GEAR REVIEWS:
DAddario Strings
When it comes to bass strings, players have a lot to choose from. Roundwound, flatwound, halfwound, stainless steel, nickel and in some cases, even color. Everyone has their own preference for the music they play whether it be metal, jazz, funk, blues or folk. How a string functions during normal wear and tear, consistancy from one set to the next, sound, feel and of course "cost" plays a big role in the working bassists decision on what strings to buy.
D'Addario strings have always been on the top of the list when it comes to strings. We recently had the opportunity to review D'Addarios XL Nickel and XL Prosteel round wound strings thanks to the amazing people at D'Addario strings. First we started with the D'Addario XL Prosteels using an LTD 5 string tuned EADGC and a DeArmond Pilot Pro 4 string. The Prosteels have a wonderfully bright consistant tone with great harmonics. For players that play slap bass and like that bright stainless steel sound... these might be your new favorite.
Next we moved on to stringing up a fleet of basses with D'Addarios XL Nickel round wound strings. Everything from a Dean Playmate 4 string, a YamahaTRB 6 string, LTD 4 and 5 string basses to a custom Charles Cote' 5 string and even a Hamer 4 string. Lets just say that there are some happy basses in the demo room. The nickel strings have a bright tone that seems a little bit warmer than the Prosteels. All the D'Addarrio strings that were used sounded amazing right out of the package and still sound just as good after all the slapping, tapping, picking and general abuse that we like to put reviews through.
Which leads me to the last thing about D'Addario strings. The packaging. D'Addario strings has taken the step forward in helping the environment and the planet by offering Players Points. Players points allow you to save your string packages, which have players points on the back. Once you have enough points, you simply go to the D'Addario web site and order cool things like sweatshirts, mugs and even a playing stool. Not to mention that D'Addario bass strings are packaged in a single plastic sealed bag which also reduces the amount of waste and in my opinion keeps the strings fresher.
So... if your looking to change your bass strings or help the planet, I would recommend trying out some D'Addario strings. D'Addario offers flatwounds, roundwounds, halfwounds..... you name the string and I'm sure they offer it. All this and they still have great prices for the working bassist.
Warr Guitars 14 string Phalanx
By Wade Craver
I have been playing the Warr guitar for several years and I think the most asked question is "what is that"? Well... I decided to explain in better detail exactly "what" the Warr guitar 14 string Phalanx is all about.
Warr guitars are touchstyle instruments built by Mark Warr in California. Similar to playing a piano without the keys. You simply touch the note you want to hear. The bass side is played with my left hand and the melody(guitar) side is played with my right hand. This allows me to play a bass line as well as add higher register chords and unison lines to make for a very full range of notes.
The Phalanx has an ash body, bubinga top, 7 piece bolt-on neck, ebony fret board, sperzel tuners, Barolini pickups and circuitry and a bridge which consists of 14 piezo pickups. Not to mention that 6 of the piezos run to a built in midi controller to run a Roland GR20 or any other midi modules. The controls allow you to switch between pick-ups, blend piezos w/ magnetics, add tone and even toggle through midi controllers. Warr guitars offer a never ending list of options, whether it be neck and body woods, pick-ups, circuitry or maybe you want a Warr painted like a "cow". Go to Warr guitars and see what I mean. Warr also offers basses featuring the same amazing craftsmanship and sound.
Hipshot Bass X-Tender
By: Wade Craver
Part 1
I recently had the opportunity to review the Hipshot bass X-Tender thanks to great people at Hipshot Products. As with all reviews, I try to approach a product with an open mind to all different players. One product may work well for a metal bassist, but not so well for a jazz bassist. I look at whether or not the product will stand the rigors of abuse that always happen when you least expect. That being said, I'd like to take you through the review as it happened.
The bass used for most reviews here on NorCal BASSIX is an ESP/LTD B-155DX 5 string tuned EADGC which has become known as "Frank". In this case we are using the Hipshot X-Tender model GB7 which is a replacement for Gotoh tuners. I received the GB7 at about 7:30 pm and my first thought was that I wouldn't have time to get it ready for my show at 8pm. The reason I'm mentioning the time is so that you get an idea of how long it takes to install a Hipshot X-Tender key. I replaced my tuner with the Hipshot GB7 using a small pair of flat nose pliers and a small phillips head screw driver( 1 screw). I restrung my E string back to pitch, flipped the lever and "BAM" I was in perfect dropped D. I was surprised to have the install go so quickly and to be tuned in a perfect D.
By this time it was about 7:40 and I needed to get going. I grabbed "Frank" and hit the door. By 8 pm, I was sitting in on a duo performance with guitarist Camron Maynor which allows me a lot of open space to really use the Hipshot. The best part about the Hipshot X-Tender is that it allows me to drop tune my E string to D,C#,C etc. with the flip of a lever. The Hipshot worked perfectly all night and I couldn't believe how smooth it operated. For bassists who use alternate tunings.... the Hipshot bass X-Tenders are the only way to go. Now I understand why great bassists like Michael Manring, Will Lee, Billy Sheehan and Marcus Miller always have Hipshots. If I were to give this product a grade it would be an A+
Hipshot provides replacement tuners for all types of tuning keys whether it be on a Fender, Warwick, ESP or Ibanez. Not to mention a large selection of guitar x-tender keys, bass bridges and more. Be sure to visit Hipshot Products and see what they have to offer.
Part 2
Well... it's been about a week since I wrote the first part of this review. I was so impressed with how easy the installation of the Hipshot GB7 went, that I wrote the review a bit early. I have spent the last week or so putting the GB7 through the test. Clinics, performances, numerous tunings, and a fleet of students all prove that the Hipshot is definitely an A+ with a gold star.
EDEN D112XLT
By Alex Mires
I have been familiar with Eden gear for a long time. My main rig consists of two Eden D112XLT as well as an Eden WTX500. I have been using these cabs for a while and they are nothing short of amazing. The D112XLT is an 8 ohm 1x12"speaker enclosure with a rating of 250 watts. These cabs have been through it all. All day outdoors in blistering heat playing hard rock to indoor jazz and funk gigs. They have stood the test of both durability as well as portability.If your looking for a strong, portable cab thats great for any style of music, then this is the cab for you.
KORG DT-4 Chromatic Tuner
By Wade Craver
As a bassist that plays 4,5,6,7 & 14 string instruments, I understand the frustrations that can come from having a faulty tuner. Some tuners don't seem to respond to low drop tuned basses or the high range tunings of extended range basses. Granted sometimes all you need is a new battery or a new chord to make your tuner work. I recommend trying those things before going out and dropping money on a new one. If you decide to purchase a new tuner I would recommend the KORG DT-4.
This tuner is chromatic which makes it able to register all notes, not just EADG. I first tryed the DT-4 on my 14 string Warr guitar which I can assure you takes a very accurate tuner to register a low F# to a high F. As far as basses go..... I tuned a 5 string tuned EADGC, a 5 string tuned BEADG and a 6 string tuned BEADGC. Perfect everytime!
The KORG DT-4 is small enough to fit in your pocket or gigbag and runs on AAA batteries. It features 3 variations of display that make seeing the tuner in dark situations very easy. KORG has always offered great products and the DT-4 is another to add to the list.
Nordstrand Big Singles
by Stew McKinsey
We all start at a different place. Some people begin on a P-Bass. Others have an Ibanez or a Washburn as their first instrument. But I cut my teeth on a J-Bass. I got used to the sound and the feel of one. The controls make sense to me. That is my reference for the instrument in most respects, even though I generally play more “boutique” instruments these days. Given that starting point, the Big Singles are about the coolest pickups I’ve ever had in an instrument. Where the classic J sound is warm and punchy with a growly edge, the Big Singles are lush, authoritative and aggressive. Essentially they take everything about a classic J sound and add more goodness!! All of the characteristics that make a J sound classic are still there, but the Big Singles just give you more of them! The response is still tight and even, but there is more muscle to it. The bottom end is bigger but not mushy. The high end has more detail and is beautifully musical, not at all harsh. There is more information in the midrange, but nothing nasal about the sound. The only drawback to the Big Singles is that they are single coils. They are more susceptible to RF interference than hum cancelling pickups. They can be noisy if one is soloed or if there is a bias to one pickup or the other. My personal bass is well shielded and grounded, though, and I have never had a problem with hum or noise. In fact, every single time I have brought this bass to a gig or a session, someone has commented on how good it sounds! Even with a passive set up and a volume/volume/tone control configuration, I can get a wild array of tones and they are all useable.
Roland Cube 100
By Wade Craver
It seems that the time when a working bass player needed four 410 cabs, a 25 lb. rack and a roady are gone. With so many companies now offering small compact bass rigs that pack a punch, it's no wonder that Roland kicked out a combo. I must say.... they did a great job! The Roland Cube 100 offers a 4 band E.Q. as well 8 COSM amp models which allow you to dial up any of those signature amp tones (SWR, Ampeg, Fender etc.) Features 100 watts of power through a 12" coaxial speaker that you won't believe. Even more with the option of powering an extension cab to really kick it up a notch. Effects include flanger, chorus, t-wah, reverb and delays. Thats right.... it has built in effects! Other features include built in compression, XLR balanced out,1/4" line out, tuner out and a footswitch line out. Also features Rolands FFP(feed foward processing) which I must say definately makes the house shake. I have played everything from a Fender P-bass to a 14 string Warr guitar through the cube 100 and it handled everything without any loss of sound quality. With the option to power another extension cabinet and the XLR out, this combo can be used in practically every playing situation. Nothing beats walking into a gig with your bass and a Roland Cube 100..... and thats it!
