Scotticus

I picked up a set of Shure E2C IEMs from John. Fast and friendly replies to PMs, and the Shures arrived exactly as described on the day he said they would. Smooth as smooth can be.

After many happy times and a few rough ones, my iGig G515 eventually died a stitching related death. Seeing as iGig seem to be hard to get ahold of in the UK, I've been trying a few other manufacturers, but haven't been happy yet. Here's what I've tried. Mono - didn't find any of them particularly comfortable to wear on my back (they ride a little high for a tall chap), and I need more storage as gigs are often an overnight affair here. Fusion F1 - let down by a few daft design decisions. No strap pin relief, feet on the side instead of the bottom, the neck support is adjustable but the headstock strap is fixed in place (duh), and the pockets seem to put an undue amount of pressure on each other when loaded. The biggest problem is that it rides so high I'm literally knocking on heaven's door. All that said, the weight distribution is great on this one. I could almost forget I was wearing it until the headstock brushing an electricity pilon reminded me lol. Protec Contego - pretty close to good, if anything it's a bit too roomy for my basses. I could live with it I guess, but still prefer the iGig offerings on a few fronts. Protection racket - it's a bit weighty for me and the lack of handles would be annoying, but is probably what I'll end up with if I can't source an iGig. Can't argue with the price at all. So, does anybody know where I can pick up an iGig in the UK sharpish? Ideally I'm after a G525. I know iGig themselves ship internationally, but so far their response to email has been slow at best, nonexistent the rest of the time. Plus, if anything goes wrong during the warranty period, I'd rather have someone in the UK to touch base with about it. It'd be quicker for replacements etc. Any advice appreciated Scott

Sibob - yup, tried getting the multicomp to push more than usual, and even tried using the VT as a hefty volume boost pre Darkglass. Both make a difference of course, but the MultiComp wasn't able to push hard enough to make a noticeable change once the whole band are playing, and the more I boost beyond what the MultiComp can provide using the VT, the less playable/musical the Darkglass starts to become. Plus, even if that did work, it'd mean having a separate compressor in a loop just to get these pedals working, because on those settings the MultiComp is stomping all over any cleaner sounds. I've been down that rabbit hole before... Kev - LOL, fair point, maybe I just don't like it. It does seem odd though how I enjoyed the B7K so much in the studio environment but can't get these to have any mojo live, dontcha think? It's not like I'm a newb with pedals who's not used to tweaking. Should've probably pointed out that I didn't just hop on the Darkglass wagon willy-nilly - I listened to a ton of demos, talked to players I respect, saw a few bands live whose bassists are using them and figured out what it was specifically about the sound that I liked. I don't have the wonga to buy pedals on a whim these days, hence why I'm trying to figure out whether I'm missing something before I sell these on. bakerster135 - just reading your thread, seems like you're having an issue that isn't a million miles away. Any sign of a resolution at your end?

I'm looking for some advice, either from people who own Darkglass dirt pedals, or people who used to and decided to move theirs along. So, originally I owned a B7K. It was meant to replace my Tech 21 VT, which is almost always on adding a touch of grit/clank. Once in a blue moon, I do use that VT as a distortion too, so it seemed like the perfect substitute. I got the B7K, recorded with it and really dug it in that context, but when it came to gigs, I found the EQ in particular to be a bit tame. With a nice cab and/or nice PA, it was ok, but the types of gigs my band play make both of those things a rarity, and I found myself missing that harsh EQ on the VT that can cut through anything and seems to force some life back into knackered old cabs. Well, I figured I had enjoyed the B7K when I was recording, and I couldn't get the VT to emulate what the B7K could do in that environment, so perhaps scaling down to the B3K, using the B3K as purely a distortion and keeping the VT always on would be the one-rig-fits-all solution. As it happens, I got a bit carried away and acquired a B3K and a Vintage, just in case. Now the point I'm at is that, tbh, I can't quite see why/how so many heavy bands have gone nuts over these pedals. When I get the blend set so that there's no loss of lows, I can't coax enough filth out of either of them to be adding anything more than a sprinkling of distortion. Don't get me wrong, it's a really good sounding sprinkle, but I was hoping for something more along the lines of really good sounding puddles of spectator face. My signal is this: Warwick $$ 5er -> tuner -> EBS MultiComp -> Tech 21 VT -> Darkglass stuff -> GK MB500 head -> various cabs (some nice, some nasty, but all exhibiting the same disappointing result) I mainly play with my fingers, but have also done a few rehearsals with a pick... no difference other than additional loss of lows because I pick like a bit of a nancy. I've tried going just bass -> Darkglass dirt - head - decent cab, and I'm still underwhelmed assuming I want to keep the low end in tact. I've swapped out power, patch cables (Diego Powerstation and Lava cable are the usuals) just in case, but no difference. I've tried switching the chain around, gone with and without each individual pedal... no light at the end of that tunnel. Chaps, what am I missing? Any advice appreciated. Scott

[quote name='bertbass' timestamp='1365676469' post='2042635'] Ever thought of a thumb pick? [/quote] I've never tried one nope, didn't even cross my mind for some reason! Good call man, I'll investigate.

[quote name='richardjmorgan' timestamp='1365671095' post='2042524'] My only problem with them is the see-through-ness - dropping them on the floor isn't much of an issue but putting them down and forgetting where is! [/quote] Well, speaking as someone who's blind, this problem applies to everything from picks to land mines. If I can't eat it, I'll probably forget where I've put it. Gotten used to carrying pockets full of spares over the years (although not so much with the land mines ) Just ordered the Bass Sampler Pack which contains a large pointed, a freakishly large pointed and a freakishly large rounded. Was very tempted to splash out on a selection of others, but I'll see how it goes with these first.

Ah, really good to know that it's not all just marketing bumph about the extra grip. Thanks man.

Would be worth you taking a trip to Camden. Bass Gallery had a little 1x12 Vanderkley in the demo room that blew me away a couple weeks ago. Probably less selection than Bass Direct, but a hell of a lot closer to south London.

I'm brushing up on my pick playing in an attempt to nail a feel/tone that's a combination of lazy scrapey and gritty that I haven't quite managed to get with my fingers. So far, I'm making decent progress with consistency, attack and the difference in low end reproduction between my fingers and the pick is getting less noticeable the more I practice. However, two things are really frustrating me. I'm really not enjoying how disconnected from the instrument my right hand feels, and I'm certain that this loose lazy picking style I'm shooting for is going to result in dropping a lot of picks on stage until it becomes second nature. So, I'm wondering whether this V-picks guys products might ease my transition? The extra grip is very appealing to me. The price is less so. http://v-picks.com Any experience of 'em? Scott

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1364023568' post='2020950'] It was the MB Fusion 500 I meant, which is the same size as the MB 500, but that`s by the by now,[/quote] I haven't been online for the last couple weeks, and consequently nearly sh*t myself upon reading that. I must've been thinking of the wrong model when I wrote the MBFusion off as a potential option. Tbh though, having spent time tonight searching out sound clips, I'm not regretting the impulse buy yet. Obviously I can hear what the tubes are doing, and the Fusion does sound great, but for different reasons to why I fell in love with the MB500. Hard to say for certain that I wouldn't feel differently with them both in front of me to play, but... erm... *mumbles* I think I prefer the solid state sounding one *shuffles feet*

Cheers chaps, all of those replies helped heaps. Chris-B - yup I've played the TH500 a couple times. Nice head for sure, but it didn't do anything for me that the Shuttle couldn't match other than provide more onboard distortion, but tbh not the sort of distortion I generally go for. Loz196 - I like your thinking, but the Fusion also adds quite a bit of size/weight along with those valves. I didn't dare tempt myself by trying it because my rig has to stay small for now. Delberthot - thanks man, good to hear from someone who's used both. Sounds like we've been attracted by the same things. To cut a long (4 hour) story short, I ended up buying the MB500 this afternoon. I physically couldn't leave the shop without it lol. Luckily it still sounds awesome at home. Only gripe I've found so far is that the boost circuit is included when you switch the DI out between pre/post EQ, but I can live with that. Thanks again people... off to list a Shuttle for sale. Scott

Chaps, seeking a bit of advice here as I'm having a moment of indecision about whether to keep my current head/cab. I've been playing bass for about 5 years now (although have 10 years of other instruments under my belt beforehand). I'm mainly a recording type, so tend to listen to things with the studioy hat on. I've only ever owned one bass rig, that being a Genz Benz Shuttle 6 and matching GB 1x15 cab. When I bought it, the lightweight market was pretty much as simple as choosing between Genz and Markbass. I went with Genz, and haven't really been tempted to try out anything else since because I've been happy. Then I went to the bass show a few weeks ago... uh oh... I played pretty much everything small in the place, and was still convinced I'd made a good decision going with the Genz Benz until I played the Gallien-Krueger MB500. It triggered more than a moment of doubt. It was hard to be sure amongst the slapfest, but I got all excited by the GK and nothing else has done that for me since the first time I heard my GB. Well, a couple of days ago I found myself in a shop that had a Shuttle 6.2 and an MB500 that I could plug in and A-B in a nice quiet environment. I spent the best part of an hour trying both heads through a couple of different lightweight cabs, and even through the Genz cab, I think I prefer the MB500. The EQ seems more usable to me (in every way other than actual physical layout), I think I prefer where the top and bottom ends are voiced, and the GK is smaller too. Strikes me that although the Genz is probably the more versatile of the two overall, I couldn't quite get it to match what I was getting out of the MB500 when it came to narly hi-fi tones that are just on the edge of breaking up. I mainly play alt rock/metal material, 80% of the time I go with fingers over a pick, I generally have a bit of a mid scoop and I like plenty of sizzling tops... yep... it's kinda like being back in the 90's LOL. So, I suppose what I'm asking is whether I'm missing something obvious. Are there clear cut reasons that I don't know about why GB gear is better than GK? Has anyone ever used both of these heads out in the wild and formed an opinion one way or the other? Is it really as simple as "you just like the GK more, so stop rambling and go buy the bleedin' thing"? I change pedals almost as often as I change my pants, but I've never wobbled on the Genz until now. Yours confusedly... Scott

Bought a Fisher pack for my IEMs from Andydye a few months ago. PM's were fast and helpful, the item arrived exactly as described and exactly when he said it would. Unfortunately, I'm a useless git, so am only just getting around to leaving feedback. Still, other than my slack timing at this last stage, couldn't have been a smoother transaction. Buy with confidence!

[quote name='lettsguitars' timestamp='1341947601' post='1726906'] No. The screw will make a thread and the wire instantly becomes part of the thread and doesn't get pushed downwards at all. You only need to screw the screw in once. It's not like a moving part that will wear through the wire. [/quote] Great, cheers for that tip man. The way things have worked out here should mean I can carve a short channel through filler rather than solid body as well... simples!