SumOne

I haven't tried the synth9 but the C4 always gets recommended. I had a C4 for a while and it covers synth sounds really well with great tracking but I wasn't keen on the hardware controls, feels like they squeezed excellent software into the standard source audio one series box - which works fine for things like their chorus/phaser/flanger/distortion pedals but synth needs more hardware control. People often get additional controllers to solve some of that, but it puts the total price above £350. Not that I have any better suggestions though, I didn't like the tracking or most sounds of the SYB 5, and I wasn't keen on the synth sounds on the Helix so I've concluded I'll leave the synth stuff to keyboard synthesizers for the time being, or get as close as I can with octave/eq/filter/distortion.

Nice one.

Love Burning spear, especially the more dubby stuff— only needs a few words from one of the most soulful voices in reggae.

☀️

Yeah, there are 2 way ones cheap, I've just bought one for £2.99. I was just trying to be tight and reverse-use the current doubler I've already got though as I assume (but aren't sure) it's basically the same thing.

I'm fairly sure this is a stupid question: I've got a current doubler (combines 2x 9v pedal power supply outputs go into 1x with same voltage but double current ) I now need the opposite: 1x power supply output split into 2x low current pedal outputs. I assume I just use the cable in reverse with no dramas (it's going from a single 9v 500ma current output so is more current than both pedals need). But is there anything potentially wrong with this, like will it also be halfing the voltage to each output? I've already tried it and seems to work fine, not too sure of the voltage thing though and if it could cause damage giving lower than needed voltage? https://www.andertons.co.uk/t-rex-current-doubler-green-cable-55cm-currentdoubler?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=surfaces&gclid=CjwKCAjwpKCDBhBPEiwAFgBzj5qCGrK48b9bWw3KoHlamjcyQwLKgye9sJkT5LyzorMCLJ9Mo65xyBoCOXIQAvD_BwE

Considering the lyrics, this feels like how this should be sung

The DV247 thing is odd. They make it look like a UK website with a Romford store and £ prices and only when the order is made does it show the package is coming from Germany, but my order was £200 (as stated on the website) and didn't arrive needing any additional charges.

Nice review, it's a great value pedal. I was getting a bit obsessed with getting 'the' fuzz pedal last year....my conclusion was the SF300 isn't that different to pedals that cost nearly 10x as much and I probably shouldn't have bothered obsessing over it so much because an audience can't hear much difference in a band setting. Also, even in Stoner and Doom type band settings where it seems like the Bass needs a load of fuzz, in-fact more of a solid low Bass tone blended in and complimenting fuzzy guitar riffs often works better for a heavy wall of sound without treading on each other's fuzzy frequencies. In-case anyone is interested, these were my observations of the ones I got through. Lots comes down to personal taste about how 'good' fuzz sounds though so take it with a pinch of salt. Behringer SF300 (£22) Great value, a bit too harsh sounding for my taste though. Loses Bass and definition (can crank up the Bass though - it has Bass and Treble controls which is more than some fuzz pedals nearly 10x the cost). Also works as a boost. EHX Bass Big Muff (£70) Liked it but changed for deluxe to get clean blend and filters. EHX Big Muff deluxe (£105) Good, but lost note definition when got to the tone I wanted, or sounded a bit like 2 instruments when blending in clean. EHX Green Russian (£75) More of a solid, dark, in your face and synthy tone than the MXR Brown acid, doesn’t cut through mix of full band as well as the Brown Acid though. Seemed to work best when allowing it more space (e.g. just alongside drums- not up against drums and guitars and vocals). Using this with an LS2 for some clean blend I think could work really well. Fuzzrocious Grey Stache (£140) Quite versatile: 'Tone' changes the fuzz tone (as opposed to the Brown Acid where it seems to just add/remove the Bass) and it has mid control. Seems to lose some Bass though. I prefer the Brown Acid tone, but the Grey Stache is very close sound and is more versatile. MXR Brown Acid (£140) Winner! More guitar sounding than Green Russian, more complex tone- almost like there’s some chorus and mild filter going on, cuts through mix better. Bass and definition gets through at lower settings. It’s not very versatile- tone shaping is quite limited as fuzz tone basically stays the same and ‘tone’ is amount of Bass so needs to stay low. A bit one trick pony- but a great trick. Source Audio Aftershock (£150) Very versatile and good sounds but testing A/B with the EHX Big muff deluxe I had at the time I couldn't get it to sound quite as 'full' and couldn't get the crossover filter sounds or have all the on-hand controls and visual reference for things like the noise gate. Spent far too long tweaking it on phone/laptop which is a good and bad thing but kind of left me feeling a bit cold to it. Also wasn't keen on the small toggle to go between sounds so at the time thought I'd be best off with separate pedals - the EHX and a Mojo Mojo for similar cost. Catalinbread Giygas (£180) Tone similar to the Grey Stache but more angry sounding and more Bass. It’s the most versatile- Has the mid control of the Grey Stache but also an additional good EQ tone control (internal switchable so it suits Bass better), also has clean blend and low fuzz settings do a good milder distortion. I had problems with 100% wet signal going way louder than unity even with the ‘loud’ (volume) control set at zero and the fuzz tone didn’t quite do it for me- that’s a personal thing though, the MXR just sounded better to me.

You might be limiting your audience but I'd be keen to see reviews of some of the more boutique pedals (and not brand new ones) that don't already have comparison videos. If there are already 20 videos for something popular like the EHX Big Muff then there isn't really a need for another one, plus those pedals are relatively easy to buy/try/return online or try in shops so I don't need video reviews so much. There aren't many videos for something like the COG Tarkin though which is more tricky to try out - and what videos there are don't tend to have A/B comparisons with similar pedals so is difficult to really know how it'll sound. Likewise DHA pedals and I'm sure loads others but they are just two I've bought lately and hadn't been able to find many useful video reviews of.

I lumped compressors, switchers/line selectors, EQ, Preamp/DI into the 'boring' list of pedals so either didn't get good ones or didn't get them at all. I've since realised that was a mistake and I now spend a lot more time working with them, compression done well is really useful for almost any type of Bass playing whereas I'm starting to find things like envelope filters/delays/synth/fuzz/octavers etc. are a bit of a novelty that make practice more interesting but more often then not aren't really necessary for a Bass player in a band situation.

What I find lacking in most distortion pedals is mid control - which is where I want most of the distortion control...perhaps it's just me but generally I just want to pretty much keep the clean Bass and treble frequencies (I don' like distortion that loses low end frequencies/articulation or adds Treble 'clank'), the main part of distortion I want control over is the mids. That's the big thing I like about the DHA VT1 EQ - it has sweepable mids (as well as treble and bass EQ) and you can set the gain to just about the point where it starts to go into mid frequency overdrive/distortion when you dig in. Then for Fuzz I really like the MXR Brown Acid, which also retains the Bass frequencies and doesn't add Treble clank. I am looking for a something that sits between those two.....have tried a lot (Sansamp, EBS, Darkglass, Bearfoot, COG, EHX, TC electronic, Catalinbread) but haven't quite found the one yet and I think it might either take spending a lot to get something with good mid control- like the two notes Le Bass or Darkglass Vintage microtubes deluxe, or perhaps to team a cheaper distortion pedal up with something like the MXR thump or EWS Bass Mid Control.

Bought a COG Knightfall 66 from Sean on Tuesday evening, it arrived on Thursday morning - quick work! Thanks.

Yeah, I like taking things apart, I'll give it a go at the weekend

I'm not sure about that - the manual doesn't say anything about it.

The R500H arrived very quickly from DV247, slight concern that although their website all looks UK based and there's a Romford store the tracking showed the parcel coming from Germany- so thought I could be stung with customs + VAT but that didn't happen. First impressions are that you'd find it hard to find another new Amp Head for £202 with all the features: 500w @ 4 Ohm (it powers a 300w 8 Ohm 112 Cab about as far as I'd want to push it) 4.1kg Compressor (seems to work quite well- unobtrusive) FX loop Tuner out Speakon connector DI (pre only) 10 band EQ, footswitchable ( they do themselves a bit of a dis-service in the product photos, the three highest are actually 4.2Khz, 7.5KHz, 12Khz which I think are better than the product photos that show 3, 5, 8). Aux in Headphone out Downsides being it can get a bit hissy at high gain and volume (that might not all be down to the Amp though), the DI could do with being pre and post EQ (solvable by putting a DI pedal in the Post EQ FX loop), and it's just clean amplification- doesn't add overdrive (fine with me as I have spent a long time getting the pedals I want for that).

^^^^ Yeah, gives it life. First scratch was a worry but now it's had a few I'm not precious about it anymore. I don't expect to sell it, think I'd regret it if I did.

Nice one. Yeah, it's my favourite Bass I've owned - sounds good and is fun to play. I've quickly got used to the lightness so I expect any other Basses will feel like a lead weight to me now. Only downside I've found is the that it's very easy to scratch and dent, I like the worn in look though so not really an issue for me but if I ever come to sell it it'll be looking a bit knackered!

Does anyone happen to know what the stock strings on the California TM5 SL are? I can't seem to find the information online anywhere. I'm quite happy with the tone from them other than the G is perhaps a bit thin and twangy for what I'd ideally go for, and I wouldn't mind a heavier B, so perhaps thicker gauges all over: if they're 40-125 I'd get 45-130.

I'd recommend Bass Direct too. I've part exchanged two Basses with them and they've given by far the best deals - all straight forward and fair.

Sold my OmniCabSim to Antonio and it all went well - quick payment & good communication. Thanks!

I've been looking for relatively cheap but dependable fairly light/small 500w Amp head with FX loop, DI, aux in, headphone out, tuner out. The main contenders seemed to be: Markbass Big Bang £520 Ashdown RM 500 £460 Ampeg PF500 £380 Laney R500H £360 At that price the Laney seemed like a reasonable option but then I noticed it's only £202 from DV247 which looks like a bargain - so it's ordered and I'll hopefully be able to say how good it is in a few days. It doesn't look perfect though, it's limitations seem to be: Compressor is just on/off (but has a light to show when it's compressing- and the amount is linked to the gain control), I'm not sure of it's tone until I use it and it's not obvious if the gain adds any particular type of overdrive tones or if it's pretty much clean, no aux in volume control, the DI is only pre EQ and doesn't seem to have a ground lift. None of those things particularly bother me though, just as long as it can do a good reliable, loud, clean output - I have pedals that can go in the FX loop and deal with those other things.

I was very close to getting 2x K12 for £750 but then had some very middle aged cash issues (dentist and garden fence!) so for the time being I got a decent enough second hand 112 cab, will get a cheap functional Bass amp and keep my old PA gear. It'll all do the job fine for now and can add to it over time, or go the active PA route further down the line. Apart from cash, I was considering some of the grotty, boozy, drizzly places I've placed speakers before and how they've been bashed about - I won't be so precious with a lump of passive cab and my old passive PA speakers that can potentially be placed away from the protected amp/mixer etc. as I would be with fancy active PA speakers (especially if I'd gone for something like a £675 K12.2 with a digital screen on the back). That's probably just me making myself feel better for not having the spare cash though!

Just bought a cab from Nigel, all as described and with good communications. Cheers!