javi_bassist

What about a Schecter CV5? I love mine. The neck feels amazing and the pickups offer a great variety of sounds. 17mm string spacing. 

https://www.schecterguitars.com/Cv-5?quantity=1&custitem_color_master_list=433

I've always been curious about them since I really like optical compressors. And I like the Led indicator. 

16 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

 

I have the Line6 Helix gig bag which is prefect for my needs. All the associated leads, and my passive EMO DI box, go in the front pocket so everything I need apart form my bass is contained within this one case.

 

I do the bulk of my programming at home using the HX Edit application. The front panel interface is only used for fine tuning at rehearsals.

Do you use an external DI? Don't you like the ones in the Helix? Or is it for something else?

I also do the programming in the HX Edit. However, I don't think the interface of the Helix (or HX Stomp) is bad. I like it. But maybe it's because I'm used to it. 

1 minute ago, BigRedX said:

For me the larger size of the Helix Floor was one of the main selling points. On the smaller models the foot switches are just a bit too close together to hit accurately in the middle of a performance, and I find that only the front row of switches are useable mid-song, as trying to access anything further up the device will also result in me pressing something I didn't intend to with my heel. I have my Helix set up so that I only need to use the front row of switches while I'm playing. 

Also true. I sometimes hit two switches in my HX and it drives me crazy. 

And I must say that as you said, I prefer to program in the Helix (Helix LT is the one that I tried) than in a QC with a touchscreen. 

4 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

Unfortunately I could never consider the QC, it just doesn't look robust enough for some of gigging environments I encounter. Because of the external PSU without a locking connector, and lack of expression pedal it would have to be mounted with those on a pedal board which makes it a lot bulkier and cumbersome. One of the great things about the Helix Floor is that it is effectively its own pedal board. 

I have to admit that I have never thought about the Helix this way. I am not sure what you mean about the expression pedal, but it is true that the Helix seems a more robust unit that the QC. The singer/guitarist I play with has the QC in a hard case. He just removes the top of the case and play with it. But I also play with another guitarist who uses the Helix LT. And she takes it without any hard case, just in her bag. 

Well, I think the HX Stomp and the Quad Cortex are not in the same league. The HX is just a small Helix. The right comparison would be a full Helix against the Quad Cortex.

The singer/guitarist of my band has a Quadcortex and it sounds really really good. I have considered one myself. However, I must say that I feel pretty comfortable within the Line 6 ecosystem and I don't really want to move. If Line 6 made a full Helix the size of a Quadcortex, I'd get it without hesitation. I'm not saying it's better, I think it's a matter of taste.

I'm with @BigRedX. I am the happy user of a HX Stomp and I love it. However, if you want something simpler, I'd go with an Ashdown OriginAL DI or Pro DI like @police squad. Great preamps.

The last Ampeg preamp also gives you a compressor in case you want it.

Another happy HX Stomp user.

1 hour ago, BigRedX said:

Despite having ditched my traditional bass rig for just the Helix going direct into the PA, I very rarely use any amp or cab models.

Me too. When I got the Stomp, I tried to recreate the tone I had with my pedalboard and my amp. However, now I use other "effects" to get a really nice sound. 

Both units will be great. However, I don't know about the Kemper, but I guess it will be the same: it's not plug and play. You will need to learn how it works. But it is a great path. 

Back again with my Ashdown preamp. I must admit that I love the sound and it is a very underrated preamp IMO. I am not sure if it will last in my board because I really like to take with me as few pedals as I can, but I must say that I prefer to have it. Sounds really good. I use it as a valve DI and it gives some nice overdriven sound that fits perfectly in the mix. 

23 hours ago, fretmeister said:

I had a V1 and for the life of me I could not dial it in to stop a really obvious dip and swell of the note when using high output pickups.

It was fine on a good old P bass, but on my EMG equipped basses - where I have the pickups about 1mm from the string when fretted at the last fret - it just couldn't cope at all.

 

That only happened to me once, when I used it at 9V. At 18V I use it now with active and hot output basses and I never have a problem. 

17 hours ago, bassace97 said:

 

Fixes all the (very minor) gripes I have with mine, being its a bit too tall and the metering was rather basic. I'd imagine it will sound the same though.

 

 

That's also my case, but I don't think I can justify spending that money to fix those two minor gripes.

2 hours ago, Chadu25 said:

Lovely! Been GASsing on a Fender Ultra V ❤️

 

It won't help your GAS, but it's the best bass I've ever played. The neck is just insane. And it sounds just amazing.

2 hours ago, glassmoon said:

An open discussion question: for "just" effects, is the HX Stomp worth it?  I love the size - dinky little thing

IMO it is. If you want to control everything, maybe the XL would be better. I used to use only effects when I pairing with a preamp. I finally downsized my pedalboard and the HX also replaced it.  

35 minutes ago, Hugsonic said:

Just wondering why you don't use the tuner on the HX? You could then swap the polytune for 2x foot switches. Tuner +other. 

I usually use the HX Stomp in Snapshot mode. Yesterday I was experimenting with some effects and that is why it is in Stomp mode. Besides, I don't really like the Helix tuner. I have used it butI think I prefer the Polytune.  

I have played some gigs with this setup and I love it. It's compact, versatile and it sounds really really good.

I have used my Line 6 G30 for ten years. It's true that I am lately looking to buy another wireless because the other day was having dropouts. It was just that day and since I changed to RF1, no problem. 

My most recent update. I am not sure if I prefer the DCX before or after the Cali76. I usually have it right after the tuner. Yesterday I was trying to put it after the Cali and I am not 100% convinced. I should continue to experiment.

Relay G30-->Polytune 3-->Cali76-->DCX Bass-->HX Stomp

52 minutes ago, warwickhunt said:

 

It could well be that the only answer is custom molded plugs.  I had the KZ10, used and liked by many (as the budget option) and I could NOT get used to the fit/isolation, including trying many of the recommended buds/plugs.  I moved to Sennheiser IE100 (your IE) and they were a perfect fit with great isolation, even using the silicone buds that came with it, I had excellent isolation.  I even tried swapping the IE100 silicone buds onto the KZ10 and they were no good (perfect on the Sennheiser).  

 

In short, the shape and ergonomics of 'some' IE will not fit with some people and it could take lot of experimentation to find the right ones, unless you go custom.  I was lucky that the 2nd pair I tried fit my ear canal shape great. 

I have also moved from the KZ because they were always coming out from my ear. They were too big for my ear. I found the IE100 to be perfect in size. I also have the Mee2 as a backup because they are the same size. 

I know the isolate (I even used them as ear plugs when the other band was playing because there were too much noise). I guess there was just too much noise.

20 minutes ago, dave_bass5 said:

I find that on small stages it feels like my IEM’s aren’t sitting correctly in my ears. I guess there is only so much noise they can reduce. 
I find Comply’s tips help make a better seal, but when I’m standing right next to a drummer there isnt much else i can do. 
 

i guess its saves setting the ambient mic up 😀
 

Im using IE400 pro but also found the same with the IE100. Both have been the best fit and seal i have ever had though. 

Do you find a huge difference between the IE400 and the IE100? The IE100 sound great, but I think the KZ were just a little bit better with lows. Just a little bit. The IE100 are so much more comfortable.

Hello guys!

I have been reading this thread, and I haven't finished, so sorry if you guys have talked about it already (I tried searching for something like this without much luck).

Last weekend I played with IEM in a very small club. My signal chain was:
Bass-->Pedalboard-->Rolls PM351-->Sennheiser XSW. The thing is that my in ears don't isolate that much which hadn't bothered me until last Saturday. I put foam plugs already and I have tried a lot. Do you guys have any tips to improve isolation? The in ears are Sennheiser IE100 in case it helps.

15 minutes ago, Jakester said:

From the manual:

 

"4.4 Strobe mode

 

In Strobe mode, the difference between the correct (target) frequency and the actual detected frequency is displayed by twoi ndicators simultaneously: 1. Red LEDs to the left (pitch too low)or tot he right (pitch to high)of the center LED column 2. Rotating segments in the display. The closer the detected frequency is to the target frequency, the slower the rotation. Tune the string until the rotating pattern has come to a stop and only the middle column of green LED lights up."

 

You did read the manual, right? 😉

Yep! And that would make sense if the lights rotate only to one direction. However, if the note is flat, the lights rotate to the left (which they are doing) but the needle says that the note is sharp. Maybe I am not undertanding or seing it correctly, but that's what I think it's saying. If I detune even more, it rotates correctly... I find it odd.

Hello guys

Ok, this is a pretty dumb question and I feel a little bit dumb just asking it but... I don't fully understand the Polytune in the Strobe mode. I loved the Polytune interface of the first version but they included the needle and now I am confused. I like the tuner and I use it in Chromatic mode in gigs. However, I was setting the intonation of a bass and this happen:

So, the needle is telling me that is sharp, but the horizontal lines are telling me that it is flat... What? It happened in both the Noir and the big Polytune 3. 

I also have an HX Stomp and I tested against the polytune and... they didn't agree. I added the Planet Waves Strobe tuner to the mix so that I could compare them. I found that the Polytune was the most accurate of them all (checked it also in two different plug-in tuners and my ears). However, what happens in the video confuses me. 

18 hours ago, MrDinsdale said:

Yeah that’s fair, I guess it depends what you want out of it. In most cases I suspect a more subtle preamp like that is going to be more use in real world settings outside of YouTube demos. For me the passive mode sounds great so the active doesn’t do enough to warrant the hassle of dealing with batteries. 

Don't get me wrong, I also love it in passive mode. This bass is pretty impressive.

18 hours ago, MrDinsdale said:

Was watching a review of the BB734A last night by Johnny Dimble:

 

 

Gotta say while I love mine I definitely agree on the preamp, I’ve used passive mode exclusively as it sounds better to my ears.

 

I was actually contemplating switching it out for something different like the Lusithand but it’d be a hassle trying to fill in the empty holes. Is the neck pocket identical on the 434 and 734a?

Unpopular opinion, but I like the preamp. I changed the pickups to a Delano set. I took it to my luthier and I asked him about preamp recommendation. He told me a couple he would choose, but he also told me that I shouldn't change it and that I should try it. I'm happy I did because it sounds incredibly good now. It is really transparent. Having the possibility to play it passive is a must for me, but I never do it. I like it active with Delano pickups and stock preamp. 

My best purchase was my Fender American Ultra Jazz bass V. 

My worst purchase might be the TC Bodyrez. 

2 hours ago, Tjhooker said:

Is the price of BB's going up 🤔 ?

I think they have been going up lately. When I bought my BB414 it cost me 350€ and now they are selling for no less than 500. But you know, all prices are going up

14 hours ago, Rusty Spanner said:

Wasn't sure about the painted neck on the 734a at first, looks wise. 

I prefer a nice, clear satin neck, but the paint feels great. 

 

I was happy with the painted neck until I got a Schecter CV5 and a Fender American Ultra jazz bass. Now, I prefer a satin neck. The painted neck is not that bad, but now I prefer a satin neck.

14 hours ago, MrDinsdale said:

I’ve always loved the look of the 734a, the matte black, the shape of the inlays and the design on the headstock.

 

I’m currently playing in a pretty noisy rock band at the mo, mostly with pick. I love the tone of my Schecter J bass but just really struggle getting the action where I want it compared to my bass with a multi laminate neck. Hoping the 734 fairs a little better in this regard.

 

How have people found the neck/action?

I had a BB734 matte black and I have a BB735 and the action can get really really low.