Ander87

Hm - if you love Warwick and Ibanez most I'm inclined to refer a Spector due to similar narrower string spacing etc. Otherwise, Sadowsky... and well in a different vibe I've got a couple Merlos in the marketplace (4 and 5) at a ridiculous price for handmade instruments. If you're not sure of the investment, a Spector Euro would always return the money and you've got a couple around facebook and here for 1300 ish.

Hey bud, If it helps, there's a nate mendel in facebook (probs here too) for £675. I think Paul Walsh had the most gorgeous tangerine Limelight P recently - I wouldn't miss a chance for a Limelight though!

Well! It has been a very interesting couple of weeks - the first courier cancelled the shipping so I arranged for UPS to collect it from Spain Thursday 23rd April... I had to change the address and UPS was absolutely horrible in redirecting it to the right depot and trying attempts on my old address etc (believe me it's been a load of back and forth...) in the end the bass arrived last Thursday and I've been having a chance to noodle with it. It is a lovely bass! These are faux f holes if that makes sense, in the sense that they don't go through the whole body and just around the holes. The bass has lots of punch and moves good air and the resonance is ridiculous, you can feel it all over your chest whilst playing. As mentioned, the electronics are very flexible and I love the fact that I can jump from Active to Passive without having to pump up the volume etc. The construction is very intricate, this is what I would consider a very complicated instrument, definitely more difficult than the regular jazz/precision bolt on approach but it's been resolved quite nicely. The neck is incredibly flat, thin and even from fret 1 to 24 which is comfortable and the first bass I try like this - so far loving it! I am playing it through a new rig composed of the Aguilar TH350 + matching SL112 straight in. Fat tones all day, very rich indeed! Attaching a picture for you guys but I'll be doing a more detailed review sometime soon!

Thanks gents, very valid input. I think for general purpose or 'clinical' approach, the Cali76 is defo the one to go for without a doubt. Especially if you're not afraid of controls etc. Next to this, from what I gather and read around, is the Empress Compressor. Now on the other side of the ring, there is the Diamond Bass Comp Jr - Like @MGBrown says, I kind of want that 'magic' to tone and longer lasting notes and etc that just... make it all better. I have to admit the 'tone enhancing' and 3 knob of 'how much you want to use' works, but potentially you can, from what I've read, add a bit more noise than the others and loose some treble.... Now having said that I gotta admit @ryancowell25 this may be a very interesting call! On one side I have the simple operation of the Diamond, the blend/mix of the Empress and Cali, and from what I've read, the sustain can thicken up tone whilst still able to add treble if I fear losing it. I just popped a message to them and already got a reply saying it works well on bass etc.... Ryan can you tell me more on this?

Hey guys, thanks for the help! It does sound like so...! On the other hand I hear quite a bit that it's on the 'pop', bright side of things, whereas the Diamond is the tone fattening, not a big ratio (set at 3:1), warmer (and simpler!) alternative. @Bobthedog cheers mate - Darkglass is always a contender but from what I hear here and there Darkglass is on the 'darker' end - considering my already warm enough sound I'm conscious I wouldn't want to blur the highs... Still would love to try one properly, but THIS IS GOLD!! Wow, it really has opened me up to some reviews and models, thank you! From what I see, read there, out of my options, Diamond could be a bit on the lead there... ... It's also made me consider others like the Empress Compressor - I will definitely do more digging here. It's true that, as @itu said, one knob buttons control more than one parameter... I think this is where I'm most comfortable, 1 to 3 knobs and an 'impossible to mess up' knobs/controls.

Hi everyone. I'm a simple man - I'm receiving a new rig soon with a 18v active J+MM Merlos bass to plug to an Aguilar TH350 + SL112 matching cab. We play neosoul / soul / jazz / blues. I dread pedals. The cables, the extra pedalboard, power supply etc.... I like to gig and practise light as I can and have had very neat pedalboards before with power supply etc etc etc..... Lovely, but it just doesn't work for me, I can't be asked. Nonetheless, if there is one pedal I could do with is a compressor / boost; I used to have an MXR compressor and used it as a tone enhancer. The visual compression was neat but I was too scared to mess up my tone due to the multiple knobs and configurations (I'd even take a picture of my settings to not lose the setting I liked). With this in mind and the rig above, I'm looking for a simple, easy to operate pedal solution I can velcro to the head and keep 'always on'. I would use it for 'that one setting' that works for all songs and adds a bit of juice and evens up signal / controls peaks whilst still respecting playing dynamics. The rig as is (preamp of the bass and Aguilar) is quite warm already, I'm open to a coloured compressor as long as it makes for a nice tone whilst still allowing definition. My options: - Diamond Bass Compressor Jr - Operating at 9/18v, 3 knobs, about £217 - Origin Effects Cali76 Compact Bass - looks like the leader in the category. I think I could figure out that one setting and etc and obviously want best tone possible but I start to trouble with the HPF controls and etc.... also £269 - Aguilar TLC compressor - good reputation and matching colouring ethos probably with my current rig but no visuals I believe on the compression added (not a deal breaker as I won't have it 'at hands reach') That's when it comes to compressors, and I'm inclined to believe that's what I need.... Nonetheless I'm interested in hearing your thoughts on whether the Darkglass Harmonic Booster or the Xotic Bass RC booster /V2 would do a better result. What do you use? Thoughts?

Oh @drTStingray that's a great colour! I have to admit my initial inclinations were the sparkle (Aqua specially, but the grey one is gorgeous too!). The Cruz Teal they had was 4kg bang on so that's the one I took, the Aqua Sparkle was weighing about 4.5kg. I miss him still, I've let go of all my basses except for one (Merlos Al Andalus coming) to do adulting and save for a house... I've a feeling an SR5 Special will come back eventually. Sorry for the hijack of the topic, take care eveyrone!

my SR5 Special (oh Harry I still miss you sometimes) used to have a fairly snug fit if that ever helps - not tight but would make to minimise number of case models. Not in case but I just had to post it. How beautiful with the pearloid pickguard....!

Fantastic 'first 5er' @RichValentine! I genuinely think the key to a good playing 5 is the 19mm string spacing. I've gone from Spector (16.5) to Musicman (17.5) and different scales (34 mostly with a 35 from Lakland). For me, 34" and 19mm is the magic neck measures! The electronics in Xotic are remarkable and just a generally great looking muscle jazz on steroids - enjoy it mate!