Skybone

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.

[quote name='BottomE' timestamp='1461912791' post='3038610'] Is it green? [/quote] It's not (say it quickly ) It's a "tobacco burst", but just can't seem to shift it.

I would have said that my old 4003 was the one that I'd keep, but I ended up having to sell it. I now have 2 RikenFaker's that are more than ample replacements for it. But I get the feeling that my "keeper" is the G&L L2000 Tribute I've been trying to sell for the last year or so.

Warwick Star Bass?

My first bass was a sunburst Kay P-bass copy, it weighed a ton and had a ridiculously high action, but it was mine. 30-odd years later, I'm still playing, so it must have done it's job at the time. I remember it came with cable-like flat wounds on. Managed to sell it to someone at school, then went out and bought a Westone Raider 1 in red/graphite. That one wasn't great, but it was far superior to the Kay! Bought an Aria Pro II SB Special after the Westone, now that one was really good.

Try them in any order you fancy until you find something that sounds good to you.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1460957101' post='3030047']You really have to put a lot of thought into what your looking for in a band. Weren't there any "red flags " that indicated these guys we're not going to work out for you? Blue[/quote] What I look for in a band is other people who aren't bell-ends. The whole ethos of this band was to gather together a group of people of a certain vintage (most of us were over 40, parents and with responsible jobs), write a bunch of songs and hopefully get some local gigs. We said we didn't want to do covers, or blues, just play some rocking songs. No ego's, no "chasing the big time" or record deals. Just creating interesting music, having some fun, and being "yourself" for a few hours, instead of husband/dad/employee/responsible bloke etc. Don't know about you guys, but I've been in quite a few bands over the years, a number of which didn't go anywhere because there were bell-ends involved who just wasted time. Time is a precious commodity when you're older, more people want more of your time, so time where you can do something you want to do is quite precious. Not wasting an evening surrounded by bell-ends who want to dick about playing Pink Floyd badly. So yes, I have put some thought into what I'm looking for in a band. And your term "business" is very appropriate, I liken a band to a football team, you all have the same aim, and you need to work as a team not as a bunch of individuals.