Frank Blank

Sure thing!

We are not worthy *bows*

My pleasure Sir, loads of good suggestions from the other folk here too, it’s all excellent stuff.

I don’t think it has to be understood, in fact I think this is a thing that stops people from listening initially, that they are frightened that Jazz has to be engaged with on an intellectual level. If you dig it then great, if you don’t, no worries but I think the appreciation of Jazz purely on a dig it or don’t level is as important as understanding it. My Mum *spits* had no musical ability or theoretical understanding of Jazz but she turned me on to Brubeck, Ellington, Miles Davis loads of stuff.

That’s a great album.

What Goes Around by The Dave Holland Big Band is a big favourite for me atm.

How did I omit this! Duh. Also the bass playing on Alternating Currents by Denys Baptiste is a particular fave at the moment.

Kind of Blue - Miles Davis Birth of the Cool - Miles Davis Time Out - The Dave Brubeck Quartet Brilliant Corners - Thelonious Monk Return to Forever - Chick Corea The Shape of Jazz to Come - Ornette Coleman Ellington at Newport - Duke Ellington Getz/Gilberto - Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto Mingus Ah Um - Charles Mingus Saxophone Colossus - Sonny Rollins Somethin' Else - Cannonball Adderley Speak No Evil - Wayne Shorter Maiden Voyage - Herbie Hancock Out to Lunch - Eric Go - Dexter Gordon

Sold my Ibanez SR500 to @clivem. Pleasure to deal with, excellent, friendly coms. A gentleman. Deal with confidence.

Unt...

Just reacquainting myself with Life Of Agony after twenty five years...

I’ll just wade through 64 pages... I play (mainly) in an acoustic duo, do you think IEMs are usable in that situation?

Should we continue this discussion on..?

I will give them both a try, there’s a lot I could do with the money the Alix costs, like find a short scale fretted bass that I actually like! ...I think it’s the next thing on my list.

These wise words have made up my mind I think. One can go deeper and deeper into this world and although perfectly happy to pay out for good gear, there is little point if an audience doesn’t notice the quality of the sound and even less point if the subtle nuances are lost on me too! I think the Alix will be a discernible (to me) step up from the Fishman PP but I will do that comparison before I buy it. I don’t use IEMs and as much as I like pukka gear I have to be realistic about what I’m playing where and if it will make a discernible difference to me let alone the audience. I think bass > Alix > QSC is going to be top flight as far as I’m concerned.

Stewart Lee guest hosting Radio 3’s Late Junction

Oh good grief *sound of scales falling from eyes (whatever sound that makes)* now I get what people are talking about generally when they say a channel strip but appear to be discussing it away from a studio desk, another piece of the jigsaw clicks into place! This also explains your form factor comment. I suppose the only difference between a high end preamp and the channel strip is the form. I am trying to minimise the gear as much as possible and the strip you kindly linked to would involve a rack although it looks as if it has a lot more eq ability than the Alix?

Really, do excuse my lack of tech knowledge but how does one utilise a channel strip without the Kemper in a live situation?

A Prawn Goebbels please...

Got it, thanks for the explanation. I’m not really trying to emulate any amps and I don’t really use studios per se, at home I use logic and a Focusrite, all I’m trying to do live is get the least coloured sound possible when amplifying my bass and then to tweak that sound with some eq to suit any room/live situation. The Kemper is a significant jump in price from the Alix and I’m not sure I’d use it for a fraction (or any) of its capabilities. Do feel free to convince me otherwise.

I assumed ‘channel strips’ referred to the channel from a mixing desk, so you copy channel strips with the Kemper and then play through the Kemper?

Oh no, here we go again. I have no idea what a ‘channel strip’ or a ‘Kemper’ is. I am open to mockery.

I use a Fishman Platinum Pro pre at the moment but am considering a Grace Alix.

Thinking of selling my Fishman Platinum Pro and getting the Grace Design Alix, anyone have any experience with these or this brand?