mcnach

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1488386627' post='3248521'] Those guys have since moved.... to Leith! Not certain if Krispn is talking about the same place, but there aren't a lot of repairers in town who are working from their own premises like that. [/quote] Oh!!! it's been a while I haven't been in that area. Good to know before I show up with a broken amp there then (just an example, so far all of my gear works fine ) Hmm. There aren't many, certainly. Worth doing a bit more checking, thank you, Martin.

[quote name='JamesBass' timestamp='1488394658' post='3248623'] Yeah I'm doing my head looking at other builders and trying to work out why builder X charges £00's more than builder Y! Neither of those, I'm playing some festival down in Bournemouth area that weekend, and then I've got a few others lined up, victorious etc. Should be a good summer! Yeah by all means, PM away! [/quote] will do! Thanks! ah, it would have been fun had we ended up at the same festival. Now I'm just hoping for decent weather... although driving from Scotland almost anything but torrential rain will look like decent weather to me

[quote name='JamesBass' timestamp='1488274003' post='3247354'] Am I really that easy to read? �� I've already got specs in mind, but I'm torn on who to give them to, to make my dream come true, I'm even considering FCS! Oh what Festival is that? I'm gigging quite a few of the local ones this summer, and we have a date for the Saturday at a festival that's a two-dayer. As for suggestions, that depends what you two like. Locally we are steeped in Martime history, Portsmouth has the Histroic dockyard with the Mary Rose and Museum, the Warrior, and the Victory, all of which are interesting! Then further north you have the Royal Armouries museum at Fort Nelson overlooking the entire area on Portsdown Hill. Over towards Southampton you have the Titanic museum, some good shopping at West Quay and Whitely. You have the river Hamble which is a very nice country walk and day out. There's plenty to do down this way, drop me a PM and I'll send over some more bits and pieces of you'd like! [/quote] Ah, I only have experience with Maruszczyk and I was very happy with that, so I haven't really considered anything else. It's bad enough like that, if I had to consider other builders too then I'd go mad It's called Music Mania Festival or something like that, in Worthing. The following week I'll be back, but this time with my main band, to play at the Boomtown Fair near Winchester (we play the Friday at midnight on that one)... but I'm more likely to bring the Stingray for that. Are those any of the ones you'll be in? Cool, thanks for that, although my gf I don't think she'd be very interested in war stuff. She's Polish and when we're over in Poland she indulges me when I want to see a few things, but I have to make sure I don't overdo it. Sunday 6th of August is also her birthday, so she'll be the boss 100% (as opposed to the usual 75% ). I might bring the bicycles... Thanks! I will PM you for more info/ideas then, if that's ok

[quote name='krispn' timestamp='1488300760' post='3247690'] It was a place in Leith. [/quote] good to know, thanks. I've heard only good things of this place by Haymarket, where Colorsound Studios are, by the Thrifty Car Rental shop, I forget the name... something about time travel (???). That's what I intend to use next time I need anything done.

[quote name='synthaside' timestamp='1488280307' post='3247441'] I can see the post with both neck's , but where does it actually say it's coming with a baseball necked P neck and an optional J neck rather than the other way round ? It seems a touch daft , I dont want to buy an extra neck and If people wanted a PJ with a P neck when can pretty much get them anywhere , One with a J neck is a bit harder to come by. [/quote] Well, I want a P neck, so ner ner nerner neer... actually what I'm really interested in is in a 5-string version, as long as it's not too heavy. I didn't care about the weight but lately I've been playing mostly relatively light basses and I love that.

[quote name='radiophonic' timestamp='1488282351' post='3247460'] Thanks for all the opinions. I am reading them! I thought the neck on the CV 70s P felt pretty good and the action was very low, without any choking. It wasn't clear whether this is a narrowrer profile than a standard P neck - it did look narrower, but not shallower to me. Again, Fender are light on facts here and the shop didn't know - or show much interest (PMT = all Guitarists I guess). I did think the body was rather light, but I'd need to play one back to back with a Fender and use a strap in order to tell whether it's really an issue. The pickups seemed a bit plasticky and for someone who anchors his thumb right there, the sharp edged moulding round the screw mounts was annoying. I'd like to have a closer look at the bridge too - it looked like it had brass saddles but they could be toffee. It says hi-mass on the site but that could mean anything. Quite tempting on first play. [/quote] I haven't played the CV 70s P, I owned a CV 60s and own a Matt Freeman which I believe is pretty much a CV 70s... although for the two points I want to make this doesn't matter... 1) action: you can make any of those basses have as low or as high an action as you want. It's adjustable. So don't judge a bass on that alone. 2) pickup cover being a bit edgy... you can change the pickup cover. There are lots around, usually at about £5 for a set, and they vary in how rounded the edges are. You can find one set that feels nicer.

[quote name='JamesBass' timestamp='1488271510' post='3247310'] Oh damn, that is a bit of a wait! I'm pretty set on trying before buying so if no one else has one closer, then yeah I'm happy to wait! Thank you Mcnach [/quote] Yeah, you'll wait... I bet you tell that to all the girls You'll be ordering one in less than a month. Once you start looking, you start thinking about your specs and... it's just a matter of (not much) time after that But if you haven't by then, send me a PM reminder in case I don't remember and I bring another one for whatever reason. I've got a gig in Rugby on Saturday night and then I'll be driving towards you for some festival on Sunday morning. Our slot is 3pm-ish, and after that I plan to stay for another day or two with my girlfriend in the area, so any suggestions of places to go/see would be welcome and if very good I might bring two Jakes

[quote name='JamesBass' timestamp='1488225157' post='3247022'] Out of curiosity, are there any Jake owners near-ish Southampton/Portsmouth? I'm fairly interested in ordering one, but I'd like to try one first [/quote] I'm pretty far, but I'll be in the area with mine for a gig... if you can wait until the 6th of August

[quote name='krispn' timestamp='1488203232' post='3246716'] I went to a local repair guy who told me its a £30 bench fee plus vat upfront for diagnostic. Paid up to be told it would be three to four weeks before it's ready to be looked at excluding actual 'repair' time. I had a last minute gig and called to say I needed the cab, got to the shop and the place was reeking of weed (it was a Saturday, two employees, no 'jobs on the bench') no signs of any actual work being done and once I got the cab in the car the cover was also stinking of weed. I'm heading back down today for a refund. I don't care if they're stoners but a three to four week wait and £36 up front so these lads can mooch about? No ta! I usually go via a local guitar shop. Drop the stuff off on a Friday collect the following Friday, £25 bench cost. I thought I'd go local as it's literally 5 minutes drive from my place. Needless to say I'll be dropping it off the next time I have a week without gigs. I get people need paid and it's a 'specialist' service but there's taking the p*ss [/quote] is that the shop next to the yard of a car rental place?

[quote name='Jono Bolton' timestamp='1488208680' post='3246786'] Allow me to share this anomaly; you can see from the picture that the bass he's using has the Squier badges on the headstock, but the truss rod adjustment is at the heel of the neck, rather than the headstock end as you'd find on the production model. I don't know if he's got a prototype, or if it's something else badged as a Squier. It's definitely got the same bridge as mine. Either way, I've definitely seen him playing the standard bass you can buy in the shops. [/quote] That's an interesting bass. And cool if he actually uses the production models too. Quite often you see them being used as little more than 'photo opportunities'.

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1488199894' post='3246664'] From their Facebook page "The Sire company plans to release the P7 with a 41.8mm Pbass original neck width size. And also an interchangeable jazz neck of 38mm will be available for purchase" [/quote]

[quote name='Huge Hands' timestamp='1488188246' post='3246519'] I don't know your situation at all, but it might be worth thinking of it from the other bassist's point of view. I play regularly in a band, but have issues with availability due to having my son every other weekend (which the band have always known about). However, the band leader is ruthless and will often book gigs on weekends that I can't do, and then threatens me with a dep each time. This then involves me having to spend ages trying to swap weekends with my ex and trying to free myself up. Of course, it never got as far as actually booking anyone to dep (and letting them down) but perhaps this is what is happening here? My own insecurities around the possibility of them gigging with and preferring a dep resulting in me losing my gig were what drove me to always comply, but this year I had to stop it as it was causing too many problems with my ex, and causing me guilt about putting the band before my son. I get depped for the first time in July - not looking forward to it! [/quote] I have been depped a few times on my main band. Never big gigs, but still I did not like it much. The dep in question is a friend of the band, I know him well enough and is a nice guy, but I didn't like the idea of booking a gig knowing that I was going to be away and not having the band 'fire in all cylinders' so to speak. He's a good player, but I was afraid they would not get enough practice and he wouldn't learn the songs well (all originals). It turns out he did pretty well. I still prefer the position where the band is the band, and we don't gig with substitutes. But now I like the fact that if I really have to not do a previously booked gig, and the guy is free, we can save the gig. My band will not change me for any dep. Another band I'm playing with, a mix of covers and originals, I recently had to cancel on them... so I called a couple of friends, both better bassists than myself, and the band was happy to pick one whom they kind of knew a bit. He's seriously good. Much better than myself. I was happy with that because I like the guys in the band and I'm the one letting them down, so I like it if I can give them a guy who will do a great job and will also be fun to have around. I know they will not turn around and say "you know what? this guy plays better than you... so we offered him the position, would you like to cover for him when he's not available?" They won't. The fact that you worry you might get substituted permanently doesn't seem right. If you are in the band, I am sure it is for a reason. If you were not suitable, they would replace you, dep or no dep. So I bet you're suitable. Your ability to commit to gigs is complicated because of family issues. In your place I'd be worried about being replaced if I am the person who is preventing them from booking gigs or causing cancellations. So the fact that you have someone who can replace you *when you're not available* sounds like a good thing. If your fears, however, come because somehow you've been 'bullied' a bit and you're trying to comply... then I'd think that it's probably not the band for you and I would not wait to be replaced, and look for another band with more reasonable people.

[quote name='beely' timestamp='1488209697' post='3246807'] We had a similar situation recently with our drummer. He had been off work with flu (proper flu, not the heavy cold variety) and I was concerned that he wouldn't be fit for an up-coming gig. I got in touch with the drummer from my son's band, explained the circumstances, and asked him if he would be able to step in if necessary. He said he would be happy to. Not only that but he would be happy to do the gig or not do the gig, whatever the situation was on the day. As it turned out, our own drummer was able to do the gig, although my fears about him not being physically able to cope were not far from reality. He was absolutely knackered when we finished. The band were all in agreement that the dep should be recompensed in some way, at least to cover his costs for the two rehearsals he did with us. We decided to split the fee six ways instead of five, just to show our appreciation for his willingness to help us out. Seemed the fairest thing to do. [/quote] +1 great way to do it.

[quote name='Japhet' timestamp='1488105079' post='3245787'] Do the remaining gig but tell them that in future, once it's in your diary it's a done deal. [/quote] unfortunately flexibility gets you dep jobs, and an answer like that might just mark the point at which you no longer get called... If it's a one off, I'd take it and smile. If it's a repeat or if it happens again, I'd make a point of saying it's a bummer because I declined other offers to do this one job. Nicely. Hopefully they would then realise that their cancelling has an impact in you.

[quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1488054020' post='3245507'] Probably depends on the time delay between asking you to do both and then telling you only one is available. If you had both dates booked for a while then you have reason to be peeved, but if they let you know soon after booking you, I'd take the one available and be grateful. [/quote] this

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1411332183' post='2558547'] I'm going to be depping for a friend next weekend in his Ska band. It's not exactly my comfort zone in terms of musical genre, but I've had a tremendous amount of fun learning the set over the last week or so. I'm aware I seem to be the person who can't bring himself to say no to a gig. I swore after learning two hours of 80's classics late last year I would never put myself in that position again, but here we are. A few notes for each song and the setlist on the front. My little book of Ska. I'm really looking forward to the mid-week rehearsal now I've cracked it and the gig should be a hoot! Now I just have to find myself some Ska uniform. [/quote] I bet you'll have fun! My first experience with ska was when a drummer friend of mine asked me to come along to a rehearsal for a new band he was forming with a few other guys and they didn't have yet a bassist. I didn't know much about ska, I had rarely listened to any ska, it was not my thing... and every practice was such a mood lifting experience! Great fun. edit: I just realised the date of the original post!

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1488132783' post='3246168'] If only they didn't have that awful 4+1 headstock! [/quote] Yeah, I'd love to see a 3+2

[quote name='fftc' timestamp='1488130659' post='3246131'] If I was spending £400+ on a new bass a Squier wouldn't be top of my list, but I wouldn't rule them out either. Have a good scout around, and look out for discounted instruments from higher priced ranges. [/quote] Good answer. At that price level, there are many other good options. Squier knows this however, so their £400 range is made to be able to compete in that market, and they do it very well.

[quote name='prowla' timestamp='1488125346' post='3246060'] Another thing is these "Signature" instruments - are they what the musician really plays on tour, or just a marketing tick-box? [/quote] as I understand it it's pretty much marketing. The Matt Freeman has the colour scheme that Matt seems to have favoured (not exclusively) over the years... but it's not much more than a stock Precision... a well made one, 'though. I doubt Matt plays them other than the odd photo opportunity the contract must dictate. If MusicMan made a 'McNach signature Stingray' I would probably own a couple, but I would still like to use my old Stingray which just feels right to me and has been slightly modified to my taste (I doubt MM would install preamps from other companies ). I have three signature instruments: a Richie Sambora Fender Stratocaster, a Mike Dirnt Precision and a Matt Freeman Precision (which has been converted into something else, however). The signature had no relevance whatsoever when I bought them, but they just had the right specs and I liked them.

[quote name='Naetharu' timestamp='1488124665' post='3246049'] As I understand it:[list] [*]Affitnity are standard range - these are the Squire versions of the current Fender line-up [/list][list] [*]Vintage Modified are classic designs with some more modern features. Here you'll find modern version of bridges, pick-ups etc. I have a Squire guitar from this range, which is a Strat but with a hard-tail bridge and hot-rails humbuckers rather than single coils. [/list][list] [*]Classic Vibe are their reissue instruments. Here you'll get stuff like the 70's Jazz with the oversized headstock and block inlays. [/list] I don't think there is any quality difference between them; they're not tierd like Mexical/US-Special/Standard are. They're just three different loose groups of instruments to cover a range of styles. I think they do make very low end budget stuff that goes under the Bullet banner. This tends to be very cut down (for example, the gutiars often have cheap bridges without the strings going through the wood and no tone controls) and for the most part these come in packages along with tiny started amps, straps and so forth. Are they £400 instruments? Not really. I'd say they are decent and if you pick one up 2nd hand for under £200 you'll likely be very pleased. But £400 for what amounts to a middle-eastern made factory bass with generic passive electronics and a few rough edges stikes me as expensive. Especially when you could get a 2nd-hand Mexican for the same price and that would keep its value. [/quote] I disagree, albeit based on my less than statistically significant experience based sample The CV series is superior in pretty much about everything. From what I've seen over the years, I would not look down at any of them, but the Affinity would excite me the least. When the Affinity started there was a Standard range and the Affinity became the ultra cheap ones and were noticeably lower quality. Later when they revamped the whole thing it seems the Affinity is the new Standard. They're budget instruments, but perfectly useable, and a little TLC can turn them into great playing instruments. The electronics tend to be the weak link, in particular the pickups, althout the new Affinities don't seem as bad as they used to and I've gigged with similar instruments no trouble. So, I would not hesitate buying one if my budget were restricted, but I would not be excited about them... although they have this beautiful red PJ bass for under £200 that if only it had a maple fingerboard I imagine it would probably be in my music room right now Then the VM range... I find them a step higher in quality. Not so much built quality, but the finish and in particular pickups seem to be pretty decent. They also come in more exciting combinations of finishes etc, so it's possible to come out of the store with a relatively inexpensive instrument that plays great, sounds great, and it also looks great. Very cool. Then... the CV range. A considerable step up, and to me they're worth the £400. Ignore the Squier label and play the thing. I've played a few and owned four different ones by now... not one was bad, not one was "meh", they were all different hues of nice or very-nice. The feel of the necks, the set up straight from the box, balance, electronics. Everything is spot on. If you compare them with higher end models you will likely notice differences that make the Squier clearly not as nice, but if you find that an extra £700 in your pocket are 700 important little factors, you will play that Squier and love it I have been playing in a ska/reggae band for a few months now (it was supposed to be just a mini summer tour of weekends around UK dep thing but it may turn out to be a more permanent thing after all). There's just one guitarist, and he's been playing for decades. He's very experienced and has a great ear and knows his stuff. I was amused when I showed up for practice and there he was with a beautiful beautiful natural/maple telecaster which sounded fantastic as he was doing a little solo chordal Jazz thingy to amuse himself... and it was a Squier CV. That's the guitar he plays all the time. I played my Stingray for the first couple of shows but then I brought out the Matt Freeman Precision/Jazz hybrid (essentially nothing more than a CV series with a signature on the headstock and a particular colour scheme) as I thought it fitted better and I liked the idea of playing Squiers The Matt Freeman is superb, and the nicest of the CV instruments I've had (closely followed by the CV60s fiesta red Precision I should have never sold)... £400? No problem.

[quote name='dood' timestamp='1488187409' post='3246514'] I ran the H1 last night feeding the output direct to my 64 Audio A8's. I have to say it was a very successful experiment, but I found that Mic placement for this stereo field recorder was important. Pointed away from my bass gear but next to me seemed to work well as I had a really good pick up of the acoustic drums. I think one of the reasons that the A8's made a good match is that they have a special module in them (ADEL now APEX technology) that does allow then to also work a but like normal ear plugs as a 'side effect'. I've chosen a module with -18db attenuation specifically for the onstage volume I am most likely to encounter. The H1's 'ambient' output therefore added clarity and dimension to what ended up in my lug holes. A very interesting experiment as I didn't really rely on the H1 for say low end as I could feel it as usual, but I blended in just enough from the H1 so that I could hear top end clearly. I appreciate this whole plan is a bit slap dash and pales in comparison to a full ambient system, but for an 'active personal ambient system' on a shoe string budget, this has been pretty amazing. I am definitely going to try with the 'surround sound' H2n so I can pick up audio from in front and behind the device, straight to my A8's. Given the results, it's very likely I will do a video explaining everything in more detail. Kit to test: Zoom Q4 Zoom Q8 Zoom H2n The thing I like about the Q8, is that not only does it have stereo microphones on that I can set up in the manner explained above, but it also has a pair of 1/4"/XLR inputs too, so I can feed another two channels of audio in to it - such as a click track or a stereo send from a mixing desk etc. I doesn't do 'rear microphones' though so there's a trade off. I'll do some pictures and probably a proper thread in time. In short though, of course the Zoom's weren't designed to be ambient monitors, but I can't think of any other gadget on the market that comes close as these do to what I would ideally like to achieve (without going for something like ACS Live!). Updates soon! [/quote] very interesting, Dan! I'd love to see the video too when it finally happens. I had and H4, Q3 and the H2... the sound quality of all of them was more than decent for what they're designed to do. I captured really nice recordings of an acoustic guitar with my H4, and a little post processing made it shine. I use the H2 regularly during band rehearsals and indeed, mic placement is very important. Definitely not pointing at the bass amp, as you indicate. I find that placed higher and in front of the drums I get a pretty good sound, with clear drums. I'm hoping that behind the drummer I'll still get a pretty good picture of the drums. He likes a lot of kick on his personal monitor so that would be useful too. The H2 microphones can cope with pretty noisy environments without distorting... I don't expect the quality of a dedicated 'proper' system, but it surely must beat what we normally get using attenuation earplugs alone. The number of times I have had to play where I could just go with drums and a bit of rhythm guitar among the general chaotic onstage sound, often with little bass with the low end reduced drastically as otherwise we just get a horrible boomy noise everywhere... A little in-ear set up with a Zoom H-something for ambience and separate bass feed *must* work out better. I've been distracted with a few other things the past couple of weeks, but I hope to finish my set up soon and start the live tryouts.

[quote name='lownote12' timestamp='1488178378' post='3246451'] Not quite on the market yet, it's a Pj. You'll likely find pix on their fb page - or here [/quote] Oh, thanks! If they have chosen a not-so-thin neck, I can see myself being very interested Hmmm

[quote name='rushbo' timestamp='1488135010' post='3246197'] Well thank you...although (gulp)...I recorded the tune with my Mexi Jazz Bass. And that (gulp again...) has a pair of Mec pickups...Don't hate me. [/quote] well, THAT bass sounded great, don't sell it!

[quote name='dood' timestamp='1488127451' post='3246085'] Thank you! I'm going to try out a stereo system this evening, if that works well I will definitely want to try out the 4 to get an 'all round' mix. I haven't decided on mic placement yet but I'll just see if the theory works in this band environment. [/quote] please report back, it'll be interesting to hear how it works for you

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1488050153' post='3245454'] Im pretty sure we covered this earlier in the thread (and there is another on the same topic) but the V7 string bridges are different to the 5 strings, in that it seem its almost impossible to string though the body on the 4 stings. IIR Sire said they would address this quite a while ago. I must admit ive not really kept up with the Sires so maybe they haven't. I do like the look of the P basses though, although i wont be getting one as im sorted for a P bass. [/quote] They make P basses now? I can't find them...