BillyBass

From late 1979, when I left school, up to about mid 1981 I went to about 2 gigs a week, sometimes 3, mainly punk and what later became known as 'post punk' gigs.  Some of the gigs with established, bigger bands (e.g. the Damned, Ramones, Buzzcocks, Siouxsie) would last an hour or more but most bands were starting out and many hadn't released their first album yet, so a typical set would only last 45-50 minutes perhaps, and they would run out of songs. 

Down Down - Status quo

8 hours ago, Woodinblack said:

Was it you or someone else that said about noise on the B1-four?

Got the spectracomp today, plugged it in, thought 'god thats loud noisy', then bypassed, and it sounded teh same, so put the lead round the back instead and it still was. I guess I had turned the level up somehow! With levels where they should be, its fine, just got to find some drive toneprint that I like

Do you mean the 'Spectradrive'?  I'm not aware of the Sectracomp having drive toneprints.

I have only gone through about 4 or 5 of the drive toneprints on mine because I don't use the drive part that much but what I have heard hasn't been any better than middling.  If you find one you really like let us know.

Train kept a rollin - Tiny Bradshaw

1 hour ago, javi_bassist said:

Hahahaha, I just like colours. In everything (cars, furniture, walls...)

Is it because ot's brown? Or you just don't like it? Just curious because you are the first person I know to not recommend the OC-2.

I wasn't being serious.  However, I'm quite sure, the OC-2's sound would improve if it was bright yellow😉

1 hour ago, Stub Mandrel said:

All the best pedals are brown.

You, sir, are a heathen.

1 hour ago, javi_bassist said:

Hahahaha, nope, everything from pop, rock, alt rock and some blues. 

I have to say that some years back, all my pedals were black. Not by choice, because I like the sound. But it was boring-looking. I've been changing pedals for years (again, not because of the colours, but because of the sound) and I ended up with a very colourful pedalboard. And I like it this way  

I think your pedal board would really be improved by a yellow and a light blue pedal.  Whatever you do, don't put an OC-2 on it.

1 hour ago, Al Krow said:

Are you a fan of glam rock? 😁

How do you rate it as a headphone amp? Just wondering whether I should maybe get one of these as a off board headphone amp rather than getting a second B1-4? The B1-4 is obviously is a lot cheaper and does a bunch of other stuff...hmmm, I think I've just answered my own question, lol!

As a headphone amp the Spectradrive works just fine, its better than my Elf and it also has the Aux in, which is very useful if you are learning covers.  I bought this during the lockdown, I was at home, practising for several hours per day but wanting to stay on good terms with the neighbours (I thought my Elf's headphone out was faulty and it was about to be sent off for repair).  The B1-4 was sold out everywhere, even Thomann ran out and I didn't want to wait a month or more for new stock to arrive so I thought I would buy the spectradrive and possibly make use of its pre-amp/DI facilities too.  Both bits of kit are good value but the Zoom does a lot for very little dosh.

Glam rock!😀 I suppose @javi_bassist's pedal board is a bit glam rockish, I am guessing Javi doesn't play in a death metal band😀.  The colours are really nice though.

2 hours ago, BigRedX said:

When London Calling came out it was a choice between that and PiL's Metal Box, for which album I would buy that week. I think I made the right choice.

20 minutes ago, Nail Soup said:

I made the same choice... well it was no contest really, PIL all the way.

When Metal Box was released on vinyl it was 2*33, so I guess it qualifies for this thread.

The Clash and John Lydon both decided to progress from punk, but did it in two different ways.

London's Calling sounded like the past, Metal Box sounded like the future.

 

I got both.  London calling got played once or twice and then I just played the first track, London Calling and removed the stylus.

Metal Box got played loads, the only thing I found annoying was getting the 12" discs out of the metal box; I flogged it and bought the 33rpm version when it came out.  I bet that Metal Box with the 12" singles is worth a lot now.

3 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

My interest in the Clash disappeared between the release of the London Calling single - both sides of which are great - and the London Calling album which IMO is terrible apart form the title track and "Lost In The Supermarket".

Yep, I'd second that.

They did 7 nights at the Lyceum, either later 1980 or early 1981.  I was tempted but I just assumed they would just be playing all the new cr*p, so I didn't bother.  Friends told me the gigs were brilliant and they played lots of old stuff, so I missed out there.🙁

Stand by your man - Dolly Parton

40 minutes ago, Woodinblack said:

Just bought a SpectraDrive today

I mainly use mine for its headphone out and aux in and a bit of compression but the overdrive comes in handy sometimes.  

On 08/10/2020 at 14:55, javi_bassist said:

I removed the Delay and the LPF. I'm trying to make it smaller. This is all I need for now.

I've no idea what it sounds like but the colours are beautiful

Here is my practise board.  It has only got 6 pedals, so I am aware how pretentious it looks.

Wishing Well - Free

5 minutes ago, Lozz196 said:

I suppose from my collection the double album that has a good few let-downs is The Great Rock n Roll Swindle by The Sex Pistols. The tracks of them playing are good, but there’s too much other “filler” on it. I suppose it does actually live up to its name.

I remember seeing racks of 'Flogging a dead horse' in the Virgin Megastore, probably about a year after the Great Rock n Roll swindle came out.  Malcolm McLaren just milking the last penny out of the Sex Pistols name.

6 hours ago, BigRedX said:

Contenders for terrible ones IMO are both by The Clash - "London Calling" with only 2 decent tracks and "Sandinista" which doesn't have any.

3 hours ago, Lozz196 said:

Agree, The Clash were a strange band, capable of both brilliant tracks and awful ones.

 

The first album was a masterpiece, the second was ok, English Civil war, Tommy Gun etc, and then it went downhill.  They stopped being punk, I'm so bored with the USA was put to one side and off to America they went.

Car Trouble - Adam & the Antz

Every little thing she does is magic - The Police

1 hour ago, StickyDBRmf said:

One of these days I'm gonna get a "Orange Squeezer"  kit and build the Tony Levin Sound. Sorry, I like Super-Squash

I'd love to sound like Tony Levin, though I would need a bit more than a new pedal for this to happen!

Red Scab - Adam & the Antz

Bad -  U2

On 24/09/2020 at 09:39, Dan Dare said:

 For practice/studio work, the best answer is probably a smaller, lower powered model - TE Elf or similar.

Except the Elf's fan is a bit noisy.  I'm guessing that due to its form factor, the fan is more important.  It is certainly louder than the fan on my MarkBass Marcus Miller 500W head

11 hours ago, javi_bassist said:

Yesterday I was about to buy the Studio Compressor. I'm still thinking about it.

I'm a huge Ashdown fan. I love their amps and I like some of their new basses. I've had all Dr Green pedals and most of their Ashdown pedals. However, I only use the OriginAL preamp now (and the NM2 sometimes). And I like their compressors (the Studio and the Velvet). But for the price, I'm not sure about them. I currently use a JHS Pulp'N'Peel v4 and it has some key features (like the Blend) that none of the Ashdown compressors have. I think they should be a little more configurable (like a volume knob in the studio compressor). The idea is really good, but they are a little bit pricey for what they offer and what the market is offering.

I have to agree with you.  You pay a premium for a made in England pedal, it certainly isn't good value for money compared to some Chinese made pedals, or even the Cali76bass.  I don't mind paying a bit more for something made in England but I am also put off by the large form factor and the awkward power supply requirements.

I ended up buying an Ampeg Optocomp, because it was very cheap and is as configurable as I need a compressor to be (and I like the Ampeg tone).

No Class - Motorhead

Mind your own business - Delta 5