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Cat Burrito

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Posts posted by Cat Burrito

  1. My first Sixth Form band did the classic burn brightly and then implode! The band split and the whole band reformed behind my back as a new venture. I had committed the cardinal sin of spending too much time with my then girlfriend, rather than hanging out with the group. We didn't speak for a couple of years but have all been mates again since the early 90s. 

     

    I then tried a short lived band with the guitarist 20 years ago but with his impending fatherhood, he was the problem this time. Understandably. 

     

    Fast forward to lockdown 2020 and we tried again. The plan was to jam some of the old songs from Sixth Form, probably once. We're releasing our second album next week. We've made several music videos, a film and played from Lancaster to Southampton and done over 50 shows together. Aside the sulking of Sixth Form, we've never had an argument and the relationship is stronger than ever. 

     

    Last year, we managed to get two of the original sixth form band to come and join us for a reunion show. I have this picture framed in my bedroom. It will happen again. There's a lot for being older and wiser. 

     

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    • Like 8
  2. To take a different approach, Sid Vicious. Growing up listening to punk, people raved about him but Matlock was obviously the talented one. Sid Vicious had the image but made a mockery of the music / the instrument. It's not some sort of snobbery - people like Dee Dee Ramone played very simple root note based stuff but he wrote and brought something to the group. 

     

    • Like 7
  3. 11 hours ago, msb said:

    Those are hard to find over here. Is that cab a210?

    I’d love to get your impressions.

    Yes. I bought the cab last year to go with the Blackstar combo and it was the wrong one (Elite series). I kept it as I liked it so much. It is lightweight and sounds fantastic. 

    • Like 1
  4. It was a bit of an impulse buy (hard to believe on Basschat) but as I turned 51 on Monday and the cat turned a far more impressive 17, I decided to invest in the Blackstar U700 head to go with the matching Blackstar Elite cab that I have.

     

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    A quick road test in the kitchen and my bass tone brings all the felines to the yard! Sounds as sweet as it looks and I was quite taken with the bag it comes in too.

     

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    Big shout out to Andertons who never hang about sending these things too! 

    • Like 11
  5. This little "light and loud" head was bought as a back up last year but I am finding that I just don't use the amps much these days - I am either out where there is backline or going straight through the PA. This can only be about a year old and has incredibly only done two shows! I would describe the condition as a solid 9/10. I thought I had the box but now I have decided to sell, I must confess that I can't find it. Not pictured is a kettle lead and a speakon cable.

     

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    Check my feedback to know you can buy with confidence. Price includes UK mainland delivery. I have to say this is surprisingly loud and the chorus is loads of fun (my guitarist hated it!). I'm probably going to regret this, at Manchester when I last used it, I swear it was one of the best sounds I have had out of the bass! 

    • Like 1
  6. Love this combo but it doesn't get used. I bought this brand new last year and ordered the official custom cover. I find 99% of my shows don't require an amp so it's only seen minimal home use as I have a practice amp. It's been sat in the cover with plastic and a cloth over it for months and as I just upgraded the head for my standalone cab, it's suddenly become surplas to requirement. I would say the condition is better than most ex-display models! The phone snaps are my actual combo and not stock photos. 

     

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    The official spec is; 

     

    Main Features

    Ultimate tonal flexibility - From valve inspired growl to high headroom clean

    Unique Response control - 3 power amp stages to shape compression and feel

    Drive section - 3 overdrives (Overdrive / Distortion / Fuzz) with user-controllable blend

    Compressor and effects - Chorus and Sub-Octave

    Pro connectivity - balanced XLR, jack or USB are perfect for live, studio and home use

    Unity Bass Series Active Cabinet - connect to any amp in the Unity Bass Series for 250W of extra power

    Blackstar Unity Pro Bass combos are the result of countless hours of technical research and benchmarking against the most iconic historic references.

    Designed from the ground up by bass players, for bass players they are straight forward and powerful. The new Unity Pro Bass System's deceptively simple controls allow you to quickly and easily create your tone, with rock solid bass, detailed dynamics and innovative features in a compact package from 30 Watts to 500 Watts. Blackstar's unique Response control allows the player to choose between the sound and feel of three classic power amp stages, shaping compression, natural drive and dynamics. Combined with three distinct preamp voicings and a 3-band semi-parametric EQ, Unity produces infinitely flexible bass tone and exceptional feel, whatever your playing style. The Unity 250ACT powered cabinet can be linked to any model in the line to add 250W or more of active power to your rig; taking you from the studio or rehearsal room to the gig with ease and portability. From the organic response of classic valve amps, to a transparent clean platform, Unity brings together the ultimate in bass tone.

    Any Player, Any Sound
    Straight forward and powerful, UNITY's deceptively simple controls allow you to quickly and easily create your tone no matter what style you play.

    Choose From 3 Voices
    Offering Classic, Modern and Flat voicings, Unity Bass is perfect for any playing style.

    Classic: Valve-inspired growl with Vintage EQ
    Modern: High-headroom dynamics and advance EQ
    Flat: Totally flat, clean and transparent

    Unique Response Control
    A unique response control with 3 power amp stages to shape compression and feel.

    Linear: Powerful and articulate – let your playing do the talking
    6L6: Compression and punch of 6L6 power valves
    6550: Dynamics and headroom of high power 6550's

    User Controlled Overdrive
    3 different overdrives with user-controllable blend.

    Overdrive: Smooth, open, harmonically-rich overdrive
    Distortion: Balanced pedal-like distortion
    Fuzz: In-your-face, full-on fuzz

    Ultimate Flexibility
    Enhance your sound with built in Chorus, Compressor and Octaver.

    Pro Connectivity
    UNITY Bass is perfect for the studio or stage with the balanced XLR, USB connectivity and more.

    Extend Your Set Up
    The UNITY U250ACT 1x15 inch active cab (NOT INCLUDED) adds 250 Watts of extra stage power to any UNITY combo.

    Eminence Opus Speakers - Voiced For Unity
    Unity Pro Bass System features Eminence Opus speakers, designed and voiced in partnership with Eminence - the professional choice for bass players around the world.


    Blackstar Unity 500 Full Features

    500 Watts
    Custom designed Eminence 2 x 10inch Opus Speakers
    3 Voices – Classic, Modern, Flat
    3 Footswitchable Drives with user controllable blend – Overdrive / Distortion / Fuzz
    3-band EQ with semi-parametric Mid
    Unique Response control – Linear, 6L6 and 6550
    Footswitchable Chorus and Sub-Octave with adjustable level control
    Compressor
    Input Gain with clip indication
    Pad Switch for active / passive instruments
    Master Volume
    Link to Unity Bass Series Active Cabinet
    USB audio out for direct recording
    Series effects loop
    MP3 / Line in n XLR + ¼inch Line Out / Headphones with independent level control
    D.I. / cabinet emulated Line outputs

     

     

    I love the sounds and the range of the amp. It sounds great dry but I had loads of fun with the overdrive / distortion and the chorus. 

     

    I can't ship this but anyone is welcome to try or arrange their own courier (if this is the case I will probably have to arrange collection from work so I can be in). Check my feedback and buy with confidence. £600 brand new, I believe I have priced this very fairly for Blackstar's loudest (& surprisingly light) combo.

  7. I got mine last year and love it. I bought a Burns Bass VI (SSJ model) and liked it enough to upgrade to the Squier Bass VI. I agree the stock strings are rubbish but the build / finish is excellent. A great neck, well finished frets and the nut is good. I restrung mine with Labella flats and I don't have any issues. Originally, the plan was to record some Glen Campbell type lines on a recording project but I got into the idea of bands like The Cure using them. I play mine more like a bass, whereas my guitarist friend has a more guitar approach to it. We're doing a synthy darkwave EP together and the plan is for me to do all the bass parts on mine. Pictured here with my feline friend and matching shoes! 

     

     

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    • Like 4
  8. 12 hours ago, Jackroadkill said:

    @Cat Burrito, that's a great review; your duo sounds great.  If I'm ever in your area, or you're in mine, I'll make a point of coming to see you play.  I was in a very short-lived Goth duo in High Wycombe, once, but I think I'd prefer to see you guys doing it properly rather than remember that little project!

    Thank you. We don't do *much* outside our local area live wise as it has to not run at a loss but we have been as far as Lancaster and played Southampton, Bristol and are in Camden for the Goth festival All that is Devine. I think the genre is very broad and our angle has always been take the music seriously but not take ourselves too seriously. We have some fun videos on YouTube that are worth searching out - fighting zombies, burning witches and destroying the planet. Worth searching out Deadlight Dance on YouTube to see our collaboration with the film maker Haunting The Atom. I'm amazed at how many goth acts are around at the moment, many of which are really good. 

    • Like 3
    • Thanks 1
  9. Two for the price of one. Bar a brief feeling of normality on a couple of occasions, I spent three weeks nursing the worst bug I have had in years so yesterday was going to be my Pheonix rising from the flames moment. We started at Vinyl Realm Music Shop, initially to 1 person but within a couple of songs, the shop was full! No amps and mainly mandocello for me. The owner described me as "highly ADHD" afterwards!

     

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    We then went on to the The Southgate Inn in Devizes (same town) and did two sets. I was bass for the second set but the aforementioned mandocello, mandolin, one song on guitar and some lead vocals too!  The place was jumping at the end. Who'd have thought an originals / covers 50/50 split of gothic music would get the bar staff bopping along and fill out three bar areas of people dancing?! 

     

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    I appreciate that people are on here for basschat but we did pick up a nice little local review. If I learned one thing reading it, going goth was a great way to get off with the posh girls... I never knew! Goth boys in Devizes 

    • Like 15
  10. A sure fire contender for my favourite venue, Bath's Chapter 22 Roots and Records was host to my humble duo of darkness, Deadlight Dance, last night. Dean and Nic always looks after us. The setting is a record shop in the city centre that also trades in plants. Playing mainly mandocello and mandolin (with a second time on guitar for a song), my basses took a break. We were a little light on audience at first but it didn't take much to fill up the shop. The performance was one of our stronger ones. Honourable mention to co-headliner Steve Mercy. I think it's our 40th show. We walk the line between taking our music very seriously whilst not taking ourselves too seriously at all! People like our onstage chat. Gothic, but more Carry on Screaming meets Hammer Horror rather than anything too po-faced and serious. And if Boss are looking at this post, yes, you should endorse us! 

     

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    • Like 19
  11. I have three wide Couch straps. They are not the cheapest as they are handmade but I don't use leather so I've managed to get three as gifts over the last couple of years. Being over 50, my shoulder is fairly knackered these days so I find them to be essential. 

  12. My rock 3 piece regrouped with a new drummer to play Salford on Friday. A small show at The Eagle to a crowd I mostly knew. It marked the debut of my Blackstar cab with a drummer and it sounded great. The drummer hadn't even rehearsed with us and he nailed it. 

     

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    Saturday was Rockmantic festival in Carlisle. A massive crowd and an Ampeg 8x10 that I didn't think sounded as good as the Blackstar cab the night before (I suspect the room helped). A decent performance but I felt Salford was the best. 

     

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    A massive drive back to Wiltshire today and I can resume to giging my goth duo locally.

     

     

    • Like 17
  13. I never change the basses with flats but the ones with rounds are very much, one at a time, thickest string first. Back in Sixth Form I remember a guitarist friend taking all his strings off, only to get a buzz on the E when he restrung, so I guess I am scarred by that. 

     

    Cleaning the fretboard? Like Prince Andrew, I never sweat! 

    • Haha 1
  14. Having owned everything from two flying V basses to a uke bass, there's a lot to be said for the "Probably shouldn't" camp. Invariably they get sold on for a small loss. If you can take the hit, no dramas but I do feel my bass buying days have been replaced with buying other things. My mainstay basses are now varied, decent and I've had them for a long time.

    • Like 1
  15. Not exactly my gig but I wandered into my local and was treated like a minor celebrity. At the end the band's set, the promoter insisted all the regular musicians get up for one song. Of course they picked a song I didn't know, so I recreated Bob Dylan's performance on the "We Are the World" video". They are all amazing musicians but I think I added nothing! 😸

     

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    • Like 5
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  16. Evri are shocking. They usually get there in the end but I had them fail to find a shop on the High Street a couple of weeks ago! They also claim stuff is delivered and then try and deliver it two days later. I have had that twice. 

  17. 19 minutes ago, msb said:

    That Bass VI is a ton of fun. 

     

    I've used it in the studio and for a video but never live.  We're planning an EP this Spring which will be exclusively Bass VI and synth.

     

    This is my customised Squier Bass VI. Matching shoes and cat with disapproving look optional. 

     

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    • Like 10
    • Haha 2
  18. I

    14 minutes ago, Rich said:

    Having read this, I've realised that my signature is/was possibly a bijou bit on the, errm shall we say substantial side, so I've truncated it a bit. 

    II think the paranoia set in - I edited mine too (although it was small font with spaces). I never know the etiquette with such things. 😸

    • Thanks 1
    • Haha 1
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