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I like mine .

I pronounce it correctly as 'Epiphone'

Yes good bass tone does matter. *edited* If your band mates don’t care about tone they’re not tuned in to being in a band. If you’re not constructively listening to your band as a unit and aiming for consistency in your sound then you’re not fully engaging. To the point about simple set up we’re all capable of going bass>amp>speaker and we could all make that work but once we start trying to find our ‘voice’ with our instrument we do consider effects and enhancements to be more unique and distinguish is from others Why is tone important and why would punters care? Well we’ve all been conditioned by listening to professionally mixed music our whole lives to understand what sounds good and the human ear knows when things sound right or wrong. Too shrill we wince too boomy etc we know it’s wrong. A well mixed/good sounding band just feels and sounds right. Within that context we (irrespective of instrument) have a responsibility to play well, sound good and serve the song irrespective of genre. Why do live venues have a sound engineer? To make sure it sounds good of course so the punters come back! What I found with most musicians once they get some proficiency and begin to understand ‘how’ to play their instrument they take an active role in the sound as much as the technique. They know where they fit in the context of the song and they give a damn about making it work in the band. If these people are not in your band then it’s a sad day for you and the audience. Yes punters will dance to a bad band, they’ll even dance to bad musicianship. They may not know that that shrill noise is too much 2k but watch their faces when the feedback kicks in. Good sound should be a priority as should a good groove. If a musician is not considering their tone and the bands tone then they’re not really engaging in the process. Sure it can get ridiculous but as I’ve said elsewhere if we know how to use our gear, understand what makes a good mix and our place in it then we’re informed enough to get by and sometimes that’s the best we can hope for. I do know that I’d hate to be the one person in my bands who was ruining the vibe or the mix because I didn’t care enough to take an interest.

Be careful with that kind of gig, it's a slippery slope.

I agree that it is nice for someone to just let rip and say what they want in an interview, without some press agent or handler stepping in and stopping comments from being printed etc. He is a big hitter in his industry, has a vast fortune, he’s 85 and he doesn’t give a damn about whether his opinions offend anyone, and I can’t help but admire his Candour. He has probably seen and been exposed to a lot of things behind closed doors, and I would bet he knows a lot of secrets that aren’t his to tell the world. I think some individuals are getting a little too upset just because he says a few mean things about people they hold in high esteem. It’s only opinion, he’s not forcing you to believe the same against your will, just take the interview as a piece of entertainment, at the end of the day that’s basically what QJ is. I agree and disagree with a few things he says, but it’s sill funny and refreshing to me.

Well nobody asked for it and now I've done it. I found myself at a loose end yesterday (actually there were several things I could have been doing instead) so without any forethought or planning I fired up my iPad and recorded this little video. I'm sure there's a better way of doing it but I did the video on the iPad, audio on my iMac with garage band then bounced them together and added some text. Seemed to go ok so now I may do some better ones. Anyway here you can enjoy the sound of my mini bass and the VB99 which I love for it's flexibility. I've had it (and the previous version before it) for about 10 years now and I'm still finding new things to do with it. Hope you enjoy! ped

What a fortunate lady Jane is. In my family you might get a new jumper commissioned; if you're lucky.

I played my first gig with the dean 8 string last night, it went so well in practice and now I have lowered the action is it an absolute joy to play. Don't get me wrong, it is still more effort to play but only just. It is a faff changing bass, more so because I am wired up with wireless sender and IEM, so those leads are in the way, so I didn't do it that much (mostly the iem). As a result of that, there were some songs I would have liked to play with the 8 string that I didn't, and some things I wouldn't have picked the 8 string for that I did. So, come together by the beatles, really doesn't work for, you need a dull paul mccartny tone and it doesn't have that, plus the strings are in the way - especially as I play the whole thing up around the 10th fret. Some songs though, 'does your mother know', "20th century boy', 'crazy horses', 'who knew', 'fight for your right' and anything rocky, fantastic. I also ended up playing it on 'saturday nights alright for fighting' which I had already decided I wouldn't due to the effort requred, because it was between 'baker street' and 'fortunate son', and it worked ok, if a bit more work than I would like - ditto 'turning Japanese'. Some songs in the second half I would have liked to use it for, but too much ska in that half to pick it up. Need to work out a quick changeover without the leads! I really do like this bass. Regarding the pitch shifter, I have used one of those many times in the past, as well as the Akai unibass and fishman powerchord effects pedals, both now sold. They are ultimately nothing like this. I wouldn't mind trying a sub-n-up, see if it is any good, but it won't be the same. I wish I had this in my last group. I think the main difference is that with an 8 string, the way you play it dictates how much of which octave you get, so you can if you want play just the low strings, or just the high, playing with a downstroke sounds different to playing with an upstroke, playing fingerstyle sounds very different to with a pick etc, its really versatile within its niche. Dont' think it is ever going to replace the ibanezes for general stuff, and also it *is* a doubled 4 string, so it is missing a string (or umm.. 2 strings), so I really could do with a 10 (or umm.. a 15!) but I am really happy I got it.

Get a high-quality studio photo of each bass printed up, full size. Frame and hang those on the walls, optionally with attractive lighting; leave the basses in their cases in a secure, temperate room (not the attic...), to be taken out and checked up on regularly (quarterly..?). That's how museums and art galleries keep their produce intact for so many decades.

OK.. in that case, how far back do you want to go?

I think Bubinga has a valid point in as much as Mars's music is a pastiche of things that have been successful in the past and seems to lack any original creativity, granted he is hugely popular which i'm sure his record label love but he is never going to be the next Marvin ,Curtis ,Smokey ,James Brown or the hip hop artist's he's parodying of late... more Jimmy Osmond than James Brown i would say ,he even has the teeth

In the entertainment industry it's a job very well done.

After all that the shop didnt have one in stock. So after big consideration ive ordered a spectracomp. I like the idea of the one knob so i dont mess my settings up, and the amount of toneprints available. Should receive it on monday.

The dude is 84 and claims to have ten movies, six albums, four Broadway shows and a number of other projects on the horizon! Hardly someone who’s no longer relevant and has it ‘all behind him’. The thing is that he has had a pop at a few sacred cows (Macca, Jackson, Prince et al), which has upset a few people when their heroes are being dissed by someone of his undoubted pedigree.

Perhaps the Christmas break has impaired your recollection of events during the course of this year. For indeed, you have form for jumping into sales threads to point out logo transgressions: Prior to the 'triggering' incident of a week or two ago, you commented in a sales thread in October: Ped replied to you saying: On June 18th you replied to an ad for a bitsa Jazz saying: Then on Jan 17th you expatiated in a more general sense on logos: THAT! There are so many fake/counterfeit "Fender"s around, selling with a "Fender" logo is dishonest, just waiting for some poor mug to buy one thinking they've got the real thing. (I also think Fender have muddied the waters a bit by branding Squiers as "Squier by Fender", so that people can advertise them as Fenders. Funnily enough, only three days before you had described taking delivery of a Rickenfaker with a fake Ric logo. Fair play for removing it as you did. But surely in buying it you were party to a transaction where intellectual copyright was infringed. So basically, you want to stop people selling basses with fake logos but it's OK for you to buy one? I put it to you that your unhappiness with fake logos in sales ads is nothing new. You have repeatedly broken forum rules by posting in sales threads where you should have PM'd. You have already had a discussion about fake logos with one of the forum's owners who has made his position clear. I suggest that far from being a spontaneous expression of concern you started this thread in an attempt to change forum policy. You want to stop people selling items with fake logos but you're happy to buy them. Shall I go on?

Mikan just bought my Yamaha TRB1005 from me. Everything went smoothly, great communication, swift payment, and they did exactly what they said they would, when they said they would. Another nice BCer!

Hello gang here’s my micro-review of my new Kala U-bass! I’ve had it for just over a week now. Model: Kala U-bass mahogany fretless Well, it’s just completely lovely. Feels great to play. Sounds like a double bass plugged in. My 2 bands thought I was having a laugh until I plugged in and started playing. It has a huge, deep sound. Think deep, old-fashioned thump. Sustain - miles less than a P-bass but that’s part of the fun. Playing in tune (I haven’t been near a fretless for 25 years) - challenging but as long as you listen you get the hang of it quickly. Don’t try to go too far up the neck. After about the 10th fret it gets weird. Strings do need to get stretched. The G tended to droop a bit but it’s hanging in there now. The socket is a little stiff. I’m guessing this will loosen over time but it has led to the strap button coming unscrewed a couple of times. I got it from Bassdirect - they had lots. Their website talks about a strap button needed to be fitted - ignore this. The U bass strap comes with shoe laces, just tie this round the nut. The button at the other end is end - except that I had to open the strap hole up a lot with a knife before it would go over the button. Both bands completely loved it and the sound, and I can’t wait to play it live.

Thanks Pete

Amboyna is a beautiful timber - my ACG Harlot is made of this - however over time it's gone from an orange/red to brown. The grain, especially the spalted/bird's eye like you have, is a pleasure on the eye. My nephew used to work at John Lewis where they sold really expensive pens made from slivers. Looking forward to following this build.

Okey doke - I'll suggest it to him :-)

hiya yeah.. there is a soundcloud page with 3 tracks for media use here and some live YouTube videos Hey Mr Reggae

What like pal. Welcome.

The headstock shape is generally a big part of what identifies the brand (it's where the logo is normally located too) so needs to be as individual as possible (assuming it's not actually trying to look as much as possible like another brand without actually getting sued for it). There are only so many shapes that are practical in terms of holding the tuners in a suitable position before you have to start adding weird sticky-out bits purely in order to be different.

That pedal is in the same class as the EH Microsynth and other similar pedals - it does basic frequency division / multiplication on a filtered input signal; it doesn't actually convert the input signal to a control voltage as is the case with the pedals you are talking about here, so there is no latency.

Fender got it right and then no one was allowed to copy it.

There are a few Peaveys that spring to mind - cheap and cheerful Milestone aren't bad, Fury and Foundation petty damned good, especially the USA ones with the lined headstocks.

May take a lot of skill but still sounds naff

When I built my telecaster guitar I used spirit based dye from Rothcoe and Frost and then finished it in clear nitrocellulouse lacquer from Manchester Guitar Tech. I'm well chuffed with the result

Update - The tea bag and lemon oil doesn't work I will take up chewing tobacco next week

Then what a good job you were here to point it out. 'Basses for Sale' works very well and has a way lower incidence of deceit and fakery than the usual suspects such as G*mtr** and *B*y, where one is much more likely to encounter less-than-honest sellers. BassChat 'for sale' forums work very well because the people who put items up for sale here are largely honest and community-minded. If you want to imperil that with a draconian rethink of the existing system then you risk throwing the baby out with the bathwater. It's a non-issue.

Good stuff. I feel differently about it.

Was it described and sold as a legit Fender, or was it rather a misunderstanding by the buyer? I'm not sure the populace of BC should be penalised for it...

99.9% of the time, that happens anyway. We've had one instance of the first word in an ad being 'Fender' where the item was not a Fender - and that was because of a genuine error on the part of the seller, who obviously did not intend to deceive anyone. And it got picked up straight away. Which just goes to show that any deliberate attempt at selling a fake here will be shot down in flames immediately. 'Basses for Sale' is a self-policing forum. Whether you think that's a good thing or not is moot.

So... we ban the sale of overt replicas, and allow only the sale of either genuine basses, or the surreptitious sale of fakes. I'm really not sure what the benefit of this approach is...?

What a fine bass chater Steve is. Second transaction with this fine member...... highly recommended Justin

I just completed a deal with Steve when he bought my Jabba 5 bass. I can only say it was a very pleasurable process from start to finish. Steve is very communicative and honest. All in all a thoroughly nice guy and I would be happy to deal with him again anytime in the future

Purchased some PJB 'phones, good comms and fast delivery, just like last time. Great to deal with. Thanks again!

I drove down to the W Mids to meet Mikan today, and I bought his Lakland Tetsuya Bass. It was in excellent condition, and exactly as he had described it. The transaction went smoothly and I'm delighted with the bass. I found Mikan to be an easy, honest and open guy, very easy company, and a real pleasure to meet. Thanks once again Mikan, I do hope we meet again sometime

Met Mikan at New street station.Smooth as can be.Thank you.Best Rich☺

Great seller to deal with. I recently bought a 5 string bass from him and he couldn't have been more helpful.

Just done a bass swap with Steve. Very easy transaction and the item was exactly as stated. Good seller to deal with

+1 for Steve who bought my instrument cable with no issues. Thanks for a smooth deal

Just bought a cable and it was a top drawer experience all round

Bought a Mono Sleeve off Steve. As derscribed and smooth deal, many thanks

Just received a REDDI from Steve. It was packaged well enough to survive a bomb blast, and arrived before the courier even realised they had it. 2nd deal I've done with him - having done the first this was no hesitation. Can only echo all the positive comments above. Deal in confidence.

Steve recently bought my MONO double bass case, great comms and super fast payment made for a very easy deal

Traded a MTD635 very recently with Steve. I was struck how tolerant he seemed of my erratic email communications and somewhat whimsical change of plan to trade and not sell at the last moment. On the day he was happy to go out of his way to meet and I found him to be affable, genial and very helpful. A top bloke and bassist that comes highly recommended!