Rollin Thunder

Red llama nice, almost a Fuzz
New Fuzz very nice 
New Rev Purple amp great with drive very low, sounds like an Ashdown evo, James Jamerson Biffy clyro  and higher drive getting into JJ Burnel, classic British distorted amp 
Stone Phaser sounds great but a bit quite.

Rochester comp sounds good but too squishy at first lowered to 4.1 and lowered level then sounded great.

mini review 

Bought some of these late last year, very impressed. Hand made (sic) Uk company not too cheap, but for high quality and supporting small business price is acceptable.

First up a set of Platinum Nickle hex cores, put these on my Jazz bass as a like a more worn in warm set of strings on my jazz. You must take care when cutting the string ends and i would advise you follow the cutting interactions fully.  these sound fantastic, i have always liked a set of well worn in Rotosound 66 nickels on this bass and i got this sound straight out of the packet. They have been on since November and tone has stayed the same, i have ordered another set as the strings are pretty much made to order and take 14-21 days to arrive (longer during lockdown) so i expect i will be looking at changing these in another 4-8 weeks and they are getting a hammering during lockdown.

Second ordered a diamond stainless steel set hex core to my Gibson EB4 (2019) as i like a really bright sound with the twin humbuckers, previously used Rotosound 66 steel or Dunlop super brights. These have great bright tone but really rounded harmonics and plenty of zing without being too harshly zingy, the Dunlops are a bit too zingy out of the packet. Again been on since November and this is probably my main bass (i only have 3 bass's in Total) just noticed a drop of in tone and these are ready for changing, not dead but past there peak ordered a new set and these will be replaced as soon as they arrive. These are slightly cheaper than the platinum sets and are a bit rougher to feel but still very smooth and more aggressive sounding string, so have been well worth the price and great value. both sets of stings are .45 -.105 the spring selector allows you choice of nickel or steel on both types of strings and options for sets of gauges. you can also completely customise a set of strings but at additional costs.  a set of Diamond and a set of platinum set me back around £55 including a small uk deliver charge so around £27 a set which is not silly money. you can get 10% of first order if you sign up to news letter. 

To sum up, if you like a particular sound and specification they pretty much cater for all. If you want quality, great tone ,longevity and do not mine paying a bit of a premium these are for you. 

19 minutes ago, la bam said:

Thanks. In the end, considering the heft and feel I wanted for this specific project (to fill the sound) I went for an Ashdown ctm300. Hopefully will arrive this week.

Wow, that will be an awesome rig. Good choice. 

On 04/04/2020 at 12:03, naxos10 said:

Yep, Newtone strings are what I use and can't fault them or the company that makes them and they are British to boot.

I have two sets of Newtone strings on my bass's, they are exceptionally good and they have been on for close to 6 months and only now am i thinking they might need changing soon but still reckon get couple  ore months from them.  be a bit of a wait due to the virus so may order them early.

I think i  might put a review up on here.

Opened a can of works with this thread (in a good way) so much to choose from. Personally i would go for a British or British sounding amp. Think you won't go far wrong with the Laney nexus, like the look of that myself, Birmingham brand. Ashdown original range or ash down anything really. Trace Elliot Elf, Peavey max range, Peavey own both and trace was a British brand and Peavey max range are top notch. Orange four strokes have been mentioned another good shout though not played one myself. If you have  a Stomp you probably have all the sound you need. The acoustic, del sol, fender Bassman, Ampeg, maybe a powered cab is the way forward (apologies if said elsewhere)

See the thread on the  StudioSpares 458190 if you want a cheap unit. At £30 its relatively risk free purchase. I have just got one and done a little review on the thread, might be just what you are looking for and its built like a T34 Tank. 

Got my replacement yesterday. Thought i would do a bit of a review.

Great little unit, (i say Little) its a hefty unit not in a bad way.

sounds great, i tested in straight into the amp  all flatten the amp and flat on the preamp. volume at 3 line level at 4 this was about the same volume level as direct into the amp and it was completely transparent into my amp.  A B'ed it with Bass straight into amp on these settings and its was completely uncoloured tone of the bass. So then played with the EQ which was nice, Bass 6.5 mid 4 treble 6 amp flat eq. very nice sounding eq. Played straight into the amp using similar eq settings on amp and again very close nothing disernable to the ear. Back to the amp flat and preamp on the above eq, increased the volume (input) to around 5 and it was still clear but the tone starting to warm up a bit really nice. Up to 6-7 and the peak input was starting to flicker specially when dig in a bit, i was not expecting this but sounded really nice real amp in a box tube overdrive boost. Up to 8-9 and the red light really flickering and a nice tube overdrive, had to turn the line level down by this time to around 3. was not expecting to get such a nice  tubey overdrive sound from this. increase the bass and treble a bit more and drop the mid a bit sounds really really good. Honestly as good as my old Tech 21 VT bass. Then everything back to flat and engaged the Shape switch. this really scored the sound, bit too m much for my taste, similar to a MXR 81 colour switch. Sounded good but not my thing used the Notch filter and boosted the higher frequencies and added some more mid on the eq to bring it back to my taste a bit more, it works well just not my sound. I ended up playing for about an house on my preferred settings just enjoying the tone

Not tried using the Di out into garage band yet, as currently don't have a working di cable. so hopefully this works fine with a separate level control not envisaging this being a problem.

I will mainly use this all flat and run my stomp into it and Di out into Mac/Pa if required, having the second line out means i can still run into my amp. It will also be used for my acoustic guitar. At this price its a great bit of back up kit or a great addition to anyones existing kit and i would have no quorms using this as my tone shaping pre amp. I have had Sansamps and Mxr 81 and had an EHX Battallion and this is bearing mine the cost up there with these.

Anyone want a cheap preamp Di that's still versatile get your hand in your pocket.

1 hour ago, 41Hz said:

Can anyone give any tips to get get an organ type sound.

Ive got an HXFX that I’ve mainly been using for pitch shift and a bit of compression, so a bit of a noob on the other effects.

I want to recreate the organ sound at the start of mr Crowley (OZZY)

i have been trying to get that sound for ages that and john lord type hammond organ, without success. realistically maybe the only way is to get a Hammond organ or a proper myth that can do it. best i have got is using the legacy synth sims.

Mine arrived today, plugged it in straight into the amp using Fully functional brick power supply. Nothing no power light no sound zilch. Tried it with a 9v battery, and no luck.

Contacted supplier and got me a replacement in the post super fast, cannot fault the customer service, hopefully the Replacement unit is fully working and can pass judgement on the unit then. I am pragmatic these things happen. 

6 minutes ago, dave_bass5 said:

Yeah, I’ve found using my 2i2 with the Stomp to be a bit more user friendly, for the reasons you state. 

you get great bass tone direct into the Scarlet, specifically with an active bass straight into the instrument input. I prefer to use it for headphone practice than the stomp, for just clean practice anyway.

18 hours ago, dave_bass5 said:

Just a FYI.

Not sure if this has been mentioned, or even if anyone cares, but I just found out that my Stomp works as an audio interface with my iPad Pro. It’s not perfect, due to what seems to be a lack of record volume control on the iPad, but Ive managed to record a 3 track project in Garage band without issues. Will investigate more later tonight.

This came about with me wanting to use my Scarlett interface with the iPad, which also works perfectly well. 

I have the Isolo  scarlet but still run mu stomp through this, the sound quality and volume is superior, the stomp will do a job (used it myself) but the quality is way better and recording volume using the interface. 

Not much bass in the video but what there is sounds good. Quite affordable for a boutique pedal. 
 

The definitive sound of “Rock n Roll” guitar. 

Excellent condition, 40w 112 speaker, all tube Marshall combo, comes  2 overdrive channels
Complete with foot switch.

Do to size collect or drop off at suitable location.
  

8 hours ago, krispn said:

You may find adding a Klon in parallel could do a Bas Soul Food type thing. Start messing with cross overs (and multi band comp) and you’re into a new set of bass friendly tones. 
As we’re always gonna be the poor cousin to the guitarist who these units are primarily aimed at we have to use our cunning and guile to coax out the sounds we want. 

Yeah i already do that with the klon and it sounds nice, get a good sound from the tubescreamer and boss sb1 using crossover paths as well, really would live a Bass BB though, thats great on the Zoom B1

wish they where adding a couple more bass specific drives, like the exotic bb, bass soul food, and maybe a couple more bass amps an Ashdown would be nice and a Trace Elliott 

On 15/03/2020 at 13:55, machinehead said:

If they're as good as my miniMax 500 head, they will be very good indeed.

They do look to be well thought out.

Frank.

yes they are exactly the same just in a combiner's mode.

Ive got the older Peavey Model 112. Its great built in tone and very loud, its as loud as my old Ashdown  300w 115 
cannit reconend these amps enough, 

17 hours ago, Frank Blank said:

Definitely has the whiff of guitar to it but as @Jack rightly points out, it does have lights.

None of the  frfr speakers I have seen ho much below 47 hertz, headrush line6 powercab. This will be used as a home practice unit one stop shop running a helix stomp into it, rather than separate bass amp guitar amp. Also most of the frfr speakers all seem to be aimed at guitar mostly with bass as an after a thought.  

Seems a reasonably priced powered speaker option this, home, rehearsals, small gigs. 

New Laney powered cab, thinking of getting this for the Stomp, and selling my bass amp and my Marshall guitar amp. Similar to Line 6 powercab but half the price. 

https://www.laney.co.uk/products/frfr-lfr-112-active-cabinet

21 minutes ago, odysseus said:

Iron Maiden - taught me how to play fast, aggressive baselines, much in the same manner as bassbiscuits above -Live After Death was the album I spent my early days of bass on.

Rush - developed my more melodic playing, and introduced me to the more proggy and musically interesting side of things.

Dream Theater - I spent a massive amount of time in the 90's and 2000's listening to these guys.  

 

Those are probably the most defining bands of my life and playing so far... I've been listening to a lot of Animals As Leaders ( yeah... I know... no bass) and Tatran recently...

I don't think people really appreciate just how important, popular, inspirational and what a real British institution Maiden really are. they should be mentioned in the same breath as The Beatles, Stones ,The who, Zeppelin as one of the greatest British bands of all time.

For me started around 9-10 years old 

Iron Maiden as they where my first real band obsession and everything that rolled for me musically started there. slightly about AC?Dc and as much as AC/DC are truly great Maiden always had so much more about them. this Led to Judas priest Kiss Def Leppard all the way through to thrash death grind core out n out hard rock and metal that's 80% of my music still nowadays. Before that it was shaken Stevens and Adam & the Ants (no bad thing specially Adam Ant)

Next The Manic Street preachers, around 19 years old first real none metal band totally changed and opened my mind to other forms of music and what else was out there. Led be backwards onto The Clash (which i am blasting out as i am typing) The manics biggest inspiration, then backwards to the Who, west Londons predecessors to The Clash and the Who off course need no introduction the most important and inspirational band of all time for me more so than the Beatles.

Then Thin Lizzy the band i discovered later in life in my mid to late 20's circa 2000 Ish i was always aware of them and had passing liking to (how could you not with such an impressive list of banging anthems) but started to really get into their albums, pre 2000 had a best of and live n dangerous. really Indulged them over the last 20 years and they are second to not many, arguably the greatest Hard rock band of all time, ahead of some pretty stiff competition. It just shows the bands that have the biggest effect are not always the ones you start listening to when your mid teens.

I don't like the Beatles much overrated but i was brought up on my dads Beatles records and these where the first music of any kind i was introduced to at a very young age when the Beatles had only been split 5-6 years earlier, there influence is on everything to just about everybody, but too music hall and lacking any sort of edge at all for me, the Beatles simply don't rock.

I am sure the usual suspects will roll up on this one ie fender rumble, but I would highly recommend anything in the Peavey max range, great features great natural tone great price range, fantastic little practice amps and the 112 & 115 vesiobs can be used for small gigs rehearsals.

the new Ashdown combi range looks great as well.

18 hours ago, LukeFRC said:

Use the effects send to go to your amp. Main send with a TRS-XLR to the desk

what it will let you do too is add any blocks that you don’t want going to your rig after the send. eg if you are playing through a cab you probably don’t want to put a cab sim in your rig, but you might to the FOH

So if you go instrument out through the send output does this essentially bypass the Stomp completely, or I guess you can route two signal paths, one via send output and one in standard left or right out.

Also following this as I want a to send my signal to GarageBand but want to still play using amp rather than headphones. 

14 minutes ago, dave_bass5 said:

Not in the Helix Effects they aren’t, which is what I was talking about. I have done what you do with my Stomp though. 

Sorry miss read, using the darkglass as a preamp without the distortion or using it really low level distortion like gain at 1-2 max gives plenty variety as a pre amp. 

I was originally just going to get the helix effects as I was not initially bothered about amp sims as I like my current amp, but effects was out of stock so took a punt on the stomp which I prefer now and really enjoy the amp sims.

19 hours ago, dave_bass5 said:

I mean the Darkglass and BDDI sims. Both are technically bass preamps. Not sure if the Ampeg Screamer counts.

All the amp sims are available as a pre amp only, this is pretty useful for getting a nice cleaner bass sound and eq/preamp. The Pearce on clean channel and GK are good for using as just a preamp, this is what I use then run effects into it, bit of light grit from the heir apparent works great.