mcnach

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1441286405' post='2857556'] I know we like to sit around and chew the fat about gear - What's best for gigging, what's best for recording, what's best for this amount of money, what's best for metal. And I've long since held the view that, actually, nobody cares. The majority of an audience when you play live won't care. Other musicians might, but are you writing music to please other musicians? I had the experience recently of playing with many fantastic musicians, who played on various qualities of instruments. The instruments were completely sidelined by sheer raw talent and songwriting/performing ability. Nobody was interested in talking about which year Fender stopped making their switches out of bakelite, or what bass is best for metal. Everyone got stuck into the music without pretentiousness. So what compels us to still talk about what instruments and backline we need to play the crow & fiddle on a gloomy Saturday evening? Does it make any difference to the punters? What if you spent £500 on a bass, and £500 on an amp - Wouldn't that be good enough? And in video format - metal guy yells and swears (that's your warning) [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSiv45KEFGY[/media] [/quote] I liked the video, I agree with pretty much all of it

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1441824383' post='2862128'] You should do it! I wonder if a pair of the 2x10"s might be more sensible though... [/quote] where's the fun in being sensible!? seriously, 'though... 7.5Kg each? And that size? So easy to carry and take anywhere. A stack of 4, vertical, would take little room and might be pretty cool. I'd love to try that configuration at least.

Congratulations!!! I hate you.

I want a stack of 4!

[quote name='DarkHeart' timestamp='1441526765' post='2859423'] The CV pup [b]is supposed to be (apparently) a tonerider pup [/b]but the best thing to do would be try them both and use the one you prefer the sound of. [/quote] how do you know that?

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1441731840' post='2861323'] Just picked up an EHX Small Stone Nano. Very creamy, swirly, and warm. Lovely! [/quote] My favourite too

oh, and it's made me dust my Strat and play along to the album a bit, which is no mean feat. Yup, I'm liking this.

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1441578955' post='2860068'] I'm most definitely not a fan, and would struggle to name a single song. I've just started editing for an online music magazine, and just finished editing a review of this album. The guy admits to being a huge fan of Iron maiden, but only gives it 3 stars out of 5. [/quote] That's 3 more than I'd give their last few albums, and I am a Maiden fan! So it's good progress

[quote name='lancer' timestamp='1441490167' post='2859285'] What a fine album. Anyone else listened to it yet? Maiden back on form me thinks. [/quote] I have been disappointed with Maiden for well over a decade now. It's all just "meh". Great live, but their albums leave me cold. I listened to their "Speed of Light" single last week... meh. But I can't help it, so I bought the new album anyway. And I'm glad I did!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's modern Maiden, without a doubt, but this is a fine album!!! Yeah!!! Shame the production is not that amazing. If this sounded like "Powerslave" I'd be dancing to this at high volume right now and damned be the neighbours! I'm moving in three weeks anyway!

Yes, the production is not fantastic But I have to say that being a sceptical Maiden fan, who's been disappointed again and again for over a decade... I'm actually liking this album a lot! It's the "modern" Iron Maiden for sure, which I don't like as much as their pre-1988 output, but this is a good one, oh yeah! I initially disliked their single "Speed of Light", and now even that one is growing on me. Thank you Maiden!!!

[quote name='bassmachine2112' timestamp='1441653712' post='2860650'] Cheapest way is to stick a behringer BDI21 in front of your amp [/quote] ... and then?

[quote name='Yawn_Blah' timestamp='1441646055' post='2860553'] achievement: dream bass! waters signature P , facelifted to look like a 57. i payed a MIA price for this MIM: bass+parts + 100% import tax + shipping + dealer's slice! but cant be happier! totally worth it. sounds and plays great! [attachment=200217:IMG_6396 copy.JPG] [/quote] I does look good! yum!

[quote name='zawinul' timestamp='1441624347' post='2860289'] £43 pedal with power supply, the 'guitar' version.. [/quote] I'd want that blend control on the overdrive, any overdrive, really...

[quote name='bumnote' timestamp='1441560676' post='2859840'] the fender reissue 50s bass is really good, lovely neck. [/quote] +1 fantastic bass, that Classic 50 series Precision. That would be my choice without hesitation.

[quote name='Funky Dunky' timestamp='1441136327' post='2856404'] DB5 - that's really interesting to know about practice amps, and would go a long way to explaining things. McNach - I'm thinking you're right. I'm only too aware of the hot preamp in the SUB Ray and I do tend to have it a bit trebley as I like the tone, but rolling it back does indeed kill a lot of the problems. As for the mod - is it wrong that I think Sterling should pick up the tab for this mod? Why should anyone buy a bass and then have to shell out more to have it tamed so it's fit for purpose and doesn't fart? In addition, 95% of the volume sweep does nothing! Sterling have known about these problems since the SUB Ray hit the market in 2012 and have done nothing about it! My bass is a 2014 model and it has the same flaws. Why would they do this? It's poor IMO. I love the bass but they really need to buck up their ideas when it comes to the electronics. Bear in mind I had to send mine back for repair as I was experiencing really quick battery drain. Anyway....rant over Thanks for your advice [/quote] I agree with you... they've known about it and they should have fixed it. On the other hand, if you want quick results... sometimes you have to shrug and do it yourself. Fortunately this is a very simple/cheap operation!

[quote name='mr zed' timestamp='1441144829' post='2856512'] Fixed it for you! [/quote] nah, you merely made it slightly prettier and more expensive

[quote name='Funky Dunky' timestamp='1441018491' post='2855302'] Sterling SUB Ray 4 - active beast. The problem is with this bass. I also have a Squier VM Precision PJ, which is passive and doesn't give the same problems. [/quote] aha, so you're narrowing it down now... It sounds like it's not just the usual muting etc. Do you boost treble a lot on that bass? I hear that those basses have a particularly hot preamp, to the point that there is a thread on TalkBass where one of the main guys at SBMM posted a modification, with pictures, to tame the preamp a little. It was very simple, just adding a resistor at a particular spot... have a look. If you have issues with this bass only, I think it's likely it's because of a combination of your settings (amp gain, treble/high mids EQ) and the hot preamp.

[quote name='Funky Dunky' timestamp='1440969724' post='2855049'] I'm a bedroom player who has the odd jam. My bass playing is really coming on, and I'm keen to take the plunge and start trying out for bands. I have one problem - volume. I can control my instrument perfectly well at bedroom volume, but when I get past a certain number on the dial, I get noises I struggle to control, as if every tiny little thing produces a noise. Even muting to control the noises seems to cause noise! How do I tame 'er at high volume? I have to crank it through headphones to practice controlling it, but have you any tips you can share? Is there a pedal (noise gate etc) that can make it any easier? Thanks guys. [/quote] I think it's a matter of... practice at volume. When you turn up, you notice a lot more certain noises you would normally ignore at low volume... you'll have to adapt a bit how you play, how you mute strings, etc, when you play at higher volume, and the best way to achiev that is playing at higher volume repeatedly. The good news is... you will probably do it without realising and in much shorter time than you think. I don't remember having had to try to be "cleaner". It just happened. So don't get too worried, and keep at it. It'll sound cleaner each time you play.

[quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1441060720' post='2855834'] Yes, they should be quite easy to make with a Jig or Band Saw and some ply, but how big is the market for people who have two "identical" cabs, of which they want the bottom one at an angle? [/quote] I don't think many, that;s true, but they don't need to be identical.

[quote name='tauzero' timestamp='1440786723' post='2853923'] The disadvantage, of course, is that you have to play ska. [/quote] pah! you haven't lived!

[quote name='goonieman' timestamp='1440787307' post='2853930'] This is largely true, although its likely that the chose bodies and necks with knots and disfigurements (hence the paintjobs on back of neck etc.). The USA SUB I had also did not have quite so good rosewood fretboard quality... subtle, but the difference was there. Apart from that, it's a dead-ringer [/quote] I believe the SUBs were made of poplar, which doesn't have a very pretty grain, compared to ash for instance. It makes sense to not worry about pretty grain if you want to save money by using a simple solid finish that requires no polishing etc afterwards. I wasn't talking cosmetics, but about what really matters... they are Music Man, and the ways they chose to save money to produce a cheaper line were not, in my opinion, anything that affected the way they sounded. Besides finish, and slab body vs contoured... they are full fat MM Stingrays, with the same pickup and preamp, coming from the same factory. I've owned 3x 4-string and 1x 5-string (I have just one now) and I can't say the rosewood was of inferior quality than their "posher" brother... but there is, obviously, variation in the grain between instruments.

[quote name='JJJack' timestamp='1440765380' post='2853645'] The only way is to try a few out. I would personally go for a Musicman if I had the cash. However, I've never tried the subs or olps. [/quote] The 2003-2006 SUB *is* a MusicMan.

[quote name='gapiro' timestamp='1440765589' post='2853648'] Weve had this discussion with a LL recently, did a gig a month ago, went down fab, did another last friday. He's booked us 3rd friday of every month until xmas. We're concerned that each time its going to get less busy, but we shall see! Personally every 2 months works. [/quote] Do people go to that bar on that Friday to see your band specifically, or do they go because they like the pub and it has good bands on? I suspect it's mostly the latter, so I don't think you have much to worry about. My originals band plays once a month in a well known music bar in town. Our sets can vary a bit as we have more material than the required 2x45' slots, but we only add songs slowly so the difference between the songs we play this month and the songs we will play in three months time will be mostly the order, and a handful of changes between old material and some new stuff. It makes no difference in the end. We have some people who are unrelated to the band who come to see us. Some wear our T-Shirts which fills our hearts with joy but most people in the bar just go there because they know there'll be decent bands playing. We just try not to disappoint and have people dancing, having a good time, and drinking more beer (although we play our own songs, we generally do one cover: "Beer", by Reel Big Fish )

I don't see a problem... if you don't take it another band will (possibly playing mostly the same songs? ) Do it. Just keep working on expanding your repertoire as much as you can. A lot of what makes a cover band "good" is not the setlist, but how they play and their attitude and interaction with the audience. Some bands are great at getting a (positive) reaction while others don't. The former get called back. Maybe that's why you got called back. I'd not be worried about playing 95% the same songs.

[quote name='Minty' timestamp='1440703981' post='2853181'] I've never really been a fan of Precisions, but after installing a P pickup in my Jazz bass and then borrowing an old Japanese Ibanez Precision copy for a month long tour...I developed a taste for them! Hence my newest purchase, this 1988 MIJ Fender 57RI (in my favourite colour). [/quote] what a beauty!