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captainofsmooth · Jul 10, 2026

Just an update- I reached out to Allparts on a whim (they own Badass now) to see if they could offer any insight. They replied within minutes. The rep said it was super intriguing and that he’d reach out to one of his managers who was with Badass in the 80’s and might know something. Got a response about 24 hours later. Didn’t get much more info than I already had, but enough to send me down another rabbit hole of research into Leo Quan’s signature models haha. Can’t seem to find any pics of the Green logo anywhere online either.

modulusan · Jul 10, 2026

otto B said:
I highly recommend the iAmp500, I used it for my VL210 and VL110. I am about to sale mine if interested. It's close to being mint condition

otto B said:
Dm sent otro.thanks

Salicete · Jul 10, 2026

Though I am hesitant to resurrect this thread, I will just say, without naysaying anyone who posted on this back in 2009, with regard to any negative experiences, my recent experience was the polar opposite.

I bought the bass I posted about earlier, and found Josh to be nearly instantly assessable, responsive and super easygoing.

The bass arrived lightning fast, and any concerns I may have had were erased the second I extracted it from the package. No, I have not given it a "complete" workout, but I plugged into a Blueline SVT rig, and it was like nothing else I have, in a good way.

Fit, finish and fretwork are perfect, zero buzz, no rough spots, zero gaps. This was built by someone who knows what he is doing. I'll bet you right now that this is not the last Helms bass that will end up in my hands.

Thanks, Josh.

Once I get to run it through all my rigs, and play with my fellow geezers, and get a fully informed feel for it, I'll post a more complete review under the NBD threads, but no BS, there was positively nothing that was remotely negative that was previously posted that I found that matches my recent experience. If he offers something new, you can buy with confidence.

That is my opinion and I'm stickin to it. This is art you can play.

JP

brennanmcnally · Jul 10, 2026

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Just in case anyone in the future is trying to figure out if the 20% More is usable on bass. Love mine.

Bonecat · Jul 10, 2026

When I met him he was playing a fretless Warwick…

Kitsapbass · Jul 10, 2026

I tend to have a #1. Currently it’s my Spector Legend 5. Much less about the dollar amount and more about what and how it inspires me to play. I still love my other basses - but if I had to pick my current favorite, it’s absolutely that bass.

That said, if it’s the “house on fire and I can only save one” bass….it would probably be my Warmoth P bass that I’ve basically rebuilt from splinters lol - and that’s because I’ve spent my heart and soul on making her perfect for me. With the group I’m playing with though - they do enough songs with a low B that a 5 is required, which is why I’d say the Spector is #1 by a hair’s breadth.

Solipsistik · Jul 10, 2026

MrVanimal said:
am usually not a fan of satin finishes as I don't like how they buff gloss. After 6 years with yours how much has it glossed up?

Mine has a bit of wear on it, and has buffed a bit gloss right where I've been wresting my wrist or thumb depending on my plucking method. It's held up well but definitely not as well as the natural finish on my Warwick. It has a slight darkening in roughly the same place.

But given that I've seen many instruments with far more wear on them, I don't think it's bad at all.

learning_towalk · Jul 10, 2026

urkel3000 said:
Man I really want a fenderbird

These Fralins were custom made for McGrath. Under the covers are reverse split singles.

So it’s the best of all worlds ha ha. Reverse noiseless split single coils mounted in t-bird covers.

MonetBass · Jul 10, 2026

RIP, Keith.

Jack · Jul 10, 2026

Old thread but I'm looking at these. Can't decide between the 76mm and 100mm. I have one 4" strap and it's a little too wide, but it does make basses feel lighter. Are the 76mm ones enough?

agedhorse · Jul 10, 2026

borgward said:
would a complete set be compatible with that cabinet?

Maybe, don’t know without doing the math, but the cabinet sensitivity would end up about 4 or 5 dB lower which would require about 2-1/2 times the power to achieve the same volume.

Prodigus Filius · Jul 10, 2026

Heard about her passing. Instantly recognisable voice. RIP

HowieD72 · Jul 10, 2026

New Year BUMP!

walterw · Jul 10, 2026

that's certainly my preference! if you want to go back to the "old" sound just nudge your 500k audio tone down to about "6"

you'll want to use linear volumes, otherwise they drop off really fast from "10"

otto B · Jul 9, 2026

I appreciate all the feedback.

Skokiaan · Jul 9, 2026

The Iso-Brick did the trick. Thanks everyone.

Jazzdogg · Jul 9, 2026

Don Hergert said:
I've recently been struck by how huge of a difference location inside a venue makes in the sound of a double bass. In a few practicing, jamming and stage situations I've begun to notice how subtle differences in various locations inside the same venue can make a huge difference in volume, clarity and tone. Again, I'm talking about the same venues, just different locations inside those venues. The venues may be generally thought of as relatively dead or relatively live, but being in a different location inside that venue can bring about a noticeable improvement or degradation in how the double bass sounds.

For me, the best example of this was last week as I was at a festival in a large -- 400 seat capacity -- nearly empty low-ceiling meeting hall with about 20 other musicians and their instruments, having a group picture taken of us all... This room was used for jamming, workshops and as a backup stage in case of bad weather. Initially we were in the middle of the hall and the sound was dead, like a vacuum had sucked all the sound away...

Then the photographer had us all move with our backs close to a wall where reflective lighting would improve his shots. Within 2 to 3 feet of that wall, the sound was crazy alive -- I could hear my double bass with remarkable volume and clarity that I had not experienced in the rest of the room.

I've experimented around my house and found the same thing. Playing close and with the back of my double bass to a completely unoccluded wall sounded like I was playing into a microphone and sound system.

Most of my playing double bass is in jams without amps or mics, and generally I do not get complaints about volume, tone or clarity. But it isn't unusual for me to not hear myself while playing as well as I would like to. Interestingly about a year ago in a jam inside an enclosed patio I situated myself against a back wall and I recall that I had remarkable volume that I could hear myself -- I now think this was that unoccluded wall effect.

Venues don't always provide the ability to move around and select where we want to play, but playing with my back against an unoccluded wall -- or in a corner of two such walls -- is now my most desired location.

Have others here found this to be true???

Yes. In spades! It was under such circumstances that I first learned the value of a variable high-pass filter as a bassist.

A few years ago, I was wearing a ball cap with a large bill, tipped back casually on my head, and I was surprised at the way it effected my perception of sounds; as I rotated my head or walked around, the bill worked like a dish antenna, directing certain sounds toward my ears, like continually variable EQ. By the way, the shifting of hearing perception was remarkably different when facing into an inside corner indoors than when outdoors in open air. Recently, when I was having trouble with my hearing aids, I remembered hat-brim-acoustics and deliberately oriented my hat brim to make it easier to hear a family conversations.

I find Acoustics and Psychoacoustics fascinating!

kleinduimpje66 · Jul 9, 2026

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I like this original version a lot better than Sinead O’Connor’s cover which became a worldwide hit.
Prince’s demo, released posthumously, is the original to this original I guess.

Bill Whitehurst · Jul 9, 2026

FilterFunk · Jul 9, 2026

"Blitzkrieg Bop", Kidz Bop style.

It doesn't surprise me to hear any popular music that isn't riddled with overt violence, profanity and/or sexual innuendo get the kid's music treatment.

JBarz · Jul 9, 2026

This is easily one of the coolest and most humbling things I’ve ever seen on the internet. Well done, Tetsu - thank you!

Andy Marshman · Jul 9, 2026

Like others have said - not an Idol, but a major influence - Duck Dunn.

DionClassic · Jul 9, 2026

andare said:
This is exactly why nobody should make recommendations based on personal preferences.
The RW 50s has a thickness of 0.82" at the 1st fret, which is not super thin at all by Fender standards. The Vintera 60s vintage reissues measure way less at around 0.79", or maybe less, and it's quite noticeable.
The profile also contributes to the feel. C profiles have sloping shoulders so those necks feel slimmer.

In addition to that, some necks keep a similar thickness through their length while others, like my Vintera II 60s, taper out from 0.79" at the 1st to a full inch at the 12th fret. That's deeper than some.

I have a 93 MIJ PB62 that is .82" at the 1st fret but the profile is oval with full shoulders and it feels chunkier there than the RW 50s.

I had a 50s road worn from 2009-10 so maybe they are different. Way thinner at the first fret than any of the AVRI ones I ever played by a long shot.

dbsfgyd1 · Jul 9, 2026

ashtray said:
I usually play Fenders (or Fender style basses), not “only”. But most of my basses have a pickup in the middle area (P bass, 44-01, etc) that I anchor off. Also, this thread is 11 years old. I bought the Zero Mod for the Stingray, and it worked great. I sold the bass to a friend many years ago.

I anchor on my PB as well…had no clue about the threat being 11 years old. Sorry for bringing up old cud.

lark_z · Jul 9, 2026

Apologies for resurrecting an old thread but I had a bit of data to add....

2020 Squier Affinity Precision - 1st Fret thickness =22 mm (0.85"), 1st fret width = 41 mm (1 5/8")
1990's Yamaha RBX - 1st Fret thickness =22 mm (0.85"), 1st fret width = 41 mm (1 5/8")

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