Jakester

I know this says more about me than I'd like it to, but I can't help seeing two bass bodies mating there. Can't wait to see the little ukes they produce!

Andertons suggest they may have more in in a couple of weeks if you do change your mind and want to return it: https://www.andertons.co.uk/bass-dept/bass-guitars/modern-bass-guitars/charvel-pro-mod-bass-sd-pj-iv-in-mystic-blue I like the green though...

I use one as I have one active and one passive bass, or sometimes a bass and an EUB (and on a couple of memorable occasions running a set of triggers into Mainstage as a timpani sim) so it a) allows me to switch between them, b) ensure that the levels coming into the effects and amp are roughly the same between the active and passive bass and c) adjust the EQ of each to suit. I tried going into a power amp only but couldn't get the levels with the preamp I was using.

Yup, I had a quote for £900+ to repair (note 'repair', not 'replace') a problem with a neck.

Yup, me. Played drums for 20+ years, only played bass seriously for the last couple of years (though dabbled for a while before then). I’m lucky enough to have a practice space so not having withdrawal but I am really missing playing with other people!

Yes - if you actually read the initial post, I said: I'm looking at semi-permanently installing a couple of mics in areas where I would need to feed the mic cable through small holes, so the connector won't fit.

Not very helpful. I don't know anyone who solders their own cables or does any soldering generally. Do you actually have any specific experience in relation to those specific connectors? Why specifically does "solderless + audio + musician = trouble"?

Does anyone have any experience with the Neutrik crimpable XLR connectors? I'm looking at semi-permanently installing a couple of mics in areas where I would need to feed the mic cable through small holes, so the connector won't fit. I am completely crap at soldering. No, I mean really, really bad. Actually, worse than that. In fact, the things intended to be soldered generally have less solder on them than when I started. So I'm looking for solderless XLR connectors, and Neutrik do crimpable connectors. I could feed the wire through the hole and then crimp the connector on, sparing me the embarrassment of showering myself with solder and having to give it all up as a bad job. Good? Bad? Ugly? (and don't say "learn to solder", I've tried dozens of times, had electronics lessons at school and in scouts, practised umpteen times, still can't do it).

I'm lucky enough to have an outbuilding to go and play in. Until recently it had a very shonky door, but yesterday it's been replaced with a steel security door which has acoustic infill, suggesting a noise reduction of up to 45dB. I suspect this is unlikely. The walls are thick stone - about a foot thick, and have recently been tanked with a concrete slurry so mass isn't an issue with the walls. We had to redo the roof a while back due to leaks, so took the opportunity to double up on acoustic insulation in the roof as well. However, that leaves the final potential weakness, which is the window. It's a single pane top-opening window with quite a deep reveal. I'm now considering whether or not just to pack the reveal with acoustic insulation and seal off the window entirely by putting a panel across it, to stop it being a source of noise externally. However, with the new door in, it's probably now the only source of airflow (the old door had a two inch gap at the bottom!). The room is/was damp, hence the need for tanking. Even so, we still got mildew and mould in there until I put a dehumidifier in there which is always on. If I were to box in the window and seal it off, is it likely to cause problems with the lack of airflow? Would I need to put a plenum chamber in the boxing and an exhaust fan?

Just noticed this for sale on here, looks like a decent setup (not mine, don’t know the seller, never used the kit etc etc):

In a different band I was in we had some Alto 15's - a couple of generations older than those I'd have thought. They were adequate at best - *just* managed to exceed stage levels in smaller venues but struggled with any more. The Thumps I mentioned comfortably outpaced them in every respect.

For that money I'd be looking second hand. There's bound to be some decent setups on your local buy and sell sites - Gumtree, FB Marketplace etc, and if you're lucky you can get cables and stands included too.

As I say, Yamaha are good - we have the DXR10 Mk1 and it's great. Our setup is two 12" Mackie Thump powered speakers from a XR18 digital mixer, with the Yamaha as a vocal monitor. That's with two vocalists and does pubs gigs with no problems at all. I have a Mackie sub when needed but haven't used it in anger.

I'd say look to get some decent powered speakers - the 'standard' (but by no means the best) are the Mackie SRMs and there's usually lots available second-hand. RCF are well-thought of on here, and QSC are the upper end of the market. We also have a Yamaha DXR10 which is used as a vocal monitor, but another one of those would be great. Go for the best you can afford - skimping now will mean problems with expanding etc down the line. As with bass cabs, suggested wattage ratings are very misleading, but look for stuff 500w+ if possible. The more headroom, the better. <edit> I'd also say go for 12" speakers as a minimum - if you're going to be playing any recorded audio etc (wedding/background music) then without a sub 10"s can sound a little weedy. If you can lug them around, 15"s are a good compromise without a sub. As for mixer, I'd say get something with at least 12 channels, with ideally 6 - 8 of those mic inputs in case you wanted to add backing vocals, keys, and/or drums. There's loads of good analogue mixers, and the digital stuff is becoming really useful at accessible price points (XR18 etc). Have you thought about monitoring?

If it’s too much you can disconnect it easily - I’ve done it and it took five minutes.

A bit extreme, no? I don't see anyone saying things along the lines you suggest....

Yes, I did - that's why I was so annoyed!

I'm on Reaper after being hacked off with Apple after paying for Logic 9, to have to pay again for 10 as their OS updates rendered the former unusable. I initially found Reaper close to unusable as it was so counterintuitive in many of the ways it did things, but I've slowly got to grips with it and it seems no better or worse than alternatives I've used in the past. One of the good things about it is you can change its behaviours in so many ways that you can effectively tailor it to suit you.

Yep, it's an odd one. When they used to Digital Village you could get stock from their shops or order from the warehouse in Romford, so I presume at some point when they went under they were incorporated into a larger European concern. I wish they'd be a bit more upfront about it though.

And I bought Russ's old Oxygen 49 keyboard! Great transaction, keyboard arrived fine despite Postman Pat's best efforts - thanks!