clauster

I'm thinking about P basses at the moment (well, for the last couple of years in truth). I played three Ps pretty much exclusively for my first 14 years as a bass player and that split single coil aat the sweet spot is how a bass should sound to me. But (and it's a HUGE but) my hands really can't cope with the width of a P neck. So I'm looking at P's with a J neck. I've been looking long and hard at Warmoth's website and I could put my dream bass together at a reasonable price. But I know what I'm like with DIY (two months to paint all four walls of a bedroom with two coats, 9 months and counting to even begin putting together a BFM cab) Off the shelf I can only find the Squier Pete Wentz (bargain price, good reviews, stupid graphic on the body and on the 12th Fret) and the Lakalnd Skyline DD (nice, but over my budget and for the same price I could get someone else to put together the bits of my choice from Warmoth). Is there anything else out there off the shelf which I'm missing?

I think I'm next after Paul (and currently last on the list), but I've got a heavy couple of weeks ahead, so I'm happy to wait until Paul has finished with it, evn if that's not going to be until mid/late June.

Im hoping to one day try a Lace Helix L bass which looks on paper like it'll be a P type sound.

[quote name='alexclaber' post='485206' date='May 11 2009, 05:24 PM']Though saying that no-one other than me has heard a pair of Compacts! [/quote] I might have done - I heard someone playing bass the other day and I'm only 25 miles away

+1 to CK Except I'd take a nice Guild accoustic.

Good advice, hone your skills on something that works on 9v batteries, rather than than 240v ac. Or have a go at some speaker cabs.

Compression is the one effect I really know and understand. I've had a lot of pedal compressors over the years, plus a couple of rack ones (Alesis and Drawmer). We all use them for different things - limiting, punch and sustain spring to mind immediately. Good for making other dynamic effects more consistent (envelope filters, overdirve). Can also be used to mask poor dynamic control. There's a really good sticky in the effects forum on compression. Whether or not you're right to use it is up to you - if you're happy using it - it brings something to your tone, need the punch, stabilises your dynamics before a really fussy pedal (older octavers spring to mind), great. If you're not happy beacuse you feel you're using it to cover up for poor picking hand technique, either lower your expectations of yourself until you are happy or get practising and put the comp away.

I'm unable to do this one (rehearsals clash with the only other musical thing I'm involved in at the mo - writing and arranging some originals with someone I really don't want to let down) but having found out a bit more about them I'd encourage anyone considering having a go to get in touch with this chap.

I'm interested.... PM'ed

[quote name='Boneless' post='482220' date='May 7 2009, 05:51 PM']Avoid: - BOSS CS-3: it just doesn't work on bass.[/quote] Unless you have it modded with a Monte Allums kit..... Absolutely superb then

As a commerially profitable venture, Jazz may not be top-of-the-heap at the mo, but here in Tunbridge Wells we have more venues where you can regularly go to a jazz gig than you can for rock.

Two XLR DI out for me please (both switchable pre/post would be even better)

We're at about 2 hours - 2 guys do desk, IEM and DSP rack and run the multicore back to the stage. The rest get pa cabs in position, connect up amps, wireless mic rack. Then instruments and amps come in and get set up and mic'ing up/DI gets done. Then 10-15 mins for soundcheck. We'd probably save some time if we had a simpler FOH desk. But, along with Bassace, we like to get this all done before the majority of the punters come in, so we try to arrive at pub gigs for about 4. Also gives us time to chill out, have a pint and some food between get everything up and running and starting the gig. So we're ususally at the venue for at least 4 hours before we start playing.

I'm pretty certain it's this lot - [url="http://www.myspace.com/doctorsin"]http://www.myspace.com/doctorsin[/url] (They got in touch with me via musofinder, the rockier stuff had me tempted but "proper" blues just isn't me)

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='476065' date='Apr 30 2009, 02:52 PM']Bass gets tuned monthly.[/quote] Whether it needs it or not

I did have a Vectra, which was great for moving stuff - when we couldn't get a van I'd get two of our PA cabs in there, pthe 16X4 multicore, mixer, my combo, bass, leads bag and various other bits and pieces in. Currently using Mrs C's Frontera Sport, which looks massive until you try and get anything in it.

Even though mine's bottom of the range (the electric blue 180 12" combo) it does me for rehearsals and at gigs it sounds great - but at gigs I take a DI from the preamp straight into the FOH desk, so there's no colouration from the power-amp and speaker. I love the pre but the rest of the package is pretty uninspiring. It is just a 12" driver attached to cheap power amp in a small box. Hopefully my omni 10 (when it's finished - thank God spring is here) will squeeze a bit more juice from the amp and also sound a lot better.

[quote]Remember, the dirt keeps the funk![/quote] The I have the funkiest Warwick in the world

[quote name='benwhiteuk' post='468139' date='Apr 21 2009, 09:54 AM']I enjoy the waxing process, and the smell always makes me happy [/quote] Not me! Can I bring my Warwick down to you every couple of months pls?

I think this current issue has the best content for ages, and the layout of the news pages is improved to. For the last six issues, I've flicked though and only read one or two bits - this one I'll be reading most of it - Good stuff!

[quote name='Rich' post='465093' date='Apr 17 2009, 02:59 PM']Yeah, but can you get proper biscuits like ginger nuts and custard creams?[/quote] Ah, but custard creams nowadays aren;t the same as when I was a kid

Ta muchly WPD....... I'm pretty certain I won;t get on with a five, I'd just like to be certain

I've always played four but have been toying with the idea of a five for some time now. Not sure why as a D-tuner would enable me to do all I need. B*gger it, I'm staying four - its been good enough for me for 28 years

Am I too late to go on the list please?

1. 95% of commercial music has always been crap - there's the instigators and the rest of them are just launched to make a buck for record companies 2. Everyone likes the stuff the listened two in their teens 3. There's still great music being made out there - find a radio station that specialises in your favourite genre and put it on. Thanks to xfm I found the Black Keys when I first started listening. My latest find is Frank Turner (like Billy Bragg but can actually sing). Every couple of months over the last six years I've found something that genuinely "pumps my 'nads" Interesting point about live music though.