SPHDS

Cheers Phil, very helpful and informative post! Does add more candidates and throws up a few questions though......!
I get the impression Cardioid is preferable to Super-Cardioid. Is this basically because the former has no pick up from the rear. and if so, how much of an issue would that be?
Also this Matching transformer idea sounds interesting, would it really make the mic work well or would it just magnify the shortcomings as well as boost the output.....!?! (also how does one go about it......!?!)
Beta's seem quite a bit dearer than the standard 58's too.....!
How do SM57's compare to 58's?

Don't know if it will be any help at all, but have you looked on ebay? They have a variety of knobs that may take your fancy, some of them have sleeve adaptors to fit, others have grub screws that help them fit......! Hope that helps!

Cheers Lozz, those were the Behringer's I was alluding to.....! Don't quite know what my voice 'equates' to range wise, as have only just started doing BV's just know that the old PE515 ain't quite up to it (people say they can see my lips moving but hear nothing, even with the mic turned up top whack....!) Most of the places we are playing we provide all the kit, so no 'house' equipment to fall back on....! Shame I don't have a couple of mics to borrow to compare what they are like in 'full throws band mode' (a lot of things can sound great on their own, put them in the mix and they sound dreadful.....!)

Short and to the point! Thanks!

What is the advantage of XLR over 1/4" ? (just out of curiosity....!)

Another question to add to this (minor) can of worms.....I presume I want an XLR-XLR cable as opposed to an XLR-1/4" jack cable? (both seem to be advertised for sale with microphones) or does it not really matter?

Looked up the impedance thing it seems that most mics nowadays are low impedance as they give better vocal response and are now able to be produced at a reasonable price, also they are better as there is less signal loss over cable length when compared to high impedance. (although some super cheap (as well as some specialist....) mics are still high impedance......!)

Are Behringer any good, (seem cheap and got some good reviews) or are they the Encore/Stagg of the Microphone world....!?!

Will check with the band what mics they are using too.......!

Ah, thought that might be the case, just trading on a name, but made of tin cans and elastic bands......!?! Just thought I'd check though......!
So basically I need a low impedance microphone I take it?

Cheers, will keep an eye out for them.
What are Shure PG58's like? (they seem quite reasonable......) Are they any good, or are they the Microphone equivalent of a the New Beetle or Mini (trading on a name that is brilliant, but quite frankly not worthy to lick their boots.....!?!)
I used the drummer's mic for a practice once and that seemed ok (think it was an SM58.....!) level wise at practice, just meant that because I won't be bellowing down the mic, something fairly quiet ain't going to be much help.....!
(also does impedance have much to do with it - read that the PE515 is high imp. and the SM58 is low imp. is that where the problem lies?)

Sorry if I am being a tad blond......!

Sorry if this has been done to death, but........

I have started to do backing vocals for a band, and the microphone I am using (a Shure Unidyne PE515) which belonged to my father

[url="http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/$(KGrHqR,!pwE9eGeBW0ZBPZWjYi-Z!~~60_57.JPG"]http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/$(KGrHqR,!pwE9eGeBW0ZBPZWjYi-Z!~~60_57.JPG[/url]

is, whilst looking pretty good, just not cutting it in the mix (apparently it is turned up twice as high as any of the other mic's on stage and is barely audible (plus I am not the loudest of singers anyway.....!)

So I was wondering what to get, I know Shure SM58's are the go-to/industry standard/creme de la creme of mics, but they ain't cheap.......so was wondering if there were any others out there to consider that may not cost as much, but do the job...!

Cheers for any help......!

I'll second taking a spare, as I found out a couple of weeks ago when a string let go one song into a set......luckily had the spare up and ready, so it was 'click, clunk, rock!' and on with the show! (and it shut up the singer who had kept on saying 'why do you need to bring two guitars along (I'll let him off the faux pas, he doesn't know any better....) if you only play one of them...!?!')

[quote name='KingBollock' timestamp='1337718286' post='1664564']
Not a box full but I do have a Jack Daniel's cigarette case full. From the ridiculously thin and flimsy, upto 3mm Big Stubbies, and alsorts in between, including reshaped coins and washers, and metal finger and thumb picks.
[/quote]

Yep me too, which was what disappeared off stage during the break at a gig.......! (perils of being set up near the facilities!)

Used to have a load of Pink and Purple Dunlop Tortex's (can't remember what size they were, but fairly stiff) until they mysteriously all disappeared from the stage at a gig during the break.....! I am now using a set I got off Ebay, dunno who made 'em or what thickness they are, but they work and seem to last! I am currently using a white one, as you spot it when you drop it.....which is my only complaint, they can be a bit slippery when hot.....!

Ok Here Goes!

NO-NAME JAZZBASS COPY (black with silver scratchplate (now with black Gaffa stripes....!)) - My first bass, bought from a girl at uni for a £150 with a hardcase! It is a good dependable starter bass that is easy to play and sounds very good at full chat! It has been a dependable bass for years. That said there is a kink at the neck at about 14-15th fret, so no playing above that (so no Alright Now!). The neck pickup pot has snapped off, but that is a minor problem as I don't really fiddle with settings when gigging! It doesn't get much playing these days, but it is not it's fault!

IBANEZ JTKB JETKING (Sunburst with white pickguards) - Bought from EvilBay for £150, virtually brand new (month old!) Became my main bass straight away, really like the look (sort of Jaguar/upsidedown T-Bird shape!) kinda retro, and you don't see many about. It sounds really good when gigging and is comfortable to play for long periods, despite the weight (but then the Jazz also weighs a ton (well a stone anyway), so am used to heavy axes!) Not really had many problems with it, the jack fell out and needed resoldering, but simple to fix, and the knobs seem to like dropping off.....! It not the most stable tuning wise, but that may just be the strings.....! Also not the easiest to play with my fingers (pickups don't provide much of a ledge for my thumb, but that is pretty minor as I usually just use a pick....!

EPIHPONE EXPLORER (black with white pickguard) - My newest bass, and it has now taken over as Gig-Master (although the JetKing stills comes along for for the ride as back up!) It sounds brilliant, looks awesome and always gets noticed at gigs, I have found it really easy to play and not noticed much neck dive (helped by a suede strap!) It is easy to play with a pick and fingers. If I had to pick a fault it can be a tad unweildy (singer keeps on impaling himself on the point on the bottom at gigs!) and got to be careful putting it on the stand as it sits at quite an angle and had to lunge across the stage to catch it toppling! (hence my other post....!)

Waffle over.....!

I was about ot mention Stig, apparently he made them himself after finding he didn't really use the other two strings.....! Awesome band!

Here are a couple more of his creations......!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/micumic/6023753758/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ruimleal/4178831415/

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/210/519614781_50f610b2d9.jpg

Cheers, Looks like it may just have to be a case of 'try before you buy'.....! The main issues I saw were all to do with the extreme angles of the bass (much steeper than the RD!) so yeah, quite a bit to stick out past the bridge, and hence why the sideways rack may not work....! That was why I was wondering if the cello rack might work, as it is taller than the guitar racks......!
I saw the foam legs but was worried that the bass might be too long and hit the feet rather than the foam....!
Cheers Neepheid, that could be useful if you don't mind measuring it up for me.....!

I have just become the proud owner of an Epiphone Explorer Bass in Black (loving it!) and was wondering what the best sort of stand is for it at gigs, I have an 'A' frame type, but this makes the bass sit at an angle and you have to be very careful how you place the bass on the stand so it doesn't topple over.....! [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/images/B000NB07AO/ref=dp_image_z_0?ie=UTF8&n=340837031&s=musical-instruments"]http://www.amazon.co...cal-instruments[/url]

I was wondering if a tripod stand would work (or would it just slide sideways out of the bottom hanger....!?!) [url="http://www.herculesstands.co.uk/product/85317/GS405B/Floor_Stands/ShokSafe_guitar_stand"]http://www.herculess...fe_guitar_stand[/url]

Another option I've thought of is one of those rack types that you can place several guitars on, but am wondering if it will even fit on one of those.....! [url="http://www.herculesstands.co.uk/product/85317/GS523B/Floor_Stands/Guitar_Rack_-_Holds_3_Guitars"]http://www.herculess...Holds_3_Guitars[/url]

Or I have seen 'neck grab' stands that look like they would work, but I am not sure if the bass would fit on one of them as the Explorer is not the most compact of basses - I obviously don't want the bass to be resting on the floor, or banging on the legs of the stands. [url="http://www.herculesstands.co.uk/product/85317/GS455B/Floor_Stands/Auto_Grab_Universal_stand"]http://www.herculess...Universal_stand[/url] or [url="http://produkte.k-m.de/en/Stands-and-accessories-for-instruments/Fretted-instruments/17620-Guitar-stand-Double-black"]http://produkte.k-m....nd-Double-black[/url]

Another, slightly left field idea I thought of was would a cello stand work (would the neck of the bass fit into the neck bracker of the stand.....!?!) [url="http://www.herculesstands.co.uk/product/85316/DS580B/Floor_Stands/Auto_Grab_Cello_Stand"]http://www.herculess...rab_Cello_Stand[/url]

Or will I have to resort to making my own from about 4' of wood and a wall hanging neck bracket......!?!
[url="http://www.herculesstands.co.uk/product/85302/GSP38WB/Hangers/Auto_Grab_guitar_hanger_for_wall_mounting_by_wooden_board%2C_short_arm"]http://www.herculess...rd%2C_short_arm[/url]

Sorry for the waffle, any help is appreciated.....!

With the new car I am now able to get the complete rig in the boot - albeit only if both basses are in soft cases, but it is an improvement over having to remove parcel shelves, carefully position amps into boots so you are able to close it, wedge basses in back seats to stop them moving about and put cable cases in foot wells!

Oops! Beaten to it!

Looks like a Yamaha SBV to me (500 I think!)

[url="http://www.onelittlerobot.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/sbv500.jpg"]http://www.onelittlerobot.co.uk/wp-content...8/09/sbv500.jpg[/url]

[quote name='Krohurte' post='1090849' date='Jan 15 2011, 08:38 PM'][url="http://stavemguitars.com/instruments.html"]http://stavemguitars.com/instruments.html[/url]





see and hear it in action:
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK9n6n8qfus"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK9n6n8qfus[/url]
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvwrV34dRIs"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvwrV34dRIs[/url]
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_UpLepI_q0&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_UpLepI_q0...feature=related[/url]

(btw my fave bass player by the name of Bent Saether, above Jones, Entwistle, Squire and Lee)

I was told the pickups are Dark Star made by this guy: [url="http://www.hammoneng.com/"]http://www.hammoneng.com/[/url][/quote]


Oh now, those are nice!!

Well if you like that, look at this -

[url="http://www.nymphusa.com/tele/yswtct-kisekae-e.asp"]http://www.nymphusa.com/tele/yswtct-kisekae-e.asp[/url]

hours of fun to be had!

About half way down page are a load of guitars to modify. and more relavant for this place, there is also this -

[url="http://www.yajimastringworks.com/tctgp/kisekae_hipshot_astyle_main_e.asp"]http://www.yajimastringworks.com/tctgp/kis...tyle_main_e.asp[/url]

on there!

Crumbs Goblin, are you sure you couldn't have got a couple of Marshall Stacks in there too! That is quite an achievement, was there actually any ground clearence under the car at all! First trip to band practice in my new car tomorrow (I think) so we will see how things go in this set of wheels!

At the mo I have relatively little kit for gigging -

Bass in hardcase
Bass in softcase
Ashdown 2x10 combo
Briefcase for cables etc
Bass stand

I cart it about in my car, amp, cables and stand in the boot (minus parcelshelf) and basses on back seat (am looking at getting a bigger car to fit it all in the boot!) I can get it into and out of a venue in two trips to the car!

I am hoping to get an extension cab, another bass and possibly a pedalboard, but we will see, and see how it fits....!

Also like the Mike Dirnt Precision

Quite like the look of these two as well: -

[url="http://www.dv247.com/assets/products/46348_l.jpg"]http://www.dv247.com/assets/products/46348_l.jpg[/url] (Tony Franklin's)

and

[url="http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/4/2/4/230424.jpg"]http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics.../2/4/230424.jpg[/url] (Roscoe Beck's)

Haven't been able to try any of them, like the look of them though....

Yeah, really like them too - am going to try and persuade the band I am in to do Alone, and it adds weight to proposal if I can play it!

Actually tracked down the chords for the song, which I know are only the basics, but I can work out the flourishes as I go along!

Main Riff seems to be A - C - F - C (for verse/chorus), with G - F link between the two

Pre-Verse A, C - G, A, F - G, A, C - G, G

It seems to work out ok!

Trying to work out this no. but can't find any Tabs for it on the net and am can't work out a few parts of it!

I mainly want the main riffs - (verse/chorus/solo etc) but any of Tony's more fancy bits are a bonus!

Hope you can help!

Sam

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6p1DPWF4rQ"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6p1DPWF4rQ[/url]