KVR Audio

metalifuxx · Post by **metalifuxx** » Sun Jul 22, 2012 10:26 pm

Compyfox wrote:
metalifuxx wrote:The hell with 11, our amps go up to 13...hundred watts.

'nuff said.

You probably know I was referring to this classic Spinal Tap clip/quote, but the Dragon Balls is a new one.

robogone · Post by **robogone** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 2:29 am

First impressions are that this is probably going to be my go to bass amp from now on

Compyfox · Post by **Compyfox** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 12:06 pm

metalifuxx wrote:You probably know I was referring to this classic Spinal Tap clip/quote, but the Dragon Balls is a new one.

Spindal Tap is indeed olschool, but the Dragonball Z one is just more fitting for the watt output.

I only wait for an "exploding drummer" preset in Jamstix or something.

Kontrast13 · Post by **Kontrast13** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 2:14 pm

Finally took the time to try this the other night... it's pretty nice.

I learned quickly how to feels to place the bass after 5 months of strictly piano and electric guitar... screw you bass, screw you ;D

robogone · Post by **robogone** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 2:19 pm

I have a Squire P Bass Special with the stock pickups, so it's hard to get a really decent sound out of it, but this does a good job and is certainly far better and improving the sound than anything else I have (with the exception of a long chain of effects which I try to avoid).

metalifuxx · Post by **metalifuxx** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 9:51 pm

robojam wrote:I have a Squire P Bass Special with the stock pickups, so it's hard to get a really decent sound out of it, but this does a good job and is certainly far better and improving the sound than anything else I have (with the exception of a long chain of effects which I try to avoid).

I know your pain. I have the same sort of Squire bass, but it has the split jazz/precision pickup configuration. It's really hard to track with because it then usually requires a chain of plugs to fit it into the mix. I get lucky sometimes and find something that works for the sound I am after.

robogone · Post by **robogone** » Tue Jul 24, 2012 1:39 pm

Mine has the split P/Jazz pickups too. They don't even sound that much different from each other, and certainly not like the real think. The Jazz in particular sounds nothing like a real Jazz bass. However, it does the job but this amp really does something to it that I like and it makes me think it's a far better bass than it actually is.

metalifuxx · Post by **metalifuxx** » Tue Jul 24, 2012 8:55 pm

robojam wrote:Mine has the split P/Jazz pickups too

We must have the same model then. Mine is a 4 string I bought from a friend. I never knew the official name of that particular bass. The jazz pickup has no balls to it and the Precision pickup can be very muddy and flabby, and almost always pops/distorts if the volume knob is up all the way. But it works for adding real bass lines, and my friend sold it to me for $100 in practically new condition, as he never really took up playing the bass.

I was just jamming with my friends last night and I jumped on another friend's bass rig (I normally play guitar, but the bassist wanted to play drums). Real Fender P-Bass and Ashdown head and 4x10 cab. Wow, what a sound and playability.

robogone · Post by **robogone** » Tue Jul 24, 2012 8:59 pm

Probably is, as that describes the pickups relatively well, only I'd add that the J pickup also doesn't have the response to the tone control that I'd expect from it and no real top end on it.

I don't have problems with popping with the volume up high - might be a fault with yours.

Compyfox · Post by **Compyfox** » Tue Jul 24, 2012 9:02 pm

Okay, so I tried this thing today with Pettinhouse Direct Bass, the "picking" preset and the "Picking" MIDI #15 and #16 (yes, I was lazy).

Either the octave was too high, or this amp cuts a lot of lowend. Then again, I mixed on 2,5" PC speakers today and didn't use my Beyerdynamic DT990 to cross-check, so my judgement could be clouded.

Either way, this one needs a cabinet simulation post the head. I decided to go for Line6 PODfarm with a 4x10 (either the David Eden or Hartke, dunno anymore) and an RE-20 as mic, 30% room, some post EQ. Worked like a charm.

The amp is IMO definitely more on the brighter side of amps for bass. But I don't have much experience other than the Tech21 SansAmp or abusing the AVALON preamp for Bass. Never really liked the AMPEG (BA500) in Amplitube... and I couldn't get a good tone out of AT3 Custom Shop post SHB-1 (due to lack of cabinets and mics).

So yeah... nice to have some variety for bass as well and not only guitar amp heads.

metalifuxx · Post by **metalifuxx** » Wed Jul 25, 2012 7:18 am

Seeing as it was designed more for modern metal, it might not have that nice round subby sound you'd like to hear on your typical pop/hip hop/reggae type song. FWIW I still need to try this my self with my crappy Squire bass. Probably works great for metal. Glad there is a freeware bass amp sim like this though. Alu (Wild Hades) has already set a high benchmark for quality amp sims, I am sure this doesn't disappoint. I am more eagerly awaiting his Tube Power Amp simulator (aka TPA-1).

jens · Post by **jens** » Wed Jul 25, 2012 8:56 am

robojam wrote:I have a Squire P Bass Special with the stock pickups, so it's hard to get a really decent sound out of it.

Personally I find that quite odd. Actually you should be able to get a decent sound out of it quite easily. My standard recording bass is an old 'no name' Precision copy from the 80's and it almost always sits quite well in a mix even without any processing at all. A Precision bass in general is such an uncomplicated standard instrument - it just works.

jens · Post by **jens** » Wed Jul 25, 2012 9:00 am

metalifuxx wrote:the Precision pickup can be very muddy and flabby, and almost always pops/distorts if the volume knob is up all the way.

Have Squire really become that bad?

I believe in the past they built really good quality.

Compyfox · Post by **Compyfox** » Wed Jul 25, 2012 10:12 am

metalifuxx wrote:Seeing as it was designed more for modern metal, it might not have that nice round subby sound you'd like to hear on your typical pop/hip hop/reggae type song.

Could be, I'm mostly used to to the BassDriver and the AVALON, if I do not abuse a general guitar amp just for distortion (which seems to be the case for certain sound designers and engineers as well).

metalifuxx wrote:Glad there is a freeware bass amp sim like this though. Alu (Wild Hades) has already set a high benchmark for quality amp sims, I am sure this doesn't disappoint. I am more eagerly awaiting his Tube Power Amp simulator (aka TPA-1).

Since I'm not on guitar boards, care to elaborate?

sqigls · Post by **sqigls** » Wed Jul 25, 2012 10:12 am

can't wait to check this out!!!
Thank you so much!!!!!

Ignite Amps SHB-1 Bass Head plug-in! Win/Mac, 32/64 bit, FREE!