NicoMcJ

2 hours ago, Naigewron said:

My freshly rebuilt "covers all bases" travel board

- Battery-powered for use anywhere and everywhere
- Ultra compact, fits in the front pocket of my bass bag (23x15 cm / 9x6 inches)
- DI out with cabinet simulation for going direct
- Headphone output and aux input for quiet jamming
- TC Electronic Wiretap for recording ideas on the go (or recording live sets). Can easily be reamped later

 

The board is designed for "set and forget"; there aren't really any effects that are there to be turned on and off. Those footswitches are too close together to hit in the heat of the moment too 😄

 

How do you like the Mini Ego? Any downsides to it, or is it superb?

2 hours ago, SumOne said:

It seemed limited on controls (I wanted something that works for slap, and Dub, and synth, so needed quite a lot of control), but I think the minimal type compressors can work well if they happen to fit the type of compression you want. 

That’s a good point.  I’m very much a rock guy but I always see Aguilar as a kind of “slap” brand.  Definitely worth trying one for real before spending any money.

2 minutes ago, CJPJ said:

I used to have the Xotic Effects. I've not got my head around compressors properly yet but my guitarist uses once and he also plays bass and he rates it on both instruments. Appently you can fine tune it using some switches hidden inside the back cover. Exciting.

Ooh it didn’t realise it had extra bits inside! Nice

2 hours ago, SumOne said:

I owned the Pigtronix Philosopher Bass which is a bit of an odd one as I thought it worked best at adding sustain and distortion. For those specific things it's good, not so good at the things most Bass players want from compression for though.

 

I haven't used these but was looking into having a board of just mini pedals a while back and was considering the ones you mention and:

• Becos Compiq mini
• Aguilar DB 599
• Fairfield Circuitry The Accountant 

But as @Bigwan says, compact size (instead of mini) with top mounted jacks (e.g. Empress, Cali 76, Ego, The Warden) seems a better compressor pedal size to me as they don't take up much more pedalboard room, especially when next to other top-mounted pedals. They don't tip over as easily, have more room for the footswitch (e.g. the Becos mini looks like you'd step on switches and a delicate micro dial when you step on the footswitch) and more room for additional and easily visable dials and things like metering.....so I gave up on the mini pedalboard thing, especially for compressors.

 

 

 

So what decided you against the Aguilar in the end? I plan on using it as an “always on” like I do with the Hypergravity, so switching isn’t a problem for me.

1 minute ago, Lozz196 said:

There’s a really great demo of the Aguilar DB 599 on YouTube, I think if I were after a teeny weeny compressor that’s where my money would go.

I shall have a look! Thank you 😊

1 hour ago, SumOne said:

I owned the Pigtronix Philosopher Bass which is a bit of an odd one as I thought it worked best at adding sustain and distortion. For those specific things it's good, not so good at the things most Bass players want from compression for though.

 

I haven't used these but was looking into having a board of just mini pedals a while back and was considering the ones you mention and:

• Becos Compiq mini
• Aguilar DB 599
• Fairfield Circuitry The Accountant 

But as @Bigwan says, compact size (instead of mini) with top mounted jacks (e.g. Empress, Cali 76, Ego, The Warden) seems a better compressor pedal size to me as they don't take up much more pedalboard room, especially when next to other top-mounted pedals. They don't tip over as easily, have more room for the footswitch (e.g. the Becos mini looks like you'd step on switches and a delicate micro dial when you step on the footswitch) and more room for additional and easily visable dials and things like metering.....so I gave up on the mini pedalboard thing, especially for compressors.

 

 

 

Again, thanks for taking the time to comment, but I know which size enclosure I want. Thank you.

2 hours ago, Bigwan said:

Why teeny, tiny? A 125B enclosure (boss-sized footprint) with top mounted jacks doesn't take up much more space than a 1590A (the size you mention). 

Because I want a tiny one. Thank you for taking the time to comment though.

Hi all,

Whats your favourite? The Mini Ego, the MXR Dyna Bass, the Xotic? Something else?

More importantly - WHY is it your favourite?

Anything in a natural finish. I don’t want a bass that lookslike a 70s kitchen.

23 hours ago, NancyJohnson said:

OK, here goes:
i)  I'm really not a fan of the Jazz/Precision shape.  Or Fenders generally.
ii)  Sunburst finishes generally (especially sunbursts where the colour goes from black to yellow).
iii)  Maple fingerboards.
iv)  Hi-gloss finishes that look like furniture.
v)  Terrible headstock design (ie Cort, Sandberg, Chowny, G&L).
vi)  Anything with a single pickup (I'm just of the opinion that a twin pickup set up is way more versatile tonally).
vii)  'Does it come with a hardshell case?'  If the answer is 'no', then well, no.

 

There's probably more.

If it comes with a hard case I’ll ask for a discount and tell the shop to keep it.  Beastly relics of a bygone age!!

7 hours ago, NicoMcJ said:

Latest iteration!

 

Out:

-TC Spark Mini

-DOD Carcosa

-TC Vortex flanger

 

In:

-Morley 20-20 Power Fuzz Wah

And the Morley glows in the dark. This makes it my new favourite thing.

Latest iteration!

Out:

-TC Spark Mini

-DOD Carcosa

-TC Vortex flanger

In:

-Morley 20-20 Power Fuzz Wah

They’re fine if you use a taper-wound low B.  The Sadowsky blue label set works very well on Jazz basses. 

On 25/03/2022 at 16:44, NicoMcJ said:

Obviously I haven’t done a 3 hour gig with it yet but my first impression is that it’s the most comfortable instrument I’ve ever played.

 

Not just the weight, but the balance is incredible.

Ok, I have done a 3 hour and 10 minute gig with it now. It was incredible. It was like I was wearing nothing at all.

It sounded awesome too.

All other basses are stupid.

Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.

21 minutes ago, admiralchew said:

This was taken a while ago when I was trying to have a board that did basically everything, including acting as a headphone amp. Currently, everything is off my board as I’m planning to A/B the different type of pedals to find my preferred iteration. I’ll likely end up with a few boards. I’ll provide updates when they’re ready.

Is that 2 Zumas lurking under there???

2 minutes ago, Kev said:

Have the QC issues been sorted out in this range?  I remember the initial thread here being plagued with reports of bad finishing/sharp edges/tone pots falling off etc.

No idea but mine is flawless in terms of everything working as it should.  No complaints in that regard.

2 hours ago, Woodinblack said:

 

Oh I hated it until I took the locking connector out, then it worked fine and I really like it

 

Perfect!

13 minutes ago, Woodinblack said:

 

Mine isn't!

I genuinely dislike it.  Tempted to replace it.  

Having said that the jack socket is irritating…

4 hours ago, SumOne said:

I'll eat my  curved back words:

 

Had a 3hr band practice last night, non-stop on my feet the whole time and no fatigue in wrists of shoulders or anywhere else from playing the Bass (my feet got a bit tired but I don't think I can blame the Bass for that!) so I guess that raised fretboard angle isn't an issue and possibly is a benefit. Or perheps it'd be even better if it sat flat, doesn't really matter though as it's good how it is.

 

Also, the Bass sounded good played loud in a band mix: Small/lightweight to transport and play, comfortable, stayed in tune, intonates well for every fret (not just open and 12th - an issue I've had with other Basses), easy to play and access all frets, reasonably low action (not the best but not bad), good variety of tones, looks different and interesting and like they have made an effort to be forward thinking in design and looks rather than a copy of a 50 yerar old design my grandad would've played. It's a keeper.

 

 

That’s the thing - once you play it for any length of time anything that initially seems a “bit weird” goes away.  This is a perfectly designed instrument.

Hard to believe it’s a 35” scale.  Weight is 7lb 3oz.

11 hours ago, MrDinsdale said:

My slightly underwhelming pedalboard 🤣 tbh I don't like the big muff and my GK Fusion S overdrive channel is sufficient for my needs. I'm also not really bothered about the MXR compressor, thinking of a Darkglass SS or Hyper Luminal which is a little less transparent perhaps.

 

Not a clue what to replace the big muff with!

I replaced my Massive Muff with a Way Huge Small Pork and Pickle. It’s epic.

3 hours ago, Kev said:

Haven't had chance to play one yet.  Can't make my mind up what I'll think of the bizarre body contouring on the back?

The way it snuggles against your body - seated or standing - puts the strings at the perfect playing angle.  It’s phenomenal.

7 minutes ago, Bunion said:

Emulates the feel of playing over a pickup or fretboard and keeps the touch light.
A lot of players use the pickups as a thumb rest which can limit the positions they play, the ramp is like an extended thumb rest too. 
 

That makes sense - thanks!

This is superb. I’m genuinely flabbergasted. I seriously believe this is the most comfortable instrument of any sort I’ve ever played.

It sounds pretty badass too!

Totally pleased with this, the 5er I’ve been looking for!!!