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Why would anyone not use all the tonal variations and fingering possibilities that are available to you?

Had a festival this summer. Quick turnaround time to get on. Had all my stuff ready to go.. Plugged everything in - no sound. Nada. Nothing. 5 mins panicking and then... ..realised I'd plugged into a different amp that wasn't even mine. Oh, you didn't mean that sort of disaster tho huh?

With over 1,470 bass covers on my YouTube channel, I have started to share the bass notes and tab that I'm playing on the video. The bass transcription is something that I'm very proud of adding to my videos. I don't make any money off my channel. My goal is that I can help 1 bass player per day learn something new. https://www.youtube.com/user/constantine2112

Both of my Precisions tuned DGCF with 45-105's. Im running bi amped and loving the low end.☺

I've fancied an FRFR for my Helix for some time. Always had my eye on a Yamaha DXR10 - for both guitar and bass duties. Mostly I'd DI Helix to front of house so the FRFR became a monitor - and it's useful at home too. In the local music shop today I decided to have a look at a DXR10. Yeah. It's quite nice. Over pops the assistant. I explain the setup and my need. "I wouldn't have the DXR10 personally. I'd have the QSC K10.2 instead. It's a bit more but..." The what now? Ok, I think. Prove it to me. Let's hear them side by side. So he did. Set them up for me. The QSC was louder. A lot louder. A lot lot lot louder. And it was a more natural reproduction of what you hear through headphones on Helix - much less coloured. "It's on the default flat DSP setting." He said. "Here, try the bass amp DSP setting" Uh? Well, not only was it interesting as a setting, but I plugged the bass in directly. There's 3 channel input - two have combi XLR/jack and one small 3.5 stereo. Channel A can be set as line or mic, but B can be set as line or instrument. So jack into B with inst straight from a passive bass and it does a pretty damned good impression of a decent bass amp - there's even eq on it to tweak it. Crikey. So I bought one. Got it home and tried my mini pedalboard straight in. Signal chain is smoothhound - tuner - Ampeg SCR-DI - QSC k10.2 I would say realistically it's about as loud as a 500w head into my BF Compact. Possibly a bit more, and with slightly less heft but a bit more top. But, it's 14 kilos and really very compact. And it's one less thing to drag to a gig. It's also a wedge so I can angle it and use it as a proper bass monitor with DI out to FOH. So this is my live rig (to be trialled!) Now I'm wondering whether it's worth bothering with another power amp for use with the BF cab for the board, when it looks like the FRFR I bought for the Helix can pretty much do both.

The 12th South East Bass Bash will be on Saturday 29 September 2018 At Jubilee High School, Surrey, School Lane, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 1TE The first planning meeting has already taken place! (in a pub) Get the date in your diaries!

Thanks for enquiring. I feel that I am making slow progress , I think it takes a bit longer for me learn new things as I get older. Still, slow progress is still progress.

this does it for me - 2 minute blast with some tasty bass to boot.

My turn to return the favour and chip in then! Here's a 'best of' list preamp DI pedals, in no particular order, put together by me, @dannybuoy and @Lozz196 on another thread recently Dave Hall's new DHA VT1-Pro (there's a whole thread on this; the first one has appeared in the FS section and it kinda does everything (including making the tea)) Tech 21 Q\Strip (looks amazing, but yet to find any BCer who's actually forked out £315 for one of these yet?) Tech21 VTDI Tech 21 Paradriver V2 (Lozz has two of these, he likest them so much!) Ampeg SCR DI (you own - really nice EQ, but IMHO the dirt doesn't come anywhere close to something like the Two Notes?) Mesa Subway DI (why haven't they released a Mesa Carbine M DI? Now that would be a pedal...) Two Notes Le Bass (I have this. Excellent dirt / drive and decent clean EQ but with limited mids tone shaping - need to dial back the bass and treble on the clean Channel A to effectively boost the mids. Only complaint from folk seems to be a lack of aux in. Aside: the Zoom B3n doesn't have a DI out, which its predecessor the B3 had, but does have an aux in! So put together they're fine!) Aguilar Tonehammer (the fabled Aggie sound in a pedal). Several of these (e.g. VT1-Pro and Ampeg SCR) also have aux in and headphones out so can double up as a quality portable headphone practice amp, which is a nice additional feature.

Had to route out for the humbucker and I had a new scratch plate made as I wanted the option to go back to orginal jazz pickup if humbucker did not sound right. Humbucker is actually a Kent Armstrong pup I bought in the 80’s that I previously had in a homemade bass! But as it was the humbucker shone so much that I had to replace the bridge sire pickup as it was just not cutting it against the KA pup. Is the KA jazz / Sire pup standard Fender size? ‘Probably’. I sent Kent the dimensions so it could have need made to order for me but I somehow doubt it and I think that we both just got lucky. Talkbass has people who seem to have put Nordstrang pups in V7s without any drama. Orginal Site pups were fine but never quite made the sound that I wanted. Yes I bought a Marcus Miller bass, but I don’t want to sound like Marcus Miller. ;-).

I absolutely recommend The Barefaced ONE 10. I use it with my GenzBenz Streamliner 900 or my Genzler Magellan 350. The latter for about £450 and the cab with cover £350 should do the trick. I also have two Bergantino HD 112 cabs at 20kg should I need them for bigger gigs. One of the HD112s is great with said amps. Certainly all work well for me. The bottom end out of the ONE 10 is superb and 7KG!!! Glynn Murray

Every time I check on this thread I wish I’d bought that wingbass when I had the chance!

I'm tempted to rent one from fxPR and give it a go. My basswitch does the job of providing loops for my basic tones but those filters seem like a fun way to add stuff. I can see octave and clean blended with drive being fun but alas not a tone I'll be using in the foreseeable future.

I'm there! Gigs be damned..... this is 'first in the book'

I can think of a pair... half-ars3d single-buttocked. Time for some polite customer feedback?

Surely no-one still using XP should be on the internet in the first place?

The original bassist in Saxon, played open as much as possible, so the other hand could be held aloft in rock salute! \m/ ?

"Check a lead connection"? Hardly, old chap. My wireless unit failed, and in less than 10 seconds mid-song I diagnosed the problem, unplugged the wireless unit at both ends, plugged in a lead at both ends, and rejoined the song. Actually, I'm actually quite proud of that. Actually.

G# (13th fret), open E = Double stop. A lovely sound. Then add a D at the 12th fret on the D string, a nice D7 shell. Then of course, all the variations. Open strings are gorgeous for chordal pieces. Fast chromatic runs down low, the open strings can be invaluable and at high tempo, the difference in tone wouldn’t be noticeable. What about tunes played on a four string when a low E is needed? You have no other option, unless you retune. Open strings are part of the Bass gig. At some point in your life, for some reason, there will be a need for an open string, even if it is just for tuning up.

I've been gigging regularly for 30 odd years now and in that time I have had a couple of incidents of amp failure on a gig; it was the same amp that was first repaired under warranty and then later had another issue with the power switch cutting out. In addition to regular pub gigs my band does some private work too, parties weddings etc. so I feel it a professional obligation to be able to get through the night regardless of any technical issues. That being the case I always carry a spare amp, usually a spare bass, always spare stings, cables, fuses etc. Pretty much a spare everything other than a cab, but on the above occasions I was able to plug directly into the desk/PA to get through the night so I could limp my way through the gig without one. Some people might consider this to be a bit over the top but the way I see it is that if you're being paid to perform, whether it is in a pub or at somebody's wedding, you need to be able to deliver the music.

Back when I was really seriously gigging and played with a pick I used to break on average 1 or 2 strings per gig. On a Rickenbacker it was dead easy but it did remind me why I took the rear ashtray of my P bass when I was using that all the time! And of course now I am old and knackered and have all kinds of problems with my hands due to playing too heavy with that pick. Can`t win, can you? As far as other gear issues are concerned I cant remember anything ov er 60 years of gigging other than the odd flat battery or dud lead. TYhat old valve gear was pretty reliable. Unlike the early transistor stuff!

At one point it was two or three gigs a week, sometimes two a day. These days I'm on keys more often than not though and just trying to get a band off the ground is proving a trial

Ive been playing live for 17 years. Worst i've had is a dodgy cable, and a battery that needed replacing. Never had a issue with amps breaking or speakers blowing etc. I don't recall ever breaking a string either?

I broke a string towards the end of a jazz gig. Not even one of the peripheral ones, but the D. I had no backup (in fact, I was an undergraduate at the time, so I couldn't even afford to buy a new set of strings for a couple of weeks) and had to finish the gig with three strings and a big gap. Shifting hand positions for a bossa was straightforward enough, but trying to play a walking bass line under Autumn Leaves on two strings is not an experience I'm in a hurry to repeat.

I never really saw this as an either/or thing ...

Why not play through headphones? Use your budget to buy something like a PJB Bass Buddy (other gadgets are available) and your Fun Prevention Officer will love you even more than she does already.

There is negligible difference in tone between open or fingered note. The reason to avoid open strings is when it comes to transposing: Far easier to transpose a riff/lick/line etc if all notes are fingered.

Thanks, Dave, glad someone appreciates and understands the mental anguish this is causing. I'll get all my listed and offered at too-good-to-be-true prices and then, once my spare room is empty, hopefully the pleasing reassurance of GAS will return. Your offer of a smart white jacket is noted and appreciated. My size is XL.

Don't think its an illness you have. Good chance you have a chemical imbalance causing temporary insanity. If it doesn't pass relatively soon i would suggest giving up playing bass and send all your bass gear up here to someone who would look after them and give them the care, love and attention they so rightly deserve. Failing that we can offer the use of a white jacket that zips up the back if that helps. Dave

Some can think but not in the right order.

Me. I have a bass set up permanently in this tuning. I’m using Dunlop Flats (.45 .65 .85 .105) and the tension’s just right. ?

The majority of my band's stuff is CGCF...although newer songs we are yet to release are even lower, BF#BE....after several years I have finally had my Cirrus set up to handle the low tunings, and heavier strings of course. The difference is incredible, probably should have done it years ago rather than just putting up with flobby strings, ha ha.

... he played all the right notes, but not necessarily in the right order.

I play No One Knows in this tuning, the correct tuning is way too floppy

Just took a look at the for sale ad, and there's a "3 used available" button you can click on https://reverb.com/p/fender-jb62-62-reissue-jazz-bass-mij-aged-white Or am I being daft, and this is the same one? I can't comment on the MIJ '62RI per se - as I've not played one of these exact models. I have however, played several MIJ / CIJ Fenders, and they've all been really good basses Somehow, the necks on them feel lovely.... However, I have owned a Fender Flea Jazz, and just to add to your confusion - that was also a really nice bass, and yes, the Fender Roadworn series of necks also feel absolutely lovely.... sorry Again, I don't know quite how they achieve that "worn-in" or "played in" feel with the roadworn series, but achieve it they have I must say of the Fender Flea, it's the lightest weight Jazz I have played. (and I've owned 3 Jazzes, and played quite a few more) At first, I wasn't a fan of the stacked knob arrangement of controls. I know this arrangement has many fans, who would all quote flexibility of tone and control as being better - but I found it harder to get the tone I wanted as quickly as with the standard VVT arrangement of controls.... again, it's personal preference The MIJ bass is probably the more "collectible", for those with whom that is an issue. And IMO, it's a lovely aged white (I do like that off-white creamy colour some basses seem to go) Both have their plus points, it's just down to how you feel about each one Do you live near any other BC member who owns either one of these basses? Could you post an ad, asking for help / a try-out? Most BC'ers are very friendly, helpful sorts and would be only too willing to let you have a play of their Jazz As has already been asked, could you counter the sellers counter offer? Might be worth a try Just thought of a plus for the MIJ. If you didn't like a Flea Jazz and had bought it brand new - you'd lose money if selling on.... but you'd likely get more of your money back on the MIJ if you sold that on....

As I've not got much going on today I'll offer a thought. A common analogy for music is often that it is like a language. So, say someone is speaking Chinese and you don't understand it, does that make it nonsense? Of course not, if you learnt Chinese you would probably understand it. It can be argued that it is the same with music. If you learnt and enjoyed jazz vocabulary that is similar to those that influenced Jaco, the chances are you will then enjoy it because you can relate to it.

I had my Thunderbird strung with extra heavy strings and tuned DGCF for a project where I needed the low D on a regular basis. Band didn't last and the bass is back to standard tuning now.

My Bass Big Muff has finally given up so I have one of these incoming - is everyone still in love with their's?

I think it is a bit like volcanoes. They sit there doing not much then periodically erupt. You'll have your Pompeii moment soon enough.

IMPOSTER!!! There is no such thing as a BC member without GAS, and if there was somebody who was temporarily content with their set up they certainly wouldn't miss an opportunity to shop if/when their partner offered them the chance. Also no self respecting BC member would admit to having "No GAS" even if such a condition existed (which it doesn't BTW). Continue with your lies and accept the consequences!!

Basschat is more of a GASchat for me. Enjoy the melodic candour.

[quote name='AndyTravis' timestamp='1509390989' post='3398581'] ESP's take on a thunderbird was called a phoenix too... [/quote] It's been discontinued, redesigned & called "Stream" now.

A consensus on BC??? Am I imagining things???