Current & Past "Hot Gear"

[Robert]

Remember the Squier '51, the Epi Valve Jr and the Vox Valvetronix amps? I thought the Epi Valve Jr sounded terrible, so I never got one. The other two I had though. ;)

Those are three examples I can think of regarding "hot gear" in the past, at least on TheFret.Net. Many purchased these things, and many probably still have them. I still regret selling my Squier '51.

What other "hot items" can we recall? Maybe the Crate Powerblock? Squier Vintage Modified, but that's a whole series of guitars.

So what are the current hot items on the scene? I was expecting the VHT Special 6 to be the next hot thing, but I don't think it really took off for some reason.

I have been waiting for more software-based solutions to become popular, but that doesn't seem to be happening. The Kemper Profiling Amp (http://bit.ly/kemperprofilingamp) is a killer solution, no doubt. I loved it when I tried it, but it's too expensive for most people.

[Eric]

Good question. Most of my gear is comprised of the 'it' gear from one time or another. I guess I'll start with that:

Agile LP copy
Jet City amph
Fender Mustang amph
Zoom G3 (does this count?)

Other stuff that I can remember:

Classic Vibe teles
Bad Monkey
DVM Zonkin Yellow Screamer
Joyo pedals?
Pod HD500?

Uh...anything else? Surely there are more fads that have passed through.

[marnold]

I obviously still have my Squier 51. That and the AD30VT were the big things right about the time I joined here. I'm glad I never got rid of my 51, although I did find the need to mod it. I think you hit on the big ones.

[Robert]

Jet City amps were pretty hot for a while.

Bad Monkey! Yeah, that was caused numerous nods for sure. I forgot about that one. Cool pedal.

Classic Vibe Telecasters, yeah that's true. Most of all the Vintage Modified Squires are great.

There was an "SX" moment too... I bought a couple of SX guitars from Rondo. Dirt cheap and quality was so-so.

The Egnater Rebel was popular too, I remember. Marshall Class 5 was hot too, but I disliked the one I had. Perhaps the newer versions are better.

So what's Hot'n New these days?

Fender keeps updating their Stratocaster line quite often. They seem to all be very, very nice guitars, but I can't keep the models apart anymore... there's just too many!

Gibson? Dunno about them - they are off my radar.

[mrmudcat]

I think the new it guitar is The Hell line with B.N. pups for the coin thats alot of guitar!

[piebaldpython]

Way back in the day......there were Palomino 8W tube amps that got a lot of love around these parts.....Palomino made a 32W version too I think. IIRC, Crate bought out Palomino.

I 2nd the vote that HELL guitars makes a bad-a** git. Serious GAS for those babies, especially with a 16" radius which is great for slide work.

[Tig]

Reverend Guitars. They have stepped up their designs lately and the quality has always been solid.

http://www.reverendguitars.com/wp-content/files_mf/1358282880bayonet_cat.pnghttp://www.reverendguitars.com/wp-content/files_mf/1358283737bayonet_w_cat.png
http://www.reverendguitars.com/wp-content/files_mf/1358277041sensei_ra_fm_cat.pnghttp://www.reverendguitars.com/wp-content/files_mf/1358286201tg_cat.png
http://www.reverendguitars.com/wp-content/files_mf/1358224421kb_ra_cat.pnghttp://www.reverendguitars.com/wp-content/files_mf/1365178715reeves2_cat.png
http://www.reverendguitars.com/wp-content/files_mf/1363637509sixgunIII_BLK_main.png

[sunvalleylaw]

Yeah revs seem hot. I think Classic Vibes are still hot too in the budget category.

[Radioboy950]

YES!!! These are some excellent instruments. You get a lot of guitar for the $$$.


Reverend Guitars. They have stepped up their designs lately and the quality has always been solid.

http://www.reverendguitars.com/wp-content/files_mf/1358282880bayonet_cat.pnghttp://www.reverendguitars.com/wp-content/files_mf/1358283737bayonet_w_cat.png
http://www.reverendguitars.com/wp-content/files_mf/1358277041sensei_ra_fm_cat.pnghttp://www.reverendguitars.com/wp-content/files_mf/1358286201tg_cat.png
http://www.reverendguitars.com/wp-content/files_mf/1358224421kb_ra_cat.pnghttp://www.reverendguitars.com/wp-content/files_mf/1365178715reeves2_cat.png
http://www.reverendguitars.com/wp-content/files_mf/1363637509sixgunIII_BLK_main.png

[Radioboy950]

WHAT?!? You mean you never had a Hermida Zendrive on your board??
I remember that being the "hot" pedal of the day. I got sucked into the hype.

[duhvoodooman]

For the well-heeled and borderline insane cork-sniffer: ORIGINAL Klon Centaur pedals ($1000 and up) :thwap

For the more fiscally responsible and mentally stable player: "Klone" pedals

Speaking of pedals, I'd put almost anything from Strymon in the "hot" category. Those people are just flat on fire....

[Robert]

Of course a famous pedal with the letters ZYS had a moment of fame too... ;)

[duhvoodooman]

Of course a famous pedal with the letters ZYS had a moment of fame too... ;)
Moment? MOMENT????? :mad

[Ch0jin]

.....Speaking of pedals, I'd put almost anything from Strymon in the "hot" category. Those people are just flat on fire....

Given I own both the Flint and the absolutely unbelievable El Capistan, I wholeheartedly agree. These will be as rare and expensive as the equipment they emulate some day.

But yeah on topic. Perhaps anything by Zvex? Are they/he still a thing? I have a clone SHO I made a few years ago. Really useful little pedal that one.

Oh and the Boomerang III. Dunno if they were a hot item when they came out, but they should be. I've blown mine up twice (my own fault, dodgy power supply I built) and rebuilt it twice. So in effect, I've bought the same pedal three times. (I actually just bought the boards and repaired them, but you get what I'm saying). That's how good they are.

[Lev]

Let's not forget 'V-Picks'!

[Tig]

Yep, Strymon just can't get it wrong. They really stand out in a crowded industry.
I'll add Wampler to the best original pedals category, too.

[Eric]

Kemper and AxeFX are both still pretty hot. Line 6 M13/M9 also had their day and are kind of a big thing still.

Perhaps also Scuffham S-Gear modeling software.

[Robert]

Eleven Rack?

[davewrites]

Past hot gear? I gotta +1 Epi's Valve Jr. I'll also throw in a nomination for Roland's Micro Cube.

I was an early adopter of the MC and adored its portability, features, effects, etc. I was also living in a cramped downtown apartment -- it arrived at the perfect time in my life.

But what quashed the MC's momentum was the arrival of the VJr. The VJr was refreshing, elegant, moddable, affordable, photographable, and IT HAD TUBES! I can't recall another amp getting more attention from 2005-2006. And I can't recall an Epiphone-exclusive product being the jewel in Gibson's crown. Everyone who knew anything about guitars had had one eye on the VJr.

I didn't pick up a VJr, although I test drove them constantly at Long & McQuade. I found the VJr too raw and surprisingly loud for my taste, but I was definitely attracted to its price, simplicity of design and IT HAD TUBES!

The arrival of the VJr meant my MC's days were numbered. By the time I dumped my MC, the VJr's success spawned a tidal wave of desirable bedroom amps. I ended up buying a refurbished AC4TV and I still play that today. In fact, I was noodling with it 20 minutes ago.

The AC4 was 'it'-ish for a couple of months, but it couldn't become a true sensation like the Micro Cube or Valve Jr.

Oh, then the Vox Night Train pulled into the station. It didn't make a tonal splash but it sure upped the ante for amp design overnight. Who didn't want a Night Train at first site?

Anyways...

[davewrites]

What about Vox amPlugs (http://www.voxamps.com/us/amplug/)? How many did you buy? I had the Lead and the Twin. I've since replaced both with Vox amPhones (http://www.voxamps.com/us/amphone/) (Twin w/reverb), which I whole-heartedly recommend as a major improvement over the amPlug.

I was also an early adopter of iGuitar technology, namely AmpliTube (http://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/amplitubeiphone/) and the iRig (http://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/irig/). Although, like the amPlugs, I dropped the iRig for a higher quality second-comer: Apogee JAM (http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/jam.php).

Did you ever purchase a beer can amp (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKOYc971tiY)? Or an Altoid's amp (http://img0.etsystatic.com/il_570xN.196122229.jpg)? A cigarette pack amp (http://funcfash.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Smokey-Amp-600x433.jpg)? Even if you didn't, you know you wanted too.

How close were you to buying a cigar box guitar in 2011? A cigar box amp? Cigar box stomp box? (Me = guilty x3)

[sigh] Fads. Am I right?

Has the compound radius hype subsided? I mean, I still appreciate them, but I don't lust them like I did 2 years ago.

As far as current hot gear... hmmm, these Reverend pics do illustrate a current design trend: pickguardless bodies. We'll see if that sticks around. Also, the "relic" fad hasn't subsided yet. I would love a Fano, but not at those prices.

Hey, do you remember when Danelectros resurfaced? Didn't you want a black and white U2 just 'cause?

What about the current hipster-vintage-junk-catalog-guitar movement? Have you combed eBay to "reinvest" in an authentic Harmony, Kay, Silvertone, National, Supro, Valco...? Or did you take the high road like me and pick up an Eastwood reproduction?

[double sigh]

[tjcurtin1]

Enjoyed those two posts, Dave - yikes, it does induce a little cringe to consider all of the things that one can be so easily induced to lust after (and, of course, sometimes convince yourself to shell out for...). Of course, sometimes it's something that you love and stick with, while others very soon lose their luster...(hmmm... there's some 'lust/lost/luster' wordplay to be worked with there). You have steeled me against the next 'must-have' or 'must lust for' item that is surely heading our way as we...write ;)

[Radioboy950]

The Vox modeling stuff...AD50VT. Man, these were a hot product.
I probably couldn't give it away. But I'll tell ya...it's a great amp to have around the house.
I've used it in some band rehearsals...and I often bring it to gigs as a backup, if needed.

[davewrites]

All those Vox modelling amps are excellent, reliable rigs. Everyone should have one.

But, yeah, every second posting in Craigslust seems to be an AD50VT these days.

[guitarhack]

I also had the Squier 51, and also several DeArmonds, which got a lot of love on the message boards several years ago. I've sold all of mine but a Starfire Special. I traded some of the others for a G&L ASAT Classic S, which is an awesome guitar.

[Eric]

How about the Fullerton strats?

Someone mentioned the Hermida Zendrive and I agree with that one.

[ZMAN]

I keep a log of when I bought gear. I usually bought when they were hot. Interesting to see the dates.
Fender Deluxe Player Strat. 2005
Squier Ltd. Edition Cherryburst with mint guard 2005
Fender 60 ANN. mim 2006
Squier Deluxe Strat in Daphne blue and Pearl white late 2007 early 2008
Squier Classic Vibe 50s Strat 2008
Classic Vibe 50s Tele Custom 2010
Classic Vibe tele Butterscotch Blonde 2011
There were a lot of posts about these. I haven't had much Gas since then.

[Brian Krashpad]

I also had the Squier 51, and also several DeArmonds, which got a lot of love on the message boards several years ago. I've sold all of mine but a Starfire Special. I traded some of the others for a G&L ASAT Classic S, which is an awesome guitar.

I never got a Squier 51. Went and tried all the ones at the local large mom'n'pop, Lipham's (where Tom Petty used to work back in the day), and every last one of them had fret ends that'd slice a finger off. Easy fix, I know, but that poisoned the well for me.

I did, and do, like the DeArmonds. I started with a cheapo bolt-neck Indonesian-made Jet Star Special, which in fact wasn't very special. But on graduating to the MIK setnecks with the Fender US factory-made GoldTone pups, I found every last one to be a high quality instrument in terms of looks, tone and playability. In a perfect world I would've kept them all, just on principle, but since the ones I had all had those same humbuckers (I just never got round to getting one with the P-90 voiced 2K single-coils), they all sounded pretty similar. And once I got a couple Gibson Les Pauls, the M-series based on Guild's Aristocrat sorta became doubly redundant. All told I owned 4 DeArmond setnecks with GoldTones. Two M-series, an M-72 and an M-75. These were so similar that I sold the M-75 pretty quickly, as I preferred the stoptail on the M-72 to it's harp tailpiece, plus the M-72 had a beautiful burst and light flame, while the M-75 was plain ol' ebony. I kept the M-72 for quite awhile and only sold it after getting some Gibby Les Pauls. I also owned two of the much funkier Jet Stars. One I bought specifically to flip, because the money went to VH1's Save The Music charity. I ended up trading it for the M-75! I still have the other Jet Star, Ruby, my first DeArmond setneck. THAT one I'm keeping!

Dunno if it ever qualified as "hot" but I love love love my li'l Fender Super Champ XD.

Also fond of my Vox AD30VTXL. The regular AD30VT an AD50VT got a lot of love here, but the AD30VTXL sorta flew under the radar. Even if you didn't like the more high-gain models than on the regular AD30, the larger 12" speaker is certainly an upgrade from the AD30's ten.

[Eric]

Dunno if it ever qualified as "hot" but I love love love my li'l Fender Super Champ XD.
For sure. I forgot about those. I would probably also include the Egnater Tweaker series and possibly the Mesa Boogie Transatlantic amps.

[marnold]

I never got a Squier 51. Went and tried all the ones at the local large mom'n'pop, Lipham's (where Tom Petty used to work back in the day), and every last one of them had fret ends that'd slice a finger off. Easy fix, I know, but that poisoned the well for me.

Unfortunately, that plagues just about every Fender of every price range that finds its way to Wisconsin. It's a nuisance to find that on a $100 guitar. It is ridiculous to find it on one that costs over a grand.

The first batch of 51s were supposed to be bad that way. Mine had been actually overzealously filed at the factory in one place on the neck and they actually took off a bit of fret wood. This winter I took it in to a luthier to get it filed. There wasn't much sprout, just some mildly rough edges. It was just enough to be annoying. It wasn't that expensive to get fixed.

Neither my Jackson nor my LTD bass suffer from that. The Jackson has a bound fretboard which helps in that regard.

[Tig]

My Fender Super Champ X2 is a certain never ever sell. I'm sure I'd feel the same with the original XD.
There's a slight possibility the Tweaker 20 might go up for sale or trade some distant day, but the tonal range and quality would make that a not so smart move, especially when you can change tubes to shift it deeper into various territories, like Marshall and Fender.

I've realized more or different guitar gear won't do as much for me as I'd like, so I've become very happy with everything I have. Time to work more on the "engine" (me).

Ah, but a really nice keyboard, however... :socool

[Robert]

Some gear seems to always be "hot" like the deluxe reverb reissue and Gibson les Paul's! They are always popular.

[sunvalleylaw]

Some gear seems to always be "hot" like the deluxe reverb reissue and Gibson les Paul's! They are always popular.

And a good strat or tele!

[Eric]

I've realized more or different guitar gear won't do as much for me as I'd like, so I've become very happy with everything I have. Time to work more on the "engine" (me).
Indeed. I think my GAS shortage isn't due to bad playing or apathy or anything, but more what you said: new gear doesn't really change that much, and what I already have covers a lot of ground.

[Brian Krashpad]

Some gear seems to always be "hot" like the deluxe reverb reissue and Gibson les Paul's! They are always popular.

I've been on a "cheap Gibson" kick of sorts this year. First I got a blowout "Jr. Special" (dumb name) brand new (w/gigbag), a matte black LP Special with neck binding:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8085/8432194157_744a2e3e80_c.jpg

I figured that since I already had a Hamer Special, which is sorta like a doublecut version of the same guitar, plus a true hollowbody P-90 guitar (Casino) and a semi/chambered P-90 (WildKat), I was pretty much set for P-90 guitars.

I was wrong, haha!

A "Les Paul Melody Maker," which had been upgraded w/a GFS P-90, fell into my lap for cheap, on local craigslist:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8261/8666133398_a1c461d67c_c.jpg

I'd never had a single-pickup guitar, so this is sorta my cheapo faux "Junior."

Lastly, a bud lost this to a pawn a year or so ago, and it came back on the local market, also a Jr. Special, but with gloss finish and P-100 stacked buckers. I bought it so if he wants to re-buy it from me later he'll know where to find it. ;)

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5461/8787274730_c90b60fac2_c.jpg

So, within the space of a few months, I've picked up three Gibbies, albeit for about the same that you'd pay for a single new LP Studio.

[Tig]

Lastly, a bud lost this to a pawn a year or so ago, and it came back on the local market, also a Jr. Special, but with gloss finish and P-100 stacked buckers. I bought it so if he wants to re-buy it from me later he'll know where to find it. ;)

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5461/8787274730_c90b60fac2_c.jpg

I love the black LP Special. :drool

Super cool points :cool: for buying and holding on to your friend's green LP. That's walking the walk!

[Brian Krashpad]

I love the black LP Special. :drool

Super cool points :cool: for buying and holding on to your friend's green LP. That's walking the walk!

Well, shoot, I went literally like 30 years before getting my first Les Paul, and iirc this was his first Les Paul, it was even signed to him on the back of the headstock (the guy who bought it took the sig off but the "ghost" image is still visible), so I know it has vibe and mojo for him. I started a new job this year making a bit more than previously, and plus some of my former clients have been giving me side work, so I could actually afford it, haha. And really it's a win-win, this is the only circumstance where I could get away with buying a second LP Special within a few months of already having bought a very similar guitar (especially since I already have a Hamer Special too), haha! And it's a cool guitar, played her Friday night!

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/1011295_10151686297453879_256368516_n.jpg

[deeaa]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_9yno-b0gI&feature=youtu.be

Here's pretty much my current gear, save for a couple of axes and a zoom plus a bunch of mics etc. I have at the training facility. To me, that's the best gear I ever owned...there were a couple of amps I liked down the road and the Gibby I had for over a decade was nice, but, would not change anything to what I've had before. Still, need to upgrade the soundcard at some point and maybe get a truly great quality vocal preamp some day, plus I need bigger monitors desperately (not in size but pixels), and would not mind better large speakers, etc.etc...

But, no regrets in what I've sold. Well I had to give my Prophecy SG away and it was a truly great axe, but I swapped it directly to that alesis drumkit and it was way too sweet a deal. .I mean, an Epiphone for a $1000 drumkit is a no-brainer...

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[deeaa]

The biggest hot gear items I can remember that were all the rage though...

BBE sonic maximisers
All Behringer gear when they first came
Marshall jcm800
Mexi-strats when they hit the stores
The first Charvel superstrats when those arrived


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[Brian Krashpad]

The biggest hot gear items I can remember that were all the rage though...

BBE sonic maximisers
All Behringer gear when they first came
Marshall jcm800
Mexi-strats when they hit the stores
The first Charvel superstrats when those arrived


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The MIM Strats and JCM 800s stuck and became classics/go-to's though.

[sunvalleylaw]

The MIM Strats and JCM 800s stuck and became classics/go-to's though.

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w92/sunvalleylaw/DV016_Jpg_Large_517894678_blizzard_pearl_zpsc017f4 dc.jpg

I remember when I first joined here and posted I had gotten the above guitar, I was welcomed with a lot of kudos on the good choice I (accidentally) made. :pancake

[Brian Krashpad]

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w92/sunvalleylaw/DV016_Jpg_Large_517894678_blizzard_pearl_zpsc017f4 dc.jpg

I remember when I first joined here and posted I had gotten the above guitar, I was welcomed with a lot of kudos on the good choice I (accidentally) made. :pancake

I haven't played one of the newer ones, since they went to bigger frets and alnico rather than ceramic pickups. I expect I'd like them even more now, than the '90's one I had.

[sunvalleylaw]

Yeah, they did seem nicer, and this special model I got seemed to be a notch above the regular, new and improved, MIM's that came out in 2006. It seemed like the Anniversary models got a little special attention in the factory or something. It is still probably my favorite electric.

[Eric]

Did someone already mention the Hot Rod Deluxe? I think Fender sold about a billion of those amphs.

Blues Jr. was all the rage at one time too. And the Roland Cube amphs.

[NWBasser]

My current "hot gear" are G&L basses. I can't say that's true to the wider marketplace though since G&L isn't terribly popular.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f156/NWBasser_photos/SNV31832_zpsf1e9a75b.jpg

The idea of a G&L guitar has crossed my mind more than a few times since I love their basses so much.

[Eric]

My current "hot gear" are G&L basses. I can't say that's true to the wider marketplace though since G&L isn't terribly popular.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f156/NWBasser_photos/SNV31832_zpsf1e9a75b.jpg

The idea of a G&L guitar has crossed my mind more than a few times since I love their basses so much.
What's that, an M2500 on the left? Also, is that PJ a short-scale bass?

I've been heavily considering a Schecter Model-T (I love Robert DeLeo), but I'm trying to talk myself out of it. So far a simple MIM P is fine, but I have also been thinking about those G&Ls. How would you describe how they play/sound (as objectively as possible)?

[NWBasser]

Hey Eric, yes that's an M2500.

The PJ is standard scale SB-2 model. The SB-2 has the skinnier neck like a jazz bass. The MFD pickups in it are slamming hot. It's louder than most active basses. It has a very strong mid-range presence to it that stands out in a crowded mix. Not as much low-end as the jazz. I spend most of my gig time on the JB because it has such incredibly low action that I don't even think much about my playing. It just seems to happen without any effort on my part.

I think a Model-T would be the bees knees. I like Schecters and really dig the P/J configuration.

[Eric]

Hey Eric, yes that's an M2500.

The PJ is standard scale SB-2 model. The SB-2 has the skinnier neck like a jazz bass. The MFD pickups in it are slamming hot. It's louder than most active basses. It has a very strong mid-range presence to it that stands out in a crowded mix. Not as much low-end as the jazz. I spend most of my gig time on the JB because it has such incredibly low action that I don't even think much about my playing. It just seems to happen without any effort on my part.

I think a Model-T would be the bees knees. I like Schecters and really dig the P/J configuration.
Interesting. That's kind of crazy that there's so much output from those pickups, though I've found that I kind of get used to whatever I play with the most. After using a P with an EMG in it, the Ibanez I sold seemed super-weak even with the active Barts. I'd like to try a really low-action bass. I went to bass gathering out here and couldn't really tell the difference from one bass to the next, though I guess I did play mostly P-basses.

[deeaa]

Never met a p-bass that had real nice low action. My Ibanez has pretty decent one, but I had a Tanglewood bass before, 5-string, which had super low action and the four lightest strings were also a little lighter gauge.

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[NWBasser]

Interesting. That's kind of crazy that there's so much output from those pickups, though I've found that I kind of get used to whatever I play with the most. After using a P with an EMG in it, the Ibanez I sold seemed super-weak even with the active Barts. I'd like to try a really low-action bass. I went to bass gathering out here and couldn't really tell the difference from one bass to the next, though I guess I did play mostly P-basses.

When I play the SB-2, I either engage the limiter pad or turn the gain way back on the amph. With the neck pickup volume rolled back about 50% and the bridge pickup off, it sounds quite like an old P-bass.

The really low action helps a lot if you're playing very busy bass parts as I do with Portrait. For most support-role playing though, it's really not so much of a big deal.

Also, I play with a fairly light touch which helps. A more aggressive playing style would likely require higher action.

G&L also started a new model, the LB-100, which is their P-bass and has a normal alnico pickup. Probably a very nice bass as it's a US model and you can get either a skinnier jazz-style neck or a chunkier P-style neck.

[Eric]

When I play the SB-2, I either engage the limiter pad or turn the gain way back on the amph. With the neck pickup volume rolled back about 50% and the bridge pickup off, it sounds quite like an old P-bass.

The really low action helps a lot if you're playing very busy bass parts as I do with Portrait. For most support-role playing though, it's really not so much of a big deal.

Also, I play with a fairly light touch which helps. A more aggressive playing style would likely require higher action.

G&L also started a new model, the LB-100, which is their P-bass and has a normal alnico pickup. Probably a very nice bass as it's a US model and you can get either a skinnier jazz-style neck or a chunkier P-style neck.
That's cool. It's good to have options. In a way, it's fun to be back in a world I know nothing about with a very unrefined palette while I explore new options. Possibly best of all, I don't yet know what doesn't sound good, so I can happily jam along on any crap that tends to be sitting around at the time.

It's interesting what you say about action. Even on somewhat challenging parts that I might play these days, I rarely find that bass action is an issue. Mind you it's not exactly jazz fusion, but that sort of thing seems to be less of an issue than it was on guitar.

[marnold]

Oddly enough, I insist on low action on my guitars, but I couldn't care less on my bass. Not that the action is super high, mind you. I prefer to avoid as much fret racket as possible.

I really like the EMG pups on my bass. Not a fan of the EMG HZs though.

[deeaa]

Yeah it's far less important on bass. Actually I sometimes find action on guitar too low too...but on bass it ruins the sound if there's any fret noises.

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[NWBasser]

...but on bass it ruins the sound if there's any fret noises.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 4 Beta

I take it you don't like Iron Maiden so much?:poke

[deeaa]

Hehe, well yeah Harris is a class of his own, he makes it a part of his tone. But generally, I go for smooth and steady on bass.

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[NWBasser]

Hehe, well yeah Harris is a class of his own, he makes it a part of his tone. But generally, I go for smooth and steady on bass.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 4 Beta

I like smooth and steady too. I just had to throw Harris out there to put a wrench in the works!

[Algonquin]

Danelectro 'cool cat' pedals. still a big fan of the transparent overdrive.
Cheers,
David