Modeling Bass

Well, since not everybody has immediately run out and bought a V-Bass, I can't imagine everyone would suddenly run out and get a Variaxe bass, either. I don't think going from a floor unit with a pickup that you can put on your own bass to an integrated bass/modeller will really change anything much--you gain some portability at the expense of flexibility.

Speaking from experience, the modeled sounds are handy but it's not really a substitute for playing the real thing. For instance, you can get passible fretless and 8-string sorts of tones from the V-Bass, which are close enough to add some extra variety in a live band mix, but the experience of playing a fretted bass with the V-Bass fretless patch or the 8-string patch is very different from the experience of playing a fretless or an 8-string (or even a Rick or a Stingray or semi-hollow EB, for that matter). That's even more true with stuff like the upright patches...

My $.02,
Mike

PS: This doesn't mean that I don't think modeling will have an impact. It already has, and will probably have more of one in the future. But it's not going to "change everything", at least not in the near future.

 

Speaking as an owner of a VBass, I can safely say that I wouldn't buy a bass that had the modeling technology already installed. I'd much rather play the bass of my choice than be saddled with the one they have to offer. The build/design quality simply cannot approach the custom builders out there.

If the guitar designs are any indication.....blech.

I'll keep my VBass and the gigbag that I got for it...

 

Agree with bassmonkeee, I prefer the modelling to be in an external (upgradeable, replaceable, etc) box so I can choose a bass/guitar that feels and looks good, e.g. with a neck that suits me. Also, the Line6 guitar is IMHO one of the more cheep looking designs I've seen, wouldn't buy it myself becaused of looks alone.

 

I dunno about simulating fretless or anything....but I've been thinking of doing something similar. After buying a squier P bass or similar for ultra cheap in a pawn shop or something, I was thinking of hollowing it out and building a bunch of effects, then jamming them all in there and having a bass with a multitude of things to choose from. Almost the same idea, but it would all be analog, rather than digital...and have like 30 knobs and buttons sticking out of it.

It'd be wild, and would knock the socks off any line 6 guitar.

 

Kind of like those Danelectros right?

Sounds cool, but why not just buy a bunch of pedals? Or some external modeler?
(In reference to the topic AND Killdar's message.)

 

Hey, how 'bout just sticking a Bass POD to the front? Then you get effects modelling AND knobs and switches on your bass, without having to change a bunch of batteries all the time!



Mike

 

Id buy a varibass... I had the vbass and sold it, my guitar player has a variax and I like it.

 

As the owner of the VBass and the Line 6 Variax, I feel that neither will ever replace the real thing. They are good live tools, but in the studio, they will never be a replacement for the real thing. I still keep all my basses in the studio, and still am collecting different basses and amps for those different tones. Same holds true with the guitars. While the Variax does a good job at the simulations, it is definitely a live tool. Nothing will ever replace the real thing.

(I hope this post was coherent. I've written it while working and helping ignorant customers )

 

Where do you get these toys?

 

that answer any questions?

As well as the distortion, flange, reverb and whatnot, I'd add a wah.... I'd put the pedal under the forearm...that'd be cool! and some sort of frequency bending/octave-ing tremolo thing too if I could.

There's the plan....now I need a bass, some schematics, and tons of parts...and I'll be all set!

 

Yea! And you can get a tremelo arm to rock the treadle to bend notes! Wait a minute...

Okay, all kidding aside, a wah that was controlled with a whammy bar-type arm would be pretty cool. I'd love to see that thing if you ever make it.

 

if the basses were palyable and looked good, (and sounded nice) I'd be all over them. i thought the veriax idea was great and was wondering if the bass version would show up some day.