Lee-7

Cheers guys, seems there are plenty of interesting topics to get in to on here, makes a change to other forums I have come across. Lee

Hi to all on the forum, Just joined up the other evening to see what it's all about, seems ;like an interesting place with plenty of knowlegible folks............. Anyway I'm novice in the bass world, I plyed my trade as a rhythm & lead player, only went on to bass a couple of years ago when starting my band, it has been an enjoyable time. Play mainly 60's covers so nothing to technical just yet. Lee www.thekasuals.co.uk

When I am not gigging with my band I do the sound for my fathers outfit, being a named band they play at a lot of big venues up & down the country, if it is Butlins no gear to take apart from guitars, cymbals etc. Any other job I sort it out. My father owns the van which has been kitted out to seat everyone, the PA system and also provides the rhythm guitarists amp and all SM58 mics, it is run as a business so everything is done properly. All good gear. In my band though, everything is split between the 3 of us, we don't include the lead guitarist when new gear is being bought because he is a tight arse who winges at anything to do with spending brass, doesn't mind spending £40 in the pub but ask for £40 towards some extra gear that will earn money and you would think the world was about to end. So this reason we keep it bewteen just the 3 of us. The deal is that if any of us leave, we get a percentage back, this arrangement is ok if money is tight. If I was financially flying I would buy it all, then there is only me to worry about. Bands are never straight forward, a bit like a marriage...........

To All, Sorry posting a topic that has potentially already been touched on. I have been thinking lately about getting a dedicated wireless unit for the bass as normal guitar ones don't always let the full frequency range pass through. You can't beat a good quality lead but for some reason I have started getting tangled up in mine when performing, a right pain in the arse! I was wondering what experiances people have had with using Ashdowns dedcated unit, Freebass? Can't seem to find any reviews as such on the net so hopefully one of the many bassists on here may have had some experiance with it. I'm not too fussed about all the DSP effects built in, I play very standard bass in a standard 60's covers band so effects for bass isn't at the top of my list, playing 6 string would be a different matter! Lee

The Berhinger Ultra DI100 is a great piece of kit and can be bought at the right price on eBay, I use one when doing the sound for my fathers band, I also have a Tapco DI (Mackie), also very good. Lee

Just had a look at that website and all the guitars on there seem pretty steep on the prices. If you keep your eyes open one will turn up at handy money, I recently sold a 1977 Fender Precision, apart from having a rosewood neck it was identical to my Hardpuncher, I couldn't tell any difference in sound when I used them side by side at rehearsals one evening. I sold it on eBay for £885.00. Lee

Hi Folks, I too have an early Tokai Hardpuncher Bass, it is a 1979/80 in 3 tone sunburst, black scatchplate with a birdseye maple neck, I have also fitted a chrome bridge and pick-up covers. An excellent guitar to look at and play, tune it once and forget about it. I was using Elixir 45/105 gauge strings but at the moment I have some Sandberg strings on as I got 4 packs for £40 off a pal of mine, seem ok. I don't profess to be a bass player as I have always played rhythm & lead guitar up untill I joined a band about 2 yrs ago and who's bass player was a bit hopless to say the least, I ended up going on bass and drafting a pal of mine in to go on lead. Been an interesting couple of yrs. Lee P.s In my humble opinion I would go for an early Jap Hardpuncher as you wont lose any money on it, it will only ever increase in value as time goes by.