WalMan

[quote name='ped' post='437857' date='Mar 17 2009, 10:13 PM']I am over the moon with the way Elixirs last and sound, and I have learned the hard way that if it aint broke, don't fix it! Given my previous experiences with normal rotos I won't be checking them out![/quote] Indeed. I think I shall need quite a few waxing lyrical about the new Ropewounds before I jump the Elixir ship.

It will be interesting to hear how they compare with Elixirs. £23 a set from SoundUnlimited, £25 from StringBusters (£28 for Elixirs) Having used Elixirs for a few years now I did try a different brand of coated a couple of years back (can't remember which) and they were awful. If the Rotosound Nexus are as good sounding & long lasting as the Elixirs it'll be good.

[quote name='Dropzone' post='436037' date='Mar 16 2009, 01:14 PM']WPOD?[/quote] White Punks on Dope - The Tubes but without the lame codpiece

Stubbington went OK. Completely different set and Max mixed them up as we keep chivvying him to do to keep things fresh. As his setlist email said "there's 40 songs and we can't do them all". A few other bands in and only one mad ending to a reworked song where the Rall., was in two or three different BPM's. We'll get it next week. A few requests for WPOD, which hasn't been in the set for a few now, and I was asked about the Wal, which I haven't taken to gigs for a while, though that was because I was mistaken for the old bass player of the band the others were in but I never quite joined 20 years ago

[quote]What is it about Wals?[/quote] - If you get a good one it's frickin' marvellous. I tried a few at the Bass Centre in Wapping years ago and was not overly impressed at the time, but think that was down to set up frankly. Then my Pro1 was p/x'd to the drummer in the club band I was in at the time's shop and it came straight off the wall to a gig that night & never went back It was a single pup passive at the time but sounded great. Ten years later Pete @ Wal retro fitted the Custom pups and electrics, which as I understood in talking to him at the time was always the intention with the passive Pro1's - ie sell it as the bottom of the range "starter" bass with the option to add actives at a later date if required. Adding the actives bumped the available sounds up a huge amount (obviously) and tightened up the sound to make a good bass great. It's got a lovely fast neck and a smaller headstock than the original spade, and I LOVE IT!!![url="http://planetsmilies.net"][/url] [attachment=21864:AlansWal.jpg] No idea what it's worth, though I know what it's insured for which is probably about enough to replace it if I could find another, but I'm in no great hurry to sell it.....EVER And a couple of clips that would have been from when it was still a passive bass (though possibly with a second pup added, not sure the multitracks say 1986 ) [attachment=21865:ATF___Sp...al___kit.mp3] [attachment=21866:ATF___St...ass_clip.mp3]

[quote name='Dropzone' post='429119' date='Mar 9 2009, 10:12 AM']How bizarre, ours at Cheers was busy but no where near as busy as we normally have it???? Must be the credit crunch ;-) I see you guys are down Cheers soon, I will try and pop down and say hi if there are no clashes. Cheers Mike[/quote] That'll be a week Friday on the 20 March

[quote name='Dropzone' post='427031' date='Mar 6 2009, 11:30 AM']Are you sure they weren't holding the doors shut to stop people escaping ;-)[/quote]Probably [quote name='Dropzone' post='427031' date='Mar 6 2009, 11:30 AM']Have fun at the half brick.[/quote] Well it was different (and sadly quiet) but we got paid & he wants us back so its a start. Onwards & upwards to the Red Lion Stubbington this week Oh and as for [quote]we were wondering if the half brick punters would be into Nu metal?[/quote] sadly I couldn't tell you as they weren't out last night in any strength, well at all actually

[quote name='evilLordJuju' post='427586' date='Mar 6 2009, 09:13 PM']Martin Turners version is still out and about playing - saw them not so long ago, and MT is still using his 1960s Thunderbird. Sounds great of course. Obviously, for us bass-players, that is the line-up to catch! see his tour dates here [url="http://www.wishboneash.co.uk/livedates/1.aspx"]http://www.wishboneash.co.uk/livedates/1.aspx[/url][/quote] We [i]might[/i] be supporting them, but I need to confirm dates as at the moment it clashes with our best gig There you go. That's put the kibosh on that then

[quote name='steve-soar' post='427525' date='Mar 6 2009, 08:10 PM']Do you own the most expensive bass on Basschat[/quote] Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer NO

[quote name='Dropzone' post='426272' date='Mar 5 2009, 03:24 PM']We are currently in liason with Mark to get a gig at the Years Club. Good luck for Friday. I would come down be we are playing the hell hole known as Cheers ;-)[/quote] Ah yes the joy of Cheers - where everyone knows your name. Last time we were there the wind was howling along the front and the door had to be held shut. We started in woolie pullies it was so damn cold and then slowly disrobed as things warmed up Mark's a good bloke. We've know him since he used to come & see me, Max & Kev in A Kind Of Fury years ago

[quote name='Dropzone' post='425014' date='Mar 4 2009, 01:12 PM']Hi I play in Dropzone and we were wondering if the half brick punters would be into Nu metal? as I have never been there? I have listed our set below to illustrate what we play. Ta Mike[/quote] Eeeeer pass. It's our first one there tomorrow. Not sure how its going to go for us!? I sort of think probably not as it seems from the gig lists to be a more classic rock/blues gig. Whether you could hire the function room to put on your own gig I don't know. Have you tried [url="http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=436175592"]The Years Rock Club[/url], which I think is up by the main station in Worthing?

When my son was at BIMM the bass players always had the pick of bands for the end of term concerts, while the guitarists had to fight over too few pleces and occasionally ended up playing bass just to get a gig

As this is in the "General Bass Discussion" section I feel I have to add that Adam Clayton clearly is a bass player as he plays with his fingers not a pick. You may not like what he does, but he does exactly what is required keeping a solid base to the songs with the kit. As for the band you may not like the music - I like some bits not others - but as others have said they have produced music that has moved many and have what you need in a band with a charismatic front man (who many will feel comes off as a knob, but that's the front man role surely)

Sometimes picks are a necessity. I used a pick for years because I preferred the sound for the rock & punky stuff we did (and yes I am well aware of Steve Harris and Billy Sheehan thanks). Got into using fingers, and reasonably proficient, in our bluesy phase. Now we are back doing rockier stuff I just prefer the attack of a pick - that and my right hand fingers are twisted with arthritis so that, other than on the occasional slow number or broken down section when I might use fingers, I get p155sed off with middle, ring and pinkie getting tied up with each other.

[quote name='silddx' post='421829' date='Feb 28 2009, 06:07 PM']Some geezer at one of our gigs a while ago said any bassist playing with a pick is not worthy of the name and shouldn't be let near a stage.[/quote] .....and he is a tosser.

Went to the gig early & watched the England/Ireland game (will they ever manage to play a full 80 mins with 15 men!? ) Pub pretty much emptied after the game so the crowd was not huge for most of the night. Did most of the first set and part of the second to polite applause, and was chatting to a couple at the break who said that Friday is the better night - ain't it always the way - and we were wasted on the rest of the pub ([i]which was nice[/i]). All rather annoying as we were really tight and the sound was great. Still about half way through the second set a pirate band arrived (NO REALLY, well OK a bunch of folks who had decided to go out for a session dressed as pirates) and they geed up the rest of the pub, so we finished to cries of more. Nice but a bit late in the evening sadly. Still onwards & upwards. The two new Foo Fighters songs went well and another new venue to try next week. Final annoying part of the night. We are down to play (and possibly finish) a festival in its second year in my home town August Bank Holiday weekend. First we realised at a meeting about it this week that our drummer gets back from hols that morning, but he's been talked into having a couple of hours kip & doing it. Then tonight I find our vocalist will be in the US , and our old vocalist from the originals band from a few years back will be back from New Zealand, but travelling round Europe with his current girlfriend over that weekend (double ). Drummer & I were talking after the gig over a kebab (something we have not done for a while) and trying to decide whether we could think of a stand in for a half hour set, and whether that will cause different grief.

[b]The Half Brick Worthing[/b] At last we get to Worthing. Hopefully it will go well, but we shall see. Worthing has been a bit of a desert for uss at the last few gigs there. Still the Half Brick is a rock pub so we live in hope. Tonight it's the Admiral Drake, and I think I shall head down there shortly to watch the rugby EDIT 1 Stubbington this coming Fri 13 March. Mini tour at the mo, though not quite like an old gig list I have from the 70's that covers two months and has over 30 gigs on it. Those were the days, when I was young and could hack multiple gigs and work the next day Not like now when we are crippled for the w/e after one EDIT 2 Another week, another gig - Cheers this Friday, then I have to be up at dawn's crack (fnar fnar) next morning to drive to Bristol for the rest of the w/e EDIT 3 Royal Oak Friday 27/3 followed by The Fountain Chichester on Sat 28/3...........and then I shall sleep all day Sunday [Edit] and Monday it appears! I'm getting too old for this EDIT4 Last one for the time being & another new one but extremely local to me for a change - Cob & Pen Littlehampton Sat 4 April

There are some quite good freebies at [url="http://www.kjaerhusaudio.com/download.php"]Kjaerhus Audio[/url]

Swan in Woolston. Not bad, but not as busy as it has been (end of month was blamed by landlady) but it livened up and the dancefloor was full at the end. Hiatus in the break as sound guy had a call from his alarm monitoring service. Finished the gig, but crack down was in record time. Did both Foo Fighters songs, with Steve reading the words, and guitarists having had a quiet run through beforehand. "[i]Learn to Fly[/i]" went well but "[i]Long Road to Ruin[/i]" went a bit pear shaped in the middle, still we got through it Bass was sounding huge, and we have now established that it is my Aviom rack mixer that has gone wrong as the mix was fine using one of the small mic stand mixers. So that's this week over. Admiral Drake in Portsmouth next Saturday, a late one and we shall have to wait for the rugby to finish first (mind you as its the England/Ireland match I may just head down early and watch it there rather than drive down after)

Next one for this year after a week off and possibly two Foo Fighters numbers to throw in - depends on how #2 guitarist feels about them as he can't make r/h's but they are both pretty straightforward for us I should think.

I feel your pain. Our soundguy has a 24T ADAT that just needs a pair of light pipes from the desk to be ready to go, and do you think I can get him to record more than a gig a blue moon Of course on the odd occasions he does & I do a rough mix the only comment I get is from the drummer, who complains that the cymbals need to come up. Pointing out that he moans like bu99ery when an o/h pair are set up does not get through and I normally have to try to arrange for the recording to happen on the QT anyway as there is always some reason someone feels we shouldn't!? Why we can't just follow the Govt Mule path and record every gig, then pick best versions is beyond me. [/rant]

[quote name='silverfoxnik' post='413935' date='Feb 19 2009, 10:02 AM']Hi Folks, I'm interested in buying a bit of bass gear (a 1 x 10 lightweight cab) on Ebay but it's located in [b]Bath[/b] and the seller will only do local pick up... So, I was wondering if any Basschatters could assist me by helping with picking it up and by helping with shipping? Bit cheeky I know but sometimes, needs must! It's an auction so I may not win of course, but equally, there's no point in bidding if I can't arrange to pick up the item! I'd be more than happy to cover all expenses and make a donation to the 'beer & sweets fund' as well for any help received.. Thanks in advance.. Cheers Nik[/quote] More toys Nik - standby "cunning plan!

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='413006' date='Feb 18 2009, 01:15 PM']Try one of these - [url="http://www.slider-straps.com/"]http://www.slider-straps.com/[/url][/quote] beat me to it [quote name='Rich' post='413059' date='Feb 18 2009, 01:56 PM']I tried one of the Slider straps a few years back, when I was having back problems. It didn't work at all for me. It took the strain off the shoulder, yes... but it changed the playing position completely, forcing the bass further round my body so that my fretting hand was having to reach almost behind my shoulder line. Doc/osteo/chiro/whatever, immediately. And the best of luck to ya. [/quote] +1 to that but it definitely helped in the short term - that and enduring the p1ss taking "where's your parachute?" "You've forgotten the baby" etc

[quote name='niceguyhomer' post='412801' date='Feb 18 2009, 10:22 AM']I'm not a fan of doctors - well mine anyway and I'll only take pills as a very last resort. I see an osteopath occasionally for my dodgy hip and maybe he could help I dunno. I just wonder if I'm gonna have this permanently if I play a heavy bass.[/quote] Not wishing to worry you but I ended up getting my shoulder replaced 3 years ago and it started that way - mind I already had arthritis eating away at bits. That was after using my Wal for 20 years, which is not the lightest of basses, but IMO by no means the heaviest either. I've mentioned it elsewhere but before the op I had ended up using a [url="http://www.slider-straps.com/index.html"]Slider Strap[/url] to get through a night. I have a spare still in one of my cases. If you want to try one PM me Al