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The classic vibe series is fantastic and I highly recommend it. I have the five string J bass version that I got a few years ago before they raised the prices on them, and it reminds me a lot of the old mexican J bass I that I had as a teenager. Everyting sounded great even without changing the pickups but I swapped them out for some quarter pounders. If you want to learn bass it's a perfect instrument. I believe that you can even use it at intermediate/pro levels as with some TLC it can play like instruments that cost double the price, and with some small modifications it sounds just as good as instruments far above the price point. If you don't believe me then hear for yourself, everything on my soundcloud is recorded with a classic vibe squier jazz five string https://soundcloud.com/lfranco321
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Jul 25, 2020 23:12
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I also have that CV 5 string j. I got it recently, it was ok out of the box and it is great after a basic setup.
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Jul 25, 2020 23:30
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tarlibone posted:The Vox Amplugs are fine. Anyone who complains that they are hissy and don't sound good is probably also the kind of person who pulls the patty off of a McDonalds hamburger (the basic, small one), puts it on a plate, eats it with a knife and fork, and complains that it's not the nicest steak that he's ever eaten. I dunno I had pretty low expectations and I even do most of my guitar playing with cheap headphones already, but even then I was surprised how disappointing my ac30 amplug is. Not because of any hissing or noise or whatever, but it totally murders all the character of the guitar I plug into it from like inherently bad EQ or something. Maybe if I went with a different one the higher distortion would help mask some of that but as is I don't really use it
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Jul 25, 2020 23:40
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it is a tiny little box you plug into your guitar, like a tiny practice amp compared to a big ac30 amp. it’s not going to sound amazing, and it’s confusing that people expect it to mine does exactly what i expect. it’s a little thing i don’t need a cable for, that gives me an amplified signal to practice with. it’s a slight step up from playing unamped, and nothing more
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Jul 25, 2020 23:44
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I guess that's the point I'm getting at, I don't really use it cause to me it sounds worse than just playing it unplugged. I guess it would be useful if I had some songs where I needed to practice muting strings/noise control but otherwise I just dislike it. Very anecdotal experience though I could just have one that's lovely in a different way than other peoples' are
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Jul 26, 2020 00:05
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One downside of Amplugs - they eat through batteries like a motherfucker. If you're on the fence about getting an interface anyway, they are useful for guitar and for bass. Get a SM57 mic and you can use the interface to record your guitar amp at pretty solid quality, and can use it to play bass with headphones (and record bass direct)
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Jul 26, 2020 00:35
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i keep two spare rechargeables ready to go
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Jul 26, 2020 01:24
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cross-posting from the guitar thread to ruthlessly own the amplug defendersDang It Bhabhi! posted:A quick glance over the Vox Amplug schematic and I noticed they are using some (NJM062 and NJM2100) op-amps that have 2.5x the noise of the conventional TL07x series that is the standard today. Considering they have 4 of these gain stages in a row the noise might add up to what you are experiencing. additionally, theres a lot more variation in these (and other) electrical components than you might expect its very possible that some people end up with a legit practice-tool that's well worth the small price tag, while others end up with something that sucks
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Jul 26, 2020 01:55
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Thanks! You've all been super helpful, I appreciate it.
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Jul 26, 2020 02:58
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ngl the idea of modding this gets me a little hot n bothered
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Jul 26, 2020 03:03
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Lol poo poo I was the one who bitched about amplugs in the guitar thread didn't know it spread over to the bass one too. My current guess is I got the short end of the quality control stick as the tone dial is useless. It adjusts tone just fine but also adjusts hiss from tolerable to standing next to loud radio tuned to static. Quite distracting when I am trying to hear what I am playing. I keep eyeing it up on whether to take it apart, but I can't tell if its a glued together or snap together case. The is a screw in the battery compartment that's a tease though. Until then I guess I'll just deal with my bass sounding a bit muddy through it which is a shame because I was able to dial it in pretty close in sound to my full size amp, except for you know, loud hissing.
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Jul 26, 2020 03:39
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On the opposite end of the headphone practice spectrum, I’m thinking of going for something like the Darkglass Element once it gets some non-sponsored reviews. Are there any similar products I should be looking at? I like the idea of being able to plug in and quickly set up a Bluetooth connection to play along with (if no Bluetooth a line in should be ok too), I have enough pedals for preamp purposes already.
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Jul 27, 2020 04:43
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If you need a headphone amp with a cab sim and aux in: AMT Chameleon DSM OmniCabsim Deluxe If you don't really need the cab sim, there are plenty of options. I'd just get a cheap Zoom multi-fx (B1on, B1 Four). Fierce Brosnan fucked around with this message at 13:13 on Jul 27, 2020 |
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Jul 27, 2020 12:58
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Everyone is pretty spot on about the Vox Amplug so far, but I wanted to throw my experience in the ring too. I'm mostly happy with mine, I primarily use it when I've got an overnight road gig and want to practice in the hotel or wherever. The only problem with mine is that the Aux input only has sound going to my left ear, regardless of different aux cords, headphones, etc. So something got hosed up in the jack itself.
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Jul 28, 2020 16:18
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I plugged mine into my bass and yeah it’s pretty hissy. But it also gives me a nice bass tone out of the gate. Haven’t figured out how to make my THR10 give out a nice tone, also with headphones
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Jul 29, 2020 00:19
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Fiddling with the pickups on my upright, and wondering if there’s a good way to blend the signals from the actual pickup (which transmits musical sounds) and the clicky (which amplifies me/the strings hitting the fingerboard) via a pedal. Right now, I have to use separate cables and it annoys me, and so is there anyone with experience in this kind of setup? Mostly want to reduce clutter/let myself use amps that don’t have two inputs. I think a Y-cable would work, but I figure checking if anyone had experience in this. It’s the standard rockabilly/psychobilly setup for pickups, but I’ve found contradictory advice searching the net and don’t want to harm my pickup.
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Jul 30, 2020 01:10
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Anyone got a suggestion for a cheap short scale? My T-Rex arms are doing ok so far but I think I’d enjoy it more.
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Jul 30, 2020 06:23
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Rhymenoserous posted:Anyone got a suggestion for a cheap short scale? My T-Rex arms are doing ok so far but I think I’d enjoy it more. the squier bronco is great a friend suggested it to me, so i got it. the pickup is sort of weak, but it sounded good to me ended up selling it to a friend and trying to make it work with a 34" p bass
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Jul 30, 2020 06:49
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Most all violin-basses are short scale aren't they? It's not the most versatile tone, but they're super easy to play if you have short arms or, like me, smaller hands. Also do you have a number for your budget? "Cheap" can be a bit subjective. In the $200+ range you've also got: Epiphone EB-0 Epiphone EB-3 Epiphone Rumblekat Squier Classic Vibe Jaguar (it's 32" scale, so not AS short as the others, but still shorter scale than standard) Also, and this is a question to everyone, but does Rondo still turn out decent-for-the-price instruments? Wouldn't hurt to check out RondoMusic dot com and see what they've got.
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Jul 30, 2020 15:51
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There's also a sterling stingray short scale for $550.
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Jul 30, 2020 16:57
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Ibanez TMB30 seems like a solid retro-looking option edit: also Gretsch G2220 Fierce Brosnan fucked around with this message at 17:13 on Jul 30, 2020 |
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Jul 30, 2020 17:09
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Fierce Brosnan posted:Ibanez TMB30 i got this TMB30 recommendation too, didn't end up buying it tho the Ibanez GSRM20 (mikro bass) was also suggested to me. 28.6" scale!
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Jul 30, 2020 17:43
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I liked the tmb30 but the neck on the stingray bass felt the best out of all that I tried. If I ever get another bass I'd probably get that classic vibe jaguar
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Jul 30, 2020 18:34
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There might be full scale options. If the issue is that the end of the neck is too far, some basses have the bridge and leg rest positioned differently and may help with lower fret access. I'd try other shaped instruments in addition to shorter scale instruments. Then just buy a Stanley Clarke signature Alembic.
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Jul 30, 2020 18:51
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My bass is a short scale, gretsch jet Jr. It's great, very fun to play.
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Jul 31, 2020 14:18
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Preggo My Eggo! posted:There's also a sterling stingray short scale for $550. get this. I wanted to recommend sub musicman by sterling bass for the person wanting a good first bass. I'm still in love with mine.
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Jul 31, 2020 14:26
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Here is my dream bass of all time. This belonged to Kevin Rutmanis, bassist for The Cows and later, The Melvins. It's a custom built clone of a Dano Longhorn, but to full scale. Love that sleezy orange sparkle. His style was he used a slide, so that weird rubbery sound fits with the look.
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Aug 4, 2020 13:09
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I like my amplug, but I dont play that much anymore. I have neighbours to worry about so I rarely play through an actual amp anymore My biggest problem is I keep walking into things and breaking them - I'm on my 3rd !
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Aug 7, 2020 00:01
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Speaking of breaking things, got drunk tonight and tried to set up my bass as a EADGB, with the expected result of my G string just flying off. For those who have tried this setup, got any particular strings to recommend?
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Aug 8, 2020 06:34
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Shageletic posted:Speaking of breaking things, got drunk tonight and tried to set up my bass as a EADGB, with the expected result of my G string just flying off. For those who have tried this setup, got any particular strings to recommend? Just get a high C and tune it down a half step
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Aug 8, 2020 06:43
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The Wiggly Wizard posted:Just get a high C and tune it down a half step In retrospect cant believe i didnt think of this
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Aug 8, 2020 15:56
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Shageletic posted:Speaking of breaking things, got drunk tonight and tried to set up my bass as a EADGB, with the expected result of my G string just flying off. For those who have tried this setup, got any particular strings to recommend? Not a 5 string, but one of my basses is set up EBEA. It sounds like drop D tuning, only pitched up a bit. The strings are .105, 70, 60, 40 and it feels really nice.
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Aug 8, 2020 16:42
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Shageletic posted:Speaking of breaking things, got drunk tonight and tried to set up my bass as a EADGB, with the expected result of my G string just flying off. For those who have tried this setup, got any particular strings to recommend? Get a Bass VI. Squier makes (or made?) a good version. It's short scale and a little floppy, but it's a guitar minus one octave, and it's hard to play and unwieldy and unnecessary and I love it I love it I love it. Or, there's always... The Wiggly Wizard posted:Just get a high C and tune it down a half step ... yeah, that also works and doesn't require the purchase of a new instrument.
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Aug 8, 2020 16:45
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Preggo My Eggo! posted:Not a 5 string, but one of my basses is set up EBEA. It sounds like drop D tuning, only pitched up a bit. The strings are .105, 70, 60, 40 and it feels really nice. Interesting, but why? (Not judging, just curious. I keep my only bass in C standard so I can play Dragonaut whenever I want...)
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Aug 8, 2020 17:37
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Elissimpark posted:Interesting, but why? Wow, I have the exact same reasoning behind keeping a bass set up in C standard.
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Aug 8, 2020 20:18
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I always keep at least one stringed instrument tuned to C cos it makes noodling on keyboard along with it soooo much easier. Except now my keyboard is an NI M32 which starts at... F  To be more bass focused, I recorded my friend playing guitar and it was up to me to supply the bass- I haven't properly written a bassline in yonks, it was so nice. I currently only have a five string and as the song was a thrash crossover thing in E the low B was ringing like a mofo so I applied some ingenuity (excuse the terrible photo):  The rizla pack ended up at the 14th fret eventually but combined with the wrap behind the nut did the DIY mute trick nicely
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Aug 8, 2020 22:53
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NonzeroCircle posted:I always keep at least one stringed instrument tuned to C cos it makes noodling on keyboard along with it soooo much easier. A trick I've been adopting is to use the low B string as much as possible when playing with a guitar in standard, which usually means that the bass is two octaves below the guitar part. It makes everything sound super heavy, give it a shot Edit; here's an example where I gently caress up and completely violate bass101 by not playing along with the kick drum but you get the idea https://soundcloud.com/lfranco321/ola-weekly-challenge-9 Spanish Manlove fucked around with this message at 23:02 on Aug 8, 2020 |
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Aug 8, 2020 22:59
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Nice! What guage do you use for that? My 130 gets all saggy at anything below A I did then rewrite the part anyway to make use of the fifth string in parts (lowest note was a C). I'm way too outta practice on bass to just string skip the poo poo out of the main riffs playing E at the fifth fret, something I need to address really. The main offender was a 16th note biddly biddly diminished thing so bouncing around the open E was definitely path of least resistance for that. Apparently the bassist in his usual band (also thrash crossover stuff) never ever plays above the fifth fret and string skips everything constantly, then wonders why the guitarists struggle when he writes techy stuff. I never noticed this before despite having watched them dozens of times and now I'm gonna be eyeballing the bassist next time I see them/they do another stream set. NonzeroCircle fucked around with this message at 23:15 on Aug 8, 2020 |
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Aug 8, 2020 23:10
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Spanish Manlove posted:A trick I've been adopting is to use the low B string as much as possible when playing with a guitar in standard, which usually means that the bass is two octaves below the guitar part. It makes everything sound super heavy, give it a shot
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Aug 8, 2020 23:24
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Elissimpark posted:Interesting, but why? Well one evening I was drunk, thought about playing in drop D but higher pitch, and bought some strings to see what it's like!
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Aug 9, 2020 04:58
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