Boodang

This is the old 'digital vs analogue' octaver debate.... digital will track better but analogue will sound more organic. But it's still a matter of taste and if you like the sound of a digital octaver then it'll solve your tracking issues. I like the sound of analogue so have to adjust my playing to suit the pedal.

How much do you rely on the amp for tone control? I've ended up getting all my tone and eq from my pedalboard so instead of a bass amp I use a small PA setup for backline. If you don't need an amp with integrated eq but don't want to go down the PA route then the Toft designed Bassic A900 looks interesting.

I've got a Squier VM jazz and a few upgrades have turned it into something really special. The thing I like about doing upgrades as opposed to just putting the money towards a more expensive bass, is that you get something unique and personal. After all, a VM jazz with creamery pickups, stacked knob 60s preamp, graphtec nut and babicz bridge is not something you can get off the shelf. It might not have been the cheapest of upgrades but it plays and sounds so good I wouldn't swap it for a top of the range american model.

EMG do a passive set designed by Rob Turner that look interesting... JV52. They're split coil but alnico 5 for the neck and alnico 2 for the bridge. Inspired by these I got Creamery pickups to make me a non-split coil set with the alnico 5/2 setup. The combination sounds great on my Squier VM. A pre amp like the Audere would be good, they do a version with a dummy coil which is made to match the coil windings of your pickups, so you can still use standard single coils but with humcancelling... not necessary of course if you go with the split coil. I wanted to keep it traditional and passive, so as well as the Creamery pickups I got a Starr Guitar Systems stacked knob passive pre amp with the 'vitamin' capacitors and a series/parallel switch added.... the pickups sound nice and fat in series mode.

I wouldn't swap hipshots for them but my Squier VM stock tuners are getting replaced with these. It already has a graphtec nut installed when it went for its last setup.

See, that's what happens when you read threads with xmas hangover still in effect! Still, it made me look at Gibsons and now I want a Thunderbird!

I agree. Look at Heritage guitars, emphasis on craftsmanship and something to aspire to... they've certainly left the mass produced market to others and they seem to be doing well. After all, you look at Alembic, Wal, Sadowsky etc and they've carved out a place in the market, I'm sure Gibson could with a return to core values.

There's a channel on YouTube sponsored by Reverb called 'bass walk of the week' which goes thru the most famous lines and proponents off the style.. Paul Chambers, Ron Carter, Ray Brown etc. Really useful as it not only gives you a starting point but also an explanation of how and why the particular line works. Ed Freidland also has a great book on creating walking bass lines.

The track Delirium off the Pendulum album, is one of my fav songs of all time. As soon as I heard it, I went out, bought an EUB and learnt it (well, apart from the bowed squeaky bits!).

Yep, maybe not the best chorus for bass but the PM mode works brilliantly with fretless. It's also very controllable. And this reissue is much cheaper than I thought it was going to be, I sold my original for a lot more.

Eberhard Weber - Pendulum This album turned me on to the Electric Upright Bass, which Weber considered a key element to his tone, plus his sense of melody really resonated with me and has greatly influenced my playing. A haunting album.

It's back!! I sold an original earlier in the year but now I've seen this I've forgotten all the reasons for letting it go in the first place and might have to get it. The pitch modulation works particularly well with bass.

Yeah, I got it made before Martin had started the bass gallery. I remember going to his workshop, in a basement if I remember, picking out the woods from what he had lying around. He even lent me a couple of basses so I could get a feel for various neck profiles.

I like the 'zero-gravity' name! And it has 3D sponge! Does look like it could comfy tho. One thing I did like about the right on strap, is that it's made in Spain which makes a change from all the made in China stuff.

Out of interest, why is that?

...or bonkers solution no.2; get some extra tension in the string by using an extended solo tuning: C#, F#, B, E, A. The upside of this, it would be fun to watch someone if they borrowed your bass!

Best way to avoid those B string overtones is to take it off, throw the awful thing in the bin and put on a high C instead!

No issues with the width at all. I have a strap which SBL did which is wider, in comparison the right on strap is just as comfy but maybe more so as being slightly narrower I'm finding it less stiff and easier to get into a comfortable position. Grips well and I like the way the length adjustment is done, very neat. It seems very well made, all round a quality strap.

Wenge and ebony.... serial number 16.

In; Galli Synthesis flats.... tone changing strings indeed! Aguilar Octamizer... a smooth to growly filter. Seamoon Funk Machine... fuuunky! Mr Black Fwonkbeta... juicy! SGFX Supa Funk.... classic funk. Out; not as much as in! EHX Spectrum Analyser... a bonkers pedal that I'm sure someone with more talent than me can make use of. Idiot box Blower.... a mental fuzz pedal. Too much for me but beautifully made and a sure fit for someone else.

Just bin the ibanez eq and put in something special... audere etc

PS v comfy and adjustable.

A lump of white plastic = bluuuhhh! Tortoiseshell = awesome, and always will!

So, two things... the MXR fuzz deluxe is apparently based on a vintage fuzz and would do you admirably (as it happens I have one for sale on BC but that's not the only reason I've suggested it... honest!). The TC Electronic spectradrive is also good, apart from the 4 band eq and toneprint compressor, it has a toneprint overdrive with loads of presets to choose from.

Little things! But they can make a big difference. Just bought my first 'right on' strap and it's so well made... loving it!