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EBMM Gamechanger??

#61
Cool idea and engineering for sure, but the tonal differences are pretty subtle from what I've heard in the videos -- it's not like a keyboard, for example, where the banks of sounds are really unique (piano to sax to snare drum, etc.). Of course I'm going the other way these days with a passive P or J and flats. I can't imagine needing more tonal versatility than my (non-gamchanger equipped) Big Al SSS already gives me, though, and I really prefer single H Musicmans when I play them anyway.
 
#62
king_biscuit said:
Cool idea and engineering for sure, but the tonal differences are pretty subtle from what I've heard in the videos -- it's not like a keyboard, for example, where the banks of sounds are really unique (piano to sax to snare drum, etc.). Of course I'm going the other way these days with a passive P or J and flats. I can't imagine needing more tonal versatility than my (non-gamchanger equipped) Big Al SSS already gives me, though, and I really prefer single H Musicmans when I play them anyway.
Click to expand...

I'm with you on the Big Al for sure. I haven't been a fan of most of the HH basses they've produced, but give the Reflex a chance when you can, I think its the best HH they make by far.
 
#64
I could see this being big news for guitar players, but for bass, well for me personally I don't see this changing anything. My recording days are behind me now and I play mainly live. 3-4 tones at the most is all I ever need - all of which can be accomplished with eq or an effect pedal, both of which this doesn't do. Having endless pickup configurations just doesn't seem to have much application in the live sound world. How much of it would even make it's way into the mix?

For me the biggest game changer in the 20+ years I've been playing is the advent of neodymium speakers and class D micro amps.
 
#68
cybersnyder said:
I guess my biggest concern is it being future proof. If I bought one today will I be able to program it 15 years from now? Do I need to keep that old 2010 iPad around and hope its battery still works. That's one reason that I liked the Variax bass. You could do all the programming on the instrument itself.
Click to expand...

No special hardware is necessary to "programm" the GC. It has a USB connector and you will be able to save new pickup configurations via web interface. So a simple web browser is needed :)
 
#70
Mark Latimour said:
That got me thinking, are instrumnet manufacturers generally using the "optimum" configurations and will this just let you mess with the ones that don't really work as well, or are their combinations that just arn't making it onto mainstream instruments that are as good as the one's most makers use?
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I think both is true. The out of phase wiring is quite common on the guitar side, but besides the Music Man Sabre and some g+l stuff it was not really featured in production models on bass. But you can get very usefull sounds. Maybe some 70ies Japanese models had something like that.

This said I think the manufacturers did not want to take a risk, so they chose the traditional combinations and wirings and had the costs in mind.
And the GC is not about emulating a P bass, but about developing your own tone if you want.

The thing is you never had the chance to get all the different possibilities of signal routing in a single bass or guitar, but had to do soldering anytime. And it does not mean you have to burn your P with flats right away.

I believe there are some sounds we all would have wanted if we knew they were there....
 
#71
RedLeg said:
that sucks.they should make it fully programable like an FX processor. give it 32 or something programmable slots that affect eq, vol, pickup config, etc. all aspects.
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This is exactly what it should not be. A digital effects unit. It might be a midi control interface and control your midi effects, but this is more for the skinny stringers as well.

OT: You live in Wiesbaden? Me too. Do I know you?
 
#74
I was able to spend a little time at the enormous MM booth at NAMM and actually got my grubby little mitts on the Reflex with the upgrade. I did not play with the Gamechanger software, although I watched the demos - plus Steve Morse and Dave LaRue playing...

The bass itself was a fiver, and I'm a four banger type. It felt good, and sounded excellent through headphones into the SVT emulator they were running it through. The software means that you can virtually rewire the bass's HH p'ups PLUS change the EQ and save it to whichever setting you like. If you want to have the middle setting mean "front H, active, dialed to flat" you can.

This means you can hit a switch on the fly and have exactly the sound you want, rather than fiddling. If you want to fiddle with EQ there are push buttons for series/parallel, neck and bridge p'up, active/passive. When you are in active mode there are stacked pots for high mid/low mid and treble/bass with boost/cut. If you are in passive mode, there is a 'tone' pot with cut only. Plus, a master volume. All told, it's a very versatile and great sounding bass. The software is just a bonus. I also like the design (but the buttons etc. are a little cluttered).

For the P bass guys, it's not going to be your cup of tea (but don't be upset when someone dials in a nuts-on P bass sound on one). For the MM players, it just adds even more flexibility to the basses you already love.

I'd rock a four-banger if I could afford one.
 
#75
I have watched most of the video's regarding the Game-Changer at the MusicMan site.

My thoughts:
1) I can see this being a huge tool for guitar players. When you are writing songs and are playing out your ideas, you can immediately change your sound and experiment.
2) For me, a lot of the bass changes were very subtle (maybe because of my computer speakers). But, with some many combinations, it might be fun to experiment.
3) I was very interested in the possibility of pro-musicians (Dave LaRue) sharing their GC settings that they use on songs (assuming they use the GC bass for recording).
Imagine - If Geddy begins to use a GC on his albums and provides his GC settings, I can get that Geddy tone (or at least get closer than I ever had).

Separately, I agree that they need to offer a Steve Morse road-worn guitar based on his main guitar.
 
#76
I've been watching all of EB's videos for the Gamechanger system and reading these TB posts... I decided I HAD to have one for the last few days.

But, then I thought about it... It is a cool innovation & I think it's great they managed to stay 100% analog with the audio path- still,... I don't think I need 8.2 million tones! I need about 3, and like to use maybe a dozen! I could never keep track of more than say, 4 or 5 presets.

Plus, I like switching to different instruments for different tones. The feel of the instrument changes how you play in a sub-conscious and organic way. Just dialing in a "P-Bass" tonal setting won't inspire you to actually play like you're holding a p-bass!

All that aside, I still think this is a cool innovation, even if I doubt it's going to change many peoples 'game'. I cant wait to try one out in the near future!
 
#77
ThudThudThud said:
For the P bass guys, it's not going to be your cup of tea (but don't be upset when someone dials in a nuts-on P bass sound on one). For the MM players, it just adds even more flexibility to the basses you already love.
Click to expand...

I'd be pretty surprised! I have a Big Al that can sound like a P bass too, until you actually put it side by side with a real Fender Precision -- that middle pickup in the Big Al is sort of in the correct pickup location too. With the Reflex, the placement (not even as correct as the middle pickup of a Big Al) and type (ceramic humbucker) of pickup are going to preclude it from really nailing a P bass tone.
 

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