DTB

Wow!

Excellent article, especially the last two paragraphs. Seems most complaints about compression come from people trying to use it for the wrong purpose. I definitely use harder playing to change my tone, but not enough to make my valve pre amp clip and that digging in often comes with an unwanted increase in volume so after reading that article I would say I would definitely benefit from using a slight amount of compression. Thank you.

Apart from the in built compressor on my old Hartke rig that I left abroad reluctantly years ago I’ve never used a compressor of any kind. I understand what they do but somehow think they are maybe used to cover up poor dynamics in technique or poor instrument string to string balance. (Please don’t shoot me down in flames I’m very sensitive.) Can anyone name any famous players that are known for not using compression? Should I just buy one and try it out. I like how the Boss pedal compressor adds a bit of top end sparkle.

Well the Indian factory came out number one for oil and engine cleanliness in a recent test. The Chinese made engines had all sorts of crap inside including swarf and bits of cloth. BMW had to issue a service note due to spokes coming loose on their GS wheels and gave out a lot of replacement wheels under warranty. It was down to the spoke lock nuts not being correctly torqued up at the Chinese factory. Both my Triumphs had numerous recalls and I had to fix the wiring looms on both. I would now buy BSA or RE as you say over triumph.

With my guitar yes (Silver Sky with Bonamassa Bonnie pickups) with my bass not quite but close as makes no difference. the weak point is always me followed by needing a bigger practice space.

Only the domestic market Harleys are made in America. The ones destined for Europe are made in India. BMW 1200GS Wheels are made in China. £20k for a motorcycle with Chinese rattly spoke wheels!! Off topic again 🙄

Simple but brilliant idea. Would never have thought of doing this.

Thought I’d share my use of the Karaoke Version website for practice tracks with the bass removed. I’ve used this site from the beginning I think about the early 2000’s. Back then a lot of the tracks were obviously home keyboard quality and some were not very good, but now the quality is excellent and if you were in a duo or live solo guitarist they are of gigable standard. I no longer gig, but having realised after a long period of depression that playing at home for one’s own pleasure is much better than not playing at all, and use tracks from this site with the bass removed, and have also used them without vocals for playing my sax to. I have nothing to do with the website in a business capacity and I’m only plugging it here as others my find it useful. I’m sure others will have better ways of doing backing tracks, but for me this is easy and simple, if a little expensive sometimes when buying a lot of tracks in one go.

Harleys are great bikes if you realise their limitations and that they are built down to a budget and to make a profit when they sell and that the accountants have the final say on what gets included in the build not the designers. The new ones are a lot better. Apart from the last line, could the same be said of Rics? Interestingly or not depending your perspective Harleys to non biker types attract The most attention than any other bike. Especially females. “Wow a Harley, I bet it’s really fast!” Err no actually, for a bike it’s quite slow. Bit like Rolling Stones to muggles (non musical folk). Best band in the world! Well if you consider very simple song structure and easy to play simple guitar parts and solos to be the best, yes. Sorry it’s almost 3 am and I can’t sleep…….

I’ve got it almost spot on now. Simply turned off the preamp in my bass and went passive. Sounds much closer like that. I think a lower action or slightly less relief would get in 100% but I don’t want to disappear down that particular rabbit hole again. I like the way my bass plays at the moment and until I change the strings for black ones, if they ever arrive from USA, I’m inclined to leave it as it is.

I absolutely love playing bass again. Switched back due to arthritis pain and sitting in a slightly different position to play bass means I can play more than two songs before having to stop. Any advice on that tone?

Yes mine too. Use to play both on guitar before switching back to bass recently.

I love the bass tone on this track. It’s the version with Joss Stone and Johnny Lang. It almost sounds as is there is a tiny amount of overdrive on the bass at some points. Anyone help me out with what’s going on to achieve that tone please. Yes I know it’s 99% in the fingers and I’m 99% there in getting exactly that tone so my fingers are fine but it’s not quite right. Anyway any help much appreciated. Thank you.

I’m on strong pain killers for my arthritis. Sometimes I say stupid things as a result.

Does it though? I don’t think the string does stretch when you fret a note. I think when you fret a note you are just taking up the slack (all be it a small amount) in the string. It would only need to stretch if it were tensioned up to almost breaking point. Also if it was stretching to reach the fret there would be virtually no sustain to a note because the string would need an incredible amount of energy to continue to vibrate. Also if the string was stretching to reach the fret it would be out of tune afterwards because I don’t think steel and nickel have much elasticity so the string would stay stretched which equals a flat note. i think it’s simply the slack in the string you are taking up to fret a note, not the string stretching.

My headless uses standard strings.

I read this with some interest as my two favourite basses fit into each category. The traditionally built one sounds exactly like the sound in my head that I want straight away. The headless chambered one is quite weak in comparison until the preamp controls are used to contour the frequencies. Even then it never quite has the kick and tight sound of the first. It is considerably lighter and more balanced though. Of course the differences could just be down to the pick ups rather than the design. Who knows?

Ibanez 1506 workshop Yamaha TRB 1006J are the two I’ve bought in the last month. I’ve gone back to playing bass because I sit in a slightly different position than when I play guitar and I’m riddled with arthritis at 53 yo (I use a wheelchair if I have to walk outside the house) and it’s less painful to sit and play bass. sorry for the delay in reply. since I posted thread Ive pretty much got the floating thumb sorted for muting strings and on the multiscale the movement to stay in the sweet spot is happening on its own. Both of which weren’t necessary on my fourstring fretless. So I’m really enjoying playing again.

I’m beginning to think maybe I should have gone 5 string e a d g c rather than six. I do absolutely love the sixers I bought recently but I don’t go much below D on 6th string and could even put a five in drop d for that? Also think should have gone fretless. I always do this when buying something. Doesn’t matter what it is. I whittle the list down to a couple and then buy the wrong one lol.

Okay, thank you all. I will carry on then in the knowledge I’m doing it right.

I’ve just got my first multiscale bass. I’m finding i am constantly having to move my plucking hand up and down along the strings between neck and bridge to stay in the sweet spot for the tone I want, from string to string, particularly on the g and c. Obviously this isn’t necessary on a non multi scale instrument. It isn’t something I considered before purchasing it. is this normal or am I doing something wrong??