nottswarwick

Hello Some time ago I started a thread on this, but cannot find it - might have been on Bassworld..... Anyway, the time has come to get this sorted out. I have got a Yamaha BBN4 iii 4 string bass. I have taken it apart totally, and now it awaits re building with better innards etc. It is/was a very nice playing bass, great neck, good action etc. The Body wood feels really nice and dense/solid too. So, I think it needs better electronics and pickups. I am not averse to a bit of routing etc to accommodate different pups and electronics. The only thing I have found in my brief research so far is that the stock pups are alot wider than for example similar looking emgs, and thus I would have to fill in the excess hole, which is not a great solution. I had also thought about making it into a stingray/sterling style thing, with one fat humbucker, and a scratchplate to cover the mess below! I know that this is not going to be a high end build like some in this section, and as such a moderator might move it elsewhere. However, I thought thread would serve 2 purposes: 1. Give me ideas / tips / help 2. It might be good for others to learn as I do. Here is a picture as it is now: So, bring on the suggestions and advice Cheers Chris

I have sent 4 or 5 to folk who are waiting to hear back from me....so, that is why you have not heard from me those concerned!

lol well, nothing received, so I am guessing something has gone pear shaped

Not sure where to post this, but I have sent several pm messages today, and they have not appeared in my sent folder, so was wondering if there is a problem? I have pm'd ped, but if it is not working this will not help (I dont think I am being a muppet, as I have never had a prob before....) Cheers all Chris

Hi all Thought I would make some observations in this forum... Basically, I have been revisiting my technique a bit over the last couple of weeks. I have been examining how cleanly I play, in terms of damping, even-ness of tone and volume, clarity etc, and have been a bit disappointed with myself. I have been using headphones, which obviously makes everything really noticeable, but have found that I get quite a bit of noise from my right hand thumb jumping from string to string (or indeed moving as in the "floating thumb technique" discussed elsewhere). And "live" in particular, bearing in mind my backing vocals and a bit of stage movement, I am curious how clean and controlled folk are or think they need to be? However, basses are quite physical to play (ie they are big) with big low sounds, so I am wondering how clean/accurate/precise everyone else is? I would consider myself a pretty competent player, able to cover most styles in semi pro, well paid function band settings, having played bass, guitar and drums for 20 years or so. I am a very clean guitar player, so maybe I am just being a bit over critical - at the end of the day headphones show it up, none of this comes over in the band mix, so is by no means a major concern. Just wondering, in the spirit of self improvement etc. I play 5 stings, whihc are a bit more of a handful, although I am comfortable wiht them. Anyone got any thoughts? Chris

he was off ill before xmas, but the guy covering sorted me a combo out very efficiently. To be honest, he is my "go to" guy for stuff, so hope ll is OK...

oops - forgot this thread. I am a bit happier now - I had a nightmare few gigs which I will put down to experience. I am looking at a 4*10 option to go with my 2*10. I have decided that I agree with my own previous opinion that low onstage vol is better. But I think that 4 or 6 drivers will spread the sound more, so that even at low/mid vol, the movement of air will be fuller and more audible. I think I was wrong to state that the LMii is not loud enough.

I have the mini 12" combo - the smallest one. It is great with my Std 2*10 or my traveler 2*10. Indeed you have pm'd me about the trav I think? See my for sale thread...lol Seriously, the std 102 hf is brill...in fact I think I will favour selling my trav cab, which would do the job well also.

Hi Things are a bit slow with my main band at the moment, so I find myself offering my services for (paid) dep work, project work etc. I have 20 years experience in gigging bands, and have played countless (probably thousands) of functions, wedding, clubs, parties etc. Very experienced with the function band scene and repertoire, having co-run such a band for many years in the past, and can cover most commonly required styles. Very reliable, pro approach, own transport, great gear. Can learn full sets very quickly, and provide BV if required. Based Nottingham, but will travel. So, feel free to email me on chris.pidgeon AT ntlworld.com, pm me, or 07966 849153. Thanks for looking Chris

Met Alan today, top chap, gave me a lift to the bank, great transaction.

apparently later ones didnot have the spring damping - proabably to save half a pence or something. So, great bass, but I have had to rectify 2 problems (I amn the second owner) - the above, and also had to get 2 longer saddle intonation screws to get the intonation perfect onthe g and d strings - promptly sent by G and L FOC, but surely not right at production stage? Anyway, all good now, the bass is a bad mofo and rocks/funks, growls etc. B string still not as good as the SR5, but all in all, no.1 gigging bass bar none.

[url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=253449&highlight=ringing"]This is why the internet rocks[/url] Bloody splendid. Quick look in the USA GL forum, take pickups out, get foam, cut, shove into springs, re-install pups, wallop, job is a good 'un, perfect. Thanks you and goodnight lol, well pleased. Cheers Chris

my GL is strung thru the body, my SR5 is not. maybe this is the difference, but it cannot be right, surely. Anyone any ideas?

so, they don't all do that then?

Hi Loving my USA L2500, but just wondering if anyone else experiences teh following: When playing/thumping/slapping, the notes are accompanied by a high pitched "bell-like" ringing. You cannot hear it in a gig context, but it is there when playing alone. Now, when unplugged, you put your ear against the body and can hear it, and it gets through the elctronics to the amp. My SR5 exhibits the same symptoms in the "unplugged" test, but the difference is that the sound remains in the bass, and is not passed into the electronics. So, it this right? Cheers C

[quote name='alexclaber' post='102432' date='Dec 10 2007, 10:33 PM']Remember that as bassists we have to deal with long wavelengths coming out from our cabs directly to us, coming out from the PA mains/subs directly to us (even if we're standing behind them), coming from our cabs and bouncing off the walls, floor and ceiling to us, and coming from the PA and bouncing off the walls, floor and ceiling to us. All those waves travel different distances so there is phase variation between them. If the phase difference it 180 degrees at a certain frequency they fully cancel. If it's 0 degrees or 360 degrees then they fully combine and reinforce. And although you gain 6dB when the sources combine you essentially lose everything when they cancel. Obviously you can't move the walls, floor etc, and you can rarely move the PA, but you can move your rig and you can control the volume and tone - remember adding lows to your rig could result in less bottom if it just causes more of the bottom from the PA subs that you're hearing to be cancelled out. The drum monitor could be what's killing your stage sound by cancelling out your rig in critical frequencies. Try taking your bass out of the monitors and see what happens, etc. Experiment - but don't faff about, be quick and methodical. I wouldn't buy or sell anything, your rig should be plenty for the gigs you describe, you just need to wield it more effectively. Regarding the GRAMMA, for £45 less you can buy the PlatFOAM from studio spares which is the key component to the GRAMMA, it does the exact same job and you can cut it to the exact lengths you want. It's also a fraction of the size and weight. Alex[/quote] Thanks Alex, a great help. I should be able to sort what is not a major problem anyway. I think you could be right re the phase cancellation thing - it had crossed my mind and then I sort of forgot about it. Thanks Chris