krispn

I wonder if Fender ever produced a fan fret if that perception would change… of course it wouldn’t. Fender would be berated for doing something new, discontinuing the actually new product while simultaneously producing a new line of all the same basses for even more money than the previous iteration of the range. * I love my fender but just saying

If I may... you're comparing their 4 string scale to their 5 string for overall scale length so that's maybe contributing to the "inconsistency" My understanding is that the Super P4 scale length was to retain a slightly more tradition feel but still using the fanned fret system for the benefits it imparts. The scale length on my old SP5 was a 35" on the low B string and a 34.25" on the E - a 35" B string is quite the norm on anon-fanned basses. The D-Roc which has a 36.25 scale length on the E but 37" on the string B so a similar ratio to other DIngwall 5'ers and mathematically in line with the overall fanned fret ratio Dingwall uses? I owned and gigged a Super P for 5 years and it is a bass I would own again in a heartbeat (and a lottery win). I think of the Super P as if a P bass had done a 6 month boot camp - it is a bit tighter, a bit more muscular , the pick up was neodymium and naturally a less vintage sounding unit etc. but it was still a P bass and a great example of what a modern design can do to inject a new lease of life into a classic. I have recently taken ownership of a DBird and it has a slightly longer scale than the Super P did but it's still eminently playable and comfortable to wear/gig. It has that low end clarity, a tightness to the overall sound and is a well engineered and well made bass. Switching back to my No.1 - a P bass of course - they don't feel the same and they play differently but I wouldn't expect them to or want them too. The scale length and neck profile make the P a littler 'easier', spongier in feel and of course more traditional in its sound but I really enjoy playing both. I have been using the DBird on all home playing and gigs/rehearsals and it definitely has a bit more clarity and cut live, maybe it stands out a bit more rather than 'dissolving' into the mix the was a good P bass does (I often think of my P bass like a low/low-mid 'musical stock cube'). The DBird is a passive bass and like with my P bass I can make it sound more old school quite easily with a twist of the tone knob and it's 'middle position' sound is as workable a P tone as any other P bass out there I've gone on a tangent but fanned fret basses don't have to compete with regular fretted bass. They offer some advantage to some players the same way a MM bass isn't for everyone or when a hollow body, short scale is the only tool for the job!

If anyone else is struggling with their ‘64 pm me as I might have some other options you’d be interested in 😀

I played the 210 500w version on a gig as it was the supplied back line (no ext cab so 350w ish) and promptly went out and bought one locally… I think it’s a great combo. All controls at noon is a great pedal friendly sound but the amp has enough variation with the onboard ‘voicing’ switches and the built in drive to make it fit in with a range of styles. It can sound modern and scooped or quite vintage and low middy all just with those switches. I can imagine paired with an ext cab it would enhance an already great unit. Maybe it’s because I played 212’s for so long but I find the 210’s to be a great sound and by virtue of having a 2xx over a 1xx it will help with perceived volume and projection. I’d love to add the 115 but not because I’m lacking volume it’d just be cool to have that ‘stack’ vibe! I was gigging mine at the weekend and although we had foh support I was running my master about 11 and gain at noon, all controls at noon in fact and was punching through nicely. I did have a pedal board with me using some eq/gain and occasional drive but I wasn’t pushing mad levels of addition volume - got a message from the drummer yesterday saying she liked the sound (I was using a new to me bass for that gig) she felt it cut through and sounded clear. I had no issues hearing myself either! *The pic was taken as I was setting up

I actually bought that power amp years ago but it was damaged in transit and didn’t work. I was gutted.

I’m using the JHS Colourbox v.2 and hyper luminal for the studio styled comps

I love studio/rack gear and as a result I've kinda taken that as 'inspiration' with my pedal board or at least in my head that's what I'm trying to do. I'm using a tube DI, a Neve style, transformer based, EQ pedal and a compressor as the main always on kit going to the desk. It would have probably been as easy/cost effective to just buy a rack for gigging and leave it in the case with the desk 😄 I run things comp-EQ-tube di which goes to the desk via xlr and I also take the 1/4" output/thru from the DI back to my pedal board and into my drive unit and on to the amp. I could omit the tube DI and go DI out from my EQ pedal but it's always better to complicate things right?

Small refinement to my board so nabbed a pic before last nights gig. I’ve been trying some drive pedals out recently and think the DG Alpha Omicron wins the slot for main drive. I used the big unit before but this stripped down version works really well for my needs. Low gain sounds worked well and pushing it yielded a great punchy tone which was present and very enjoyable. As a self confessed ‘not a fan of the DG sound’ these units are way more flexible than many demos would have you believe and very easy to integrate across a variety of songs/genres.

Love that Funk box!

It’s a sound nice. If you can get what you need out of them and it’s likely you will - nothing ventured nothing gained.

Good to know. 👍🏼

I have to admit I enjoy a good Steak and Guinness pie. Add a stick of cinnamon and a wee touch of fresh ginger - that’s the secret!

Who needs EBS? No finer sponsors on the planet than Ginster and Guinness. Maybe they should collaborate on a pie 😀

It arrives Tuesday 🙂

Classy!

It does read a bit like an advert for EBS but if they work for you! The Microbass is a great unit!

Rumour has it there’s a BB424X in red with two scratch plates(one clear, one black) going up in the for sale section over the next few days.

I had a Super PZ5 for about 5 yrs which was my main gigging bass and I really enjoyed playing that one. I think the D Roc is such a great reimagining of a classic the same way their Super P is. I may have a cull and see what I can find used!

Should I get one of these in 4 string for my 80’s band 🤔 Stingray tones if needed. Solid slap tones if needed. Solid ‘middle’ tone if needed.

I'd happily own either style as I think it's a killer bass.

While I have a couple of options I don’t have too complicated a set up. I’ve been using a DG ADAM with my 80’s band (it’s compression, drive, eq and cab sim with the added bonus of a tuner) or a HX stomp using some ‘80’s’ sounds basically a GK style rig with some dirt and eq so it’s a one box solution. At the moment we’re still honing the tunes so it’s been practice room only to date. If I’m travelling light and doing iem only on my pub gig I can take either and it’s job done but if I’m gigging in my pub band and taking my amp I’ll bring my pedal board with tuner, comp, preamp/eq/DI (which sends a clean DI signal to the desk/iem) and out of the 1/4 output of that same pedal to some dirt pedals then on to my on stage amp. This lets me send a clean signal to the desk but have a bit of drive (or a lot of drive) coming out the amp behind me so best of both worlds. I have my pedal use limited to the basics and while I have used some phaser or chorus here and there it didn’t really matter in the grand scheme and wasn’t really missed the way similar effects might stand out on a guitar part or that was my feeling at least.

One of my fave Fender models but the weight of some of the original ones was hefty! The necks were ‘big’ but perfectly manageable if I recall. And of course that pick up is top class! I did read the newer road worn models are generally lighter though.