Bassnut62

hartke ha3500 is very nice head - gives warm and snap and has compressor and is relatively cheap. I swapped the 12ax7 tube for a JJ too - much nicer sound. As for cab, I would probably be tempted with some kind of 2x12 with a horn and port.

I am using Catalinbread SFT and ZVex Woolly Mammoth on passive bass into old Fender valve amp. Both these dirt pedals sound great in the mix and can be made to cut through even more with a compressor. No dissapearing bottoms insight. So how do I achieve this masterstroke, you may ask.......simples........form a band with no guitards! All of us bass-FX-heads should be allowed this joyous situation at least once in our musical lives.

in no particular order and all still owned:
'79 MusicMan Stingray (natural)
'63 Precision (lake placid blue)
'89 G&L Asat Bass (cherry burst)
'08 Sandberg California JM4 Deluxe (black)
ones that got away:
'74 Precision fretless with extra Jazz pup (mocha brown)
'83 Jazz (sunburst)
'64 Epiphone EB0
'70s Ibanez Rickky 4001 copy - cool as f##k; but not great to play!

pm incoming re flanger

another pm re flanger

I am amazed the vintage pre-CBS option is scoring so low; but then I guess they're not easily available for peops to try. I've only ever played one - a Lake Placid Blue 62 and it was truly out of this world. I would've loved to own it.

Having said all that, I recently bought a Sandberg California JM4 Deluxe; whihc is actually a better Fender Jazz than any Fender Jazz I've ever owned or tried, apart possibly from that Pre CBS.

[quote name='Huwberry' post='851504' date='May 29 2010, 10:29 PM']Definitely. Just done the first set at tonight's function, and I reckon I've just about got the squelch setting about right. Been putting an OC-2 before it in the signal chain, and an ODB-3 in the FX loop. Tasty.

I might just have to get another filter, regardless of keeping or selling the Q-tron. The new MXR maybe? [/quote]

great, glad it's working out for you. fuzz, filter and octave are so irresistible together. My current combination for that is Groove Regulator with ZVex Mastotron in the loop for fuzz and then put the hole lot thru MXR BOD.

I am definitely tempted to try that new MXR Filter too.

Hope the second set makes it to number 11 on all the dials!

[quote name='Huwberry' post='848474' date='May 26 2010, 01:56 PM']Well, despite ruling out anything by EHX when I started this topic, I have completely and utterly contradicted myself.

I decided to go for the Q-Tron+ that jxljxl was selling. It was the effects loop that won me over - I'm gonna put an ODB-3 in there, as I don't use it at all on its own. What I'm really looking forward to is the combination of the Q-Tron with my OC-2! I'm anticipating some synthy, squelchy goodness.

Thanks for all the suggestions, by the way. I'll refer back to this thread should I decide the Q-Tron isn't for me, or in the equally likely eventuality that I'll want a second filter on my pedal board.

Huw[/quote]

Congrats, for a first filter I reckon it would be hard to go wrong with that choice. Sure you'll always get your money back on the Q if y9u need/want to too.

[quote name='AttitudeCastle' post='845094' date='May 22 2010, 02:04 PM']I love my SYB-5 and my SYB-3,

But its not the same as other synths its basically a "make my bass into a glitchy keyboard" pedal, which i really dig:)[/quote]

Glad the SYBs work for you.
Making glitchy keyboard sounds with it sounds interesting too.
When I had mine it frustrated me, as it just didn't track well.
Also it didn't give me the more organic blooming bass synth sounds I was after and can dial in very easily with the old EHX MBS.

[quote name='Ghost_Bass' post='844365' date='May 21 2010, 04:47 PM']Can you extend a bit more your thoughts betwen both these Synts, please? I'm thinking in buying a MBS in a near future but never herad the rumor that the old one is better. Thank you [/quote]

I've heard from numerous sources that the new 9v MBS is poor compared to the old 24v.
There's a lot of discussion about this on Talk Bass too.
My understanding is that the only plus for the small one is that it is True Bypass, so you don't get any degredation of your signal when the effect is not engaged, which you do get with the old 24v MBS; but it's simple to fix that. I have mine in a bypass loop.
The big pros you get with the 24v are:
- much more headroom in the scope of the effect's sounds due to more voltage available
- much more travel in slider controls and more space between them, all of which makes the pedal more easily tweakable for more precise dialing in of the sound you're after.
- big old one is much better put together, whereas the new one feels cheap.
- the old one is a stone cold classic, that is bound to become a sort after collector's item eventually IMO

Hope that helps

i've got a GR and can get enough squelch from it when required. This is a very tweakable pedal. care and some experimentation will get you where you need to be without the annoying and speaker-threatening spikeyness of many EHX filters; but the trade-off is that it is probably about 85% as wet and squlechy as an EHX. But then when has one filter ever been enough on a board. I have a GR and an EHX Bass Balls, I also have a steel Mini QTron that i use occasionally.

i checked all the demos before importing the GR a year ago and I have not been disappointed, especially bearing in mind that I love Bootsy-style filter sounds.

there's an old style QTron+ in Effects for sale right here, right now in BassChat - buy that and you'll be funkier than anyobody's muttha!

i got rid of my Boss SYB3 ASAP too - horrible piece of junk; although the wah wasn't bad and could mix with dry signal.
EHX MBS can be picked up for £100 second hand; but make sure it's an old steel 24v one. I've heard the new small 9v ones are not nearly as good.
It might mean a bit of saving for the MBS; but it'll be really worth the wait and you'll be synth-sorted for as long as you need to be.

for Lovetone Meatball sounds, you can try 3Leaf Groove Regulator. It is a smaller, cheaper, easier to tweak and still available version of the Meatball circuit.

EHX Mini QTron is nice too and in old steel; but it is 9v not 24v.
If you have the real estate available that 24v QTron would be yummy it's based on and built by the same gut that made the MuTron too

I know where there is one that needs to be released to someone that will love it.
It has the matching 2x15 cab too.
PM me and I'll let you know where.
NB. I don't own it and it doesn't belong to a friend either!

Good idea about Aguilar or anyone trying to recreate this amp / cab; but fully fit for modern usage.
It is a thoroughly underrated and unrecognised diamond; which IMO is a lot nicer to live with than its obvious rival - a big old Ampeg lump.


[quote name='JTUK' post='841667' date='May 19 2010, 08:03 AM']I would love a trad Bassman 135 amp...I'd probably run it with The Aguilar DB series of cabs in black unless I had the inclination to address whatever shortcoming a matched Fender vintage cab may have.

In fact, I think Aguilar should have a go at the Bassman series with Valve amps... maybe..??

Now, where can I get me a Bassman amp..???[/quote]

yes, i see what you mean about under-powered vintage speakers. I bet you're right.
One thing is for sure though the old Bassman cabs are generally weak and definitely need strengthening to meet modern performance standards, otherwise they fart like a dog.

I do reckon the heads are top drawer just as they come. Before I had a 135 I did have a 70 for a while and that was a sweet head too; but the extra headroom of the 135 is definitely worth having and it comes with a mid control and deep and bright filters for the two channels.

[quote name='JTUK' post='839714' date='May 17 2010, 12:53 PM']Cool as f*** but not sure how practical it would be if you want to gig it...underpowered by today's standards.
Didn't some of the cabs come with JBL's..?


I have a pr that came out of 4550 cabs..[/quote]

I guess you're right about being underpowered by today's standards; but who really ever uses 400 valve watts on stage?
I reckon 135 valave watts is equivalent to about 350 solid state watts.
Anyway I have never yet found my Bassman 135 to lack enough grunt to splatter brains when required and it always cuts through the mix even with two rock guitarists in my last band.

Re JBLs, I think you're right, a lot of Fender cabs did have JBLs at soem point. My 2x15 Bassman cab came unloaded. My first thought was JBLs, I tried them and they weren't that nice in this cab - a bit too harsh and sterile. The top-of-the-line Emminence speakers I went for sounded much much better. They have all the usual JBL clarity and definition, but also the warmth and bottom end of classic 70s bass tones.

So, yes ...... cool as f**k and sounds un-f**king-believable and a cheap-as-chips antique in the making!

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='839771' date='May 17 2010, 02:09 PM']The PPB is the best bass-friendly Muff ever, IMO.

that's good to know, it makes me GAS even harder for a PPB

re Mammoth
It's a bit of a one-trick pony though TBH. It's a great sound but it really only does that one sound.

Fair comment; although I think you can get a bit more out of it than one sound by mucho tweakage of pinch and other controls. However in truth, the non-extreme-gate-synth sounds are probably done better by other pedals.[/quote]

IME G&Ls tend to have quite a gritty tone and it can be quite aggressive; but it sits well in most mixes.
You can dial it out on an L series or an Asat (same think in Tele-type body) - just go passive and leave the pup phase in series rather than parallel.

These basses do occupy a lot of Fender-oid territoy sound-wise like P, J and Ray; but don't hit any of them on the head. If you like any of those territories tho you'll love the G&L Lseries or Asat.

Catalinbread SFT = Ampeg in a box, clean, Hair or dirt and more...and it's not an amp modeller; just a great valvey drive.

I've had a '78 Bassman 135 for the last 10 years and it is a truly fantastic bass amp. When I bought I was strongly urged by various people to get the 3 EQ 135 amp as it has more headroom. The beuaty of this amp is that you can drive it very hard indeed and it still sounds so sweet.

If you really want it a bit more gritty, you can jump the two channels with a patch lead to use both sides od the pre-amp tubes.

I agree that the cabs are weak though. I have the vertical 2x15 cab loaded with some nice tight high end Emminence speakers. I completely rebuilt and strengthened the cab before reloading it. All the seams are now lined with extra wood and glued and screwed. The baffles are braced back to front across the waist of the cab too. Now it weighs a ton and sounds absolutely incredible.

This rig cost me not much more than £500 all in and nocks the crap out of everything going. I honestly mean it, it gives a truly great bass sound. Many unknown punters at gigs over the years have noticed how good the bass sounds and asked me how to get such a good full, warm, clear, punchy yet gentle and allround dynamic bass sound.

So my recommendation is pick up a Bassman 135 and an old cab and you will never look back, if you don't mind doing a bit of work on the cab.

Now I've got a Catalinbread SFT to drive the amp front end with too and this has opened up even more versatile and scrumptious crunchy tones.

hi
can you tell me what the difference in sound is of the Russian Bass Balls compared to the US one?
ta

yeah the Mammoth is horribly expensive; but IME nothing touches it for synthy gated fuzz and it is equally delicous with the gate and synthyness rolled off. Yeah, I know it doesn't like active....so shouldn't everyone have a P Bass somewhere in their arsenal, even a budget one or maybe a clone?

I've got the Mastotron too and it is a great pedal for the money, very versatile and covers quite a good impression of a Mammoth too.

I GAS for a Pickle Pie B and a silicon Assmaster, wouldn't mind a tasty Muff too.
Would love to try The Goose as well, that sounds very synthy on demos and has some nice features.

The only other dirt I use is a Catalinbread SFT and that is truly I great pedal too IMO.

However, if i could only take one dirt pedal to a desert island, i wouldn't even blink before choosing the Mammoth.
If you get one and learn how to get the most out of it, you'll find it really is worth the money. If it's too expensive new, look out for a used one on TB, they come up for a reasonable price from time to time.





; but if I couldn't only take one to a desert islan

PM'd re Geirge Ls

mine just arrived last week too and what a tasty pedal the SFT is.
As you say, it oes exactly what all the reviews said - tube bounce, subtle hair or full dirt, very EQable, a lot like an Ampeg fliptop or at higher gain settings like a big Ampeg valve head with loads of punch.
I've even been using it for recording direct into board - didn't bother taking my Bassman amp/cab.
It is nicer thru the Bassman; but sitting in a recording I really don't think anyone would know that I wasn't using a nice tube amp.
this pedal is very much worth the money IMO