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Gareth Hughes

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Everything posted by Gareth Hughes

  1. Gareth Hughes
    It's not just that bass players that use picks are inferior - it's that bass players in general are inferior. I mean, come on - don't we all secretly wish we could play lead guitar (as opposed to rhythm guitar, which is almost as inferior as bass) ? Sometimes I feel so inferior playing behind a guitar solo, swooning over every flourish of wildly exaggerated notes, that I crumble inside and forget to play - but then the song falls apart and the guitarist screams at me to keep playing because now, all of a sudden, HIS playing is irrelevant and he actually seems to NEED me to keep playing. Can we really be worthless and irreplaceable at the same time? As a closet guitarist, I am so confused as to what to do with the bass - do I play? When do I play? What do I play? Less is more? Pick or fingers? Lock in with the kick drum? Don't lock in with the kick drum? Meticulously plot the cruel and agonising death of everyone not in the rhythm section whilst playing a repetitive bass line ad nauseum between yet another heart breaking guitar solo? Oh, cruel life - why can't I be as fluid as Jeff Beck? And as irony would have, Jeff Beck plays guitar with his fingers.............
  2. Gareth Hughes
    [quote name='wal4string' timestamp='1339634671' post='1691904'] Better to play on a 5 string, octave pedals always sound synthetic (see what I did there). Video is more of a plug for IMO an over produced mediocre tune. [/quote] What is this? Talkbass?
  3. Gareth Hughes
    That's frustrating all round. I ordered my pickup from Ryan via eBay, had it shipped out the next day and was with me within a week I think, with no hold up or custom charges, and all for $3 shipping internationally. It's a good product and it's sad that Ryan is having to take this route - tho unavoidable without charging higher shipping rates which then negates the fabulous value of his product - and also sad for folks like lockpicker1969 who have ended up having their heads wrecked.
  4. Gareth Hughes
    I'd personally recommend going for a hybrid bass - one that has a solid wood top with laminated back and sides. I've found, through painful trail and error, that they're a lot less problematic when it comes to amplifying onstage. The bass I play both onstage and in studio's cost about £700 from Thomann. It was a pot luck affair, borne out of frustration that my £3500 carved bass was impossible to play live with any volume because of feedback. To my surprise the Thomann has about 85% of the tone that the carved one has but is significantly easier and more practical to use live (which is where I predominantly use it so that could be a deciding factor for you). The £700 got me the bass, but not a pickup or case, and I did put a new set of strings on it, so factor in another £300-400 for all of that. One major advantage in buying from Thomann is that they can do the setup for you, and the bass will ship with the soundpost in place so you can string it up right away, is that you'll save the time and expense of going to a luthier. That's money you can out towards the pickup, etc. I realise that I'm talking about doubling your budget but the reality is that anything less will either hinder your development in terms of playing the thing (I curse my early days of playing when I didn't know double basses could actually be set up better than mine was) or be an absolute nightmare to use live and you'll begin the rue the day the upright bug bit.
  5. Gareth Hughes
    Bought a Wizard Thumper from Jon - well packed and sent out immediately after payment. Good guy and great communication all round. All good.
  6. Gareth Hughes
    For those that think the Guyatone text is missing, here it is: "Make their booty move! The BB-2 Bottom Blaster features Guyatone's proprietary "Sound Control System" (patent pending) circuitry that adds butt-shaking lows and sizzling highs to any bass sound! If your current gear just isn't moving enough air, the BB-2 is like adding a palm-sized hurricane to your rig! The inherent problem with standard EQ circuits is that the various frequency bands they cut & boost tend to overlap at various points. These overlap points can alter the original input wave shape, resulting in muddy bottom-end or harsh hi-frequency peaks. The BB2's Bottom control emphasizes the ultra-low frequencies without overlapping the lower midrange, creating immense, chest-thumping bottom end that is fat and tight. The Attack control adds a bright, crispy upper-midrange that works to bring out playing dynamics and allows any instrument to stand out in the mix. The BB2's Level control can add up to 30 dB of boost to the input signal, making it perfect for use as a clean booster. In addition to turning any standard four-string into a lethal weapon, The BB-2 can improve the sound of the low-B on 5- and 6-string basses, making it clear, tight, and well defined even through a small amp! You may have noticed that the BB-2 doesn't have the standard plunger-type on/off footswitch - that's because once you've plugged it in you won't want to play without it! Don't settle for tiny tush when you can have BIG BOTTOM - get the BB-2!"
  7. Gareth Hughes
    Well, by coincidence I'm listening to 'You Can't Do That Onstage Anymore Vol 3' right now - it's a lovely bit of 'me-time' while the kids go to bed and I'm left with the kitchen. So, at 53 albums on the last count - colour me a fan. I don't know what to add to a discussion but here's something I've only just found and am digging immensely: http://zappacast.podomatic.com/
  8. Gareth Hughes
    Hey Mick - hello from the Black North.
  9. Gareth Hughes
    Pm'd
  10. Gareth Hughes
    Hmmmmm - interesting. But methinks there's something wrong on the US end of things. Presuming the US parcel was picked up no earlier than 8am - even if it was taken to a UK airport within an hour to a waiting plane - it's still roughly a 6 hour flight to anywhere on the east coast of the US. So that would mean it landing and being scanned immediately by UPS and then by chance being within 100 miles of it's final destination. I suppose that could all actually be the case - and now I feel very silly writing this but shall not admit defeat and delete everything. Onwards to the conclusion!!!!!!!!
  11. Gareth Hughes
    Didn't see the Jools performance but heard this band for the first time at the weekend on Sound Opinions, a great radio show from Chicago. Check it out - there's a great interview with the band and several amazing live in session performances. The thing that blew me away, aside from the songs, groove and voice - was that these songs were being performed live, in the middle of the afternoon and that the quality of the sounds (big praise for the studio engineers) and playing were master take record-worthy. It was just damn encouraging to hear true quality in this day and age. Here's the link: [media]http://audio.soundopinions.org/podcasts/sooppodshow333.mp3[/media] And here's the podcast link: [url="http://www.soundopinions.org/podcast.html"]http://www.soundopin...rg/podcast.html[/url]
  12. Gareth Hughes
    Here's my tuppence worth: The Carl Martin Classic Opto-Compressor (here's my opinion based on comparing it to the compressors I had experience with before , copied from an email reply on the same topic a few days ago) Done 3-4 gigs now with it and I love it - I mean, like with giddy excitement love it. It's got a thick full sound that isn't dull or bloated feeling, and with the attack control it feels like you can let the high end sparkle without any compression taking away from it. I'm no compressor expert or even come close to knowing what I'm doing - but I'll happily say that, for me and the sound/feel I was looking, this pedal works better that everything I've had before - the dbx 163a, an EBS MultiComp, a Barge Concepts RC2 and the Joe Meek MQ3. And to top it off, until you get to near maximum settings, the noise level is non-existent. Seriously couldn't be happier. On two gigs at the weekend the sound guy thought I had a sub-harmonic generator thingy on because the sound was so big - and he was just getting the signal straight after my volume pedal, so the biggness was purely from the Carl Martin compressor.
  13. Gareth Hughes
    I did this show many years ago but I don't have the charts anymore. From memory tho it's not that much of a roast. Anthony Jackson's playing on the movie soundtrack is a wonderfully embellished performance but the charts aren't as decorative by any means. Good luck (and if you get a copy let me know ) Edit - here's a bit of it: http://www.onlinesheetmusic.com/ease-on-down-the-road-p258300.aspx
  14. Gareth Hughes
    Haven't read all this thread but just wanted to chip in my tuppence worth's. It is a sad state of affairs that the general public don't notice mistakes but that's the way it is. Just hold on to your own integrity and don't give in to the 'why bother?' mentality. I had an equally depressing moment years ago explaining to my in-laws that all the bands they were watching on the country's biggest chat show were all miming, except for the lead vocal. Took quite a bit of explaining to get the point across. They just couldn't hear that the performance that night on tv was identical to the one being played on the radio - and in fairness, why should they even care? A life changing piece of music or band for us is merely someone else's tune to hum when they're doing the ironing.
  15. Gareth Hughes
    And done. Nice one. Good luck with the contest.
  16. Gareth Hughes
    I'm loving these straps, recommend on here by Bigwan: http://italiastraps.com/guitar-straps-uk.html I had a few Comfort Straps before and to me these Italia ones do a better job of distributing the weight and making your bass seem lighter. The shipping costs are the same as they are within the US and I didn't get hit for any import duties so it's all good.
  17. Gareth Hughes
    [quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1334307201' post='1614035'] I'm a fan and Mr. Hall can't stop me thinking or laughing. [/quote] Actually - he can and he will, he's just waiting for his lawyers to finalise the language.
  18. Gareth Hughes
    What's your planned application? I've often considered getting a 2x10 instead of using a 3x10, but then a gig comes along with a crazy loud drummer or guitard and I have doubts that a 2x10 would cut it. The UL310 cabs are pretty compact little units - not a whole lot bigger than a 2x10. But if stage volume isn't a big issue then that opens up a few more avenues for you. *EDIT* - another thought is going to a Epifani UL112. There's plenty of times where a single UL112, paired with a Markbass LMK head (which seems crazy loud for 500watts) is more than capable in handling a wide variety of gigs. So for a combo, maybe look at the new Genz Benz Shuttle 1x12 combo.
  19. Gareth Hughes
    Nice one Johnny - liked that a lot. Brought me way back - had a soft spot for Nick's music in the mid-late 90's. Beautiful song, beautifully played and beautifully arranged. Nice one indeed. You don't mind me nicking the audio off that - this is one for the iPod indeed!!!
  20. Gareth Hughes
    Check these guys out too: http://www.jhaudio.com/content/stewards-sound I have a set of JH7's and while they're pricey it's most certainly money well spent.
  21. Gareth Hughes
    Hey Laurence - I hear you - pickups are not our friends. Or at least I wish I could get on with them a little better. One cheap alternative to have lying around is a Hurley Virtuoso pickup. They're $40 on eBay, about $7 to post, and they sound pretty good for a wing slot pickup. A lot softer sounding, way less mid heavy than the Schatten I have and the K&K's I've had in the past.
  22. Gareth Hughes
    [quote name='fatback' timestamp='1333467313' post='1602128'] Seems to me he mimics uileann pipe drones. Works beautifully. [/quote] Is that a polite way of saying he has dodgy intonation? Just kidding everyone - Danny is the legend he is and deservedly so.
  23. Gareth Hughes
    Nice one. I like the look of that a lot. Certainly a lot more flexible than the way I've been staggering through Audacity.
  24. Gareth Hughes
    Try sub-dividing your beat, so instead of counting ' 1 2 3 4' count '1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &' instead. Then before you even try playing anything on the bass, get comfortable clapping thru the rhythm. It can help to write (in pencil) '1 & 2 &...' above each bar so that you can see where each note lines up against what you're counting.
  25. Gareth Hughes
    I have this bag: http://www.gollihurmusic.com/product/2212-SERIES_II_PROFESSIONAL_3_4_AND_4_4_SIZE_UPRIGHT_BASS_BAG.html Using it regularly for at least four years now. No problems with it at all. Only wear and tear on it is on the bottom side near the wheels where I'm lazily dragging it up kerbs, etc rather than lifting it. Had some pretty serious bumps along the way and the case has always done it's job brilliantly.
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