azfatboy

[quote name='drTStingray' timestamp='1499038694' post='3328802']I personally think changing make of bass, and thus altering the sound has not been a change for the better. Their earlier stuff was truly thunderous.[/quote] Gotta admit that I agree, with the sentiment if not the cause. The first album was breakthrough, and the second much more mainstream. Just doesn't feel as raw and energetic to me. But then again, I don't know what RB could've done to even equal, let alone top, the first album to my ears. But I'm not sure I am willing to lay the blame on the change in bass. He still uses the StarCaster basses, and the new custom Jag's all seem to sport at least one humbucker-style pickup, so I don't think he has strayed too far from the lineage of his Gretsch. For me, it's more just a different overall style of the material.

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1498845966' post='3327563'] Many years (no, decades..! ) ago, I attended an Atari show in Paris (I was freelance programming at that time...), and stumbled across a stand on which a lone trombone player was improvising, in many different styles, using a MIDI connection to an Atari. I can't remember exactly the name of the software ('Tangerine' comes vaguely to mind, or something close..?); this software was obeying his MIDI signals and playing a fully-orchestrated accompaniment, entirely in keeping with the genre he was playing, and very nicely harmonised. He would finish his piece, then play a couple of specific 'command' notes to switch styles, and carry on. Ragtime, Big Band, Orchestral Classical, Hot Rock... He had, it seemed, full control over the system with only his Trombone as both instrument and command. In the light of what I saw that day (I remained quite absorbed for quite some time watching the bloke...), seeing a fellow with a bass doubling up on 'guitar' looks quite modest, to me. I'm maybe missing something (and I'm a drummer, after all...), but I have yet to see what the big deal is, musically speaking. Still, it obviously appeals to some, so why not..? Edit: 'Tango', not Tangerine' (well, I was close..!), that was it. I'm looking it up now to understand further... Edit 2: 'Tango' still lives, apparently..! Here's the bloke, using it for a short video (warning: may contain some Jazz content...) ... [media]http://youtu.be/KQgo3Fbmsf8[/media] [/quote] Umm, yeah, I guess it really is in the eyes of the beholder. I don't find trombone guy's "accomplishments" to be anything but ridiculous noise. Child's play in comparison. To understand what Mike Kerr is doing with his bass and with his pedals (it's hardly a static setup), all while singing, and to not at least admit the difficulty and uniqueness--seems to be purposefully wearing blinders whether one finds the music itself appealing or not. [quote name='Elfrasho' timestamp='1498854348' post='3327632'] I get what you're saying... and don't get me wrong, I like what they do.. but how he plays bass limits the sound. Personally I think the songs and riffs are being held back by their self chosen limitations![/quote] One person's "held back" is another persons "unique sound that no one else can duplicate". I don't find that part limiting at all. It makes for a cleaner sound. All too often the guitar is just mucking things up anyway...

[quote name='Elfrasho' timestamp='1498841104' post='3327518'] I think if they want longevity then they might need to think about dropping the bass does guitar routine. I know that's their 'thing' however it's going to sound samey after a while. 1st albums decent but it certainly didn't get played to death on my cd player! If the 2nd album is more of yhe same then I would imagine interest will start dropping pretty quickly! They've got decent songs though so I honestly think they would have more appeal at album 3 if they got a keyboard or guitarist in. The fanboy purists will disagree with me no doubt! [/quote] Well I am not a purist, but I can't dissemble much further, as I am undoubtedly a fanboy, and yes I disagree, perhaps even vehemently... Their debut album was the first album that got "stuck" on my playlist for months, and then after a break of a few months, got stuck again! I haven't had an album where I wanted to listen to the entire album, over and over again, for a very long time (not since Tool's Ænima). For me, they are not "missing" anything. Indeed, I think most folks that think Royal Blood "needs a guitar player" are listening with their eyes, and with the foreknowledge that it's just one dude with a bass up there. For those who are fortunate enough to first hear their music without those preconceptions, the subsequent discovery that its just a single bass making all those disparate parts is a revelation. In the end, I think that often determines where you end up on the "glass 3/4 full vs. glass 1/4 empty" spectrum. And further keeping with the contrarian theme, I think the new album was almost too different! Far from being "more of the same", I thought the extensive production with the backing vocals, and even bigger sounds, strayed almost too far from the straight-forward sound that is their trademark, even if it still sounds pretty good. But for me it showed quite clearly that they not only have a lot of ground yet to explore, but that they are in fact expanding their sound, and not relying on the same-old same-old. I guess we all hear what we want to hear, though, eh?

And speaking of obsession, I am getting closer and closer to copying his pedalboard. I have no interest nor do I see any real benefit to the Palmer Triage but the rest I want. It doesn't matter what else. I actually have a completely separate bass pedal board. This is just my "guitar" pedal board, set up to split into a "clean" and a "dirty", with octavers in both chains. I think I finally have all the big pieces. Yeah, I'm missing an extra PS-6 or two, and using a Pitchfork in lieu of a second POG-2, and have a couple odd extras in there, but still, I am pretty excited to be this close

[quote name='Elfrasho' timestamp='1493847145' post='3291309']Are you him by any chance? [/quote] Hah! Thank you I think? I got a good life, but right now I hope to be forgiven for answering "I WISH!!!" Unfortunately, I don't even have the right accent, let alone the talent... I only found that pic by following @danweb22's link above, which took me to their twitter feed, and from their to their FB page. Considering that this band, and Mike on bass in particular, is the reason I first picked up a bass less than a year ago, I guess you could say that I have just a tiny obsession with what he does and how he does it...

Hmmm. Well I just found this [url="https://www.facebook.com/RoyalBloodUK/photos/a.498430683555598.1073741826.152689148129755/1312618565470135/?type=3&theater"]panorama[/url] from their FB page. And if you pan around to the back, you can see a drawer full of effects (most notably dual POG-2's) just sticking out from behind the cabs... DAMN! I wish he wasn't so secretive about his setup!!!

And just on the heels of my finally, just maybe, being able to "figure it out", it looks like Mike has changed just about his ENTIRE SETUP! Just watched [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AP1_H4CbBD4"]this video[/url] showing not only a new Fender offset bass (in multiple!), but also what looks to be a Multi-effect pedal, or is it just a MIDI/Pedal Looper and he's hidden all his pedals back in a rack somewhere??? About the only pedals I recognize are the two Boss PS-6 Harmonist pedals and that is probably still his BOSS Tuner on the far right. Anyone care to sleuth out what Mike's is pedaling now??? [attachment=244522:MikeKerrNEWPB.jpg]

Well, it's been a few months, and I've been focusing on my regular bass practice, but I can never get my RB dreams out of my head completely. My biggest problem is still the octave up. I've been using the PitchFork, and it is just irretrievably synthy. So I decided the only way forward was to start duplicating even more of Mike Kerr's pedals. I already had the tuner, line-splitter, and harmonist, and now I've added a full-fledged POG-2 and a Zvex Mastotron. About the only effect pedal I am outright missing now is a Strymon Flint, which I am not convinced is worth the expense. But I am on the lookout for a second PS-6, even though I can't fathom how he is using it on the dirty channel... Unfortunately, the results are mixed. The POG-2 is just as synthy as the PF or my Bass Whammy. For now, I see no reason to get a second POG-2 (replacing my PF) as I believe they are both producing the same result. But the Mastotron is indeed the SHIZ! It has made a huge improvement in my "dirty" guitar channel tone. I can see why @pitchard is happy with his Fat Fuzz Factory, which I think can get to a similar place. [quote name='pitchard' timestamp='1422786173' post='2676655'] A combination of POG2s, Boss TU2/LS2/PS6,ODB3, Sansamp Bass Driver and ZVex Fat Fuzz Factory and then signals split to different channels. Splitting to the different channels make all the difference. [/quote]

[quote name='Al Krow' timestamp='1493234621' post='3286840'] Boss Harmonist PS-6 has multiple pitch shift capability including a quite decent octave up.[/quote] I haven't had any luck getting a pure octave up tone out of my PS-6. What settings give a pure +1 octave on a Harmonist?

[quote name='mSz' timestamp='1456170805' post='2986255']How about Digitech Bass Whammy? You get octave up and much more than any other pedal mentioned above can deliver.[/quote] The octave up on the Bass Whammy sounds very much like the PitchFork and the POG-2. The main trade-off is the size, but if you use the other features, it might be worth it.

[quote name='indiegrungesound' timestamp='1489522714' post='3257682'] Thanks for the feedback regarding how the Boss OC-2/OC-3 works! I think I might do a bit more research on TC Electronic's Sub'n'Up first too. But it's looking more likely that I might end up pulling the trigger on a Nano POG! [/quote] Gonna suggest you look at the EHX PitchFork instead of the Nano POG. Cheaper and a LOT of extra features to play with. I have a PitchFork and a POG 2. I had to get the POG2 because like you, I am addicted to trying to reproduce Mike Kerr's sound. Frankly, both EHX's sound the same to me. And for the price compared to the micro/nano POG, I just love having the extra features on the PF. It is a blast to play around with. But back to RB, I also have the Harmonist (only 1 for now) and even the same Gretsch Jr Jet. Now I don't have a Strymon Flint or ZVex Mastotron (yet), but I don't think either pedal is likely to be a magic cure. I have several OD/fuzz/distortion pedals (as well as Trem/Rev on the second guitar chain to simulate the Strymon) that I've been layering in there--even tried running it into a Marshall DSL for extra grit, and unfortunately, to me, the octave up is still synthy. I can't seem to dial it out. So if you figure it out, with whatever pedal you settle on, please pass it on! In the meantime, sink your teeth into the [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/223363-royal-blood/"]Royal Blood[/url] thread, and pay special attention to posts by @pitchard, as he seems to have nailed it somehow. He has quite a few YouTube videos covering RB tunes, and they are pretty awesome.

The EHX Pitch Fork is awesome. I also have a POG-2 and a Bass Whammy, and although they both have a lot of their own options, I don't find the tracking or the tone to be superior on one or the other. All of these do +/- 1 or 2 octaves.

I chose the M-87 because of the price, transparency, and flexibility. The Keeley Bassist was a close second. It pretty much came down to which one I found first, at the right price. If price were not an issue, an Empress or a Cali76CB would have been my choice.

I also chose the Pitch Fork when I finally settled on my first Octaver. It has actually turned out to be a very flexible and useful tool. One of the most unexpected is how I can use it to simulate a different tuning with just the twist of a knob. In fact, although I recently acquired a POG-2 (my Royal Blood fanboy-ism simply would not be assuaged by anything less...), it really doesn't do what I want any more or better than the Pitch Fork. Sure, it's flexible and powerful in other ways, and I am still ecstatic to have it, but the Pitch Fork is an underrated powerhouse of a pedal, imo. Congrats on your "non-present"! I am sure you will enjoy it.

I hadn't even seen a power supply that would supply over 1A down a single port! Wow, both those Yankee and GigRig setups are sweet! Pricey, but they will certainly do the trick!

Well, my board is rather pedestrian compared to some of these beauties, but it has gotten some nice upgrades since I last posted in this thread. Most notably a POG-2, a Bass Whammy, and an MXR M-87 Compressor. I am still trying to incorporate a multi-chain setup, a la Royal Blood, while still being able to try out some other stuff too. [color=#1D2129]PedalTrain Classic 2 (app. 12" x 24") (with tour case)[/color] [color=#1D2129]Donner DP-2 Power Supply (8x9Vx200mA, 2x9Vx500mA, 1x12Vx500mA, 1x18Vx500mA)[/color] [color=#1D2129]Bass Guitar Chain:[/color] [font=inherit]TU3(OUT)-Whammy-OC3-BSW-DB[/font]BMP-M87-Bass Amp #1 (Ampeg PF-800/SVT-410HEN) Fake Guitar Chain #1 [font=inherit]TU3(BYPASS)-LS2(A)-VoxWah-POG2-PS[/font]6-TS9DX-VoiceLive3-Guitar Amp #1 (Vox AC30C2) Fake Guitar Chain #2 [font=inherit]TU3(BYPASS)-LS2(-Pitchfo[/font]rk-Guitar Amp #2 (Fender Super 112 or Fender Super Champ X2) So, turning ON the TU3 will mute the bass chain. And turning ON the LS2 will activate one (or both!) of the guitar chains. And if I want to play a regular guitar, I still plug in through the TU3, and just play through a guitar chain, leaving the octaver(s) off.

[quote name='0175westwood29' timestamp='1481390954' post='3192024'] grabbed a Freqbox last night and cant wait to get it on the board! [url="http://s245.photobucket.com/user/0175westwood29/media/15268065_10157878784670565_8532039706098356866_n_1.jpg.html"][/url] fyi the sonuus has gone so the freqbox will squeeze in there no trouble, i know ppl will say there are other things out there but there is something about the large moog units! [/quote] Aaaaarrgghh! I have a severe case of pedal envy... I want to try that Cog Effects T70 soooooooooo bad. And the Cali76 will also one day be on my board! I best stop looking, lest I recognize some more pedals that I am jonesing for--or will be jonesing for--now... Very nice pedals!

[quote name='Distillerdude' timestamp='1473879653' post='3133863'] I'm quite new at this, but giving it a good go (on a budget) to get a versatile Royal Blood-ish feel. Definitely a long way to go. Looking for something to add 5ths to the guitar amp side for powerchords.[/quote] Nice setup. If you want chords, check out the EHX PitchFork. Imo, just as good an octaver as the xxxPOG, but can do exactly what you want too. And since you already have the microPOG, you can just use the PF to add the 5th when you want it. Perfect.

[quote name='0175westwood29' timestamp='1472945406' post='3125567'] Just a shot of all the pedals I have, actually getting a second board going so I can switch thing up and use more of my pedals if I feel like it[/quote] Wow.... If I had gills, I would be green around them...

[quote name='Johnny Wishbone' timestamp='1472154089' post='3118998'] Been the same for a while now. Nothing too exotic I guess. The two Boss octaves are soon to be replaced by a COG T47.[/quote] I want/need the COG pedal too. But I want the T-70!!! Go big or go home!

[quote name='Barking Spiders' timestamp='1471621514' post='3114581'] I recall seeing them on Later, an edition mostly full of dull indie pap, some old geezer Jools Holland was brown nosing plus some anonymous warbler. Then RB sounded fresh ad quite exciting in contrast to all the other toot, even though rock isn't my bag. However, having checked out their album the limitations of their line-up are all too obvious.[/quote] Hmmm, well that's a pretty glass half-empty way of looking at it. I guess one person's "limitation" is another's unique sound. I don't think they are missing a thing. I haven't enjoyed a band's music so much in years, and at the end of the day, that's all that matters to me. [quote name='JonesTheCat' timestamp='1471641437' post='3114775'] My brother has been trying to get me to listen to RB for at least two years and I think I had them confused for someone else so held out, until this thread piqued my interest. Just borrowed and listened to the album, cracker.[/quote] Awesome. Of course, I agree. I don't think there is a single weak track on the entire album.

[quote name='AlexDelores' timestamp='1471458821' post='3113228'] I believe The bass tech for RB is Chris the frontman/bass player from 'The Zico Chain' who were an awesome three piece a few years back! Just Thought I'd share that as they are well worth a listen IMO [/quote] Wow, you are right--those guys are pretty good! I also just listened to another group, Death From Above 1976, that is a 2 pc bassist and drummer. Only here the drummer is lead vocalist. Still pretty good music.

[quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1471464315' post='3113293'] Talk about it then! [/quote] What he said!!!

[quote name='bigjimmyc' timestamp='1471443954' post='3113096'] We're covering a couple of Royal Blood tracks in my 5-piece band. Obviously we are fans . The bigger band makes the songs way heavier in my opinion, and none the worse for that. I use a clean bass sound (no fx at all) for what it's worth. I kinda get why some BCers are not that impressed with Royal Blood. However, the [b]fact[/b] is that they're popular because they have some catchy songs. That's how the music business works. It is perfectly acceptable to be into unpopular music if that's your thing instead, or indeed highly popular chart stuff which I find unpalatable. Just my £0.02. [/quote] Hmmm, I obviously read this thread, and I didn't notice too many negative posts about RB. Guess I missed all the haters? Besides, it would take a a mighty pretentious person to not be at least a little impressed with what Mike Kerr does with a single bass--all while singing... The fact that the music is pretty damn good is almost peripheral... What songs do you guys cover? I am trying to add a couple to my budding band's repertoire, but so far it's proven too difficult for my novice talents to separate the parts.

Hmmm, I came from exactly the opposite end of that spectrum. Discovering the wonderful world of pedals and effects and how that could explode the range of expressiveness that was possible on a bass guitar was THE primary reason I picked up a bass in the first place. I have spent more on my pedalboard than I have for all of my basses put together! However, I will admit, having been finally awakened to the awesomeness of the bass guitar, there is nothing I like doing more than just sitting there playing a deep loud clean riff...