The "Why Is My Visa Bill So High?" Page
Generally speaking, I tend to be obsessive about things. It's a habit/curse that makes me a good Writer and Editor, but it tends to get expensive when it comes to other hobbies. Listed below are some of the things I've bought in the last few months for a band we've started.
Behringer V-Pro
I recently started using the Behringer V-Amp Pro FX unit I bought. (Used, on eBay, of course.) At $90, it was about one-third the price of a Line 6 Bass Pod or XT Pro rack mount (similarly used). This thing models 32 amp/head combos and can layer on about 20 effects on top. Plus, you get 125 channels to program, which can be triggered from a midi foot board. (Not included.)
Well, that's all very nice, I suppose. After using it for about three months, I've settled on about 5 different setting combinations, depending on the sound I'm after. My favorite has to be the Ultrabass setting. You can stun livestock with it. (Should you be so inclined...) However, it would literally take months of experimenting to get through the entire inventory of sounds on this thing, and I'm more 'Plug-and-Play' than I care to admit.
Having said that, I highly recommend this unit for any bass player - it'll pull sounds you'd only otherwise get by stacking pedals and investing heavily in amps. And, at less than $100, it's definitely a great investment.
SoundTech Lightsnake
I picked up a Sound Tech Lightsnake online for about $20, and it was (eventually) well worth it. Essentially, the Lightsnake allows you to connect your amp/FX unit directly into your computer via a USB port, thanks to an onboard pre-amp within in the cable.
To be honest, it took quite a bit of experimenting to get good sounds out of it. The first thing I learned was that I should add all my FX externally before the signal was imported into the computer, and use as few computer-generated FX as possible. When I dumped files into Audacity (which is free, BTW) or other programs, and then added the FX on top, the noise and distortion were incredible, and the levels were all over the place.
The best set-up I came upon was to plug into the V-Pro or amp head and run one line to a small practice amp and another through the Lightsnake to the computer. (The V-Pro allows for multiple outputs, but you could just as easily use the output and a headphone jack.) This way, all my FX are done on the V-Pro and that gives me much more control and a much cleaner recording.
Dean Evo XM
I bought this Dean Evo on eBay from a Florida dealer (Music City - they were really great), who had a bunch of them cheap - $89 - because they were factory B's. Essentially, what that means is that there are small marks in the finish somewhere, but playability is fine. In the case of this guitar, there were two small discolorations (about 1/4" long) on the side of the guitar near the jack.
I've always been a bass player, but I wanted a guitar to write, practice and learn more on, and this one really fit the bill. It's got a nice sound, from shredding grind to totally clean, and it's pretty stripped down - perfect for a guitar novice such as myself.
As noted in the Harmony Central reviews of this thing (that's a GREAT resource for people looking to buy gear, BTW), tuning is a bit of an issue with this thing. It slips out of tune every once in a while, so you have to be on top of it. Not a problem for someone like me, but if you were a real guitar player who had this thing in your hands all the time, you'd probably want to put locks on the strings or replace the tuners.
Peavey Millennium AC BXP
When we decided to start up a band again, this Peavey Millennium was my first purchase. I still have my Fernandes (I have no earthly idea what type it is - it's that old) and my Fender acoustic, but I wanted something new for a new band. Balance that against being cheap, and you have fewer options - though, I must say, there are a lot of good quality, mid-range basses out there for people looking for solid sound at an affordable ($250 or less) price.
After much research, I settled on a few potential used basses, one of them being this Peavey. I found it on eBay for $200, and that included a high-end, hard shell case. This thing has a huge range of sounds, although I play through the V-Pro FX unit so the sound is colored before it hits the amp.
It has two active (but quiet) pick-ups, each powered by a 9 volt battery. That's my one complaint with this thing. It's got great sound, but it sucks power like Montgomery Burns. And, when the batteries are about to go, they go. Done. Off. Case closed. Thank you, come again. No lingering, Hollywood-style deaths. They just shut down, and you're left holding a badly designed acoustic bass with no hole in the middle bit from which to produce sounds.
Once you know that can happen, it's not an issue. If you plan to use this thing live, change the batteries before you play. Or bring a back-up bass. I really like this bass, but it's something to think about.