Dad3353

[quote name='Twincam' timestamp='1462866079' post='3046290']... I still think a small prize [s]would of[/s] would've been a good idea. [/quote] Fixed. ...

[quote name='Twincam' timestamp='1462838974' post='3046211'] Willing to put a friendly wager on that? [/quote] [sharedmedia=core:attachments:171989]

Ah, goodie..! An opportunity for an anecdote..! Here we go... I was drummer in a French variety orchestra, back in the mid '70s. 21h00-02h00, most week-ends, sometimes matinées, and week-day gigs in the summer, often enough. We had a very short break, mid-February, and I decided to pop back to Old Blighty for a quick visit. Two of my band mates, the bass player (Gegène...) and the flute/saxo (Joël...) came, too. We caught the ferry back, the Friday afternoon, from Portsmouth to St. Malo, as we had a gig to play the Saturday evening. That was the plan, but the weather thought otherwise. A storm, the likes of which I'd never have thought imaginable kept the ferry from even approaching land; we had to spend 36 hours circling the isle of Jersey, tossed around like a cork, more often at 45° than level. The cabins were opened up to all, as was the catering (although there were very few wanting to eat..!). I can honestly say that the poor Joël is the first person I've ever seen to be actually, literally, green. He suffered agony; Gegène and I seemed to manage a bit better. Not a chance of making the gig, of course. I managed to get a 'phone call through (we're well before mobile 'cell' phones became popular, of course...) so as to alert the band leader in time to get a dep or two in. It didn't help, as the three of us were fired, for not having turned up. No excuses, no thanks for having fore-warned, that was that. I went on to dep for a few years after that, with only rare excursions into 'fixed' band positions, excepting a function duo with an accordion/keyboard player for weddings and such, so wasn't too unhappy, but that's the only time I've ever been fired from a band. Things were different, back then.

[quote name='Twincam' timestamp='1462832130' post='3046186']...I think I might of let him. [/quote]

All is not spectral analysis, though, as illustrated by a Youtube (I can't find it right now...) which showed, for the same sample heard, two faces mouthing a different syllable. Depending on which face one watched, the interpretation of the brain changed to reflect that seen. Hearing is a very psychological experience. Not saying, of course, that the maths don't matter, just that there's more still when we listen to stuff. Edit: Found it ..! http://youtu.be/G-lN8vWm3m0

Our youngest started off with a Cort fiver, fretted, but when I got my fretless sixer a few months later (a surprise birthday gift from our eldest...) he 'snaffled' it (a technical term...), and has been playing it exclusively since. He's the official bassist for our band, playing rock/pop covers (RATM, SOAD, Chris Cornell, REM, Muse etc...), and no-one notices that it's fretless. No, it's not [i]that [/i]hard; it helps if one has a patient disposition, though, as it's a bit less of an immediate 'Oh, this is easy' buzz like a fretted bass.

The 9k one will have a slightly higher o/p, precisely trying to compensate for the weaker bridge position, so I'd say 9k. It's only a fair balance compared to its partner p/u, though, so there's no guarantee of its o/p compared to your current neck p/u. A resistance (or impedance') measure is not an exact way of establishing o/p, just a rough-and-ready guide.

An anecdote..? Yes..? Oh, good; sit yourselves down comfortably, but this won't take [i]that [/i]long. I was apprenticed to BEA (British Airways, now...); we shared training with BOAC bods. One of these (John Butler...) was the punching ball for all of the cruel japes that our fellow apprentices thought up, and a bit of an dummy, if truth were told. One day, he came in with an old, very old, portable radio. No, not a transistor, this one was a valve radio. Inside was the blue Ever Ready battery, with a four-pin socket. These batteries have two parts: a 1.5 volt part for the heater required for valves, and a 90 volt part for the HT. Now, then; how do we check trannie batteries to see if they're OK..? Yes, that's right; we touch the terminals to our tongue. A tingle, and it's OK. So, how does Butler propose to check the 90 volts..? Right again, he's about to put his tongue to it. All our colleagues are watching, egging him on, indeed. I was able to stop him, just in time. A quick explanation as to why it was probably not a Good Idea, he laughs sheepishly and desists. His eyes light up, though, after a second or two's reflection. "But I can check the other part, can't I..? It's only 1.5 volts..! That can't hurt, surely..?" Another explanation was necessary, using the analogy of a 6 volt motorbike battery. Would one like to apply [i]that [/i]to one's tongue..? Not a Good Idea either, as the potential current flow, despite the low voltage, would probably burn the tongue away. The others were disappointed, though, as they wanted to see just how far the darned fool would go. In the end, we tested with an Avometer; he would have been seriously hurt. It's not just the tension, [i]per se[/i], it's how much energy could be released at once that can be dangerous. OK, break-time over. As you were, folks; thanks for your patience...

Done. Disclaimer: I'm old and more than half deaf, so... I listened carefully to the two, alternating, synchronising, playing 'ping-pong' with 'em, right through. Altogether a pretty good balance; I'd have maybe brought up the voice a bit more except when she comes forward herself. I liked the percu, especially. The brass has moments of being a bit 'brassy', but that's their role, I suppose. Good stuff.

All our instruments (no, not the drums, you fool..!) are fitted, upon arrival, with Dunlop strap-locks, and have been so for about as long as I can remember (well, nearly 30 years or so, anyway...). Not too expensive (definitely less expensive than a neck repair..!), easy to swap guitars mid-set, or swap around straps; we find them to be very solid. I do make a point of applying a drop or two of vaseline oil every year or thereabouts, to keep 'em nice and supple. I've not had any failure, ever, from any of 'em (and I've a fair few...). Necessary..? For me, yes; others have other solutions, of course.

[quote name='McBass' timestamp='1462815147' post='3045928'] Got mine and it isn't very good with logic, going to return it. [/quote] I'll report in when mine arrives...

I presume you're wanting to change these simply by precaution..? I know they can often age badly (I have valve amps, too...), but those don't look, from the photo, to be in bad shape at all. Just sayin'.

An analogy... It's a bit like those who wouldn't buy a new car, as they'd take an important financial loss as soon as it leaves the forecourt. However, to have a second-hand car market, [i]someone [/i]has had to buy new..! Different folks have differing visions of what's important to them, that's all. Nothing wrong with start-up groups, nor well-established groups. I understand less this constant harping on, though. It must be something in the water...

[quote name='Twincam' timestamp='1462728608' post='3045247'] By working on a noodle I meant looking on basschat haha [/quote] ... which probably explains why our noodles are bottom of the list..!

[quote name='ColinB' timestamp='1462724466' post='3045203'] Wet wipes????? [/quote] Yes, indeed; wet wipes..?

[quote name='Merton' timestamp='1462724551' post='3045204'] Postman Pat [/quote] Not quite; mine was in this livery... For the anecdote, I had acquired the thing for only a week or so when I was stopped by the local constabulary, and fined for driving with 'military insignia'..! I tried explaining that I had only just bought the thing (at auction...) from them, I had to 'tag' the Red Crosses away, although I left the roof one..! Luckily, the fine was 'amnestied' when Mitterrand became president in '83, so I never had to pay it.

[quote name='taunton-hobbit' timestamp='1462722025' post='3045180']...I had a six wheel lwb transit as transport... [/quote] Like this ..? Mine got called 'The Hustler', dunno why. Whin I moved to France, I 'upgraded' to this (an ex-Gendarmerie ambulance...) ... ... and now, we're fully modernised with our Trafic... It's still rock'n'roll, none of this namby-pamby featherweight stuff..! (W[i]ell, we might if we were rich, I suppose..! )[/i]

[quote name='Twincam' timestamp='1462721869' post='3045174']... I'm working on my noodle... [/quote] No, no, noodles aren't to be 'worked on', they should just present themselves, 'warts'n'all'. Practise, certainly; woodshed if you must, but leave a space for just capturing the moment. Plug in, press 'Record' and play..! Besides, I need to have some chance, and if you're going to pull out studied masterpieces, my unpolished offerings will never get a chance to glitter..!

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1462719581' post='3045151'] All good, but I bet you weren't in your fifties at the time... [/quote] It explains, at least partially, my current physical (lack of...) condition..! ...

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1462715918' post='3045103'] Packed and ready for tonight's gig. Checklist: Total weight = 16kg max [/quote] Ha..! Back in the '70s, my front room at Shepperton was the practise room, about 12 square yards. This was my practise rig... Two of these stacks, side by side ... ... powered by my Hiwatt DR205 PA head (200w, 4 x KT88 valve amp...) Over a quarter of a ton..! Yes, we did haul it out for gigs, too..!

Sorry, just thought I'd get that one out of the way... I'm not expert enough to help much, but I would say that the Marshall head will blow almost any speakers, if cranked and abused. A pair of solid 4 x 12 cabs will hold up for a while, but 'back then', even they would often 'blow'. How about a noise limiter in the room, which cuts the juice..? If your blokes turn up too loud... black-out. Not a solution..?

[quote name='Agwin' timestamp='1462716690' post='3045113'] Interesting you should mention the Tango. Myself and Mrs A have been taking weekly instruction in such terpsichoral matters and now find ourselves tearing up the floor with our “Improvers” Tango. The Tango should be danced with all heel leads (never on your toes), soft (bent) knees with staccato movements and a miserable face. Me and the Tango couldn’t be more suited!! [/quote] Darn it..! I have it all but the miserable face..! Bugger..!