mart

[quote name='Twigman' timestamp='1321062409' post='1435143'] yeah but the other guy (Florin) was a "[i]Profanity removed"[/i] - he deserved it [/quote] No. Sorry, but I can't let that stand. I've been on the Warwick forum a lot over the last few years, and I've seen a lot of sides to Florin, and as well as being an incredibly successful musician (bassist in the biggest band in the country!), he is also gentle and kind, and is absolutely the last person to deserve being called a "[i]Profanity removed"[/i]. He doesn't come across terribly well on that thread, but then, look at that thread from his point of view. He approached these cables with an open mind, and did a careful A/B test, and heard a difference. His argument, then, is that somebody who hasn't actually used the cable has no right to tell him what he can or cannot hear. After all, he's a pro musician, he has good ears! If you approach this thing with a sufficiently open mind, then his point is perfectly correct, and it's a shame that he had to defend himself so much. But. Those of us who look at this with some knowledge of the science cannot approach this with a truly open mind, because we know a lot of relevant things! We know that the cable [i]cannot[/i] make any audible difference, so it's all a matter of perception. Florin thinks he's countered that by doing the A/B test, and if you don't know enough about the placebo effect, then his test looks rigorous enough. But it's not, because the placebo effect is astoundingly hard to avoid, hence the need for double-blind tests. "Double-blind" is a phrase that gets bandied around too freely, and I suspect too many people use it without realizing exactly what it entails. When they do read what it involves, most people think it's totally unnecessary - surely it's enough if the patient doesn't know whether they're getting the real thing or a dummy. You need to have read a lot of the wierd things the placebo effect can do before you start seeing the need for such a complicated experiment. I wish the scientists on that thread could have gently explained the need for a full double-blind test, and given some examples of how much we can trick ourselves, particularly with aural perception. But no, the scientists were too busy arguing to actually take the time to see where Flo was coming from. And I personally was too chicken to get properly involved.

[quote name='gelfin' timestamp='1320963401' post='1433931']...One of my favourite answers to customers asking what cables they should upgrade to is to tell them to buy some new music a good bottle of wine or favourite tipple and just listen to the MUSIC. [/quote] +1. That is fantastic advice! We so easily forget the element of enjoyment. The red/white wine thing is a little surprising. I'll have to do some testing. Lots of testing...

Yep, I liked the professor's comments, although like many a scientist (and I count myself as one for these purposes) he can come across as brutally direct, i.e., rude and insulting! [quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1320936800' post='1433427']...I guess the problem is that we can't actually scientifically measure what someone really hears because the ultimate mechanism is inside our brains, and [i]we all know how fallible, or easily influenced, that can be[/i]. [/quote] True, although I also think a large part of the problem arises from those of us who [i]don't know[/i] how fallible and suggestible our sense of hearing is. And I think serious musicians, in particular, find it hard to be told that their hearing is not the perfect objective thing they like to believe it to be.

Seems to be some good sense here. The "last couple of metres" argument seems to me to be the simplest of many reasons as to why these cords can't really do a lot to help. But I suppose some hefty endorsements keep people wanting to believe there's a short-cut to a better sound. Unfortunately somebody opened up a discussion of these cords on the Warwick forum recently and it turned quite ugly: [url="http://forum.warwick.de/14-maddrakketts-caffe/15355-music-cord-anybody-tried.html"]http://forum.warwick...body-tried.html[/url]

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1320873542' post='1432715'] Mine can look dark or very light. I'd be interested to know how yours looks under the same shop lights. [/quote] I see your point, and unfortunately I don't think I'm going to manage to get both basses together under the same lights. But the difference was a lot more than I could imagine being caused by the lighting alone. Either way, it looks like you'd need to see the bass (and preferably in a range of lighting conditions) before buying if you are at all concerned about shades and hues. And, by the way, I agree about not needing to change much on the bass. I've switched the pup, but am happy with everything else on it.

Mmm, yep, gold hardware would look good on that! And I agree about it being nice to have the all-passive option to hand. (Especially if, like me, you're a bit useless at remembering to have a spare battery )

[quote name='Bassnut62' timestamp='1320871458' post='1432677'] We could do a deal there, as the new one that broke is getting a new TBP footswitch fitted as we speak.....PM me if you're serious! [/quote] PM'd.

[quote name='Bassnut62' timestamp='1320656234' post='1429326'] Well customer service appears to be excellent. I emailed YooSmart last night about the failed switch. They were very apologetic that they could not send a replacement before Thursday as they are moving office this week. [/quote] That's good! And if you're then needing to dispose of your old one, I'd be very willing to help you out

Very nice. You just need to change all the hardware to black

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1320759035' post='1430892'][size=3]....My only worry is the Fiesta Red looks VERY pink...is it?![/size]...[/quote] Well, that depends, and not just on the light. I've got one that I would say is very red, and lovely too. But the other day I was in a shop that had one that was really quite a different hue, much more dark pink, and much less to my taste. So I suspect different batches have had significantly different paint put on them. So this is another one where you'll really need to see the bass in question before buying.

[quote name='Bassnut62' timestamp='1320447197' post='1427120'] yeah, you're right; I'll drop into Maplins next time in town - i really can't be assed to ship this back to China and wait again. while we're waiting - has anybody tried this compressor live with a band? I'd be interested to know if it holds up the bottom end in that situation and I'm not playing bass in a band at moment. [/quote] I'd have thought it's worth dropping them a line to see what they offer - they may just send you another one, to save you the bother. I've had their OCD clone for a month or two now, and the switch shows no sign of any problems yet, so I think you may just have been unlucky!

+1. Very interesting comments, and I very much look forward to a more detailed review, although I can already see I'm probably going to have to buy one of these. And the Vintage Overdrive too, sigh!

[quote name='Bassnut62' timestamp='1320403532' post='1426303'] phew, saved by the bell, my colleagues don't have to suffer the dreaded BASS BURP after all. the compressor just turned up and it has a customs decalaration on back with a declared value of $6 and no customs fee to pay; but b*#~ocks, I've been had, it's only worth $6! parcel is well wrapped and pedal comes in a nice box. it all looks good so far. I'll have a play with it when I get some time over w/e and try and get some clips up as soon as I can after that. [/quote] Oops, only just noticed this. I'd be tempted to go back and demand a partial refund, cos you should surely have only paid $6 for it Alternatively, we might just want to be collectively grateful for their cunning tax-avoidance trick!

[quote name='Musky' timestamp='1320393515' post='1426160'] Just a thought, but is anyone getting hit with import charges for these things? £30 is a total bargain but £50 less so, although still good value. [/quote] If you buy it from UKET (in the UK), then no, there are no outstanding import charges - you pay the £30 you expect to pay.

I love "The Least We Can Do ...", but haven't heard Still Life - sounds like I should check it out!

[quote name='alyctes' timestamp='1319799726' post='1418701'] What's the cavity and cover on the back of the upper bout? N00b question, I expect, but if I don't ask... [/quote] It's where he puts his jack sockets:

[quote name='apa' timestamp='1319740206' post='1418063'] ...All was going well until I got to that headstock shape. ...[/quote] Stauffer meets Stingray, but they don't get on! Are the E and G strings strung the wrong way, or does it have to be like that?

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/21840-thru-body-stringing-vs-bridge-only/page__view__findpost__p__1140120"]http://basschat.co.u...ost__p__1140120[/url]

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Status-Graphite-S3000-Bass-Guitar-Custom-Spalted-Beech-/320776687309?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4aafc7cecd"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Status-Graphite-S3000-Bass-Guitar-Custom-Spalted-Beech-/320776687309?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4aafc7cecd[/url]

[quote name='MarkBassChat' timestamp='1319207891' post='1411348'] Yes, you can check it here: [url="http://www.warwick.de/modules/produkte/produkt.php?submenuID=14667&katID=00000014478&cl=EN"]http://www.warwick.d...000014478&cl=EN[/url] ...[/quote] I'm a bit puzzled by this: I believe the Warwick piezo bridges aren't undersaddle at all: the piezo element is right on top of the saddle, immediately under the string. (Certainly the top of the saddles look very different on piezo-fitted basses to regular basses). You may be able to fit a piezo thing underneath a Warwick-type bridge, but I'm pretty sure that's not what they do.

[quote name='throwoff' timestamp='1319208530' post='1411360'] ...Any tips for a first time fretless player? [/quote] Just one tip: Sell all your other basses, cos you won't need them anymore.