SumOne

Nice one. I've been hoping for a headless Dingwall for ages. I think they dropped the ball on this and are now playing catch up on multiscale headless with Ibanez (and Strandberg, Hils, Sire). If you're making basses for people that like innovation (which is generally the Dingwall selling point) then it seems crazy to have old fashioned impractical headstock (heavy exactly where you don't want weight) when headless technology is what it is now. 

56 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

The OP has at least 4 different EQ modules on their Boss GX-10 plus whatever tone controls are part of the various effects modules. That should be plenty without the need to spend extra money on something that appears to do the same job but less well. 

I agree that the GX-10 that I already have is the simplest way to switch between different EQ and drive sounds at a click of a footswitch and I think on reflection that is probably what I'll stick with. And there is tone shaping on bass controls (although that is limited, and I'm wanting instant 'click now' for tone change). 

...but there are certain drawbacks to multi-fx (particular ones for me: hands-on adjustments live, and adding fx that the multi-fx doesn't do well like envelope filter and synth leading to a large and complicated pedalboard needing two power supplies etc.),  there are pros and cons - if multi-fx was the absolute best solution for everyone there would be no market for things like 2 channel amps with footswitches, EQ pedals with presets, Preamp pedals with presets (like the VT Deluxe),  loop switcher pedals.   

8 hours ago, tauzero said:

The HX Stomp allows three snapshots and the Stomp XL four - just set a different EQ (and different effect parameters, including switching them on or off) for each. The Stomp XL has four snapshots and if that's not enough, the Helix LT and full-fat both give 8 snapshots. There's also a send/return loop on the Stomps and two on the Helices, so you can plug effects in partway through the effects blocks if you want to.

Cheers, yeah my Boss GX-10 can do a similar sort of thing where each of the footswitches is a preset so that's what I'm doing at the moment (e.g. 'dub', 'punk', 'clean'). My main issue with that is it feels a bit restrictive but to be honest, I think all of what I want is all do-able on the GX-10 as a multi-fx with presets/snapshot (or whatever Boss call it) and then adding external things like synth and envelope filter as individual pedals in the fx loop (and the fx loop can be on/off controlled by presets). It is just that classic thing of the multi-fx being more convenient/cost effective etc but being a bit less 'hands on' for on spontaneous stuff. 

....and probably the biggest factor is I've had the GX-10 for long enough that I'm trying to find excuses to buy new pedals!

This caught my eye in the 'shiny new stuff I want to buy but probably don't need' category:

,

59 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

In the end it's what works for you, but personally I would never entertain the idea of non-programmable pedals for live use again.

 

You should be able to do what you need with what you already have provided you are prepared to put in the effort creating and organising the presets and then having a couple of technical rehearsals with the band to fine tune them.

 

It will also depend on how complex the EQ changes need to be. Most of the bands I have played with have required fine tuning of the EQ for every song in order to get the bass to fit into the right sonic space created by the other instruments also changing sounds for each song. And that doesn't cover any mid-song EQ changes required for when the bass needs to be more or less prominent. Without programmable EQ I wouldn't be able to do any of this.

Yeah, I think you are probably right.

The main issue I have with programmable presets is I tend to completely leave them alone when playing live or even when rehearsing - as having 7 other people in the band stand around while I kneel down and click through menus to try and adjust parameters and hit save etc. seems risky or at least just a bit of a faff. But that is something I could get more confident with if I actually edited the presets more in a band setting. Also, I find multi-fx are still a bit lacking with stuff like synth and envelope filters - once I add them, I need a power brick, and a pedalboard, and the multi-fx to change EQ presets, it all seems to get a bit big and complicated and looses a bit of the spontaneity individual pedals on or adjusting dials. But yeah, multi-fx is probably the most sensible and cost effective option.

40 minutes ago, Obrienp said:

Have you thought about a two channel amp with independent EQ? Most of these have a footswitch control for channel switching. 

I like the look of the 2 channel Markbass LMK 58R  https://www.markbass.it/product/lmk-58r/  ... the main drawback is the £700 price tag so I'll keep an eye out for cheaper alternatives. 

I have a couple of songs that need quick EQ change to go from punky stuff to dub/reggae. At the moment I'm using a multi-fx (Boss GX-10) with presets and that probably is the simplest option, but my eye has been wondering towards a few individual pedals lately (synth and filters) so might be on the path back to a pedalboard - I could incorporate the GX-10 but it the whole thing starts getting a bit big and complex. Any suggestions?

• Multiple EQ pedals? e.g. nothing too fancy needed, a couple relatively small/cheap graphic EQ pedals with one set to dub EQ, the other with mid/high boost..... a switcher pedal would be used for it to be a single click between them and to also add turn on distortion to the punky stuff (I already have a Bright Onion loop switcher).  
• An EQ pedal with presets. Not many of these around though, the Source Audio EQ2 looks like the one to get - but at £280 new it isn't far off decent small multi-fx costs and is more than getting a couple of GEB-7 type EQs. I feel doing 'long press' footswitch or button press stuff won't really work live where I need to switch instantly or perhaps adds a bit of complexity/room for error.
• Multi-fx for different EQ presets and add the individual pedals I want (e.g. synth and envelope filter). this might mean changing the GX-10 for something more pedalboard friendly though (back to the GT-1000 for about the 3rd time?!).
• ....Or get quick at knob twiddling on the amp!

I think we can all agree that Steven Seagal singing "Me want the poonani, see for make nice" in a Jamaican accent is perfectly acceptable:

The Cab cover I bought from Hotcovers on Wednesday afternoon arrived at my door 48hrs later.

It seems well made and tough, fits nicely and is quite thick padding. I'd recommend. 

Left handed Basses, especially Jazz basses. They are just the mirror image of the right handed ones but they look gross! 

3 hours ago, BassAdder60 said:

What do you think of the MB58R cabs ?

I think they are amazing and so light 

 

Sound really good too 

So far I'm really liking it: 11kg is light enough to pick up with one hand, relatively small - but still has a decent visual impact , feels like good build quality, it sounds good and seems to go loud enough (but also works well at quite quiet volumes for home use).  I've only done one full-band rehearsal with it though , two gigs coming up at the weekend and one is outside playing some Reggae so that'll be a good test. 

I'm all about making gigging/rehearsal life as easy as possible nowadays and it is great for that. I've got just one Bass and that is a 3.4kg headless that rarely needs tuning and fits in a guitar bag, a single small Multi-FX unit that I barely touch other than selecting 'clean', dub' or 'dirt' presets, relatively small/light Ashdown RM500  EVO II amp (although that is the next thing I might downsize to something like  a TE Elf), and now this Markbass cab means I can carry everything from the car in one go  - and it all fits in the back of a small hatchback.

Keeping all of my pedal and amp settings the same as my old Tecamp 2x12 (600w) the Markbass sounded a bit more responsive/punchy, a bit cleaner/more hi-fi but a bit less of the 'weighty' sound low-end rumble and trouser-flapping air movement.  But that was without cutting the Markbass tweeter or making any Amp/pedal EQ adjustments, I expect with a bit of bass boosting and treble cutting it could sound closer ....although I suppose it would be a lot to ask a 2x10 400w Cab that goes down to 40Hz to have the same low-end air moving and ground-shaking quality of a 600w 2x12 that goes to 36Hz (but the Tecamp did weigh nearly double and was considerably bigger), that Tecamp could really do that Jurassic Park shake the liquid in your glass thing, not sure the Markbass can to the same extent. There is always the option to add another Cab (I was thinking perhaps a 1x15) if that softer low end weighty rumble is needed - but I think it'd be overkill for my average pub gig.   

37 minutes ago, Steve Browning said:

60 quid at Hotcovers - https://www.hotcovers.co.uk/mark-bass-mb58r-102-pure-cab-cover

Nice one. I've now bought one of them. 

I was considering being cheap and buying a big storage bag, but can't get the right size and it wouldn't be that much cheaper anyway. 

I'm looking for a Cab cover for a Markbass MB58R 102 but the Markbass and Roqsolid ones cost nearly £100 which seems a bit steep to me being about 20% of the price of the new cab for something that is only really thick enough to stop cosmetic scrapes and keep the rain off when going from car to gig (they don't seem to offer much real protection to things like being bashed or dropped). 

Anyone aware of cheaper options (like a big paddleboard bag or storage bag), or success with a DIY option? 

1 hour ago, Quatschmacher said:

I just realised yesterday that Darryl Anders of MXR has been a member of my FI Facebook group for 3 years. Now I know where he got all the good ideas from. 😂

I do really like the FI, but there must be some reason (other than I'm very fickle!) that I think I've bought/sold the v3 twice and the v4 once.

It's difficult to put my finger on exactly what, but for me there is just something about it that ends up frustrating me and thinking 'time to get back to playing'!

The octave jump tracking warble thing annoyed me with v3  (I think it's sorted with v4), and v4 I dunno but it took me many hours trying to connect it to my Laptop and in the end I gave up. That was almost certainly an issue with my Laptop, but I haven't had that issue with any other pedals or interfaces (other than the NUX MLD Preamp) so in a way it is an issue with the FI - It'd be like not being able to start a car and the manufacturer saying 'ah yes, but did you open the passenger door first - because it won't work if you do that, and did you remember to put your seatbelt on before putting the key in - because it won't start otherwise'.

I think that hands-on, low-fuss elements are what is making the MXR so popular particularly for live use.

It seems to me that more often than not it isn't the ones that are 'appropriated' that get offended - it is other people getting offended on their behalf.

I think the biggest risk is if it is a straight-up copy (including accents and clothes etc) it starts to obviously not be genuine and seems a bit naff. 'Keep it real' and all that.

My latest ad on joinmyband:

Reggae players assemble!

I'm a Bass player aiming to put together a Reggae backing band - something like Soul Syndicate, Upsetters, Roots Radics, Soul Vendors, Friendly Fire Band, Taxi Gang, Uppercut Band.

The ambition is to support guest vocalists (live and studio).

So if you play Reggae and have a decent knowledge of it (know what someone's on about if they ask for 'Baltimore', 'Heavenless', 'Full up', 'Stalag' etc.) give me a shout.

I'm in Chichester, but play/rehearse with bands in Worthing and Brighton so don't mind a bit of travel.

On 02/09/2025 at 21:03, Dready Zeppelin said:

Hello SumOne.

I think your bocals sound like Leroy Sibles, if hou don't know him you should check him out, was around nany years ago. Had Dennis Brown  znd Gregory Isaacs on Bvs. I like you voice. 

Daniel. Greenwich area. What instrument do yoj play 

Nice one. Since that first post in 2021 I've moved house to Chichester.

I'm now in a ska/reggae band that plays local pubs/small festivals about once a fortnight, and in an original reggae band that is just doing rehearsals and recording to try and get an album and gig amount of songs.

So I'm all good for being in bands right now..... although come to think of it, I would like to put together a decent reggae backing band to support guest vocalists, ambition being to one day back some of my reggae vocalist heroes. 

16 hours ago, la bam said:

 

I've said for years - purple sparkle is THE colour!! 

 

No idea why companies don't do more models in that colour. 

Yeah I wish more companies got onto it. I tried doing it myself with sparkle rattle cans, and then tried again with glitter and clear coat, but both times were a bit of a disaster! 

13 hours ago, Mykesbass said:

@SumOne that is the PERFECT bass tone! Thanks for posting.

You're right - that is a great Reggae bass tone. Lloyd Park and Robbie Shakespeare and both credited as bass players on that 'chapter 3' album. I'd guess that particular one is a Robbie bassline/tone. 

I'm working my way through the Joe Gibbs 'African Dub' albums today. Chapters 1 & 3 are probably my favourite: 

On 21/02/2025 at 19:02, JazzyJ said:

I have a 2yr old Ray34 that weighs in at 4.2kg (9lb 3oz) if that helps.

Thanks (sorry for the late reply - I've only just seen your response).

I've still got my eye on getting a Ray 34 Purple Sparkle:

I've got to admit though, it is almost entirely down to the paint-job that I want one. I've always wanted a purple sparkle funk-machine! (What's more funky than Purple Sparkle Stingray? Nothing!....well, apart from perhaps a Purple Sparkly Bootsy Space Bass, but I don't think anyone apart from Bootsy can pull off that level of funk!)

My main 'wants' for a Bass =  Light, Passive, front facing jacks, headless, Purple Sparkle. ....so it seems that the paint job might make up for the other things!

Linval Thompson Meets Lone Ark - Marijuana Sessions in Dub (also called 'Linval Thompson meets Roberto Sanchez At the Ark' ....seems to be a running theme of Linval Dub albums having multiple names....but don't get Scientist started on that!).

https://alonereggaeshop.bandcamp.com/album/linval-thompson-meets-roberto-s-nchez-at-the-ark-marijuana-sessions-in-dub-lp

"After having backed Linval Thompson during shows in Spain, France and Portugal in 2009, the link between Jamaican producer Linval Thompson and Roberto Sánchez of the Lone Ark Riddim Force has become a strong one. They have collaborated on various recordings and releases for multiple labels. Linval also shared original material he produced at Channel One in the late ’70s and early ’80s, including a lot of material that hadn’t been dubbed. Among the files he sent was a significant portion of the riddims recorded in the sessions for his self-produced second album, I Love Marijuana, released in 1978. This album is a must-listen for any serious roots reggae enthusiast!

Therefore, it was inevitable that some day a project featuring dubs would be unveiled. And here it is. Entitled Marijuana Sessions In Dub, this 10-track dub album was mixed by Roberto Sánchez out of Linval Thompson’s original 1978 Channel One/King Tubby’s tapes. Most of the riddims come from his first self-produced sessions for the I Love Marijuana album. Only a limited number of tracks from that album have been previously released as 7-inch singles, alongside their dub counterparts, or as part of other albums. This compilation marks the first time that many of these tracks have been officially dubbed for an album. The album features a lineup of renowned musicians from that era, including Aston “Family Man” Barrett, Leroy “Horse Mouth” Wallace, Carlton “Santa” Davis, Earl “Chinna” Smith, “Ossie” Hibbert, Ansel Collins, and Sly Dunbar.

Marijuana Sessions In Dub features seven dubs of tunes included in the original album. Although some of the songs were dubbed before on 7″ or dub LPs, some of them are dubbed here for the first time. Included are dubs of I love Marijuana, Big Big Girl, Not Follow Fashion, Just Another Girl, Dread Are The Controller, Roots Lady and Starlight.

The three last tracks of the set are dub versions of songs from the same Channel One period, including Cheater Dub, which is a different version of Lion Dub from the Negrea Love Dub album. Linval’s classic album remains a cornerstone of the reggae genre, and Roberto Sanchez’s dub edits are of equally high caliber, reflecting the exceptional quality of the original material. Each track has been mixed while honoring the original sound and adhering to the dub tradition. This was achieved by utilizing an analog delay and spring reverb on an MCI mixing board, along with the use of an original Altec low pass filter.

One for fans of vintage dub music."

I think this bit is the end of a boutique bass:

Yes, I bought a MegaPara from them and all was good. 

8 hours ago, BassAdder60 said:

I would be interested if you could ship to Suffolk 

That's good with me, I'll send you a message. 

Someone recently gave me their band 'card' which was also a sticker with a name/logo and a QR code. It looks good enough that it is stuck on my amp case  giving some advertising and a more permanent reminder than a card sat in a draw.