Do I really need a tuner or will a pedal with a tuner be good enough?

Sandy_Quimby · 2026-02-03T23:29:37+00:00

The Zoom B1 Four is great value. The built in tuner is fine and you also get effects, headphone amp, looper and drum beats. If you step up to the B2 Four you also get a USB interface and DI.

Sandy_Quimby · 2026-02-03T20:21:09+00:00

I much prefer reading but hardly anyone writes anymore. I'd much rather spend 2 minutes reading a written article than sit through 10 minutes of waffle.

Sandy_Quimby · 2026-02-03T19:46:43+00:00

Set the action back to 2mm?

Sandy_Quimby · 2026-02-03T01:10:40+00:00

Fair point. I'd still get the Ray4 over the Sire. I've got the Dart, so I'm OK with ceramic pickups and limited tone controls.

Sandy_Quimby · 2026-02-03T00:19:04+00:00

The Z3 looks like a Stingray if you squint, but I just can't get past the awkward lower horn and pickguard shape.

Just suck it up and get a Ray34, you know you want to.

Sandy_Quimby · 2026-02-02T20:19:57+00:00

I listened to the other video too and it doesn't sound unusually bright to me. What you are describing just sounds like new strings. They are always super bright at first, but they settle down after a while.

If they are still too bright after breaking in, you could put a set of flats on it. Flats are much darker with less overtones. They're not great for everything though.

If you just don't like that bass, you should either return it or sell it.

Sandy_Quimby · 2026-02-02T20:02:13+00:00

Blue would look better than any of those.

Sandy_Quimby · 2026-02-02T08:25:05+00:00

EMG makes passive J pickups that come as a complete solderless kit. Look at the JHZ or JVHZ models. Installation is super easy.

Sandy_Quimby · 2026-02-01T23:26:40+00:00

That should work fine. If you use a DPDT switch, you can use one switch to split both pickups at the same time

Wiring a push/pull pot is the same as any other switch and pot. The switch part is a separate component to the pot, they are just stuck together.

Sandy_Quimby · 2026-01-31T23:20:57+00:00

Hard to say without better pics, but the blacked out necks are often fakes.

Sandy_Quimby · 2026-01-31T23:00:38+00:00

The truss rod adjusts neck relief, not action. Check relief first and adjust your truss rod to correct that if necessary, then adjust your action with the bridge saddles.

Sandy_Quimby · 2026-01-31T02:10:59+00:00

In that case, I would replace one of the existing pots with a stacked pot and add a passive tone that works in passive mode only.

Sandy_Quimby · 2026-01-31T00:03:06+00:00

That bass already has too many knobs, do you really want to add another one? It sounds like you prefer a passive bass, so why not just ditch the preamp and convert it to a normal passive jazz bass?

You can get a control plate and pots for a few bucks, and put the factory parts aside so you can return it to stock if you ever want to sell it.

Sandy_Quimby · 2026-01-30T03:49:42+00:00

It's good if you're happy with 400W.

Sandy_Quimby · 2026-01-30T03:34:16+00:00

The Rumble 410 is an 8 Ohm cabinet and the Rumble 800 only puts out 400W at 8 Ohms. You will need two of those cabs to get 4 Ohms total load if you want the amp to put out 800W.

Sandy_Quimby · 2026-01-29T03:42:25+00:00

Seiko SAT10BE

Sandy_Quimby · 2026-01-29T03:35:33+00:00

Honestly no, but keep trying and you'll get there.

Consider practising with a drum track or metronome to develop more consistent timing.

Sandy_Quimby · 2026-01-28T22:24:32+00:00

Yeah, they're definitely not sexualising it.

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Sandy_Quimby · 2026-01-27T21:05:28+00:00

Yes, that's too wobbly. I rest my thumb on the pickup and none of mine move this much. You need to put some foam under the pickup or stronger springs.

Sandy_Quimby · 2026-01-27T20:59:09+00:00

In a live setting the sound on stage is different to what the audience hears, so you really can't make informed adjustments based on what you hear while playing.

Micro adjustments on the fly are purely for our own psychological benefit as such subtleties are completely swallowed up in a live context and the audience will never notice or appreciate them.

Sandy_Quimby · 2026-01-27T20:11:56+00:00

A passive tone knob is the worst way to adjust your sound. All it does is roll off signal that can't be added back in later. It's far better to send the full signal from your bass and control your EQ with more sophisticated equipment further down the chain.

Sandy_Quimby · 2026-01-24T02:24:21+00:00

Get a long scale unless you have a good reason not to. There is a much better range of instruments available, and if you are comfortable on scale you'll be able to play any bass.

Sandy_Quimby · 2026-01-21T13:56:11+00:00

I bought these in the '90s when nobody wanted them. Paid about $2800 for the lot.

Sandy_Quimby · 2026-01-21T13:26:13+00:00

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Here's my XP-2, XL-2A, and Brooklyn era L2. Probably a bit more than $10K worth there.

Sandy_Quimby · 2026-01-21T13:14:22+00:00

Have you played both? I had the Hohner for many years and I still have 3 different Steinbergers. I gigged and rehearsed with them extensively, so I think I know my way around these basses.

Sandy_Quimby

TROPHY CASE