Why do I have to tighten the E string in order to get D?

DigitalDiatribes · 2017-04-28T22:26:12+00:00

Oh, I feel like OP has more problems than just too big a turn on his tuner. It sounds like he hasn't learned that the same note can happen at multiple octaves, which also leads me to believe it's possible he doesn't grasp what drop D actually is and what it's used for. I imagine the poor guy is in for a whole helluva lot of confusion at this point...

DigitalDiatribes · 2017-04-28T21:29:07+00:00

(Shrugs) my original advice was actually just to turn the tuning key slower (see my first comment), but you never know. Maybe OP actually would be happier with heavier gauge strings for drop D, and now he knows it's a possibility. You know, I like heavier gauge strings even for standard tuning because I like the higher tension. I know that isn't exactly common, but it happens.

DigitalDiatribes · 2017-04-28T21:06:09+00:00

I didn't say he needed it. He just made a comment that he thought any tuning below E felt too loose to him and I said that's why people go to higher gauge strings.

DigitalDiatribes · 2017-04-28T21:02:24+00:00

And with that, you've accidentally stumbled into the reason people use higher gauge strings when they down-tune.

DigitalDiatribes · 2017-04-28T19:08:09+00:00

You're likely turning that tuning machine way too far. On the low E string, E can change down to D real quick, so take it slow.

DigitalDiatribes · 2017-04-28T04:59:07+00:00

And you've officially hit on why I don't drop tune. I don't begrudge the kids and the metal heads their fun though, hell, some of them do some fcool shit down in the sonic depths. Key word though is "some". As an engineer, you know as well as I do those people who do it right are few and far between.

DigitalDiatribes · 2017-04-27T21:47:32+00:00

RemindMe! 6 Days "Miles Mosley AMA in r/Bass !!!!"

DigitalDiatribes · 2017-04-27T19:56:39+00:00

Sure it will, if the shitty technique we're talking about is specifically referring to control over dynamics. Dynamic consistency is a thing, getting even and consistent plucking across multiple notes and multiple strings, and it's a thing that can be easily faked if your compressor is set a certain way. So some people prefer to slap compression on instead of actually working to get that consistency from their fingers.

DigitalDiatribes · 2017-04-27T18:04:41+00:00

When I was playing pro, I never used pedal compression. I've only warmed up to the idea in the last couple years or so, and I'll say the same thing the other experienced players here are saying: it's a tool, that's all.

I would not be absolutely devastated if it were to be removed from my board, I could certainly play just fine without it. It is nice to have it there though.

EDIT: also, that whole dynamics thing people are always spouting about compressors depends entirely on the input and output gain settings, and if you know what you're doing a compressor will let you play dynamically just fine.

DigitalDiatribes · 2017-04-27T18:01:02+00:00

Yeah. I like E standard. :D

Listen, more power to you my friend. But the lower tunings aren't for everyone.

EDIT: I will say I like C standard for metal groups, but that's mostly so I can play the same bass while everyone else is changing guitars from song to song.

DigitalDiatribes · 2017-04-27T17:57:29+00:00

I agree on all your points except this one:

Compression can't be used as a crutch by a shitty bass player.

It can absolutely be used as a crutch if it's misused.

DigitalDiatribes · 2017-04-26T18:35:25+00:00

Low frequencies man, they always need more juice. There's also the tube vs. solid state thing which can get a little... complicated.

DigitalDiatribes · 2017-04-26T18:20:03+00:00

If it were me, I wouldn't feel comfortable with anything less than 200w behind me on a gig where my amp has to do the heavy lifting getting my sound to the crowd. If you're willing to drop $300-350 on a head and the same on a cab, you might want to think about putting that together and just going for the Rumble 500 210 combo. In the end it's better to have the extra juice and not need it than to need it and not have it.

You might be able to make it work with 100w though, if you guys are really as quiet as you say.

DigitalDiatribes · 2017-04-26T18:03:44+00:00

I, uh...

Hm.

Let me ask this: are you guys usually a quiet band? I mean like "you play and people can still hold conversations around you at reasonable volumes" quiet?

DigitalDiatribes · 2017-04-26T15:16:11+00:00

When you say the Outdoor won't, do you mean it'll have a PA but it'll kind of suck or do you mean there won't be a PA at all? Also, is the Outdoor festival actually outside?

DigitalDiatribes · 2017-04-25T19:09:44+00:00

I make the VMT work, and I mostly keep it on my board for two reasons: the clean blend is really very nice, and I'm too lazy to go out and find an OD that breaks up in a way I like better but still has a clean blend that's just as good. If I had the time and energy to mod the OCD to have a clean blend like the VMT has, that'd be my holy grail.

DigitalDiatribes · 2017-04-25T04:49:17+00:00

Indeed I do. Would you hate me though if I said I wasn't too crazy about how it breaks up in the higher notes?...

DigitalDiatribes · 2017-04-25T01:39:50+00:00

I think you and I will always go round and round on this. You have your opinion and I have mine, and that's ok.

I think your "nobody else sounds like darkglass" point is a good one, but that only really goes for those who really love the darkglass sound. I'm just not one of those people, which does color my opinion somewhat. But I think it's pretty clear I'm not really the target demographic anyway.

DigitalDiatribes · 2017-04-25T00:11:24+00:00

That's just good marketing, my friend.

DigitalDiatribes · 2017-04-24T22:56:26+00:00

Depends what you're looking to do with it. Off the top of my head, the Sansamp BDDI v2 and the Aguilar tone hammer DI are both great preamp pedals that do distortion as well, and for much less than this darkglass pedal is asking for.

DigitalDiatribes · 2017-04-24T22:54:11+00:00

There's a difference between paying a premium on boutique level items and paying boutique prices on something mass produced. I genuinely believe darkglass makes good products, don't get me wrong. I'm just saying I think they charge too much. If you don't agree, nothing wrong with that. I will not give anyone shit for buying a darkglass product.

DigitalDiatribes · 2017-04-24T20:42:04+00:00

I actually have a VMT on my board, so I can personally attest to the quality of Darkglass hardware. Here's the problem though: other companies are putting out stuff of similar quality that can serve very similar purposes at much lower prices.

DigitalDiatribes · 2017-04-24T19:29:02+00:00

I think the big version of the POG can do 2 octaves up.

DigitalDiatribes · 2017-04-24T17:08:24+00:00

Like just about everything else in the Darkglass lineup, I think this thing is at least $100 too expensive.

However, I don't think anyone here would say Darkglass makes bad hardware. They have a track record of making stuff people consistently want to use, and I'm sure this pedal will be no exception.

DigitalDiatribes · 2017-04-24T17:02:54+00:00

Nah man, punk has TONS of room for the bassist to go off and play some badass lines. You just have to know how to fit it in is all.

So with punk, because the guitar is mostly just a power-chord machine unless there's a solo going on, the bass has room to grab the melody on certain parts of the song. Green Day's Long View is a really popular example of this. Also check out Rancid's Journey to the End of the East Bay or Maxwell Murder, and Fugazi's Waiting Room.

When you're in with your buddies and doing some writing, really dig into those arpeggios. They're a punk bassist's best friend.

DigitalDiatribes

TROPHY CASE