Skybone

And the verdict after a month or so... Love it, sounds great, a bit fiddly to get set up "just right", but well worth taking the time.

One that I particularly liked on the PODxt was the good old SVT and cab model. Still my "go to" model on the HD500x too. I never tried to emulate anyones sound, I just set it so it sounded good to me. Usually full mids and a hint of reverb.

Very cool, and what a top bloke your mate is. Enjoy your new bass.

If an engineer doesn't look after his tools, would you trust him to service your car? Always look after the tools of your trade.

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1465555344' post='3069179'] Lost Prophets with elements of Muse. Nice. [/quote] Lost Prophets? Maybe not the best comparison, especially for a young band. Good luck to them I say, at 15 were you mature enough musically to have your own voice, or were you trying to emulate your influences?

Just use the original strap button screws, so long as they fit in the new strap lock buttons. I always use the Schaller strap locks, and the screws provided with them are always a good replacement for the stock strap button screws.

I bought a G&L L2000 Tribute unseen off the back of magazine reviews and BC recommendations. Great bass, really well made, nice action, great neck etc., etc. but sonically, just couldn't get it to sound "right" for me. The last Fender Jazz I owned, great player, well made, just didn't "feel" right or sound right for me. I'm currently GAS-ing for a German built, long scale Warwick Star Bass, but without trying one first, I am certainly not going to part with any cash. If I were to make a recommendation on "best bass", I'd say a Rickenbacker (or a RickenFaker), but I know for a fact that they aren't for everyone.

Still loving the HD500x.

Thing is, the "best bass" is completely and utterly subjective, I would recommend that you take yourself off to a number of your local (and looking at your location, not so local) music shops, and try a shed load of basses out, both new & "pre-owned". Look at stuff on the internet, but try them out in a shop first.

PiL next weekend

They are definitely a "try before you buy" bass, and try as many as you can too. I lusted after one for years before taking the plunge on a 4003, gutted when I had to sell it, but times were tough. Thing was then what to replace it with? Bought another Jazz, but really didn't get on with it after the Ric, so started to track down Faker's. Bought one, and never looked back. Would love another Ric mind, but would definitely try as many out as I could.

Another vote for the Polytune Clip.

Korg's DT10 and the current PitchBlack's are pretty good and easy to read, though the DT10's were always so bright you couldn't look at them for too long before the LED's burned themselves into your retina, especially at gigs! Depends on your budget, if you can afford a Polytune, then get one.

The B3 is a great pedal, but it's limited to 3 effects, 2 if you use the amp/cab modelling. Something like a B3x / B5 would be even better. I always found Boss multi effects to sound a bit too "clinical" for my liking. The PODxt Live amp/cab models sound good, but the effects aren't great, assume that the X3 is the same. Just upgraded to a POD HD500x and added the Bass Expansion Pack, very impressed with the amp/cab models AND the effects (even though there are only 4 bass specific amp/cab models). But I'm using it without an amp, so reliant on the amp/cab modelling.

I do like the Schaller's.

It's finally arrived, loaded the HD Bass Pack, and..... It sounds rather good, in fact, I'm off to muck about with it again...

Gaaaahhhhh! Still waiting for the HD500x to land, flaming courier company. They've been reckoning it's with the courier for delivery since Weds afternoon according to the online tracker thingy... Not impressed! Itching to get my hands on it!

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1462225445' post='3041337']I pledge I will never sell my Rickenfaker... ...or rather: John H. pledged I never will. [/quote] True dat.

Love it.

Well I've finally managed to sell my G&L, so I've pulled the trigger on an HD500x. When it lands, I'll be getting the bass expansion pack and tinkering with the settings (plus a few guitar patches). I'll report back when I've been tone tinkering.

The SVT is on of the 2 in the Expansion Pack, the other being the GK 800, with the Ampeg 8x10 & 4x10 cabs. The only bass amps in the standard HD setup are the Fender Bassman & the Ampeg B15 from what I can see. Saying that, I always used the HiWatt DR103 on my old PODxt kidney bean.

Anyone got any experience of using an HD500(x) with the Bass Expansion Pack? I'm currently running a PODxt Live with the Bass Expansion Pack, it sounds great IMO, but the effects are kind of limited. I've been looking at the HD500 & HD500x with growing GAS, as they have the M series effects loaded. The Bass Expansion Pack doesn't seem that expansive (2 different amp models, 2 different cabs), do they sound any good? Do the effects sound any good? I know all the opinions on the various websites & forums say that the HD series sound so much better that the XT series, but in reality, are they worth the extra expense for someone who isn't gigging/recording regularly?

Seriously GAS-ing an HD500x after reading all this lot. Can't afford or justify a Helix, but the 500 sounds like it's a step in the right direction.

Some/all other members of the band being massive bell-ends, messing about and not getting anything done.