icastle

[quote name='Twincam' timestamp='1390240108' post='2343030'] Been playing 8 months and that's practicing most days for a hour or so, I do various exercises and while my hands are a lot quicker and I'm in control. My fingers are still not stretching. Like I say I really do put in the effort. I have bleed from practicing many times that's with calluses too lol. [/quote] 8 months at an hour a day is about 240 hours... or ten solid days. Give yourself time.

Nope, totally free.

The problem with using 4 pole Speakon plugs in 2 pole Speakon sockets is that they have a tendency to get stuck. Obviously, this will only ever happen when you've got limited space to grab hold of the plug properly.

Consider it moved.

The Rickenfaker thread has been moved to the Bass Guitars forum as it makes more sense to have it there rather than in the Marketplace area. http://basschat.co.uk/topic/270-rickenfakers/page__st__2160

I don't see the problem myself. Markbass aren't claiming their kit is made in Italy any more and their amps (along with everyone elses) have been full of Far Eastern components for decades.

[quote name='4000' timestamp='1389742284' post='2337560'] Depends how much you like the songs....;-) [/quote] ...or how much you need the money...

[quote name='canonman' timestamp='1389696443' post='2336925'] So, you can confirm that the speaker's meant to be muted when you plug headphones in then? [/quote] Yep. When you push a plug into that socket it is supposed to break the connection to the loudspeaker and divert the signal through the jack plug to the headphones.

You need to edit it using an editing package - IE and Chrome don't have that facility built in. You can probably do it in MS Paintbrush if you don't have anything else.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1389525347' post='2334983'] Actually quite surprised at how many regulars have met only a few other Basschatters face to face. [/quote] Not that surprising when you consider the distribution of open prisons and day release permits.

It didn't leave the factory like that. That bent contact is part of a switch, bend it back into place so it matches the other terminals and it should sort your problem out. If it doesn't, then unsolder it, drop it in the bin and fit a new one.

The only one I've met so far is Gust0o. Thoroughly nice chap and built like an outhouse.

[quote name='thisnameistaken' timestamp='1389400746' post='2333966'] Are Velvets really copper? They go black when they tarnish, surely copper would oxidise and go blue? [/quote] Copper Oxide is black - hence the black you get on a duster when using Brasso Green\blue copper deposits come from moisture.

[quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1388950795' post='2328066'] ...and you can still sleep at night? [/quote] Sometimes

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1389396819' post='2333949'] I remember playing one around this time, it was uniquely awful. [/quote] I find it quite interesting how things have moved on. Those Kay cricket bats (as we used to describe them back then) were the entry level for newbie bassist. Look at the entry level stuff now and there's no comparison.

I think I'd describe those as overdone rather than rare.

Not a huge consolation, but at least they stuck holes where the new scratchplate will hide them. IMO £45 would have been too much for that even if they'd supplied the strings as well.

Complete bodge. Hard to believe someone actually let that out of the shop as a 'fix'. If it's not a rude question, how much did they charge you for this 'enhancement'? Get yourself a new scratchplate and transfer the electronics from the old scratchplate to the new one. It'll take you 30 mins and you'll do a far better job than that.

IMO, they smack of fake 'look at me, I've been around'. Definitely uncool.

For me, it really depends what the song is and what it's being used for. If it's a simple tune then I'll just learn it by ear and not stress about it. If it's something where the bass line is distinctive then I'll break it down into logical sections and learn it note by note. If it's for a recording, then I'm generally given the freedom to write an appropriate bass line which I'll keep notes of in case I happen to forget it - it's never happened yet, but you never know. I don't bother trying to download tab for new material any more, it rarely resembles what it's purporting to be a representation of.

Is the new band called The Mysterons by any chance?

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1389044614' post='2329342'] Me neither. What else is there we don't know about..? [/quote] I'll publish a list...