mcnach

I have said many times that I tend to play for free, I'm just charging for all the other time that the gig keeps me busy and not playing: travelling, setting up, waiting around...

I'd second this. I have bought 3 basses from Maruszczyk directly between 2013 and 2016. It worked out just fine, but communication wasn't the easiest. Having someone else like Bass Direct dealing with them sounds like a very good option: you ensure BD know what you want, and they do all the talking.

I was going to suggest this. I have one, it's great. It only does one thing, but it does it very well in a very controllable manner.

Sometimes we could use a few lights to add a little bit of colour. We're not looking for anything big or complicated, so at the moment we've just got 4 LED lights that we can attach to various stands/contraptions. Unlikely we'll ever expand beyond another 4, at most. They can work with DMX, wired, and I'm thinking that it would be great to be able to have some better control than just letting them do their thing on their "auto" or "sound" modes. The problem is I have zero idea about this. I see some pretty budget-friendly small controllers, anything from £30 to £60, that look like they might work... but I only say that because they have 6-8 faders, and a bunch of buttons to save/recall scenes and programs, but I really do not know if those would be ok or not. What do I want to achieve? I would like to be able to sync perhaps two lights at the back and two at the front, separately. Or all 4 together. I would like to be able to trigger programs easily from stage. Also turn off/on manually. Can they work with footswitches at all? I don't expect anybody to write a tutorial just for me, but the range of videos and other material online is quite daunting, so if anybody has some suggestions about particular videos/sites/docs that could educate me (and recommendations for a controller), I would really appreciate it. Some of the stuff I've seen seem directed to people who already have a clue. Thank you, you colourful beautiful people.

5-string I generally avoid open strings unless I especifically want them for some reason (some one-string riffs with the open string as a pedal tone, for example). It just makes it easier for me to transpose on the spot without thinking. I like the 5-strings not so much for the lower notes that I rarely use (lowest I go is low D, usually), but because you have two octaves within a 5-fret span, it is just a lot easier to play once you get used to having an extra string. Otherwise, just one 4-string tuned Eb. If you're desperate for open string possibilities, a capo might be a consideration, if you're just needing it occasionally.

Has anybody tried one of those little lavalier mics, so that one can use it to hear other people -but with the ability to switch it on/off at will-?

Here's some more Steel Pulse, such a great band

A little Jimmy Cliff...

Loving that bass sound

I'd do it for $25,000

A bit less Stingray? It's nothing like a Stingray 😄

I wouldn't use rechargeables for low turnaround uses, myself. Pretty sure I could find some which will be fine for x number of months, but it makes me nervous. I know, from experience over the years, that every active bass I own will last at least a year before needing a battery change, and in reality I only really use 3 basses live for 99% of my needs, so replacing 3 batteries once a year is (for me) simple enough and effective. For other uses I go with rechargeables, no problem, but I'm not willing to experiment with basses.

Then buy what you want at Andertons... oh wait, you can't It costs me more than £5 to send someone an FX pedal I sell in the marketplace 🤷‍♀️

Sorry, it seems you had already replied to my question. So the reason is you couldn't get what you wanted elsewhere. See where I'm going?

Newsflash: big stores can afford lower prices than small ones. :shrug: There must have been a reason why you bought from BD and not onf othe other stores. Which is it, if you don't mind me asking?

Would you feel better if what you bought added up to £705 with free delivery? My point is: there's no free anything.

I've played around 20 gigs with the Z7-5. It's a very nice sounding bass with one of the nicest necks I've played. Love it.

Last night I was incredibly tired. First set was a struggle but managed. Second set... I found myself fighting my eyelids and a couple of times I had that feeling when you just nodded off for a few seconds and return... confused to find myself on stage playing. It wasn't my best performance but it worked. Crazy. 😂 Has anybody else had similar experiences?

I wouldn't take part on that. I might suggest they send me my share of the fee while I stay at home 😉

Yes, same position and same as a Stingray. The preamp is very different but the "Stingray sound" is most definitely there (as if there were one sound... but hopefully you'll get what I mean). Maybe oscilloscope fiends would argue, but I won't 😉

Yet, others manage 🤔😂

I can dance to everything. All at the same time.

Strange type of haiku, that.

I've just got one of these X32-compact mixers. It's a little bulky and heavy, and most decent cases I'm seeing weigh around the same as the mixer. Does anybody know of a good option that is a bit lighter? It doesn't need to be bomb-proof, portability trumps protection in this instance... but obviously I won't complain if it offers decent protection too I saw an ABS GATOR one with wheels and a handle... but it's about 3cm too short 😭