Bassweek #6: HeadRush Prime processor, Fodera Anniversary Emperor Deluxe Bass, VST MIKKO2, JHS Bad Monkey, Shure GLX-D+
From this episode you will learn how the guys from HeadRush upgraded their flagship effects processor, what Fodera anniversary basses are made of, how many cabinets are in the free speaker simulator MIKKO2, what caused the hype around the ancient overdrive Bad Monkey, what’s so great about Shure’s new wireless system, and how the new Periphery album sounds.
- HeadRush Prime flagship effects processor
- Fodera 40th Anniversary Emperor Deluxe Bass
- VST speaker simulator MIKKO2
- Bad Monkey hype
- Shure GLX-D+ Dual Band wireless system
- Periphery released a new album
HeadRush have announced a new flagship. HeadRush Prime is a multi-core modeling effects processor for guitar, bass and vocals with built-in Auto-Tune. At the heart of the processor is a powerful multi-core DSP system with the ability to load effects and impulses. HeadRush Prime has a classic body with a familiar layout, a huge 7-inch touchscreen display and customizable OLED indicators above the footswitches. The design and controls are unchanged from the 2017 model. Of the innovations, the following features can be noted: Bluetooth - to connect the phone, WiFi - for software updates, settings and downloads, as well as music streaming in the practice tool. Engineers improved the looper, brought in a 24-bit audio interface with 96 kHz through the USB-B port, added an XLR microphone and Antares Auto-Tune right in the box. The price of the updated HeadRush Prime is about 1250 euros.
Fodera guitars unveils 40th Anniversary Emperor Deluxe Bass. We can’t say with 100% certainty, but apparently, these instruments are made from scarce trees that grow on top of the highest mountain in the world. Wood is collected only during the full moon with the help of a golden ax, which is passed down from generation to generation by the descendants of the Aztec emperors. How else to explain the $9,300 and $10,200 price tags for Japanese maple and ash body, 3-piece maple neck with ebony fingerboard, Fodera/Duncan Dual Coil pickups with 3-way Fodera/Pope preamp? If, along with the purchase, they do not issue permission to use magic outside of Hogwarts and a personal unicorn, then we do not understand anything in this life, or Fodera overestimated the cost of their tools, to put it mildly.
ML Sound Lab has introduced a new VST speaker simulator MIKKO2. It contains 38 guitar cabinets, 8 microphones, and allows to use third-party impulses. The speaker simulator allows to move the microphone in relation to the speaker freely. The microphone can be moved not only from side to side, further / closer, but also tilted to combat the phase component. You can mix up to 9 microphones at the same time, controlling their volume balance and inter-mic phase with the phase delay control. The MIKK02 has a built-in parametric equalizer for fine-tuning the sound you want. The functionality is not great, but this is precisely what you need! In the free version, full functionality is available, but with one cabinet only. The paid version costs $199.
The main topic of this week is the hype around “Bad Monkey Fever”, which was caused by Josh Scott’s comparison of the budget Digitech Bad Monkey with the boutique Klon Centaur. A direct comparison of the pedals showed no difference in sound at all. After the video was posted, green pedal prices on Reverb and eBay skyrocketed overnight, and social media exploded with memes and allegations of market manipulation by Scott. In response, Josh reminded that the pedal had existed for 19 years, and anyone could easily buy it earlier. He also suggested that the discontinued pedal “might be re-released,” which Digitech’s Tom Cram immediately denied. Bad Monkey is a common and unremarkable overdrive found in any processor or VST software. Be sure to watch Scott’s sensational video.
Shure has announced the New GLX-D+ Dual Band Wireless System, which promises a “significant improvement” over the previous model and offers both 2.4 and 5.8 GHz operation. The new version of the Dual Band automatically scans and uses the cleanest frequencies and “intelligently avoids interference” to eliminate signal loss. The updated version was equipped with a 12-hour battery with a quick charge function, giving one and a half hours of work in 15 minutes.
There is a version of the GLD6+ receiver in a pedal-style form factor. The 1/4 input allows working with wired guitars. As a bonus, the GLX-D+ Dual Band is equipped with a tuner and the ability to connect multiple transmitters for quick guitar changes.
The gentlemen of Periphery are back with a new album, “Periphery V: Djent Is Not A Genre”. The big news is the return of the original bassist, early album producer, creator of the band’s sound, and big fan of Dingwall, Adam “Nolly” Getgood. The album turned out to be maximally conceptual and monolithic. “Periphery V: Djent Is Not A Genre” - will not leave indifferent both Meshuggah lovers and Polyphia fans. I strongly recommend listening with headphones and preferably not in MP3. The album is available on the most popular streaming services.
That’s all the news for today. Oh yes.. an instructive story. In one city there lived a very forgetful boy. He kept forgetting to like our videos. One day he forgot to put his bass in the case, and his grandmother washed it with socks … Think about it.