Oomo

Same here. Although it's been years since I owned one, so maybe modern stuff like the Helix etc. are better in that regard. Another reason I never got on with multi fx units was that I'd always like some of the effects, and not others, then either be stuck with using something I hated, or buy a separate pedal to fill the gap, which is then a slippery slope back to separate effects But someday I'd love to try a Helix/Quad Cortex type thing and see what a modern multifx is actually like.

Yup, I'm a lefty too, and found the same. I've got one deliberately "left hand" pedal (an Area 51 wah I used to use on guitar), which was built with the input on the left and output on the right, so that I could use it with the right (left) foot for me.

To be honest, I'm the same when it comes to just using a couple of pedals, I'm super happy I can just carry around a tuner pedal plus something else and not have to worry about power/cables/plugs. I'm mostly bitter from one old pedal that I always powered by DC, but had a battery I'd forgotten was in there. After not using it for some years, found it'd leaked and pretty much ruined the inside (luckily it was nothing too valuable/irreplacable). That and the fact that I'm always paranoid that my battery will run out at just the wrong moment (that's never actually happened, so I don't know why I worry!)

Not about any effects in particular, but this came up in conversation with a guitarist friend the other day. We were talking about how annoyances with effects 20 years ago are exactly the same as the ones today, including things like: 1. Batteries - the first thing I ever do with effects is remove the battery and plug into to power. I always wonder whether effects could be made more compact and cheaper by just using DC power, and skipping the whole battery compartment/wiring entirely. 2. Different power requirements - I can understand the reasons, but always find it frustrating when a pedal uses some input other than 9V DC centre negative, and needs me to allocate yet another plug slot for it. 3. Non-descriptive button/switch/knob names - especially for effects I don't use often, I hate trying to remember what controls labelled things like "burn", "probe", "stab", "tweak", etc. actually do. 4. Non-standard sizes - sometimes feels like tetris trying to figure out how to layout everything. Sometimes wish there was something like EuroRack for effects pedals, with 1U, 2U pedals etc. that all fit together nicely. 5. Non-standard input/output placement - similar to the above, having a mix of inputs/outputs/power on side/top gets annoying. 6. Availability - it always seems like some of the best pedals that people use or recommend are always the ones that are no longer produced, or are incredibly rare. E.g. Boss OC-2, lots of the 3Leaf Audio stuff. But I can't see much of this changing, and still love using effects Is it just me, or has anyone else got a similar/different set of effects-related frustrations?

Sorry, I meant the octave sound specifically... Like you said, I didn't fancy sitting through hours of video in the hope of hearing it 😀 It looks like a fun pedal, but not sure I'd use 90% of what it does.

I've heard a lot of people saying good things about the Source Audio C4's octaver, but haven't found any audio clips of it. Anyone had any experience with them?

Probably late 90s early 00s were when I was active playing and saw/heard a bunch of Stingrays the first time round. No idea when the Ernie Ball takeover happened or whether they were 2/3 band eq though... (ah, simpler times!)

I used to love the classic Stingray sound from back when I used to play, but never owned one. I've come back to bass after a bit of a break, and keeping half an eye out for a 2nd hand one if it comes up at the right price. I'm totally confused about all the changes to models though... Seems there's now a Sub4, Ray34, Sterling, Stingray USA etc. I didn't pay enough attention at the time, but guessing an old USA model would be the classic Stingray sound I loved. Are the others just updated versions? Or cheaply made models that should be avoided at all costs? If they're anywhere near the classic Stingray sound then I'd consider a new model too of course...

Yup, needs to dry very slowly, or risks warping, cracking, splitting etc. It takes years normally, unless kiln drying, which can speed up the process. Typically the ends of the wood are also sealed after felling (as that's where the most moisture is lost). The moisture is lost more evenly across the wood, and avoids problems by the ends drying at a different rate to the rest.

I've often wondered how to approach this when sitting down. Standing up, it seems easier to have the bass at the right height for a straighter wrist. Sitting the bass on my knee makes this a lot harder (without raising my elbow and shoulder, which then causes shoulder aches and pains...). I've tried resting on the other leg (classical guitar style), but that just gave me pain in the shoulder of my fretting hand when playing the low positions.