Ou7shined

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1340184349' post='1700439'] let me guess... its a stratocaster? [/quote] [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1340185932' post='1700496'] I bet it's a BC Rich Warlock. [/quote] Nope it's a.... I bought it on a whim because ever since Gibson guru Neepheid took a Tokai T-bird around to mine for a jam one time, and despite me thinking they look a bit showy and vulgar and the fact that the indie kids have taken them over... I quite fancied having my own one. It was a good choice - I honestly would never have thought a bloody Epiphone could sound this brilliant. The strange thing is that since this thread started I have been asked to join another band. The music is a bit more mainstream than I'm normally associated with and the guitarist plays a Gibson Explorer. This bass wouldn't look too out of place in that band. None the less I've chosen a bass from my old armoury that suits this band's music better - it's my homemade Surf Green '51 P (Betty, for those who've met her). I chose her because of her super fast neck and hot SD pup with it's the gritty, biting tone... but who knows, maybe one day I might actually bring myself to play the T-bird in public. So there you go, that's another bass of mine about to get some action.... just as well I have so many to choose from.

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1340233197' post='1701661'] See? There's really no need for them to gather dust! If only more people would realise. [/quote]

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1340150739' post='1700160'] pretty much the same here. I may not gig them all. IN fact, like I said earlier, only two basses really see any action, and one does 90% of the gigs,, or more. But they are all used. Past couple of weeks I have been playing a lot my new fretless Jazz and the Cort GB74 I just got. I even rehearsed with the fretless, for giggles. But last week's gigs, as well as those this week (thursday to saturday) will see the MM SUB alone (VM Jazz as backup on Friday). They *all* get used. If not... they go. [/quote] I've just added a new member to my fold which I have absolutely no intention whatsoever of gigging. It's a fantastic bass, which (after a full setup and a few tweaks here and there) far exceeds my expectations of it... but it's styling is evocative of a genre of music I have no interest in being associated with, plus it has a neck profile that could in theory get me into trouble in a live situation ... it hasn't stopped it being my latest go-to home noodler and muse for new riff ideas though.

[quote name='The Dark Lord' timestamp='1340132065' post='1699760'] Errr ...... Drummers are as much musicians as we are. [/quote] Wow sense of humour by-pass.

[quote name='mart' timestamp='1340114245' post='1699287'] Er, he claimed to have lowered the action, not raised it. ... [/quote] Haha if I had a penny for every one of my posts you've found fault with this last year.... I'd have about oooh £2.19p Yes I got it wrong... a slip of the tongue. Woop-de-doo. I'm sure everyone knew what I meant.

[quote name='51m0n' timestamp='1340121162' post='1699453'] The age old "loudest drummer/guitarist/keyboard player/bassist in the world" problem. First point he (the problem player) should note is that the publican is right, or you wont get asked back. Secondly when 'getting a level' for the band does the bass player determine their level by how the bass and drums 'meld' into a single instrument out front. I have lost count of the number of times I've seen average pub bands and you cant hear the kick drum for the bass "Well its not mic'ed up" they say - then you need to turn down your amp matey! Very very very few kick drums are all that loud in a room (they have to be tuned by someone very good at it for them to compete without micing them up). So the first thing the bassist will think at this point is "Cripes I'm too quiet!") - dont let yourself get carried away, this is all about discipline, stick with the plan. Then there is the rhythm guitarist, if he/she plays a short sharp E power chord it should be the same level as a snare hit. Try it, not a loud rimshot snare hit just a normal backbeat. Get the drummer to lay down a simple groove (you know the one) with snare on 2 & 4), get the rhythm guitarist to set their level so a chord played on two and four sits exactly right with the snare, you should hear both such as the snare has some chordal quality and the guitar has the punch of a snare. Get the bass in there on 1 and 3 with the kick drum (are we having fun yet?) Keys are a swine, they need to be eq'ed to not stamp on to omany toes (not easy) and in level the left hand should add something to the bass without over powering, and the right hand should be similar to the rhythm guitar, but, if they play busy you need them quieter, and alos both bass and rhtyhm guitar quieter or the drums disappear again. If in doubt put the keys back a little - if they have an amp and turn it up - sack them (I'm not joking, same for all the rest of the band). Now vocal should sit over all of this, and lead guitar should be just below the vocal (sacriledge? tough, this is all about the punters). Be super hardcore about it for a few rehearsals, see how quiet and well mixed you can get the band to sound, learn to rock out without earthquake volumes. Anyone who cant handle it can walk. Next time you gig the band no one will say you were too loud, everyone will say they could hear the vocal, and you will be the most professional sounding bancd on the pub scene. I've seen about three bands manage this in 20 years, (I dont think any band I've been in has quite managed to get every member to buy into this idea enough to pull it off, I got close a couple of times). It can be done, but it is properly tricky to get right. The results are really amazing when you do it. I really recommend using a Zoom recorder device (H2 or equivalent) and record your band normally in rehearsal then go through this process and re-record, take the recordings home, even out the volumes and send them out to the band asking them which they prefer. The volume evening process is important, just normalise the tracks to keep it simple. Everyone will prefer the one recorded second for the mix and sound quality, because it will sound better. Job done. [/quote] Smashing post.

I think it's supposed to be a rib cage. Which is stupid coz everyone knows your rib cage is green.

[quote name='davehux' timestamp='1340117038' post='1699348'] Seems to be a common theme here. Just need to keep Animal under control. I see a couple of lager and Night Nurse chasers coming on for him [/quote] Most drummers feel alienated from the actual musicians (that's why they always hang out with the singer(s) ) and have to prove their worth through loudness. Give him a channel for his kick drum... then he'll feel appreciated and more part of "the sound".

[quote name='Johnston' timestamp='1340098647' post='1698930'] I was thinking he was the pro tech. I reckon he might buy it and Refret it using frets from a Columbus or something. [/quote] A Schecter surely.

[quote name='the boy' timestamp='1340091397' post='1698816'] Old Marky D would put a bit of spin on it though and filled in that gap with some window putty and sand it down smooth as Leo would have intended, [b]so as to enhance the acoustic resonance on a sonic level but not interfere with its audible integrity.[/b] Throw in a few pictures of him in the garden with some dancing kids and hey presto you've got a marketing extravaganza. [/quote] But that makes far too much sense for it to be one of his descriptions. You need to surreal it up a bit. Apart from the fact that this poor bass is dead a couple of things bug me. I don't think I would have guessed from those pics that the pocket had been chiselled out - it looks to me more like the whole pocket has been shimmed out with some scrappy material ... which in theory would (as he claims to have done) raise the action. Also the windings, ok there may be too many winds for some but it does seem to have been strung by someone who knows the score and not by the type of spaz who'd carry out this level of butchery... so then why would someone bass savvy put it up at that ridiculous price - about £135 more than it's worth. It's got to be a joke auction or something.

[quote name='pendingrequests' timestamp='1340098287' post='1698927'] To be honest, I have never seen the need to own any more basses than 2 or 3. Certainly a lot of players on here can justify owning so many. I have been pretty much using my USA Jazz bass for all live and recorded work for 4 years. In this time I have played in a ton of venues and recorded various styles of music. At any point, in rehearsals or the recording studio has someone said "Eugh, I don't like that bass tone, do you have another bass?" There has never been a time where I've felt I needed to buy another bass 1. I don't really need to. 2. What's the point if the Jazz is working? I think people get caught up on changing the bass, rather than concentrating on what they are doing with their fingers. Again I don't want to offend anyone, I really do not see the point in have over 3 basses. A local session bass player in Belfast I know, who is a extremely busy guy, usually has one bass strapped around him for everything he does and uses it from funk, cover gigs (pop, rock, indie), soul and Motown work. [/quote] You make some good points about practicality but with respect you are quite new to BC and it hasn't had time to corrupt you yet. I had about 2 decades of GAS free playing where I felt exactly as you do before joining BC... now I have multiple guitars in every single room of the house. I only perhaps gig with a couple of them... the rest are for my pleasure.

Haha what f*cking[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][size=4] "pro guitar tech"[/size][/font] did that defret?

[quote name='FlatEric' timestamp='1340002532' post='1697302'].... [attachment=110690:John Lodge.jpg] ..... [/quote] And when I wear this one it hurts right along here. Btw I don't think it's an Elite II pickguard... it's very similar but the lines are slightly different (especially the lower horn) and the switch next to that rear pot is pulled back a little.

They come up on the bay all the time for just a few quid (if they sell at all). Unfortunately they are all you'll see sub Hohner price point. I'd avoid and save up for something nicer.

I never had any problems in over 25 years of gigging (true) but I always take along a stool and an acoustic bass just in case my jack socket craps out on me ... it's not quite the same seeing as we play very heavy rock and my drummer is about the loudest in the city... but hey at least I'll never have to ask for a shot of someone else's bass. (Good shout btw Pete )

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1339975578' post='1697241'] That reminds me, I must eat more fruit. [/quote] Funny, I suddenly felt like drinking some milk. BTW worst photoshop I've seen for a while... in fact it so bad it's probably not even photoshop.

For some chaps (myself included) buying into i-gear is selling out to the man. Have you tried the Android forums OP? They are a friendly and knowledgeable bunch.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1339950440' post='1696652'] Why would a passive option on an active bass make any difference if the jack sockets knackered? [/quote] Dinnae start min.

The scary side of active basses that don't have a passive option.

[quote name='Hutton' timestamp='1339872043' post='1695790'] Although it's my least valuable bass in terms of money I would never part with my Musicman SUB4. My son won the bass for being top guy in his year at Basstech. He then gave the bass to me. I will never part with it! [/quote] Having tinkered with it, I don't blame you. Sentimentality aside, this is one of the best SUB's I've ever seen.

Nice one min. I used to fancy one of these back in the day. Was it the one Luke spotted on Gumtree?

Well gloated sir. Mine is still hanging in there in the P bass gallery.