Old Horse Murphy

[quote name='MB1' post='156578' date='Mar 13 2008, 11:04 AM']MB1. Did notice someone was selling a rather fetching GOLD Spandau Stingray in the Basses for sale section. .[/quote] I missed the boat Martin. Something you want to confess to?

Thanks I think I'm going to look for a decent Fender Jazz and see how I get on. At least it would be easy to fit a J Retro if I needed to. FOR SALE: A 1975 Fender Precison Bass (bit of a Bagpuss but I love it)!!!

Took the P out last night with the new Thumper and gave it a go. Unfortunately, it's not happening for me and I'm pretty gutted. I even tried it with a monitor and although I could hear a bit better, it was pretty-much a Droning sound with no definition at all. So, I don't think I've got many options left other than having some serious work done on the bass to have active electronics fitted. I'm not prepared to do that to it, so I'm going to move it on. Very sad

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='156206' date='Mar 12 2008, 05:08 PM']Probably be a Duck Dunn next year when GAS gets the better of me.[/quote] First Dibs!! First Dibs!!

[quote name='Paul_C' post='154353' date='Mar 10 2008, 08:39 AM']Could you keep the rig as it is, but have a personal monitor setup that allows you to hear it ? So front of house is classic P, and you have a wedge shaped amp pointing at you with a more middy output ?[/quote] That's going to be my next option I think.

The irony is that over the last 10 years or so I've ALWAYS played with earplugs in order to protect my hearing!! I failed to realise that the 6 or 7 concussions I've suffered from (as well as all the other bumps and bangs; the stingers) have probably done more damage. Agree entirely that earplugs are essential for all musicians. Again, thanks for all your suggestions guys. I tried out an EBS preamp on Saturday and although it helped a bit, the sound that was produced was so far removed from that of a P Bass that it (to me) defeated the object of having a P Bass. I've got another session on Wednesday so will try out the Wizards properly. If I still get no joy, I'm going to sell my P and invest in something perhaps a bit more hifi.

Dep gig on Wednesday for my Drummer's other band. Pretty simple stuff until some guy asks for Hey Joe. I've never played it before but know the song pretty well. The guitarist tells me what key and the chors structure and off we go. Anyway, it goes down really well and the guitarist tells me I'm the easiest bass player he's ever played with and offered him more support than he's ever had during his solo. Found out on Friday that they want me to join full time!! Not a bad result for a guy who could hear his P Bass through most of the gig (see other post). Maybe that's the secret; don't listen to what you're playing!!

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='153526' date='Mar 8 2008, 11:18 AM']Have you considered an outboard pre for the P bass. Somethink like a BDDI or EBS Microbass would be better than chopping up that lovely P bass. You might be able to borrow mine.[/quote] Thanks very much for the offer. I'm actually going to go down Tin Pan Alley later today and try out a few basses and the Microbass (and laugh at their prices). I'll see how I get on but it's definitely an option.

[quote name='martthebass' post='153501' date='Mar 8 2008, 10:26 AM']Don't do anything too hasty Nick. A local bassist mate of mine (in his forties like me but more hearing loss) was suffering the same sort of thing, hard rock/Lizzy type band - so P bass a must They've swapped out the backline and all go through pods and good quality monitors - all forward sound through the 'uprated' PA (inc. drums). I had a chance to play through the set up last year, the stage sound was much quieter but everything was audible and well mixed and pretty much represented what was out front. Is this an option?[/quote] Not really an option at the moment Mart. We've just got hold of a new PA, so to suggest we upgrade our monitors and our guitarist to swap his new Marshall for a POD would probably see me hanged from the nearest lamp-post. I really appreciate everyone's suggestions and genuine empathy: it's greatly appreciated. I took the P bass to a rehearsal this morning and although the Thumper helps a bit, even when I turn the Eq on my amp to maximise the mids and low mids, I still can't pick up the bass. I'm confident enough to have faith in my own abilities but I still find it disconcerting to play without hearing myself. The rehearsal rooms had a Fender Jazz with a preamp fitted, so I borrowed that for a few songs and the difference was remarkable. I'm going to sulk on it for a few hours (feeling very sorry for myself today, so it's a good job my wife's out or she'd kill me), but I think in order for me to get enjoyment and satisfaction out of playing still, moving the P on to finance a decent Jazz or somehting similar is the way to go. This is a really hard decision and one that makes me feel pretty low, but I have to be practical unfortunately.

[quote name='OldGit' post='153417' date='Mar 7 2008, 10:30 PM']Jon's active eq stuff is great. I guess with stacks you can get 6 rotary controls on a normalish P scratch plate if you have a jack plate on the edge of the body inna PJ stylee .... J pups on a P body always look wrong to me .. Still that's what custom's are alllllll about Do you elevate your cab? I know it's a "hear it anywhere really clearly" Schroeder but it may help anyway Rugby eh? Hummmm[/quote] At least it's early enough in the build to speak to Jon about some modifications. I'll speak to him and see what he recommends. I have the cab elevated so much that they can hear me on Mars if I'm facing the right direction!! Rugby Hmmm indeed. Still, it will be good to see the Boys turn Wales over tomorrow (Jeez I wish)

[quote name='obbm' post='153414' date='Mar 7 2008, 10:24 PM']Sorry to hear this Nick. As you might know my hearing is seriously cr*p now augmented with a lovely NHS digital amplifier in each ear. Call it all-day in-ear monitoring. I take them out when I'm gigging but I have to be away from other instruments, especially guitars in order to hear myself. If possible I like to be on my own on the drummers left where I can see his kick pedal. I also use a two cab stack so that the upper, more middy cab is closer to my ears. I'm a great believer in active basses so I can give the low mids a real boost which enables me to hear more clearly. The general concensus seems to be that the bass sounds much punchier, you know, you've heard us and of course you know the bass as well, it was yours.[/quote] I must admit that I was thinking Active myself Dave. The Stingray is a Godsend, so I might look at going down the Jazz bass route and fitting a J-Retro or something if necessary. I'm certainly a fan of the sound you get live from your setup and it comes through as clear as a bell. As much as I like Passive basses, it's just not working for me anymore. It's a tough decision, but I think I've got to consider selling the P Bass, as it's too nice to even think about cutting holes for batteries etc in it. I've seen too many decent old basses altered beyond repair before. We'll see what tomorrow's practice brings but I think I know the outcome already.

[quote name='steve-soar' post='153386' date='Mar 7 2008, 08:56 PM']Or the second row, or number 8, or fly half, or......just don't play rugby. One of my best friends died last easter, after a blow to the chest, he had a heart attack a few days latter. We used to play at county level when we were kids but he continued. I broke fingers and collar bones when I used to play, the though of anything like that happening to me now BTW, I've started to use Mack's Ear Seals, I just don't push them right in.[/quote] That certainly puts things in perspective Steve and I'm very sorry for your loss. If a bit of deafness, a few teeth missing, the odd scar and arthritis is all I got away with, then I was a lot luckier than others. The thing is, I'd probably do it all again if I was given my time over. I still miss it every day. Just remind me of that when I moan about not being able to hear my P Bass!!

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='153270' date='Mar 7 2008, 05:52 PM']Well with 2 channels on the LittleMark have you tried boosting the mids/upper mids on the P bass. You might not like the sound as much but you should hear it better. Defo get some ear plugs and you might have to pony up for the moulded jobs given your caullies.[/quote] I've tried boosting the mid/upper mids on the P Bass Channel (God I love the 2 channel Littlemark) It does help a bit but I still lose the sound.

[quote name='OldGit' post='153284' date='Mar 7 2008, 06:20 PM']We have a thread on Laying? Damn! How did I miss that? OHM That's rather nasty problem .. Have you decided on a PUP for your P5 yet? Might be worth talking to Jon about it. Meanwhile try earplugs, mate .. You'll find you can hear all sorts of things better once you get used to them and you can use them when you are an audient too. Don't think you can do that with IEM lugplugs.[/quote] I think i'm going to go Active Si. Either that or 2 J PUP's. I've fitted the Thumper now and given it a run out. It's a bit better but hmmmm, not sure...

[quote name='E_MaN' post='153297' date='Mar 7 2008, 06:37 PM']Its sad to hear when something like this happens especially to muscians, If this story doesn't encourage your to think about ear protection with at least sleeping ear pieces you shouldn't be allowed to have ears...ok extreme.[/quote] Totally agree but I think most of the damage was done through too many knocks to the head rather than excessive noise. Over the last few years I've been very careful about hearing protection while gigging. I've not used the best plugs going, but I've always used something. The moral? Don't play in the Front Row EVER

[quote name='dood' post='153227' date='Mar 7 2008, 04:53 PM']Hey Murphy, sorry to hear about the predicament. Have you have a look at the ear plugs sticky? there's a lot of info there about great ear plugs and in ear monitoring. Should you pop a new pup in you gorgeous P bass, I maybe interested in having that SD quarter pounder off you, to help subsidise the new pup. Dan[/quote] No worries Dan I've got a Wizard at home somewhere so I'll try and put that in tonight and see how I get on. We've got a rehearsal tomorrow in a hall so I should have a good idea of what works and what doesn't.

I'm glad you all like it. Hopefully now you can see why I'[m desperate to see waht I can do to improve my predicament!! Why is it always the pretty ones that are the hardest work??

Just thinking about it, I'm not sure this is in the right Forum. Is it a Bass Guitar issue or a playing live issue? I just don't know....hmmm

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='153065' date='Mar 7 2008, 02:04 PM']I LOVE Mocha.[/quote] Me too. Funny though, when I've seen a Strat or Tele in this colour, it does nothing for me. I guess the finish on this is so transparent though and you can see the grain so clearly that it looks amazing.

And for you BC'ers who've asked to see the cause of all my woe, here it is... I dub thee "Heartbreaker". 1975 Precision in a transparent Mocha finish. 100% original apart from the pickup (the original is in a drawer somewhere and may make a reappearance soon). Quite unusual and one that brings all the bass players up from the audience "Hey Pal can I have a look at that old Precision of yours..." Possibly the nicest bass I've ever played (when I can hear it). Can't remember what dimension neck it is, but it's a beauty.

Thanks for the feedback guys. It definitely wasn't the room as it's been the same for the last few gigs (I guess I've been sort of denying there's been an issue). I'll deifntiely put the Thumper in and see what happens. I'll check out the earplugs too.

Played a gig on Wednesday night and took along my 75 Precision and the ubiquitous Stingray. All of this is played through my Littlemark Head (a channel for each bass) and a Schroeder 21012L. Everything started off fine with the Stingray and as the night wore on, I started to use the P Bass, which has a SD Quarterpounder installed After a couple of songs, it actually dawned on me that I couldn't hear the P bass at all despite having the amp/cab set up the way it normally is. Try as I might, it just wouldn't cut through to me. I switched back to the Stingray and all was fine. Anyway, talking to the guys later no (and people in the audience) the bass was cutting through really well and in fact people thought the P sounded better than the Stingray (less bitey and trebly). After a few days of mulling it over, I went and saw an ear doctor this morning who basically said that due to my cauliflower ears, one too many knocks to the head and generally playing loudly, my hearing was impaired to such an extent that I cannot discern the thuddy sound of the P bass through the rest of the noise. Needless to say, I'm a little bit uspet and at a loss what to do. I'm going to try and fit a Wizard Thumper to see if that makes any difference, but failing that, I'm unsure what's best to do. Do I get rid of the P Bass and get something more trebly like a Jazz or do I go for in ear monitoring or something similar? I wondered if anyone else has experienced similar or has any suggestions at all.