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markstuk

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Everything posted by markstuk

  1. Been following some of the topics on here with some interest.... Basically to summarise what I've read - strings "go off" because 1. They get contaminated by sweat/grease. 2. They get damaged by being fretted. 3. The "core" stretches.. I'm sort of up to speed on the first two but the third puzzles me since grand pianos don't need restringing every few months and some of the strings are under much higher tension than bass strings.. Number 3 also seems to be pushed by string manufacturers who of course have no vested interest in us changing our strings frequently.. Or have I got it all wrong here? Cheers Mark
  2. +! [quote name='thinman' post='1062738' date='Dec 18 2010, 06:29 PM']I get where you're coming from to some extent but obviously bass can and should have its variations in tone and style. What I do have a strong opinion on is that some bassists obsess over their solo tone which may not always sound great in a band context, i.e. the solo tone should only be a start point - it will probably need altering to fit the mix.[/quote]
  3. To be more specific the B string on my Ibanez (I've used Elixir 130 and DR Hi Beam 125 so this is not an exhaustive list) although it can sound ok, feels floppy and without great attack... The 37" B string on the Dingwall (using Hi Beam alikes) has the same feel/tension/attack/timbre as the other four strings.. And great sustain.. Given the OP is asking about an SR505 specifcally my SR765 observations are probably relevant... The BTB B string sounds better (35") and the string spacing is better than the SR's 16.5 mm which I find a little tight... Mark
  4. I have both an SR765 and Dingwall ABZ.. the Dingwall's B string beats the Ibanez's one by a country mile... Mark
  5. Me too.. In my other life we build Erlang systems, but was wondering whether VST performance issues were down to poor implementation thus sandboxing them in a VM might make them better behaved.. Something like this maybe? :-) [url="http://www.itpro.co.uk/628381/boston-quattro-2296-t-review?CMP=NLC-Newsletters&uid=d485b50b09d96bf2ef8c7a742559833b"]http://www.itpro.co.uk/628381/boston-quatt...f8c7a742559833b[/url]
  6. Has anyone tried running VST's in virtual machines (VMWare etc)? This might address some of the resource hogging issues.... Cheers Mark [quote name='dood' post='1062364' date='Dec 18 2010, 12:20 PM']Hi! I think in most cases including the receptor, you will need an external sequencer of some sort to trigger patch changes or control CC messages to the host. Ok, so what program are you using at the moment? As long as your program can receive and can be controlled by MIDI implementation, then yes you can either control it via a sequencer or possible via a external MIDI controller like a footboard. It depends on the level of implementation that your software contains - but as an example, I have some free looping software that I can controll just by using a USB>MIDI interface and plugging in my Roland FC200 straight in to my laptop. As for sequencers, most DAW software is capable of outputting MIDI data along with audio and say, a click track. I use REAPER and think it is brilliant. But other DAWs such as cubase could also present an external device with patch change messages and CC updates etc etc. I have seen bands go out on tour with just a PC or Mac running sequencing / Virtual Instrument support AND backing tracks.. however, when it goes down... you're stuffed unless you have a back up! Do I know how? Well yes and no - I know the basics, but it would take a lil bit of playing to figure it out totally. It's not actually that difficult, but takes time to get your tempo track together for the song with all the messages in the right place at the right time. You could liken it to sequencing a drum track in a DAW. You have the individual notes, but the CC messages also control velocity, effects, pitch bend, after touch etc etc etc. Those same CC messages can be sent externally to control say, effect delay time in a VST, WAH pedal control and as you have mentioned, turn individual pedals on and off.[/quote]
  7. So this was about £1500? In that case I would prefer this to a Sterling as well :-) [quote name='obbm' post='1061911' date='Dec 17 2010, 07:01 PM']I was originally considering an MM Sterling 5 but then decided that for the same money I could have a completely custom bass. The original spec was 5-string with MM SR5 spacing, HS pickups and headless so it would easily fit in the Smart. Body is Asian Ebony on Swap Ash Neck is Maple/Wenge with a Flame Sycamore fretboard It doesn't appear to have suffered from it's travels. Here a few quick pics. Alan has some much nicer shots which should appear on his web site. Neck side dots are illuminated blue through fibre-optics from a single LED in the control cavity. First impressions are that it oozes quality. The neck feels very comfortable and easy to play - this was one of my concerns as I have short fingers. Basic tone is excellent - I now have to master the pre-amp.[/quote]
  8. I'm interested in the 210 if my swap for my Terminator rig goes through in the next few days... Will let you know.. Cheers Mark
  9. markstuk

    My First Gig

    I think you're very brave to post these vids to youtube.. Most of us would rather have no evidence of our first gig in the public domain :-) It's always different live.. You'll only get better... Take feedback from the audience that you respect.. It's easier if band members are not the only folk asking the drummer/retardist to be quieter... Welcome to those of us who actually stand up on stage, you're already different from those who criticise, but never have a go themselves... And the main thing is to ENJOY IT.... :-) Cheers Mark
  10. Andy Bunn in Stratford upon Avon (above the music shop in Market Sq) 07876 783501 Just got my SR765 back from a setup and it's transformed.. Nice guy, great value (£30)...
  11. Having taken the lid off, and prodded and tightened various bits on the preamp board, it seems to have fixed itself.. Thanks for all the advice.. I'll get it looked at properly in the new year.. thanks for all the great advice guys..
  12. As per photo.. Complete rig including SKB 4U ABS case, recently serviced by Steve's Amp Repairs in Snow Hill in Brum.. Warwick Terminator cab includes Custom Warwick flight case (one catch slightly wonky, but case is fully serviceable nonetheless). This is a bi-amped setup with 500W going to the 2 x 15" drivers and 500W going to the 2 x 10"and horn.. Includes 4 way footswitch setup (2 x 2 way Ashdown footswitches) Looking for £600 all-in (collected from Stratford upon Avon) or swap with cash either way for something nice (500W ish) with less physical presence. :-) Willing to split £200 or the cab, £400 for the RPM/APM/Case and pedals.. Go-on, you know you can't resist :-) Marketing Guff below.. Ashdown RPM-1 Pre-Amp. For those wishing to configure their own rack-mounting bass rigs, the Ashdown RPM-1 EVO II preamp puts all the ABM facilities in a convenient rack-mounting package. Three straightforward rotary tone controls provide 20dB of cut and boost at 60Hz, 660Hz and 5kHz, and are supplemented by two pairs of additional sliders giving 15dB cut and boost at 180Hz, 340Hz, 1.3kHz and 2.6kHz. The EQ can be switched in/out, and flat/shaped by footswitch, enabling players to go from a flat fretless sound to a boosted sound via a favourite EQ setting. A single input is switchable for passive and active instruments with a blend of solid state and dual triode tube preamps stages which can be preset and selected by footswitch, providing access to a massive range of clean, warm and overdriven tones. Also footswitchable is the mighty Ashdown sub-harmonic generator which precisely tracks the main signal and reproduces it an octave lower. A sub-harmonic level control enables the player to add just the right amount of low-end reinforcement - everything from a subtle, thickening of the sound to unbridled, bone crushing tone. The ABM RPM-1 EVO II features a balanced DI out with pre or post EQ switching, a sub-bass output, a tuner output, an FX loop and a line input for the connection of an external sampler or sound source. Output muting cuts the signal from the DI output but leaves the tuner output 'live', allowing the player to tune up in silence. The addition of a high-precision crossover with variable frequency from 35Hz to 160Hz and a level control for the low-pass output, enables the configuration of sophisticated bi-amped systems, in which the bass and mid/high frequencies are amplified separately. Ashdown APM-1000 The perfect partner for the RPM-1 preamp, Ashdown's APM 1000 EVO II is a 2 x 500 Watts RMS power amplifier combining simple, elegant design with uncompromising component selection and intelligent quad fan-cooling to achieve exceptional levels of fidelity and reliability, along with low noise and distortion. Each channel has its own massive toroidal transformer ensuring that power delivery is fast and abundant, with high quality output devices delivering a frequency response extending up to 50kHz. Warwick Terminator The Warwick Terminator features 2 Eminence 10" speakers + horn in it's own vented cab and 2 Eminence 15" speakers in a bandpass system. It has two speakon inputs and is carpet covered. It has both fullrange and biamp options, in fullrange mode a 300hz hi pass filter will stop the low frequencies from going to the 2x10 section. In Bi-amp mode, one speakon will be high input at 8 ohm and the other is low input at 4 ohm or 16 ohm which is switchable with the high/low switch. A chrome 3/4" horn in the upper cab with a attentuator at the back completes the cab. Made in Germany Frequency Response: (-3dB) 45 - 15k Low Frequency: (-10dB) 35 Hz Sensitivity: (1W/1M) 99 dB Full-range Impedance: 3/6 ohms switchable MAX SPL: 125 dB X-over (horn high pass) 4, 5 kHz 10s high pass 300Hz Switches for biamp/fullrange mode Impedance switch. 2x15" Speakers Bandpass System= 600Watts RMS 2x10" Speakers + HF Horn = 400Watts RMS D: 37.2 x 23.8 x 19 in. 945 x 605 x 485 mm (HxWxD) 59Kg
  13. Yes, it has fanned frets.. They're only odd/different at the top of the fretboard... Up to the 15/16th fret I seem to have adapted 100% in less than a day... It's absolutely brilliant.. But then having dropped over a grand I would say that :-) But it is.. I encourage you to give one a go.. You'll either love it or you won't.. I was hooked within the first five minutes... Cheers Mark [quote name='daz' post='1060730' date='Dec 16 2010, 04:53 PM']Lovely looking bass. How are those fanned frets? I wish id tried a bass with fanned frets at the recent bass day.[/quote]
  14. Thursday Bump.. Lovely 5 stringer for someone with smaller hands...
  15. Hi, My Hartke 3500 has developed a problem in that it works fine when first powered up, but after about 15 minutes of playing the volume drops and starts to distort before finally fading away... It's not the cab or cables (or even the battery in the bass)... This happens whether I use the "valve" preamp or "SS" preamp level.. Any ideas as to what might be the matter.. ? Not my week for amps so far (My Geodyne is away for repair as well).. Cheers Mark
  16. Have now done so.. Cheers :-) Mark
  17. It's 4326 according to the documentation...
  18. Hi, looks like 4380 from what I can make out... Which would figure given that I suspect it was made mid 2010... Cheers Mark [quote name='Grand Wazoo' post='1060523' date='Dec 16 2010, 12:55 PM']What's the serial n# on yours *(stamped behind the headstock) ? mine is 4227, Sheldon Dingwall confirmed to me it was completed on 10th Dec. 2009 and it weighs 7.12lbs or 3.5Kgs. The pickups are Neodymium Humbuckers and the bass is passive, yet effing powerful and no need to worry about batteries. As for the wood grain, I disagree, I could say that maybe the grain on yours is more linear and tidy, yet I do like yours a lot too. You know the grass is always greener and all that... As for us being seen together with the same bass HAHA, imagine playing a bass duet with matching suits? LOL[/quote]
  19. It does appear to be identical :-) You do realise this means we can never be seen in public together :-) Although I do think the wood grain pattern is nicer on yours.. But hey, I can't see it when I'm playing.. [quote name='Grand Wazoo' post='1060502' date='Dec 16 2010, 12:37 PM'][b][size=7]WOW CONGRATULATIONS ON A SUPERB BASS[/size][/b] And it's my bass's twin brother too! Excellent choice, any advice you need, any questions feel free to ask, like what strings to use and where to find them, just send me a pm. [/quote]
  20. My Dingwall ABZ acquired from Scooby on this here forum ....
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