icastle

Yep

I presume all is well until you hit the ODB3? If so then perhaps the new pickups are overpowering the input on the pedal?

[quote name='KingBollock' timestamp='1330455819' post='1557846'] I just wish I could figure out how to record at home without spending a fortune. I play Guitar a bit but I can't get my head around drum machines and I really, really can't sing. [/quote] Take a look at Audacity. ([url="http://audacity.sourceforge.net/"]http://audacity.sourceforge.net/[/url]) I've been using it as a rough musical notepad for a couple of years now - - it's free and you can get a half reasonable result just running it on a PC and going in through the soundcard sockets. It won't stop you sounding like Bjork with a sore throat though...

[quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1330447303' post='1557646'] The article talks about a bitza made from a sunburst and a "sea form stratocaster" . That must be even more rare.....! [/quote] Sounds like a Tentacalaster to me.... I'll get me wetsuit....

[quote name='Al Heeley' timestamp='1330447935' post='1557664'] I have a little Antex 18W iron that does the job ok, some bigger stubborn pots are easier to earth onto with a 25W iron and a larger tip. I have a selection of different sized tips to slot onto the iron so it can do biger stuff as well as fiddly electronics for stompboxes. The irons are about £16 and 3 tips for £10, should be good for a year or three. [/quote] I'm still using my Antex iron that I bought 20 years ago.

[quote name='throwoff' timestamp='1330446764' post='1557629'] I dotn want to play indie or anything too complicated but to be honest other than those 2 things I will pretty much play ANYTHING! [/quote] Well just being open to playing anything give you far more scope. I've been remarkably lucky insofar as I've never had to look for a band but something that just occured to me is that we have a 'Bass Players Available\Wanted' section here - are there similar sections on guitarist and drummer forums? Something I have noticed (probably because I'm getting older) is that bands with older members seem to have a degree of longevity about them that the younger ones don't but those older bands get a new lease of life when they recruit a 'youngster'. I've been doing some work with a band who had a record deal back in the 60's and they're certainly not behaving like 70 year olds. It's not you that's at fault here so it seems a bit ar*e about face punishing yourself for other peoples inabilities. Hang in there mate, it'll work itself out.

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1330430394' post='1557251'] ....and within that there's my thread lol. Lots of great info, mostly from Mr icastle IIR. [/quote] I just need to find a Soldering Forum where I can talk music now...

[quote name='mckendrick' timestamp='1330433352' post='1557322'] Thanks so much, chaps.... I got all the peripheral gadgetry... stands, sponges, and stuff. Does the 60/40 come pre fluxed? I'm used to using seperate acid fluxes with the brasswork.. [/quote] Yep. No need for any other flux, it's already in there.

[quote name='Clarky' timestamp='1330396115' post='1556871'] Playing devils advocate here but why do so many of the world's great living bass players stick with 4 string when they clearly technically capable enough to play 5 strimgs? Just look at the polls and cast your eyes down the list - Flea, King, Wooten, Miller, Weekes, Squire, Burnel, Butler, John Paul Jones and so on. Is it just familiarity, comfort, even laziness? Surely if its a no-brainer to move to 5 they would do so? I know there are examples of great bass players who have made the leap (eg Percy Jones) but they seem to be in the minority. [/quote] Who? That just sounds like a list of dog food manufacturers to me... 4's have been around a lot longer than 5's and it's what they've all grown up with and learnt on. Their basslines were written on 4's and, if it was manageable on a 4, they probably see no need to go for a 5. I guess that if they've always written basslines that work using a 4 then they've not found a need for a 5.

60/40 Lead/Tin solder is still favourite - the lead free stuff works but it's not fantastic. As for a soldering iron, you want something with a chisel tip and 25W. Don't forget - you'll need to give the pot casing a quick rub with some sandpaper where you are going to solder - they're generally coated with laquer. Good luck

Elixir for 4 and 5 string roundwounds. D'Addario EXLs for 6 string roundwound. Rotosound SM77 flatwounds for 4 string fretless.

I call this 'shabby chic'. Rest of the band call it 'you never quite made it out of the 14th century did you?'

I can understand some people preferring their 4 and wanting to stick with that format but I have to say I'm struggling to understand why some people think it's harder to play a 5. When all's said and done, it's just an extra string. True, you need to control it or you'll get the floppy/farty problem that I see complained about on here at least once a week and you need to be a bit more precise with your fretting and playing hands but that's got to be a good thing surely? Like most instruments, you're only going to get out of it what you put in.

[quote name='Dave Tipping' timestamp='1330371382' post='1556431'] ?? interesting idea .. might chafe a little. [/quote] That caught me out for a second or two as well!

Depends where we're playing. If it's a corporate/wedding/function then it's black trousers and shoes, white shirt and black waistcoat. If it's a pub gig then anything goes. Folk clubs are a bit of an issue as I have an aversion to wooly jumpers next to my skin so I tend to go with collarless shirts and waistcoat. Heavy metal bands are all songs about death, motorbikes, gloom and having underage sex with animals anyway, so you'll be better off wearing black to hide the stains...

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1330370045' post='1556401'] I need the exercise. Edit: In any case, what are you doing playing beyond the fifth fret? [/quote] ...and do they make a satnav that accurate?

Well looking at the level of intelligence these two have shown, it's really no wonder that their business was going down the pan.

Cheeky b*st*rds! They've nicked the webpage as well...

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1330336032' post='1555708'] I'm not quite as bad as that... but I'd far rather have one happy punter tell me they liked the set than ten bass players comment on my use of low-mid frequencies to fill my sonic hole, etc. [/quote] I think most people pick up a few 'odd' personality traits during their lifetime. The key to understanding people is to understand your own motives and actions under different circumstances - one of these days I'll manage it. [quote name='Conan' timestamp='1330336032' post='1555708'] And my choice of instrument is my choice - it's nothing to do with anyone else! [/quote] Absolutely. If it's played right and sounds right then it shouldn't matter if it's an Encore or an Overwater.

I suspect that if Scott Tracey was a bass player he'd have one of these...

[quote name='leftyhook' timestamp='1330301332' post='1555542'] who was the tennis player who beat someone using a frying pan in a fun match? If you can PLAY, people will be even more impressed with a Squier logo on your headstock. [/quote] No that doesn't really work for me. I am very self critical and feed my own ego to the exclusion of any outside input. Other people being impressed at what I am able to do in any aspect of my life isn't what motivates me on any level - in fact I find it toe curlingly embarassing.

[quote name='Tegs' timestamp='1330296786' post='1555477'] If only life were so simple! I'm hoping for her sake that the 3 year warranty will cover it! [/quote] It almost certainly won't. If you want to go down that route then you're just going to have to pretend you don't know what happened to it and don't even mention mains selectors in conversation...

I have a couple of 4's but I wouldn't buy another one as a 'main' instrument - I only look at basses from a 5 perspective these days.

[quote name='oggiesnr' timestamp='1330293669' post='1555411'] Bass and folk is always a problem. For dancing it's not a problem as dancers want a steady beat and (usually) that's what the band plays. [/quote] You ever seen people trying to dance to 5/4? [quote name='oggiesnr' timestamp='1330293669' post='1555411'] Songs are a different issue, as a general rule, if there's no drummer, ignore playing root and five, it's boring and it won't work because they'll always be ahead or behind you. This is one of the few chances you'll get to play a bass melody and not get yelled at! Embrace it! It's fun! All that cool stuff that jazz bassists seem to get to do, you can do it in folk! [/quote] Absolutely. For all my mickey taking out of the jazz genre, there are more similarities musically than there are differences. We just tend to trim our beards more often and wash...

[quote name='garethfriend' timestamp='1330277797' post='1555043'] went really well, one of the most enjoyable gigs I've ever done actually. Did a folky version of "eye of the tiger" which went down really well with the audience. It happened to land on the weekend we got snow so it wasn't as rammed as it was due to be but a good atmosphere none the less. Going to be doing another one some point soon for all the people who wanted to come but couldn't. [/quote] Ah - 'back by popular demand' is always good. We've been working on a folky laid back version of Bon Jovi's 'Living on a Prayer' this afternoon complete with a low whistle lead solo that's sounding rather promising...