JayPH

I never realised how important the strings are in the equation. It's like an aprenticeship on here

[quote name='clashcityrocker' timestamp='1334933174' post='1623719'] I would agree,more likely it will be fine for some gigs but there will come a time when its restricting you. Not to be cheeky but I am selling my abm 575w combo and 2x10, listening to offers..... Anyway I think for the size similarities,500 would be safer,and the abm is thought to be quite abit better than mag [/quote] Would prefer a head and cabs but might be interested if the price is right. Going to take icastles advice and try one when i go to pmt next week to see if i like the ashdown sound. Will talk to you next week. cheers

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1334944539' post='1623974'] Some bits of info here: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/3730-gain-power-and-volume-a-confusing-menage-a-trois/"]http://basschat.co.u...menage-a-trois/[/url] [/quote] Cheers for that mate [quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1334947096' post='1624021'] If you intend to try the rig..then make sure the 210 cab is 8ohm... that will protect the cab to a degree and stop the amp running too much power into it...but then you will almost certainly need another cab at 8ohms to compete. [/quote] I see. That's probably the way i will go to keep the initial cost down. I can always add another cab if need be. cheers [quote name='DirkThrust' timestamp='1334958340' post='1624190'] I've played small pub gigs with a MAG250 1x15 combo, which is about the same order of loudness as what you're looking at but anywhere bigger it'll struggle and as it seems that you can't add another cab to that setup I would look for something you can add to. Ashdown have an 8 ohm MAG 2x10 in their range which I would expect somewhere like PMT to have in stock. 500watts is better than 300 but the main factor determining your volume will be speaker cone area and efficiency and EQ settings. Something else to consider is how loud you are going to be able to play in your average pub. Guitar heros love turning their Marshalls up to ear bleeding levels in band practice but most pubs I've played in the first words the landlord usually utters are "can you turn down please" so maybe it won't be as much of a problem as you think. It depends on the venues you'll be playing. [/quote] Yes, most pubs i go in don't have it too loud. I think one 2 x 10 might do for most places we will be playing. That is if we get a new drummer. apparantly he has left the band. I thought it was a strop but isnt looking good. Bands ey!

[quote name='Highfox' timestamp='1334928559' post='1623611'] Good choice. I have my P's strung with La Bella's and my Jazz strung with TI's, Good call the jazz and TI's they are definately a good match. I haven't been able to try the GHS Precision Flats yet, but they are on my list of must tries. Wonder how they would sound on a Ray? I have TI's on it atm, even tho it sounds good they could also be just a little too brite for my tastes. No rounds for me thank-you! [/quote] Do flats sound ok on a jazz bass?

Cheers everyone. I was only looking at this because I thought I would be able to add another 2 x 10 if necessary I didn't think about the power requirements ...duh! I'll go and try some before I buy. Goin to PMT in Manchester on Tuesday so I'll try some there. I do need to be quite loud to compete with 2 guitars, drums amd singer. I would probably get away with the rig I linked to but pointless really if it's going to be struggling. Is there an idiots guide to power considerations for heads/cabs anyone could point me to? Is it safe to say I need a 500w amp? Cheers J

Lads, is this kind of rig going to be ok for pubs and small club venues? Also is this good value? [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ashdown-Mag300-Half-Stack-/180828120831#vi-content"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ashdown-Mag300-Half-Stack-/180828120831#vi-content[/url] Cheers J

Noob question but what do you mean when you say the soundguy will mix for rounds?

Sometimes after adjusting the neck it will take a couple of days to setle in. If you take it back he'll just give the truss rod a quick tweak and you'll be good to go. It'll take less than a minute. Alternatively you could do it yourself but best to take it back if its not too far

[quote name='Lord Sausage' timestamp='1333382115' post='1600922'] Nit a big Indie fan so not the ideal judge, but it sounds as good as what i've heard in the genre and for a home recording that's pretty good quality! [/quote] Very kind of you to say so Lord Sausage. Cheers man

[quote name='TRBboy' timestamp='1334765266' post='1620914'] Looking forward to it! Congrats by the way on winning, it was well deserved! Maybe you could do a bit of a video review for us, as you have the talent and the technology to do so...... [/quote] Me too

[quote name='nick' timestamp='1334748352' post='1620547'] I had something similar in same area of my index finger, end joint. However, narrowed my problem down to bad fretting technique, causing too much pressure on the joint, creating inflammation. The problem was particualrly prevalent after playing higher action bass with heavy flats. On advise from Bassbod, changing my technique, warm up exercises, plus going down a string gauge has helped me. [/quote] Thanks man. Glad you've seen an improvement. Also good to know it does happen to other bass players because I couldn't find a lot about it on Google and just put it down to arthritis for a long time. [quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1334749003' post='1620567'] I have a similarly buggered ring finger on my left hand at the moment, it's a pain in the rear, am going to the docs with it tomorrow. Can't have been playing related though, as it kicked in on note 2 of the 1st set a couple of weeks ago. Can play around it fine with the other 3 fingers in my current gig. But can't play guitar properly... Also can't afford to rest it til after friday night, than we have a long gigless gap. Good luck Jay, will compare notes with you after I get back from the docs. [/quote] You too man. Hope you get a result and yes, please let me know what they say [quote name='visog' timestamp='1334751416' post='1620628'] Been there myself with a sore pinky on the fretting hand. +1 to the advice given so far.. my two penneth. Finding both a cause and cure can be very difficult. Could be arthritis or could be shoulder or back problems manifesting in your fingers. Be prepared for a long (years) recovery time if it's nerve damage. You mention that you’ve picked up bass after a lay off. Perhaps you’re too eager to regain your previous form and are playing beyond your current muscle strength. (Just ‘cause you did a marathon 5 years ago doesn’t mean you can do one tomorrow!) On the plus side, there's plenty you can do whilst it heals: [list] [*]Hydrate – Like sport, your muscles will not respond well to a lack of fluids... (or bad health generally) [*]Stretch – nerve stretch which runs from your little finger to your neck – see youtube. [*]Posture - make sure your back is straight and the bass angled/at height so don't have a sharp right-angle bend in either wrist when playing. (Jimmy Page height give you a bent left hand. Mark King gives you a bent right so mid-way with an angle.) [*]Practise with the bass on your left knee rather than on a strap in case you’re compressing your shoulders. [*]Warm-up slowly – break out all those slow note-naming exercises to keep you slow and feed your knowledge whilst you’re at it. Slow scales are good and so is sight-reading as you defocus on your hands and re-frame around the reading the music. [*]Play until the on-set of any discomfort let alone pain then stop. [*]Also, if you’re into slap, you can change to this approach since normally the left hand is more percussive with the index finger doing most of the fretting with the rest muting and providing a left-hand slap now and again. [/list] As has been said already, adjust your bass to a lower action and lighter gauge strings. Probably avoid 35”plus scale instruments as they increase the tension. This is a black art as strings vary a lot in tension and flexibility – see other threads on this topic. Also, play with a very light touch... let your amp do the work. Gary Willis speaks well about this whole topic so again YouTube his vids, particularly where he talks about how little left hand pressure you actually need. Good luck and prepare for a long-haul but if you’re careful, the gaps between pain will get longer. [/quote] Wow, thanks for this dude. I'll have a look at those vids and do the exercises. I think I definitely need to revise my technique when it's ok to play again. I think I put way more pressure than is necessary because of poor posture. I get neck pain and shoulder pain sometimes too. I push down with the tip of my pinky so it's arched, I might have to play it with my finger flat like you would play when damping strings. If I cant resist the urge to play I will, as you say, play slap bass. I rarely use my little finger for that. I'm not even thinking nerve damage at this point. I couldn't bare it. [quote name='musophilr' timestamp='1334752199' post='1620647'] Just to add this to the other good advice above - gentle stretching exercise helps - open the hand out and push the digits back with your other hand, likewise moving the digit against spring tension. From a fingers curled to palm position open the hand up while you've got a rubber band on the end of the affected digit which you're holding with the other hand so that the digit works against the tension. FWIW I had reason to go to a physio, she worked at a sports centre and IMO she was very capable, knowledgeable, and good at her job. There was one thing she tried that I disagreed with though - acupuncture. I never worked out how sticking a pin into something that already hurts is going to make it hurt less! [/quote] Thanks. I've seen physio work wonders on other things so I'm a big believer. My thigh muscle was knackered and every time I used step it killed me. i thought it was the hip bone but the x ray was clear. After 3 months of physio it was definitely improved. I'm going to try that rubber band exercise. It should slowly strengthen the tendons. Acupuncture would be a last resort but one i'd try if nothing else worked. Would miss playing bass way too much.

[quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1334743667' post='1620465'] I had a similar thing from playing DB many moons ago. Mine was diagnosed as tendonitis in my LH thumb - basically the tendon gets inflamed and can't move freely in the little groove in your knuckle and that's the painful bit. I was given anti-inflammatory gel, and I also got my GP to sort me out with some acupuncture (sadly I had to pay for this) which worked a treat. Now I make sure that I ALWAYS warm up before I play. [/quote] Wish I'd have warmed up. Glad you are sorted out now and its good to know it isn't necessarily a permanent thing. As for acupunture, if this doesnt heal naturally I'll give it a try. [quote name='Gust0o' timestamp='1334743848' post='1620469'] I'm unsure mate. They don't do a lot for fingers - if you'd asked for physio, you might well have been laughed out of the room. I've had several finger breaks in my sportier years, and the most you get is splinting and sent on your way. I know you say you're resting it by not using it - but I think she might well have meant a more significant rest, i.e. your whole hand, to allow some window for recovery. If you don't give yourself time for recovery then you're only asking for a repitition and worsening. Anti-inflam might help along the way, but I'd be asking to know more about the root cause. Hard to treat if you don't know what the cause is. So: [list] [*]Find out what the injury genuinely is (tendonitis?) [*]Rest. Really [*]Understand what it is in your playing which is really causing the problem and allow for it (warm-up, limit technique whilst recovering, etc) [/list] [/quote] I know what you mean. Same when I broke my hand. Sent me on my merry way and said it would be right as rain in 3 weeks. That was about 5 years ago and it still hurts sometimes now. When you say find out what it is, that's what I had hoped for at the docs. She did say it might be the tendons but left it at that. In fact you gave me more advice than she did It's gonna be tough not playing folr a while but we are having a break with the band anyway so now is the best time to try. I just have to track one bassline first and then i'll take a break. Am gonna be w***ing like a Gibbon now through boredom haha [quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1334746939' post='1620523'] +1 to all of this. The doctor probably meant complete rest for the hand itself. Unfortunately that means no playing for awhile. Better that than to do more serious damage by continuing to play. Bear in mind that your problem could possibly be non bass related, and playing merely aggravates it. When you do go back to playing regularly, as advised above, be sure to warm up first, with gentle stretches and check your technique. Video clips for both of these are on You Tube. Finally, NEVER play through pain, in the hope that it will go away eventually. It seldom does so. More often than not, it gets worse. [/quote] Wish I'd have had this advice sooner. I kept playing through it thinking it would "get used" to it. What a twerp. Will definitely be doing warm ups from now on. I would be chuffed if it heals.

I've been playing bass since a long lay off for about a year or more now and around 6 months ago the joint in my little finger, the one nearest the finger nail started swelling after playing for a few hours. Now it swells after about 10 minutes playing and is quite painful. I went to the doctors and she said rest it and use anti-inflamatory gel. I've been resting it and just using 3 fingers but it's frustrating because Its really hindering my practicing. I was a bit miffed she couldn't do anything. I was expecting physio maybe. Has this happened to anybody else? Did you have to alter the way you play or did it mend after a suitable rest period? Cheers J

[quote name='TRBboy' timestamp='1334607753' post='1618562'] You can't buy from them directly. You can buy through PMT or GuitarGuitar in the UK and they can order whatever you want. It's far cheaper from Germany at the moment though, through Thomann or Session Music. Are you sure I can't interest you in a Greenburst Basic 4? Much nicer neck than a California, and it'll cost you less than buying a new one! [/quote] Definitely maybe

[quote name='TRBboy' timestamp='1334184206' post='1612422'] Yeah, the Powerhumbucker is basically the same as a Musicman humbucker. They're probably made for Sandberg by Delano or Haussel or someone. Glad to hear you're gonna try some out! If you end up wanting a Basic 4 string or a Basic Ken Taylor 5 string, let me know because I might be selling a couple of mine to fund a custom order..... [/quote] Ok will do. How do you contact Sandberg? If I had the dosh I think I'd go for a J in either blackburst or redburst with block inlays. Or the green and blue haha they look so nice. Hope they play as good as they look.

Hi Mate. Welcome to the group. Where about in Denmark are you? I stayed in a place called Nysted a while back. It was as dead as a door nail but then we went to Christiania Lovely country with the friendliest people too.

[quote name='TRBboy' timestamp='1333580345' post='1603973'] Hi there, I know you've already had replies about this, but I would say it depends whether you're on about a Basic PM or a California PM. I had a California PM which was heavier than my Basic, and had a fuller neck profile (although still much nicer than a Fender P!) which is ultimately why I ended up trading it for another Basic. They were all Ash bodied (as all the matt finishes are), but my last aquisition was the Basic Ken Taylor 5 which is gloss black, and made of Alder, and feels lighter than either of my Ash bodied 4 strings. Just to add to the info before; TM (was JM) is Jazz and Musicman pickups VM (was PM) is Precision and Musicman pickups I'm told that the change was made to reduce the risk of Fender taking legal action over their basses, which has happened with some other small manufacturers who have been doing well.... [/quote] Thanks for clearing that up. So the Power Humbucker is similar to the musicman pickup or exactly the same? Interesting pickup configurations. Going to PMT in Manchester soon to try them all out

I've just bought a mint USA standard P-Bass from Rich. I sent the money and the Bass came next day delivery in its original box in the case and protected with bubble wrap. The bass was exactly as described, it's a cracker. Great communication and a lovely bloke. Couldn't have gone smoother. Cheers Rich John

[quote name='Dave Tipping' timestamp='1333836895' post='1607299'] It totally depends what you want .. my current band plays in a drop tuning and I find newish heavy guage roundwounds give me exactly what I need. [/quote] True. I'll leave what evers on em at first then try the old rounds off the J and go from there. I think even with rounds on it must have more oomph than the J but I've been wrong before

[quote name='Muzz' timestamp='1333924953' post='1608429'] DR Sunbeams on all my Ps - if you like them on your Jazz, ypu'll like them on your P: why not just try swapping a set over before you buy? [/quote] Sounds good to me. I've just ordered a new set for the J so I'll put the old set on the P before I fork out for somthing else. Saw a thing on ThinterWebs saying cleaning them with meths brings them out like new and doesnt rust them. Cheers

Cheers all. Some for me to look for. Is it fair to say that most p-bass players use flats or worn rounds?

Hi all Just bought a standard usa p-bass and was wondering what people tend to use string-wize. I use DR Sunbeams on my Jazz Bass but not sure what to get for this baby. Would flatwound strings be too much on a P? Cheers J