mcnach

[quote name='doctorbass' timestamp='1423822792' post='2689351'] Im a firm believer that one of the biggest changes / upgrades that you can make to your bass is a string change. Usually much cheaper and almost always more dramatic than a PU swap for example. String swapping can get a bit obsessive for some but it improves your basic set-up skills in the process! And I agree, roundwound steels are great -[b] I use Rotosound 66's.[/b] [/quote] I have a pack of those to try, probably this weekend. Just have to choose which bass.

It's a bit embarrassing that after all these years I haven't paid enough attention to the strings. I mean, I have... I have experimented with various flats, pressurewounds, nylon tapewounds, but rounds are rounds, right? Sure, tehre are differences between brands, some are coarser to the touch, some feel "tighter" (something about the core being round or hexagonal too?)... When I started playing bass, after years of guitar, I just went with the same brand I liked on guitar: D'Addario. Nickels. Then I ran with it. Over time I would be exposed to other strings. I noticed some strings felt a bit different, in a way I really liked. But I always thought it was the bass they were on which made them sound that way, bouncy, and just tight-sounding (hard to describe). Then, I discovered DR fat beams. Steel. I like those a lot. Not cheap. But I like them, so I bought more and more. Used only on one bass or two (Stingrays). I still did not make teh steel/nickel connection. Then, I got tired of the flats on my Squier Precision CV50, and fitted this set of Warwick Red Label I had in my drawer... They were pretty cheap strings at under £12 delivered. Pretty coarse to the touch but... hey, that feel, the bounce... the sound, it's pretty much all there. Wait... They're stainless steel too! So I have FatBeams, D'Addario ProSteel and FlexSteels, Fender Steels, Rotosound steels and Warwick Red Label steel... and some are nicer than others but... they all have "it". What a difference it makes!!! I understand they're not for everyone. I don't like the initial brightness... the almost slight mid-scoop sound... but after a few days they're perfect. I can tame the zing (which they have in spades) easily with a passive tone control in my Precision/Jazz, or the treble control on the Stingray, and they have very nice tight low mids... maybe not so much because of the strings but also because of the way they feel, which I like, and allows/makes me pluck strings in a certain way. Bottomline: You're not entirely happy with your bass, you think it is missing a bit of "thump"? Try some steels if you haven't, maybe you'll like them. Warwick Red Label, at <£12 are fantastic value, if a little coarse. The Fat Beams are the most expensive I tried, at ~£35... The others are all £18-20 or so. So, strings, eh? Some of the cheapest parts in a bass, and so often overlooked! They transformed my Precision. I had the original strings on (Fender nickels) since late October... By late december they had lost a lot of the brightness and the last few gigs in January it wasn't so good. I put a set of Fat Beams on it and it's become a lot better (for me)... I used a lot the tone control at rehearsal last night... the slap sound was fantastic, the fingerstyle fat and defined... Amazing change.

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1423726731' post='2688249'] OK. Er... why? Actually it's funny. The last time there was a thread like this, the opinions were very much in favour of the GK. Now not so much... I wonder why? Did a few people get GK amps and feel underwhelmed by them? I might just keep an eye on the for sale section and see what comes up in my price range! [/quote] The Streamliner because it seems to sound great regardless what cab I use with it. I also have the Shuttle 9.2, and I like it, but the Streamliner seems easier (for me) to get a good sound out of. It's got girth easily, and if you like mids -like I do- it's not shy there. Jazz/Stingray heaven (even if I'm using a Precision at the moment!). Not saying the GK amps are worse, just that from the ones I have experience of, the Streamliner seems to do everything I ask it to do the best, and it's within budget (used, obviously). If you considered the ToneHammer series, I think the Streamliner is a nicer alternative. I nearly bought a TH500 myself. It sounded good, but I was a bit frustrated at the interactivity of teh controls... while the Streamliner just seemed to work and get a great sound no matter what I did, and tonally-wise, it's not a million light years away from the ToneHammers... but it will do clean bright and glassy better than them (if you wanted to)... I find it a bit more versatile. The drive is nicer on the ToneHammer... but it's easy to get the Streamliner to where it just gets a little fat-sounding, and sound great... and any more drive I use an external pedal. I'm a fan of the Streamliner

GB Streamliner!!!

[quote name='DogHammer' timestamp='1423477839' post='2685122'] Gig on the weekend, another bass player said to me: "Am I plugging into that Orange, yeah?" "No mate. I'm sure the soundman has a DI Box." [/quote]

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1423316907' post='2683438'] True, but the seller has to be accommodating of the buyer's needs/wants too. [/quote] That's the thing, he doesn't have to. It's up to him how he wants to sell stuff, and at what price. We can try to negotiate, but his is the last word, he has the right to put whetever conditions he wants to. You have the right to pass.

[quote name='Jenny_Innie' timestamp='1423258086' post='2683001'] They do t-shirts? [/quote] Indeedy they do. [url="http://barefacedbass.com/product-range/T-shirtsandspares.htm"]http://barefacedbass.com/product-range/T-shirtsandspares.htm[/url] can't see any pictures, 'though... but I presume they display their beautiful logo (I mean it: I really like the logo!)

[quote name='Moos3h' timestamp='1423240259' post='2682707'] Well, I finally got round to doing something with my Deko. The neck was garbage, so that's gone in the parts bin and I've thrown on one that's off an Aliexpress 'Fender' which is a little better. It's quite a looker now and the body is REALLY good, nice weight and great grain. I should point out that I'm very much NOT the luthier, the neck wouldn't quite fit and I didn't have such tools as a file or sandpaper, so I just stood on it until it went in. Job done. I reckon I could get a job at Fender with that level of technical skill? Anyhoo - it's together, working and I'll take it for a spin tonight at rehearsal to see how it sounds. [attachment=183087:FullSizeRender.jpg] Cheers, James [/quote] that looks better than either of my 3 Japanese 75RI Fenders! edit: well, two of them. I got one refinished in red because the grain was so ugly

[quote name='tom1946' timestamp='1423220338' post='2682296'] I've bought a few new MIM's lately and they are very variable, [/quote] That's true, MIM instruments vary a lot. Some are very nice, some are real dogs, many are just ok. Squier CV series tend to be nicer than most of MIM instruments, in my admittedly not extremely extensive experience of them. However, some MIM series are fantastic. The Classic ones are outstanding. The Classic 50 in particular, if we're talking Precisions, is extremely good. The neck is a bit wider than most others (which I like), so they get the "chunky" adjective appended to them often. But the profile is not really deep and I find them really comfy. I don't have big hands, but I prefer bigger necks, Stingray and Precisions for me. The Classic 50 has the nicest neck.

[quote name='Merton' timestamp='1422635396' post='2674997'] It's a real shame Ashdown have to come on here defending themselves like this, especially from ignorant comments about frequency response. They are a British success in a worldwide market, I understand people may not "get" the product but it seems to have turned into an unnecessary flaming a la the Barefaced threads. Let's leave this one be shall we [/quote] +1 such bitter criticism, when nobody has actually even tried the product, is ridiculous, whether it's Ashdown, or Behringer or anybody else.

Mine only goes from green 3 bars, to 2 to one, still green, and then red. No amber stages. Maybe newer models have that? (Mine is from 2009). Have you been able to reproduce it "at home"? (where lighting is not interfering). I feel inclined to think it must have been the stage lights. Or... were you wearing shades?

Classic 50, no question!!!!

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1423077901' post='2680475'] Lemmy called discreet a w***er and couldn't believe the tornado-level backlash and got frightened off .. [/quote] Really? Did Lemmy use red Marshalls? I never knew Lemmy even knew about BC.

[quote name='Drax' timestamp='1423052472' post='2679974'] Strangely compelling to re-read, knowing how it all pans out. I'm relatively new here but not seen that level of vitriol aimed at anyone on here before or since, pro or otherwise. Seems VJ arrived at the site in the wrong time and place. [/quote] It was interesting to find out later he was banned from TalkBass. But then again, I've seen people banned there for ridiculous things. He did have a bit of an... uncompromising attitude. The thing is I generally like people like that, in real life, once I know what they're like. But in a forum as a first contact it can backfire. Regardless... Not a good time. For the record, I exchanged a couple of PMs with him afterwards, and I do think it's a shame he was left with a bad experience. Attitude or not, he seemed personable and likeable enough and the guy has experienced life as a player in ways the vast majority of us could never dream of. He could certainly contribute something positive if he wanted to, and it's a shame it got cut so early on

[quote name='ras52' timestamp='1423051758' post='2679956'] Compressorgate: a low threshold, a fast attack time, a slow release time, a hard knee (jerk), and very little gain. [/quote] Fantastic!

[quote name='cheddatom' timestamp='1423050212' post='2679936'] There's nothing wrong with a difference of opinions. Obviously sometimes on the forum, people state their opinion as though it's a fact, and this does rankle, causing the sort of personal/insulting posts we saw on that thread [/quote] Yup. Sometimes it's very unfortunate. That thread was not a great moment for any part involved, but no part was innocent! I think that trhead should be made into a sticky as an example of how how easily things can go wrong, and as a lesson to us all about chilling the f**k out when typing here. I see so many online arguments that would never get to that stage if it were a real conversation in person, where people have other cues like body language and intonation... Things are taken far too seriously here sometimes.

[quote name='leschirons' timestamp='1423046099' post='2679874'] +1, and I think it's because the vast majority are able to contribute at some level to a discussion about pickups, a lightweight rig or a sunburst finish as opposed to a discussion about modes and pitch axis theory. Gear subjects can include many more people as all members have some sort of gear but not everyone plays in a band or wants to learn theory or record etc. You don't even have to play to contribute. Re the OP, I'm not sure there's anything to be learnt from pro musicians that couldn't be imparted in an interview. In my mind, there are two types of pro anyway. There's the superstar household name (obviously many are top of their musical game but there are some who don't even know which strings they use or how to tune a bass) and the pro working studio / gigging type. Neither is likely to have time to contribute but if they do, the first short burst of "you're talking crap" will put an end to it. The superstar has better things to do and the working pro session / depping / gigging player sees no advantage in imparting all his hard won knowledge about "how" and "who" to the possible future competition. [/quote] Some "superstars" do have the time and enjoy mixing with us mere mortals, without being looking for adulation. I've only met one such person, a guitarist, several times... he was a joy to be with, he had experienced so much and was still interested in exploring new gear and he'd share his experiences as he was recording his latest album... This is a guy who has played with several top tier world famous bands. Humble, funny, knowledgeable, helpful... He even gave me some backing tracks for me to play with (essentially his tracks without his lead guitar) when I told him how much I enjoyed playing along to the songs at home. There are some people like that, he wasn't really learning much from me, that's for sure! But "superstars" can also be just... well, human. Some are nicer than others, just like with the rest of us.

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1423043579' post='2679828'] New gear is the quick fix but in a month's time you'll be searching for more new gear once the new gear effect has worn off. [/quote] Exactly. You could practice, and you'll see small improvements over a long period. Or you could just buy sh*t, and enjoy instant gratification... Buying things is easier than actually learning to use them well. I know what I'm talking about, my toy room is full! I personally go through periods... at times I don't buy anything at all, that's when I'm busiest mostly. Then there are periods where I'm not gigging much, band stuff going a bit slow... and I can suddenly buy a ton of things. Especially if the band slow period leads to my wanting to join/start another project, as I may take that opportunity to do soemthing different, new sounds... new gear!

[quote name='LayDownThaFunk' timestamp='1422993432' post='2679310'] "Good evening, we are a Jimi Hendrix tribute band." "Stairway!" [/quote] "Freebird!" No?

[quote name='thumbo' timestamp='1422992210' post='2679287'] Are you taking requests? No. Can you play Hotel California? [/quote] Maybe he was asking whether "Taking Requests" was the name of the band...

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1422995563' post='2679366'] i agree i really can't play fast or comfortably with a lacquered neck and i don't even sweat a lot.. just feels like its holding me up. sorry about the sanding Jose. i like to feel the wood. [/quote] I thought of a number of things I could reply to that, but I changed my mind... it's too obvious, not even 'discreet' bites that one