jazzyvee

[quote name='HowieBass' timestamp='1429203118' post='2749223'] My thinking on this is that you want to keep as much of the string vibration stuck inside the strings for as long as possible if sustain is important to you - transmission of energy beyond the fixed ends of a vibrating string, at the nut into the headstock, and at the bridge saddles into the body are, from a physics point of view, just dumping energy into heatsinks. Effectively both nut and bridge should act as mirrors. Bridge rigidity is more important in this context than sheer mass. I also believe that neck rigidity has a big part to play in sustain. Again, all in my humble opinion. [/quote] I'm with you on that and that is pretty much Alembic's take on the subject of sustain hence the huge sustain block and machined brass bridge and nut.

I had a good gig last night with a Jazz big band even though, if you exclude number of family members and partners of band members, we outnumbered the audience. But we got them dancing and a good time was had by all.

My bass weights range between 10.5lb to just under 13lbs. So far i've not had any problems carrying that weight at all even on the occasional 2 hour gig or rehearsal session.

[quote name='Lw.' timestamp='1444375531' post='2882604'] ive never been able to get a tone i like out of an ashdown amp so i know which id go for but it depends what you are after i guess, im sure theyre fine though once you spend a bit more time with them. the cabs i have found more usable. [/quote] +1

I own one of those basses and my view is that in excellent condition, you should expect to pay up to about £1400 max, I think you should be able to get one between £1000 and £1200 if it's been a working instrument with some bumps and bruises.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1444283119' post='2881785'] Totally agree Blue, gigging is why I`m in a band. Yes I love rehearsing and recording, but gigging is the main thing for me. The whole buzz of it, driving to a new venue, seeing new audiences get into our music. Playing venues regularly and seeing the same faces at many gigs and chatting to them about the music plus making friends with them. I also love the solitude of a quiet drive home in the early hours. [/quote] That

I'd say I use the neck for about 60%, the rest equally share about 35% and bridge on it's own only at most about 5%

I had a new set of those made last year from a stand a LBGS. I lost them within 6 months and about 3 months back I had a new set made. Would you believe it i found the original set. The little case they were in had somehow lodged itself into the pack of spare strings I keep in my gig back pocket which is why I never found them for looking. I guess it's good to have a spare.

[quote name='Naetharu' timestamp='1443016909' post='2871478'] Hi folks, Having just started out gigging I'm looking to insure my gear and I was hoping that some of you more experienced folks could point me in the direction of a good insurance company. Any points would be greatly appreciated. James [/quote] I'd suggest Insuring at replacement cost not used price value. That way if anything happens to your gear you can always replace it with a new instrument.

Actually, I started to learn Slam the Clown by Alain Caron earlier this year and I'm nowhere near getting through that track yet. The bassline is really a finger twister for both hands.. Another hard one would be "Got Tuh B" by Tribal Tech which has a great bass line, but haven't tried to play that one so I guess it doesn't count. :-)

I've noticed that many of the local gigs I go to regardless of the genre, bass rigs always seem to have the sub bass button pressed in. By that I mean the button like on ashdowns that adds an octave of the note being played to your sound. Are the basses players use these days so bass shy that this is standard practice. I see them all the time on back line rigs provided for us and even though we are a reggae band I always turn them off. Recently I was rehearsing with a band as a Dep and the bass rig had a Lo in and it really made the sound incredibly muddy. Am I missing something?

Hymn of the seventh galaxy.

I recently went in a local CC to get an idea of a price they would give me for a brand new bass cab I have and they said there is a facility on their web site for you to find out how much they will give you for anyting. I haven't looked for it but it might be worth checking your stuff on there before lugging it down to the shop as thats what they check in-store before offering you a price.... apparently.

Saturday, I had two gigs. One at the launch of the new WBA fan Zone with reggae band Musical Youth Stu Hartland from the Twang and the other was a blues, Rock n Roll, Reggae band gig in the evening.

Wow that sounds just up my street musically, give me a shout if you are gigging up in the Midlands area.

I think I will pop down there sometime during the day to check it out if it's not raining.

Try an anaconda

Strung my bass up with some last night and my first impressions are. a) Not as bright sounding as my usual D'addario's which is ok for reggae. b} Much smoother feel and not like the sandpaper feel that I usually experience with new strings. c) I may be mistaken but they feel like they have less tension than my normal strings which isn't a problem Have a band rehearsal tomorrow so I should get a better idea of what they will sound like live.

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1441445714' post='2858912'] put the strings on, and stretch/pull them. it pulls the windings to there optimum capacity.thus pre-empting there natural stretch and going out of tune over time. its a must when putting on new strings for me. tune up, then pull on a string then check your tuning. [/quote] yep that's what I've always done and I'm amazed at the number of players who don't do that and they leave loads of windings on the peg too.

Yeah, all makes sense but I'm gonna try some new, to me, elixir's and see how they hold up. Perfect opportunity to oil the fingerboard as well. Thanks for your relevant comments and the humour in the irrelevant ones... :-)

http://pursuingtone.com/fusion-guitar-iphone-integration-amp-speakers-indiegogo/

You make a great sound with that bass.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1441222132' post='2857117'] [url="http://s1128.photobucket.com/user/h4ppyjack/media/Just%20Stuff/Music%20and%20Musicians/leonid_bruk_balalaika_contrabass_sm.jpg.html"][/url] [/quote] This is a balalaika and i've seen quite a number of these being played at WOMAD in the past in a band where all the musicians were playing three stringed instruments like these of various sizes and tunings. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balalaika

I've used elixir's on my electric guitars for many years now and I rate those highly. I;ve never tried them on bass but this week I recently two sets of elixir 5 string bass sets 45 - 130 that I bought on line and plan to put them on my all maple bass before my next gig to see how well I get on with them.

[quote name='SICbass' timestamp='1441404745' post='2858749'] Frankly I think it serves him right for wondering about out there beyond the fifth fret [/quote] + 1 :-)