SumOne

A bit obscure for anyone not into the genre, but before he got big I had some online chat with dubstep producer Zomby who sold a cracked copy of Reason to me - or at least he took the money but never posted it to me. After a lot of hassling he offered to send me some p0rn to 'chill me out' (which he didn't!) eventually he gave me a full refund so I don't have any complaints other than the hassle caused. Shortly after, he got quite famous and there was controversy that he copied someone's tune (also made on Reason) and released it as his own, and quite a few more stories of obnoxious online behaviour....to the point that I wouldn't be suprised if he googled himself to find this thread and registered on Basschat just to send me threatening messages!

Eek!

The trouble I've found with that (and with any bass with adjustable bridge) is that there's still similar space available between all strings combined as can only add a little bit overall by moving both the B and G or the strings start slipping off the end of the frets as the nut/fingerboard/frets/pickups are basically designed around 18mm spacing. So you can do like you have done (and I've done the same) and have some strings more than 18mm apart but it means others need to be squeezed closer. I am a fan of the Ibanez mono rail bridge though, I prefer having some string spacing adjustability than none but think it's ideal for people that want tighter spacing as there is a limit to making all strings much further apart.

I was after the same (5 string, light, 18-19mm spacing, £800) and also narrowed it down to the KZ5 and EHB15005. I tried an MTD in a shop and there were some issues with it picking up or making high pitched electrical interferance sqeeky noises - perhaps that was a one off or there was something else wrong in the setup but it put me off getting that particular one, it seemed a fine bass but I wasn't amazed enought to try and figure out the issue. I got a EHB 15005 MS new and there were no quality control issues, I have been quite amazed by the weight, size, and variety of tones. I guess it comes down to the sound (they seemed similar), headless vs normal, (and normal scale vs multiscale in the case of the one I got), the looks, erganomics, Ibanez has sweepable mids which I like so it wins a point there but I think I preferred the feel of playing the MTD with its asymetrical neck and I think the MTD string spacing is slightly wider (19mm vs 18mm) which I'd prefer. I'd need to try both side by side in a few situations (e.g. a few hours practice sitting down at home, playing loud with a band through an amp/cab) to really know how they are different in tone and playability and erganomics, both seemed pretty similar from what I remember....I might buy a second hand MTD to really test them against each other over a few weeks and then sell one of them - I expect it'd be quite a difficult choice though.

That into this: And then perhaps some:

Jungle basically became DNB. Jungle is typically the 'Amen' drum break (or similar) cut up and looped at about 170BPM with Reggae/Dancehall vocals and samples and basslines. It became DNB as it got more 'techy', not built around samples and Reggae vocals so much, more of a focus just on the drums, bass, synths. Take some pills, go to a loud dark club and get on the dancefloor at 2am is about the only way I'd say it's fully undertstood. There is 'daytime radio' type DNB but that's not the good stuff in my book and not where DNB originated or where it's soul is. This tune for example - nothing flashy, but if you know the feeling then you love DNB. It's not for everyone though I guess. It's the same sort of ethos as Dub or Techno or minimal funk, or tribal drumming, there's not really anything to 'get' other than how the groove of it makes you want to listen to it loud and dance.

DBX made an MC6 which is apparently similar to the 160A but in a smaller size. I found the M87 to be a bit characterless and took the life out of low notes (needs a clean blend or hpf sidechain). That's me playing dub and reggae with a 5 string though. Empress, Cali 76, Opti-FET, Markbass are all great. I haven't used the new Source Audio Atlas but I expect it can do a 160A emulation.

If you turn this up and don't feel happy then I guess you're quite a different person to me! ....reminds me of times I can't remember too well!

Ah yes you're right - it's the MXR Bass Distortion that's the Fuzzrocious collaboration.

Nice. Apparently the Bass Fuzz Deluxe is designed in collaboration with Fuzzrocious, and they know how to make a good fuzz. Edit: Correction - it's the MXR Bass Distortion that's the collab.

Bought a compressor from John and it arrieved very quickly, well packaged and all as described - all good! Thanks

End of the working week summertime vibes:

Nice Ska setlists. This is the latest with one of the bands I'm in, quite a few the same as yours:

🧀♨️

Bernard Edwards is a good call but my favorite music is Reggae and Dub with Robbie Shakespeare probably my favourite bass player, but it's not a style of playing that lends itself well to the 'here's a YouTube video of some virtuoso playing' as it's all about timing, feel, tone, making a bassline that is integral to the rhythm while also often being the hook. It's a cliché but less is more (not less volume/mix of bass though!) and that's the way I like Basslines.

Yeah, it takes SD cards for extra memory. I've also got an Akai midi mix on the way but that's more for additional live mix/dubbing sort of stuff. A midi keyboard is handy too. It can do everything stand alone but I find it easier to complete full tunes using the Laptop DAW it comes with. On its own its best for sketching of ideas/loops and live stuff.

I plug straight into the line level input. It works okay for me but I have a high output active Bass that I also did a bit of a mod to to make the signal louder. If you've got a low output Bass then it'd either need a lot of volume added by the MPC or using a preamp pedal to boost it. The new Amp & Cab sims and tuner are pretty good and there are a couple of Bass specific ones. Not as tweakable as Helix stuff but not bad for something that isn't sold as a Bass effects unit and lots of decent presets including: slap, fat fuzz, valve DI ...and 'pant filler'! It means you get a decent EQ and drive and still have space to add three additional effects like compression, modulation, delay. Here's someone using some of the new updates with a guitar. He's using it to record a loop but you can just set it to monitor (rather than recording) and you still hear the effects and Amp/Cab sim that the MPC is applying.

Rhythm & Sound (and Basic Channel) have produced some of my favorite music. This one especially:

Royal Blu meets The Autos - Dancehall Session

Skip Marley Ft Popcaan, Vibe

The sniffer dogs found that though

I've been a few times and it's always been good, I'd go again but nowadays I'd be spening most of my time at the Firmly Rooted stage during the day and IIcon through the night...it would be great but I figured a few years ago I could save myself a few hundred ££ by going to smaller festivals/events that focus on the stuff I'm into (Glade, Boomtowm, Outlook, Carnival) rather than contributing to the fees of glastonbury headliners I don't watch.