SumOne

An audience might not hear the difference, but if I'm going to spend 100s of hours playing a bass then I'd want one one where I prefer the sound, erganomics, weight, look etc Especially as they pretty much hold their value so it's an investment. Whether the bass that does that for you costs a lot of not is a personal thing, I wouldn't look down on people playing cheap basses or think people are mugs for playing expensive ones (there's quite a lot of that reverse snobery).

A couple of mine have already been mentioned: Good times/rappers delight & groove is in the heart. Also, always partial to 'express yourself', 'peaches' and that hook in 'I shot the sheriff'.

The Ethiopians, Obeah Book

Yeah, I am probably jumping the gun to be criticizing the editing on my first day - it probably just takes a while to get used to things. Have you found a way of deleting blocks from a chain? I can move them around, turn them off, change their effect type - but cannot delete them (on the pedal or via Laptop). It would just make the chain look a lot neater and easier to find the blocks I want to use if there weren't a lot of blank ones sitting there to scroll through.

GT-1000 Core arrived early this morning (amazing how quickly you can get stuff nowadays). A few hours of using it and it seems great. (Edit: I've added more detail after a few days of use). I suppose the big competitor is the Stomp and I think Boss wins on most counts: Sounds better (I can't test alongside a Stomp so perhaps that's my memory playing tricks on me but I've owned the Line 6 Effects, Pog Go, Stomp, Stomp XL so have a good understanding of them and I don't remember any of them sounding as good, they always felt like a good idea but never quite do it for me). Smaller, and with mostly top mounted jacks, seeems a bit tougher, lower power current needed (670mA), so altogether more pedalboard friendly. 2 FX loops (better than the Stomp 1). 2 loops means you can do stuff like change the order of the loops in different presets, or leave pedals on and just activate them with their loop setting in a preset. Even if not using for actual individual pedal fx loops it is useful: can use as extra outputs (can just use it as a 'send' and assign where in the chain), or extra input (can just use it as Aux in). A lot more powerful processing than the Stomp. 26 effects blocks and 3 paths (each with divider and mixer settings) vs 8 blocks (sometimes less) and 2 paths for the Stomp. It might seem overkill to have 26 blocks and 3 paths but it means you don't have to be stingy with things: e.g. A phaser can easily have its own split dynamic signal path and EQ and and delay and still leave you with plenty of space to do similar for other effects and amp sims etc. And there's additional main and 2nd output blocks each with EQ settings and individual speaker sims and IR. There are limitations though, those 26 blocks are partly fixed: e.g. 4 of them can only be set as a basic delay (and 1 as a more complex 'master delay') i.e. you cannot assign any other type of effect to those 4, likewise 4 can only be EQ, 2 only distortion, 1 only chorus etc. But you can do things like add more chorus or distortion effects by using one of the 3x FX blocks. I don't think it's an issue as I can't see myself needing more blocks in a preset, but worth being aware incase for some reason you wanted a signal chain with 26 distortions in a row! It isnt a 26 block free for all. https://rolandus.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360052665292-GT-1000-GT-1000CORE-How-many-effects-can-be-used-in-a-single-patch- The main downsides vs the Stomp are the interface: The screen interface isn't as user-friendly on the Core, at least not to start with. The Stomp is more intuative in almost every way and is like looking at nice Apple Mac icons, whereas the Core is reminds me of 1990's MS DOS prompt and menus. The Stomp has a better thought out way of using the hardware, particularaly the footswitches: They are similar in how you can use footswitches to scroll through presets or have a mode to turn on/off effects, the Stomp also has 'soft touch' footswitch extra control though, and also has 'snapshots' (but can do similar just with a copied and edited preset in the Core). Also, the Stomp has useful dimmed footswich lights when effects are disengaged to show you what type of effect you will be activating - the Core does not. It is a shame that the Core has the 5x knobs (vs 3x Stomp) but they can only be assigned at a global level e.g. assign a knob for BPM control means every other preset must then also use that knob as its BPM control. Also, their 'press' function doesn't do anything in that manual mode which seems like a missed opportunity. Balanced outputs with the Stomp vs unbalanced for the Core. That's not actually an issue for me though as my amp has a pre EQ XLR. If it is an issue for anyone doing long cable runs to a mixer and they pick up interferance then passive DI boxes can got cheaply. Overall, I think he Stomp has a better interface but the Core is better for just about everything else. It is possible to edit everything on the pedal but that isn't something I'd want to dig into too much by clicking through menus on the pedal in a hurry (neither would you on a Stomp though) so it is probably best used with a preset mindset, but it could also be good for spontanious stuff: Adding a dual footswitch means live control of 5x effects (and potentially multiple being assigned per footswitch) and an expression pedal will be good for controlling things like wah and delays. I think a FI or C4 would also go well with it as there is no synth and the filters aren't great (similar to the Stomp), and I assume they can be midi controlled by the Core. I'd recommend it if you have some patience with the interface and the mindset of planning out presets. This is the best video I've seen to demonstrate features in more detail:

Done! (Well, Core ordered...hopefully the reputable shop I got the GT-100 from will give me a refund!) I think you are right. I like the GT-100 and have no complaints, but for a similar price the Core is more powerful and can add footswitches & expression pedal when needed, or use it on its own as a smaller unit when those are not needed. It's good being more pedalboard friendly (size and powering) as I reckon I'll add a C4 or FI that can be midi-controlled because I'm yet to find a multi-fx that gets anywhere near what they can do as synths and filters.

GT-1000 Core is on sale at Kenny's and Scan for £514. Seems worth shopping around as most places are >£600. £629 at Thomann (who quite often seem expensive nowadays, due to exchange rates perhaps?). I'm within the return window for a GT-100 I bought (£488) so am considering if it is worth swopping: GT-1000 Core wins at: 3 parallel paths (vs 1) 24 effect blocks (vs 15) 2 fx loops (vs 1) 7 dials (vs 6) 2 inputs (vs 1) A few extra effects: Sansamp sim & DD200 being the ones I'd use most, others seem a bit of a novelty (like sitar, slicer). 96kHz sampling rate (vs 48kHz) (I'm not really fussed with that though as 48kHz is more than CD quality, I doubt many people could hear the difference) Mastering effects Metronome Smaller 9v 670mA (vs I think about double that for the GX-100), so it can be powered via a current doubler from my power brick whereas the GT-100 needs its own power supply. GT-100 wins at: 5 more footswitches Bigger screen, in colour, touchscreen Expression pedal (with 'toe press' switch and light) Extra output for headphones Can add bluetooth control A bit cheaper - even with the Core being on sale (GT-100 £488 vs Core £514). It's a tough one, the GT-100 is simpler to edit on the unit and use like a stompbox rather than pre-planning everything with presets, the Core is more powerful in a smaller size. Either way, it's a good dilema to have!

RIP Trugoy

I think at least on Basschat almost every mention of Zoom pedals is positive, at least for value for money. Perhaps I'm missing something but I haven't seen people sneering about the plastic. Then again, plastic isn't seen as premium as metal. I'd rather drop a MXR pedal than a Zoom pedal, the Zoom will probably be fine but the plastic feels more likely to crack. That's fine though, it helps keep the price down and one of the best things about them is their value for money.

Perhaps double check the usb cable type, that's caught me out on a couple of devices not connecting. Not all usb cables are data cables.

I found if needing low C then a 5 string with standard tuning was best as it is designed for that tuning (scale length, pickups etc), goes a bit lower to B (or lower), playing shapes stay the same, and you still have the G. My doom pedals in chain order were: For big sustain the Pigtronix Philosopher Bass compressor worked well. Octaver like the OC-5 with +1 and -1 is good to feed into fuzz. MXR Brown Acid has been my favourite doomy fuzz. EHX Green Russian muff is good too, a bit more synthy sounding. Rats always sound a bit more thrash than doom to me, the Blowerbox Landphil is great though. Adding modulation like flanger, Phaser, Chorus can make some interesting effects. What sounds good through headphones doesn't necessarily sound good through a Cab. Personally, I liked my 2x12 speaker with adjust tweeter - to do the lows and the higher frequency fizzy fuzz.

^^^ Nice one. I might get one of those cases. I've sold off all my pedals so am going to try and just use the GX on its own ....although a C4 in the fx loop would be a good addition for synths and extra filters and I expect it could be controlled by the GX-100 via the forthcoming Source Audio midi adaptor (although those types of things often end up being much more hassle than they should be!). I like that the power has a figure 8 cable - cheap and easy to get in different lengths. Ideally for me, the power block part would've been built into the unit but I guess some people wouldn't like that if they wanted to power it from a power brick - can't please everyone!

Another seamless transaction with Chris, thanks!

I've just got a Boss GX 100 and am impressed. It is comparable to the Stomp XL for sounds and features, seems a bit like Apple vs Microsoft in that the Line 6 things are a bit more 'Apple' and immediately intuitive with slicker software interface while the GX seems to allow deeper editing but isn't always as intuitive so can't wing it quite as much - so tips from other users would be helpful. The first tips I have are: - When first plugging in, don't be disheartened if the tuner doesn't recognise your B string: Go to 'in/out settings' and select Bass (guitar is default) and adjust to the correct input sensitivity. Then, when using the tuner, turn the 'select' dial to chose your preferred view and then set for tuning type (e.g. 5 string B regular). The tuner then works very well. - There are no blank presets. Create a template on the 'user' presets by deleting effects and saving (write), that can then be used to overwrite other presets (write/insert). 'Initialize' will delete your preset and revert to original. My questions (so far!) - Line 6 footswitch lights can be lit up dull when switched off to help indicate what it'll be when switched on (e.g. Blue for chorus). Is there a way of doing similar with the Boss footswitch lights? I expect not, there is 'control view' where the screen shows what the footswitches will activate but those thin coloured outlines of small text boxes when 6 foot away aren't obvious to my poor eyesight so any way of making it more obvious would be good.

A Paul Simon quote: “Simply wanting to make the best music can make you competitive,” he said. “You have no idea how competitive John Lennon was around Paul McCartney. When I first met them, I felt like someone had taken all the oxygen out of the room. I almost couldn’t breathe, they were so competitive, and that’s what made them so great. They wouldn’t settle for just good. That was me, too.”

I reckon the GT 100 was a good call. Probably about once a year I decide to sell my individual pedals and get a multi-fx, which I'll then usually sell within 6 months to get individual pedals then the cycle continues! This year is no different, I've just bought a GT 100. For me, it seems to be the right amount of footswitches and onboard controls and easy editing access along with a decent amount of processing power and quality effects. £488 isn't exactly cheap but it isn't overly expensive compared to some multi-fx or the cost of a pedalboard full of individual pedals. I'm expecting a couple of downsides, but it seems they can be overcome easily enough: No synths, but I expect that using 15x effect blocks including Octaver, Fuzz, Modulation & delays it'll be able to produce some good synthy sounds. And there is an FX loop if needed. More outputs including XLR would be good but not essential, my amp has an XLR out (and after all, the cables from Bass to pedals, through a load of pedals and patch cables and then to Amps aren't balanced and it doesn't seem an issue). If I'm lucky enough to play big venues with long cable runs to mixing desks and I'm not using the amp XLR for some reason then small DI boxes are cheap. Drum loops/metronome and an aux in would be nice but streaming can be done with a Bluetooth connector as an optional extra. Or I guess the fx loop return can possibly be used. Edit: I got a good deal on a GX 1000 Core so returned the GT 100 to fund it (thanks to GAK with a quick and easy returns policy with no fuss). The Core is more powerful (more effect blocks, more parallel paths, an extra fx loop, higher sample rate) and smaller and has a couple of extra effects, the GT has a better user interface on the screen and more footswitches + expression pedal. I've added an expression pedal to the Core (but it misses the GT expression 'hard toe press' button which is useful to do things like change it from a volume control to wah while in the same preset) and I'll get a dual footswitch, it still won't have as much footswitch control as the GX though. The Core is better if you want it as part of a pedalboard, the GT as stand-alone.