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Dawghouse88 · Aug 18, 2026

Another week, another Master Effects demo video:
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Tj smith · Aug 18, 2026

The rescue turd showed up yesterday. Turns out that it’s a stealth hh. I think I’m gonna get the headstock off and then paint it flat black.

Jay Corwin · Aug 18, 2026

I accidentally started an original alt-rock/punkish kind of band about about a year and half ago. I'm 48 years old. What was suppose to start as a cover band (the other two guys sucked at covers) turned when the guitar player showed me some of his originals (he's in his 50's). There was some decent stuff in there, albeit needed some polish. So we started getting together twice a month and working on songs. I never thought we would find a drummer, but we did, and it turned out that he was about my age - and was looking for something like we were doing. He's quite good, and things started to fall together rather quickly with a solid drummer on board.

As it turns out, I still have that creative itch that I had even as a teen writing songs and playing original music. Also, I'm much better at it now having played continuously in bands for over 30 years straight. I'm just enjoying the experience again. If we play out or not...great. If we record or not....great. If we live as the best band to never the leave the basement, that's fine with me too. I have options for plenty of other gigs either way.

My biggest problem is time. I'll have an idea pop into my head, go grab an instrument and write in a flurry, then not be able to get back to it for days or sometimes even a week. All of those domestic duties, work things, and family obligations leave less time than I would like for music. Plus I have to rehearse for my other bands/projects.

claudel · Aug 18, 2026

ATM I'm back with wallwarts /power strip and the associated rat's nest of too long DC wires, which is aesthetically unpleasing but nice and quiet.

Running it all off a power brick is a nice thought, I'll probably revisit at some point but I'm not gonna be playing anywhere without a wall plug any time soon...

bass player 53 · Aug 18, 2026

12BitSlab said:
Are there any recommendations for books about jazz composition? I am most comfortable with styles best described as standards, swing, or ballads.

I have composed multiple songs already and I think I need to learn more in order to keep progressing. I have a better than average knowledge of theory and harmony but I am not at the level of someone who has a music degree.

I would prefer hard copy/paperback, but would go with ebook format if needed.

If you’re at all interested in jazz arranging, there’s an excellent, now classic book by Chuck Israels. He has a newly released book too. He’s a former Bill Evans bassist extraordinaire.

Ed Byrnes · Aug 18, 2026

multimoto72 said:
Thanks! Do you daisy chain the cabs or go into both 2 ohm inputs in the head? Preference?

Thx!!

Sorry, my previous response was in error...I was thinking of my SVT210s...the 212s are very stable when stacked and I usually daisy chain them.

staccatogrowl · Aug 18, 2026

Mesa, hands down. Current production, excellent quality and design, wide availability, strong warranty, available parts, many authorized service centers if needed, factory support, light, excellent sound, many satisfied users, superior resale potential. Standard Mesa emoji

DNA (Dead Not Alive). Pretty much opposite the list above. DNA :dead:

DNS (Did Not Survive). Ditto DNA :dead:

crazycloud · Aug 18, 2026

MBuck said:
What can you tell me about playability, the feeling of that thin neck, etc.

It's typical SR, so I think it's great. Whether you will or not, I don't know.
The bass has excellent specs and will be to the typical high MIJ standards.

MBuck said:
As someone who has cut his teeth on P-basses (with a J-bass neck), how will the adjustment be (sound-wise and playing-wise).

I know I will like it, but I don't like FSOs and find them uncomfortable.
I have lots of SR experience, but none with those PUs so I don't know if you'll like them or not, not how they'll play with flats (I don't use them ). I have a mental note that the DX5 PUs are EMG40 sized, but don't quote me on that. Making the comment because I recall looking at another similar model with these some time back and thinking if I didn't like the originals, I could swap them out for EMGs, which I do like a lot.

Sorry not to be much help, but it's not a common bass. It's going to be a good bass though, and I'd snatch it up if it were local to me.

https://ibanez.fandom.com/wiki/SR745

andare · Aug 18, 2026

I'll just repeat my suggestion because it's the only way to have the muting effect without intonation issues regardless of the string gauge:

Angle the foam strip so it follows the angle of the saddles, and place it so it touches the strings just ahead of the saddles. I promise this will either have zero effect on the intonation or it will make all strings equally sharper by a tiny bit, which you can fix by pulling back the saddles just a tiny bit.

Out.

flixbass · Aug 18, 2026

They bow fine. If you can bow gut strings. Shifting feels pleasant, because the surface is very smooth. Be careful with white bow hairs though, the colour bleeds a bit. For me, a downside is, that they are only available as D and G. I prefer plain gut A. Lets see, if Aquila answers my request for a plain A someday....
FWIW, i use Nyman and a Carbow naturbow.

Les Fret · Aug 18, 2026

I have.

Ricky Rioli · Aug 18, 2026

Jens Telemark said:
Your calliper is probably accurate but I’d check it with a feeler gauge just to be 100% certain. It’d be interesting to know what different companies consider acceptable +/- tolerances.

I looked at the tolerances for calipers for this kind of thing and discovered that to get a useful guaranteed accuracy I'd have to pay way more than idle curiosity warranted. If I got 42 62 82 102 I'd think that the callipers were at least decently consistent, but in future either I'd be knocking .002 off every measurement, or adding .003.

multimoto72 · Aug 17, 2026

deepestend · Aug 17, 2026

That said... the joshwah is maybe my favorite. Dang, now it's in my head again.

lowplaces · Aug 17, 2026

I just found out the 15 in my KB15 is 6 ohms. Figured it was 4 or 8 ohm.

5StringBlues · Aug 17, 2026

Dipstick extraordinaire

deepestend · Aug 17, 2026

Boy_Narf said:
Recent faves:

-----

- BB Preamp 1.5, compared to the Blumes, sounds dull and woofy both 9 and 18v.

- BlowerBox, compared to the Blumes, muddy and overly compressed, not enough range on the top end or gain knob, it's either not enough or way too much, even at 18v. Also missing that mid range punch that the Blumes has.

- Amptweaker Bass Blues Fuzz Jr, compared to the Blumes, it's smooth, and even running at max gain, it's still pretty tame, can't get the attack, top end bite, or mid punch of the Blumes, even with the mid knob cranked.

- Scorpion, incredible attack and clarity, prob the best I've ever tried, but I never got along with the EQ. Found myself constantly fiddling instead of playing. The Blumes has that same attack and clarity, but goes from cleanish boost to all out fuzz without any drama. Don't even need to touch the EQ, sounds perfect for me at noon on each of the settings.

-----

The Blumes has soo many tones inside. I can basically replicate/replace all of these pedals but with more clarity, MUCH more top end chunk, and a simple set & forget EQ. I don't usually find myself jumping between different modes on pedals, I like to pick one and live there. With the Blumes they all sound great and different enough to be useful.

It also cleans up very well with the volume knob and sounds great with with my SS and tube rig. Can't say the same for the others.

Truly shocked. I've had a BB preamp for wow.... probably 20 years now, few versions of the first one, and got the new one right when it launched. Really can't believe how good the Blumes is. Immediately knocked the BB Pre and Blower off my board, wild.

It has a fairly transparent EQ curve (can set it to 100% transparent switching on and off) but simultaneously clears up the muddy low mids on both my amps. Fantastic!!!

Excited to try this out with my guitar rig as well. Lotta folks have been saying how great it is for both bass and guitar.

I never could get the scorpion where I wanted it either. Loved a lot about it, but just couldn't keep it.

Element Zero · Aug 17, 2026

Don’t even have HBO lol and not a chance me or my wife would be looking this show up

Snaxster · Aug 17, 2026

sunbeast said:
Stupid question maybe, but I assume you have the Output Mode on Stereo by pressing the footswtich and turning the Regen knob full-clockwise? I didn't see you mention that step

Thanks for asking. Not a stupid question. (Certainly not coming from you!)

Yes, I did have that set. But I believe it to be irrelevant to 1. whether stereo audio is being output or not, 2. whether true stereo input is presented in place in output, and 3. via what cable(s).

To my understanding, that setting governs only how grains are distributed in the audio field, not those three items above.

Rossmallow · Aug 17, 2026

Igotsoul4u said:
Me to. I can only find decals.

I know. There's got to be someone who does engraving. I don't really want a decal.

If anyone does or knows of someone who does engraving, let us know!

agedhorse · Aug 17, 2026

RonSound said:
I have a chance to buy one of these Peavey Blue Marvel speakers locally and was wondering if it would be fine for bass use in a Hartke 1-15 cab.

Specs link

My other option is an Eminence Kappa 15".

Depends on the cabinet tuning, my experience suggests that the original Hartke driver will perform better in that box.

Also note that the Blue Marvel is ~300 watt rms driver, maybe less mechanically. It was not all that successful and was discontinued.
There’s more to bass speaker performance than stuffing a driver into a box.

werepossum · Aug 17, 2026

Victor is the coolest dude. Did not know he's here in Tennessee.

73_Blazer · Aug 17, 2026

Mine came in the mailbox today. I haven’t had a chance to set it up yet.

I plan on just using this into the subway preamp and then into the Mesa Walkabout for now. If that doesn’t sound good, Then I have bigger problems to worry about.

Krisfield · Aug 17, 2026

This is the Tone Guide of the Model P. It has the high mid dump, and when you send the signal through something like a Tube Screamer, you get guitar like OD and distortion. The high mid dump is great for cutting through the mix. I like the low end as well which to me sounds tight and focused, and with a boost about 80hz you get fat and punchy tones.

FenderP · Aug 17, 2026

Johno Dunn said:
Keep firing it up and see if it repeats the problem.

Oh I know. Did it a few times today.

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