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A.R.T. Nightbass - Any good?

Discussion in 'Effects [BG]' started by Mario Lewis, Oct 19, 2001.

  1. Oct 19, 2001 #1
    Mario Lewis

    Mario Lewis

    Jul 6, 2001
    Clinton, MD
    I see a number of these up for sale lately. IT's got to be the Kitchen sink of Bass FX units. Everything is there. In conjunction with the X-15 foot controller, I'd think it'd be O.K.

    Can anyone offer some opinions on it? I have heard that it sux as a preamp, but when used in the FX loop, seemd a bit more tame.

    One description of it I've read was:

    And now folks, the A.R.T. Nightbass SE..........
    WHIZZzzzzzzzz - STATICSTATICSTAIC-FUZZZZZZZ SHHHHHHHHHHHH- TIC TIC TIC- HUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM


    Thank you very much.
     
  2. Oct 23, 2001 #2
    pmkelly

    pmkelly

    Nov 28, 2000
    Kansas City, MO
    I have heard from some owners that they were really noisy, but not from everyone who has had one... I have an ART SGX-2000, which is very similar to the Nightbass, and I even used it as a preamp for a while. I did not think that the sgx was terribly noisy... I really liked the sgx, and now it occupies a space of honor in my studio, I really like all the effects...


    [email protected]
     
  3. Oct 23, 2001 #3
    Turock

    Turock

    Apr 30, 2000
    Melnibone
    I have had one since they first came out around '91. Still has the original preamp tube. Never had a problem with it. I think I gave a little over $900 for it. I have seen them go for much less on ebay. I have never considered it noisy, but I have seen reviews stating that they are. I gigged with it and a Hafler Pro5000 power amp for a few years, but I always used the more "normal" sounds ("Rickenfaker" and "Precision Tonight" settings). It has a ton of high quality effects. I also bought the midi foot controller, but never saw a need for it. It has been replaced in my rack by the Demeter. Mine is also in the studio, and I record with it a good bit.
     
  4. Oct 23, 2001 #4
    Donne Demarest

    Donne Demarest

    May 4, 2001
    Sebastopol, CA
    I was thinking about getting myself an ART Nightbass SE...

    ...Until I read a Bass Player Magazine review of Bass Preamps and ART had the worst rating of them all.

    A thousand varieties of effects, each more mediocre then the last.
     
  5. Oct 23, 2001 #5
    Ryan L.

    Ryan L. Moderator Staff Member Gold Supporting Member Supporting Member

    Aug 7, 2000
    West Fargo, ND
    I had one for awhile. I tried using it as a stand alone preamp with a Peavey CS800X power amp.

    I could never get a decent sound out of it. I probably could have, had I spent more time with it, as everything, and I mean everything, on it is tweakable.

    I thought it had a lot of pretty decent effects on it, though. The factory presets are more of the "see what this thing can do" type things, but if you take the time to program in your own, you can get a lot of cool sounds out of it, as far as effects go.

    If I find a good deal on another, I would consider buying one again, and this time run it through the effects loop on my SVT 4 Pro. Used as just an effects processor, I think it would be OK. As a stand-alone preamp, just so-so.
     
  6. Oct 23, 2001 #6
    JMX

    JMX Vorsprung durch Technik

    Sep 4, 2000
    Cologne, Germany
    The digital multi-fx unit is 10 years old, and it wasn't a pro level unit even back then.
    I would not buy it because of the effects unit, the preamp itself is still ok I guess.

    Integrated digital FX units always have the disadvantage that they're outdated very fast.

    I'd get a good preamp and a T.C. Electronic G-Major or G-Force - or something in that range.