Ou7shined

[quote name='hamfist' timestamp='1390337355' post='2344281'] I prefer to keep the P in it's exact sweetspot, and put up with the MM a couple of mm nearer the neck. ..... [/quote] [quote name='hamfist' timestamp='1392108733' post='2364660'] There are, of course, many ways of getting it right. For me, I always use the measurement from the 12th fret. So, for a Stingray pickup, the centre of the pickup, between the two rows of polepieces, needs to be 13.5" from the 12th fret. [/quote] Slight disparity in these two posts ..... but yes the important thing is to measure from the frets. You are actually taking your measurement from the nut but it is far more convenient to use a fret as relative starting point. I think people are possibly mistaking the positioning of the bridge as a fixed and finite thing. All bridges have differing designs and therefore differing footprints and so the placement is arbitrary - within a tolerance. Even stating the instrument's scale as 34" is just a guide to it's proportions, as rarely if ever do the strings come in at 34" (bridge saddle to nut distance) once it has been intonated. Therefore all measurements must be taken from the nut ... or your preferred fret.

[quote name='AngelLaHash' timestamp='1392110496' post='2364677'] Sorry Ou7Shined.. i was reading it in the wrong tone.. been ask to stop.. i didnt know NAFF was such a Upsetting word.. i was getting more p .. and to bring it down[b] i used soft words like Naff as used by Princess Margret[/b] But been told Cant Do that.. so i'll have to go [b]Power to the People[/b] [/quote] I don't GET it. Are you a REPUBLICAN or A royalist? No need to apologise bud. I could see you had the wrong end of the stick. Although it was a bit naff (if I'm aloud to use that word) to have a go at someone offering to help. btw I think it was Princess Anne

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1392107473' post='2364644'] I don't think we're really disagreeing too much here, Rich. If you have a genuine MM pick guard it will give you a template for the ideal position for the pup in relation to the frets on the neck, providing you measure from the same fret; i.e. the 12th/20th etc. But if you position a MM pup routing by measuring the position from the bottom of the pickguard on MM guard and apply that same spacing to create the position in a Fender guard I doubt it will be the same distance from the frets/bridge. I may be wrong.[/quote] Yes measuring from the bottom of the pg would indeed be wrong. Which is why, as I have said all along you take measurements from the frets. Listen very carefully - here's the science bit.... A MM neck has 21 frets. Not all necks do (which I think might be the basis of your argument). The MM pg has points around the neck heel which helpfully line up with the 21st fret. On the Pingray (note : which has a Fender Jazz body) the neck is a 21 fret job which is handy in this instance. But if it were a standard 20 fret neck you wouldn't just wap it up against the neck heel and rout away. No, you would use a bit of common sense and project a virtual 21st fret from which to take measurements. This leap of the imagination seem perfectly straight forward to me... but I'm sensing that this might be a bit "in depth" for some with less of a practical bent. [quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1392107473' post='2364644']If you wanted to put a MM pup on a Warwick - as seen above, an you use a MM guard as a template to give the spacing from the bottom of the neck I think it will also be wrong. But again I'm open to being corrected.[/quote] Warwick, Fender, it's all the same. Just make adjustments as above. [quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1392107473' post='2364644']My understanding is the things that affect the sound in a real way is the length of the strings and the position of the pup(s) in relation to the strings. If is pickguard isn't there as decoration and something to cover over the cable routing, then should I get guards for my Warwick and the other 2 bases I have that don't have one? [/quote] The Wikipidia definition of a pickguard sites it's primary function as being used to protect the guitar's finish from being scratched. Yes there are people for whom a pg is purely there for decoration. Others find them a practical design solution and not the least to mention a very convenient place to mount control pots, switches, LEDs and jack sockets on (primarily) front routed basses. And others are have enough imagination to use them as handy guides in bass building too.

[quote name='AngelLaHash' timestamp='1392069767' post='2364428'] OH NAFF OFF.. i didnt take the Measurment from there.. .i cut the hole just by EYE level about 3 Year ago So STOP ya Jibbing young WHIPPER SNAPPER AND I DID POST ages ago that you cant take the MEASURMENTS from there.. BUT YOU COULDNT READ IT [/quote] I'm not sure where the argy-bargy is coming from mate as I was only trying to help with your post. The fact of the matter is that you can take the placement measurements from the neck/frets.... and I do. And a genuine MM scratchplate (far from being purely decoration, Rich) is the ideal starting point to make a template from. You have intimated that you may not have made the best job of yours - if there's a bit of wiggle room, a MM pg will also let you perfectly correct any misalignment you may have had by doing it by eye.

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1392058544' post='2364204'] I think 21 makes sense, at least you can complete the last octave. This topping out at Eb (in regular tuning) makes no sense to me. [b]And spare me the "20's enough because Leo said so" dogma[/b] [/quote] Especially as he changed his mind in all later bass designs.

[quote name='AngelLaHash' timestamp='1392052369' post='2364099'] Right i was trying to EXPLAIN that.. i do understand that I cant use the PICK GUARD as a JUDGEMENT to were the PICKUP should go because of the were the NECK really ends on the BODY.... That is why i KNOW i put it in the WRONG place first off. This is WHY i POSTED the PICTURE to show this If you look at the LINK you will see i was in the chat from 2yr ago (im going to have to stop for a while as its driving me Nuts some posts) [/quote] lol Well I better go back and learn my stuff again then, as this is precisely the method I used to obtain exact measurements on the dozen or so basses (including the surf green one over the page) I have routed with MM pups.

[quote name='AngelLaHash' timestamp='1392051569' post='2364081'] but you cant use a Pick Guard as judgement from the Neck [/quote] Why not?

[quote name='AngelLaHash' timestamp='1392049031' post='2364030'] I hear the MM's are a bit shorter I did cut in to the body before i found that Forum Page, but if i make my own Pick Guard i can Hit the HOLE! I dont think it would be good to have one Pickup under another like it would be with a PMM So would having it in Place were the Jazz Bridge Pick be better and change it so i can select MM/Top/Bottom Pickups [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/pickup-spacing-comparison-652372/"]http://www.talkbass....parison-652372/[/url] [/quote] Yes but the distance from the 21st fret (or 20th) is the same. See the Pingray on the previous page.

[quote name='AngelLaHash' timestamp='1392028447' post='2363666'] I am doing a PMM one but it dosnt look Pritty I hope i got the MM in the correct place but i would like some thing to Cover the MESS i made with Chopping out the hole :'( [/quote] If you had a MM pickguard you'd know for sure if you have your pup in the correct spot.... and it can cover a multitude of sins. You can always sell it on again if you don't like the aesthetics.

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1391905371' post='2362617'] I'm alarmed that this is described as having been a "worn" toilet seat before they refinished it. Surely you'd start with a fresh, new loo seat if you were building one of these? [/quote] I didn't when I built mine..... gave it a bloody good rubbing down first though.

It is a common issue related to the nut. It will probably go away if you push the A down behind the nut. You might get lucky by winding the string so that the windings push the string down and increase the break angle. However to fix it permanently you might need a new nut ... preferably fitted by someone who knows how to set it correctly.

If it sounds ok in all situations other than live it's more likely to be an eq issue.... either that or (as can sometimes happen) your ears are trying to convince you there is an issue when there isn't one. It need not be your eq problem either - a fellow bandmate may be hogging some of the frequencies you perceive to be losing. Place someone FOH and get them to let you know if there are any noticable deficiencies in your volume across the board.

[quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1391798573' post='2361501'] I've just come up with the ideal thing for those who long for that 'road worn' look (not forgetting the feel of course) but can't wait for all those years of playing to pass. I have developed a jacket with velcro patches so that sandpaper can be attached to various points of contact with you bright new shiny guitar or bass. For the first hour i've found 50 grit ideal and then 220 grit for the final hour thus reducing in a few hours of gigs or practice to something that looks as if it has been thrown in and out of a van on a 20 year world tour. The downside is that the current prototype jacket is denim so at the moment it's only good for metal. [/quote] And what's more it would wear the bass in exactly the correct way for the owners playing style. Having said that, by all accounts, these factory produced relics seem to magically do this already.

It kinda looks like it was set up for fretless. What is the nut material?

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1391632553' post='2359595'] Many thanks guys. Yes, that is all a great help. I, for one, have managed to get much further than I have before. I've done the beat track, without recording (we'll take that as a given for now) I've told it to play the track back, but I don't hear anything. I've saved the project and told it to Render it as a .wav. This then plays back in iTunes. Is this normal? It's not a problem, but am I missing something? Thanks for the help. Edit: Ou7shined for Recording Mod! Vote NOW!! [/quote] A number of things could have gone a-rye. Do you see the VU meter fluctuating in time with the expected beat? If that seems ok then check nothing has been muted. If that checks out then it could be your output settings. Try Options> Preferences> Devices and check that you are using ASIO drivers. This often fixes most things. Your iTunes has probably been given permission to be the primary program on your pc for .wav files. You may want to have something more useful like Audacity, VLC media player (my favorite) or indeed Window Media Player take over these duties. Open up the appropriate program and in it's settings/preferences look for the "associate files" tab. As for the mod vote. As I say I'm only a novice myself... but thanks anyway.

[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1391629618' post='2359509'] For a basic click track, Reapers internal click is much easier - Just toggle it on and off, or use a key command - It is on the tool bar. You can set it up for pre roll, x amount of bar(s) count in, and of course you can change the sound (.wav) It will follow BPM changes. [url="http://en.wikiaudio.org/Reaper:Metronome."]http://en.wikiaudio....aper:Metronome.[/url] Of course, your way of doing it would be good for setting up off beats or odd time sig bars (3/8 etc) etc. Maybe the latest update addresses this (I am not a Reaper user) [/quote] Good point. I rarely ever write in 4/4 etc. so this is a practical solution for me. It also means that when I go to add proper drums (usually one of my last jobs) I already have a dedicated beat track setup. I thought it was a good introduction to making a midi track though.

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1391622896' post='2359391'] Thanks for posting this thread Simon. I'm in the same boat. I know Ou7shined is a great guy. Not only is he a Mod, but we see his other contributions and he's got the greatest of intentions. Regretfully though his post leaves me thinking "Que...?!" Sorry to pick your post out, Ou7shined, but it does, for me at least, sum up my problem with the Recording forum here on BC. HOWEVER.... it's been great. I've googled VST and found this link which answers a lot of questions.. [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_Studio_Technology"]http://en.wikipedia....udio_Technology[/url] Actually a glossary of recording terms here would be useful for a numptie like myself. Thanks guys... I DO mean that. You're all great. Cheers Rich [/quote] Yep it's minefield but also a great voyage of discovery. I've been using my laptop for recording for a couple of years now but I'm still just a beginner... although I used to edit tv programs for my local cable network back in the 90s and I find that a lot of the processes are similar. Not to mention using basic reel to reel audio recording since forever. A VST is just a type of plugin. A plugin is a small (usually) .dll file which can be either an effect, a virtual instrument or a process that you use in your DAW - digital audio workstation... or studio. Btw I'm not a mod...yet. lol

[quote name='simon_says' timestamp='1391621530' post='2359372'] Thanks for your replies. Basically I am after a blow by blow set of instructions for recording with the 2i2 into Reaper. I am sure it should be pretty straightforward but I have wasted so much time trying to get something simple recorded that I am close to giving up. I am hoping that someone has written a Dummies guide to doing this. Cheers [/quote] Assuming you have it set up for your soundcard and are plugged in. Open up Reaper, in the middle of the screen you set the bpm (I usually get a good idea of my start bpm with a metronome) and your time signature. Then either in the dark area on the left or at the bottom double click your left mouse button. This will open a new track - you can name it if you wish by doulble clicking near it's top to highlight the text area. If you want to record straight away you simply "arm" the track by clicking the round red button in the track - this makes it live for recording. Then press the record button (near the left on the centre line of your screen) and off you go - you can pause, stop, review etc from here too. Remember to unclick the arm button once you are done. You may want to set a click track first though as it makes syncing everything much easier later on. This requires a MIDI track. Select your track (click on it) and with the right mouse drag/select say 4 bars, then at the top click Insert > New MIDI item. This creates a Midi zone in those 4 bars. Now click where it says FX on your track - this will open up all your plugins. You want a drum instrument so select VSTi in the left side. Now all your instrument plugins are listed. I think the only native plugin that you could create a metronome in is ReaSyndr - click on it. Now go back to your track and double click on the MIDI area. This will bring up your midi keyboard - you should be able to scroll through the various sounds. Simply click on whichever sound you want at the appropriate place in the bar (the grid) you wish it to make a sound. Volume sliders on each track allow you to crudely "mix" the levels of each track. I hope this is enough to get you started. Just come back when you have more questions. Oh here's one very important tip for recording with Reaper. Create a folder on your desktop (or wherever you find convenient) and name it as you project name. As soon as you open your project save it to that folder. This will insure that all files related to that project (and there will be many) are all kept in one simple location. To open your project again in future you are looking for the .RPP file.

I use Reaper for everything now. I'm sure that I don't use a fraction of its potential but I do produce reasonable demos with the little knowledge I have of it. I go guitar > Line6 UX2 > Reaper. I love its almost plug and play simplicity and get totally absorbed in adding extra instruments and effects to my riff ideas. You need to find a decent stock of VST's and VSTi's to use with it. There are quite a lot of free ones on the net but you need to put in the time sorting the wheat from the chaff. I also find that a decent drum plugin is essential. I used Addicted Drums. There are tutorials on YouTube but found that trying to figure out Reaper without knowing the language of DAW fatiguing to keep up with so I'm basically self-taught. Which bits do you need most help with?

Its probably quite Sonic. /coat

[quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1391416428' post='2356762'] Good grief you guys are quick!! Mine is no more than a germ of an idea at the moment... a sniffle of a song. I'll have a listen to these in due course. Well done on such speedy work [/quote] Its my first submission (in fact I didn't even know about the competition until yesterday) so I have no idea about time scales. I stuck it up quick in case we needed to get them in asap for voting etc.. Of course, listening to it today I can hear new parts (a piano tinkle here and there) I could add.

Nice one. I even used it in my submission for the Feb composition competition.

Here's my submission - [url="https://soundcloud.com/ou7shined/remember-this-station-final"]Remember This Station[/url] Funnily enough, when I set out to write this I had a completely different idea in mind (dark and doomy) but when I went to the rack to pick a bass for the track I accidentally picked up my fretless. "What the hell" says I "Lets see what happens". Turned out quite a bit more optimistic sounding than I'd originally planned.

[quote name='Greggo' timestamp='1391385270' post='2356671'] Thanks for info - the sanding sheet had 120 on it. Just checked on it again and I don't think it's as bad as what I first thought - I think it looked worse after sanding so I immediately stopped, but I wiped it down and can't really notice the scratches, but if I run hands up and down neck I can feel them ever so slightly. I've read somewhere that Scotch brite pads are good for satining a neck is this a good way of doing it? If so which colour? [/quote] 120 is not fine. That guy was obviously taking the piss. You want to try and work your way up to at least 500 from there.... more if you planning on spraying it after.