javi_bassist

I've been an amp geek since I started playing bass. Even more excited about amps than basses. I tried a lot of amps and now, it makes me a little sad, but I leave it at home if I can (99% of the time actually). I switched to a Line 6 HX Stomp, some pedals and IEM. If I can't use IEM, I have monitors from FOH. Being able to go to play by train or bus is great. I still have a couple of amps, but they rarely leave my house. However, playing with what you like I think it makes play better (or more comfortable at least). 99% of the audience won't notice if you're using Fender, Yamaha, Ashdown, Orange, Ampeg... But they will notice if you are enjoying the gig.

I'll try to lower the the Rochester. I tried to set it as I used to run my JHS Pulp'NPeel in the studio for parallel compresion. The LA2A is set to Compression, no Limiter. And I always create my patches at gig volume.

I played a gig on Saturday. Small venue, no amps, everything had to go to FOH. Guitarists and I (bass of course) have HX Stomps. While doing the soundcheck, the sound guy asked me if that was my sound, that it was really compressed. I've been using the same preset for many gigs and I never noticed anything. I don't know if the soundguy is not used to receive some "worked" signal or that my signal is not that good (even though it sounds good to me). My preset goes like this: Rochester comp (heavily compressed, ratio 10/1, but 35% of wet signal to have some parallel compression)->Simple pitch->Split at 120Hz (soft Teemah in the bass part, nothing above the 120Hz)->Signal merges again->Ampeg SVT4->IR->LA Comp (peak 2.5, mix 85%). The LA Comp was just not to have great peaks sent to FOH. I've been toying with the LA to set the peak at 1.5-1.6 to be more subtle. How do you use your compressors?

Yes! They have some really good offers. I got myself a RM112 too haha.

Hi everyone, For some time I've been toying with the idea of starting playing the synth (the bass synth actually). However, I'm not sure how to start. I bought a Korg Microkorg from a friend (not the best idea though. The learning curve of that thing is high). However, I'm not sure how to start. I can play some (basic) piano so I have the basics to play keys. But I don't know how to learn what does that, the different parts of the synth, songs I should learn... How do you guys started?

I think it that now there are also many more "boutique" brands that make their pedals for more than 200 bucks. So "normal" brands also want to make these "boutique" pedals and they rise the price. It's true that the Helix it's not for everyone, but even adding "extra" pedals, you decrease the cost of your pedalboard. And it also gives you the freedom to use effects that you don't have in pedals without the need of buying the effect to try it. But as I said, it's not for everyone of course. There are sounds that you need the specific pedal that it's not in the Helix.

The Source Audio Aftershock made me stopped looking at dirt pedals. I have one more overdrive and two fuzzes, but the Aftershock was the last one and it has every sound I want and need. But the true pedal killer has been the Line6 HX Stomp. I don't feel the need to have any more pedals.

I did that with a step down on a song. I was very skeptical, but the simple pitch is pretty awesome.

I followed your piece of advice. It worked perfectly. Here's is a pìc of my RM500 paired with the RM112 I used yesterday. I am considering getting another RM112, but this one is already really loud. Besides, I also have an old RM210 (the first generation) and I'm also happy with it, so I'm not sure about anopther one.

A crappy pic, but here's my current rig: Ashdown RM500, Ashdown RM112T and my Fender MP Dimension bass.

This is what I used today with my cover band. Soundwise: amazing. I really really loved the tone I got. And really loud. It could keep up against two tube guitar amps. The bad: the head was always moving. I was scared of it falling off the cab. I used to have a GK mbe212 which also moved, but not that much. Any piece of advice? My RM210T doesn't move (nor the head, of course) but the RM112 could not stop moving. It was more like vibrations I guess, because it made the head move.

That LB looks really sexy

When I had my big board, I only have 4 different effects: Octave>Overdrive>Fuzz>Chorus. However, there were times when I wanted to switch two or three at the same time. The HX does that very easily (like a loop switcher). It allows you to experiment even more by mixing different effects.

I have to admit that my preamp pedal cost me nearly as much as the HX. But I have to say that the sum of the prices of pedals I had in my previous pedalboard was far larger than what the HX cost me. And with the HX I can do much more. About pitch shifter. I am playing with a cover band next week. The guitarist (who is a friend of mine and the one who got me into the Helix world) sent me the setlist and one of the songs they play one tone down. He told me he just uses the picht shifter in the HX and plays standard. I tried... and I liked it. For one song, it sounds pretty good.

I've been experimenting a lot lately woth the HX and I'm liking it more and more each day. However, it has some things that don't convince me 100%. In my case, I don't really like the Bass Octaver. It's not too bad, but I can't find a setting that I like. I was used to the MXR Bass Octave Deluxe that I liked. Which are the things you don't like about the HX?

UnI still need to rearrange to fit everything, but this is my new one (the Aftershock will not be included)

The Stomp replaced all my pedals and I played some gigs with it. However, I missed my Ashdown preamp, so it is back. Not that the amp sims in the Stomp are bad, but I just love my preamp. Yesterday I was also toying with my favourite compressor: the JHS Pulp'N'Peel. I love the sound of parallel compression with the JHS. Then, I thought if I could do the same in the Stomp. I tried the Rochester compressor with a high ratio and blend at 36%. I could not achieve the sound of the JHS... but it sounded even better. I just loved it. The signal was: Global HPF/LPF at 38Hz&15kHZ-->Rochester comp (with parallel compression)-->Split at 150Hz and the Teemah in the low part-->Legacy Overdrive in the high part-->Legacy Big Muff in the high part-->Ashdown Original preamp. It sounds pretty cool I think.

It is advertised as a clean amp, but it is also advertised as an hybrid amp with tubes and I find it odd. I will have to try it myself because I've always liked Orange amps

I've always been intrigued by the LBT since it came out. A store next to my house has one at a good price and I'm tempted. I have a couple of questions that you guys may have the answer: 1-The DI says "Post EQ and Volume". Does it mean that if I need to increase volume during a performance, the FOH will also receive this increase? I guess so, but I find it weird. 2-Does it have tubes? Having tubes is not a must for me (my current amp is an Ashdown RM that I love) but I read everywhere that it has tubes. But it doesn't have a gain knob, so I'm not sure if they are in the compressor part or if they are in the preamp.

HX FX "only" has the effects from the Helix. The HX Stomp has everything, but more limited to be more compact (it has amp simulations, the HX FX does not have them). The HX Stomp XL is the Stomp, but with more switches.

I put the Sonar 3 MS/E. It should have fitted with no problems. However, I was sent the one with the bass and treble stacked pot and I couldn't return it. Besides, the preamp came with a push/pull pot for active/passive. Since I am no electronics expert (I can do very simple things) I thought about making the bass active/passive and, since now I had 4 pots instead of 5, I thought about adding a passive tone knob. So I took it to a luthier to do the job. If I didn't have the stacked bass/treble, I could have switched the preamp myself. But it's a much better bass now.

I have finally switched the preamp in my BB605 to a Delano. Now, it is passive/active (volume push/pull) and has bass, treble, mids, mid switch to select the frequency, blend and a passive tone. I can only say "wow". I'm still in love with my BB735, but the 605 will be played more often than before. I'm not sure about the pickups. They are not too bad, but this bass may improve a lot.

I have been using my RM500 with my RM112 in a rock cover band. Pretty loud cover band. I set my RM with the master at 1 and it can compete with two valve guitar amps. Pretty amazing how loud this thing is.