfectly. It's great because it's true bypass so that your signal goes straight to your amp when no effects are on. In terms of scenes, I've got a couple set up but to be honest, I think I only scratch the surface of it and really need to delve a bit deeper. There's SOOOOOO much in it. [quote name='PauBass']I have read that on these units you can use 3-4 Effects simultaneously but not sur if you can turn them on at the same time? I mean, can you combine a few effects, save them and then recall them with just one click?[/quote] No, you can't do that with the M13 but it's not designed to be a programmable preset thingie. Think of it as a floor board with loads of stomp pedals. In terms of stepping on two or more, hey, that's what you'd have to do if you'd gaffa taped and velcro'd dozens of your favourite pedals onto a bit of MDF ;-). It's not as flexible but then again, you can reach down and tweak. Change a flange type to another flange type in an instant. Change one combination of pedals on a board to another combination on another board by doing a quick scene change. As has previously been said, you'll "get it" when you've sat down with one for a little while. I think you need to look at what you want. The M13 doesn't do "amp modelling" so if that's requirement, maybe the X3 Live. However, if it's just loads of effects and a way to easily and sensibly play with them in a live setting with as much tweakery as you can throw a large stick at, the M9/M13 is the one. I really LOVE mine as it's just so great sounding and really flexible. T

Right, progress update time. Finally bottled the sparkle paint idea as getting hold of a large flake sparkle in a rattle can was a bit problematic. Doing a block colour seemed to be an easier option so I've gone for a white as I'm planning on either a red tort or white pearloid scratchplate. Did the initial priming and colour coats a couple of weekends ago, keyed the colour coat back and then the clear coats went on. Put loads of clear coat on as I wanted to make sure it's covered and there's plenty of room for error during the sanding and buffing process. To be honest, it went FAIRLY well. As the colour started to go on, there's some areas where I thought "erm, coulda sanded that back a bit more" or "perhaps I should have grain-filled" but on the whole, I'm pretty happy so far. If I was doing this for a living, I'd be a lot more rigourous but it's a learning curve and it'll be better the next time. If there is one! ;-) Waiting for the top coats to harden further. The rattle cans reckon a couple of weeks but because I've got stuff on over the weekend, there's no harm in giving it a little while longer. [attachment=84220:Funker_E_Bass_2.jpg] T

[quote name='mike257' post='1296013' date='Jul 7 2011, 02:24 PM']Been my go-to for years, and (almost) indestructible - can't go wrong with 'em really.[/quote] +1 I think mine is the oldest bit of kit I've got. Basses, amps, effects have come and gone but the tank like TU-2 has always been with me. Essential kit. T

Shep brought my EBS HD350. Perfecto "transaction", the man is a true gem and has excellent taste in basses, amps, fx and most importantly, coffee and biscuits. Recommended to all! Cheers mate, enjoy the amp T